Heavenly Waters

Bill and I were blessed last night.  

We kayaked with a Presbyterian minister and his wife who blessed us with their company in a chance meeting. 

After a last-minute decision to go kayaking, Bill asked me where I wanted to go. 

"Let's go to Trestle Creek," I said. We had never launched from Trestle Creek.  

There's an Army Corps of Engineers recreational area near where Trestle Creek empties into Lake Pend Oreille.

At this spot, there's also lots of shade, so it seemed like a good idea on a hot day.  Plus, we'd never launched from there before, and found that it's an easy exit from shore into the lake. 

Two boats were coming in to the regular launching area, so Bill decided to look in another place for launch possibilities.  

As soon as he had crossed the parking lot, I could tell he had run into someone he knew.

So, I grabbed my camera, began walking and soon could see that it was Pastor Andy Kennaly and his wife Shawna.

I knew immediately this meeting would make Bill happy, as he is a very good Presbyterian and, over the past 40-plus years has helped out in many ways at the church. 

Shawna and Andy had just finished their dinner at a picnic table near the shore and were just about to launch their own sea kayaks when we arrived. 

So, it wasn't long before we were all paddling along the Pend Oreille shoreline on the most beautiful evening.  Even smoke from the area forest fires had been nice enough to stay away from our beautiful lake. 

Yes, it was Heaven on Lake Pend Oreille, and, of course, when you're paddling with a man of God, the Heavenly touch was even more apparent. 

I spent a lot of time catching up because I had my good camera in a dry bag, and it was very difficult to keep it there very long. 

Ubiquitous beauty can keep a camera busy.  So, it was an in-and-out and catch up with the troops cycle throughout my experience.

I did get some visiting in and learned from Shawna that she and Andy have sea kayaks because she once worked as a kayaking guide on Lake Superior where they lived before moving to Sandpoint several years ago. 

Andy and Bill have been good friends ever since their move here.  

In addition, I've always held a fond respect for Andy who took time from his schedule to go visit a lifelong Catholic woman when she was residing at Life Care. 

That woman was my mother. 

And so, today, which marks eight years since Mother Tibbs left us to embark on her Heavenly journey to the official place, it seems appropriate to tie our blessed kayaking experience last night with her memory. 

Appreciating my passion for capturing the beauty of this world, when Andy spotted an eagle over the water, he alerted me.  

I missed seeing the bird at first, but later, he called softly my way and noted that it was perched in a pine tree off shore. 

It stayed there as I paddled closer and allowed me to capture its majesty as it sat surveilling the lake. 

I'll never forget the moments after my mother's funeral in 2013, after the revelation of the "holy carrot" in Bill's eulogy and as her casket was wheeled out of St. Joseph's Catholic church, the pure beauty emanating as a small choir sang "On Eagles Wings." 

And, so today, in memory of a strong, determined, talented and much missed force in our family's lives, may the photos, the kayaking experience on Heavenly Lake Pend Oreille and the inspiring song help us all reflect on Virginia Tibbs.

Happy Tuesday.  Miss you, Mother. 

And, thank you, Andy and Shawna, for a beautiful evening adventure.