There’s something so special about slowing down and noticing the beauty right in front of us. If you’ve been following along on our yacht journey, you know we’re always learning that the sweetest memories often come from the moments we didn’t plan. The past two days have been a beautiful reminder of that truth—and I hope this story leaves your heart feeling lighter and a little more open to the unexpected joys in your own life.
We had set our alarms and charts for an early departure from Jacksonville yesterday morning, planning for a full day on the water. But life had other ideas. An alarm on the boat kept us docked while we waited for a repairman. It turned out a valve had simply been left off during earlier service. This was an easy fix and we felt relieved that we could begin. We finally pulled away… only to lose our charts ten minutes later. Back to the slip we went! A quick battery reset, and we were off again.
By evening we’d only traveled about three hours before tying up at a marina, only to find… no shore power for the night. This morning, we couldn’t get fuel either. With a full tank we could cruise to Savannah; however, what we thought would be a long travel day turned into another short, gentle one on the water. And you know what? It was perfectly okay.
We arrived at lovely St. Simons Island hoping for sunshine and exploration. Instead, the skies opened up and the rain poured down. Rather than feeling disappointed, we nestled into our cozy cabin, made tuna sandwiches with fresh veggies, and simply rested. Then we looked at each other and smiled. “Why let a little rain stop us?”
We zipped on our rain jackets, and hopped on our electric scooters! We rode into town with raindrops on our faces, laughing the whole way. The streets glistened, the air felt fresh, and the day became even more memorable because of it.
I’m so grateful we didn’t meet these changes with frustration or defeat. In fact, they’ve brought us closer and filled us with quiet joy. This season on the water keeps teaching me the truth of Proverbs 16:9:
“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”
We make our plans—and we always pray for God’s protection as we travel—but we’re learning to hold them loosely. When things don’t go as expected (alarms sounding, charts going blank, fuel delays, or sudden rain), it’s an invitation to humility, flexibility, and trust. Instead of anxiety asking “Did we get this wrong?”, we’re choosing to believe God is guiding our steps and weaving beauty into every detour.
Living in the “adesso”—the now—means embracing whatever comes our way and deciding that each moment is worth savoring. We are truly blessed beyond measure. The Lord has given me the gift of this adventurous life and a husband with whom I can be completely myself. We can laugh in the rain, rest in the delays, and trust that every twist in the journey is part of something good.
If you’re in the middle of your own unplanned season right now, I hope this encourages you. Let’s all choose to lean in with open hearts. The best parts of life are often the ones we never saw coming.
Thank you for sailing along with us. I’d love to hear about a time when an unexpected detour brought you unexpected joy—drop a note in the comments!