Dear Samuel,
You will be one year old on Tuesday July 23, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
I remember traveling to South Carolina to see you when you first came into the world this time last year. Since that time, I have written stories to you and for fellow humans. I wrote the stories to help you and others know more about the things I love and value. Many of the stories and illustrations on www.firstfish.weebly.com are about people who share a common bond because of their love of nature. I hope natural resources and people who enjoy nature will bless your life as they have mine. You may grow up in Slovakia and see a part of the world I have never seen. I know your dad will help you discover beautiful natural places where ever your family lives. Friends and family is the thing that will make life wonderful along with a joy in your heart to learn about our Heavenly Father, His Son and the Holy Spirit that encourage us, when we seek this blessed Trinity. I have learned by trial and error but also with much help from God! Just today for example I was very sad when I lost my tackle box with things from my grandfather and Michelle’s grandfather (“PaPa Fisher Man”, story 10) and also things I shared with my brother Gregg. I was so disappointed a fellow fisherman took my box when I foolishly left it unattended for just a short time. At first I was mad and then I was discouraged. Then I sat by the river and the words of the greatest fisherman of all (Jesus), came to me. It was like I heard Him urge me to forgive. Later the words of Jesus’ friend Peter came to me and urged me to go fishing again as soon as I could, to discover something great. I went home to think about how I was going to continue my fishing and most importantly get ready for an adventure the next day with a brother who I love to fish with. I expressed my first disappointment- since I told your dad I would go on Facebook and try to always have a positive message. What happened next was very heartwarming to me, because many friends encouraged me! One of my past students is an art teacher and still communicates with me. She wanted to help me get some tackle and continue fishing. By the end of the sad day, I had discovered how dear my friends are and I even went fishing in the evening like the spirit of Peter urged. I was very successful and caught good bait in my throw net. With one of the minnows from my net a great fish was caught and something even more amazing happened. I caught a catfish in the throw net! I saw it, before it got out of my net, just before I pulled in my ancient type of net! I felt like I knew how Peter may have felt when he saw some amazing things because he was a fisherman. I would have released it any way and I gave one fish away to a stranger at the lake. In the morning I go fishing again, God willing and if I have sufficient strength. I will be with a wonderful friend and his daughter. We will surely have something beautiful to show others after our adventure tomorrow. If it is not fish, it might be a picture of a sunrise on the Missouri River!
You will be one year old on Tuesday July 23, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
I remember traveling to South Carolina to see you when you first came into the world this time last year. Since that time, I have written stories to you and for fellow humans. I wrote the stories to help you and others know more about the things I love and value. Many of the stories and illustrations on www.firstfish.weebly.com are about people who share a common bond because of their love of nature. I hope natural resources and people who enjoy nature will bless your life as they have mine. You may grow up in Slovakia and see a part of the world I have never seen. I know your dad will help you discover beautiful natural places where ever your family lives. Friends and family is the thing that will make life wonderful along with a joy in your heart to learn about our Heavenly Father, His Son and the Holy Spirit that encourage us, when we seek this blessed Trinity. I have learned by trial and error but also with much help from God! Just today for example I was very sad when I lost my tackle box with things from my grandfather and Michelle’s grandfather (“PaPa Fisher Man”, story 10) and also things I shared with my brother Gregg. I was so disappointed a fellow fisherman took my box when I foolishly left it unattended for just a short time. At first I was mad and then I was discouraged. Then I sat by the river and the words of the greatest fisherman of all (Jesus), came to me. It was like I heard Him urge me to forgive. Later the words of Jesus’ friend Peter came to me and urged me to go fishing again as soon as I could, to discover something great. I went home to think about how I was going to continue my fishing and most importantly get ready for an adventure the next day with a brother who I love to fish with. I expressed my first disappointment- since I told your dad I would go on Facebook and try to always have a positive message. What happened next was very heartwarming to me, because many friends encouraged me! One of my past students is an art teacher and still communicates with me. She wanted to help me get some tackle and continue fishing. By the end of the sad day, I had discovered how dear my friends are and I even went fishing in the evening like the spirit of Peter urged. I was very successful and caught good bait in my throw net. With one of the minnows from my net a great fish was caught and something even more amazing happened. I caught a catfish in the throw net! I saw it, before it got out of my net, just before I pulled in my ancient type of net! I felt like I knew how Peter may have felt when he saw some amazing things because he was a fisherman. I would have released it any way and I gave one fish away to a stranger at the lake. In the morning I go fishing again, God willing and if I have sufficient strength. I will be with a wonderful friend and his daughter. We will surely have something beautiful to show others after our adventure tomorrow. If it is not fish, it might be a picture of a sunrise on the Missouri River!