Grand Bahama | Sailing For The Son

Unexpected Wonders

This is a picture of a Blue Button jellyfish. I took this photo at the Lucayan National Park on Grand Bahama on February 1, 2023. It looks extra-terrestrial, right? It’s interesting, but not at all what I was expecting to see that day.

I was expecting to hike, explore the caves, and walk the beach, yes, but I wasn’t expecting to see the rare Blue Button. I’ve been fortunate to spend a fair amount of time in the Bahamas and the Caribbean, and I’ve seen a lot of jellyfish, just not a Blue Button.

I’m more of a beach type of gal. Usually with a book. And a cold drink.

This is where I have to tell you that I’m claustrophobic, so I don’t normally do caves. I’ve paid admission to waaaay more than my fair share of caves, I just usually chicken out at the last minute. Reading up on this park I found that it has two caves, and I really hadn’t planned on going in them. However, the caves are easily accessible, and given that I didn’t plan to scuba dive through the caves…ahh, seriously, who are those people?

Michele spontaneously praises the Lord

And I certainly wasn’t expecting to hear my friend, Michele, break out into praises for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Michele was alone in the cave when I heard her start singing, so I scrambled for my phone to capture what I could. She has an absolutely beautiful voice! Listen to the video twice, and during your second listen, find her expression at the end. She claps her hands together and says “yeah”! That is so Michele! I love that she is filled with such love for Jesus and blessed with a beautiful way to express it.

Following the cave exploration and a short hike, we did have a great walk on beautiful Gold Rock Beach, then lunch at Banana Bay.

A day with sweet friends, a nature hike, caves, beaches, a blue button, and lunch with a view, hmmmm, I have to say that the caves were most memorable. When I woke up on the morning of February first, I would have told you that spending time on the beach with friends was going to be the highlight of my day, but I’d have been wrong. (Don’t tell my husband!)

February 1, 2023 is a great reminder that I’m not in control. Even retired, I wake up most mornings (around 9:00!) thinking that I know the plan for the day, but Proverbs 16:9 reminds me of the truth: “In his heart man plans his course, but the Lord establishes his steps”.

I’m thankful for Scripture reminding me who is really in control! When was the last time the Lord showed you something you didn’t expect to see or hear?

Gardens and Gardeners

As often seems to happen to me, the plans I make for the day don’t always go exactly as scheduled. This week, in Grand Bahama, Bill and I, together with our buddy boaters John and Michele and John’s brother Darrell, experienced a bit of authentic Bahamian hospitality that I don’t think any of us expected.

A popular tourist destination here is Garden of the Groves, a nature walk highlighting the beauty of the island. Planning to make a day of it, we headed out walking towards the bus stop. Half way to the stop the bus passed us, stopped, turned around, and came back to pick us up. That should have been the first clue that we weren’t going on a typical bus ride. At least not a typical American bus ride.

Chatty, as usual, Michele struck up a conversation with our bus driver, Lady J. Michele discovered that she and Lady J have a mutual appreciation for gardening. I’m not really sure how this happened, but the next thing I knew, we were pulling into Lady J’s driveway. The driveway at her house! Then Michele excitedly announced that Lady J is going to show us her backyard garden!

I just can’t see that this would ever happen in the States. However, in Grand Bahama, it somehow seemed to fit right in. And Michele was almost giddy! Lady J was very methodical and Michele was positively enthralled as they made their way around the garden. Some plants we recognized-banana trees, palm trees, herbs-but many were foreign to us.

One tree was full of a fruit none of us recognized. Lady J explained that this is a sapodilla tree and that the fruit is very good. Although it wasn’t yet ripe, Lady J picked us a few and explained that when they ripen we can eat them like an apple. I’m not a very adventurous eater, but I’ll give it a try!

Following the private tour, Lady J did drive us to the Garden of the Groves. The garden is beautiful-great trails, waterfalls, birds, turtles, butterflies and more.

Reflecting on the day, I believe it wasn’t either of the gardens that were the most memorable- it was the gardeners-Lady J and Michele forming an easy kinship over a shared loved of God’s creation.

I’m going to remember that.

Back to the Bahamas!

The 2022-2023 cruising season has begun. Bill and I are currently on S/V Liberty in Lake Worth (West Palm Beach, Florida) awaiting a good weather window to cross the Gulf Stream. We are buddy boating with our new friends John and Michelle Schultz on S/V Yes My Dear.

This summer was particularly eventful starting with the high school graduation of our first grandchild! We’re so proud of you, Ella!

My mom, Mary, turned 80 this year. She is so beautiful. The party we hosted included several of her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, lots of nieces and nephews, and even 3 of her high school classmates! At her request, we held the party in my cousin’s barn. My mom is a farm girl at heart.

My mom, daughters, granddaughters and me

A surprise event this year was the engagement and covenant marriage of our daughter, Becky, to Wyatt Kipp! There is no doubt that God had a hand in bringing these two believers together, and we’re excited to see what He has planned for them.

Bill and I are proud of our son, Kristian, who is serving in the United States Army. He spent just over a year on an unaccompanied overseas tour, and has now returned safely (and joyously!) to his wife, Alejandra. They will be relocating to Texas this month for Kristian’s next assignment.

This cruising season we are returning to the Bahamas! We spent the last two seasons enjoying the Florida Keys, but with the Covid pandemic, together with it’s travel hassles and restrictions, waning we’re ready to head to the “Bahamian Blue” waters again. Bahamian Blue is the color my friend Kelly and I dubbed the unique beautiful blue found only in the waters of the Bahamas.

In the next few days we will cross the Gulf Stream (my first time!) and head toward West End, Grand Bahama. We will check in with Bahamian customs and immigration authorities to obtain our cruising permit, then head to Ocean Reef Resort and Marina oceanreefresortmarina.com . We heard great things about this marina from our friends Dave and Linda Olson on M/V Entrusted.

Our trusty travel buddies, Steve and Susan Holdaway, and Tim and Kelly Will, will be flying in to join us for some exciting adventures this season. New this year, Bill’s sister and brother-in-law, Ann and Gary Slifka, will be joining us for a bit. Be sure to check back for stories and pictures! I’m practically giddy just anticipating watching Susan pet the stingrays at Sandy Cay. According to her husband, Susan loves to be stretched out of her comfort zone, and I’m pretty sure this will be a bit outside her typical routine!