David’s Birthday

On the  eighth of January my son David will be twenty five.  He is my tenth child and fifth son.  That made my family up to five boys and five girls, a nice round figure and an equal number of boys and girls.

When I was expecting  David we had the opportunity to get some renovations done in our home.  We were blessed to move to a house big enough for all of us while the work was going on.  Aine was our live in Nannie at the time.  She was with us for two years and was a great blessing, helping with my work of rearing children.

Different events happened to us in that year. Brendan had a smart little black sports car.  He was driving past a building in Coleraine when a bomb went off.  The car windows smashed, debris reigned down on the car and Brendan was pretty shaken.  I think the loud blast affected his ears.  But Praise God Brendan was able to drive home.  The car was restored.  Life went on as if nothing happened in the Mc Cauley household.  Brendan did not have time to think he was injured.

I was learning to drive.  I was enjoying my new freedom driving out in the country with the driving instructor.  No children to look after for a while.  One day Brendan suggested I apply to do my test.  The instructor was happy to drive me around as long as I was paying.  So a driving test was arranged.

I had a dream while I was expecting David, that I will never forget.  I saw these scorpion / horse like demons.  They were coming to get me.  I was frightened of them but I remember saying to them “I am going to tell Brendan on you.”  They all ran away.  What the dream was telling me, if I come under attack from any demons, all I have to do is tell Brendan and he will deal with them.  My husband has the authority to protect me.  When I had cancer Brendan was able to take his authority over me and drive away the demons that were trying to kill me.

We spent Christmas in our temporary home and got ready for David’s arrival in the New Year.  A friend sent us a Christmas card with a family of rabbits on the front.  Ha Ha. It did not bother me what friends thought about me having a big family.

Brendan had booked to go to England for a conference in January.  We thought our baby would have been born before Brendan was due to leave.  My babies tended to come late and David was no exception.  I was happy Brendan went ahead to the conference in England.  I hoped our baby would wait a little longer.

We all waved to Brendan as he headed off to the the airport with his friends.  I reassured him I would be okay.  About an hour later my waters broke, which is the beginning of being in labour.  I sent one of the children across the road to my friend, who sent me the card with the rabbits, to ring the airport to try and contact Brendan.  We did not have mobile phones or i Pads then!

Brendan had been to the birth of all my children.  He was always a great support to me at the births, comforting and praying for me.  Would we be able to get in touch with Brendan before his flight left, and return to be with me for the arrival of our son?

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2014/01/06/weekly-writing-challenge-cliffhanger/

GONE FISHING

Caughting FishMatthew, David’s friend, invited him to go fishing along the Co Down coast yesterday evening.  He saw a fishing rod in a dream the night before.  It had inspired him to go fishing.  He got his fishing rods out and called at our home.  Isaac was here so he went along as well.  His family often go fishing
when they go on holiday, so Matthew knew what bait was needed and had all the gear.  He was saying this year when on holiday, they got up early every morning to go fishing but never caught anything.
The boys headed off.  Brendan and I left to pick up Brendan’s mum from hospital. We called at her home first to light her fire and freshen her bedroom up.  She had been in hospital for ten days getting treatment for an infection.  She had recovered well.
We arrived at her home.  Brendan helped her from the car over to the door and proceeded to get the keys to open up.  They weren’t in his pocket.  They weren’t in the car.  This had never happened to Brendan before.  Nannie got back in the car.  We all were quietly praying Lord help.  Brendan kept calm in the tense situation.  Not a good outcome for Nannie.  Eventually a friend helped us get the door opened.  Nannie was glad to get inside.  We stayed late until Nannie was settled.  Brendan promised to come back in the morning to see about changing the locks and getting keys cut.
I got a phone call from David to say they had caught thirteen fish, some Pollock.  They were cooking them and promised to have some for us when we got back. The fresh fish was delicious.   What a pleasant surprise after the disappointment of losing the keys.  The boys were as pleased as punch with themselves.  Isaac had reeled in three at once.  He had never fished before.  This reminds me of the story about Peter who had fished all night and caught nothing.  Jesus told him to fish on the other side and their nets were filled with fish.
My son Aaron was visiting this weekend.  A friend of his, Branio from Slovakia was travelling with him.  I kept some fish for our visitors. They arrived tonight.  I was eagerly telling them about the fish catch and we had a meal ready for them.  It’s funny they did not seem as excited as I was.   When I was out of the room, Branio asked Aaron if there was anything else other than fish.  Fish was his pet hate.  In his own country the fish that is popular is boney and tastes of muddy water.  He refuses to eat it.
I called the boys down for dinner.  Aaron said there was some chilli and offered it to Branio.  I said “No, we have plenty of fish for everyone.  We made it specially for you.”  In our house one of the rules for our children is  “You don’t have to like it, you just have to eat it.”   Branio remembered the scripture that says “Whenever you enter a home, eat what is set before.”  He sat down.  I was unaware of his distress.  He proceeded to pick at the food.  He was surprised.  This fish was different.  It was tasty.   He cleared the whole lot and had a second helping.  it seems the rules apply to visitors as well.
He then told me his story about never eating fish.  He could not get out of eating it because I had insisted.  We had a good laugh.  He said I can’t wait to tell my wife.  She will not believe me.  He said himself he was delivered from his fear.  The fish catch proved a winner and gave us joy.  God has a sense of humour bringing Branio all the way to Ireland to enjoy fish.  God’s promises “The abundance of the sea will be added unto you.” Deuteronomy  33v19
Angela, have you a fishy story?