Musings on Marriage

Tag: Snake River

Snake River Float

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.WW

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.ww (10)

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. ww (6)

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. ww (13)

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.ww (7)

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. 1000 Spring (2)

Hold tightly to your leader and your guide. Jesus will never let you go.  He loves you dearly, my precious children.

Love, Mom

 

 

 

 

The Long and Winding Road

Dear Daughters,

Last week Dad and I took a short day trip to Carmela Winery S & PRestaurant in Glenns Ferry which is about 35 minutes away via the freeway.  It was a beautiful day, sunny skies, warm, no wind.  After lunch at the Winery we decided to take the old frontage road for a relaxing, scenic drive along the Snake River on the way home.  According to the map, the road would wind around gently near the river all the way home.

Our map was not topographical (yes, we use old school maps at times) showing no elevations, and the road was described as improved.  We figured that had to be a few steps above unimproved.  Anyway, our path home started out in some beautiful farmland, emerald green alfalfa next to a beautiful newly plowed field of rich brown earth. Green The entrance near the field was complete with real metal cattle guards, not the fake painted-on guards that we have seen in many other places. Guard

We decided to use Google Maps for more detail and it was guiding us well, leading us from the frontage road directly to Shoestring Road, the improved road.  We came across the entrance sign to Shoestring that read: Road not maintained in the winter – 5 miles.  No problem, it was 78 degrees and no winter weather in sight so we need not worry about maintenance.  We wondered aloud why there weren’t more people enjoying this lovely scenic road.Shoestring

After traveling about a half-mile on Shoestring we started going up the canyon.  Suddenly the road got narrow, really narrow.  Of course in Idaho there are rarely guard rails on gravel roads, but since Dad is a great driver I wasn’t a bit concerned for our safety.  We’ve been on this type of road in years past so no big deal.

Then came the switchbacks, curving around one bend then another.  We found that the canyon walls were steeper close up than seeing them from a safe distance below.  Our speed was 20 mph, tops, but the view was beautiful.  We did not see the river much, however, because other cliffs rose up in the way.  So we simply enjoyed the tumbleweeds and sagebrush that were all around us.Road (3)

We were chatting, I should say I was chatting about the tasty lunch we had enjoyed and how glad I was that we were out exploring on such a beautiful day, but I noticed that Dad was strangely silent.  Then I noticed his white-knuckled hands and asked if his armpits were sweaty as well.  Sure enough, he was tense and not enjoying the precarious journey nearly as much as I was.River (3)

On we went, up more steep grades, around another hairpin curve, the beauty of the river becoming quite scarce.  For a second we thought about turning back, knowing that we were probably not even halfway through the 5 miles.  Silly idea that was since there was barely enough room for one vehicle, much less a turnaround spot.

So, continuing on around yet another curve we glanced down and saw two cars that had fallen half way down the cliff, rusted and colorless, forever abandoned by some sad souls.  Quickly dismissing that sight out of our minds we persisted on our way and finally summited the top of the canyon wall.  Now we had only the descent, slowly and carefully.

In another 20 minutes we were safe and sound, driving over the rushing river and on to the long awaited treasured asphalt that was soon to follow.

Once we got home I was thinking about how our long and winding road today was a picture of marriage, my marriage and yours.  It starts out in a beautiful green pasture, gradually gets more dangerous, sometimes one or both folks wondering if they should turn around or call it quits.  It’s scary, and what makes it more so is seeing other marriages that have become rusty and fallen along the way.Falls (2)

But to those who persevere, to those who keep on loving, to those who “forgetting what is behind and strain toward what is ahead, pressing on toward the goal….” (Philippians 3:13),  to those who believe that God can make something beautiful out of two deeply flawed human beings – on those God’s face will shine and cause love to grow.  Love will grow, slowly, sometimes unperceptively but it will mature in strength and grace.

I remember one anniversary, I think it was around 27 or 28 years, I received an anniversary card from a good friend.  On it she wrote “Thank you for showing God’s faithfulness in your marriage.  It is such an encouragement to me.”  This card came at a time during which my friend knew things were difficult between Dad and me so I was somewhat speechless.  I had been complaining to her how Dad was being so uncooperative and just annoying me in all he did.  What I didn’t understand at the time was that she admired us for continuing to work through the tough spots, continuing to keep our vows in spite of disagreements and frustrations.Waterfall

When we look back along that long and winding road of our marriages we can see the growth and feel the bonds strengthening.  We stand in awe, knowing how the years of commitment and faithfulness to God and to each other will indeed produce a harvest of love for generations to come.

Love, Mom

 

 

 

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