We had waited all day to catch the sunset over the reservoir with good family friends we call our "Frousins." To capture the right moment, with the right people, with perfect lighting over the water at the edge of the pier was an absolute must for us. We had looked forward to it all day. Our goal was to recreate a picture we had done years earlier. Sunset was going to happen at 8:11. Everyone piled in the car and we headed out to our perfectly planned picture. But we hit traffic we weren't expecting and we could watch the sun beginning to set out our back window and in the rear view mirror. It was a perfectly round ball of beautiful blazing fire just taunting us as we came to a standstill. The skies were beautiful with the perfect amount of clouds beginning to mix with the pastels that only a perfect sunset can paint. I began to get fidgety when I realized that we most likely were not going to make it in time for our masterpiece. So I did what any other fine arts student would do. I made use of the gorgeous amount of light available and began taking pictures out of my window.

That sunset was not going to be wasted on my watch! We were all sad though at the prospects of our memory making plans literally stopped in traffic. We decided we would just find a place to turn around. In the meantime, we began to wonder why all the other cars were out. It wasn't possible that everyone else was chasing the sunset, too. It was then we realized that it was the last Saturday before the Fourth of July! There was going to be a fireworks display over the water at nine which meant that we had shown up just in time. Imagine our happiness with our new plans! The main parking lot was full and the police waved us on. We were not going to be able to stay there. So we drove away and looked for another road. We found it! It was the road that was in front of the docked boats, but we had no idea exactly where the fireworks were going to be. We enjoyed talking while we waited and then all of a sudden...BOOM!!! Literally, right in front of us over the water, the fireworks burst in the sky! We could not have picked a more perfect spot if we had planned days in advance.

The lights in the sky were reflected in the water and in our eyes as we watched in awe at the event that we had no idea we were going to that night. The finale was an amazing display of lights and sounds and then all went quiet. We yelled, cheered, and all piled back in the car with not one mosquito bite to be had by anyone. On top of the world, we all left fulfilled and thankful for the impromptu chance meeting with fireworks instead of a sunset.

On the way home, we talked about how we can make all the plans that we want, but that sometimes God has different plans for us. We were originally very disappointed that we missed our sunset but it got replaced with a fireworks show. I am glad we were patient and did not get frustrated and just quickly turn around and go home. We would have missed out on a very special time. So, next time I face disappointment I am going to remember that night and remind myself that God is going to show me greater things that I could ever plan for myself. It doesn't mean that every turn in my life is going to be rosy, but if I chase His light I know He will shine it on my path. Oh, and the good news is that we also got to recreate our photo anyway. We set our alarms for 5 AM and were able to catch the sunrise instead of the sunset. It made for a memorable morning for all of us. Funny how there was a lot less traffic to slow us down this time!

Hanna Bewley