05-20-2015

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Weather conditions:
High – 64
Low – 48

Maybe I should copy and paste the first line from many of my recent journal entries – The alarm went off at 3:30. John checked the radar and said, “We aren’t going anywhere today.”

The rest of the day is similar to our previous rainy days. Go back to sleep, eat breakfast (We were able to enjoy a cup of coffee before the rains came.), go for a walk on the beach (Ok that is new.), put pans out to collect rain water (Robinson Crusoe), put John’s hair in a pony tail (I wonder if this information will make it past his editing hand.) play euchre, eat in the tent, nap, read (my new “no battery required” book), journal….. All seems so familiar and not really journal worthy.

Then I began to think. (Scary, I know.) This is the trip – a part to be treasured. Each part of the trip is treasured in some way.

I am treasuring working really hard together. John says, “The best way to get to know someone is to work together.” We are learning to divide and conquer, identifying our unique skills. I am appreciating – and depending on – John’s skill to look at the map and plan our route. (especially now that we are on the Mississippi) He is able to look at the map and see the dangers ahead, such as dikes.

I am treasuring seeing new things from a different view together. From the landscape to what is important to our survival, we are discussing these insights and growing in ways we would not have grown had we not taken this trip.

I am treasuring the experiences. John and I are creating four months (1591 miles) of memories we share with just each other. We laugh, sing, plan, tell silly jokes, encourage, ….. I wouldn’t trade a moment for anything.

I am treasuring spending time together. We have always cherished any time we can spend together, but in our “normal” world, we spend most of our time apart. Unfortunately, the time we do spend together is during the part of our day we are the most fatigued. During this trip, especially our rainy days, we are spending time with each other without any distractions. We spend hours in the tent, out of the elements, talking, laughing, playing euchre, resting, planning……

So many people have commented how brave we are or they couldn’t do what we are doing. I don’t see us as brave – we are so very blessed to be given these treasures. I am so glad we jumped off the shore and into the boat.

Tomorrow, the alarm will go off again at 3:30, and I will treasure that moment! This is the trip!

(Another treasure this evening was talking with Travis, Katie, Haleigh, and Emerlynn – our son and his family)

Thanks for following our adventure. For photos and videos of the events mentioned in this daily journal, check us out on Instagram @ separateboats.

Also, please continue to pray for and support our charity, The Fortress. The fund-raising is not going well and they need your support. Thank you.

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