Notes from the Bird Whisperer

I love it when Nature teaches me something about God.

Terry and I were walking along a shaded path at the edge of a golf course one Spring morning. Birds were just beginning to be active in Alberta, and we were hoping to add to the Year List we keep. Since we had recently returned from Arizona, we hoped to list any local birds which were not necessarily seen down south.

“Chick-a-dee-dee!” I heard. We stood still to able to see this energetic little bird as it flitted from branch to branch.

“There it is!” We had heard that Chickadees are friendly birds, and would land on an outstretched hand. We decided to try it. Terry stretched out his arm, and I got my phone into position.

Thrilled is an understatement when a Black-capped Chickadee actually landed.

“Sorry, friend, we don't have any seeds.”

It didn't seem to matter, the Chickadee just sat there, eyeing us curiously before flying off again.

Further along the path we spotted Boreal Chickadees, who are found more commonly in wooded areas.

"Put out your hand. Let's see if they'll land, too," said Terry.

Sure enough, a Boreal Chickadee landed on my hand. I could clearly see its brown head, as opposed to the Black-capped variety. Its round black eye looked my way as if to say, “I trust you. Don't you have any seeds for me?”

Terry was ready with the phone and captured the special moment.

It was only later that I realized that the Chickadees we encountered that day were a perfect picture of trust. Fearlessly they came to perch, to say hello, and potentially to have their needs supplied. That is what God wants us to do, to simply trust Him as the Chickadees trusted us.

Requiem for Baby B

When we bought our 2009 Keystone Outback trailer in March, 2010, our principal put the following notice in the school newsletter:


 Mr. and Mrs. B. have a new baby.
 She is 21 feet long and weighs 4800 lbs.
 She arrived last Friday.

A month later, we were accepted into the SOWER ministry, an organization in which those with RVs can travel in US and Canada helping churches, camps, orphanages, Christian schools and other ministries, with whatever they need. This was for the future, we thought, as I wasn't quite ready to retire just yet. 

Baby B's maiden "voyage" was  couple of weeks after this, as we camped with some fellow teachers at Gull Lake, during a highway clean-up weekend. Terry wondered what on earth we had gotten ourselves into as the snowflakes whirled around us. 
"It's May, after all!" he thought.
 It's a good thing we experienced this practice run, though, as the trailer battery died (this was before Terry used two batteries for the trailer) and the furnace stopped in the middle of the night. The weekend told us we didn't like camping in the cold.

Our first SOWER experience with Baby B. took place at Stillwood Camp and Conference Centre near Cultus Lake, B.C., in July, 2010. On the whole it was a positive experience, and we enjoyed living in our cute little trailer for three weeks.

Fall 2011-setting off for Arizona

Our first fall-winter SOWER stint began in the fall of 2011, at Gospel Rescue Mission, in Tucson, AZ.
After Christmas, we travelled to Texas, Alabama, and all the way to the Florida Keys. Baby B did well. That season was the first of nine seasons of SOWER projects, mostly in California and Arizona.
Baby B also accompanied us to five two-week sessions at Gleaners in the Okanagan, as well as a few summer camping trips.

After we cleaned up the mess in Baby B. after the accident [see previous post], and had to leave her for the last time, I threw my arms around Terry, and cried. 

Here's our last view of Baby B. looking back in our rear view mirror, where we left her to her fate, one dull, grey day in March, 2020.





Later, we found out that indeed, Baby B. had died. She had sustained too much damage, and the trailer was written off.

All that's left are wonderful memories. 
Thank you, Lord, for the ten years we had together. 

We're awaiting the next part of God's plan.
I wonder what the future holds. 
We don't know the future, but we know the One who holds the future. 

We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. Proverbs 16:19 (NLT)

Laughter is the Best Medicine

Here we are, from this...

 

to this.

Our mandatory self-isolation began the other day, after we crossed the US-Canada border and the guard read aloud the conditions of self-isolation.

“Do you understand?” he solemnly intoned.

“Yes,” we replied, not daring to ask any questions. Basically, we knew what to do. Don't stop anywhere to get groceries, go straight home. We did have to gas up once, to get home, and prove to the insurance company the exact date of our entry back into Canada. Since we were coming home a month early, we needed a receipt to get a refund on our travellers' insurance. A month early means it is not spring here in Alberta.

Except for the geese flying overhead, not quite sure where to land. And the robin pair we saw as we walked down the deserted country road. Tiny pussy willows were trying to burst out. Those are the real signs of spring, right?

It's snowing lightly right now. What else can you expect for March, in Alberta?

We're warm and cozy, though, in a rural farmhouse that's not our own. We're mostly set for food, having brought all of our fridge, freezer, and pantry contents from poor Baby B (the trailer). We're eating well,just like at home.

Our children promised to bring whatever we need.

Nick's visit was the highlight of Day #3. He brought our winter boots, and an exciting cardboard carton.

We knew what was in it, but he didn't.

“OK, Terry get your phone ready,” I said, as we visited with our son, leaning out of his van from a safe distance.

Terry snapped a picture of me holding up a book from the box of ten books.

It's a book from the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. So what is the significance?

A story of mine is published in it!

Actually, it has Terry's name attached to it. Since the story had to be told from his point of view, his name appears as the author.

Laughter is the Best Medicine is for sale through Amazon, and in stores, as of April 14, 2020.

Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land. Proverbs 25:25