To See When We Can See: 2020 Eyesight

By Hilary Franey

Even now, the adventures continue...

It's been a strange, difficult year for the Franks family. 2020 has proven to be a year like no other. Steve, Laika and Raoul don't know what to make of these puzzling times, watching their beloved owners endure some pretty harrowing events. The smart-aleck parrot, the lovable orange cat, and the wise but waning husky are at it again, getting into all manner of unplanned shenanigans.

And they find themselves suddenly accompanied by a new friend, a fraidy cat named Midge.

Surprises, uninvited adventures...or as Steve says, "thrills, spills and chills" are the constant companions of the unusual, nutty animals who never disappoint where wisdom, wild risks, and divine intervention play out.

You won't soon forget this endearing, charming, faithful group, whom God seems to use at every turn.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 16, 2022
• ISBN: 9781639034109

Book preview

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To See When We Can See

2020 Eyesight

Hilary Franey

ISBN 978-1-63903-411-6 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-63903-410-9 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by Hilary Franey

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

1 Corinthians 13:12 KJ

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing, and perfect will.

Romans 12: 12

Dedication

First and foremost, this work is for you, Lord. You wrote it, not me. You never failed to bring me each chapter. When I sat down to write, I had no idea what I’d say or how I’d say it. You always deliver, Lord God!

As in the first book, I would not have had the stories to tell without my family. Will and Niko were always the key players in the inspiration and also actual events, (not to mention the family pets).

Just as importantly, to my son and daughter-in-law, who continue the battle to raise godly boys, and who braved an impossibly bizarre year, to say the least.

In both books, but in particular this one, I had another cheer-leader helping me along with exuberant encouragement and critiques; these pages are dedicated to my sister. When I’d wonder if a story line was too strong for kids, she’d tell me the truth. Thanks, my sis, for the time and love you contributed.

And last but not least, to my hubby, for being willing to slog through the chapters when I asked. He suggested bits of fun details I had not thought of.

Thanks, my dear family!

Blessed is the one who perseveres under the trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

James 1:12 NIV

Themes

Unexpected changes in our lives

Danger

Perseverance

Fear and how God sees it

Disaster and Tragedy

Stronger dependence on God

Young love

Family

Friends

Community

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.

2 Chronicles 16: 9

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

Introduction

The second book was never supposed to happen. In fact, the first one, TO SEE WHAT WE CAN SEE, was only intended as a labor of love for my grandsons, never to be a real published book. But God seemed to have other plans. And my grandson, Niko, asked me why I’d stopped writing stories when the first book was finished. My sister kept cheering me on too. On top of that, the coronavirus hit our world in 2020, and turned everything upside down, so why not write about it?

You’ll notice throughout the book that big words were used, not necessarily understood readily by our age group (9-12), but I love the fact that kids are smarter than we think they are, curious, inquisitive, and have a hunger for reading, when we encourage it. I figured it might help to build on vocabulary, therefore I included big words so kids will go to moms and dads for definitions.

The following pages depict what my family endured, through a truly baffling and extremely difficult year. There are imagined minor story lines added for fun and interest, but most of what you read here actually happened. As you scan the themes page you might be somewhat surprised or taken aback at several that were included. Please know, my intention was only to bring a few hard concepts to children growing up in a chaotic world, but never to frighten, only to help. We must hold onto the belief that our God is in control and has a plan for our children’s and grandchildren’s lives!

As believers, we are promised various trials, difficulties, suffering and loss at times in our lives, but that’s not the end of our story. Our hope is assured in our futures, through our faith in Jesus Christ, who brings the ultimate victory in this life and the life to come!

Chapter One

Puzzling Times

Steve sat on the wooden sill at the big picture window in the living room, and gazed out over the towering pine trees, and thought. He did his best thinking here. It was the one place he could be away from all the hurried footsteps clomping around him. It was fairly high off the floor, and of course, gave him the prettiest view in the house, except maybe the railing off the master bedroom deck.

He’d been in deep thought lately about how strange the last few months had been around the Franks home. It kind of began a little while after the Christmas and New Year’s holidays had passed. At a time of year when the mom and dad usually went to work, and the boys were in school, somehow, all that had changed. His routine was really off, because of this new way of life that seemed to be here to stay. He and Laika and Raoul had discussed this confounding transition several times. The only sense they could make of it…there was a sickness going around and people had to stay home.

Steve missed the days when he had the house all to himself. It was so peaceful. He could nap when he felt like it, have a random snack, explore the closets undisturbed, or just sit like he was at this moment, at his favorite window, appreciating the beautiful forest and just quietly thinking.

Even the adventures had come to a halt. The animals believed that their owners needed them around during this unusual time. Raoul stated, We bring comfort to them when life gets hard. The trio could sense the feelings of everyone in the family; they could see that normal activities had ended, and for how long, who could say? The boys weren’t involved in their sports any more. They did school on the computer. The boys’ friends in the neighborhood still dropped by, but not as frequently, and didn’t stay as long.

But there were good things happening too. The mom and dad, Will and Niko, got to spend more time together. They got projects done around the house. They got to know their neighbors even better. Then they really started appreciating things they never thought they would…like the boys actually missing being at school, the dad missing his office and co-workers, the mom missing seeing her clients in person. A new fangled thing called Zoom was taking the place of human contact, as far as the pets could see. The family came to realize how important we all are in relationship to our communities, and how much we need one another. And their gratefulness to God increased, even in a time such as this.

One warm, summer day in June the animals had gathered for a nap together on the new, cool sod lawn, one of the many projects completed recently. Raoul wasn’t far away; he perched on the wooden fence under his oak tree clucking softly, his eyes half closed. Laika and Steve wondered if he was dozing or thinking, as they peered through sleepy, slitted eyes too. Just as the dog and cat started to drift off, Raoul let out a shriek that could have woken the dead.

Don’t do that! Laika snapped, shaking his great head. Why do you insist on scaring us half out of our wits at just the wrong time?

You mean just at the right time! Raoul squawked. He laughed raucously for a while and then said, We need an adventure.

I don’t know about that, Raoul. You yourself said our owners need us close by right now, Laika retorted.

Yes, this is true but things seem to be calming down and who knows, maybe the sickness is winding down too. I need to spread my wings and you two could use some exercise, and not just up and down the street, Raoul