While camping this past weekend (see post below) we took the kids to a nearby lake for our first family fishing trip. Everyone was catching fish -except Elizabeth. We quickly reached our fish limit and Elizabeth was broken hearted. So... I drove to a remote store to make a phone call and obtain my own fishing license... allowing us to catch 6 more fish.
Wouldn't you know it- as soon as I returned, we couldn't catch a single fish! Oh, we saw them swimming around and "almost" caught them several times, but 3 more hours later Lizzy still hadn't caught her fish. One by one the kids lost interest, got hungry and cold and retreated to the car. Jim and I were determined for Elizabeth to get her fish, even if that meant catching one for her, and letting her reel it in.
As the sun went down, Lizzy eventually concluded "I promise I won't be mad... I just want to go because I am cold and tired". Jim gave Lizzy his shirt and we tried a few more times. But as 9:00 approached (and we still had to drive back to our camp, pack up and drive 2+ hours home) Jim announced "Okay, let's call it a night". As soon as he said that, Elizabeth began to reel in her line exclaiming "I got a fish, I got a fish!" (Mind you- we'd heard that a dozen times only to find mossy-gunk on the line) I could tell she was struggling to pull this one in though... and sure enough, Elizabeth caught her own fish! We were delighted for her! I ran to the car for the camera and as I told James the news, I began crying- not so much because I was glad she'd caught one, but because I knew it was an amazing answer to a simple, seemingly silly prayer.
Of everyone in our family Lizzy is the last one who needed a lesson on patience. But I know she felt loved and important as her brother told her he'd said his own prayer for her, and we all spent so much time trying to help her.
Of everyone in our family Lizzy is the last one who needed a lesson on patience. But I know she felt loved and important as her brother told her he'd said his own prayer for her, and we all spent so much time trying to help her.
FAVORITE PICTURE BELOW:
Snow capped mountains, Lizzy in her daddy's big shirt with an even bigger grin on her face- as her fish flops all over the place! Oh, happy memories.
I cannot believe I don't have pictures of Anna and James helping Dad whole heartedly gut (and in a few cases knock out) the fish!
Mmmm... our eight fish made for a delicious Sunday dinner.
2 comments:
Karin, such a sweet story! Thanks for the heart-felt moment! Loved it!
What an adventure. What a meal! Thanks for sharing your wonderful family outing with us.
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