OUR FAVORITE ANIMALS A
Rachel: My favorite animal encounters happen right at my family’s home in Clearwater, Florida. The house is situated on the water, and we frequently get to see dolphins. It’s absolutely thrilling every single time — they often come speeding by in pods, playing and leaping out of the water. There’s a palpable joy and energy when they appear, and honestly, it just never gets old. I still get just as excited as the first time I saw them. Dolphins are special to the Clearwater area. In fact, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium is quite famous, partly due to its incredible rescue and rehabilitation work. Many people will know it as the home of Winter the dolphin, whose inspiring story was told in the “Dolphin Tale” movies. It really highlights the amazing connection people can have with these intelligent and beautiful marine animals. Here is a picture of me and my friends feeding one of the rescued dolphins at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
Carrie: My favorite animal for the longest time growing up was the horse. I dreamed of owning one someday and galloping across the fields. However, in the last few years, my favorite animal has switched to the elephant. They’re such magnificent creatures. Its size and power are staggering. I love seeing them at the zoo and would love to go on safari someday to see them in their natural habitat. A friend of mine gave me the pictured elephant ornament for Christmas one year, and the story of love and loyalty attached to it deepened my love for elephants even more. A sisterhood, fierce protectors. The elephant has to be one of the most beautiful of God’s creatures!
Stephanie: My obsession with dolphins began when I was a young child. My parents often took me to SeaWorld, and I was always in awe of the dolphins’ grace and beauty in the water. That fascination has only grown over the years. There hasn’t been a vacation near the ocean where my family hasn’t taken a boat excursion to see dolphins. We’ve spotted them several times by boat, from the shore, and even while walking along the Halifax River in Florida. One of our most memorable experiences was in 2016 in Clearwater Beach, when my daughter was just yards away from a group of dolphins while paddleboarding. I’m looking forward to more adventures and the chance to see even more of these amazing creatures in the future.
Jeremy: I find all animals, from the amazing leafcutter ant to the tranquil blue whale endlessly fascinating! I am especially enthralled with marine life after obtaining my open-water scuba certification. It’s an entirely different world underwater! It feels alien, yet homey. My favorite aquarium is the Florida Keys Aquarium, where I had the opportunity to feed the marine life held there. Although these amazing creatures were in captivity, being surrounded by this wildlife was such an amazing experience that I encourage all to try it! My personal favorite was feeding the sharks. For as brave as I can be, I was very grateful to know there was a divider between me and the hungry sharks, because the Lord knows I’d be a hefty meal for those hungry predators!
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