no homework. sleeping in til 10:30. late nights with friends. beach day trips. swimming pools and laying out. family picnics. backyard bbq's. laughter. sun. play. productivity.
this is summer.
so...i have a summer story.
i shall entitle it: The Fish
It was an overcast tuesday morning off the coast of Point Mugu. my fearless aunt had taken 8 children camping for the week and who knew what adventure lay ahead that day. I arrived only for the day, as camping is not directly my cup of tea. I do enjoy it at times, but day trips suit me just fine =) after lunch we trekked to the bridge under which we could cross PCH at low tide. (For at high tide, the bridge has water underneath it, making crossing nearly impossible.) And on the sandy shores, in front of lifeguard station 7, we set up camp. The waves were average, the water biting cold. being the nice big cousin that I am, I ran into the frigid ocean only to instantly be numbed by the water. At that point staying in was fine, as I could feel nothing. The day passed...we had a marvelous sand-creation contest in which i promised the children prizes. (at that point i had no idea what the prizes would be...and to be quite honest, I still don't know! But a target run this afternoon should clear that up!)
It was coming upon two in the afternoon...the sun was finally peeking its balmy head out from behind the dissipating clouds. The oldest cousin, Justin decided to set up his pole for surf-fishing in hopes of catching a fish to fry for some dinner delight. within minutes he hooked a winner.
This fish was beautiful. and looked a very good size for a surf-perch. she was properly stored in a bucket of sea water and the children gathered around to have a look. I was sitting comfortably in my chair, watching the delighted children watch the poor fish as she swam around the bucket. then came the shout.
"SUZY! come quick! something's not right!"
Since situations that aren't right draw me like a magnet, I ran to the bucket and saw the fish laying on her side in the bucket. My cousin then proceeded to show me a red protrusion from her abdomen that was not on any fish we had seen before. we poked it, prodded it and questioned what it could be. then it dawned upon us.
Justin says, "I think she's pregnant." I ponder that all the while wondering how my 15 year old cousin knows what a pregnant fish looks like. but she did have a full looking belly and the protrusion was looking like a fin when in the water. But don't fish lay eggs? we were baffled. So we called our mothers to come look. and we all ooh'd and ahh'd this poor fish and her plight.
When we put her in the bucket, she lay on her side on the bottom. and we all concluded she was in labor. and that is when all of the little cousins took their positions as the delivery-room peanut gallery.
"I bet if we go put another pole in we'll catch her husband, he's probably waiting out there and i bet he would want to be with her!"
"PUSH fishy...PUSH!!!"
"Someone needs to hold her fin, she's probably scared having her babies in a bucket!"
"PULL out the fish Justin! help her out!"
"EWWW she's having BABIES!"
It was all of their first time seeing live birth. Justin was nervous, but at everyone's insistance, he pulled the fin poking out of the mother's belly. *plop* there was a baby fish...two inches long! she was beautiful. we all cheered and clapped as the poor mama fish swam in circles on the bottom of the bucket.
We had two boys running back and forth bringing fresh ocean water to the bucket to keep her oxygenated. We really were quite helpful.
Justin beamed with pride and declared, "That was amazing...i think i could totally be a doctor now!"
We saw another fin poking out and urged Justin to continue with the labor and delivery. He *ahem* gently squeezed her belly, massaging her until *plop-plop-plop* three more came out. she seemed to be done.
After much deliberation, with Justin wanting to keep and eat the mama fish, and my mom advocating infant-fishy survival, we decided to throw the babies in the ocean to live a long and prosperous fish life and to keep the original fish for dinner. (i hesitate calling her mama fish, because then eating her would seem morally wrong.)
not five minutes after we wished the babies well and released them into the wild, we hear a yell. "SUZY! there's FOUR MORE!!!"
of course. what fish only has four babies.
With the help of justin squeezing her belly and forcing them out, the mama fish had 13 more fish. Where did they all come from? how did they all fit? we will never know. But there was so much yelling and excitement! We ran to nearby beach-loungers who were totally unaware of the delivery of new life that had just taken place mere yards away from them. we invited them to see this miracle of new life. they stared in awe.
"Wow...they're so beautiful! she did so good! congratulations you guys!"
the moms were calling their husbands and anyone else they could think of! We were recieving congratulations from all directions..
I felt as if i was a proud grandma, beaming at my lil fishy who had done so much work. she was exhausted. We were ecstatic, and the lil baby fishes were swimming with glee around their nursery bucket.
But this is not the end of the story. we took the delivered fish back to the camp. Justin proceeded to begin fileting her. we all stood over the chopping block and gasped audibly to find that she still had THREE more babies in her! we quickly released them and put them in the bucket to live. The fate of their carrier was much more detrimental. we shall not go into the details as I am sure you have bonded with her over the course of this narrative.
In any case...it was live biology on the beach that day...and a day we shall not be forgetting soon!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Thursday, June 03, 2010
Now Face to Face
No weeping, no hurt or pain.
No suffering, You hold me now
No darkness, no sick or lame
No hiding, You hold me now.
For eternity, all my heart will give
all the glory to Your name!
Last night, I sat with aunts and uncles, cousins and my Grammy as we sang hymns around Grampy's bedside. He was resting, his body frail and thin beneath the bedsheets. And yet there was an overwhelming peace in the room. As family members leaned down to say their goodbyes, voices choked up, tears running down their cheeks, there was only love and peace. It was a feeling and a presence that I cannot describe. But God was there, I have no doubts.
When my turn came, I could hardly speak...and when I did, I wasn't even sure what to say. How do you sum up 21 years in moments? How do you communicate to someone what they meant to you without having time to plan? This was a man who had read Bible stories to me, gave me piggy-back rides, always asked me to play piano and sing for him, listened as I poured out my 12-year-old heart to him, wanting to give it all to Jesus. He showed an interest and concern for my life, schooling and job...always ready to point me back to God in the face of this world and all it threw at me.
I wanted him to know how much those things meant to me...shaped me into who I am today. But the words wouldn't come. I told him I loved him...and to go Home to Jesus.
...and he did, a few short hours later. He took his last shaky breaths on this earth, and then went to see his Savior. He fought a good fight, finished the race, all the while keeping the faith! what an awesome example. He was surrounded by his children, his wife and the prayers and love of people across the world.
He will be missed, but how can I be sad when he is relieved of his pain and suffering. His disease had taken over his body, he was weak... But now he has a new body and will never be bound by the brokenness of this world. What he once saw through a glass darkly, he now sees face to face! PRAISE GOD!
Please pray for Grammy as she transitions into this new part of her journey. No matter how much this was expected, the changes and sadness are still difficult. Thanks alone to God, she is strong and has proven a steady example of love and peace through Grampy's last days on earth. She has amazing children, grandchildren, and other extended family and friends lifting her up in prayer...please don't stop.
A year ago, I wouldn't have been able to tell you that both of my grandpas would pass on to glory within a year of each other. From this point, two pillars who had always been a seeming constant in my life are not here. I knew this day would come...it was inevitable. But my little-girl heart had just expected these two men would be in my life forever. They would come to my college graduation, meet and question my future husband, they would watch me get married, hold my first baby...
But even without them present at these milestones in my life, their legacy of love and faithfulness will always stay with me as long as I live.
(The rest of the lyrics to the song: You Hold Me Now)
On that day when I see all that You have for me
When I see You face to face, there surrounded by Your grace
All my fears swept away in the light of Your embrace
Where Your love is all I need and forever I am free!
Where the streets are made of gold in your presence healed and whole
Let the songs of heaven rise to You and You alone!
No weeping. No hurt or pain.
No suffering, you hold me now!
No darkness. No sick or lame.
No hiding, you hold me now!
In this life I will stand through my joy and my pain
Knowing there's a greater day, theres a hope that never fades
When your name is lifted high and forever praises rise
For the glory of Your name, I believe for the day
when the wars and violence cease
All creation lives in peace...
Let the songs of heaven rise for You and You alone!
(Grampy, Grammy and Jenna)
(Aunt Aline, Grammy and Grampy)
No suffering, You hold me now
No darkness, no sick or lame
No hiding, You hold me now.
For eternity, all my heart will give
all the glory to Your name!
Last night, I sat with aunts and uncles, cousins and my Grammy as we sang hymns around Grampy's bedside. He was resting, his body frail and thin beneath the bedsheets. And yet there was an overwhelming peace in the room. As family members leaned down to say their goodbyes, voices choked up, tears running down their cheeks, there was only love and peace. It was a feeling and a presence that I cannot describe. But God was there, I have no doubts.
When my turn came, I could hardly speak...and when I did, I wasn't even sure what to say. How do you sum up 21 years in moments? How do you communicate to someone what they meant to you without having time to plan? This was a man who had read Bible stories to me, gave me piggy-back rides, always asked me to play piano and sing for him, listened as I poured out my 12-year-old heart to him, wanting to give it all to Jesus. He showed an interest and concern for my life, schooling and job...always ready to point me back to God in the face of this world and all it threw at me.
I wanted him to know how much those things meant to me...shaped me into who I am today. But the words wouldn't come. I told him I loved him...and to go Home to Jesus.
...and he did, a few short hours later. He took his last shaky breaths on this earth, and then went to see his Savior. He fought a good fight, finished the race, all the while keeping the faith! what an awesome example. He was surrounded by his children, his wife and the prayers and love of people across the world.
He will be missed, but how can I be sad when he is relieved of his pain and suffering. His disease had taken over his body, he was weak... But now he has a new body and will never be bound by the brokenness of this world. What he once saw through a glass darkly, he now sees face to face! PRAISE GOD!
Please pray for Grammy as she transitions into this new part of her journey. No matter how much this was expected, the changes and sadness are still difficult. Thanks alone to God, she is strong and has proven a steady example of love and peace through Grampy's last days on earth. She has amazing children, grandchildren, and other extended family and friends lifting her up in prayer...please don't stop.
A year ago, I wouldn't have been able to tell you that both of my grandpas would pass on to glory within a year of each other. From this point, two pillars who had always been a seeming constant in my life are not here. I knew this day would come...it was inevitable. But my little-girl heart had just expected these two men would be in my life forever. They would come to my college graduation, meet and question my future husband, they would watch me get married, hold my first baby...
But even without them present at these milestones in my life, their legacy of love and faithfulness will always stay with me as long as I live.
(The rest of the lyrics to the song: You Hold Me Now)
On that day when I see all that You have for me
When I see You face to face, there surrounded by Your grace
All my fears swept away in the light of Your embrace
Where Your love is all I need and forever I am free!
Where the streets are made of gold in your presence healed and whole
Let the songs of heaven rise to You and You alone!
No weeping. No hurt or pain.
No suffering, you hold me now!
No darkness. No sick or lame.
No hiding, you hold me now!
In this life I will stand through my joy and my pain
Knowing there's a greater day, theres a hope that never fades
When your name is lifted high and forever praises rise
For the glory of Your name, I believe for the day
when the wars and violence cease
All creation lives in peace...
Let the songs of heaven rise for You and You alone!
(Grampy, Grammy and Jenna)
(Aunt Aline, Grammy and Grampy)
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