Zoo Time!

Maine doesn't have a big zoo - with zebras and giraffes and polar bears - but when we went to California to visit our grandchildren, we went to the San Diego Zoo.

That was a great day!

Of course, I like the giraffes the best.

Today's Polliwog Kid wrote about going to the zoo.

(Click Here)

Friday Fiction - "Casting a Line"

There are children all around us who need a godly influence, who need attention, who need someone to listen to them and help them grow. 

Casting a Line

“Mr. Tucker, thanks for taking me fishing with you.” Zack slammed the old truck door. “It’s really early! I don’t think I’ve ever gotten up this early before!” 

I waved at his mother on the back step. “I’ll get him home by noon,” I said. She nodded and wrapped her sweater around her pajamas. 

Zack bounced up and down as I shifted into reverse and backed out of the driveway. “My dad took me fishing once when I was five years old.” He put his head down and mumbled, “But that was before he…” 

I didn’t hear the last few words, but I didn’t need to. I gave Zack a smile and knocked his tattered baseball cap’s visor over his eyes. “Hey! It’s no fun going by myself. I miss having my boys go with me.” 

Zack straightened his cap and grinned at me. “I never knew you had boys.”

“Yes, sir, I have four boys, but they’re all grown-up and have kids of their own now.” I turned onto the highway that led out of town. 

“Four boys? I’ll bet you did a lot of fishing with them. I like fishing, but Mom thinks fishing is gross.” Zack’s eyes got dreamy. “If I had four brothers, we could play ball and go camping and, maybe, even climb a mountain.” He turned to me. “Mr. Tucker, did you do those things with your boys?”

I liked the way the way he lifted one eyebrow. I smiled. “Yes, I guess we did a bit of camping and hiking.” 

Zack shook his head. “I knew it! If my dad wasn’t such a bum, we would…” Zack talked and talked all the way to West Branch Pond. He talked about his dad; he talked about school; he even talked about girls. I nodded and grunted once in awhile to let him know I was listening, but the words spewed out of him like a fizzy bottle of pop. 

As the old Ford bounced over the rocky mountain road, Zack gave an ongoing report of the passing scenery. I parked the truck beside the road. “Why are we stopping here? Is this where we’re going fishing?”

I grabbed our poles and my tackle box from behind my seat. “Yup! This is where we hike to the pond.” 

Zack pranced around like a puppy. The questions popped out of him faster than I could answer him. “How far do we hike? Is this where you took your boys? Is this a secret fishing spot?” 

As I led Zack through the woods, I knew he was following right behind me. I could hear him talking the whole way. The trail was a longer than I remembered, and I was huffing by the time we broke through the bushes to my favorite spot—a big rock on the edge of the secluded pond. I realized that Zack was silent—but only for a few seconds. 

“Whooee! Wow! This is awesome!” 

I helped him bait his hook and showed him how to cast his line. He must have pulled it in a dozen times to see if the bait was still there. Now, some people may say that you have to be quiet when you’re fishing. I don’t think it matters. It certainly didn’t matter that day. I think the freckles on his cheeks touched his ears when he reeled in a white perch. 

Zack kept a running stream of comments all morning. We talked about different kinds of tackle and where fish liked to hide. We talked about the bullies at school and the time he got caught stealing from Bert’s corner store. 

My bobber dipped beneath the surface, but I ignored it and told Zack about the day I stole some money from my teacher and then lied about it. 

“Mr. Tucker, you really did that?” Zack shook his head. “You ain’t like that now. You ain’t like my dad. When I grow up, I want to be good like you.” 

I prayed while I put some new bait on my hook and cast it into the rippling water. “Zack, have you ever heard about Jesus?” His puzzled look and shrug gave me my answer.

Zack listened while I talked. I told him about Adam and Eve in the garden. I told him about the promised Savior. I didn’t catch any fish that day, but it didn’t matter. I’ll take Zack fishing again soon.

Almost

Cameras aren't fast enough to capture Audrey's smiles. 

Bucksport Days - My Prince in Shining Armor

I confess -

I was a flirt, a boy-crazy girl! From the time I can remember, I've always had a special "boyfriend" - not particularly in a romantic sense, but a boy who paid special attention to me. Interestingly, most of them were named Randy or Andy.

(What can I say? I must have been a cutie! *smile*) 

When we first moved to Bucksport, I had a boyfriend. But when school started - he wasn't the kind of person I thought him to be and dropped him unmercifully. (I also confess that I was often quite rude to those I didn't like...sorry!)

Well - at that point, I decided that I had enough of boyfriends. I would just ignore them and concentrate on finishing high school.  I hung out with the kids from church (boys and girls) and I was happy with that arrangement. The church had an active youth group. We went on hayrides, progressive suppers, worked as leaders at AWANA, etc.

One Saturday in December, we had rented the pool at the Maine Maritime Academy in Castine for the AWANA kids. Of course, they needed chaperones, and all the leaders got to enjoy the outing too. While we were waiting for the last kids to change back into their clothes, Randy Blake, asked me if I would like to go to a basketball game with him and a few other people.

I was stunned and honored and excited and all that goes with realizing that someone notices you. To me, Randy Blake was not a boy. He was a man, a mature adult - out of school. (only 4 years older, but I didn't know that at the time) I couldn't wait to go home and tell my parents about him. Of course, I knew him, but I didn't know that he had been watching me - and even liked me ever since we moved into the area. He was just patiently waited for the right time to say something.

Randy picked me up in his dark green Camaro. (although I wasn't impressed - I didn't know one kind of car from another) The bucket seats were already filled with three other boys. He put a cushion between the front seats for a place for me. (no seat belt laws then)

I don't remember much about the basketball game at the Bangor Auditorium, but I do know that I was tremendously impressed that Randy would not allow the boy in the passenger seat to play rock n' roll music on the radio. He said, "This is my car, and I will choose what kind of music in it." I knew, somehow I KNEW right then, that this was the one I would marry. This is the type of man I wanted -  someone with strong moral convictions.

All evening long, he treated me like a queen - opening doors, helping me with my coat (not something I was used to), paying for my snacks, etc. When he dropped me off, he took my hand and kissed the back of it. (I could have melted! It was so sweet!)

(On a comical side, my father had forgotten that I was out and locked the doors. He never worried about me. He often did the same thing when I was babysitting too. So, Randy hung around until I woke my family, so that they could open the door. He said, "When I have girls, I'll never lock the door on them."  Ha Ha - I don't think our door has ever been locked. )

Nuggets of Blessing

I love how God brings "nuggets of blessing" to light in the Bible. Maybe I have read that particular verse a hundred times or more, maybe I have even memorized it at one point, or perhaps never noticed it at all, but all of a sudden, it has more meaning! It applies to the circumstance I'm experiencing right now. I understand its truths at this point in my Christian growth.

I hope to share these "nuggets of blessing" with you and a little thought of why it seems special to me now.

"Be of good courage, 

and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our peple, 

and for the cities of our God; 

and let the LORD 

do that which is good in His sight." 

(I Chronicles 19:13) 

The phrase "be of good courage" is special to me ever since I learned that the French language has a similar phrase - a rallying call - "Bon Courage!"  We don't have a phrase like that in English. We may say "Good Luck," but that's not the same. "Bon Courage" is a word of comfort and love, giving the recipient a feeling that someone is standing beside him to keep him going through a difficult time. 

"Let us behave ourselves valiently" - There are those who are looking toward us for leadership, to see how we will act in time of testing and trials. It's not a time to give in to our fears and doubts. We need to be strong for others who will follow behind us. 

" Let the LORD do that which is good in His sight"  . . . Ultimately, it is NOT our strength and courage that determines the outcome. While we are standing strong and "behaving valiently," we are trusting in the LORD to do His will. Even if we don't understand the battle, it is not up to us to question - only to obey. Whatever God does is good. 

Have you read a verse in the Bible that "glows" with a special light of understanding? Perhaps it will be a blessing to someone else. Feel free to comment or post your own "Nuggets of Blessing" on your blog and put your link in a comment.