It is in the surprise where you have the chance to rise.

Kerri Elizabeth

This moment etched in gratitude
What you see
Changed suddenly
A turn of events
A wonder woman arrived from inside
God gave me grace and trusted my strength
That lake is frozen
Somewhat…….
Less than enough
Take nothing for granted
Breathe in faith and love daily
Let love be your way
Let strength take shapeArrive and say
Thank you God for everyday

SUNSHINE

It was a beautiful day just a few weeks ago I took my dogs to my favorite lake near by. My best self rises within and near Gods amazing gift of water.

This day there was still an ice covering on the lake, so I parked farther away to let the dogs out to do their thing and their love for water spoke louder than their need to squat. Off they ran straight for the lake, nothing was going to stop them and I was in for a surprise.

My oldest is an amazing swimmer, she thrives in water like I do. She ran right up on a far away bridge going over a section of the lake. I had not been over that bridge or to that section of the lake, I thought the bridge went all the way over. From where I stood it looked that way, so I took a deep breathe and went behind them to get to the other side.

Well, that bridge went down to the water level in the middle, this is where the surprise gave me a challenge I never imagined.

My Rudy ( my lil boy) LOVES SNOW and all he saw was HURRAY snow on the lake and took a leap right on to the ice capped lake.

NOT frozen enough for me to get on it too, I tried to call him back to me and he thought it was time to play and get me on the snow topped ice on the lake.

The details of the next few moments are heart pounding as he fell through the ice and I was trying to keep the other two from jumping as well.

Rudy popped up and grabbed the ice and was able to pull himself and push with a back foot back onto the ice as I kept calling and encouraging him. He was farther out then I could reach and all I could think was how I was going to break this ice to get to him, because I knew the other two where going to follow and I needed to make a clear path for everyone.

This went on for what seemed like hours but it was moments….

After numerous breaks to the ice and falls and encouragement and prayers I was able to get in the water( I threw my coat off so fast to not have weight on me) and hold two back and reach for Rudy and pull him to me.

I think God stretched me in a way humans don’t stretch without his favor wrapped around you. He had me and I knew it.

I got the two puppies thrown under each arm and somehow had our oldest one eye to eye listening intently to direction. She knew this was business.

Thank you God for saving us all…. When I got home I was told , the day before a man and two dogs fell in the lake, the man went to save his dog and didn’t make it and another man went to save him and didn’t make it and only one dog made it. Bless their souls and may they rest in peace and maybe God had them be a part of saving us.

MOMENTS THAT GIVE YOU STRENGTH!