and then... a raccoon...

Memorial Day festivities have been fun this year. I spent some time with one old friend and her family and friends on Friday, and went to my oldest and dearest friend's home today for a family picnic. We were enjoying each other's company along with her husband and daughters when out of nowhere one of the girls screams at the top of her lungs. All hell broke loose...

The family dog, known to be aggressive toward other animals (mainly cats) was being attacked right next to us on the back porch by a raccoon. The girls scrambled frantically, going inside, hiding behind their mother, screaming uncontrollably. Marc and I immediately went to the dog, trying to break up what we all thought was the dog attacking the family cat. Once I got on my knees in front of the animals, I realized it was a raccoon - probably rabid, since it was mid to late afternoon and the sun was shining. Marc grabbed the dog, then Lisa, holding her as still as possible as I tried to pry the raccoon's mouth from the dog's head. I was screaming to get a stick of some sort to pry the raccoon's mouth open, since my fingers in the animal's mouth wasn't making any quick progress. A rock was tossed at me, with 'hit it!' being yelled from behind. I was screaming 'no!' as I didn't want to hurt anything... but alas I grazed the raccoon's head with the rock, and it launched itself off the porch, limping away as fast as possible with what I assume was at least a broken front leg. Marc followed the raccoon into the woods to get it away from the family, and we spent the next few moments assessing the damage to the dog. Amazingly there was no broken skin on it or on any of us. The raccoon, I don't know. I assume the dog had enough of a hold on it at times to break the skin, but I didn't get enough of a look at it to know. I know it's dying a slow and painful death out there, and that makes me very sad. Marc wanted to go kill it within the adrenaline rush he was feeling... but then relaxed enough to realize it was dangerous and futile...

The veterinarian suggested the dog come in for a booster, and the sheriff's office was contacted in order to report the incident with a (seemingly) rabid animal. From then, there was no appetite for dinner, at least for the three adults. The girls were all freaked out, and I honestly had the shakes for at least half an hour. So much for a relaxing holiday afternoon! We could laugh after a little while, but it's still fresh in our minds. Everyone honestly thought their cat was going to die. Needless to say, everyone was spared that horror, and were left unscathed. Except for the unfortunate raccoon. God don't let it suffer...

Tomorrow: to another friend's home for a relaxing poolside afternoon. I think ;)

Being Honest...

Sometimes it isn't easy to break free from pride in order to be an open book with people. I've been struggling with that lately. Since being out of work, I've dealt with myself on a lot of levels, and finally I can see things more clearly about myself, my worth, my attitude, and my relationship to God.

I've had a job for a week now, and I've neglected to tell most of my friends because of the fear of being looked upon as a failure. I haven't found any work in my field, and my friend knows how much I've been struggling with being alone and without anything to do for so long. She saw how I was beating myself up and wanted to help me. She offered me a job as a delivery person for their auto parts store. Before she offered, however, I had been praying for the Lord to 'drop a job in my lap - simply because I wasn't finding anything'... He did that. Through Lisa. I knew it was His work, and so reluctantly I accepted. My pride had not been one of the many issues I'd dealt with in myself yet... and it had come time to do so. So, I told a spare few people, and they prayed for me, over me, and with me. I can say that, although it's only been two work days so far, I have found a sense of peace and gratitude that I wasn't sure I'd find. The people have been very kind, and it's a lively bunch of folks who work at the shop. They can be a bit on the crass side - things being talked about and said that I'm not at all used to hearing in a work setting... but maybe I'm supposed to bring Christ into the midst of them. I hope I can fulfill that task. It isn't stressful, no one thinks anything differently about me, I think in part because they don't know me yet. But it has been a blessing and I feel like the Lord is working through me and in me, although I'm not at all sure yet what His plan is.

Overall I'm writing this to tell my friends what I'm doing. Keeping it quiet was the last bit of pride that I needed to overcome. There are moments where I wonder why He sent me through all the schooling and working in a business setting for so many years, simply to move me out of that and into this. Healing doesn't come from the explained... and I'm learning that.

My friend knows the purpose of this job for me, and thus I continue to search for work in my field, not knowing if I'll ever get back to where my talents are used to their fullest... but this is a new season. This is where the Lord has brought me, and I can't ever be ashamed of what He wills for my life. Pride is definitely something I've had a problem with for a long time... and He's working me through that.

So, I'm around... tooling around in a pickup truck delivering oil filters, exhaust pipes, and carburetors... to name a few things. I hold my head high, and do my very best, as I always have. Thanks to my friends who believe in me, and pray for me... I wouldn't be the person I am without you in my life.