Joyful Sacrifice

The Winter Sky... God's creation is amazingly beautiful!

I had planned to post this around Thanksgiving when I wrote it but I wanted to save it until it was published in a keepsake book... which has now been received by one of my most treasured friends.
Never did I believe it possible to have the kind of friendship that is written about in books or shown in movies. I was certain it was fantasy to think that two people could share all parts of their lives on such a deep level. I never thought that 'friends' could be family... corny, feel good stuff meant for the big screen. What is true friendship? It is joyful sacrifice... wanting to be there in the best of times and the saddest of times for those you love with all your heart. That is the definition of family, isn't it? Joyful sacrifice is taking care of your best friend's child while she flies across the country to be with grieving family. It is giving up pool days of relaxing in the sun to study and discuss God's Word. It is shedding countless tears watching your best friend's family lose a treasured sister and feeling their sorrow many times since. It is crossing the finish line MANY times together after hard training and hours of dedication. It is leaving late for a trip to watch your friend become your sister in Christ as she is baptized AND knowing YOU are the reason she was there. God allowed these experiences so we could grow in our faith and so I wouldn't change any of them.

Today, I celebrate friendship and the blessing it is to me. I am thankful that God places the right people in our lives. I am blessed to have close friends who truly accept me with my flaws and love me despite them. My heart is full and my joy is great. Thanksgiving and Christmas are perfect holidays to share our love with others... but so is any other day of the year. I strive to share my appreciation with those closest to me often. Each day is a gift... and I am so grateful to spend my life with family and friends.

A Common Love

A Common Love

A common love for each other

A common gift from the Savior

A common bond holding us to the Lord

A common strength when we’re weary

A common hope for tomorrow

A common joy in the truth of God’s word.

We sang this song tonight at church. I love the meaning of this song because it is all about family... church family, our brothers and sisters in Christ! What is so meaningful to me is the love, strength, bond, hope and joy that spills over into all parts of life. Today was a hard day for many reasons. Kelly and I ran the Route 66 5K. It was the toughest 5K course we have ever ran... there were many HILLS. Today is Diane Cook's birthday. She is the amazing woman who inspired my blog. She is David's sister (Kelly's sister in law) who passed away on June 2nd of this year. Her faith was amazing and so deep. She left behind 2 little girls and a husband who love and miss her every single day. My heart breaks for them. Today, Kelly and I ran in her memory. We were reminded of her each time it was hard to run or to keep running. She did it again! She inspired us to keep on running the race... I am reminded of the verse in 2 Timothy 4:7 which says, "I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith."

Diane Cook

Each day is a gift from above. God gives us each day to live according to His purpose. I so often fall short and I am thankful today, everyday for His grace and forgiveness. I was thinking about ALL of this as I took the Lord's Supper today. It is my favorite part of worship each Sunday. Today, I give thanks for life... mine and yours and Diane's who touched so many with her grace and faith. Ya know, some days are hard and it is difficult to remember that the trials make us stronger and more faithful. May we all cling to that and those who love us, give us strength, hope, joy and share our common bond.

Route 66 ~ Nov. 22nd, 2009

I am thankful for the common bond we share.

Looking on the bright side of things...

Have you ever known someone who seems to glide through life with a smile, never having a bad day, always in a great mood?  Life is perfect when you have Jesus in your heart, right? Uh, yeah..no... It isn't perfect so why do some people act like it is?  I haven't "hung around" perfect people lately (like since college) because they make me feel stupid and like my faith is lacking. The truth is... God never said this thing called life would always be happy and easy.  I TRY REALLY HARD to see the positive in all things but there are just times when I have to admit, life is hard or frustrating. 

This has been a hard year in teaching... for many reasons.  I am not going to spend the time to recount those things here.  You'll just have to trust me when I tell you... it is a difficult year.  I am trying to see the positives... and there are many to reflect on.

Flash + Dreamboat = Flashboat!

(AKA... Sarah and Me!)

~ I LOVE my co-teacher, Sarah Hicks! She cracks me up every single day! I LOVE her organizational abilities and how she is working so hard to get me to perfection in that area! DUDE! She SO has her work cut out for her!

~ The smiles on my students' faces are always a positive and all 27 of them are making AMAZING progress in all areas! WOO HOO!!

~ My desk area is naked!!! I am SO EXCITED!! Sarah has de-cluttered me and MADE me throw lots of stuff away as well as donate boxes full of misc. stuff.  It is a CLEAN kind of feeling!

~ Laurieann... who laughs when times are hard and just keeps moving forward.

~ Tobi... who works hard to unify the team and keep us stuck together.  She is there to unite us always!

~ Micah... who communicates how she is feeling and validates us all.

~ Kelly... who vents, listens, encourages and sticks to the plan, even when it is hard. This "big class adventure" is something... so glad we are in it together!

~ Rocket Brothers... can make almost any day better.  I am so thankful it is just a few minutes away! WOO HOO!! This will tell you how stressful this year has been and how we are spread so thin... TODAY was the FIRST EVER "TEAM Rocket Run" of the school year! ARE YOU KIDDING ME??

~ Wednesday nights... this might seem a bit weird to some. However, it is the energizer I need in the middle of the week to keep going. God is good... ALL THE TIME!

~ Running... it is amazing how much better I feel after I run on Mondays and Thursdays.  I am sure it is partly the run and partly the company but it is good, nonetheless!

Kelly, Me and Bridget AFTER the Tulsa Run on October 31st!

I am SO proud of us!!!

Sometimes it helps to just focus on the positives...

Family Matters

This weekend was pretty amazing... it was quite a week at school.  I would say one of the hardest of my career but that is all in perspective now.   It is funny that you can go through something, all caught up in the emotion of it and look back, realizing it really was beyond your control.  Well... that is how it was last week.

My weekend started in the most amazing way!  At 5:30 on Friday, I went to church.  I met my family there... Mom, Don, my girls and Todd, David, Kelly and the boys.  Tim was there too and so was another family (neighbors of Mom's). This was something I have prayed for since... forever, honestly. My mom establishing herself at church in her faith and wanting to be involved in worship every Sunday. YAY!!!!  My mom was baptized for the remission of her sins on Friday at Broken Arrow Church of Christ.  God has the power to make HUGE dreams come true!!  Mom hasn't been a member of a church in over 38 years but now she attends BA COC with us every Sunday.  The amazing part of this story is that Don, Mom's husband was raised in the church and his daddy was a Church of Christ preacher in Arkansas. Don is right at home at the Broken Arrow church.  Kelly and I got to go up to the "pool" to help Mom get ready.  There really are no words to describe how it felt  to hear Mom confess her faith and watch as she was buried with Christ.  It was pure joy! 

Mom and I on November 6th, 2009.

This road we are traveling is a long and curvy journey.  I am so glad to have Mom there with me! Is it weird to say you are proud of your mom?  Well... I am! YAY MOM! YAY GOD! It was also neat to see the relationship that Kelly has built with Mom and Don... I know they appreciate her welcome hugs every Sunday. Isn't funny to think how all of this came about and how the Lord brings people into our lives at just the right time? Mom wouldn't be at church right now if she hadn't come to my baptism in June. I clearly wouldn't have been baptized in June without Kelly's influence and so this is how it was intended to be. Praise be to God!

Mom with Tim.

       Raised to walk in newness of life!

Don and Mom with Emma, Katherine, Todd and I

ROLL TIDE!!!!!!!!

I have been so busy with work, home, church, company and running that I haven't blogged in a while. An update is long overdue!  I don't have any super profound thoughts tonight but it has been a great weekend!!

I have to write about my new ADDICTION to football!!! It is SPECIFIC to ALABAMA FOOTBALL! I openly admit that it started out as a social opportunity.  I just really wanted our family to spend time with the Parrott's on a Saturday. Kelly invited us over so WE WENT! It is some kind of entertainment... I'm just sayin' there is NOTHING like watching Kelly interact with the TV during a game.  IT IS AWESOME! So... I liked watching the game but now I HAVE TO watch Bama EVERY week and sometimes, I watch OTHER teams too! What in the world is going on with me??? There are A LOT of changes in my life lately... I guess I am still rediscovering myself! Can I share a secret dream with you?? I AM DYING... I MEAN DYING to go to an ALABAMA game IN ALABAMA! If I had a random donation of $1000, I'd be there... WITH KELLY! WOO HOO!!!! I am cheesy just thinking about it!!! POOF! I woke up... it was just a dream! :>)

ROLL TIDE!!!!!!!!!!!

Alabama isn't playing next weekend!! WHAT AM I GOING TO DO? 

Oh yeah... I will be running the TULSA RUN 5K!!!

Today was a CHURCH DAY! Literally, I spent the WHOLE DAY THERE! WOW! We went to Bible Class this morning, then service, to lunch, home for an hour and back to church for a meeting, service and then the Good Guy Carnival.  The Carnival was super fun and was put on by the middle schoolers.  Oh how I love Broken Arrow Church of Christ! :>)

My Girls ~ Katherine and Emma

Griffin and my girls

Kelly and I at church... I love to worship, sing and pray with her!!

I wouldn't trade anything for it!

If you dislike sappy stuff... POOF! Be gone from this blog right now... because it is a sappy post!

I have been reflecting A LOT this week! Do you ever feel like AFTER a big event you are kind of drained? You know, like after a wedding or a trip or being TOY for a year?  YEP! That is how I feel... just emotionally tired and worn out.  I was totally warned that this would probably happen but NOT TO ME, I thought... wrong! It is not that I am sad that my time in the spotlight is over... cause that is NOT the case.  I need LESS busy in my life...honestly. I think it is just once the pressure of it all is gone, you realize how tired you are and how much emotion was involved. 

I have been attending Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University since August.  There is a lot to learn about FINANCIAL PEACE... and a lot of discussion on the value of things. It has been said that everything has a price.  You know what?  I disagree... there are just some things I wouldn't trade anything for.  Here is my list:

~ The autumn wind blowing on my face as the sun sets
~ Walking down the aisle at my wedding and hearing Todd tell me I was beautiful
~ Doing the HALF marathon in OKC and FINISHING strong!
~ Reading "You are a National Board Certified Teacher" on the screen of my computer on December 17th, 2006.
~ Giving birth to my two precious girls
~ Teaching my friends' children
~ Going to Hawaii FOR FREE with Micah... hearing the waves rush upon the beach in the dark and knowing we were THERE!
~ Going to Vegas with the kindergarten team
~ My cruise with Todd
~ Being Baptized... looking up and seeing the pure joy on Kelly's face, tears streaming down her cheeks and knowing that it was a moment I'd never forget. I loved sharing that with her after all of our studying.
~ Being the Teacher of the Year at Park Lane for 2009
~ Sharing my heart with my friends and them sharing their hearts with me
~ Still remembering what my Dad's voice sounds like when he says, "I love you".
~ Summer of 2009
~ Attending church with my family AND the Parrott's... no matter what my mood when I arrive, I ALWAYS leave with a smile and a full heart. I thank God everyday that we are part of the Broken Arrow Church and that our family friendships are growing stronger with each passing day.
~ Seeing Katherine and Emma smile at me and give me a random hug
~ Todd's "I am proud of you" look... looking in my direction. :)

This is not a complete list but a good start... What is your list?

My dream came true!

I have been teaching in public education for 14 years. Throughout my career, I have grown and changed in so many ways.  I have strengthened my practice and found value in different parts of what I do each day.  I absolutely LOVE teaching young children. I love being one of their first teachers and getting to inspire their love for learning... hopefully that lasts a lifetime. It brings me the greatest joy to see them later as they have grown up and knowing that I somehow, in someway, influenced their life.

At Victoria's graduation!! Victoria was one of my first students in Glenpool!!

What is my favorite part of teaching? There are so many! I LOVE to teach little ones to READ.  I love to sing with them and hear them sing the songs when they don't know I am listening. I enjoy forming parent relationships, especially those that last for many years. I love to see that twinkle in the eye of young children as they realize THEY CAN DO IT..."it" being anything I told them was possible and they didn't believe me! I love to teach with Micah, Laurieann, Tobi and Kelly. I can honestly say..we are the dream team.  We are there for each other whenever it is needed or not needed!

I love receiving notes, letters, cards and emails from parents thanking me for the time I have spent with their child. These are priceless to me.

Throughout my teaching years, I have set goals.  I wanted to successfully write a grant.  I decided to write a BIG ONE for a trip to Hawaii in 2005 and I got it!  Now I write grants EVERY year for educational materials. I always wanted to become a Nationally Board Certified Teacher.  In 2006, I realized that dream after HUNDREDS of hours of prep, writing, teaching and studying. That moment, that I shared with NO ONE, will FOREVER be in my mind.  It was one of the greatest accomplishments of my professional life and I earned it on my own accord. What a fabulous moment!  So... after that, what kind of goal do you set? I realize that for many, it is enough to just teach because the rewards are so great.  You know what?  THEY ARE! It is not like the daily rewards are not enough for me.  I just wanted to dream a little more...what would it be like to be Teacher of the Year? I had always wondered and in 2008, I found out when I heard my name read by one of my students at a celebration at Park Lane Elementary.  THAT was the greatest moment of my career so far!!  I sat there with my team who were all so happy for me, so supportive. They sat there with so much HOPE for me and SO MUCH PURE JOY when I received this honor! It was a moment I won't soon forget.

So, you ask, why am I writing about it now? On Tuesday, October 6th, a new Teacher of the Year will reign at Park Lane Elementary.  I am very proud to have served our school and SO PROUD to have made it into the top 10 in the BA District. I am looking forward to passing the torch to the next deserving educator. I just couldn't let this mildstone in my life pass without writing about how much it meant to me to be the TOY of Park Lane. It will ALWAYS mean the world to me to know that my peers thought I was worthy of this honor.

I love you girls! YOU INSPIRE ME!!!

God is good...ALL THE TIME!

I didn't have a lot of time for 'reflection' today but I tried to squeeze in a little this evening while I drove to Target.  It was really the only time I was alone. What can I say?? It is hard to "reflect" with a three old in your back pocket!

Have you ever felt like God was right there with you?  Cheering you on, encouraging you or giving you strength for the next race you will run? When I finished running on Thursday, UP HILLS IN THE RAIN, I picked up Katherine and Emma from Mom's house.  I was struck by the true beauty of the sky.  It reminded me that God is always there...even in the storms of life.

God is there for the little joys too...like watching my girls at their FIRST football game last Friday night and while they were riding around at the nursery last Sunday!

God is there when things are hard and when they are easy... I much prefer easy, even though hard is sometimes necessary. :) He is there for the victories and the losses!

Friday night was a win for BA and today was a WIN for Bama! YEA!

I am so thankful to be a child of God because no matter what I face in this life, I know he will be right there whenever I need Him! Take the time to tell the people in your life what they mean to you as often as possible and don't forget to thank God for the blessings you have been given.  Guess what time it is? It is time for me to spend some quiet time with Him right now.

Have a blessed day!

My One and Only...

Okay so seriously... I have about a million things I should be doing but here I am writing. It really is one way I stay focused on what is important in life.

Tonight I knew I wanted to write but I wasn't sure what or who I wanted to share about... Things have been kinda stressful lately, almost everywhere EXCEPT home. It is funny, ya know... that life just can't stay neutral or calm for long. Why is that?? There always seems to be drama somewhere!

My happy place has always been with friends and family. I love outings and travel, spending time with people who encourage me and challenge makes me a happy girl...no matter where I am. There is one person who has been there for all the changes in my life over the last 17 years and so I am writing about Todd tonight. (Boy would he be annoyed!!)

Todd and I met 17 years ago at Woodland Hills Mall. I know, I know...SOOOOO corny! I was shopping for a Father's Day present with my friend Sonya. Todd was shopping with his friend , Scott from work (American Airlines). To make this story short, we met and started dating, were engaged a year later and married another 9 months after that. The funny thing is that our friends (with us at the mall) also got married and have been married for almost 16 years.

From the minute I met Todd, I knew he was unlike any man I'd ever dated. He was kinda shy at first (FUNNY STUFF, since the brother is not so shy most of the time!!) and SEEMED passive (not so much). I went back to school after we'd been dating 2 months. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder... apparently that is true! We talked on the phone, wrote letters and I went home almost every weekend to see him.

We have both grown and changed in many ways since we first met and got married. Our priorities have changed, the time we spend together is different, and what we value is more centered on our children than ourselves. The neat thing about being with the same man for over 15 years is watching how he has become such an amazing father, provider for our family and how he supports me in my own personal decisions. Todd always loves me unconditionally. It is a rare quality and he continues to teach me how to do that. He is bold, fearless, funny, outspoken, loyal and honorable. He can be sweet, sincere and helpful. He surprises me sometimes by the kindness he shows to strangers... not always, but sometimes when I am not expecting it! Todd is a good man. He is faithful to his family and continuing to grow in his faithfulness to God. I love that he goes faithfully to church with us and wants to grow spiritually. Todd is a good man, my man and my one true love. I am blessed to be his wife.

Just Thinkin'

I spent some quiet time on Labor Day... just me and my raft, floating around the Lazy River @ River Country Waterpark in Muskogee. I was all by myself...just floating, thinking and reflecting. I like reflection time A LOT but I don't get it super often. I was thinking about the road life takes us down... how change is hard but often necessary and how sometimes change happens without us even noticing. I thought about a lot of other things too. I finished my reflection time by thinking of the things in my life that make me so happy... Here are some of them:

~ Todd and I holding hands
~ Sunshine and warmth on my face
~ A smiling child
~ Emma's belly laugh
~ A clean desk (SO RARE)
~ Thinking of my daddy
~ Shopping for my girls
~ A sincere hug from a friend
~ Running until the coach blows the whistle and NOT being out of breath
~ A clean house
~ The Pumpkin Patch and the autumn season
~ The beach at sunset
~ Church
~ Katherine asking me about MY day
~ Time with family and friends
~ Honesty
~ Supportive Parents (parents of students)
~ Travel
~ Reading a kind note
~ My bracelet that says "Embrace the Journey" because it reminds me of Diane
~ Tears of joy on the face of a friend
~ Hearing Emma and Katherine sing "church songs"
~ Knowing there are people in my life that never doubt who I am and love me always for being just me

I am thankful for all of these things.

Embrace the Journey... be strong and faithful!

I especially enjoyed Tim's sermon today. It was about running. He talked about running with a friend of his. This friend was a distance runner and Tim was not (is not) but this dude encouraged Tim to run farther. With that encouragement, he was able to push forward and he exceeded his original goals. He related this story to the race we run as Christians. The race that is not a competition but one made better with the support and encouragement of the body of Christ.

As I sat there in the pew, I couldn't help but directly relate the story and the sermon to my own life. I thought about how our race as Christians should be the type of experience that is not solo. We should encourage others to not only join us, but challenge us. I am so very blessed to have people who do just that for me. I have many Christian friends who have always encouraged me and I am so thankful for that. Beyond that, I am unbelievably thankful to have people who challenge me to grow spiritually.

Of course, as I was listening I was making more than just spiritual connections. I begin my new running class tomorrow. It is SO TRUE that I would NOT push myself, exceed goals or even meet them without the most amazing running buddy EVER! I sat in that pew next to Kelly knowing she is the one who is THAT friend in Tim's story for me. I am most grateful that she doesn't just challenge me in running but to faithfully run the spiritual race. If you are reading this, I pray you will be faithful in running THE race and encourage others along the way.



Kelly and I after the Oklahoma City 1/2 Marathon... THE most challenging physical thing I have EVER done!

The Fabulous Four!

Todd, Kristine, Kelly and David

Has your husband ever had a fabulous friend that had a wife so you all decided to double date? Maybe you have a great friend who has a husband so you thought you'd all hook up together and go out. Usually it works for the guys OR the gals but rarely both because of personalities or interests or opinions....there is always something that gets in the way of a perfect connection for all. The best match up Todd and I ever had was with our first neighbors, Mike and Denise. We all loved hanging out together and it was a fabulous good time every time we got together. In 2000, Mike and Denise moved to Houston. Since then, Todd and I have been out with other couples... usually my friends and their husbands. It has always worked for me but not supremely for Todd.


Kelly and David Parrott

Last March, Kelly and I decided we'd try the "double date" thing with David and Todd. WOW! We were so surprised at how well the boys hit it off. We actually had difficulty getting words in! It was FUN and we decided to do it again in April. We had a great time again so the first time wasn't just a fluke! We just went out for the first time in four months (just couples) last night and really enjoyed it. I feel like we have FINALLY found a "SWEET ACTION MATCH"! The best part is our families already eat together almost every Sunday after church and we worship together too. I feel certain we are building the closest couple friendship we've had in 10 years. It is awesome and I am looking forward to experiencing many fabulous adventures together...like maybe a couple cruise in summer of 2010! WOO HOO!!!!!!


Todd and Kristine Weyher

Let the FUN begin!

Well... another school year has begun! I was a little slower to get my room ready this summer, a little slower to warm up to the idea of school starting but my room got finished and I am ready for a tremedous year with 25 students! Yep! I said 25 students. Unless Broken Arrow Public Schools decides to hire another teacher, all 5 sections of Park Lane Kindergarten will have 24 or 25 kiddos. It will be hard to do all the things I usually do with this many students while still choosing to keep my priorities in line. (Church and Family before school and still have time for running 3 times a week!) HOWEVER... my priorities will remain in the correct order! I even went to church on Wednesday (THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL) after the longest and hottest first day EVER! I will choose to go, even when it is hard! The beginning of the year is always so crisp and clean, fresh and new with lots of repeating and practicing rules/procedures. My class is great with some challenges to keep me on my toes and lots of smiles looking right at me all day long! It is going to be a GREAT school year in many ways! :>)


First Day with Caden Brassfield

Summer 2009... one of the BEST EVER!

The summer of 2009 was the summer of WATER for me! It really was one of the best EVER! I had SO MUCH FUN with my friends and family this summer...wouldn't trade any of it!


Kelly, Micah and Me ~ Girl's Night Out in June


Teresa and I on the 4th of July!

Here is where the water comes in:

* After some intense studying and deep decision-making...yes and some water works (tears), I was baptized through complete immersion. There were some water works on that day too... and not me just being buried with Christ. It was THE most important day of the summer, hands down!





* Todd and I took our first cruise to Cozumel and Grand Cayman... we saw LOTS of water and it was an amazing trip! I am completely seriously about taking another cruise next summer so I hope Todd is too!



* THE POOL... we purchased pool passes and spent about 3 days a week at the pool in Broken Arrow. My girls LOVED it and I loved it... I have the best tan I have EVER had! I had some amazing and deep conversations at the pool this summer... and I am so thankful for that time with my family and friends!





* Today, Micah and Caroline, Kelly and her boys, Katherine and I drove to Muskogee to celebrate summer at River Country Waterpark. WOW! It was one of the best days of the summer! It was hot, sunny and the water temperature was PERFECT! Kelly and I had several "splash wars" in the lazy river AND IT WAS SO STINKIN' FUN!!!! I AM THE SPLASH MASTER!! HEHEHE I also had some good reflection time to think about what an amazing gift God has given me... TIME with the people I love and how I have grown in those relationships and in my relationship with Him.


Caroline, Griffin and Katherine on the way to River Country!

Blink and 20 years has flown by!

Last Saturday night, I went to my 20th high school reunion in Tulsa! I truly can't believe it has been 20 years already! I have to say my classmates LOOK TOTALLY AMAZING! WOW! They have aged well! It was so much fun to just hang out with them... it was like time had stood still. The personalities are all in tact... the conversations were a bit different than high school as many of us were toting our spouses and talking about our children. I enjoyed my short time with my buddies! Todd, the girls and I also went to the class picnic on Sunday. It was fun but toasty outside! I am excited to meet some of my best high school girlfriends in August for dinner! HOW FUN!

Cruising is SWEET ACTION!

The best part of vacation is arriving! Arriving at the destination, and arriving home are my favorites! I LOVE vacation and I LOVE to go on new adventures! This time it was taking a CRUISE and it was FABULOUS. I have heard you either LOVE it or HATE it... Todd and I LOVED it!!

Here is my list of favorites:

~ All the little towel creatures left in our room each night!


~ Meeting tons of new people from all over the place! Our tablemates at dinner were AWESOME! There were 6 of us... all men except me! We all got along very well and had a blast! I hit it off with Dominic from the beginning... and I looked forward to sitting next to him each evening. :>)


Dominic and Jimmy

Jay and Mike

~ Our waiters were super! Todd LOVED Putu's quick wit! Todd laughed every night at dinner! Johnender was the assistant waiter and was totally great also! He brought me coffee and Todd a Coke every night without being asked! Our service was great!


~ Everybody raves about the food! Gotta say... there is a reason! It is abundant and unbelievable! Our tablemates were well spoken in cuisine... I was in awe! They were all adventurous and knew A LOT about food! Dominic encouraged me to try escargot. Eat snails??? ON PURPOSE??? Surely you are joking? But of course, I was all about the adventure! I had nothing to lose (it was paid for) and I only had to take one bite! They were presented in a garlic butter sauce and tasted like mushrooms! I ate all of them! I LOVED the lobster on the last night!!


~ I loved being rocked to sleep at night... and during the day. I am generally not a nap taker but when we were at sea, I took naps each day! It was a FABULOUS luxury! We never took our sea sickness meds (we brought them just in case)... the rocking was VERY gentle and we did great!


~ Sunset on the ocean... there is nothing like it!


~ I LOVED Formal Night! I enjoy getting dressed up, even though Todd doesn't! It was fun to take pictures and feel pretty!


~ 7 Mile Beach in Grand Cayman... this is the CLEAREST water I have EVER seen! I have been to many beaches but nothing I have seen compares, yep... that includes my favorite place on Earth (Hawaii)! I like to look at the ocean but I don't usually get in. There is something about not seeing what you are stepping on/in that freaks me out! A lot of beaches are littered with rocks, seaweed, jellyfish, etc. but none of that was present at 7 mile beach. I swam in the ocean and loved it! It was all white sand and crystal clear! YOU GOTTA GO!




~ Hilton Beach Hotel in Fort Lauderdale is... WOW! It is the nicest hotel I have EVER stayed in! We had a suite with an ocean-view balcony. The staff was amazing and so welcoming! I will be going back there!!!

~ Swinging in a hammock under the palm trees at Xel-Ha... it was so peaceful!


~ Leaving Mexico...yep, I said LEAVING! I know there are many people who think Mexico is a great place to go but I am not about it! Todd is not about it... we went there for our 5th anniversary (Cancun) and I said then, I never needed to go back. ADIOS!


~ I enjoyed snorkeling... we swam with sting rays. It was fine but not as awesome as swimming with dolphins in Hawaii. Gotta say that seeing a FOUR FOOT LONG BARRACUDA swim a few feet in front of me was a WEE BIT FREAKY! Oh! And at the exact same time, Todd pinched me to be 'funny"... he didn't even know the barracuda was there. STROKE!


~ The best part was holding hands with Todd... we are usually holding hands of children! Laying on loungers with him, in the breezy warm sun while sailing along on the ocean. Walking on the beach with Todd in Florida and swimming in the ocean together at 7 Mile Beach in the Caymans. It was a trip of a lifetime and worth EVERY penny we spent!