Not afraid anymore

Over the past oh….29 years of my life I have been afraid to do certain things. I have been terrified of water and scared to death to get on a tube behind the boat. But I have decided that I am not going to be scared anymore. I am tired of sitting in the boat watching everyone else have fun. I am forcing myself to get over this phobia and to enjoy my life. I don’t want to be afraid to be adventurous. I want to put my inhibitions behind me and live life to the fullest. I want to enjoy every moment. I only wish I would have come to this conclusion almost 30 years ago. And this was the perfect weekend to start my new love of the water ( I keep telling myself I love it in hopes of changing my mind).
This weekend we were up in Hyrum for our annual family reunion. Every year we take our boat and trailers up to Hyrum reservoir to camp, boat, and of course attend the actual Baxter Family reunion. It is something we have done for, at least, the last eight years. And, until now, I have been deathly afraid of getting on the tube behind the boat. I have gone before but I have made sure my boys were with me to guarantee I wouldn’t be whipped off. This year was a little different. My wonderful brother-in-law, Tyler, got us a new tube. It seats 4 people and it is nearly impossible to tip over. It is the funnest tube I have ever been on. I wasn’t afraid at all. On the top there are three places for people to sit and hold on and there is a spot in the back for someone to kneel. I rode in every spot on the tube and the back is by far the best seat in the house. I went slow with my boys and fast with my sisters-in-law. I don’t remember the last time I have laughed so hard , I think I even peed my pants while tubing with the girls.
Well….that’s not all I did to over come my fear! I told Tyler about a week before our trip that I wanted to learn how to wakeboard and he held me to it. I tried it. I couldn’t even get out of the water. The rope would just flip me from my back to my stomach then Tyler would bring the rope back to me and we would do it again, and again, and again. I was so tired I couldn’t keep trying. So I took a break for the whole next day. I didn’t want to leave with out giving it one more try, so We went out early this morning. My nephew, Mason, just got up for his first time this year and he is doing awesome. I was trying to follow his lead, but once again I still didn’t get it. Matt (another brother-in-law) even got in the water with me and tried to help me. He gave me great advice and I almost had it. But after inhaling half of the lake I was exhausted and physically couldn’t do it anymore. I am confident that next time we go out I will get the hang of it.
I am so grateful for Tyler, Mason and Matt and for the patience they had with me this weekend while I was trying to conquer my fear of water. I hope we can take the boat out again before summer ends so I can truly wakeboard. I would like to get up on my feet and not my face. Needless to say, I think I am overcoming my fear of water. I am not scared anymore to fall and crash. I just need to keep doing it so I can be completely cured.
I think this has been the best trip to Hyrum that we have had and I already can’t wait to go next year. Even my boys said this is the funnest thing they have done all summer (even better than Lagoon). What a great way to spend time together with our family. Nothing makes me happier than being with them.