Thanksgiving 2003

We at Melody Park Christian School have much to be thankful for this month! We are very thankful our new tortoises have been named! Yes, we now have "Fluffy" (the girl) and REV'N (the boy). We are thankful for the gift of these new "additions" to the Melody Park community. Our thanks to the mom and son who suggested our atrium would be a great place for a tortoise. Thanks to The Rainforest Pet Shop in Hollister for the tortoises. After we researched what they eat and how they live we created a habitat just for them. Now these are two very lucky tortoises! The habitat is safe, large, filled with their favorite plants (edible to them) and as an extra bonus, is sunny and warm. What a special gift Fluffy and REV'N are to us.

This gift has led to another gift. It is the gift of watching small children's bright eyes and excited faces as they peer into the window each day to find the tortoises. As families arrive or are leaving for the day, children and their families (parents, grandparents, siblings -- both older and younger) can be seen just sitting on the carpet, talking and looking out the low windows to see the tortoises walk around, eat or engage in their favorite activity -- taking a nap!

This gift has led to another gift, the gift of time. The moments young children and their families are sitting, talking and being together is a gift. In the very busy day of the adult world this stopping and watching is a gift.

This gift has led to yet another gift. Our tortoises have given us a lesson -- slow down. We know childhood is fleeting and these precious gifts of time are irreplaceable yet we rush rush rush. The tortoises do not. They eat, sleep and exercise all day! What a life!

Let's not overlook any moment to stop, sit, talk and be together with our children or anyone we love. Where we give the gift of our time -- we receive the gift of theirs! A gift you cannot replace. (Stop by and see our tortoises, it is guaranteed to slow you down!)