Cruising Love...(with some pics)

We found out that cruising is something we're going to do more of.  The depth of relaxation we experienced was so profound it is difficult to explain.  Realizing that you are actually right smack dab in the middle of a dream come true is pure joy, exhilarating and life-giving.

We spent a lot of time in the spa, resting.

The Thermal Suite - those beds are heated, pure heaven!!

 Yes, just doing nothing.

We were on a ship with a rather geriatric crowd. Being in our 40s brought the average age down by a sizable chunk...and we loved it.

Some of the great folks we met.

Being surrounded by folks who have lived full lives and are willing to share their experience is so much fun.  Many of the people we met had been married for more years than we are old!!  It was so sweet to be surrounded by that kind of faithfulness and tenacity.  We learned a lot, this lady gave us advice on marriage, parenting and finances in less than five minutes!

We got to go on a few adventures.  We asked God for a few mini-dreams and guess what, He answered those.  Kelly wanted to take some dance lessons, he ended up a  finalist on 'Dancing With the Stars at Sea' and we had so much fun!

Kelly, danced the waltz with Kaleo (one of the dance pros)

We wanted to go sailing and snorkeling (my dream) and we got super blessed - we were heading off the ship and there was a couple standing there who asked us if we would like to go snorkeling.  They decided not to go and didn't want the excursion to go to waste, no cost to us!  We went swimming with the sea turtles and got to use our new underwater camera.

Our Catamaran - I love sailing!!

Crush - the sea turtle!!

We met some new friends that we will see again on this planet, Lord willing.  We so enjoyed spending time with Ken and Shirley!

New friends - Ken and Shirley in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Kelly singing a song he wrote at the piano bar.

When you use your gifts you get blessed.  Kelly and I got to use the gifts God has given in music to participate in on board ship services and open mic times to bless and minister to other guests.  What a treat!

For this dream there was an end.  You can only stay on the ship so long!  Apparently you can stay on a lot longer if you've got the bucks, we met a lady who had been on board for over 100 days.  Not every dream has and end but a lot do, or at least a turning toward something different.

It is time to focus on another part of our dreaming.  The cruise is over and we are so thankful that we have had the opportunity to do it.

THINGS WE LEARNED ABOUT CRUISING - jot these down, they are helpful if you go on a cruise...

1. Spray on sunscreen needs to be applied evenly, thickly and then rubbed in, just ask the shoulder that didn't make the cut! (and the streak on my leg...and the weird splotch on my other thigh)
2. The smaller the ship the older the clientele.  We discovered, being on a midsize ship that the older crowd like to not have to run back and forth so far, they like smaller ships and they have more interesting itineraries and shorter line ups, if any.
3. You do not need to pack beach towels, shampoo/conditioner/soap or hairdryers.  A friend we met didn't think I needed to pack my mini-printer but then he wouldn't have received the picture we took together, so there!!
4. You should make sure you have ALL your luggage with you when you board the plane because you may end up having to buy a new suit before you board.
5.  Going a day or two before you sail is a good idea if the majority of your luggage might not make it.
6.  Make sure you fly between snow storms so as to avoid flight delays and airport closures (we made it through, others didn't)
7.  The ship really will leave you behind if you don't make it by sailing time - this happened to at least three people on our ship (we were not among them!)
8.  While all your regular food is included, the soft drinks and chai tea lattes are NOT!
9.  Internet is wicked expensive on board a ship, however, almost every port has a free WiFi spot near the dock - just ask a crew member where to go.

Did I mention we drove around in this sweet thing for the 2 days we were in Florida!?

The Responsibility of Rest

We're all tucked in today.  Rather than spring we have a drive-way blown in with snow and the cold wind is howling outside. My children won't be at school today because the buses can't get through.

No more snowy linen napkins draped over my lap whilst enjoying a four-course gourmet meal.  I'll be making my own bed today and wiping down my own bathroom.  No one is going to make cute little animals out of towels and leave them with chocolate on my bed.

Responsibility's song is singing to me and because of the last two weeks I am not shutting my ears and begging that song to sing to someone else.

Rest is a powerful weapon against the desire to abdicate and hide in one's room.  I guess Jesus knew that since he mentioned it in Mark 6:31 And He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a lonely place and rest a while." For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.

Rest allows my soul to refresh itself and remember what it was created to do.  God's workload and mine don't always jive.  I'm usually guilting myself into doing far more than what God has actually asked me to do. But He has a remedy for that...

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. "Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. "For My yoke is easy, and My load is light." Matthew 11:28-30 

Having had a relief from all responsibility save deciding what I'm going to eat and what relaxing thing I can do next has allowed me the benefit of embracing those responsibilities with a renewed heart and mind.

I have to admit, I am a stranger to rest and my body has been forcing me into a learning curve that I can't say I've appreciated until now.  I have been in adrenal fatigue for a number of years without knowing that this was the malaise from which I suffered.  I thought I was going soft, getting lazy, losing my mind and will to carry on, only to find out that there was a very real physical cause behind it.

Adrenal fatigue can only be recovered from by learning to rest, allowing your body as much freedom from stress as possible.  We did not seek out crazy adventures or long hikes in the the rain forest.  We didn't go white-water tubing or work out in the gym.  I rested.  I spent time in the spa, we drove around in a taxi, listening to an islander tell us about his beloved country.  We sat in quaint cafes and talked to our kids with free internet while listening to the waves crash against the rocks at our feet.

Coming home we feel refreshed and at peace, content with our lot and ready to pick up the reigns of our life once again. Just like the scripture said we would...shocking - the Bible was right after all!

I was reminded that my number one goal in this life is to love well.  To love my God, my husband and my children and those that God puts me in contact with.  I can't love well when I am so drained of all physical energy.  I must be intentional about where I dole out what precious little I have.

I read some great books these last few weeks, encouraging me to do just that.  I will be posting reviews on those books over the next few weeks, sharing some stories and pictures from our adventures. My task now is to learn to be at rest no matter what is happening around me.  To put the important things in order and not waste time doing things that I think are restful but are really draining away my spirit and my energy.

My theme for this year is grace-full discipline.  One wouldn't think that we needed to be disciplined about rest but scripture says otherwise...

There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall through following the same example of disobedience. Hebrews 4:9-11

Not entering into rest is a matter of disobedience...did you catch that? Diligently entering into rest is a command for God's people. Staying in a state of 'unfrazzled-ness' (I just made that word up!), loving well in the process...these are some of the precious things I've brought back from this trip.

See you soon...in the meantime, will you tell me how you pursue rest, I'd love to hear from you.

Toodle-oo for now

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