[Vfw-times] Adventures In Chattahoochee Hollar - Eagle's Wings - PART 1 (2/?)

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In the Foxley home, Cheyenne walked quietly from her bedroom with her oil
lamp to the livingroom while the rest of her family were tucked away asleep in
their beds.  The grandfather clock struck four in the morning on this day of
Freedom.  The antique timepiece, made from the skillful hands of a master
craftsman of long ago had been past down from generation to generation, but
still held its grandiose splendor in its luxurious cherry finish and intricate
carvings.  The vixen walked over to the writing desk to fetch a pencil and to 
the
bookshelf to retrieve her beloved worn Bible.  Sitting upon the sofa, she set 
the
lamp on a small table beside her and leafed through her Bible’s  thin 
yellowing
pages.  The pages contained hundreds of marked verses she had cherished
through the years.  The verses contained some of the sweetest promises she
had clung onto and had carried her through her most disconsolate and needed
hours.  The other marked text contained precious verses which had been
illuminated to her and verses she had drawn relation to in her own life.   Yet
others contained inspirations, victories, challenges, and hope for her 
everyday
walk with her Lord.   Did she dare to embark on her daily chores filled with 
its
many trials and vexations without first drawing strength from her Redeemer? 
Especially today, a day filled with many preparations for the celebration?  
Did
she dare to disregard the only opportunity she had to commune with her sweet
Saviour alone?  She shuddered at the dreadful thought.  Finding her bookmark,
she settled into His everlasting arms and read the splendid words that have
been settled forever before the dawning of time.

Another hour found the vixen upon her knees on the hardwood floor, calling her
husband and each of her dear children out by name in prayer.  She also prayed
for the conversion of unsaved loved ones, for her country’s leaders, her 
church,
and the aerial missionary that would be arriving in a few hours to 
participate in
the Fourth of July’s festivities.  Spiritually fed, she walked out onto the 
front
porch.  The sun had not come up yet, and would rise in a half hour in which 
she
would happily begin her chores of cooking and cleaning for the Master.  She
remembered the verse she read  in Colossians 3:23...

“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”

That verse was dear to her in that twenty years ago, all of her laborious 
chores
were done for Cheyenne, and not for Jesus.   How hard she had labored in vain
during those wasted years!   How many unnecessary disappointments and
failures she met along the way because she did not seek and trust her Master! 
 
Then, as a patient and loving father, the Shepherd gently guided this poor,
wandering lamb into His fold.    Now she longed to do service for Christ, her
King!  The peace of God filled her heart during the quietness and stillness 
of the
night, and yet the promise of 1 Corinthians 3:23 sang a sweet melody in the
bottom of her soul...

“And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.”

“Abba, Father,” she whispered softly to her Saviour, knowing her adoption in
Christ Jesus.  She is His child!   What a sweet communion she was having with
her Lord at that moment, what an unspeakable joy!  What a peace and
happiness she felt down to her innermost being, knowing that all of her family
were heading towards the same heavenly Home!     Oh, the happy thought! 
What a Saviour and Friend!   What a wonderful Lord!   With her heart filled 
with
gratitude and thanksgiving towards a gracious and loving Lord, she went back
inside humming the words of Isaiah 51:11...

“Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto
Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness
and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.”

In a few hours, the kitchen was bustling with activity.   Mrs. Foxley, 
Stephanie,
and Anna were busily preparing a picnic lunch as well as pies, cakes, cookies,
and baked bread for the day’s festivities.   They were also preparing food 
for the
missionary who would be coming to stay for a few days.    Travis was present 
as
well, perched atop a stool near the kitchen sink.  The excited youth was 
already
trying his mother’s patience with an inexhaustible amount of questions as he
chattered above the clatter of dishes and the flurry of the morning rush.  
Upon
the countertop and table lay flour, dough, and cake batter amid the pile of
unwashed kitchen utensils, pots and baking pans.  The three vixens worked
feverishly in the calescent kitchen, and Anna had already burned one loaf of
bread.   Ignoring the heat and the flushed look on his mother’s face, he
continued with his inquiries.

“A barnstormer?  ‘An he’s goin’ to be stayin’ here a few days?”

“For the sixth time, ye...” 

“For cryin’ out loud Peanut!  Didn’t you hear Preacher Frye last Sunday?” 
Anna
sharply interrupted her mother. 

The older vixen gave her daughter an irascible look as she rolled out cookie
dough on the table.  Not willing to let the Enemy use her frustration as a
leverage to gain the advantage, Mrs. Foxley closed her eyes momentarily and
concentrated on the sweet promise her Saviour gave her when she met Him that
morning in 2 Peter 1:6...

“And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience
godliness;”

Anna quickly looked at her mother and submissively looked down at her bowl of
bread batter, in an attempt to escape chastisement.   Travis pondered Anna’s
curt response for a moment and asked, “What’s his name?”

Anna glanced at her mother, who was now cutting out cookie shapes and softly
answered Travis.  “His name is Cloudchaser something or ‘nother.”

“Cloudchaser Shaconage,” her mother corrected her.

“Oh,” Anna answered and looked at Travis.   She looked at her little 
brother, who
was busy kicking his legs back and forth on the stool and looking at the few
pictures in the room.   She loved to harass him at times, but she loved him 
with
all her heart.  Besides, she couldn’t let this child grow up without a sister 
chiding
him every now and then.  What kind of sister would she be?  Johnny and
Stephanie had nearly grown out of that phase, and she couldn’t let the poor 
child
grow up without some impish rivalry.   She put her mixing bowl down and walked
over to her brother and gave him a big hug.

“I love you, Peanut,” Anna said as she tousled the hair on top of his head. 
Travis stuck his tongue out and wrinkled his face in a mock look of revulsion 
of
being hugged by a girl.  Stephanie and Mrs. Foxley laughed at Travis’s
expressions.

Anna turned back to the table and looked sullenly at the dirty dishes and the
bowl of bread batter.   “Mama, why do we have to go through this big deal of 
cooking for this man, we don’t even know him.”

“We’re doing it for the Lord, Anna.  This man is a missionary who flies up 
and
down the coast preaching and sharing the gospel.  Pastor Frye knows this man,
and he asked the congregation last Sunday if someone would be willing to put
him up while he was here in town.  We have an extra bed, and so your father
volunteered.”

“Well, isn’t it strange that he performs aerial stunts?  I don’t know of any
missionary that does that!”

“The pastor said that Mr. Shaconage’s father operated a flying circus. 
Cloudchaser now performs his aerial stunts for the Lord, and he hopes that it 
will
encourage people to come to church.”

“Well, I still think we have enough food here to feed an army,” Anna replied.

“When will he be here?” Travis squeaked as he watched his mother put the
cookie dough on a baking sheet.

“In just a few hours.” 

“YAAAAHOOOO!” Travis replied, slipping off the stool and jumping up and down
in delight.  “Can he stay in my room, can he stay in my room?” Travis walked 
up to his mother.

Mrs. Foxley laughed, “Of course not!  He’ll be sleeping in the extra 
bedroom!” 

She lovingly caressed his cheek and held his muzzle in her hand.  Her brown
eyes looked into his deep blues and she lovingly gave him a warm toothy grin. 
 
Travis couldn’t help but to smell the delightful aromas of apple and cinnamon 
on
her apron.  Despite the large breakfast he had earlier, his stomach started to
growl.

“Awwwww shucks,” Travis said disappointed, then brightened up to say, “Can I
have a piece of apple pie?”

“No, Peanut!  You can’t have any at all!” Anna said, taunting her little 
brother.  

Stephanie snickered at her younger sister who seemed to be full of mischief 
that
morning.   Mrs. Foxley ignored Anna and checked the kitchen clock.  “Mercy!  
Time’s a’wasting with all this chit-chat!”  the vixen exclaimed.  “We’ve 
got to get back to work.   Travis, you can have some pie later, that 
missionary’s going to be here shortly!”

“Where’s the festivities going be at this year, Mama?” Stephanie asked, 
wiping
her brow and taking a break from peeling some potatoes.

“It’s going to be at Jabe Parker’s farm.  It was decided during last 
Wednesday’s
prayer meeting.  Mr. Parker has a huge field, and he has a large barn to store
Mr. Shaconage’s plane in.”

“Doesn’t Mr. Parker have a plane, Mama?” 

“Yes, but he hasn’t flown it for a while.   I think he bought it after the 
war.   He
used to be a military pilot.  After the war, there was a surplus of planes so 
he
bought one for personal use.   He didn’t want to give up flying altogether.”

“I saw him fly that plane two weeks ago, but he’s never performed any aerial
stunts.” Stephanie said.

“Well, as soon as you get those potatoes peeled, go ahead and get them
washed up and get them on the stove, we’ve got to hurry.  Anna, I think 
that’s
enough mixing.  Go ahead and pour that batter into the pan and get it into the
oven.  Then you and Travis get started on these dishes.”

Anna, ever full of mischief, chided her younger brother.  “Would you like to 
wear
one of my aprons?”  Stephanie cupped her hand over her mouth and laughed at
the two.

“No, I don’t wanna look like a girl.” Travis frowned as he pulled up a small 
step
ladder to the sink. 

“Here, here!  That’s enough Anna!  Stop aggravating your brother” their 
mother
said as she was putting the cookies inside the oven.

“Yes Ma’am.”

Anna pumped water inside a basin for her and Travis to wash the dishes.