by Sharon O | Jul 10, 2013 | Uncategorized
The other half of our day on the river was pretty good until one of our teams hit a bridge and capsized their canoe.
They had headed through it and somehow hit sideways and slammed into the center post.
The canoe went over and they were in the water in seconds even with life jackets the water was swift and the current was fast.
They were good swimmers and made it to shore.
We prayed for their safety and we prayed for a recovery that would not be too difficult.
When a canoe is over turned it is a very difficult task to move it.
There is water current and water pressure and it is very similar to a strong suction cup.
Fortunately along the shore line there was a man who lived nearby with a motor boat.
Between the motor boat trying to attach ropes to the canoe and the man power of at least five guys after what seemed like over ninety minutes on the water the boat was pulled to shore and then turned over.
We waited by the side of the waters edge watching, and praying for the canoe to be rescued.
Our team members were safe and other than being shaken and a bit scared they were not hurt.
We all clapped and yelled when it was finally pulled to the other side of the waters edge and turned over.
The only items they lost were a few towels, bungee cords and a tube of chap stick.
We continued our trip down the river singing and praising God that our team was back together and everyone was safe and not injured.
As we were chattering with each other someone said in a quiet tone, “shush… there is an eagle ahead”.
Our silence was in anticipation of what we were going to see.
Over to the left was a large bald eagle and he was sitting in a tree watching us.
It then moved in flight and hovered over our team circling three times.
I was not able to see this but those who did said it was amazing.
Then the eagle flew over us and into a tree on the other side of the river.
We felt it was a ‘blessing’ and a gift to see such a beautiful bird and perhaps a sign that all was going to be
well for the rest of the trip.
by Sharon O | Jul 9, 2013 | Uncategorized
We did our 2013 canoe trip and we survived in spite of many incidents that could have been dangerous and or life threatening.
Each year the trip is a challenge.
Not a bad challenge but just the idea of camping, and taking enough for a canoe trip demands a lot of planning and thought.
We stay in a campsite and set our tents up and our chairs and our food and tables and then we talk about the days out on the water.
This year the water was more swift and higher than normal.
Our guide who happens to be my husbands oldest brother was apprehensive about the waters depth and also the current was much faster than we normally try to navigate.
We left home on the fourth and arrived into camp with the idea of celebrating the fourth with each other.
We had the typical hot dog and potato salad with watermelon dinner.
It was fun and festive. Some of the ladies had brought with them red, white and blue tablecloths and pinwheels.
We shared around the camp fire and just enjoyed the time spent together until one of our guys accidentally stabbed himself with his pocket knife fortunately we had a vet with us and he did the doctoring and wrapping and it seemed to be alright.
The next day we were supposed to be on the water but the boss said it didn’t look good.
SO we went hiking, or spent the day in Sun River a resort place in Oregon.
Some had ice cream at Goody’s and others had Carmel corn.
Back at camp we talked more about the next day on the water.
That night a few of us were attacked by an internal bug and we did not feel very good.
I personally was not sure after a rough night if I could go out on the water for five or six hours.
We paced ourselves. Had some tums. Prayed. Ate some yogurt and prayed more.
Then we set off on our trip down the rivers edge.
The weather was around eighty in temperature and it was very nice.
In the beginning it was relaxing and good.
The water was much faster and the current was often working against us.
The fourth of July weekend was also not to our benefit.
Part of our ‘trip’ included many extra boats, kayaks and inter tubes tied together and in our way.
We are not accustomed to that many people on our quiet retreat on the water.
The journey became not as relaxing as we had hoped and it was also challenging to navigate away from the other people.
God was showing us many things throughout this trip.
The biggest lesson was to be flexible.
by Sharon O | Jul 3, 2013 | Uncategorized
Soon we are going on our much needed canoe trip.
My heart is heavy today for assorted reasons and I do feel we need some time away.
Life has been busy and very hard at times in the last few months.
It has been both financially and emotionally draining.
I sometimes just want to take a long relaxing nap but when sleep comes it doesn’t seem to come easy.
The temperature outside has been in the high 90’s and for our area that is hot.
We do have air conditioning but it is still warm and sometimes uncomfortable for us and the animals.
When we get away and on the water there is really nothing to worry about.
No concerns other than to not dump over as I don’t know how to swim.
The landscape around us and the views are so relaxing and beautiful.
Often times we can see birds hovering in the sky or deer along the sides of the bank walking near the water.
A few times we have even seen eagles nests and even eagles sitting high above our heads.
You cannot believe the quiet.
It is so peaceful and calming to the soul and spirit.
We follow the waters current and the other canoes in our team and
we watch the clouds and feel the wind in our face.
It is refreshing.
Healing and calm.
We prepare for good weather and also the not so good.
Last year we found ourselves in the middle of a torrential rain.
It down poured on us for at least a half hour or longer.
It was warm and also a bit scary when the clouds got darker and darker and the wind increased in strength.
The water had a current that didn’t flow easy and it made us work.
We all had hats on and soon rain gear.
The adventure continued for another four hours till we could get off the river and back into camp.
Fortunately we had clothes that dried fast and also the air wasn’t cold it was just wet and dark.
The day on the river brought a lot of surprises for us.
Kind of like the lessons of life.
Storms happen and feel dark and overwhelming and then in just a short time
life is better and things begin to look hopeful.
The lessons of life are always good for us to think about.
When dark days come just remember the sun will return and it will be good again.
At that point we just have to remember to look up and say
“thank you” for being with us.
by Sharon O | Jun 30, 2013 | Uncategorized
Just wanted to remind my readers who ever you may be as of tomorrow Google reader will not be working.
SO if you read this blog through Google reader you might want to subscribe to it through your email service using the email subscription box on the side bar of the blog.
I did sign up for feedly but I have not figured out a code for it yet.
So my suggestion would be if you want to remain a reader.
To sign up for email posts only.
It is a big change for a lot of bloggers but it is necessary to tell all who participate to be proactive in their reader box or miss out on these posts.
Thank you for being both supportive and encouraging.
by Sharon O | Jun 27, 2013 | Uncategorized
The other day while putting away the extra leaf in our dining room table I received a major sliver.
It hurt right away.
It ached yet I could not see it although I knew what had happened.
The tiny edge was visible but not removable.
I waited.
It has been over a week and it is sore but still not visible.
Not ready to show me it’s ugly self.
As I was driving to the store the idea or thought came to me.
Emotional healing is very similar to a nasty sliver.
It hurts really bad when it first happens.
Then it dies down until it is time for it to rise to the surface again and then we are faced with abundance of feelings as to how and what is this and why am I feeling this way and where is this coming from?
When my own healing happened it was slow.
It had to be.
I could not look at or tolerate what was rising to the surface.
It was hard waiting for the ‘pain’.
You can’t talk about something when you don’t see it or even feel it.
I knew the heaviness was there.
I knew the hurt was deep.
I couldn’t see or find the source.
Emotional healing is like that.
It is slow. It is painfully slow.
Very similar to a nasty sliver that can take weeks or months to come to the surface before it’s ready to be removed.
IF one tries to move it too soon the pain is more intense.
Emotional healing is the very same thing.
You cannot heal too early as it won’t be effective or powerful.
The sliver will come out soon I hope.
Just like the emotional pain that kept me waiting for so long.
When one is used to hiding, it is not safe or good to say what you are really feeling.
The sliver is hiding right now.
I know it is there but is not ready to be exposed.
When it is removed it will feel healed and restored to normal.
I just have to wait and be patient.
by Sharon O | Jun 23, 2013 | Uncategorized
When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile.
Joining Diedra on jumping tandem and the Sunday community
