Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Daddy's Gift



Many nights my husband, Stuart, goes up to visit little Kara and he reads books to her. A couple nights ago he took this favorite to share...


From Schoolastic.com: "A young girl and her father take a nighttime stroll near the farm where they live to look for owls. It is a beautiful night, a moonlit winter night. Bundled tightly against the cold, they trudge through the pristine snow, "whiter than the milk in a cereal bowl." As they go, hidden in ink-blue shadows, a fox, a raccoon, a field mouse and a deer watch them pass. A delicate tension builds as the father imitates the great horned owl's call once without answer, then again. Finally, from out of the darkness "an echo/came threading its way/through the trees."

Author Yolen has given the very youngest readers an understated vignette, completely from real life. The young girl, in fact, is based on her own daughter. There is nothing overtly fantastical here. But John Schoenherr's Caldecott Award-winning watercolor paintings have made the familiar wonderful and strange. From his brush emerges the bold stare of a nocturnal owl, and farmhouse seen from the point of view of one. A beautiful picture book, infused with poetry, which is perfect for reading aloud again and again."
And from the last page:

"When you go owling
you don't need words
or warm...
or anything but hope.
That's what Pa says.
The kind of hope
that flies on silent wings
under a shining Owl Moon."

I have that hope for Kara, that she will be able to experience God's creation with me in some way, the way this little girl in the book was able to share and be shepherded by her father... (by her Daddy, Stuart)

3 comments:

Charity Nee said...

so sweet - i am constantly praying for you guys!! that post made me cry Nancy... thank you for your faith in the middle of this trial and of course your updates!! :)
prayers always,
Jessica faith
Isaiah 40: 26-31

Unknown said...

Hi, Let me try this again! Nancy, your attitude and faith..and gratefulness surely pleases God.
Stu is amazing too.You both seem so aware of what you have..in the special little Kara.
This has comforted me many times..Psalm 34:7--The angel of The Lord encampeth round them that fear Him, and delivereth them.
God's love is beyond measure!
The cuddly little pink animals are so cute and she looks so peaceful.Precious.
I'm grandma to Elliott/9 mos./slhpe. Hope it is okay to say that here.
My attitude is as yours. I would not trade him in!!Beautifully made!
So glad you have church family there to encourage you..though I know..you and your husband are the ones who need the strength..which God is giving you!!
We can pray for each other.
Love,Sandy Kirkley
Marietta, Ga.

Timothy Ethan said...

Nancy, YES Kara CAN experience every single thing that nature has to offer. You may have to adapt some things, and be very descriptive. BUT her hands and ears will come to serve as her eyes.

You may also be interested in www.seedlings.org This website has a lot of good braille books, touch and feel books and scratch and sniff books. They are pretty reasonable in price.