A Few More "Firsts"

Since Taylor and I have been married, we've experienced a lot of "firsts"…first home, first time buying property, first time starting a grow yard (and all the little things that went with that),  first time traveling to Africa, and so on. This summer I've got to experience a few more "firsts," albeit, maybe of a less exotic nature than others, but it's the little things that make life truly great! :)

For instance, I've never raised chickens before, but earlier this summer we had a chicken coop built and our first order of 25 layers came in. That number has been trimmed down to 20 hens and one rooster (whom we've decided to name Billy Bob). :) They're still growing and it will probably be a few months yet before they are old enough to start laying eggs, but we're excited about the prospect. In the mean time we're working to build a pen out from the coop so they can go outside.

One of the other cool firsts for both Taylor and I was a direct result of the wonderful rainfall we've received this summer. For the first time (since either of us have lived out here) there has been enough rain to make the Arkansas River run through Lakin. It used to be fairly common for people to "float the river" in tubes or horse tanks, but it has been years since anyone's been able to do it.

A few weeks ago, Taylor and I and some of our friends took a Sunday afternoon to try out the river for ourselves. 

 

Admittedly, near Lakin the river was only about  three feet deep in most places and not running super fast so it took us all afternoon and evening to float several miles. 

Note to self - bring duct tape on a trip like this! Several of our tubes got holes poked in them. At this point they became less of a means for movement and more of a hinderance to making it to our destination. By the time we got done they were ready for the dumpster. Even so, I'm glad I can now say I've floated the river!

Our little trip took longer than expected and had a few of its own difficulties, but we soon found out our problems were minor compared to what they could have been. When we got done, part of our group took the vehicle we'd left at the stopping point back to our truck where we had gotten into the river. By this time it was almost 9 p.m. When they got to our truck, they found a group of people there who had gotten in the river several miles further back from where we did. They had only made it about half the distance they had anticipated, and to top it off they forgot their keys for the vehicle they had left at their stopping point, so they were stranded. 

Taylor took them back to their vehicle, but if we hadn't come along they would have either had to float for about another 6 hrs in the dark to get to their vehicle (and even then they wouldn't have had the keys for it), or they would have had to stay there on the riverbank in the middle of nowhere. Not to mention a nasty storm blew in that night, and would have made their predicament much worse.

I'm grateful God put us in a position to help them because I know if I'd been in their situation I sure would have wanted someone to do the same for us. 

Now I just hope the wet weather pattern will continue and hopefully we'll be able to float the river again soon. :) 

Thanks Landi for taking and sharing your pictures!

Scripture:

I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Ephesians 4:1 

I really liked the reminder this Scripture lesson gave. Some people may never read the Bible, but they may see how I live my life. I need to make sure I am living in a way that allows them to see and experience Christ even if they never read His Word.

I hope your Monday has set this week of to a great start!

Lyndee