ST. MARY PARISH — Few families would attempt a 93-day paddling journey down the Mississippi River, but Nikki Bettis and seven of her 15 children are proving the impossible can be possible. Starting in Minnesota and following the true route along the Atchafalaya, the family plans to finish at Burns Point on Tuesday. This adventure is part of a lifestyle Bettis embraced after her divorce, turning personal challenges into full-time exploration and content creation with her children.

“If you waited till you had all the answers, you’d never go,” Bettis said, reflecting on the mindset that launched the family into their adventure.

Her son, 15-year-old Gatlin Bettis, explained the impact of seeing his younger siblings take on such challenges. “Look at us and be like, 'If the seven-year-old did

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