Sneaker wave

I have been debating whether or not to write this post.  It's not something I want to remember, yet I know I will never forget it.  I shudder every time I think of it...

What horrible thing am I about to tell you?  Ugh...  Maybe I am being dramatic, but I don't think so...

My child was nearly swept away by a rogue wave.  They call them sneaker waves on the west coast.  I thought the name was kinda odd when I first heard it, but having seen one I now understand.  It just snuck up on us...

We thought we were being careful.  I always check the weather report for any surf advisories...there were none on this day.  I also check the tide schedule before heading out...on this day the tide was outgoing and nearing low tide.  Thankfully.  I can't imagine how much stronger the wave would have been if the tide had been coming in...

The day was warm and sunny, so I let the kids go without shoes and dip their toes in the edge of the water as each wave receded.  We had been there for a long time and were actually getting ready to leave.  The bigger kids asked if they could get their feet wet "just one more time"...

Oh my, I am SO THANKFUL that my little two had already left the edge of the water and were safely up on the beach.  They had come up to me to help gather our things so that we could leave.  Only my three oldest were still near the water.

There was no warning, just a sudden rush of water as a huge wave pushed its way onto the shore.  The kids turned and tried to run from it, but there wasn't time.  I thank God that my oldest boy was in the middle of his brother and sister and they were close together.  I screamed and he reached out and grabbed one of them in each of his hands.  He and his brother never lost their footing, miraculously...  Their sister did, though.  One minute they were smiling and playing with the water barely touching the tips of their toes, the next I was watching in horror as she was knocked off her feet and completely submerged in the churning water.  Her brother held onto her, though...

Just as quickly as it came, it was gone.  We were all really shook up by it, but SO, SO, SO thankful that everyone was ok.  Two of the kids did get some little scrapes on their feet from the rocks, but they didn't even care at that point.  They realized how much worse it easily could have been.

That day I just happened to pack a bag with a big towel in it...I guess God knew I'd need it.  I wrapped my girl up in it, she was soaked from head to toe, and we just hugged and thanked God for His protection.

The kids were scared to go back near the water, but I didn't want them to be.  Respect...yes, fear...no.  So, after everyone had calmed down we gathered our things and walked back down to the edge of the water.  We were VERY watchful and careful of the waves and kept a good distance from them, but no more big ones ever came.  Just that one...

these two pictures...

...were taken minutes before the wave came

Sneaker waves are very real.  There have been at least five lives lost just this winter from sneaker waves on the California coast.  My heart goes out to their families...



 Ok, now that the story has been told I gotta go hug my babies.  You should, too...turn off your computer and go love on your loved ones.  Life is simply too short sometimes...