Dear Daughters,
Advertised as a Class 3 float trip with plenty of whitewater action and beautiful scenery, it was a gorgeous September day on the Snake River. Ninety degrees and a blue sky speckled with clouds was beyond anything Dad and I could have asked.
Packing our lunches in waterproof bags, we filled our water bottles and drove the five minutes to the launch spot.
We listened to our licensed, professional guide, Mike, explain all the safety procedures should one of us be thrown into the river during the 10-mile trip. Nervously I asked if it was often that people were tossed into the rapids. Mike replied that they had employed one guide who dumped out adventurers quite consistently but she lost her job when it became a noticeable pattern. He assured us that his record was much better and if we all paddled together the excursion should be quite enjoyable yet exciting.
Mike was in the back acting as our rudder and the eight passengers were instructed to Forward row, Back row or Rest, according to the orders he gave us. Simple enough.
As we pushed off, the river was calm and Mike took us to a spot where he was certain we could spot a sturgeon prowling the waters. After several minutes of peering into dark water the four-foot sturgeon finally appeared to entertain us with his graceful roaming.
Then our first rapid appeared. FORWARD ROW!, Mike shouted, and we all started rowing, clumsily clanking each other’s paddles. Even though we were less than stellar rowers we were through that rapid in about ten seconds
It was time to relax with some calm water and enjoy the osprey and blue heron gracefully standing on the sides of the river. Mike also pointed out the blackberry bushes, of which we stopped and sampled, as well as poison ivy, which we did not.
As we were remarking about the rugged beauty, amid the pillow lava, Mike told us that one of his floaters a few weeks earlier asked if he and the other guides went out to place the rocks and bushes so beautifully on the sides of the river. He chuckled as he told the story, wondering how anyone could consider asking a question like that.
There were a few more minor rapids and we as a team continued to improve on our rowing, not jangling our paddles quite so much.
Then appeared the largest rapid of all. My heart started racing and fear riveted as I looked ahead, seeing the whitewater of the river looming ahead of us. I detected that the water close to the beach was much calmer, but no, Mike headed for the center of the river where the roughest water was churning.
FORWARD ROW! Yelled Mike. Down into the first wave we plummeted and our entire crew was drenched with 58 degree water. KEEP ROWING! He yelled. Sure, I thought. Keep rowing as I’m falling into Dad’s lap and onto the top of the guy in front of me. I was exhilarated that I had held onto my oar and was not floating in the river. I was not going to be paddling for a while. 
Amazingly we all stayed in the raft and navigated that rapid quite well. Just when my heart had quieted and we were on calm water again Mike said: That was so much fun let’s do it again!
Thankfully I was able to keep my mouth shut, but in my mind I was shouting: Are you kidding me already? We barely survived that one, I have a good memory and I don’t need to do it again. But FORWARD ROW! was the command and Mike turned around and steered us back into that same rapid, again directly into the center and most violent part.
Of course the story was repeated again. Once more we got through with everyone intact and thoroughly soaked. But you know what? The second time through it was not as scary and I was actually able to keep on rowing part of the time and not fall onto the people around me.
Shortly after we were able to see the only Frank Lloyd Wright designed home in all of Idaho. Hidden completely from the roadside, it was somewhat visible from the river. 
After a few more drenching rapids, our crew became more unified and there were less and less clanking oars as we learned to work together and concentrate on obeying and trusting our guide. I viewed every rapid from then on as a challenge to keep rowing and stay in my seat.
Eventually we came to the end of the journey, and at the take-out said good-bye to our new found friends. After we got home Dad and I chatted about the joy and beauty of the trip. He had gone on the same excursion back in April by himself because I was not so brave. But the shared adventure of the outing made it much sweeter as we relived together the delight and challenge of the trip.
After the excursion I reminisced about the times we were plunging into the various rapids and thought about life and how, if I had a choice, would always stay close to shore where the calmer water lay. But God has seen fit to bring Dad and I, as well as all of you, through turbulent rapids – times when we have had to hold on for dear life, continually trusting our leader and guide, Jesus Christ.
At times it has seemed as if our lives would capsize and we would go under, never to come up again. But here we are, still in the land of the living, and growing stronger day by day. He knows what is best for us, and walks us through those difficult times, as we are able to grow up and become more like Him.
When things get rough, that’s precisely when we grow in faith.
One of my favorite verses for when I am going through rejection, chronic illness, fear of the future and loneliness is Isaiah 41:10:
So, do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties,
Yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My victorious right hand of rightness and justice. 
Hold tightly to your leader and your guide. Jesus will never let you go. He loves you dearly, my precious children.
Love, Mom
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