Vacation all I ever wanted

The beautiful blue water of the Carribean as seen from a beach in Cozumel Mexico.

Me on the beach in Mexico

A little day trip in Costa Maya Mexico

Our ship is in the background

Me and my bud Sarah right before we boarded. We were 3rd and 4th to get on the ship. Pretty cool!

As you may know from reading my blog I just got back from a vacation with my friend Sarah. We had a super fun time. It was a girls only trip for us. Sarah her mom and I got away from husbands, children, responsibilities, even goats(Sarah's mom raises them for shows). But what a time of renewel and refreshment.

As a stay at home mom I am on duty pretty much 15 hours a day and being the type of person who values my personal time and freedom, this has been a tough adjustment. I liked doing what I wanted when I wanted. I loved being able to take off to some fun place at the drop of a hat, just ask my hubby, I was gone a lot during the first years of our marriage. Then along comes baby. All that changes with a child. your whims, wants and needs no longer matter. Its her whims, wants and needs now. It's like you disappear and are replaced by this little dictator.

This getaway was much needed. I have had many struggles this past year with our big move to Florida, trying to sell our beast of a house, leaving old and new friends behind, and my husbands lack of enthusiam for his job and life in general. Lets just say that going away was vitally important for keeping me out of jail and or the crazy house. Fortunately I had a great partner in crime with my friend Sarah. She wanted the same things I did out of this vacation, a little adventure, lots of rest, water and reading. We also threw in some darn good food and a few drinks now and then.

I believe that God gives us these times of rest just when we need them the most. He knew I was at the end of my rope and needed a little time to myself. Time to get in touch with who I was before I became Sofie's mom. God knows what we need and he knows just the right time to give it to us. Parenthood is the hardest job you'll ever love as many people have said before. I do love it and I do love my little peanut more than life but I DO NEED TIME AWAY now and again. It makes me a better parent, wife and person overall. I would highly recommend a cruise for this. It's an all in one package. You wake up in a new place everyday, the food is incredible, and when you have sea days where there is no port, you have no choice but to slow down and relax. I chose to do this in the hot tub and by the pool with a book or magazine.            

I just hope it won't be so long before the next time I take a vacation with a girlfriend. Those kind of getaways are a fun way to renew connections, have a lot of laughs and build great memories to carry you through the next wet bed, crying fit, runny nose, vomit episode and what ever else your husband and child throw your way as soon as you walk in the door.

A girls vacation is an awesome time. I pray that all you reader moms out there have the chance to get away with just your girlfriends for a long weekend or week long vacation.

Busy

What a busy 3 weeks I have had. The three of us went to Michigan at the end of January for the inlaw's 40th anniversary, then home one day and off I went on a girls getaway cruise with my friend Sarah and her mom. Then my parents picked us up at the dock and I stayed there for another week. Sofie had a fun visit to Grandma and Grandpa Ackley's place here in Florida while I played and Ken worked. Then Sofie and I stayed there and now we are finally home. WOW! We also had a nice time hosting my mom and dad for the last 2 days. They drove Sofie and I home and stayed for a few nights just to get a break from Granny.

My Grandma used to be one of my favorite people in the world. As a child I only saw her through the rose tinted lense of a childs eyes. Even as I grew older and a little more jaded I still thought her and my gramps were the best people in the world. Then I became even older, got a job, was super busy and didn't spend as much time with them. I did not see the changes in my grandparents as they aged. I guess that was still a good thing. Until my beloved Gramps passed away 6 years ago. I have spent a large amount of time with my grandma since then, helping my mom and dad care for her. I am always amazed and what a bitter, sad, crazy alcoholic she has become. It makes me sad to know that the grandma of my youth no longer exists.

My mom and dad have the lion's share of care for her but I try to do what I can being that I only live 1 1/2 hours away here in Florida but she is the type of person that would drive even Mother Teresa to violence. It's difficult to watch her completely waste what little time she has left being a crabby, mean, nasty person that no one wants to be around. Good thing I have a great sense of humor about the whole situation. My family and I are able to laugh about the absurdity of it all on a regular basis. I mean if we didn't laugh I think one of us would end up with the death sentence from the state of Florida.

On to happier thoughts. While with my parents we were able to visit the Lowery Park Zoo in Tampa Florida. I highly recommend this zoo if you are ever in the area. It is incredible. Parent's magazine voted it the best zoo in America for families and I now know why. Kids can feed giraffes, stingrays, goats, ride camels and ponies. They also have a ski lift sort of ride that goes over the whole park and a flume ride that looks really fun but Sofie is too small to ride yet. They have great animal displays and a splash pad area too. I could go on and on but check it out on line if you are interested in more info http://www.loweryparkzoo.com/. Its awesome.

I do enjoy my adventures but it is always good to come home.

Life

My family and I are in Michigan this week to celebrate my inlaw's 40th anniversary. It's great to be here and we surprised them by not telling them we were coming but wow is it COLD here! Who in their right mind takes a vacation in Michigan in January when they live in Florida? It was -4 degrees when we got off the plan Thursday night and I think it has topped out at 33 one day. I can not seem to get warm. My feet are always cold and so are my hands.

Despite the cold my husband and I have enjoyed our visit so far. Sofie is having a blast with her grandparents and they are really digging seeing her so unexpectedly. Ken and I have also been able to go to the movie twice by ourselves. I told him that I think the last time we were out alone together was in October when he took me to the dermatologist to have a melanoma removed off my leg. My mom watched Sofie and Ken took me to the docter and Walmart for my perscriptions. That was a big day for us! I think we have not been to a movie together since maybe July ot August. So thankfully the grandparents love to have Sofie to themsleves and we get some much needed alone time.

It is always surprising to me how when God tells you to do something and you actually do it, the results are always positive and rewarding. Without going in to a lot of detail God had directed me to take this trip with my husband and it has been really great. We have had many blessings along the way in the form of friends and family. I know it shouldn't be surprising that God would reward me for being obedient but it still does. I serve a great and wonderful God and I hope I can be more obedient in the future as well.

Well thats all for now fromt he great white north. 3 more days and I will be back in sunny Florida bound for a cruise ship to Mexico and Grand Cayman. YEEHAW!