Reflections on a journey

This is Kristen. I've admittedly been out of the practice of writing for a long time. My only excuse is that I've been experiencing this life with my family, enjoying the ups and getting through the downs. The last time I wrote anything was in El Salvador, back in February. Since then, we survived the Golfo de Fonseca (two weeks of insane wind and having to move anchorages at least every other day, sometimes twice a day), played panga ping-pong on our way down the Nicaraguan coast, experienced a little bit of Costa Rica (including a troop of Capuchin monkeys dropping limes on our heads!), and at last crossed a huge item off our bucket list by traversing the Panama Canal in our own boat, traveling with friends and making new ones all along the way. 

The adventures have been many. The experiences vast. The trials character-building. This journey has changed and shaped us individually, not to mention as a family. The kiddos are 15, 12, and 8 now, and it's shocking every time I stop and reflect how much of their lives they have lived on a boat and travelled. How will it shape their future lives? Their directions and decisions? I hope so much that they use this life we have tried to give them to continue living what many people apparently see as "abnormal." "Normality" is overrated! LOL 

Bahia Drake, Costa Rica. We'll be back!

Rachael & Megan meet a parrot in Shelter Bay.

On the bow in Gatun Locks. Caribbean Sea is right behind us!

Kyrie kids and friends enjoying a sunset in Golfo Fonseca.

Golfo Nicoya, CR

Riding a roller coaster at the carnival in Golfito, CR.

The kids on a wander around El Barranco, Bahia Honda, Panama.

Joe and Kristen in Bahia Honda, Panama

Kyrie locked and loaded in Miraflores Locks.