Long Over Due

We had the best honeymoon. We got to go to so many beautiful islands in the Caribbean. We talked about the places we wanted to go, and we both wanted to go somewhere it was warm, but I wanted to go to St. Lucia and Bo wanted to go to Antigua. We came across a Carnival cruise that went to all the places we talked about. It was perfect. The best part was flying out of San Juan, Puerto Rico. It was just one more place we got to see. We ended up staying an extra night in San Juan to really get to see the city. We went to San Juan, St. Thomas, Dominica, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, and St. Maarten. I was blown away by the history and culture that each island had. They are so similar, but so different at the same time.

This was my first cruise and it was a great experience. We were able to get a great room right in the middle of the ship with a balcony. Each morning we would wake up to a new place. We would get off the ship about 9:00 am and go explore the islands. We did tours, we went to the beach, we went to the shops, and one day we got a day pass to a resort and laid out by the pool all day. It was the most relaxing week I have ever had. After a crazy week before the wedding it was exactlythe what we needed. Bo and I have so many inside jokes and stories from our time away. I still laugh while looking at these pictures and thinking about some of them. We even made a list of funny things to tell people when we got home...sadly I don't think anyone else found our stories funny excpet us. I guess it was a "you had to be there" moment!

I think the best part for Bo was when I found a lone can of Dr. Pepper at a fort on the top of St. Maarten's island. It was the first one he was able to have in a week!

I see many more cruises in our future. I know each one will be packed with more memories than the one before.

Colorado 2010

Bo takes the graduating seniors on a trip to Lake City, Colorado, and for 2 years now I have had to hear how much fun it is. They go jeeping in the mountains, white water rafting, eat pizza at the best pizzeria, and stay at the Ostrom’s house. We decided that it was best while we were dating that I not go on any overnight trips with the youth. I was fine with that except for when it came to Colorado. I wanted to go so bad!

Last year Bo had to leave on my actual birthday. (Well sort of) The year before that he left the day after my birthday. THIS year I got to celebrate my birthday while in Colorado. I finally got to go! I was not ready for what the trip was truly like. I am from Arizona and I love the mountains. I have been to Prescott, Payson, and Sedona. I have seen the Grand Canyon and hiked some pretty amazing mountains, but nothing prepared me for the beauty of what I saw. It was like stepping into one of the last untouched places on earth. It didn’t hit me how stunning it was until Bo and I went to one of the look- out points of the Mountains and the lake. I kept asking Bo if he had ever seen anything so magnificent. I was touched by the beauty God has given us. I was humbled in thinking that He created it for me. It was a glimpse of how much God truly loves us.

I also got to spend a lot of time with the seniors. I got to see a different side to each one of them. I got to know the annoying habits they each have, that Stevie snores and Sammy clicks in their sleep. I got to witness and be a part of Taylor Rose cleaning a toilet! More than anything I got to share in a lot of laughter with them. The best was coming together each night for devo with Bo. They have genuine thoughts and concerns about college and growing up. It was a real moment with them that topped each day off.

We also got to hang out with one of the best dogs I have ever been around. She changed my life! Fran brought her dog Betsy up to stay for the summer and I got to play with her, take walks with her, and cuddle on the porch with her. She was so sweet and well behaved. Fran is working very hard at training Betsy. I think Betsy was a gift from God. She was placed with the most loving family and gets to go on all kinds of adventures. It has made my longing for a dog even greater! I hope I can someday have a “Betsy” of my own.

I am so thankful for the memories I now have from my trip to Colorado. I can assure you that I will be going back each year. What an amazing way to strengthen my relationship with the youth, and with my Creator!

Lake City, Colorado June 2010

Meadowbrook Senior Retreat