Dip Netting 2024 - Day 3

Today was about remembering Josiah, making new memories and celebrating past memories. I did not even put waders on today! I informed all I would not be touching a single salmon. I was going to the beach to be with Carrie and remember happy memories. We also planned to make new memories. Which is exactly what we did! 

Carrie, Josiah, Livie - 2020

Carrie shares it was in this very spot in 2020 she knew she was in love with Josiah. We laughed over our shared memory of trying to air fry wings for this crew in the RV.  Josiah was so enamored with Liv. I remember him showing her how to clean salmon. Josiah turned to me when she'd walked off and said, "Mom, she's so smart. She asks the best questions - always." I knew he was smitten. We were also smitten with Carrie and Liv.  It was on this trip he told us he thought he would one day marry Carrie. Luke drove down to spend a few hours with Krista on this trip too. This year foreshadowed the joy and family fun to follow. 

July 2021

A year later and Josiah and Carrie (and Livie) were engaged. They got married soon after this trip in August 2021. 

July 2022

Who could forget this iconic photo in 2023? We were all so excited for the picture to be taken and the news shared! Carrie and Josiah were expecting a baby. Unbeknownst to us Cory and Arielle were also expecting a baby. They kept quiet so the focus was all on Josiah and Carrie's news. 

Carrie, Josi, Livie & Josiah 2023

Carrie was SUCH a trooper to come camping in her first trimester. If you are new to the blog, you may not know, but three months after the above photo was taken Josiah was killed at work, protecting a co-worker from certain death. We are so very grateful for the years we have been coming down to Kenai; for the love shared and memories made. I'm also thankful Carrie took these pictures through the years - or had us take them.  How we love and cherish Josiah's girls and our moments with them! 

Livie, Josi, Carrie - 2024

We all debated coming down this year. I'm glad we did.  Josiah loved it down here - the family, the fishing, the scenery. We all feel his presence strongly, keep expecting his laughter or his voice...and that is a hard good. 

I noted Livie's new sweatshirt immediately. I don't believe we've been on one single camping trip with Josiah in the past two decades where this blue plaid didn't show up. It was PERFECT and comforting to see Livie wearing it. 

Livie and Josi

The gals didn't want to fish this year. It's enough to be here, play in the bouncy house, watch the water...

Me, Carrie, Josi, Ellie & Etta (Carrie's neices)

Charles

Allie & Josi

While we were content to observe from camp chairs, Benny was EXCITED to go fishing. Cory planned to spend the day with the boys in the water. Unfortunately, Danny and Stacia are both feeling under the weather and stayed at camp with Arielle & baby Ellie. Michael was in much pain this morning and opted to stay at the RV as well. Krista and Luke drove with us to the bluff and drove the trucks back to camp. Krista finished a paper, and they came back and picked us up when we were done. Benny informed me he thought he'd catch "about 10" salmon.  We first began dip netting with Benny when he was 7 or 8 months old.  Here he is at 7 - ready to take on the river! Later in the evening Benny told Arielle, "Uncle would be so proud of me." Yes, he would be.

Cory and boys

Alas, he did not catch any fish-TODAY. Yesterday was rainy - today was beautiful but windy and the water was rough.  Jenni went out hoping to catch a few more salmon since we were down at the beach anyway.

Jenni heads out!

She caught some AMAZING waves, but no new salmon. She was wet from her head to her toes when she came in. Her legs had swollen alarmingly...People really began catching salmon about the time we left the beach. 

So MUCH water! 

We ran into friends on the beach and stopped to chat a bit. It was great to see Britney and Stacy. We were in time to watch Stacy bring in two fish at once! 

2 itty bitty flounders?

Jamin met us back at the RV. We grabbed lunch and visited a bit. 

We headed out to a more secluded area of the beach. One thing we will be doing in the next months is scattering some of Josiah's ashes in his favorite places, before burying the remainder of his ashes in a local cemetery.  It feels right to be visiting his favorite places together. Today, we visited Kenai. (In case you tend to be one to worry about such things, we have checked state regulations, and I never blog personal things without asking. Carrie is o.k. with me blogging.)  

When I saw Carrie taking the above photos, I did the same to get a photo to mark the spot, and when we got home, I realized I'd caught Michael in one of the shots. Seeing Michael cradle the container with Josiah's cremains in his arms was poignant. My heart was flooded with memories of him carrying Baby Josiah. I could nearly feel the weight of 9 lb Josiah myself. 

We ended the day making some fun family memories. We've tried to swim at the Nikiski pool for 7 years! We are usually fishing when it is open. Arielle, Danny, Ellie, Stacia and I went back to the RV to hang out...everyone else made it to the pool. Carrie grabbed some shots for me to share. Everyone reported having great fun. The smiles tell the story. 

Charles & Cory in the back  Josi, Krista and Luke

Etta, Liv, Josi, Benny & Ellie

Carried fixed chili for dinner and we had a great time sitting around and visiting. Here are some quick glimpses caught and shared....

Josi and Danny

Cousins held by cousins.

Benny, Etta and Charles

Ellie & Josi - First dip netting trip!

Cory broke away with Liv and Ellie.

Luke, Danny, Cory, Charles, Liv, Ellie, Ellie (elder) and Josi

Carrie and the girls headed to the motel. Jamin headed back to Eagle River. Cory, Arielle and kids headed to their cabin. We built a fire! We knitted, read, visited...eventually Krista and Luke said goodnight. Luke and Krista are slated to move June 2025. This is probably our last dip netting with them for a while. I'm glad they are here. We stayed around the fire a bit longer. 

30+ yrs of McManus by the campfire

This day is full. We've lived it well. We're praying Danny and Stacia feel better tomorrow....though at this point it's now 1:12 a.m. on Sunday. LOL 

GRACE NOTES

Living fully present

Safe travel down and home for Jamin

Campfires tonight and through the years

Dip Netting 2024 - Day 2

 Jenni caught her first fish, and it was a beaut! 

Of course, things weren't quite that simple....

The truck was loaded and ready for a 0730 departure from the site to the beach. It rained ALL night...poured. BUT - we had salmon to catch. Arielle and the younger 3 stayed at the cabin. 

It was so foggy the mountains and entrance to the ocean disappeared. 

I put the new phone away - determined not to lose another phone. LOL Stacia caught the first fish of the year! It was a beauty. 

The first hour was slow...standing in chest-deep cold river water, in the rain and waiting for salmon is a fine and pleasant misery. Eventually, the salmon began hitting. Benny was the official bonker. I took care of gills and tails, rinsing and loading into the correct cooler, and chasing the fishermen down the beach as the tide went out.  When the salmon began hitting, they came fast!  Our goal for this trip was between 20 - 30 salmon, Cory hoped for 45 and Jenni wanted "some."  In ONE tide we got 38, Cory 48 and Jenni 10. NINETY-SIX in ONE tide! That leaves the rest of our required 5 nights in the campground for family fun.  The photo below took on significance later in the day. 

Signed her harvest card in the rain

Carrie and the girls arrived. Liv has outgrown her waders, and they were passed down to Benny. Cory plans to take he and Danny out fishing tomorrow. We brought a little net just for Benny. He's excited. 

Carrie and the girls went to check in to the hotel and the rest of us began cleaning 96 wild, fresh caught, Alaskan salmon. It took a bit of time.  We discovered we NEEDED the lifestyle table we'd not packed. Jenni and I ran to Walmart and bought a 6-foot folding BLACK table. It will live in the RV. As we drove back to the cleaning station we received a call from Krista, "Where are you and Jenni's harvest cards?" 

Um...in your wet bag. This was the first time we'd ever had a trooper show up IN THE CAMPGROUND 10 minutes from the beach and ask to see our harvest cards. We thought you had to keep the card with you until you got them off the beach. LOL All was well - I received a stern warning in abstentia to read and follow instructions better. I've heard that before somewhere. I hadn't signed my card. 

The processing crew...Michael, Luke, Cory, Krista and Allie scaled, cleaned and fillet salmon. 

Hard good - joy integrated with sorrow

Michael & Cory 📷by Arielle

Stacia, Benny and I patted them dry and put them in freezer bags. 

Jenni went back to our site and began sealing bags. She transported coolers of Salmon from the cleaning station to our campsite. Arielle kept Jenni company, watched children, started dinner and filled the freezer with bags of fresh Salmon. 

96 salmon in ONE tide. Others were catching nothing. Most were doing well. Tomorrow, we'll see what Benny catches - and if Cory can resist. Jenni may want to catch a few more. We are done. I wouldn't mind catching more - but I don't want to clean another salmon. LOL 

Krista made dinner of a yummy veggie soup, nuggets for the kids, lots of bread and dessert. After dinner some had showers to take. We were all EXHAUSTED and the night ended fairly quickly. Stacia and Danny are not feeling well. 

How was the day? Joy and grief... a hard good. There were lots of somber moments and yes, tears do leak from ones eyes from time to time.  Sitting on the beach and remembering Josiah's heart to make sure we all had everything we needed...watching Cory, Luke and Krista step into that place...remembering how many of us caught our first salmon with the aid of Josiah, his laughter when I would fall under the water, taking the photo last year to announce Josi's upcoming arrival....we missed him packing gear and lugging coolers. His presence was greatly missed when we processed. He was our fastest filleter and he entertained us with non-stop laughing banter. Carrie arrived and Josiah wasn't here to greet her. Moments. We are living through another first...and realizing the seconds aren't going to be magically "all better." We will continue to make space for all of our emotions on this unwanted journey we are on. We will make space, God heals what we authentically offer to him. He is always with us, and he comforts. 

GRACE NOTES

96 salmon in ONE tide - and days to simply vacation!

Safe travels down for Carrie and the girls!

The best son in laws in the world! Kudos to Cory and Luke! 

Dip Netting 2024 - Day 1

 The week before dipnetting is ALWAYS frantic...but this was a bit more than normal. We have reached the spot where we no longer have a gang at home helping to prep. Both girls were busy with work and such...if it weren't for Cory and Arielle's and Jamin's help the past few days, I'm not sure we would have made it. BUT, we made it.  

Alex showed up at 1000 to be briefed for staying with GG at the house. 

CoRielle showed up shortly afterwards and Arielle, Benny, Danny, Ellie and Stacia headed down the road. Cory headed off.  

We checked RV systems - Allie was willing albeit a bit apprehensive to assist Michael. 

 Ten minutes after Cory left, we pulled out of the driveway...we were the FIRST ones to arrive. ::snort:: We did not speed. We simply didn't make any stops. Before we knew it the three of us were backing into our site. 

The next hour was filled with setting up. We had the RV situated before anyone arrived. Cory and Arielle both showed up. We set up two shade covers and our 3-room tent. We had planned to have two tents - our site is plenty big. They wanted $75 per tent, per night. I knew we could put the 3 room tent up and it would count as one as we've done that the past five years. We put up the 3 room tent and put the two tents inside of it...which gives them extra protection for the forecasted rain...and saves $225. 

Josiah's presence is felt everywhere! As we set up the tent, we remembered his help in year's past.  We remembered his claim that we needed TWO shade shelters - one for gear and one over the table. It rained this evening and I was so glad we have two shelters. 

This one had a broken pole which Michael fixed before putting it up. My man is handy to have around. The girls put up the big tent! 

Oops! I guess the rain shield IS important if we want to be ADDED protection to the tents inside. 

Various ones of us had tears at various times....sitting at the table, glancing at the tent and not seeing Josiah sitting outside of the tent in his chair was one of those times for me. 

I started a tradition of getting a little toy/gift for each child for each day of dip netting. The days are long and it helps to break them up. I pulled out bubbles for the boys tonight. 

"Magic Wands." 

Never a good sign - but these guys are HANDY! Have I said that before? 

CoRielle rented a cabin this year. It will be much easier than the tent with the ages of their kids...and they have a BATHROOM and a stove...and a SHOWER they won't have to wait in like for an hour to use! They also have a porch/balconty which goes all the way around their cabin. This evening Jenni, Stacia and Allie and I went over and sat on the balcony with  Arielle - and had our hot drinks. Priceless. 

Arielle and I

We decided we had pushed enough and would not go down to the beach tonight. We will go down tomorrow. Cory (with a bit of Michael's help) got all the gear ready and loaded into the truck. Everything is loaded and ready for a 7:30 start tomorrow morning.

CoRielle provided dinner tonight. Pulled pork sandwiches, chips, coleslaw and Keebler cookies. 

Danny helped Cory replace a tire on the wagon.

I heard singing, "Over the mountains and through the woods to Bachan's site we go!" and out popped Benny. 

KrUke arrived and agreed to the plan of putting their tent in the big tent. We hoped Jenni's tent would fit. I remembered it being a hiking tent and thought it would be fine. 

The boys were excited to help Jenni put her tent up in the other 1/3 of the big tent. Pretty soon we heard an excited exclamation, "It's LEETLE!" 

Charles, Danny & Jenni

It's Thursday night and that means knitting with Jenni. LOL  She tried out her train project and decided it is going to work well. 

Arielle came back to join us around the fire after Cory and the kids were in bed. Michael had foraged for wood for us...and it was a very nice fire - though it was about done before I thought to take a photo. 

Bunnies at 11:05 p.m. 

This year's site....

GRACE NOTES

• Being together