What does the fox say?

Growing up a city girl I am still amazed and in awe at any animal sighting.  We’ve lived in NE Indiana for almost five years now, and I still run to the window to watch the deer and turkeys cross through our pasture.  And don’t even get me started about all the time spent watching the bunnies play in the dandelion patches.  It’s a wonder I get anything done.

Well, I’ve been following Doug Addison, a prophetic evangelist, for over ten years.  He has been speaking of the wind of change that is coming in April/May (2016) and blowing away things that have held us back from reaching our destiny and full potential.  (http://dougaddison.com/2016/04/be-encouraged-a-new-wind-of-change-is-blowing/)

I have already been taking steps – physically, emotionally, and spiritually – to make changes, so the wind of change prophecy was a welcome one.

One of the steps I have been taking is using essential oils for emotional release.  That journey could easily be a whole series of blogs or even a book.  In a nutshell, buried emotions continue to affect our lives in ways that we often don’t even acknowledge.  I’m getting rid of the baggage in my life once and for all!

The last session I had I was chatting with the woman who is helping me on this journey.  Somehow animals came into the conversation.  She mentioned how they can speak to us – delivering a message.  I mentioned to her that I had had some recent and unexpected animal sightings.  On the way to work one day, I saw something in the middle of the road.  It was still snowy outside, and I thought it was a clump of snowy ice that had fallen off a vehicle and was waiting for the next car to smash it to smithereens!  As I got two car lengths from it, I could see that it was a young fox.  It was just sitting there looking at me.  Finally, it got up and ran off the road and into the woods.  Hmmmmm!  I had also driven by a swamp near my home and spotted three pair of swans.  Now, I often see geese in that swamp, but I had never seen a swan let alone six of them.  The stark white of their feathers was quite the contrast against the dark waters and the decaying brush of the swamp.  I had told several people about the swan sighting and even drove some of them past the swamp, but there were no swans there.  Hmmmmm!

So, this morning I am making my bed and hear what I think is the wind.  It is making an unusual sound and seemed to be out of place for the beauty of the morning.  I went to the window to see what was going on with the weather.  Suddenly, a large fox appeared running from the west to the east across my front yard as fast as he could as if his life depended on it.  He was a bright orange with the whitest chest and with a white plume on his tail.  He was gone before I could even think to grab my camera.

red-fox cropped-400x192

So, is there something to all these animal sightings?  Is there a message in it for me?

I believe there is….

“Catch us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom.”  –Song of Solomon 2:15 (RSV)

I’ve let “little foxes” spoil my harvest.  For too many years I have allowed little things to keep me from my destiny.  I have self-sabotaged my progress.  I have held on to hurts of the past and not walked in the freedom that was mine for the taking.

NO MORE!

The wind of change is blowing, and the little foxes are moving out of my life once and for all!

What does the fox say?  It just doesn’t matter any more!

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Coon Alert!

I let Tex out for his morning constitutional 😉 and heard him barking.  He was circling the big walnut tree and standing with his front feet as high as he could reach, barking an alert.  I thought he had seen one of the many, tiny squirrels that share the tree.  Much to my surprise I see a raccoon.  You don’t usually see raccoons in the daylight.  They are nocturnal and run for cover.  This one was perched in the crook of the tree for all the world to see.

Raccoon in Walnut Tree

I have been told that raccoons seen in the daylight hours are usually sick.  I watched this one for awhile, and sadly, he clearly was not well.  😦

When we lived in Texas, we could just call animal control to come and take care of him.  In the midwest countryside, we ARE animal control.  Life is different here, but in a good way.  Neighbors seem to watch out for neighbors more.  People seem to better understand the cycle of life, protecting the land, and understanding the delicate balance of nature.  Maybe because it is farming country…

To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born,
    And a time to die;
A time to plant,
    And a time to pluck what is planted;
A time to kill,
    And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
    And a time to build up;
A time to weep,
    And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
    And a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones,
    And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
    And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain,
    And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
    And a time to throw away;
A time to tear,
    And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
    And a time to speak;
A time to love,
    And a time to hate;
A time of war,
    And a time of peace.

— Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NKJV)

Thankfully, my son by marriage came to help.  To everything there is a season…

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It’s Family Day on the Farm!

Yep, I’m still here.  Been working the local county fair (great FUN!) and now taking a few days to replenish my energy reserves.  Since I am always “preaching” about having a balanced life, I thought I better stop and smell the roses this morning – or in this case, stop and take the picture!

I was preparing to let Tex out for his morning jaunt and exploration, when I discovered a family of wild turkeys in the backyard near the pasture fence.  I had been seeing them at a distance and had seen one of the adults in the yard yesterday.  This, however, was the whole kit and caboodle!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Enjoy your day!

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Sometimes You Just Have to Swerve!

Wow!  It’s been a month since my last post!  Better than a year like the last time. 🙂  It’s been a busy time.  My husband, Jerry, had a health issue back in November that required surgery.  Fortunately, the best doctor in the country (USA) to perform the surgery is in our new home state of Indiana!  Unfortunately and because this doctor is the best, we are just now (6 months later) doing the hospital waiting game – Jerry’s in recovery, and I’m doing the waiting!

That leads me to the story behind this post.  Jerry had this list of things he wanted to accomplish before his surgery – mostly heavy lifting and yard work stuff.  I decided to be a good wife and contribute what I could to help him with his list.  I decided to offer to mow the yard.  Our “yard” is several acres and is mowed with a riding mower/tractor, but still it is a big job.  Did I mention that I love to mow?  Well, I love to mow!  Jerry usually mows the separating line between the “yard” and the “hayfield”, around the perimeter of the yard, and under the trees leaving me the main areas free of obstacles.  With big expanses of lawn, it can get a little boring.  I decided to make it interesting!  Hee Hee!

I’m riding along, swerving to and fro to get the occasional spike of grass that I missed, when I see Jerry frantically waving his hands.  Dutifully, I stop to see what terrible thing has happened.  Well, did I mention that Jerry has been trained in architecture and drafting and at one time was Public Works Director and over street building in our home town in Texas?  In other words, he likes straight lines and angles!  He did not seem to appreciate the artistic swerves and loop-di-loops I was cutting.  (Go figure!)

Yardwork

He tells me this story about the row farmers (those that plant row crops like corn) and how they would pick a tree in the distance and keep the tractor on line with that tree so all the rows were nice and straight.

I tried to be a good wife!  I really did!

I could not help myself!  I mowed about two straight rows before I started swerving again.  I swerved with great delight and laughed so loud that it’s a wonder the neighbors didn’t hear me even over the roar of the engine.  The more I swerved the more I laughed!  It was great!

The yard got mowed; and when the wind blows the thatch, no one will be able to tell which direction the yard was mowed.

Sometimes you have to “color in the lines” and sometimes you just have to swerve!  🙂

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The Clock is Ticking!

Well, I got part of one list created yesterday.  It’s not much of a start, but it’s a start.  I’m trying a new tactic today – a timer!  I seem to be motivated by deadlines, especially time-sensitive ones, so a timer will be used.

I actually used this technique with a movie I wanted to watch.  I gave myself permission to watch it with the caveat that I would work like a house-a-fire during commercials.  Sure enough, I actually got more done, got in my exercise, and enjoyed the movie!  Highly recommend it!  🙂

Back to my list-making!  (See how I get distracted?)  My goal today is to at least complete the Master List of all the BIG areas I want to address.  I am giving myself the disclaimer that none of my lists will be exhaustive.  Lists can go on forever, you know?  My students will soon be on summer break, so I have to get a handle on my time now before the extra time becomes a distraction in and of itself.

Some people might want to put some kind of label on me because of my random thoughts and direction, but I just say that I am so full of life that it sometimes overflows!  😉

Now to find the . . . oooooh!  You should see that turkey in the backyard!

Backyard Turkey

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My List Has Lists!

Did you ever have so many things tumbling around in your thoughts that you couldn’t keep them from colliding?  I have a full-time student, a part-time student, teach on and share essential oils, maintain three websites (yes, 3!), have plans to declutter and organize my house (primarily the basement), have several sewing projects to complete, oh and let me not forget we are preparing to launch my husband’s new business in which I will be heavily involved in the day to day operations.  The brain is always on duty!

I’ve always prided myself in remembering things and not needing to make lists.  It’s not that I can’t remember, but I now find the need to make lists just because of the shear volume of items I am juggling.

I’ve decided to stop the madness and take the time necessary to make my lists.  I say lists because my list has lists.

I had a minor meltdown yesterday.  Someone waited until the last minute to confirm a training opportunity and assigned homework to boot!  A little over 24 hours before the meeting and I’m supposed to drop everything and reschedule my life.  I was not a happy camper.  I am barely balancing things as it is.  This toppled my house of cards!

Soooo, today I am regrouping and making my lists.  I am determined to have more balance in my life.  I will always put my lists aside to spend time with family, as people are so much more important than things; but my lists will help me prioritize, control my inclination to overdo, and get to those things that will help bring balance.

My to-do list for today

I’m pursuing balance!  If you have any tips on bringing/maintaining balance, list making, etc., I welcome your comments.  No sense making my own mistakes when I can learn from your life lessons. 🙂  What do you say?  Do you need more balance in your life, too?  Come along for the journey.  We’ll help each other along the way.

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Happy Easter!

Three Days

This may be my all time favorite Easter picture!  It speaks to the very heart of what God did for us and what He continues to do for us.   With His Spirit living in us, that same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, nothing is impossible!  Never give up!

“The Spirit of the God who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you. So the God who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your bodies. He will do this because of his Spirit who lives in you.”  (Romans 8:11 NIRV)

Happy Easter to you and yours!

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Day 5 – Spring Break (And So It Ends!)

Well, I’m not counting the weekend as part of my Spring Break, as I get the weekend each week; so today was the last day.  Did I get to do everything I had planned for today?  No, not really.  Was it a good Spring Break?  Absolutely!  I still have some piggy corners that need cleaning – there will always be piggy corners – and my bushes did not get transplanted, although they did get removed from their overgrown spot.  I managed to spend one afternoon in the sunshine, and Tex made it to the Vet.  (By the way, he is fine.  We are adjusting his diet slightly, but he received a clean bill of health.)

The change of routine has been good for me.  I firmly believe that your day, or your Spring Break in this case, is as good as you make up your mind it will be.  I intentionally kept my plans loose and have no regrets about how I spent my time.  I even received some new direction from the Lord about a new ministry idea.  Now, on to Easter!

I hope you have someone with whom to spend this Easter weekend.  It doesn’t have to be family.  Even if you have family, look around.  Find someone who might be alone and include him/her in your plans.  Holidays are for sharing!

Good Friday

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Day 4 – Spring Break (God is Good!)

Well, yesterday was supposed to be all about Tex.  He was scheduled for his first Vet visit, at least his first as a member of our family.  You know what they say about best laid plans.  Yep, it didn’t happen.  There was a mix up with the pet insurance, so we had to reschedule it for this afternoon.  Now, I can get all bummed about the inconvenience of the schedule change.  After all, it did mess up my plans.  I could have done something different if I had known earlier in the day.

But GOD…

God always knows what we need when we need it.  Yesterday, Tex had a really good day.  There was no stomach upsets or anxious clinging.  Today, however, the stomach issues that influenced the scheduling of the Vet appointment are present.  It’s kind of like hearing a noise in your car’s engine but never hearing when the mechanic is around.  You know something is wrong, but you can’t prove it.  We now get the opportunity to take him while he is actually experiencing the problem.

God cares about every issue, every plan, every opportunity in our lives.  And, yes, He does care about our animals!

So, today, on Maundy Thursday, I am thankful for the reminder:

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

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Day 3 – Spring Break (It’s All About Tex!)

It is BEAUTIFUL outside!  It’s probably the warmest day we will have this week, although that’s not saying much.  It is still serious sweater weather!  The first year we lived in NE Indiana I barely wore a coat.  I must have finally acclimated, because I’m always looking for a blanket or a sweater.  It would probably help if I would wear socks, but I’m still a flip flop kind of gal.  My feet really hate to be confined!

On to Tex!

Tex was officially introduced in my other blog on essential oils.  (www.imoilin.com)  You see, a friend and I were conducting a booth last September at the local Tractor Supply for Pet Appreciation Day and demonstrating the use of essential oils for pets and farm animals.  The local shelter (Steuben County Humane Shelter) was there with their animals for adoption.  We had recently lost our former rescue dog, Janey, to the rainbow bridge.  (She was my husband’s 18 year old chow.  He rescued her at age 4.)

I asked one of the volunteers how they selected the dogs for the adoption meets.  I wondered if it was by size, age, length of stay….  She explained their process of rotating the animals and showed me a binder with all the available fur-babies.  I asked to see the ones who had been there the longest.

THERE HE WAS!

Tex Bio

Okay, you have to understand that my husband and I had agreed NO DOGS for at least a year.  Losing Janey was hard and care of a senior dog is all consuming.  But there he was, and his name was TEX!  It was a sign!

It took us a while.  It was still too early for Jerry to think about another dog, and we had planned a trip in October to the Gulf Coast to visit family.  A new dog did NOT fit in our plans.

When we came home from vacation, we realized just how empty our house was without a fur-baby waiting to greet us.  Jerry said to call the shelter.  Sure enough, he was still there!  We found out he had been there for over 18 months and was actually at another shelter before that.  He and another dog were part of an owner surrender.  His buddy had been adopted, but not Tex.

Jerry and I had agreed if even one of us was undecided, it was a “No” on Tex.  It was love at first meet!  He has been with us now since the week before Thanksgiving.  Lately, he has experienced some hangdog days.  You know – lies around, doesn’t eat, wants to eat grass, and doesn’t want to leave our sides.  (Well, he prefers to be by our sides all the time, but this is different.)  And, yes, I have used my essential oils on him.

Here is Tex!  He found the spot of sunshine that was closest to me.  Isn't he precious?

Here is Tex! He found the one spot of sunshine that was closest to me. Isn’t he precious?

Today, he goes to the Vet.  He may not be, but I’m actually kind of excited about it.  I want to know how he is doing and get an official estimation on his age.  (It seems he is 9-10 years old.)

I’ll do a little cleaning to pass the time.  The radio is belting out some of the greats from the 50s and 60s, so I may do a little singing and dancing, too.  😉

Keep your paws crossed!

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