Jun
6
2023
The Stone Fox
Posted in Family Life 2 Comments
There is an equestrian fox that we visit.
It is a stone fox, seated, wearing equestrian clothes and a top hat.
He is sometimes called a Gentleman Fox.
My granddaughters love him.
I don’t know when it started.
Perhaps it was when my husband took them for walks when I was making dinner.
Going to see the fox became their thing to do together.
Let’s go visit the fox was always met with squeals and a loud, Yay!
The neighbor who owns the stone fox is moving.
We have neighborhood text thread on which she listed things to see if anyone could use them.
The fox was not listed, but her text gave me the boldness to send a question begging to be asked.
Would your fox be for sale?
I have sent her pictures in the past of my granddaughters posing with the fox.
One of them even sat on a rock with her legs and arms crossed like the fox himself.
No, I’m sorry, the fox isn’t for sale because our granddaughter gave it to us, my neighbor said.
He is going with us…as well he should.
We had two of our granddaughters here for an overnight last weekend.
Who wants to visit the fox? My husband asked.
The four year old said, ME!!!
We got out the stroller, put her younger sister inside, and set off.
My husband told our granddaughter that the fox was moving.
Where is he going? She asked with such innocence, as if she envisioned him with a suitcase.
Our neighbors are moving and the fox is going with them, my husband explained.
I’ll miss him, our granddaughter said.
But Grandma is trying to find a fox to sit on our wall, I told her.
Trying to find one is an understatement; I am a Grandma on a mission.
We have an original stone farm wall on the side of our property, next to my porch.
I can picture the Gentleman Fox there for my granddaughters to see.
I can imagine where he will go.
I just have to find him.
My neighbor told me where her granddaughter got their fox.
It is a nursery nearby but they no longer have this particular stone fox.
I have googled and searched for it.
I have stopped at a few statuary places to no avail.
I have called antique shops and sent a picture of the fox with a text description.
So far, nothing.
I am not giving up.
The fun is in the search.
If I am meant to find it, I will.
I know at least three little girls who will be thrilled.
That day on our walk, our granddaughter talked about everything.
She talked about our neighbors moving and wanted to know if their things came with them?
She giggled when we played a made up game of what would move with you if you moved.
Would the house move? NO! Would the trees move? NO!
She came up with her own questions.
Would the grass move? Would my toys move? Would the street move?
She didn’t wait for us to answer.
We got back home after our walk and she said, Pop-Pop the grass looks pretty.
During dinner, she knew that special brownies were made that day for her.
How does Grandma know just what to bake and just what you like? My husband asked her.
Because Grandma love me, she answered with surety.
Yes, she does, sweet girl. Yes, she does!
When it was bedtime, we talked more about the fox.
I will miss him, she said sweetly, but Grandma will find a fox to sit on her wall.
Grandma is going to try, sweet girl. I’m going to try.
I’m a Grandma on a mission.
That night she didn’t want to sing our usual song.
Grandma, can we sing, Jesus loves the little children? She asked.
I knew that song but just the first verse.
We sang it together and when I got a word wrong, I was politely corrected.
Jesus loves the little childrenAll the children of the worldRed and yellow, black and whiteThey are precious in His sightJesus loves the little children of the world
I thought of a small wooden sign I have in my kitchen.
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. (3 John 1:4)
Walking to see a stone fox, giggling and talking along the way, making brownies just because.
Living out the Gospel before my grandchildren in little ways.
Because Grandma love me.
Because Jesus loves me.
Because I am loved.
Because God is love.
Such a sweet story! The things we do with our grands are things and experiences we and they will never forget!
Yes, Sue, making memories is so precious.
Blessings,
Gina