Chaos to Calm

Here we are once more on our beloved island. How many people did I tell I wasn’t going to blog this trip? I almost made it. One blog allows us to remember important pieces to our trip.

Let’s get right to the title – Chaos to Calm. If I had to describe this trip in a few words that’s how it would be described.

Our flights from Sacramento to Miami was quite the adventure with snow storms in Denver and other weather across the U.S. Thank you Tom and Shannon for picking us up in Miami at 1:00 a.m. Then taking us back to the airport a few hours later.

Curacao was having some very unusual weather when we arrived – Excessive heat with excessive winds for the first several days. Our beautiful apartment for the first two weeks was next door to another construction project. This one was dirt work with extremely loud equipment working hard from 7:30 to 5:00. Our beautiful ocean view was blocked by gorgeous palm trees swaying with the winds

Once again we celebrated our anniversary #28 at our favorite place, Fort Nassau. It’s becoming a tradition. Thank you, Carrie Zenker for our lovely gift.

The Idaho Harris clan came to explore the island this year.

I look at this picture and think it isn’t complete. Daniel is not with us and that is a big hole. Daniel, we miss you and hope one day you too can experience the island we love so much. Thank you for sending us a picture of you drinking very strong Ethiopian coffee. (Papa Jay was on the beach, just not in the Pic)

Even though some where not accustom to the heat, humidity, wind, mosquitos, and changing apartments; the beautiful waters and views made up for those minor times of discomfort and chaos. I believe most of them still enjoyed their time here.

We have never had a guest jump the 42 foot cliffs until now- Matt, Luke, and Lilly.

As a non diver, this year I latched onto the dolphin swim with the other non divers, Noah, Angela, and Rosie. After they had booked their trip, I found the very last ticket available to join them. It was meant to be and so much fun.

After the first two weeks we moved to our favorite area of the island. It’s difficult this time of year to find a place for the extended time. Our island has truly been discovered and it is busy.

I love Piscadera. It feels like home. And I have my view again to watch the ships go by and our coast guard friends fly by each morning. Awwh! The calm! All is right in my world once again.

All is calm after one last hiccup – a trip to the ER. Did you know pesto has pistachios in it? Lilly is epipen allergic to them. She’s okay. We left the hospital and a couple hours later the two divers were in the water – Lilly’s first night dive. As I sit on a dock near the dive shop, I can spot them with their lights in the water. I think they can see the light from the space station.

Isn’t that just how life is? We go from chaos to calm, mountaintops to valleys, fear to courage, tears to laughter. Sometimes our tears can have sadness and gladness simultaneously. Have you ever experienced that?

I think of the disciples as a violant storm approached and began to swamp the boat. They truly thought they were going to die in that storm. (Have you ever felt like that during some chaos in your life?) And yet, there was Jesus with them, sleeping. Chaos and calm in the boat at the same time. The disciples awakened Jesus so he could do something. They didn’t know what, just something, please! What does he do? He calms the chaos. Where or what or who do you turn to in times of chaos to bring calmness?

Chaos certainly tests our faith and our patience, don’t you think? In response to chaos or yet-unnamed but imminent storms, some hide, some run, some live in denial, some escape into fictional worlds with addictions such as alcohol or food.

I almost named this blog “The Legacy Continues”. Our oldest granddaughter has officially become a diver as well as a lionfish huntress. I think I could write one whole blog on her time here with us. Lilly extended her time on the island as the rest of her family left.

She is now the proud owner of all my dive gear. I want to think she is now seeing all I saw when I was able to dive before blood clots and cancer. It brings me tears of sadness that I’m unable to come alongside her as a new diver and tears of joy that she is now enjoying the adventures her Papa loves so much.

She is spotting and spearing. Papa has even had her holding the zookeeper.

One morning I received this note after coming home from my walk. Papa and Lilly were already headed for the waters.

She did exactly that, brought home the dinner for two nights.

I love her spirit of adventure and most of all I love her heart. We have been able to have her experience many of our favorite things on the island such as hiking Christoffel, the highest point on the island.

Love those yellow arrows while hiking. They bring back so many great memories.

Punda Vibes every Thursday with ribs and fireworks too.

Lilly was able to complete her advance diving certification while she was with us. Her instructor’s name was Iris. Jay with two beautiful flowers, Lilly and Iris.

An advanced certification allows you to dive deeper, navigate sometimes in stronger currents, and wreck diving. You have to complete five specialty dives. Two are required and three are electives. One of her electives was lionfish spearing. We all know who’s heart was burst with pride when she chose that one.

The other animals on the island have been a treat to help the calm through some of the chaos. A couple of us saw and heard a little bird hit a glass wall. It knocked him out and we thought his neck was broken. Jay to the rescue. He was revived and he flew off.

Lilly has taken over the underwater camera as well and doing a great job.

We wish she could have stayed the remainder of the trip. Thank you, Lilly for coming to spend time with us and making more memories. We love you so much, enjoyed every second, and are so proud of you.

Our next guests arrived, The Williams. They brought Trenton, one of their sons to dive. I think he is going to have the job of lugging their tanks and equipment around. Sorry, Trent!

First stop for everyone was church. I love our church in Curacao. They are the most loving people and have taken the two of us in as their family and welcomes all those we bring.

After church we went to Director’s Bay with the whole crew for Lilly’s last dive and Trenton’s first dive in several years.

Lilly did spear a fish. Then for the fishes revenge one of its spines poked Jay in the finger. A family on the beach was cooking all kinds of stuff for their Sunday afternoon family outing. They got hot water on Jay’s finger right away, then began feeding him meatballs, some kind of fish, who knows what else if had he stayed. I think Lilly can add rescue dive to her log book bringing Papa back safely.

This is what a deck looks like when you have five divers in one house. Dive equipment everywhere!

Did you know under 21 year olds can’t check into many of the major hotels on their own? The hotel in Miami for Lilly canceled on her after seeing her age just a few hours before her flight.

The others went to the east end for a couple dives and brought home fish for a few days.

Jay has fish cleaners now.

As we close out another time in Curacao we are reminded that through chaos and calmness there are memories to be had. We cherish each one these days and look forward to writing more again soon.

Thanks for reading.

Blessings,

Jay and Kelly