Three Goldfish and a Bobcat

Emma looking at goldfish

My two and a half-year old Granddaughter Emma was so excited as I lifted her up on top of the kitchen counter to see the three goldfish in our aquarium the day before Thanksgiving. As soon as she saw the fish swimming around, she immediately started shaking from fear. She was unaware that there was a piece of glass in between her and the bulgy eyed fish. Even though I tapped on the glass proving to her that there was a barrier between us, it took awhile for her little mind to process and accept it.  After she got comfortable and felt safe, we showed her how we open the plastic hatch at the top of the tank and drop fish food into it.  When I lifted up the plastic door to drop the flakes in, she again, shook and wanted me to let her down off the counter fearing what she did not understand. Until… curiosity got the best of her and she wanted back up to see again.

The innocence of a child is priceless. They can teach us so much. When we understand what we fear, it's a little easier to work through. For example, many people, myself included fear the unknown. I was recently asked to speak at a breakfast in a few months and I am a tad nervous. I am not a trained speaker, although some may beg to differ as I speak often and boldly at whatever I am passionate about. Usually topics that involve morality. I am quite the advocate for my faith in Jesus Christ. I am also an advocate for discerning good and evil.

I will use the analogy of the fish this way: I can speak to anyone at nausea-um, but until they are hungry with listening ears and spirits, it's like the example of me looking at the fish and the fish looking at me in silence, we see each other, but that's it.  We can learn body language by watching, but even that comes from within. Being compassionate with listening and understanding often takes fear away. Making assumptions about someone without understanding and not going deeper (no pun intended) with knowledge, can lead to the false representation of a person. It's hard for people to open up to others and for good reason. Exposing truths about oneself is a risk and often creates fear of judgement. We all need friends that we can confide in and not have to worry about being judged. Emma trusted me with showing her the truth about the safe barrier with the fish. This is a small example of teaching, understanding and trusting.

 

Finally !

We are now the proud owners of a double oven. I have been cooking for retreat guests for five years with an oven that is the size of an over sized microwave. The trucking company that brought the oven out couldn't drive his long haul semi down out dirt road so I met him three quarters of a mile up the road in my second love. My Bobcat!

Our new double oven being unloaded off a Semi onto the Bobcat.

Candy on Bobcat with double oven

Brand New Double Oven.

 

Book News!


 Congratulations to the five winners of the goodreads book giveaway! I have already signed and sent out a copy of my book, Meet Me In The Mountains to Ashley, Shannon, Jenna, Sharon and Amber. Thank you for all who participated. If you would like to take another chance at winning, you will be able to enter again. I will be giving three more signed books away. The date of the drawing will be December the 18th. Just in time for Christmas. Enter to the right of this blog.




As a new author, I am still learning all I can about social media marketing. It's quite a mind-boggling experience. To help get the word out about my book, I now have a media page on this site located at the top of the page with all the info for a newspaper, blog sites interested in an interview and others who might want to know more about me and my book.

Have a great weekend!

Candy