Swimming With Dolphins
It had been a hard year and swimming with dolphins was not even in my wildest dreams. We were weary and wounded and had cried so many tears that we could not cry anymore. Dried up, worn out, brokenhearted, and exhausted was the year’s theme.
Our family did foster care and heartache is just part of the experience as you take precious broken children and provide love, sweet memories, and a loving home for them as long as you are blessed with them and then, you say goodbye. You pray and weep and feel like your heart has been ripped out of your chest (and then you cry some more). This was that year. Two of our beloved little ones left us.
Little car seats sat by the door and little suitcases sat beside them. First one and then were carried out the door and never to be seen again. It broke us.
Over and over there was loss and grief all year until we felt like we had nothing left…
and then Grandma Cottage passed away.
It was winter in Tennessee and there were below zero temperatures when we got on an airplane for the funeral heading to California where the family had decided to lay mom to rest with dad.
It was then we decided to get tickets for the girls to go swimming with dolphins.
It was expensive but a once in a lifetime experience and I hoped it would be healing. That it would restore their hearts and bring a bit of light and joy back.
Swimming With Dolphins – The Dolphin Experience
Last year we got the chance to swim with dolphins when we were at SeaWorld. If you have never done it we highly recommend it! It is so much fun!! Even when the dolphins challenge you to a splashing war. You will lose but its still fun! It is one of my favorite things I have ever done! I was a little scared to get in the water- but honestly feeding the stingray was way more scary.
Yes, that is a lot of water, and yes it got the Brazilian ladies that were with us straight in the face. Luckily I saw it coming and turned just in time- to get and earful… oh well.
Swimming With Dolphins – To Laugh Again
Everyone wave!!! It’s so cute to watch them wave at you, you can’t help but laugh. It also helped you to relax and not be so nervous as this very large creature swims around you in the water. I found the stress starting to melt away and the heaviness in my heart begin to lighten.
Did I mention that water was really cold? Or that if you aren’t keeping a really good eye on the water you can get surprised very easily? Like the ladies that were with us. Dolphins are such amazing creature and it was such a blessing to spend time getting to know more about them. It gave me an amazing love for them and made me want to learn more about them. Now I know why mom loves them so much, dad brought her here for their honeymoon!
By now we didn’t even jump when it jumped up out of the water to sail high above us. It was absolutely amazing to watch. Our uncle told us about surfing with them and how they would catch the wave with him and ride it in. How amazing!
My personal favorite part of the dolphin encounter? Riding the dolphin! I felt so full, and the wind rushing in my face. I laughed so hard even though I had to remember to keep my mouth shut so I wouldn’t get the water in my mouth, but I couldn’t help it. It was so healing.
Brianna was afraid at first but slowly she began to open up
Look at that smile!
Say cheese! I love this picture!
Shaking hands… I think Brianna made a new friend.
Spinning around and around
Friendship test- ocean style!
- Fly Me To The Moon | California Trip Day 1
- Jet Lag | California Trip Day 2
- I Left My Heart At Huntington Beach | California Trip Day 6 (Part 3)
- Through The Canyon To Aunt And Uncle’s House We Go | California Trip Day 4
- SeaWorld | California Trip Day 5
- Pancakes, Lake Elsinore; Ortega Highway | California Trip Day 6 (Part 1)
- How Far Is Heaven? | California Trip Day 7
- Ill Be Back One Day | California Trip Day 8
