That Rat!!!

This morning I decided to sleep in for an extra hour or two since my morning didn't "officially" start until 8:00am (rather than 6am every other day).  When I did wake up, around 5:00, I found that there was NO RAT caught in the trap.  Bob had put peanut butter and some granola on the trap (which looks like a super-sized mouse trap) to lure the rat.  When I looked around the apartment, I deduced that the rat knows about these traps somehow...and here's why:

1. the rat left a dropping on top of the container of peanut butter - as if to say, "I don't need just a little peanut butter on your rat trap when I know where the big jar of peanut butter is!"
2. the rat tore a hole in the bag of granola overnight (This bag was placed on top of the refrigerator by Kimberly before she left, thinking that the rat could not get up there) - well either the rat is a rope climber (climbing the water hose that goes from bottom to top in back of the refrig for making ice) or the rat is trying to remind us that he is a distant cousin to the flying squirrel.
3. the rat left a dropping in the doorway of our bedroom - as if to say, "I know where you sleep!"

I'm hoping to be able to catch this rat (and all of its relatives) soon!  After being disgusted by not having caught it yet, I made a pot of coffee and then sat down to have my devotional time with God.  It wasn't long before Bob came out for us to do our couple's devotion.  After that, it was time to get Alina up & get ready for church.

We had invited Michell to church with us and although she said she wanted to go, when Alina went up to get her, she had changed her mind.  Bob saved us a spot in church and we listened to the message given by the Ohio group pastor.  He asked us if the Spirit had our heart?  I'll let your mind dwell on that a while before moving on to the rest of my day...the question is NOT 'Will you give your heart to Jesus?' but 'Have you already given it, 100%, wholly & completely?'

Bob, Alina, Michell & LoriAnn

After church we changed clothes and then took Michell to the store where we bought her lunch.  Back in May, Alina & I had done a Secret Keeper Girl Mommy Daughter Date where Alina went on a shopping spree.  She had $20 to spend at the Fox River Mall and had to get 3 items with that money, each item coming from a different store and only 30 minutes in which to complete this shopping spree...and one more twist...her purchases were to go to a girl here at Orphanage Emmanuel - she chose Michell.  The purpose of the shopping spree was to teach her about mean girls, since eventually she'd be running from store to store and running out of patience as she looked to complete the task.  So today was all about giving Michell these items over lunch.  Michell is a very quiet, shy girl; but has been taking care of Alina (like a big sister would) while Alina's been down here this year.

Michell & Alina

After lunch, Alina spent the rest of the day with the medium girls out in the yards and playing soccer.  I joined them for a bit of the afternoon/evening, and Bob came out later in the evening to play some soccer as well.  He even scored TWO goals on Alina!!!

At the end of the night when we came back to the apartment, Bob and Alina went looking for critters outside and THAT is when it happened...I was sitting at the kitchen table doing a word search, and the rat decided to "play" with me.  First it came out from the ceiling and then headed back up through the hole...TWICE!  I thought it'd be gone for a while, but then the next thing I know it's walking along the brick wall from the microwave to the stove in plain view!  I was pretty freaked out.  I could hear Bob and Alina outside, so called for Bob to come inside.  He couldn't find the rat, but loaded the trap up with more peanut butter and granola and put it directly underneath that hole in the ceiling.  We're hoping to catch something by morning.  YUCK!!!