Remembering Molly's Adventures

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened"

(Anatole France – French Poet) 

This week’s adventure was a difficult one.  We had to say goodbye to our family pet, Molly.  Molly, a miniature dachshund, was given to our family, most specifically to our youngest son, by some very dear friends over four years ago.

 

Having grown up in a house with no indoor pets, or pets that you got attached to, I was the skeptical one in the family that hesitated getting an indoor pet.  Being around Molly at our friends’ home quickly changed my mind.  Molly instantly became our youngest son’s best friend.  Molly went everywhere with him. She was his constant companion when we would travel out of town and leave our son and Molly with the grandparents.  She was his constant companion on our family ski trips and camping adventures.  There was not a mean bone in her body.

I believe Molly’s purpose on this earth was to awaken the part of my soul that was asleep.  She taught me to love and have compassion in a way I did not know.  

        

My First Trophy (part 2)

My First Trophy (part 2)

This week I continue my adventure in God's library on a deer hunt where I got my first trophy.

My husband has taught our boys, and now me, that there is more to hunting than just shooting the animal.  The next part of my hunting experience with my first trophy was not so pleasant.  My husband taught me how to field dress the deer and let’s just say that I got very sick to my stomach and could smell that odor for days (yes, it was a gut shot).    I then learned about skinning and quartering the deer for processing. 

What came next, I will never forget.  This was my first time to ever hunt and kill an animal.  That night, I was visited by death in my dreams.  I had dreamed about death coming to get me…a large black cloud appearing as with open arms pulling me in.   I woke up in a cold sweat, shaking all over.  I wrestled with the fact that I had taken the life of one of God’s living creatures.  But reading in Genesis 9 about God giving creatures that move along the ground and fish of the sea to man for food, I was able to put that nightmare behind me.  My family hunts to put food on our table and in the process we build family and friend relationships.

So, when you are out hunting in God’s library, give Him thanks for the beauty of His world and the food he provides.

My First Trophy

My adventure in God's library today takes us on a deer hunt where I got my first trophy. (part 1)

For those of you who deer hunt, you know about that nervous and excited feeling you get when a deer comes into your sight and is within shooting range.  

My adrenaline was rushing as I got the deer in my sights and took the shot.  I remember going over all the lessons my husband had taught me about where to shoot the deer, watching for the direction the deer runs, how long to wait in the stand before I try to track the deer.  It seemed like a lot to remember in a short amount of time.  I messaged my husband and our friends that were also out hunting at the time and they joined me to track the deer.   After about 30 minutes of tracking, we found the deer. 

A very special part of this hunt was my family and our friends gathering around the deer and praying, thanking God for providing food for our family and for the time we got to spend in His library.

My first trophy was claimed November 19, 2011.  My trophy was not a deer for the Boone and Crockett record books, but a trophy because it was my first deer and because of the memories made!

Tree Stand, Rain and Relationships

This is the time of year that I start thinking about sitting in a tree stand or blind for deer hunting.  Last fall when I was outdoors in God's library these thoughts came to mind.

Sitting in a tree stand in the fall you can see all the different colors of the leaves that have changed with the new season.  Folks that have been around a few years say that the amount of rain we get before fall determines if there will be pretty fall foliage.  Without water from the rain, the leaves do not go through their color transformation.  They go from green to brown and quickly fall off the tree. Water is the life source that provides abundant color.  

Our relationship with God and our families and friends is a lot like the rain and trees.  If our relationships go through a drought they can become dull, lifeless and quickly fall away.  If we; however, will be like the rain is to the trees and spend time with those whom we want a relationship, we can have beautiful and vibrant relationships just as beautiful all the fall colored leaves on the trees that have been nourished by the rain.

This picture of my husband and our sons was taken several years ago.  Adventures in God's Library is all about building relationships.


Matthew 28:19, 20 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Today’s adventure in God’s library takes us snow skiing in the mountains of New Mexico and Colorado.

The Oklahoma heat can be so oppressive in late August and early September.  It is during this time that I think about cooler weather and snow skiing.  Today’s adventure in God’s library takes us snow skiing in the mountains of New Mexico and Colorado.

I took my first ski trip with my son, Zach, several years ago.  We went with a church youth group to Angel Fire, NM.  Zach picked up the skill of skiing without any problems; however, I was a different story.  My lack of coordination and flexibility greatly hindered learning my new found sport. 

Even with no ski skills, I fell in love with the beauty of the snow and mountains and since my husband, brother-n-law and sister-n-law were all experienced skiers, we decided to take our families on a ski trip, which has since turned in to a family tradition.

It’s been 6 years since we took our first family ski vacation and my skiing ability has slowly improved.  I still use blades instead of skis and I still “pizza” when I should “French fry.”   One thing does always remain the same, the beauty of the snowy mountains in God’s library.

The beauty of God in the snowy mountains is AMAZING!  On the ski slopes there are two types of skiers that remind me of how my Christian walk should be.  There are those skiers, like myself, who are very cautious, ski slowly and take time out from the ski run just to sit and enjoy the quietness of the snow covered mountain and God’s beauty. 

Then there are those skiers, like everyone else in my family, who go all out as fast as they can down the mountain with no fear of falling or no fear of the terrain that lies ahead of them.

While we are told in God’s word to “be still and know that I am God” I wish my Christian walk (and my skiing ability) was more like the skiing ability of my family. . . BOLD, not afraid to share Jesus with a blind faith that what He has in store for my future is for my best and that I will be able to handle any moguls or turns that are in my path.  With faith I can enjoy a “French fry” life.

On my adventure today I'm headed out in the 1998 camouflage GMC truck and 2000 grizzly four wheeler to scout out some deer hunting spots in God's library. It's going to be a hot one, but thankful for a breeze.