Tag: #lowvision

Our Unwavering Porch Guest

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Sometimes life throws some awe struck moments when you gasp at unexpected surprises. One of those moments came yesterday. For months we have had a bird that builds a nest on our bakers rack on the front porch. In the Spring, I was cleaning and rearranging the porch and found a nest in a wall planter. I figured it was from last year so I threw it away and moved things around. The bakers rack is in the exact area thot planter was previously in. Yesterday we found nest number four! This is a messy little momma and has made the top shelf of our bakers rack her nesting place.

I don’t know much about birds. Each time she’s hatched her young, we figure she’s finished with the nest, to discover another mess in the making. She’s an unwavering little
momma, determined on having her nest there.

Yesterday after book club meeting, mom and I went by Hobby Lobby. I saw the birdhouses were 66% off. Looking over the selection I picked a nice bigger one. I wasn’t even sure if the bird was still around but if she was it would be much cleaner for her to nest in the birdhouse rather than make a mess for us to clean up. Arriving home, I took the birdhouse out to the porch. As I reached to move the decorative watering can, I startled little momma and she flew up startling me! I can’t see her when she’s sitting on her nest because she’s the same
color and it all blends in.

Later when Ron got home I asked him to see if she was on her nest and try to get a picture. I wanted to zoom in and see what she looked like. Technology is marvelous when you cannot see well. Ron took the picture and sent it to me. Zooming in, I took a screenshot then posted it online to find out what kind of bird it was. It turns out that it’s a mourning dove. To think that dove has been nesting on our porch for months made my heart so happy. My eyes filled with tears as I thought of the biblical significance of a dove. The Holy Spirit and hope came to mind.

Truth be told, I can’t live without the hope God gives me. Living with low vision and hearing loss can be utterly frustrating. People do not understand and that is okay. Some understand hearing loss and some might understand low vision but combining them together is puzzling even for me. I see some and comprehend some. Some times the “wheel of fortune” life experience of trying to fill in the blanks is draining. I need to learn from our little momma dove. Each time we threw her nest away thinking she was finished, she just built another one. May I have her unwavering resolve to try again. When I’m trying to listen and miss chunks of the information…try again. When people don’t care to understand.. . try again. When I make so many typos sometimes in text that friends say they understand my “Code”… laugh and try again. When I use voice to text and AI can’t understand me and I’m talking clearly…. try again. I don’t need to worry about tomorrow. God is already there. God cares about every little detail, including bringing joy and encouragement to my heart by discovering a dove nesting on our front porch. Thank you Lord for hope that is renewed everyday. You are faithful.

If you liked this blog post please subscribe and share. I’m thankful for this gift to share when God puts something on my heart. Speaking engagements are always welcome. It God opens a door, He will give me what’s needed to walk through it. You can find my autobiography Rooted by the Water on Amazon. (Hard cover soft cover, and e-book formats.) I pray it gives you great hope and courage to surrender to Jesus. He is all you really need. All for the Glory of God. Be blessed!

Www.shannonkhinson.com

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My Ubers on the water ~ A maiden voyage

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Amazed at the beauty of the lake (Photo credit Leasa P)

Yesterday I FINALLY got to try out the “new to me” kayak. Someone gave me a used Equinox 12.0T two person kayak back in April and I’ve been waiting patiently for someone to go with me. Not knowing the ins and outs of this particular kayak, I wanted someone who knew the sport to come along. Yesterday was the day.

My friends Tami and Leasa were my “Ubers on the water”. With my low vision and hearing combination it’s safer for me to go in the two seater. Tami and her husband have gone for years so we wanted her to come along for our “trial maiden voyage”. I bought life jackets and whistles. Weather was perfect and very few boaters, so all went fairly well.

We put the kayaks in at Nivens Landing in Tega Cay and paddled down to the dam on the south end of Lake Wylie: part of the Catawba River basin. I remember this stretch of the lake pretty well. We used to sea-doo in that area for years. I saw houses that I called “landmarks” to me simply because I could see them and it helped me to know where I was on the lake. We also passed a small island that I had completely forgotten. Tami and Leasa saw a big bird at the top of one tree on the island. There must have been a nest up there. Oh the treasure they have of good vision.

My Ubers 😎

As we got closer to the dam we could feel the suction of the water. I’m assuming the dam was opened .We decided to turn around and head back toward where we got in. Once we reached Nivens Landing, Tami was surprised at the amount of water in our kayak. In her one seater, holes go straight through the kayak and are not plugged. In my two seater all the plugs were in. I’m assuming as water got in from paddling or wakes, there was no place for it to drain out. The thought of that is slightly unnerving and paddling without any plugs in is downright intimidating. We will try it again on the other side of the dam that is popular for tubing and kayaking and decide whether to keep it or not. I’m going to do some research.

It is such a joy to be out on the water. I always feel so close to God in His beautiful creation. Being mindful of my limitations, I watch the surface of the water for wakes and know when engine powered vessels are passing. I also wore my old Niada cochlear implant processor. It doesn’t work well but I can hear some voices and environmental sounds with it. Of course I could also smell gas when boats and jet skis passed by. With my low vision and hearing, I use every bit of the working senses I have so I can enjoy the treasure of nature.

Truth be told, having to go in a two seater makes me feel like a “bird in a cage”. ( Perhaps that should be my next blog topic. You would be surprised at how confining limitations can be.) Going with a partner, I have to match the paddling, speed and direction. Yesterday I just copied Leasa’s paddling and knew which direction she wanted to go. Going solo I would be free!

Today my husband Ron and I looked at some one seaters. We wanted to see the drainage holes and compare the weights. So many pros and cons. As we research we will find the best fit. I believe I have found a hobby that I truly enjoy. Now if I could just get Ron onboard. He prefers things with engines. I’m thankful friends enjoy going and there is always hope Ron will eventually like it. This girl can dream.

If you liked this blog post please subscribe and share. I’m thankful for this gift to share when God puts something on my heart. You can find my autobiography Rooted by the Water on Amazon. (Hard cover soft cover, and e-book formats.) I pray it gives you great hope and courage to surrender to Jesus. He is all you really need. All for the Glory of God. Be blessed!

Www.shannonkhinson.com