When a Peaceful Fishing Trip Goes Sideways
A tale of unexpected challenges, shaky paddling decisions, divine intervention, and the glorious return of two mosquito-bitten boys.
You know how some days start with sunshine, promise, and the smug feeling that you are totally nailing this whole “peaceful family bonding in nature” thing? Yeah. That was this day—right before it all went sideways on this crazy fishing trip.
The Boys Set Out on Their Fishing Trip: Confidence, Snacks, and No Cell Signal
Joey and his cousin Eastyn —our brave, slightly overconfident duo—set out at dawn with nothing but fishing rods, packed snacks, a borrowed canoe, and a firm belief that they were men of the wilderness now. Nature, meanwhile, had other plans… and she was feeling feisty.
The morning was idyllic. Birds chirped, the lake shimmered, and the cousins paddled off like Lewis and Clark with fewer supplies and significantly less map-reading ability. Hours passed. We imagined them catching fish, telling jokes, maybe even forming a secret cousin handshake. It was wholesome, Hallmark-movie magic.
Until it wasn’t.
Trouble on the Lake: When the Canoe Floated Away
Turns out, a surprise gust of wind (thanks for the lesson, Weather Channel) turned their serene lake float into a one-way ticket to “Welcome to the Remote Side of Nowhere.” Their canoe drifted off like it had a better plan for the day, leaving them stranded on a random shore with no signal, no snacks (thanks, lunch), and a sudden crash course in Survival Skills 101.
Mom Gut Kicks In: The Power of Faith in a Family Crisis
Back at the campsite, the rest of us were living our best vacation lives, blissfully unaware. I was just beginning to feel that familiar mom-twinge—that “something’s off but everyone’s still pretending it’s fine” sensation. I shared my concern and received a lot of reassuring nods and one, “They’re probably just catching a big one!”
Spoiler alert: they were not catching anything. Unless you count mosquito bites and existential dread.
Finally, Eastyn —resourceful soul that he is—climbed to higher ground, raised his phone to the heavens like Simba in The Lion King, and somehow squeezed out one miraculous text:
“We lost the canoe and are stranded.”
(Insert dramatic organ music here.)
Operation Rescue:
Dads, Park Wardens, and Prayers Answered
Back at base camp, that single sentence hit like a lightning bolt to the mom-heart. Panic spread faster than you can say, “Whose idea was this trip again?” But before we could spiral completely into chaos, we did what our family always does in a crisis: we prayed. Hard. With every ounce of maternal energy and a few teary pleas that may have included promises like, “I’ll never complain about laundry again if you bring them back, Lord.”
As the final “Amen” echoed over the fire pit, a second text buzzed in—an answered prayer in 4G form. It was time for Operation Rescue.
Joey’s dad, Steven and his brother, leapt into action like backwoods superheroes. They didn’t ask questions, didn’t grab snacks, they simply charged off to find a park warden with a rescue boat and enough experience to know this wasn’t his first “teenagers-lost-a-canoe” rodeo.
Back at camp, the rest of us waited. And waited. I may or may not have paced a trail into the ground. The sun began to set in a dramatic fashion that only made everything feel more Lifetime Movie: Stranded Edition.
And then—cue the triumphant soundtrack—the rescue boat returned. There they were: Joey and Eastyn , tired, starving, and wearing the most sheepish grins I’ve ever seen. I ran to Joey like a woman in a slow-motion movie scene, except I tripped over a folding chair and almost took out the cooler. Still, it was emotional.
As they shoveled food into their faces, they enthralled us with tales of their Great Canoeless Adventure. I’m not saying we laughed. But we laughed, a lot.
Looking back, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude. For the swift action of two heroic dads, and the power of prayer that bridged the gap between panic and peace. For a park warden who didn’t ask, “Seriously?” And most of all, for two boys who now know that the wilderness doesn’t play—and who’ll be triple-checking their canoe knots from now on.
This day reminded us that life is fragile, control is overrated, and God is absolutely in the details—even the soggy, windy, mosquito-bitten ones. Joey and Eastyn’s adventure may not have gone to plan, but it gave us a story for the ages, a memory stitched into the fabric of our wild, grace-filled family life.
And the next time someone suggests a peaceful day of fishing? We’ll just ask one question:
“Canoe or don’t?”
Joey & Eastyn ’s Wilderness Survival Kit
Because sometimes “just a chill day of fishing” turns into a full-blown episode of Survivor: Cousin Edition.
🪢 50 Feet of Rope (Minimum)
To tie off your canoe. Or your cousin. Or your cousin to the canoe. Whatever it takes.
📱 Cell Phone + Signal Booster
Because you will end up in the one spot where reception is a myth.
🧭 Compass
For when your internal GPS (aka “I think it’s this way?”) fails spectacularly.
🛶 Canoe Leash
It doesn’t exist yet, but it should. Invent it. Patent it. Never lose a canoe again.
🧃 Extra Snacks
Because fishing burns calories. And so does panicking.
🔥 Emergency Flare or Sparkler
For signaling help—or celebrating when you’re found.
📖 Pocket Bible or Psalms App
When you’re stranded, it’s nice to have a little faith (and some David-level wilderness poetry).
💡 Headlamp
In case “we’ll be back before lunch” becomes “we’re still out here at sundown and also a raccoon is judging us.”
🧻 Toilet Paper
Trust us. Just… bring it.
🗺️ Actual Paper Map
Because apparently GPS is not available on Mount No-Signal.
🐜 Bug Spray Strong Enough to Repel Small Dragons
Those mosquitoes do not play around.
🎣 Fishing License
So you at least look like you belong out there.
🔔 Canoe Bell or Air Horn
Not technically necessary, but hilarious and dramatic if you ever need to alert your family that you’ve been rescued. “HEAR YE! I HAVE RETURNED!”
—
Next time our boys go out, they’ll be prepared. Or… at least they’ll bring rope. Either way, it’ll make for another day to remember—hopefully with fewer rescue boats.
If this story made you laugh, nod, or immediately want to add bug spray to your Amazon cart, consider sharing it with a friend who gets it. You can also join the Gathering Grace email list below to get more real-life encouragement, homeschooling humor, and grace-soaked chaos straight to your inbox.
Life’s messy, kids are wild, and God is always in the details—even the ones that involve canoe rescues.
Wow praise God they were okay!