Jamaica

The first cruise destination on our journey was Jamaica. After being at sea for two whole days, it was somewhat surreal to look out of the window and see little islands emerging from an eternity of water. We stopped by the 9th deck on our way up to breakfast, and when I stepped outside, the beauty of the Jamaican islands stole my breath. The dark green, lush mountains stood like pillars stretching out of the turquoise sea. The beaches lined the busy little town streets, and the clear blue skies paled in comparison to the crystal clear waters. It was everything I dreamed an exotic island would be.

After breakfast, we decided to venture out into our first foreign country (well a first for me and the kids at least.) Our greeting was less than pleasant. We stepped off of the boat only to become part of a mass of confused tourists trapped at port by a huge, unfriendly fenced wall.... not exactly the greeting I expected from such a beautiful city.

I guess I pictured it as it is in the movies when they greet you with flowered leis, excited to share their beautiful land with you. Jamaica was less than cordial; It was filled with vibrant colors, crazy cab drivers, drug selling thugs, and aggressive salesman all backed by a breathtaking scenery. I could feel the niativity being swept from my mind with every step we took into the unknown. I feel so privileged to be able to explore this beautiful and diverse world that was created for us, and I feel so blessed to experience it with the ones I love most at my side.

Way to Be

We each have a way of being in the world. For the first part of my life I lived in the shadow of fear. I made choices out of fear; I lived out of fear, and I let fear fuel my successes and disintegrate my dreams. I have made a choice to change.... to actively live in a way that makes growth and acceptance and accomplishment possible. My new mantra was seriously challenged on our family vacation. I faced my fear of the unknown, my fear of deep water, and so many other situations that made my tummy turn, and I had more fun and adventure than I ever dreamt I'd experience. So the next few days will be a marathon of our over-seas adventure starting with the first few days aboard the Carnival Conquest...

I need YOU

Well, the title of this post may seem a little dramatic, but I really do need you to vote.  I designed a t-shirt for my gym and if my shirt gets the most votes, I get THREE FREE MONTHS added on to my membership.  Amazing right?? So if you have a second, click on the link and like my cute little T.
Thanks!!!

                                                                                            

vote here

We talk about nothing

In my never ending persuit to become a better mom and wife, I read a passage that said we should talk about absolutely nothing with our kids so that when there's something important to talk about, we will already have open, comfortable lines of communication. As my children have grown, as I've struggled to learn how to communicate in a healthy, respectful manner, and as I have matured in my relationships, that simple thought has returned to me again and again.  I catch myself talking to Drew about hockey and snakes and what he wants to be when he grows up.  I listen to Maddi tell me about how plants grow and which princess is the prettiest.  I realize Sean and I are casually talking about the weather and I can't help but grin.  We talk about nothing so that when we need to talk about the important things, it flows easily and naturally.  We can share our fears without judgment, and when the time comes, we can honestly share our joys and concerns and volnerabilities in safety and love.  And here are a few pictures from our latest hike where we walked and rode and daydreamed and talked about everything and nothing all at the same time.

lets go fly a kite

We have had some gnarly afternoon thunderstorms lately. As these storms roll in, the weather cools and the winds soar yielding PERFECT kite flying weather.


Even Sam wanted in on the fun :)

The Pirate Tree House at the Botanical Gardens

Is this not the coolest tree house you've EVER seen?  The kids LOVED it.
And aren't these the cutest kiddos you've ever seen!! I am so blessed.

Dog Days of Winter at the Botanical Gardens

This year the botanical gardens had a special exhibit called the dog days of winter. If you have a furry family member, you MUST go! We walked the trails, let Sam run through the no leash zone, walked through the dog houses set up along the trails, and got to enjoy the blossoms along the way. On the weekend we chose to go, the gardens waived the admission fee if you brought an item to donate to our local animal shelter. Another super-fun, absolutely free weekend. :)