What We Can't See

     Just because we can't see it, doesn't mean it isn't there.  Like the old saying, "What you don't know won't hurt you" or "Ignorance is bliss",  we are only turning a blind eye to the problem.  Yes, it is nice to not see the bad, so we don't have to worry about it, but being ignorant only gives the feeling that everything is okay. 

     My friend Sarah Hatfield took this photo recently of Wild Goose Island during a boat tour

she was giving.
She is a park conservationist and sees and knows many problems our Earth faces today.  I really like her mantra: Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.  If we could each pitch in a little to the problems we contribute to, it would make a difference.  We can't each solve all the problems of this world, but if we take up a cause or two that is dear to our heart, and work at that, we can be significant. 

     Not only do many of us have blinders on to today's problems, but also to God.  Grant it, it is hard to believe in something we can't see, especially with such a troubled world.  The difficulty here, is that we need to have faith to be able to see.  Jesus did not work miracles to cause faith but to confirm it.  Seeing is not the cause of faith but will result from it.

     My life was happy and fairly carefree, until July 6th 1999, when this image came to light.  This was actually taken in 2009.  It is Britney's brain, which has a bi-thalamic tumor, seen somewhere in this image.  It has been there probably since before birth.  We were in ignorant bliss the first 9 years of her life.  The last 13 years of dealing with her medical issues (including hydrocephalus, nine or more surgeries and chemo) has had it's ups and downs, but in that time, I have come to realize that God is completely in control, God is good, God answers prayers, and by faith we have seen miracles in the timing, Doctors, care, and life of Britney who continues to live with this tumor.  Because of faith and God's love, my joy and happiness were not stolen, but grew.  NLV "For we live by believing and not by seeing."  2 Corinthians 5:7

     Dowling, a US soldier with his war dog, indicated that when you're going on a mission, a raid or a patrol... insurgents are sneaky -- they like to hide stuff from you.  But a dog can smell them.  Because of the incredible scent capabilities. ... You can only see what you can see. You can't see what you don't see.  But a dog can see it through his nose.  The dogs are a form of shielding for the soldiers.  As a Christian, and like a soldier, we need to put on the armor of God Ephesians 6-11.

    Okay, I'll get off my soap box and tell you about my week.   

     Dawson Lake, at Moraine View Park, after nearly six inches of rainfall.  If you look closely, you can see the beach, a fisherman and a windmill.  



     What you can't see is the turkey vultures perched on the fence along the beach... but they were there.

     And if you look even closer, you can see one sunning itself on a post in the water.


     Tuesday I walked later in the morning, taking Kaysha out to the park.  Since it is dark longer and has or will be cooler, I feel I can wait on my daily walk.  I went to the park to check on the trails, which were pretty muddy.  I also drove the loop around the lake and ducked into various camp grounds and the beach.  There was a man there taking down all the seasonal signs for swimming.  He said the vultures roost there every night.  I also frighten a doe and her youngster.  I wanted to see how much water had filled the little pond I had photographed last Friday, on the left, and now with Kaysha.











     You can't really see here, but the pond had filled a fair amount.  I think there is water under a lot of the green "grass."  The pond is still not up to its normal capacity.  It can reach up to the tree line in the background.

     It was very humid and quite warm all day Tuesday, so outdoor work had me drenched in sweat.  I showered early, went to the dentist to get a filling replaced, got my hair cut, and did some shopping.  I bought wood to trim the barn window.

     Babe's walking continued to improve which was a relief.

     Wednesday morning we had storms that consisted mostly of wind, but brought some rain.  It had cooled off a lot and felt like fall. 


     It had cleared off, so right after lunch I went out to paint.  First I had to brush, file, sand and wash some of the boards.  Then I put a coat of primer on everything.  I even walked around the out buildings and hit places we had repaired with boards that had not been painted.  I didn't finish up until after Joe got home from work.

     Thursday was a day of eating, drinking, and being merry.  A time for fellowship and fun.  Too bad we can't see all the calories hidden in the food and liquids we intake... it might slow us down a little.  I took Marj to lunch out at the little shop by Dawson Lake.  We enjoyed catching up with each other, because it had been awhile. 
She invited me to go look at a house with her, which I did, and that was also a lot of fun.  Then, Joe and I went into down town Normal to a going away party for Sarah Bate who is moving to Florida.  We enjoyed a nice dinner and I bumped into teacher friend Joe at the same restaurant.  This is a picture taken of the circle area they finished building after we had moved.

     Friday's red morning sky warned of rain, which we did get all day long (almost 1 1/2 inches of it).  We had again been cut from the Yellow Ribbon Event for this weekend, due to lack of funding.  Who knows what goes on behind the red tape bureaucracy of the army.  We never see it.  Anyway, I didn't have to worry about being packed and ready to go at noon.

      Fellow teacher friend, Kevin Suess, took this picture at NCHS and posted it on face book, and titled it "Storm Rolling In."  And, there was a storm at NCHS Friday, but in a literal and figurative sense.  Kevin never would have guessed that minutes after taking this photo, the building would be in a Code Red.  There was a shooting, with students held hostage, in a health class.  Thankfully, nobody was hurt, but most were pretty shaken up.  The nearly 2000 people evacuated from the building were escorted out with hands overhead and palms showing.  They then got drenched walking 200 yards to the neighboring Eastview Christian Church.  They were welcomed with open, loving arms, but had to remain there for five hours until the crime scene (building) was fully investigated and cleared as safe. This is an awe inspiring photo of beauty and power. And a good reminder to look up, look out, take it all in when and while we can. We have tons to be grateful for.

     I ended up wasting away most of the day.  No, I wasn't wasting away, in fact, I kept drinking hot tea and eating cookies.  Not sure what I did all day other than staying tuned to the story unfolding at NCHS, doing some inside chores, organizing and reading.  I did put the horses in the paddock two different times between some storms and stayed on top of stall cleaning while they were out. 

     Saturday morning Joe and I went to State Farm  to watch Courtney run in the Race For The Cure with over 2000 other entries.  She did a nice job.







     After the race we went to a barn sale at Jan's and bought a few items we could use.  They are moving to Utah.

     Once home we
got to work on weekly farm chores and a few projects.

     I haven't seen Tiny in over two weeks.  I figure she is sitting on more eggs somewhere and I just can't see her.  But she may have left home, or been confiscated by a predator.

     Babe came up lame in her other leg, but not as bad as the left one had been.  She was way out in the back pasture, and wouldn't come in, so I took her food bucket all the way out to her.  Brian's friend came out to look at her and advise us.  Babe still spends a lot of time lying down and has lost so much weight.

     I rode Amiga all around here and at Becks for 45 minutes.  Then I worked Roni in the round pen for just 20 minutes because I wanted to stop when I finally got him to stand still when I got on.  Joe and I watched a movie for Saturday night entertainment.

     I was on my way down the drive with Roni on the trailer, after getting Joe's help with loading, before 7am today.  We went to Lisa's where we moved Roni to her trailer and then drove to Sandridge, arriving by 9am.  We met up with several other riders and enjoyed two hours of sandy trails. 

     After lunch, we loaded our three horses back up and went to Doris', an 80 year old lady who was interested in buying Lisa's horse Casey.  I hope I am still riding at that age.

     Casey can be seen here in the round pen.  After unloading, and tacking back up, we hit the trail with a different group of ladies.  In the photo below, Doris can be seen in front.

     I really had difficulties keeping Roni calm all day.  There were many times of quiet, clam, listening... but when he got revved up, it was hard to bring him back down.  I like to get him into his gait, but he keeps wanting to start cantering and then running.  He will not slow down and actually gets faster and I have a hard time getting him to stop.  I know he needs to come into the bit, not off it, as his mouth will get harder and harder.  Like a race horse, he will just run through the bit and bridle... I really need help... I guess I just can't see what to do to fix the problem.  I am sure I need to change something.
 
     God tries to open our eyes to his path, and the truth, by speaking to us in many ways, but we don't always see it or hear him.  Like Balaam, who beat his donkey because it refused to go down the road, because it saw an angel of the Lord blocking the way, we don't often realize God is trying to block our path.  We forge onward in-spite of it, and often get into trouble.





     Cumulative evidence can bring us to accept God’s existence as a reasonable proposition but only faith can really lead us to believe all that God has said.  Pray for the gift of faith and you will see miracles, and more!  Use it and the rest of the Armor of God to shield you from the evil in this world.