One thing Mom has been talking a lot about lately is eagles. When Mom and Dad were in Florida, they visited a nesting pair and watched the babies grow up. Many times, people have encouraged her with the verses from Isaiah 40: 27-31 (NIV):
Why do you complain, Jacob?
Why do you say, Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord;
my cause is disregarded by my God”?
Do you not know?
Have you not heard? Do
you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or
weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the
weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in
the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like
eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Eagles have become a symbol to Mom that the Lord has not forgotten her, but will comfort and strengthen her. Several weeks ago, Mom and Dad were on the way to Emergency (Mom was in severe pain) and overhead they saw an eagle flying. It comforted them, reminding them that the Lord was with them, even in this time of uncertainty and pain.
So for her birthday, we organized a bird show - with an eagle - to come to her back yard! I heard of James Cowan of Canadian Raptor Conservancy and as it happened, he was in Lucan on May 12 - just in time for her birthday! He brought five birds with him - including a bald eagle.
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| James Cowan |
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| Grandkids waiting for the show |
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| The first bird, a Harris Hawk. |
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| We're watching with interest... |
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| James flies the bird around the crowd... |
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| ...right over Paul and my heads! It was a very interactive show. |
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| The next bird out is a great horned owl. |
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| Isn't he beautiful? |
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| Crouching to fly... |
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| ...right at Peter! He took this photo. It brushed his head as it went over. Peter said, "Owl have to sue you." James replied, without missing a beat, "I didn't know feathers hurt." :) |
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| Watching the show. |
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| A red-tailed hawk. |
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| It gets its name from its brick-red tail. |
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| Mom watched sometimes from her chair, sometimes from a closer vantage point with Aunt Wilma. |
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| An American Kestrel, which used to be called a sparrow hawk. It had beautiful markings, and can eat a phenomenal amount of mice. |
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| It squawked the whole time it was out. A noisy little thing! |
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| Then, the eagle, the star of the show. This is a bald eagle. |
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| After the show, James let us get close to the birds and take photos. |
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| Mom and Dad |
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| Mom and Aunt Sadie |
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| Getting close to the owl! |
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| Grandpa and Julie enjoyed the show too. Dad handed out suckers after the show. |
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| Then coffee and an indoor hot dog roast with some of us. It was a great day! |
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| Mom, may you rise on wings like eagles. May the Lord give you strength for your journey. |
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