The Vacation To End All Vacations

I have been looking forward to vacation;  no, longing for vacation, since last January.  Three things I need in a getaway: a good walk everyday, connection with family, and beautiful scenery.  I am happiest when my favorite travel partner, husband Joe, is firmly ensconced in the driver’s seat, keeping an eye on me while I wander aimlessly to my heart’s content.

I had big plans all year for several different trips, but had to cancel most of them after I left my job and the money train ran out.

Beautiful Clearwater Lake

So we settled on a one week trip to Clearwater Lake near Piedmont, Missouri in the hope that all three of our sons would be able to meet us there in different shifts, spreading the numbers in the small clubhouse to manageable levels.  I purchased large quantities of toilet paper, paper towels, and trash bags along with meat , meat and more meat.  I packed enough towels, sheets, blankets and other sundries to cover everyone if they forgot their appointed contributions.  The trunk and back seat of the car could not have been more cram-packed with all of the goodies necessary for fabulous home-away-from-home activities.

Just before we left we got word that the number two son and his family would not be able to make it due to some sudden and unusual circumstances.  We were greatly saddened, but continued to roll with the punches and trusted God to put our holiday together the way He wanted it to happen.  The next blow came when the number three son called to say that their newly replaced transmission had broken down on the way to his in-laws home in Wichita, and they would be captive to the car repair process indefinitely.  We settled into the attitude that this would be a respite of unexpected events and it would be best to try and relax and remind ourselves that God was in charge.

The man of the house took advantage of the extra couple of days alone at the lake to put together a trot line-what a kick it would be to snag a catfish to show to the remaining grandkids yet to arrive!  He invested about a hundred dollars into revamping old fishing lines, bait, hooks, licenses, aerators, and buckets-thank you, Walmart-and dedicated one entire day to crafting a perfect ambush for unsuspecting gluttonous fish. His hope was to catch at least one catfish that weighed at least two or three pounds.  The weather was perfect, the lake was quiet, and Joe left the clubhouse by himself to put his trot lines in place while I stayed behind to exercise.

When Joe returned, he was visibly exhausted and a more than a little frustrated.  He explained that while he was trying to tie off the trot line on a gravel bank, he fell onto the rocks and had cut himself  in many places on his arms and legs.  He was trying to accomplish this task with a large party boat and a single oar.

Joe and his oar fight the current

Picture if you will a pontoon boat that will seat 14 people with a cover that acts like a sail in any gust of wind, and one man leaning over the front edge of the boat to the water as he tries to keep the boat from floating away with hooks in his hands.  My man is not just any man, however;  he is Superman-and he made it happen.

I went with him in the morning to check his hooks and prayed he would not be disappointed.  There actually was one channel catfish, weighing a little over a pound, on a hook.  We were encouraged for another day’s try, and hurried back to the clubhouse to prepare for the number one son and his family of six to arrive for lunch.

Josh, Yoli and their four kids were eager to get out on the boat.  We pieced together the available life jackets to fit the toddlers (no one ever likes having a life jacket up around their neck and chin) and headed out on the lake to find a nice gravel beach for the kids to play.  Again the weather was perfect, and we were virtually the only boat on the lake.

Can't wait to hit the beach!

The little girls and Josh probably would have been content to stay out on the water for much longer, but it was clear that we needed to head back to the club for dinner.  We had planned to have a small birthday party for the oldest granddaughter, but Joe and Josh would need to head back to the trot lines before dark to bait them up if there would be any chance of catching more fish before the end of the trip.   Yoli and I watched Jadzia open her presents and enjoyed the delicious “nutcracker” cake created by her mama.  Unfortunately, there were two very unhappy other little girls that depleted any remaining energy for family time in the evening.

The next morning’s weather report was rather ominous, predicting a 50/50 chance of showers.  Skies were overcast and the humidity was heavy.  I was nervous all morning anticipating the worst that could happen, but did not want to disappoint our son, who had a very limited window for this short visit.  We headed out after a quick lunch back to a beach  from which we could make a hastier retreat if necessary.  The little girls did not hesitate to get  into the water and were playing happily when the dark clouds started to roll in over the treetops that surrounded the lake.

Josie laughs at the rain

Raindrops began to fall lightly, and little Josie squealed with delight at the splashes all around her little pond.  The drops did not remain light, though, and we hurried everyone back into the boat to head to the dock.

The rain begins to fall

The hood/cover to the boat was already up, so we had some shelter from the falling rain.  The lake itself was treacherously shallow in unexpected areas that made navigation slower than we would have liked.  At this stage, the three little girls had on their lifejackets and were wrapped in towels trying to eat snacks while sitting on the bench seats.  Yoli was wrapped in a towel trying to keep baby Joseph warm and shielded from the droplets.  Josh was taking pictures and trying to film this new adventure.  Joe, steady as ever, was driving the boat whilst I was praying and trying to avoid a panic attack.

Joe had maneuvered the boat close to a bluff so that we would not be out in the middle of the lake.  The rain was coming down pretty hard now and we moved the girls to the middle of the boat next to the steering wheel.  They were not upset or fazed by the storm at all, and were satisfied to sit on the floor wrapped in their towels, covered by the boat tarps.  Yoli was now near the center of the boat, still clutching the baby and wrapped in one more towel.   The loudest crack of lightning I have ever heard hit directly above our heads next to the bluff.  Before I had time to process what had just happened, a gust of wind blew icy cold rain across my back and knocked the breath out of me.  When I turned around to see what the storm looked like, all I saw was a wall of water, obscuring the view of every mountain that surrounded us, headed right for our boat.  By this time, Joe had secured the boat on top of some rocks by the bluff so that we would not float out into the lake.  Another crack of lightning right next to us, and I was reduced to unintelligible prayers to God for strength and His mercy.

The rain finally abated, and the girls emerged from their shelter to sit back on the seats, shivering from the cold.  Yoli was unflappable, and emerged with a baby who was bone dry  and unaware of the passing crisis.  Josh encouraged his daughters with the story of Jesus and His disciples on a boat in a storm.  Jesus had fallen asleep while the storm raged around the boat, and his disciples woke Him up in a panic, afraid for their lives.  “And He arose and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, Hush now!  Be still!  And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.  He said to them,  Why are you so timid and fearful?  How is it that you have no faith?  And they were filled with great awe and feared exceedingly and said one to another,  Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey Him?”  Mark 4:39-41

We arrived back at the dock safely, and hurriedly packed everyone into our vehicles to get back to the safety of the clubhouse as there were new storm clouds fast approaching.  We skipped trying to grill our dinner outside and opted to let the local Mexican restaurant feed us that night instead.  Josh and his family headed back to St. Louis, Joe and I collapsed back at the house and prepared to rest in anticipation of an early morning to clean the clubhouse and head to our next destination.

Booty from the trot line

I almost forgot-Joe did catch a two or three pound catfish on his trot line.  In the midst of great frustration there is always to something to be thankful for-his joy was my joy!

Oh, I’m not finished-the best is yet to come…