A Net in Time

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The Noise Came Loudly

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The noise came loudly is the result of an incident that happened this week.  I still haven’t quite forgiven Miss Ivy for being such a fierce warrior cat, but since I don’t know HOW she managed to do the trick, I can’t completely blame her either.  When I brought in a different litter of kits tonight (it’s supposed to be rather cold again overnight),  I made a point of adding additional barriers to the locked door.   I’ll not forget to do that again (addled sick brain or not). 

So welcome to this week’s five minute Friday post (written a couple days late). 

image of person crying. Text, the noise came loudly

The Noise Came Loudly

there it was
the noise came loudly
an eruption of sound.

tears and anger
and a lot of anguish
from a body tired of illness

the suddenness of the shock
brought all those emotions
to the fore front in a blast.

the tears and sobbing
unexpected as it’s not the
first time this loss occurred

but the tiredness and sickness
and the annoyance all combined
into an explosion of regret and hurt.

a young cat ran
(a good thing that)
as a tearful, angry owner

cleaned up a mess from
a huntress’ prowess
three young kits gone

a hubby hovered bravely
nearby, obstensibly
“loading the dishwasher”

but in hindsight
minding his wife who
kinda fell apart

as hopes and dreams for
a lost litter vanished
in the blink of an eye.

how did a locked door
because unlocked by a young cat
allowing her unwanted entrance?

this question will never
be answered, a mystery unsolved,
but the aftermath is still bitter.

The Beast Player

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The Beast Player is another book I read last summer while on vacation that has just stuck with me, so I’m going to tell you about it.   We have interpersonal connections,

The Beast Player is a story about a young girl, bereaved of her family, who finds herself in the unique position of being able to talk to terrifying beasts while living far away from her people. A coming-of-age story where change is vital for man and beast.

The beast player

Basic Details for The Beast Player

Title: The Beast Player  Book 1
Author: Nahoko Uehashi, translated by Cathy Hirano
Series: The Beast Player
Publisher: Square Fish
Pages: 368
Intended Audience: 12-18 years
Genre: fantasy, epic fantasy, women and girl issues, 
Available formats: hardcover, paperback, audio, kindle

Nahoko Uehashi is a Japanese author who primarily writes fantasy books. She is an associate professor at a Japanese university.  She attained a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology.  The indigenous peoples of Australia are of interest to her.   Writer of several books, The Beast Warrior is the second in this series. 

the beast player

Digging Deeper

One of the things I appreciated in this read was that it didn’t read like a translated work.  The story proceeded as I expected it to without feeling stilted due to translation issues.  You could tell it came from another culture, but it fit so well with the storyline, so it felt like part of the story. Just like you would expect with any book written by someone raised in another culture.  Your culture influences everything about you doesn’t it? 

I also just liked this journey of discovery.  Enjoying seeing Elin develop an understanding of her past, and learning how to be the person she was meant to become was just intriguing.   She was pushed out, pulled in, and learned over time to ask for better.  And in the end, her people learned and did better.  A good thing that eh?  

Artwork and more

Artwork is minimal and varies from chapter to chapter as part of the heading.  Simple drawings that have something to do with what the chapter is about.   

You’ll find the chapters have smaller chapters/sections within them, all numbered.  This breaks the long chapters up into readable sections. 

I loved how each of the main characters stayed true to themselves.  Elin’s mothers devotions to her beasts (to the extent she died for them).  Joeun, who took her in, and then the teachers at the Beast Academy, the leaders of the land, and the living shields who protect her.  Each glimpse of these people just open up their characters a bit more.  My favourite character I think was the Ialu one of the royal shields. A strong, silent man with a love of carpentry and a fierce deadly intense quality to him.  A quiet thinking man with reflexes quicker than a cat.  Such an interesting character, I could read a book just focused on him.   Isn’t it great to have books with fascinating characters in them? 

At times I found the story a little bit slow and I just wanted things to move along.  Helped me develop a bit of patience I suppose that eh?  🙂   You will learn a lot about a variety of animals, mostly the Toda and the Royal Beasts.  Animal care is a big focus of how the story develops.   Be prepared for some politics, there are people in battle just so you know.  

I’m glad there is a second one in the series called Beast Warrior.  The second picks up the story 10 years later.  I hope it will give a solidly satisfying ending, I’ll find out when I get it eh?   But Beast Player is do definitely worth the read!  

The Second Time

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WOOT WOOT, it’s a Friday night and I’ve actually found the time to write a Five Minute Friday post ON a Friday night!!!   Who could of thought eh?  🙂  The Second Time came to me when hubby started the next episode of a show I started to watch just before he headed up to bed.   He’s got an early morning bible study in the morning, that I think he’s leading, so sleep is vital.  I’m about to hit the hay myself, so I’ve brought in my baby bunnies for the night, given the cats their snack, and have gotten all warmed up so I’ll fall asleep quickly.   So I need to finish this post before all that goodness wears off!  🙂

image of books with headphones. text the second time

The Second Time

This is the second time
I’m watching the show “Alias”
and there is a certain draw to
watching a woman do her job well but
at the same time thinking, she’s just<br />a bitty thing, how is she taking down
these big body-guard type men?

So that adds an air of
unbelievability to it, lending
to some distance from the story, keeping
me from being completely drawn in.

But since it’s the second time watching
I’m picking up things I missed
the first time through.
Seeing more of her anger,
determination, and hidden pain.

It’s not quite the second time
that I have started a bible reading plan,
but it’s the first time I’m deliberately
doing it as a listening adventure.

And it’s not the first time I’ve
listened to the bible via audio,
but it’s the first time I’ve dedicated
a time to do so, a time when I’m doing
something active so I pay more attention
to what I’m listening to.

And so I see myself more in the actions
of the Israelites. Their whining and complaining,
their lack of trust, and their “let me do it my
way” attitude. I see the sneakiness, willfulness,
and the “let me double check” stuff.
I’m barely into the book of
Exodus… how much more of myself
will I see in over the year?

And as I see myself, you know what else
I see? I see God saying “hey you lot!
Stop it! Let me help you. I’ll give you
some guidance that will lead you to
see me more clearly.” Along with
other things.

And he’s just showing them love.
Dealing with Moses’ objections.
Feeding a complaining mob.
Making promises with sneaky families who
lie to cover their faults.

And so I expect over the course of
the year, I will see God’s love
and faithfulness more clearly.
See what I need to repent of more
dearly. And so, my walk back into
the security of God’s grace will solidify.
And that will be a good thing.

Do Me A Favour

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The five minute Friday word prompt this week is favor (american spelling) but we’ll use the correct spelling in this poem Do Me A Favour.  I so wanted to just have fun with this word and I think I sorta did, but not completely.  It’s been a week with a broken toe, some felt “slaps”, a battle with a young cat, and some weird days at work. 

Right now I’m waiting for my son to come home (though I won’t wait up much longer).  I’m not waiting up cause I’m worried, it’s more that I’ve hardly seen him today and wanted to say “hey, how’s life going my young adult son?  Is all good in your world?”  But that might have to wait until tomorrow…. If he gets home safely!  🙂  Mama’s hearts eh?   

text do me a favour, image of party hat favour

Do Me a Favour

Do me a favour if you please
spell it correctly please oh please
this American spelling trying to take over
the “u’s” are important the world over!

“Hey mom, can I borrow the car?
you see my gal needs me to pick
her up after work, so can you
help me out so I can help her out?”

Do me a favour, if you might,
can you pick up this, right now, tonight?
you see I have this thing so I don’t
have time, but if you could, so much delight!

“HUN!!!!!” The yell comes from the
back door. “Can you open it please?
My hands are full and well…
help would be swell!”

So I have a favour to beg of you,
Since you are going to that town,
could you stop on the way home and
pick up some bananas? I’ve a hankering.

“So rabbit friend of mine, I have this darling
young rabbit, who doesn’t want to become
rabbit stew. She’s pretty and well-behaved
and could you take her in free of charge?

A request if I might.
Could you do this job for me
before you go home today from work?
I ran out of time to do it so… Please?

So many favours, some phrased as such
and others as requests or questions
or hollers for help! What does it cost us
to meet those calls for assistance?

Considering how much we’ve been given
even before we knew enough to call out for help,
or despite the fact that we would NEVER call out
for help. Jesus acted.

So what stops us from acting?
From extending that same grace to others in
their time of need, or sometimes even
before they know the need exists?

So act now or not?
but ask yourself why.
Regardless of what your decision is,
it’s good be reflective eh?





It Takes Effort

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So I completed this word prompt over a couple of days.  Writing at night and falling asleep necessitated such a decision.    But it’s good to take time to write you know?  Keep my brain moving forward. The word prompt this week is Effort, so I turned that into It Takes Effort. 

It Takes effort, text with image of man standing with head against a wall.

It Takes Effort

it takes effort to be successful
and it takes effort to be unsuccessful
isn’t it funny how success or failure is
marked by the same thing?
Effort.

Some might say lack of effort is
the reason for failure.
but if one stops to think about it
one has to make a choice to not do something, or
to not research, think things through, etc.

It’s just a different type
of effort don’t you think?
it’s the effort of not doing, of not
thinking you are good enough, or even of choosing
to be content with where you are in life.

Taking some time to consider effort,
particularly in light of Sunday’s message
on Ephesians Two being reminded of what
I used to be, and how grace has been applied
to me in the life I live.

It took effort on the part of Christ to
extend grace to us. He could have chosen not
to be beaten, made fun of, carry a cross,
die on a cross, have nails and a spear stuck
into him, and then to defeat death.

Imagine for a moment the effort it took.

Choosing to do the hard.
To push through to be better than.
Christ is our example of what it means
to make the effort to be more than expected.
Don’t you think?

Whiplash

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One of my pleasures in life is reading books.   I’m studiously working through my “to be read” pile that sits beside my bed.  Since I’m often working when I’m home (or half asleep in my chair) I’ve been bringing my “to-be-read” books to work to read on my lunch break.    My latest lunchtime read is Whiplash.   

Whiplash is an FBI novel featuring Lacey Sherlock and Dillon Savich, married FBI agents.  They are working a case with what seems to be a ghost, when another case drops into their laps.  Both require their attention, so this mystery book features a two-mystery scenario rather than the normal solve this one mystery read. 

Whiplash by catherine coulter

The Basic Facts for Whiplash

Title: Whiplash
Author: Catherine Coulter
Series: An FBI Thriller, book 14
Publisher: Wide Eyed Editions
Pages: 80
Intended Audience: 7-11 years
Genre: FBI, Mystery, Thriller, Ghost, political thriller, 
Available formats: hardcover, paperback, audio, kindle

Catherine Coulter has written 97 books!!!   Wow… I was shocked to read that!  🙂  She gained her skills writing historical romances.   She eventually branched out into writing thrillers.  In this series she’s written 27 books.   She lives in the San Francisco area with her hubby, loves to hike, watch football, and amuse herself writing novellas. 

So What Did I Think?

One doesn’t get to be a New York Times bestselling author by putting together shoddy work.  Whiplash is no exception.  It’s a well-paced story with interesting characters. 

I was SO not expecting an F.B.I. agent that could talk to ghosts.  Admittedly, I’m very skeptical when it comes to that sort of thing but I can work with it as part of a storyline.  Just seemed a bit … Surprising I think is a good word. 

The agents seemed to be good at their jobs not just because of the training they receive, but also due to their innate abilities to pay attention to details. Those details matter when you are tying details together.   Coulter managed to surprise me with who the bad guy was in the second mystery case.  it’s good to be surprised once in a while eh? 

So because the story had great pacing, surprised me, and I liked the characters… I laughed, I gasped in horror, and quickly turned pages.  🙂  Go read it!   A fun who-done it! 

Satisfaction Reduces Bitterness

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ah, the break is over!  We are back to writing our five minute Friday posts!   Today the word is Satisfied. I thought I would do a play off the word satisfied.  You see I was watching a youtube short earlier this week and a guy said “bitterness is a poison meant for someone else that you take yourself”.   I thought that was such an interesting statement and it’s just been sitting with me. So here’s my Satisfaction reduces bitterness post for you. 

image of lady smiling and looking up. text Satisfaction Reduces Bitterness

Satisfaction Reduces Bitterness

A statement made in a random video short
“bitterness is a poison meant for
someone else that you take yourself”.
Isn’t that an interesting statement?

What causes bitterness?
and Why is it a poison you willingly take?
When I think of bitterness I think of people
who are self-centred and wanting things a certain way
or people that have a hardness in their heart.
Perhaps not one they intended to have, but
one that just rather crept up on them until
it became a habit.

But I got to thinking that perhaps, perhaps
I wasn’t getting the full picture. So I went to
google and it told me the following.

Bitterness is the result of

+ Being hurt by someone, especially someone you love and trust.
+ Betrayal within a romantic relationship or parental abuse.
+ Feeling mistreated or a sense of injustice.
+ Not forgiving others or yourself.
+ Holding others to a higher standard than yourself.
+ Believing that things will never get better.
+ Overgeneralizing.

man hands holding perfume
Photo by حثل on Pexels.com

God on Bitterness

In Hebrews 12 we are warned to not
let a root of bitterness creep into our lives.

And in Matthew 6 bitterness is linked to a
lack of forgiveness.

Romans 3 tells us that the man without God
is full of bitterness and all sorts of things
lacking in goodness.

Bitterness the result of complaints within us
tells Job 10. While Proverbs 10 sneaks in the
thought of a lack of joy being a causal factor.

So it’s more than what the world would tell us,
it’s a heart and mindset issue.
It’s a thing that takes us away from having
satisfaction in God.

lady in beach silhouette during daytime photography
Photo by Jill Wellington on Pexels.com

How to increase our satisfaction!

Do you see the repeated refrain
on how bitterness is the
result of anger, lack of joy,
lack of forgiveness, and not leaving room for God. 

So how can we find more room for God?
Ah, take the time to see HIM in those
things that make you angry.

Find moments of joy regardless of
how small they are!

As corny as it might sound, consider
where Jesus might be in a scenario that
has you steaming a bit at the seams.

And take the time to breathe.
Breathe and remember whose you are
and what he’s called you to be.

Seriously, bitterness can be a tough one
to battle. It’s so instinctive at times you know?
To see the hurt, to remember it, and to think
GAH, not again!!!

But you need to do better!
“I” need to do better!!! Seriously.
God wants more from me and you than for
us to willingly take poison that only hurts us.

Shall we move forward together?