Keys, Camps, and Other Happenings

It was the weekend I dreamed of....a trip to Key West with good friends. Hubby had never been before and it's been more than 20 years since I have been. Our friends, who have been to the Keys many times, showed us the ropes of where to eat, where to go, and how to have a great time in Key West. Although I missed my kids like crazy, I needed this time away and I did have a relaxing time and came back with my batteries recharged.
This was the view from our balcony at the hotel


And how could I not relax while sitting on a boat watching this beautiful sunset


While in the Keys I:

~tried new foods I have never had before such as raw oysters. I can't say that they are my favorite, but I have tried them and they were OK. The conch fritters were the bomb!

~went snorkeling over a coral reef, which was a neat thing to see the different fish. I must admit I was a little scared of the baracuda I saw.

~took Hubby to the Southernmost Point. I went many years ago but this was his first visit.

~visited Ernest Hemingway's house and took the tour. I don't know how people lived without air condition back then. I guess we are all just wimpy, spoiled people but it was HOT in that house.

~laughed A LOT. It's a great thing to be with friends you can laugh with and enjoy being around.


The food and drinks were yummy, the atmosphere was beautiful and the company was awesome. So thankful for adventures with friends.

Sorry this one's a little blurry. That drink must have been stronger than I thought! Just kidding ~ mostly. Actually, this was taken with my i-Phone and I must have moved while taking it.



The guys did a much better job taking our picture.



Random Quick Topic Change:
Last night as we were walking from the car to the baseball field, there was a lady standing on the sidewalk waiting for someone else who was a ways behind us. As we get close to her, Prince says, "Excuse me lady but you are gorgeous!" Thankfully I don't think she heard him and I tried to shoo him on as quickly as I could. What would posess him?! She was a nice looking lady, but he's 5! I wanted to crawl in a hole. That Prince is quite the charmer.

Princess is participating in Cheerleading Camp this week. She is so excited and has been cheering all over the house. I think she really likes being with the older cheerleaders. Fact: I know nothing about being a cheerleader. I was a band geek. Hubby calls me "Queen of the Band Geeks" since I was drum major. Those were good times.

Prince is attending what I call "Mommy Camp." Yesterday he wanted to know where the other Mommies and kids were. Apparently he thought there would be a group of people and he didn't understand that it was just going to be the two of us this week. Today he and I went on a movie date. It was a fun day and it made me realize that Hubby and I don't do enough one on one things with the kids. We tend to think of the twins as a package deal. Guess we'll be working on that.

Visit Seeking Peace

Hello All!
I've been on vacation and am trying to get back into the groove of things. I am a featured guest blogger over Here.
Rachel has lots of neat things on her blog from recipes to decorating tips to awesome devotionals. She is truly a talented writer and she has such a heart for God. I'm hoping to get her to do a guest blog on here soon.

Next, I'll be back to tell you all about my vacation!

The Retreat

This has been a different week for me. Hubby has had a work retreat in Orlando and I was asked to come with him. So I arranged for our wonderful babysitter to come and stay with the children so I could go and stay for three days to support my husband. Did I mention that we are staying at a really nice hotel and it's quiet in the room by myself?

Did I mention the view?


The truth is, I have had a great time while supporting my husband and meeting with the other wives. Every once in a while it is nice to be able to concentrate on being a wife and be able to think about who you are as your own person as well. You know, without having to hear, "Mommy I need..." in the background. It's strange because I have been looking forward to these few days of retreat, but I miss my Prince and Princess terribly. I also find that I don't really know who I am without them. The other wives have grown children and grandchildren. They know who they are and they know what they want to do. It seems conversation steers itself back to my precious children because they are my life.

And while my children miss me being there, they are being spoiled rotten by their too cool babysitter. They have Vacation Bible School in the mornings. Yesterday afternoon they talked her into taking them to the zoo. Today they went to the movies. They got a pretty sweet vacation out of the deal.

In between missing my children, I am having a good time, though. We are eating at amazing restaurants. Last night the University took us to Emeril's and to see Blue Man Group. I have been shopping and lunching with wonderful women, who have been so gracious to include me, and I have had uninterrupted conversations with Hubby. All of these things are pluses. (Fun Fact: Did you know that pluses could also be spelled plusses? I looked it up to be sure.) Tomorrow I will return to reality and will hug my children tight and listen to all of their adventures from when I was gone. But for now, I am off to enjoy the quiet with a good book.

Fruit Salad

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other." Galatians 5:21-26


Fruit salad is so refreshing. All of those different kinds of fruit, which are good on their own, are delicious and sweet when they are mixed together. Lately I've been thinking a lot about the Fruits of the Spirit and what a difference it makes when I consciously apply all of them to my life. It's like making a fruit salad. Take any one of those traits by themselves and it is a good thing, but put them all together, and life is sweet, refreshing. That refreshment comes from the Holy Spirit when we are walking in the ways of the Lord.

I once heard someone say that love and self-control are the bookends of these traits. It isn't easy to have joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness without love and self-control. When we love others, so many times that love manifests itself in ways that demonstrate joy or peace or kindness. And if we don't have self-control, it is difficult to show the other fruits as well.

The Message translation says, "But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely." We are treating others the way Christ would have us to treat them, living a life of integrity with Christ-like principles, and God rewards us for it. He brings gifts into our lives and blesses us beyond measure.

It isn't always easy though. There are times when I am not patient or kind and I don't always show self-control. I am a work in progress but it has to be a conscious decision on my part to demonstrate these traits. It doesn't come all at once and God doesn't ask that we do it alone. He is there to help refine us and help us to become more like Him, if only we ask. Today I choose fruit salad. I choose to ask God to help me show others the sweetness and refreshment that can only come from Him.

Children's Miracle Network