So, I do indeed have a frog. I actually have an African Dwarf Frog. So it's no bigger than a quarter. I got it when I was in Price, at their International Days fair. Funny thing about it is, I didn't get it because I won the game. I was given the frog because I came back to play the game three times and lost all three times. You got a frog if you won, or if you lost after three tries at the game and still wanted one. Losing a game three times does not seem like a lot to get a frog, but I actually had to do some work to lose that game all three times. To play the game it cost a dollar. If you tossed a certain amount of the colored balls into the milk jug, you won. It was harder than you think. Losing the game was definitely not hard to do. The adventure came in finding the three dollars to play the game. The first dollar was from a friend who noticed that I couldn't take my eyes off the booth, and knew that I must be hoping to win a frog. The second was from a co-worker that was running his family's scone stand. He was easily convinced by my friend, because apparently my hopes of winning a frog was contagious, so they began to hope with me. The third dollar was collected in change, mostly pennies and nickels, as several friends that worked with me at the Desert Wave Pool donated and the crowd that hoped I'd finally get my frog grew. We all knew I'd get it even if I lost this time, but we all secretly hoped I'd actually win this time. But I lost. There was no sadness in this loss though, only my new frog named Ducky. Don't ask me how I came up with the name. I'm not even sure how my brain works. I still think it's a cute name. I brought him home, and realized that I had no where to put him outside of his plastic bag. This brought on a trip to the DI. But there was nothing there. So, the next best ideas was a trip to the store we all know has just about everything, Walmart. I first looked in the fish isle. But a better, more unique and cheaper idea came into my head. I wanted to stick my frog in a coffee pot. I don't drink coffee so I had to go find the replacement pots, and pick one out. I have had Ducky for a year now, and I still get comments about how cute my idea was.
So as you can see, it was quite the process to get Ducky and I to the point we are now. But three dollars, and a coffee pot later we're living happily ever after. And no, he's not my prince charming. No, I haven't tried kissing him. He's not that kind of frog. But even if he was and I did kiss him, I don't know if I'd even like the results. Being a frog doesn't promise much for looks, and having dwarf in the name doesn't give much confidence in height. We've lived happily ever after, that is until this last week. Up until last week, I did not know that my frog is somewhat of an escape artist when it comes to climbing out of bowls. As my brother was kindly cleaning Ducky's coffee pot, he'd placed Ducky in a bowl. I figured that was fine. I was so wrong. The gradual slope of the sides of the bowl had allowed Ducky to climb out of the bowl and across the counter until he reached the sink. At the very same moment he jumped in the sink, I was rinsing off a plate I'd just used. None of us had even known he'd gotten out of the bowl. Miraculously, I was able to scoop him up and place him in a small glass with some water, before he reached the drain.
Ducky is not the most amazing pet in the world, but I wanted him so badly because he made my apartment feel more like a home. He was something to keep me coming home to my apartment. Something to care about. And he was perfect for that. He was low maintenance, didn't stink, a lifetime supply of his food cost less than three dollars and he was a great listener. Before he'd almost gone down the drain, I didn't realize how much I cared for that little frog. More than once he'd survived me leaving him for a few days with extra food before hand, only hoping he'd make it till I got back. He was never discovered and forced to be flushed or given away when I had him in my apartments. He'd survived moving twice. He wasn't eaten by the other goldfish that were larger than him after the first move. And now he's survived almost going down the drain with the second move. Somehow he's become a constant in my life that I enjoy counting on. I know he won't be here forever, but it's nice to have him around while he is. Little things like washing a plate at the same time Ducky jumps into the sink are small miracles that remind me that my Heavenly Father knows and loves me. He cares about the big and the little in my life. And most of all he's watching out for me... and my frog.
It's the little things that make my life so big and wonderful.
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