Endless Possibilities and New Adventures

Happy New Year!  I can’t believe we are in 2019!  I am truly excited for a new year that is full of endless possibilities and new adventures.  I have been doing a lot of reflecting going into the new year and one experience that clearly stands out for me was something that happened during an incredible trip that we took to Hawaii

I have always wondered how I would react in a critical moment when I’m not sure how I will get out of a potentially life threatening situation.  Let me start by saying that sometimes you walk, or in this particular story, sail into a storm that you don’t see coming.  Boy, I did not see this coming!  We had one day left in Oahu and decided that we would like to take a kayak out to a small island that was about a mile off Lanikai beach.  It was a beautiful day of course, and my husband and I were in a two-man kayak along with my brother in-law and sister-in-law who were in another kayak.  Our trip out to the island was awesome with no problems getting there.  We saw so many animals and were able to hike the small island and enjoyed the beautiful scenery.  We were not there for more than an hour, but when we went to leave we noticed that the currents were different and the water that was so serene coming, had changed and appeared a bit rougher.  As we loaded into our kayaks, my brother-in-law and sister-in-law seemed to get started and not have any problems, but for some reason we did not have the same outcome.  We were about half way back to the shore and we capsized.  Trying to turn a kayak back over and get back in is not an easy task when waves keep coming at you.  I can remember looking at the coming waves and a complete feeling of panic washed over me.  I can swim but let's just say that I am not a strong swimmer and definitely not in the ocean.  Thinking back, the fact that we did not have life vests on seems a bit ridiculous and stupid now.  I tried and tried to hang onto the kayak and pull myself up with no success while balancing on the tip of a coral reef barefooted since my shoes sank.  I had several cuts on my legs and feet that I noticed later.  My husband remained very calm and was trying to retrieve our paddles that were floating away.  He kept saying we are going to be alright and to keep a hold of the kayak.


The only way to describe my reaction in this situation was that I completely lost it!  I kept screaming that we were not going to make it and  I wanted to go home.  I started to say Jesus we need you over and over!  I had noticed when we left the island that there was not anyone around us. It is moments like this that you realize how fragile life is!  We actually did turn the kayak over and we were almost in, and then another wave and we capsized yet again.  I can truly say that was one of the scariest moments of my life and left me with the feeling that I had no control. But God!


All of the sudden I heard a voice behind me say are you guys alright?  Do you need some help?  Of course you know what my response was…yes we need help!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!  The kindest man who had come out of nowhere on a paddle board, came to our rescue and uprighted our kayak and helped us get in and then escorted us the rest of the way back to shore.  The feeling of being rescued and put back into safety is the most incredible and awestruck feeling and I will be forever grateful to God for allowing me to learn through this situation that he is always in control, and is a good Father,  and that anything we go through is making us grow stronger and closer to him if we let it!


Thank you Dana Edmunds for your help that beautiful day! We know that God had you in the right place at the right time to be our angel!  I pray for you often and hope that God blesses you beyond measure for your kindness and willingness to help us in our time of need!  Please check out Dana’s awesome photography at www.danfoto.com.  He is an incredibly talented photographer and does beautiful work!


The incredible ending to this story is that the same morning before our ocean excursion we were out shopping at a flea market for souvenirs and I bought a canvas picture of the exact place that we were rescued and if you look really closely, you will see a man on a paddle board right where we were in the water. Now I look at that picture everyday and am reminded that God is always with me in every situation and he is always in control, even in our doubt!  I hope this gives you some encouragement as this new year begins! Life is always challenging, full of happy, sad, good, trying and scary times.  The great news is that He never changes and his mercies are new every morning!


I’m excited to bring some new project redos and articles for everyday life that I hope will be encouraging as we navigate this new year together!  Thanks to everyone who takes time to read my articles and support me! It means more than you know and I do not take it for granted!
Steady On,
Heidi