Bird Island




	WRITE 2 THE HEART Stories that are aimed "Write 2 the Heart" April 15, 2003 Cheryl Speir, Editor, moderator@write2theheart.com ----------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to your latest issue of "Write 2 the Heart" You are receiving this newsletter because you requested a subscription or a friend generously forwarded their copy to you. To subscribe send a blank e-mail to subscribe@write2theheart.com. ------------------------------------------------------------ There are places that bring peace to our soul and we are always blessed when we can find them. First time submitter, Loren, shares his special place for our enjoyment. ------------------------------------------------------------ Bird Island By Loren Moore ------------------------------------------------------------ Bird Island is not an island. It is a thick grove of Cypress trees in Caddo Lake. It's about 500 yards long and 200 yards wide. It is in the shape of a semi-circle. The Cypress trees around the outside edge have grown thick and close together, while the trees on the inside are spaced further apart. There is about three feet of water on the inside. There are only three places around where a boat can penetrate the perimeter trees to get inside. After I retired, Johnnie and I would go to Mrs. Tucker's camp on Caddo and spend the month of May. May was the best month for fishing; many different species of fish are spawning and the water is warming. The fish are active, and the weather is starting to settle down from spring storms. We moved into the little red house across the drive from Mrs. Tucker's house and made ourselves at home. Mrs. Tucker bought the house from a couple when they became too old to come to the lake anymore. It had been neglected and was run down. Each time Johnnie and I stayed we painted, repaired, rewired, and re-plumb. We put ceiling fans in the living room, bedrooms, and screened in porch. We redid the bathroom and the kitchen. I even built a fish-cleaning table in the back yard with sink, water, and lights. Each year we would make it a little better and more comfortable to live in. Johnnie didn't go out fishing all the time. Sometimes I would go by myself. Johnnie would stay in and work in the yard or around the house. She built flowerbeds, planted flowers, raked leaves, and mowed grass. She would help Mrs. Tucker with the camp by renting boats, collecting money for the boat ramp or cleaning the cabins. Once a week, Johnnie would take Mrs. Tucker to the bank in Marshall to make a deposit. On those days they would make a whole day of their escape from the camp. They'd go to the beauty shop and have their hair done, then to a restaurant for a meal and shopping. The last thing they'd do before leaving town was go to the grocery store. After all, it was 22 miles into town and they didn't get in that often. Sometimes it would be dark before they got back to the lake. On those days I would have to stay in and run the camp. But, I started to tell you about Bird Island. I had fished all around Bird Island and knew how to get inside. I liked to go inside the trees and look for Bream beds; especially, when I would be by myself. I would get inside the trees and ease along slow and quiet fishing by one tree and then the next. It was so peaceful, I didn't care if I caught fish or not. There were always lots of birds in the trees. There were Black Birds, Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Yellowhammers; Brown Trust, Tree Creepers, and several kinds of Woodpeckers. There were Wood Ducks nesting in the big trees that had hollows in them, and once in awhile you would see a Pileated Woodpecker that is on the endangered species list. My favorite was the little Golden Finch. Lots of times on a hot afternoon after a hard morning's fishing I would go over to Bird Island and go inside the trees. It was shady and cool inside. I would let the boat drift up against a tree and just sit there and relax. It wouldn't be long before I would have a Golden Finch sitting real close serenading me. His song was so sweet all my cares would melt away and I felt at peace with the world. Often they would be so close I could have reached out and touched them. It was as if God had sent them to sing for me and me alone. Sometimes I would take several slices of bread and impale them on a tree limb. Just as soon as I sat back and got still the Golden Finches would start showing up. Sometimes there would be 8 or 10 of them around the bread, and they always sang for their dinner. It was soothing to the soul. I always thought of that old saying, "You should enjoy today while it's here because some day, today will be a long time gone." But that's a whole nother story for a different time. Well those days are a long time gone, now but they will never be forgotten! Loren Moore © 1999 caddo @ digitex.net You are encouraged to write to the authors to let them know what you think of their story, just remember to remove the space before and after the @ symbol. The space is placed in the address to protect our writers from viruses and email harvesting programs. Have a comment on today's story? Send it to: moderator@write2theheart.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- My name is Loren Moore; I'M 70 Years old. I've been married to my wife, Johnnie, for 51 Years as of 11-14-02. I Worked for General Motors Assembly Plant in Arlington, Texas until I had to take early retirement in 1975, because of Multiple Sclerosis. My Hobbies have always been hunting and fishing. I'm an uneducated redneck from the Piney Woods of east Texas. -------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------- Letters From Our Readers -------------------------------------------------------------- What a great illustration from Betty about God's love and his gift of salvation. I can identify with the comfortable feeling of favorites to wear around the house and I'd like to think that I just as comfortable with His love for me and my assurance of life ever after with Him. Thanks Betty! Blessings, Diane Dean White http://www.heartwarmers4u.com/members/?thelamb212 I am always delighted to see Betty's insights. She can take something common and turn it into a spiritual truth. Jan --------------------------------------------------------------- Military Prayer Reminder --------------------------------------------------------------- As you read over this list of names, please take that moment to pray for these young people and their families: Chris Speir Tim Speir Alan Thaddeaus Howard Todd Holland Graham William Julie Sagel Jessie Marshal Thompson Jason Please continue to pray for our country, our leaders, and our troops at this time. If you have loved ones in the military, or who are being called to go overseas, send their names (first and last or first only) to be included in our prayer reminder. --------------------------------------------------------------- Chocolate Alert! I know that got your attention! I am working on a chocolate cookbook to be given away on Write 2 the Heart's web site. This work in progress is tentatively called "Write 2 the Heart of the Chocolate Lover." Anyone who would like to join in the delicious fun, send a chocolate recipe with a brief bio to be included after each recipe. Send as many as you wish. --------------------------------------------------------------- Cheryl's Corner Aaron just told me how God had protected my youngest grandson, Tylor. They were attending a cousin's birthday party and everyone began to play softball. About the time the ball was leaving the pitchers hand, Tylor decided to run on the field to visit his favorite aunt Becky who was batting. Now Becky is an athletic young girl and plays to win, so when she swung at that ball, she gave it her all not knowing a toddler had run up behind her. Everyone there watched in horror as the bat came around. It should have hit him squarely in the head. Tylor never stumbled, he never cried, and they could not find a mark on him. They had Becky repeat her swing pattern and that bat should have hit that baby in the head. I thank God for miracles! God Bless, Cheryl ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- © 2003 Write 2 the Heart Nothing may be reproduced or published without the written permission of the individual author or copyright owner. All rights belong to the authors.