The Ostrom Family Adventures

Friday night was magical! The whole weekend was really quite Epic!

Please allow me to set the stage.

My aunt Joan and cousin Juliana came to visit NZ for Juliana’s senior adventure trip and after they arrived at our house on Thursday night, we all drove north on Friday.

Friday’s first stop was Matakana, for a lovely lunch at the Village Pub. If you remember, this gorgeous little town is one of the first outings we did when we arrived in NZ. We love it!

Then off to Goat Island Marine reserve, renting snorkels and fins and into the water. (Despite my (Jessa’s) best efforts at convincing everyone the water was warm enough without wetsuits, there was a lot of shivering. I’ll have to keep working on my convincing.).

We saw a Sting ray and an Eagle ray and a bunch of fish and kelp. It was beautiful and a good warm-up for the next couple days. 😉

We ate at a combo Thai and Indian food place in Whangarei at the Grand Hotel, where Queen Elizabeth stayed once. 😉

Then we arrived late at the Pacific Rendezvous villas at the top of a cliff overlooking the entrance to the Tutukaka Harbor.

Here’s the part about the Magic! Don’t skip this part even though we couldn’t get photos!!

The fella’s went to sleep and the 3 J’s took a walk down to the beach, too excited to sleep.

Stars filled the sky showing the full splendor of the Milky Way, and reflected perfectly in the gentle sleepy-breathing waves of the hidden beach. Even Orion in all his belted glory laid flat on the horizon as if resting.

The sand was soft and the sea gorgeously beckoned like the graceful hand movements of a hula dancer. “Make no ripples, melt into me peacefully. I have something to show you,” it said with a wink and a smile. I am not one to say “no thank you,” to the sea.

As I stepped in the water and felt the cool saline bliss draw me in deeper, tiny fireflies began to sparkle and swirl around my legs and waist. Swirling my hands in the water created a sudden magical riot of sea sparkles and glowing ripples. Pushing out into the depths, I was suddenly enveloped in the stars both above and all around me.

In my brain, I know of bioluminescence, and paddling through the caverns draped with glowworms, I have seen some of that magic, but I have never swam in it and seen the swirling sparkles erupt in glee with every movement. This was otherworldly. It was not visible from the shore so I encouraged Joan and Juliana to join me, and with just a little coaxing, they entered the cool night sea and found the magic sparkle around them as well.

To have shared this moment experiencing one of God’s most mystical creations was incredible. It was their first time “night swimming,” 😉 and was one of the most amazing nights I have ever had and I am so blessed to have shared this with them.