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.