Getting Away

Ready to set sail and leave the clouds behind!

Last year's Christmas gift turned out to be this fall's greatest adventure! Mom and I had the time of our lives on this Girl's Get-A-Way cruise through Premier Christian Cruises. Leaving my boys behind was hard. Saying goodbye the night before an early morning flight is just not easy. Their pillows were damp when I checked on them one last time before going to bed. Awww, they really do love their mommy. :)

We traveled to Ft. Lauderdale, and I must say I enjoyed watching my own tv on the plane. Sometimes I'd watch the miners' rescue, other times I'd keep my eye on Hurricane Paula. That storm was headed straight for our planned route. Thankfully it ended up not being an issue at all.

Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas took us from Ft. Lauderdale to Key West to Cozumel! I took all kinds of pictures of the ship for my boys, and pictures of the water for me. :) As much as I'd love to cruise with Derek someday, I think he's better off on land. Friday night the ship felt a little bumpy in the rolling seas--just enough to make me dizzy at times. Mom and I handled it though, and thankfully we never felt sick.

Some of our new friends: first with Karen Kingsbury...

...then with Melissa Reeves

I wrote all about our times together in my journal, allowing me to just share some highlights through my blog.

• I loved spending this time with my mom. Sitting by the pool, walking around the ship, or ordering room service for breakfast--we enjoyed it all!
• Every night we ate dinner at our assigned table, which just happened to be right in the middle of the celebrities and their families who were on this cruise with us!
• Key West was beautiful! Perfect weather, lots of walking, lots of shopping, and lots of ocean all around us.
• Through various speakers and musicians, I learned that my reaction determines my reach. I saw these Christian leaders describe their broken pasts, showcasing God's redeeming love. Life can be such a juggling act, and one speaker encouraged me with truths related to restoring order in the midst of the busyness.
• Nicole C. Mullen was my favorite performer, by far. Karen Kingsbury is as good of a storyteller in person as she is in her books.
• See? We did more than sit by the pool and sip Cokes! But we did that too. :)
• Snorkeling in Cozumel! Mom started out saying, "I don't like this!" In her defense, it was very choppy water. We persevered and enjoyed it once we got the hang of it. Very beautiful blue water filled with tropical fish swimming all around us.
• Laughed a LOT and enjoyed being a woman in a group of 900 other women! There's another girl's-get-a-way cruise in January 2012. You should go if you can.

My husband and my dad took such good care of my boys while I was gone. They met us at the airport Monday night with homemade welcome home signs! Kaleb got to me for the first hug and Aaron and Braylen were not far behind. It was sweet reunion for sure. Derek summed up his experience at home by saying, "Now I know why you do some of the things you do. It makes sense to me now." Wow! What wife wouldn't want to hear her husband say that!!!

I wouldn't change one single thing about this trip with you Mom. Thank you for this incredible time together!!!