A Note of Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all!!! I am sure people will be doing Thanksgiving messages on blogs across America today, but I just felt really led to do one of my own.

Nick and I have been very blessed this year amidst the bad economy and everything else and we PRAISE GOD for everything! We know it is due to his grace that we have been so blessed!

Last night I was sitting watching TV and just thinking about how much we take for granted and how spoiled we are. I know today is the official Thanksgiving Day but I truly think that we should make every day Thanksgiving Day! I am truly the worst, especially here lately, for whining and complaining about everything. I have also been worrying about everything here recently to the point of being really stressed out. Instead of getting overwhelmed by everything I need to sit back and remember Philippians 4:13.This verse was brought to my attention recently while reading a great book (I will not get into the book today, I will do a blog on the series later) that my friend loaned to me, and it just really made me think.  God will never give us more than we can handle we just have to have FAITH!

So today and everyday going forward I am going to be Thankful for all I have and get to Philippians 4:13ing!!!!

 

As Paula Deen would say- Happy Thanksgiving Ya’ll!!!!

Philippians 4:13- I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Cruise 2009- Fab & Bad

So for those of you that did not know Nick and I embarked on a cruise on November 9th. This was our 2nd Royal Caribbean Cruise, the last one was our Honeymoon in June 2007. We had scheduled and planned this Cruise in March of this year and were so excited when November finally rolled around and we set sail. Now I would love to tell you about our entire trip, however; that might lead to the longest blog on record. So in order to give you the highlights of our trip I present to you . . . . .

CRUISE 2009 the FAB & BAD:

FAB

1. THE FOOD

So one thing that we enjoyed on our last Cruise was the food and this Cruise did not disappoint. I believe our entire lives for a week revolved around when the next meal was and what we might eat. From the buffet to the wonderful meals in the dining room we enjoyed it all. Some of the highlights was 4 Lobster tail night for Nick and the nightly April dessert montage. Below are a few cruise food moments, please note we were too busy eating the food most of the time to take pictures of it:

Nick enjoying the 1st meal on board

The entire Wait Staff, aka the people who keep us feed and watered, singing at dinner.

Pool Deck buffet

2. Ports of Call and Excursions

On this cruise we visited 3 Ports of Call- Key West, FL; Cozumel, Mexico; and Belize City, Belize. We took an excursion booked through the Cruise Ship at each port and had a FABULOUS time.

Key West

I loved Key West and really wish we could have spent more time there, we had to be back on the ship at 1:30! We took a Conch Train tour of the whole island got some great pics. I also attempted to get some Key Lime pie at the Blonde Giraffe which was sadly closed so I had to settle for Key Lime pie on a stick, not so good!

GIGANTIC statue outside Key West Art Museum

Cool Banyan Tree

Key West architecture

The Southern Most Point in the US 

Eating the icky Key Lime pie on a stick. Key Lime pie should never be chocolate coated.

Cozumel

In Cozumel we spent our day on a small private island named, Passion Island. It was a wonderful relaxing day, a bit windy but we did enjoy ourselves.

  

Belize

At Belize we visited the Mayan ruin Xunantunich , which was AMAZING! At Belize we had to take a long tender ride in from the ship to the port due to a barrier reef. From the port we road a bus an hour and 40 minutes into the country to the ruins. The country was very beautiful and interesting but very poor. It made me thankful for all the great things I had back home!

Xunantunich

Carving on the side

Steep steps to the top

View from the top

I made it!

Back on the ground!

3. Napping

So one person asked me if Nick spent the majority of the trip napping. And the answer is yes he did and we have pictures to prove it!

 

4. Sunsets

These pictures say it all . . .

Okay now I could go on with the FAB but in the interest of keeping our attention we will move on to the BAD.

THE BAD

1. Feeling the Ship

We felt the ship from the 1st night. On our last cruise I NEVER felt the ship and on this one you were in a constant state of motion. We later learned from the people we ate dinner with that this is common during a November cruise and is often why they are a bit cheaper. Needless to say we will not be cruising again in November.

2. Driving

So we made the long drive down to Florida to catch the ship which did save us on air fare and driving down was not so bad. Driving home however was AWFUL. Nick declared the moment we got back in the car that we would be FLYING next time.

3. The Ship Size

So I know some of you are going to laugh at me about this especially after I post the picture of the ship, but we do wish we had gone on a bigger ship. We sailed on the Enchantment of the Seas, which was a perfectly great ship. HOWEVER, the last one we went on was a tad bit bigger and we did enjoy that so we are shooting for the Oasis of the Seas next time. We actually saw it docked in Fort Lauderdale. Here are some pics of our ship:

As you can tell we do not have too many things to complain about and that is because our cruise was FABULOUS!  I think that Nick and I might be known as Cruise People. We feel it is the best vacation you will ever have!

So from a couple of Cruise People to all of you, consider Cruising next time you will not regret it!

 

Family/ Hair/ Spooky Food & Fun

Okay so I have 3 different unrelated things to write about:

1. Saying See Ya Later to Family

2. New Hair Do

3. Spooky Food & Fun

So without further ado away we go . . .. .

 

Saying “See ya Later” to family 

I hate to say good bye especially when you plan on seeing someone again and since we do plan on seeing Chris, Megan, and the boys again I think See Ya Later is more appropriate. Chris and Megan are currently stationed in Italy (I know it stinks to be them) with the Air Force and recently came back to Tennessee for a month for Nicole & John’s wedding and to visit with family and friends. We loved getting to spend time with all of them and would like to especially thank Chris & Megan for indulging us in a sushi night at Edo’s. We had a lot of fun! It was also fun to be an Auntie “in person” for a while. Topher and Cannon had grown up so much since we saw them last and they were just so much fun to be with.

    I totally stole this pic from you Megan

We love you all very much and it was sad to see you go BUT we are still planning on visiting!

New Hair DO

Well, I have been stuck in a style rut for at least 7 years. Ohh it even hurts me to type that. I have had the same hair style for that long. I have always had long curly hair, easy and maintenance free. But there does reach a time when you need something different and well that time came for me on Friday. I had promised everyone shorter and straighter hair and I do realized I failed in one of those area. My hair dresser is a bit conservative and I think she was afraid that if she cut it all it once I might freak out. So I will be going back to get a little more length off, however the straighter hair did happen and I LOVE IT! When I looked in the mirror I almost don’t recognize myself. The only bad part is the time it takes- me, the hair dryer and the straightener are going to be spending a lot of time together and I hope the three of us will become much quicker at making this happen. The price we pay for beauty! I liked my curly hair but for 7 years I was pretty much a one trick pony so it is good to have another option!

Spooky Food & Fun

This section has been reserved for all the good food and fun I had this week.

First off on date night Nick and I got blizzards from Dairy Queen. Well, for some reason I was in the mood for something different than my usual Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. So I tried something new- the Pumpkin Pie Blizzard and it so paid off. It was FABULOUS! It tasted just like pumpkin pie and they even put whip cream and a little nutmeg on top. My mouth is watering just thinking about it! Trust me on this one you need to try this!

Also on date night I convinced Nick that we should rent The Proposal and it was also FABULOUS! Nick even enjoyed it! I don’t want to give to much of the plot away for those who have not seen it, but that scene in the woods with Betty White and Sandra Bullock chanting was just TOO MUCH! So funny! I think I will definitely be asking for this one for Christmas!

So I know some of you are wondering where the spooky food comes in so here it is . . .on Halloween Day we went over to John & Nicole’s place to watch the game. Go Vols- they beat SC and wore awesome black jerseys. Anyway, since it was Halloween we had festive food for the occasion.

Papa Murphy’s did a Jack O’ Lantern pizza for $5.99. So CUTE and yummy!  By the way if you live in the JC area and have not tried Papa Murphy’s,I HIGHLY recommend them. They have take-n-bake pizza and it is SO GOOD. Our personal favorite it “The Perfect”, half Hawaiian & Half Pepperoni. Okay, back to the spooky food . . .

Nicole made AWESOME tombstone brownies with little ghosst and everything. Not only did they look festive but they tasted FABULOUS!

 

Yay- for another wonderful, festive, and FABULOUS week!