Our family is very sad this week.  Our cockatiel Polly flew out the front door on Monday.  We heard her off and on all Monday and on Tuesday we heard her and saw her perched in a tree in the back yard but a hawk scared her and she flew off into the woods.  Today we haven't heard or seen anything of her.  It's cold with the lows dipping down below freezing every night and tonight it is supposed to rain changing into snow.  I whistle (call for her) each time I go outside--which is several times a day.  It's hard to sleep knowing she's out in the cold.  I've been praying that the Lord will keep her safe, warm, fed/watered, and bring her back to us.  At first my prayers were demanding and I felt so distressed.  Now I am asking for the Lord's will in this whole thing and praying that He will give us the grace to withstand the loss--especially the children.  I know that He cares for our hurts not matter how small.  I will continue to call her--the Lord is capable of working a miracle. 

     Last week she started darting towards the door and I knew that I needed to clip her wings.  We've never taken outside since the last fiasco.  I was planning to do it over the weekend but just didn't find the time.  A painful lesson in procrastination. 

     I realize that our "loss" is so insignificant in light of so many other hurts in the world.  I confess that I feel a bit guilty for even mentioning it.  Sigh.  But this blog is about letting friends and family know what's going on in our lives.  I sure hope that 2008 gets better cause, so far, I'm not real impressed.