Sunday, January 12, 2014

A Live Skeet shoot

In honor of Eric's birthday we bought Quail to shoot on Christmas eve.   The men set out a few birds and then we went to watch them hunt. 





It was clear we had a lot to learn about the process of putting out quail.  We were not able to find the birds.  So we improvised and set up a live skeet shoot.  Jonathan and Don would release the birds then we would attempt to shoot them.  After a while the kids took turn releasing the birds for us to shoot.  Sawyer was a natural, He was the first to pick one up, release it, and ring it's neck after we shot it.  Gage and Curtis on the other hand were our entertainment.  Every time Gage put his hand in the box the bird would get away.  He responded "That was another one of those Crazy birds, every time I get a bird it is a crazy one."  Next Curtis went to fetch a bird, and they told him to break the birds neck by spinning it around. Curt spun himself around in a complete circle with bird in his hand.

The highlight of the day came from Fannie, the bird dog we borrowed.  Fannie was very excited about the bird hunt, as soon as a bird was released she could not contain herself.  The first release I held the dog leash and when she took off she knocked me over and tripped the kids with the leash.  Next time Mema held her collar.  After all the excitement we found my mother in law laid out on the ground, Fannie had dragged her across the field to get away.  My brother in laws were the only ones capable of holding this over zealous dog.  We even attempted to tie her leash off on the truck after a few birds Fannie broke her leash.

City Girl lesson:
One thing for sure Fannie was passionate about birds.  She was not distracted or held back, she would do anything to get to those quail.  This reminds me of my husband and his hobbies, he gets obsessed.   There was a time when his hobby was pursuing me, so I enjoyed his focus but it quickly turned to Fishing, paintball, Boats, hunting, etc.  Eric does like to include everyone in his obsessions.  Kind of like Fannie dragging Mema half way across the field. 

When I think about the drive Fannie and Eric have, This bird hunting trip has given me a new view on passion for Christ .  How often are we content to leave our faith in the church box.  To live with a constant passion would make us obsessed and it would make us revolve our whole live around Christ.
 
Philippians 1:21-  For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

What you focus on is what you become obsessed with.  I pray that I will learn to live with a passion for Christ that drives me to run after him no matter what gets in my way.
 

Saturday, January 4, 2014

A view from the Duck Blind

My husband and his dad started the holiday off with a trip to Tennessee to go duck hunting.  In the duck blind everyone looked like very experienced hunters.  Top of the line Guns and Camouflage from head to toe.  Everyone that is expect my relatives.   My husband was not wearing camo and my father in law was carrying a Gun that was 50 years old and wearing his Raccoon hat.

 After the introductions had been made one of the smooth talking salesmen were the 1st to come asking about Eric's attire. He had never meet a man that hunts in pajama pants and hot pink tennis shoes.  Eric responded "you can't hold all this sexy back".  It was so impressionable they referred to Eric as "Big Sexy" for the rest of the trip.
At first when Eric called out that a duck was coming no one took much noticed. When the guide called two that were coming and the Sweet Gum Head Duo put them in the pond, it was quickly recognized that although they may not look right but "you fellows have done this before." 
Eric and Pa headed back early.  The out spoken salesman said when they left the blind, "I am headed to Wal-Mart to buy me some Pajama pants and pink tennis shoes, We have not killed anything since Big sexy left?"

City Girl lesson:
Don't judge a book by it's cover.  How often have we heard that saying?  Yet first impressions come without your realization.  I have always admired the Galloway men's ability to not care about what other's think.  I have even learned to watch for the "shock and awe" when people realize these are not your typical rednecks.  The lesson to learn is not to hold to your first impressions.  These men having been duck hunting for years in a dried up pond in their backyard.  By the end of the hunt everyone jumped up to shoot when Eric called "duck".  They even had enough confidence to ask for a specific number for him to call in.
The Lord does not look at the things people look at.  People look at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart.  1 Samuel 16:7