Reaching high . . .

As part of our trip to Australia, Make-A-Wish allowed MacKale to choose three excursions that they would help organize during our trip to the Gold Coast.  The Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary was one of the locations he chose to visit.

It's really a beautiful facility that allows you to get up close and personal with some of Australia's most interesting, cuddly and beautiful animals.

Some of the residents were more cuddly than others . . . 

But even the more temperamental ones were fascinating to watch  . . .

The facility is top notch without being overwhelming large and crowded . . .

The animals were fabulous in and of themselves, but if you really want to experience the sanctuary you need to get up high.  And by high I mean, way up in the trees.  The Currumbin Sanctuary has an added attraction of having an amazing Treetops Rope Course.  There are 80 crazy rope course obstacles including 11 zip lines that will take you to the tops of their trees overlooking the park.   

Mac picked this location as one of his excursions specifically because of this feature  . . .  I admit that I was INCREDIBLY nervous about it. Since his amputation, there has been a sense of 'no fear' with this kid, but I also wanted to be reasonable about his limitations.   This ropes course was WAY WAY WAY out of my own 50 plus-year-old body's comfort zone, but there was no way I was going to go all the way to Australia and not do it.  So up in the trees we went.

The obstacles start out what they consider to be at a beginners level as they bring you high and higher into the tops of the trees.  

I had no idea how it would be for MacKale on one leg plus a loaner . . .

MaGill  had no fear . . .

And McCoy took to the heights like a regular little monkey . . .

even when they got WAY up there.

I wish I had been able to get off the course faster to take pictures of some of the more daunting challenges, but I think these will give you an idea of how physically demanding just the few I captured were and how high into the trees the course took you.

I will never forget this moment when I could hear the dingos howling from their dens below this obstacle and McCoy and MacKale up in the treetops howling back at them.

It's definitely something that would never happen back home.  And because the ropes course wasn't enough . . .

There was also zip lining interwoven into the mix just to keep things interesting. 

Most of the zip lines were through the tops of the trees . . .

But a couple of them took us over the crocodile's pen . . .

and the kangaroo enclosure . . .

Of the three courses, 80 obstacles, and 11 zip lines, Mike, McCoy and MacKale finished every single one in a little over 3 hours.  (MaGill was too short for the black, advanced course so he and I completed the first two courses and then went crock shock zip lining, and I was able to run back in the woods to get these few pictures and videos.)   Proud momma moment?  You have no idea.  

I think each of us has our own favorite moments of our trip to Australia, but for me, despite my bruises and sore body the next day (Getting old is the pits!)  The Currumbin Sanctuary's Treetop Course was favorite part.  I could have never imagined three years ago while we were in the depths of chemo and surgery that our entire family would have the opportunity to travel to Australia.  That alone was a miracle and blessing, but to think of all us  . . . our entire family in the trees above all the animals of the sanctuary and pushing ourselves beyond what we thought ever capable  . . . it made my momma heart proud.  And it solidified the fact that while we may not always understand the path that God is putting before us . . . it might not be the path we choose . . . it might be ugly and hard and there may be tears of frustration along the way . . . we will get through it, we will reach new heights, accomplish seemingly impossible tasks and there will be joy on the other side.  

We all found our joy at Currumbin!