Our trip did not require helmets as the rapids were very minimal. We did however need life vests, water shoes, sunblock and bug spray. We were prepared and brought those things with us. The river tubing company provided the life vests, and tubes. They even offered ropes to secure the tubes to each other in case we wanted to stay together as a group for the ride down the river.

They gave us a quick orientation of the important details that we needed to know for a successful trip. Then they drove us to an area about a mile and a half up the road and said goodbye. We wouldn’t see them again until we arrived at the end of our journey.

My friends that were with me don’t love lakes and rivers. They prefer clear and clean water that you can see what you are walking through. One of my daughters does not love water, and my little one hates bugs. There were many reasons to have chosen a different activity.

So why did we decide to do this activity? Well, I knew that once we could get out of our comfort zone, we would be able to experience something amazing. We would also grow mentally tougher as we maneuvered through challenges together.

We got off the bus and the river expert directed us to a small opening in the woods. We were to go through that opening and follow the path until we came to the riverside. I carried two floats, my friend carried two floats and my other friend helped my little one through the path in the woods to the lake side. My other two girls had to carry big floats and not let them drag along the way. We all had a burden to carry, we all helped encourage each other along the path.

I arrived at the end of the path, deposited the tubes by the shore, and hurried back to help carry my little one. As we came close to the river, there were large rocks that littered the path, and it was difficult to find good footing.

Once we all got to the river, I could see the trepidation on the faces of those that were not very excited about having to get into the water. You could see the small crayfish amongst the rocks that we had to walk through as the instructions were to walk out into the middle of the river before getting onto the tubes.

I decided that I would work my hardest to help them get through this hard thing. I walked out into the water and started getting kids on tubes and tethering them together with the cords. Finally, we got everyone situated and we were ready to go for a ride down the river.

We ran into several bumps along the way, literally and figuratively. We kept drifting from the middle of the river to the side where there was no current. We had to paddle away from the sides often. And then when we would get caught up in the current that we desired, we would get stuck on rocks.

The ropes came untethered a couple of times. One time, my daughter got stuck on a large rock ledge and the cord came undone. The rest of us were all tied together and quickly floating away from her as her tube was stuck. She had frozen in panic and could not move to save herself.

I knew immediately that I had to jump out and rescue her. I thought it would be easy. It was not. I hopped out of my tube and immediately felt the strength of the current pushing against my legs. I had to keep hold of my tube which was connected to everyone else as I inched ever so slowly towards my daughter.

I was at least ten feet away from my daughter when I told her that she would have to get out of her tube and carefully walk along the ledge to me. I was struggling to catch my footing on the large mossy stones that littered the ground, and the intensity of the current made it very difficult for me to get to her.

I did not think that she would get out and come to me. It isn’t usually in her nature to do something that she is scared of doing. As I was struggling to move forward and find secure footing, I looked up to see her moving towards me. I’m so proud of her. Once she was back in her tube and secured again to the group, I realized that I had to somehow get back into my tube safely.

The current was strong here and I was using a lot of effort to hold the tube close to me. I did not see how I could get into my tube and keep it near me at the same time. My footing was very precarious in the moss-covered rock ledge under my feet. I did not know how I was going to get back into my tube. Finally, I knew that I needed to jump. So, I did.

I’d like to think that it looked super courageous, but I as I play this scenario back in my head, I am reminded of the memes of what you think you look like, but in fact, you look pretty silly. My friends and I laughed and giggled as we found Memes that were a pretty close comparison.

This was not the last tricky situation we found ourselves in. Another time we were in a swift current, that same daughter’s rope untethered again. She was yelling at me as I floated away as if I had done it on purpose. Then I yelled to her that I could not rescue her this time. She was safely attached to my friends float and I had my little one with me.

I was interested to see how she would react. I knew that she was in safe company with my friends, but how would she feel about it? Would she give up? Would she continue to be angry about this circumstance? Would she depend on the others to get her back to me?

You know what happened? She started paddling towards me. She paddled harder than I have ever seen her do anything before. She worked so hard. You could see the stress. You could see it turn into determination. You could see her experience hope as she got closer. You could see the frustration of our missed connections as we reached for each other. You could see the satisfaction as we grabbed hands. You could see the relief when she was tethered to me again.

When we finally made it to our destination, there was relief for those that didn’t enjoy themselves. My daughter that hates bugs ended up in my tube with me so that I could protect her from the friendly dragonflies that kept landing on her. She wanted me to cover her entire body with mine to protect her from them. I wish I could have done more, but my legs and arms are so short that with both of our lifejackets on, I wasn’t able to help much.

This trip down the river with my littles has me pondering on the journey of this earthly life. We were sent down from Heaven to experience joys and trials. We were sent down in families. No one family is perfect. We have to figure out how to secure our tubes in a tight formation. We must check the rope tethers frequently for weaknesses so that we don’t float astray. It takes a lot of hard work and effort from all participants.

We will have to get in the gross dirty water to help others. We will have to work together as we paddle from the shore to get back to the current that will take us to our destination. One person paddling in the wrong direction will cause more work for the rest of the group. We have to be united in our efforts.

Our Heavenly Parents left us at the path with a promise that they will be at the end of the journey to welcome us home. They gave us blessings before we left them. They gave us all that we needed to find our way. Unfortunately, because we would forget everything, we don’t remember the orientation we had with them, but they send us important messages along our journey in this life.

The current of the river is Jesus Christ. He will take us where we want to go. Sometimes, our tubes will stray from the current. We have to paddle and give great effort to make it back there. Once we are in the current, we can become surprised by the hidden rocks that pop up in our path. Just because we are doing what is right and keeping close to Jesus Christ does not mean that we will avoid trials in our lives.

Because we are in the current with Him, He will help give us the loving push and the constant support that we need to overcome the challenges of life. He will carry us through the hardest times of our lives.

The tube is the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is there to guide us. To protect us. To testify of truth. It told me to jump into the tube when I didn’t know how I would get back into it safely. I trusted that inspiration with everything I had and didn’t hesitate one second. It wasn’t pretty, but I landed safely, and we were able to continue on our journey.

There is another important part of this journey that I want to point out. That is the people who were on the journey with me. God sends us people in our lives at certain times for very important reasons. He wants us to work together to strengthen each other when we are going through a difficult circumstance.

Who is in your group? Are you helping to paddle? Are you doing a daring rescue? Are you recovering from a stressful situation? Are you checking your ropes to make sure they are strong? Are you drifting from the current? Are you the watchman and calling out the warnings of rocks ahead? Are you jumping into the dirty water to help someone in your group?

As we reached the end of our journey down the river, I was so excited that we had accomplished such a hard thing together. My friends and children did such an amazing job doing something that was uncomfortable to them. I hope that they feel the same way about this experience.

I know that when we return to our Heavenly Parents at the end of our lives, we will be so excited that we went down and had this amazing and hard experience on earth. I think that we will be surprised to recognize just how much time they spent with us on our journey in life.

When my daughter was separated from me, she called out for help. I tried my best to help her, but she also had to put forth effort to help herself. My daughter did not want to get out of the safety of her tube. She heard me, her parent, tell her to do something very hard. It was not something that she wanted to hear from me.

This is the same when we ask for help from our Heavenly Parents. Most of the time, we want them to do all of the heavy lifting. But it is the most rewarding and fulfilling thing when we realize that if we ask, They will meet us where we are at, we can do it together.

I find immense relief when I am tethered to Them through Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. Our Heavenly Parents meant for them to help us through these obstacles we find ourselves traversing in life. What an amazing gift and personal sacrifice Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost have made to help us. I am so grateful.

How can you find this out for yourself? Pray. Study. Ponder. Wait and listen. You will feel and hear Them. It is beautiful.