Trailblazin': World of Wonder

Christmas brought kayaks to the Henson family and my telephoto lens! Like any kid on Christmas, the dark did not stop Kyle from opening and "playing" with his new toy.

These kayaks have given Florida some appeal. When we came a few weeks ago, there was little here that excited me. The plan was to meet up with my folks for a visit and head to Disney. Plus, there were a few hot spots we wanted to see like the Everglades & Sea Shell Island, but for the most part, it's not our kind of place. We're mountain folk; not beach people. It wasn't until that first canoe trip that all of that changed.

Putting into the water here was like entering a new and exciting world unto itself: pristine waters teaming with life, magnificent birds of all shapes and sizes, turtles and alligators lazily sunning themselves on logs and rocks. It's an adventure with rewards that can only be experienced by paddling. It's that slow pace that allows the eyes to wander, to soak it all in and catch that bald eagle resting high in the tree or the mama coot and her babies camouflaged so well that even at this slow pace they're almost missed.

I think this is a Chicken Turtle...I think.

American Coot family

Almost missed this guy hiding behind the lily pads.

Kyle caught this great shot.

On our most recent trip (only our second in the Sea Eagles), I was once again in awe. The turquoise springs that have carved their own caves were spectacular, but the wildlife is always my favorite. There is nothing more breathtaking then an eagle flying right over my head or 3 pelicans flying in a single file line about 6 inches off the water 3 feet from the side of my boat. Then of course, there were the manatees, which were by far Kylee's favorites. They don't have the exceptional beauty of the birds, yet they were equally intriguing and surprisingly graceful. We sat in our kayaks and watched them swim around eating, coming up for air and every once in a while swim right under us. Awesome!


Pic of the Spring taken by Kyle

Mama and her calf catching a breath.

Manatee's tail out of water

Manatee pic by Kyle

With Kyle and Kylee in their own boat, my mind wanders; I frequently think about God's handiwork and chat with Him. It is remarkable the detail He put into each creation; the exquisite and unique color combinations, their idiosyncrasies, their brilliance. The sun has disguised the brilliance of quite a few in our pictures, but nature is the greatest art gallery on earth! I find myself reflecting on what kind of god He is to have created such magnificence for no other reason than my pleasure. His creativity and love of color is obvious, but what kind of person does He have to be to appreciate such beauty, to have poured Himself and His imagination into this world just for me to delight in it? At the same time that I see His generosity and gentleness, I see the greatest of romantics but also a fierceness reflected in the alligator. When out on the water and left to my thoughts, I can certainly see why the Bible says that His nature is clearly perceived in His creation (Romans 1:20 ESV). Therein lies Florida's new appeal: natural diversity that introduces me to the heart and soul of Jesus... or at least gives Him the opportunity to show off and spoil me ;o).