Thursday, July 3
Tonight I am sitting on the island...the three children are fast asleep on make shift beds all within a few feet of me. My heart is full.
Summer trips to Saba are much different than those filled to the brim Spring Break 10 day trips. Our mornings have been spent helping carry out a day camp for ages 4 to 16. Yes, I said 4 to 16! Our group has done anything from arts and crafts to water sports to playground games. Armpits have been tickled, silly songs have been sung, booboos have been kissed, and fun has been had. We have talked about humility, patience, and kindness...and those will be tied together tomorrow morning with love...as well they should be.
In the afternoons and evenings we have had the chance to visit with Saban friends, plan the next day's camp, explore the island, and eat some great food. In fact we just finished eating with Jeff and Maricelly Johnson. We had an amazing meal followed by music and singing around their living room. Now the majority of the team is off to go crabbing at Well's Bay with Peter...a trip tradition.
This mom however finds contentment sitting on an air mattress, listening to the chirping tree frogs I have come to love so much, keeping watch over my sunkissed babies.
They have so enjoyed their week so far. They become day campers, just as all the other children on Saba while here during the summer. All three have run and played, hiked and snorkeled, listened and learned. It gives me joy when our friends here say they consider our kids to be Saba children...it's in their blood. I would have to agree.
Late Wednesday afternoon we made a play date with Ms. Lynne, Marvi, and the kids. Natalie and Lauren are very close to our girls ages. Jeremy is almost two, so he gets lots of attention all the way around. We met at Cove Bay. I sat and talked with Ms. Lynne. These times are always special to me. She has been a wonderful mentor, kind friend, honorary "Granny Lynne", and so much more to me than I can't put into words.
The children played. Sadie and Jeremy were in the sand. Jackson explored the tide pools. Lauren swam and ran onto the playground. Natalie and Nancy Caroline floated on their tummies for what seemed like hours, snorkeling the water.
I took all this in...soaked it all up.
It doesn't seem real that almost 13 years ago I stood in this same bay with a younger version of the handsome man I call my husband. Our first ever Saturday on Saba was spent in its water. It was just the two of us and a few locals. The thought of three children was just a hope and dream.
I remember climbing on the rocks and ripping my red shorts. We were amazed at the black coarse sand. The water was a brilliant blue and the green mountain tops were bright and lush, bursting out of the water. I remember thinking " This must look like what Noah saw as the waters began to recede?!"
We met a man and his son who were fishing from the rocks. He offered us a Heineken. When we declined, he quickly pulled out the newest soda to the island for us to try. It was Mountain Dew.
This cove on this island I was now calling home, had to be the most amazing site that I had ever seen. It was unbelievable. Witnessing it increased my faith and belief that only creation like this could come from Above.
I wonder what I would have done if that day someone had said, "Hey you are going to fall in love with this island, with it's people. There will be times in the future that you won't want to leave her shores, and when you are away you will ache to be here. You will bring your children here. You and your husband will come back again and again. God is about to make this place a part of your life. You are about to become part of His story on these five square miles."
I like to think that I would have the faith of Mary, but I have the suspicion that I may have laughed like Sarah.
My heart filled with joy yesterday afternoon, watching Nancy Caroline swim gracefully through the sea, looking at the other side of God's creation. His plans are better and bigger than my own. He is using me, my husband, and my three children in ways only He could orchestrate.
"I surrender to you, Father. Thank you for this island and what you have taught me. It is with great hope that I begin the next 13 years. In your Son's name, Amen."
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares The Lord..."
Jeremiah 29:11
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