We made it back from our Family Celebration Vacation, and I am EXHAUSTED! It was fun-filled, exciting, and relaxing all rolled into one fabulous get away.
As some of you know, we took this trip at this time because July 22 is very special to us as a family. It was our 15th Anniversary and Seth’s 1 year Healthy Heart Anniversary – both on the same day. This year, the day proved to be another unforgettable July 22 once again.
Let me back up and give you some background. Our vacation took place at Trout Lodge YMCA outside of Potosi, MO. It’s a beautiful family resort set in the Ozark hills around Trout Lake (which doesn’t have any trout). It’s a family camp where you get to pick and choose your activities and then spend your free time lounging at the beach or playing a round of mini-golf. There’s so much to do, it’s not possible to be bored unless you want to!
The day of our anniversaries began at 8:00 in the morning with a horrifying
We're going to climb this?
(for me, Seth and Randy were just fine!) and challenging climb up a 50 foot tower. Seth and Randy were the first to go up and showed no fear at all. As I watched them prepare, I couldn’t help but remember what was happening last year at that time. While they put on their safety harnesses, I thought of Seth asleep on the table, waiting for surgery to begin. What a gift to see him facing this huge tower with such courage and a new physical strength!
When he reached the platform at the top and did his victory dance (it’s a rule – you make it to the top, you have to do a victory dance.
Almost there! (That's my husband, Randy, below Seth.)
Believe me, you want to!), I know he had no idea just how symbolic his accomplishment was. He climbed that tower in determination - using his muscle to pull himself up higher and higher, using his mind to plan his next move, listening to the guidance he was given. I watched him battle that tower just as I had watched him battle heart defects for all those years. His victory dance at the top was a celebration over all that was conquered. God has given us such sweet victory!
The Victory Dance
I can honestly tell you that nothing in me wanted to climb that tower. I have a terrible fear of heights – especially the coming down part. I hyperventilate and turn into an unmoveable pile of mush. I did it, though, for 2 reasons. First, I don’t want my son to be held back by fears. What better way to teach him to not let fears control him by seeing me face my biggest fear? Second, he had to go through something he didn’t want to do last year. He had to face the gigantic fear of having a major surgery. Now, it was my turn. I was climbing this tower for him.
At one point, all my weight was on one noodle -like leg, and I was only half way up! I thought that there was no way I could possible find the strength to reach the top. By the grace of God, I did make it though. Standing there, at the top of this tower that respresented so much, left me with only one thing to shout, just as I did last year, ”Thank you, God!” My victory dance was all for Him.
After some boating and swimming, we borrowed bikes to head to our next big adventure – a zip line. As we pedaled up and down hills, I kept wondering what I had been thinking to plan these two activities that both took so much courage on the same day. I slowly made my way down a large hill, losing sight of my boys who were way ahead. Randy warned Seth to slow down, but he wanted to see just how fast he could go. (Seth evidently doesn’t believe in breaks.) I thank God for 2 things – a YMCA worker was right behind Seth and Randy on a golf cart, and I didn’t see what happened next. Seth hit gravel at the bottom of the hill and lost control, I could hear his cries before I could see him. Eventhough I had been so far behind, some how I still managed to get to him first. Is that Mommy power, or what? The way he laid, made me fear that he had broken his arm. When he looked at me, I could see blood all around his mouth. Nothing was broken, his mouth and nose were OK. A small bite on his lip had produced all that blood. But he had lots of scrapes and bruises – some were pretty big. The YMCA worker immediately called a nurse, who came quickly and cared for him well. Randy told me that if Seth hadn’t wiped out, he would have hit a pole. We were thankful for these scrapes, it could have been much worse. He also said, “It was a good thing that worker was right behind us. Afterall, God knew Seth was going to wreck.” Thank you, God, for giving us the people you know we’re going to need!
The nurse gave Seth permission to still do the zip, if he wanted to. He was afraid the safety harness would hurt his new sores (he had a terrible scrape and bruise on his hip), but we encouraged him to try. He could always stop if it did hurt too much, but this was a big opportunity that he wouldn’t always get. We had another tall climb to make. This one was easier, simply straight up, and not as tall. The hard part was taking that leap off the platform to zip down a 250 foot cable. Even Seth was scared this time, but he did it, and loved it! I closed my eyes, leaned off the platform and screamed the whole way 
.
Our big day ended in a big, beautiful way. At 9:00 that night, we boarded a pontoon, sailed out to the middle of the lake and watched fireworks. Oh, I almost forgot! That was after Seth and I joined new friends for karaoke. We sang, “Celebration” by Kool and the Gang. It was a perfect ending to our day of celebration .
That was all one day! No wonder I’m exhausted! Not Seth though, he keeps going and going…
THANK YOU, GOD!
Tired, Sweaty, Wet, Happy, and THANKFUL!
In His Love,
Kimberly
