a slight misunderstanding

the kids and i were seated around the kitchen table eating lunch yesterday afternoon. susanna and i chatted back and forth, but liam sat still, staring out into the backyard, deep in thought. after a moment, he turned to me and asked, "where are we going to put all the animals?" i had no idea what he was talking about, and told him as much. "you know, the farm animals. where will we put them? in the back yard? or on the deck? can they drink super's water? do they need beds?" the questions kept coming, and with each one, i became even more confused. i still hadn't a clue, and told him as much, again. he sighed. "you know, mommy. the animals from our mite boxes! the ones they give us when we take our mite boxes to church on Easter. those animals." and all of a sudden, i got it. and then, i began to laugh. our son, who has been dutifully donating five cents each day out of his allowance throughout this Lenten season, had evidently misunderstood the charity to which his nickels were going. this year, the funds raised through our church's mite box program are supporting heifer international. on the day the kids brought home their mite boxes from sunday school, chris and i explained to them that this money will help give families farm animals, who can then provide the families with milk and eggs and future baby animals. we thought it best to keep it simple. our simplified approach was apparently not very effective. [for anyone unfamiliar with this amazing organization, here is the mission statement printed on the bottom of each mite box: "Heifer International has helped 8.5 million families in more than 125 countries move toward greater self-reliance through the gift of livestock and training in environmentally sound agriculture. the impact of each initial gift is multiplied as recipients agree to 'pass on the gift' by giving one or more of their animal's offspring to another in need."] for the past six weeks, our son has expected that on Easter Sunday, in exchange for presenting his mite box at the altar, he will be given a cow. and a sheep. and a goat. and a chicken. ("that's all i need," he said.) and, furthermore, that we will be returning home with these animals to peacefully co-exist with us, as they graze in the grass of our back yard next to the swingset. farm animals, from church. on Easter. kind of gives the phrase "holy cow" a whole new meaning.