Middle Loup River

My family and I had the opportunity to tank the Middle Loup River this past weekend.  Yes I said tank - for anyone who hasn't heard that expression before, you float in a stock tank down the river rather than using canoes or kayak's.  That's what makes the experience so unique and fun, every place we would have hung up in a canoe or kayak, we just bounced off of, spun around a little and continued on down the river.  There were only two times that we had to get out and push off a sandbar, which would have happened in any vessel and only two times that we really crashed into trees that were in the water both due to the current taking us places we weren't expecting because the river was up and running due to recent rains.  Although we had one minor injury from the tree encounters, we overall had a great experience.  We were able to witness horses drinking at the bank of the river, deer at the river side for their morning drink, tons of dragonfly's and butterflies.  A flock of yellow finches bathing in the river was a pleasant surprise and we startled two blue heron's.  The scenery was incredible as well, fields of bales, meadows, stately trees, wildflowers and some incredible clouds.  Even the river bank held shapes and patterns carved by rain and wind.  We laughed (sometimes so hard that we cried), we got wet, we had a great time.  More importantly we were able to relax, breathe deep of the fresh air and witness God's amazing creativity.  The words thank you Jesus were in my mind and on my lips a lot that morning.  We then returned home for a yummy lunch together - what a great way to spend time with family.  I am thankful.