Good-bye, Blackie. Hello, Junior

Blackie, wearing a special birthday crown that Charlie made him.

We had a sad start to our week here in the Sieg home. Little Blackie, Char's special little pet friend past away on Monday morning and it broke our hearts. Blackie hadn't been doing too well on Sunday but then seemed to snap out of it. Monday morning I went to check on him to see if we needed to take him in to the vet and found him dead. It took about an hour for me to work up enough courage to tell my boys about his death. Before I broke the news, I made him a little coffin out of a shoe-box and lined it with warm fabric and cried a river. Breaking the news to Char was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do as a mother. Little Char was devastated and we all balled like babies while we dug his little grave by Charlie's special hide-out on our hill. Who knew that I would ever cry over a rat? 

Blackie was so mild and sweet and patient with Charlie that how could I not love him? Blackie was an answer to our prayers when James and I were at a loss what to do to help Charlie's severe tantrums last year and he has been loved ever since! In fact, it is safe to say that there never has been a rat more loved than this little fella, since he was doted on at every opportunity by the best pet owner around! When we first got the rats last year, James and I were a little worried that the boys would lose interest in their furry friends and we would have to rodents for nothing. However, Charlie has shined as he has cared for his rat and we have been so proud of him. We are so thankful for the little creatures that Heavenly Father has put in this world to make life even more wonderful for us.

Charlie feeding a powered donut to Blackie

Blackie, the day before he died. The boys and I were making pumpkin pancakes for breakfast and thought that our rat friends would appreciate a festive snack as well.

His little grave on the hill in our backyard. Mason wrote, "Rat Love Blackie" so that we would always remember that he was a rat named Blackie and that he was loved.

Since James and I feel that it is important for Char to have a chance to nurture his own little pet, the next day we went out and found him a new friend. At first Charlie wanted to name his new rat Blackie as well, but after Mason suggested Blackie Junior, Charlie settled on the name Junior (pronounced Shoe-nior). Already Junior is a welcomed addition to our family and even though we miss Blackie, (Charlie prays for Blackie to be kept safe in his grave at every prayer) having Junior around has healed some wounds.

Even you anti-rat people have to admit that Junior is pretty cute!