Coming Home

Early….Yes, we’re coming home, earlier than planned. Curacao remains on lockdown for now. Those places we can walk to and dive we’ve cleaned the reefs of the lionfish until they reproduce again, so our work is done for now. The count – Jay speared 196 lionfish, Bryan, our brother-in-law, speared 31 (during their short visit), and Lisette 25, on the couple of dives she dived with us. In total, we took 252 lionfish out of the ocean. Not bad for lock down. (Jay said the blog could end with just that piece of information. “What else needs to be said?”)

This is where it began on March 20th. We met up with fellow hunters our first morning at Bario Hotel to hear the rules of the lionfish derby and to recieve our goody bags. Our last night on the island we met up with Lisette to give her more fish and to eat at her corner of the Bario food court called “Lionfish and Mangos”. (Restaurants opened for outdoor eating until curfew as of Tuesday.)

Home. Acording to lyrics.com, there are approximately 13,636 lyrics, 36 artists, and 50 albums that have the phrase “coming home”. A little trivia. There are titles such as: “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” by Bon Jovi, or “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver. Ozzy Osborne even had a song named, “Mama, I’m Coming Home” and Motley Crue’s “Home Sweet Home”. If we’re going to talk about home songs, this one is for you, Ron Mitchell, “Sweet Home Alabama”.

It’s interesting how all of these songs may refer to home, however have different meanings. For example, “Welcome Home” by Metallica is not a song about anybody coming home. It’s Metallica, so……

On a happier note, “Our House” by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young is a lovely little romantic song. “Our house is a very, very, very fine house; with two cats in the yard. Life used to be so hard. Now everything is easy cause of you.” Doesn’t that make your heart feel joy and peace?

When I think of the song “Small Town” by John Mellencamp, I do think about Rancho Murieta, a very special small town. Even though some of the lyrics refer to “little opportunity” and “boring romantic”; it’s simply saying that at the end of the day, a small town is the place to be. And that’s pretty great if you love small towns.

“Home” by Iggy Pop talks about how you can go through tough times. The world can leave you feeling tired and weary. But, if there’s a place you can go back to, a place you can call a haven, you can feel good about yourself and your life.

And then there’s, “I Feel Home” by O.A.R. This song kind of talks about certain things that can remind you of home. It might be certain people and their faces. It might be familiar landmarks or neighborhoods. You may not be welcomed with open arms wherever you go. But home is where everyone accepts you for who you are, just as you are. Home….When you say that word, what does it mean to you? Is it a place where you live? Is it the people you love? Is it the beauty and familiarity in your surroundings?

Many believe where we are on earth is not our real home, it’s our temporary place until we die or the second coming of Christ when He takes us “home”….to eternity. Heaven, according to lyrics.com, is referred to in approximately 50,890 lyrics, 26 artists, and 50 albums. (Interesting both statistics were 50 albums) Of course my favorites are “I Can Only Imagine, by MercyMe, and I remember my Aunt Betty singing “When We All Get to Heaven”, what a great memory.

Since we’ve been in Curacao, Jay and I have had two loved ones go to their homes in eternity, which we believe is Heaven. Through the words of one of my cousins describing my aunt who passed on Monday, “June was filled with hope, joy, goodness, kindness, faithfulness and love. She made the most of every day and no matter what, she was safe and secure because Christ was her home.”

During lock down in Curacao we’ve managed to watch other species in their “home” environments. There are so many stray dogs in Curacao. We managed to tame a few, Blackie and his friend, who didn’t come near us until a couple days ago.

And puppies….believe me if we had a “home” on Curacao, these little guys would have had one as well.

The neighborhood iguana came to swim with us at the apartment.

There are several areas on the island where the flamingos like to forge. Bob, the flamingo was injured several years ago. The Fundashon is a wildlife rehabilitation center and conservation charity. They have rehabilitated Bob and his friend the pelican (we can’t remember his name.) The two, Bob and pelican, live at the center and are brought out to swim in the mornings where we have been diving.

The cats living at the dive shop love to greet us as we come out of the water with a zookeeper of lionfish. They sit and wait so patiently for Jay to clean the fish and give them their share.

There so many homes for the creatures below the waterline as well.

On the last dive, the last lionfish I spotted and Jay speared, it was just in time to save this precious creature. The spotted drum fish is probably my favorite to find. My heart leaps with joy each time I see one. Jay, my hero. I think she, the spotted drum, was saying the same thing as we swam away.

Can you tell we got a new underwater camera? Can you tell I’m learning how to use it?

Nothing speaks more about home when you get to see people you love. Pastor John and sister Marlene came to visit us on Wednesday before we left. As much as we needed family to visit a few weeks ago, that’s how much this visit was needed. Pastor John shared a verse with us, Jeremiah 3:15, “I will give you shepherds who are loyal to Me, and they will shepherd you with knowledge and skill”. They are truly shepherds of their flock on Curacao. Our hearts were full at the end of the visit. By the way, John loves Jay’s lionfish ceviche. He said, “It’s the bomb”. Pastors Phil and Ron, I wish you could meet these Kingdom builders.

Maybe, as Jay just said to me, home is where our heart is. Home….where is your heart?

Before we end, thank you Jeroen and Lisette. You blessed us with the ability to have access to air tanks for the diving we did and helped with information throughout this trip regarding all the updates of what we could do. You are such an adorable couple.

Even though there were so many trials to this trip, and not leaving too rested, we know how blessed we are to be able to come and be surrounded by such kind and loving people. If home is where the heart is, Curacao, you have a gigantic piece of our heart; and you are definitely a big piece of our home.

Rancho Murieta, leave the light on, we’re coming home.

Blessings, Jay and Kelly