Weekend Getaway in Jamaica

Do you see that yellow thing? It is the tip of a Kayak. This is a picture of the coast line from about a mile out on the ocean. Sean and I didn't know what we were doing and got stuck out in the waves with the wind blowing. It was quite the experience laughing and trying to get the boat to row back to shore. We almost smashed into rocks and a couple times were seriously worried that we weren't going to be able to get the boat back to shore. But all in all it was fun.



This is the pool right outside our room. We swam in everyday. Could look out over the ocean while swimming.

They have a saying that you are Jamamerican when you come to visit Jamaica. This is Sean sporting his Jamamerican look.

Bob Marley, the famous singer is practically worshipped down in this island. I thought I would sport a Bob Marley mask for fun. Pretty scary, I know.

This is sitting on the porch at the breakfast brunch. The weather was about 75 and the breeze slightly blowing. So relaxing eating in such peace with the waves making their peaceful relaxing sounds and the black birds singing.

This is Sunshine and Tom Jr. They made necklaces for us for the girls. We had fun joking around with them.

This was the view from our room. We had a little porch that we could sit on and relax and watch the sunrise and set each day.

Enjoying the breeze

Enjoying the sunset.

We enjoyed a candlelight dinner out in the ocean in a gazebo. We wanted to take a moment and thank the Lord for his blessing to us. It is such a joy and blessing to be in a Marriage with a godly man, who loves the Lord and knows it is not from our own strength but His heavenly father that our blessings come from

The first night I met Sean, he gave me a ride home. I knew that night that he was the one for me. As I got out of the car he grabbed my hand and kissed it said something very romantic in french. The photographer was taking a picture and Sean suprised me with a romatic kiss on the hand and some beautiful French. Some things never change.



We mostly laid on the beach and caught the rays and read books. I finished three books and Sean finished 5 of the 9 he brought. We could definately recommend Sandals Resort if your looking for a fun getaway.

Trick or Treat

The gang of Trick or Treaters Angel on one shoulder and a little devil on the other! Which one will she go with??? Dora! Superman to the rescue! Angel! ARRG mattey, it Captian Jacqueline Sparrow!! Super Girl!!!!

Our trip to the Local Apple Farm

Here is the whole Homeschool gang!

Khloe figuring out how to ride a bike.

Opps where did those kids come from?



Here they go trying to take off!

Taking flight!

Keegan petting the goats or trying to anyway!

Our little break dancer!

Keegan heard some music and climbed up on the box and started dancing, was so cute. By the time we filmed this he was starting to tire out! But our little guy has some moves.

Salsa!!!!

So Sean and I started a new hobby called: Salsa dancing

We are taking lessons and dancing twice a month at the local Art Center. So Fun! Mostly we laugh all the time. Here is some of our beginning moves!



Want to learn : Here you go! Give it a try, We love it!!!

Dancing in the Minefields

That was then

This is now

Was driving yesterday and heard this song on the radio and it made me cry! I got home and made Sean listen to it with me! It reminds me so much of how I feel about my hubby! There are days that we are dancing in the mindfields! This just says it all. dancing. But just like the song says, I want to be dancing in the Mindfields!


Well I was 19 you were 21
The year we got engaged
Everyone said we were much to young
But we did it anyway
We got the rings for 40 each from a pawnshop down the road
We said our vows and took the leap now 15 years ago

Chorus:
We went dancing in the minefields
We went sailing in the storm
And it was harder than we dreamed
But I believe that’s what the promise was for

Well ‘I do’ are the two most famous last words
The beginning of the end
But to lose your life for another I’ve heard is a good place to begin
Cause the only way to find your life is to lay your own life down
And I believe it’s an easy price for the life that we have found

Chorus:
And we’re dancing in the minefields
We’re went sailing in the storm
And it was harder than we dreamed
But I believe that’s what the promise was for
That’s what the promise is for

Bridge:
So when I lose my way, find me
When I lose loves chains, bind me
At the end of all my faith
to the end of all my days
when I forget my name, remind me

Cause we bear the light of the son of man
So there’s nothing left to fear
So I’ll walk with you in the shadow lands
Till the shadows disappear
Cause he promised not to leave us
And his promises are true
So in the face of this chaos baby
I can dance with you

Chorus:
So lets go dancing in the minefields
Lets go sailing in the storms
Oh lets go dancing in the minefields
And kicking down the doors
Oh lets go dancing in the minefields
And sailing in the storms
Oh this is harder than we dreamed
But I believe that’s what the promise if for
That’s what the promise is for

Big Bertha made it home!

This last Saturday we picked up Big Bertha. For those of you that don't know ,Big Bertha is my child that I have a love/hate relationship with. Big Bertha is our 15 passenger van. I never thought I would say this but I am so happy to have her home, finally. I have been without my van for over 6 weeks and it has been painful. Bertha was stolen from us in late July. I was helping my sister move in Chicago and my van was stolen. The story goes like this.
My sister was moving back to California and I went up to Chicago with Bertha and seven of my children to help her pack all her belongings and bring them back to my house to store while she went on a 3 month trip to Africa. So it was an intense week of packing, kids and many trips to the Salvation Army. I was crazy and fun at the same time. I have to admit, it was such a joy to have my sister in Chicago this last year. I learned how to hail a cab and ride the subway. Things I had never done before in my life. So our week had ended and we had everything that she owned and was keeping packed in the back of our van. I couldn't see out the back of the window of the van and parking in Chicago was a 30 min ordeal each time but we did it. We were so proud. I was leaving for home with her stuff and having a farewell picnic with my brother and his family and my sister. I walk back to our parked van approx. 1 mile walk and can't find our van. I am walking up and down the street for over 30min in shock. I can't believe it. I can't even think straight. I have 7 children with me who are very tired from a very long week of packing and I am ready to get home to my husband. I can't get ahold of my sister and I am stranded in Lincoln Park, Chicago. Wow! This is a picture of all the kids on a park bench, processing that our Van is gone.


Next, I call my husband crying and just unsure what to do next. Thank God for my husband. He calms me down, calls the police and then calls me back with the information to call the police and make a report. He then calls Amtrak and books 8 tickets from Chicago to Bloomington and has me on a train within 3 hours so that I can get home safe. My sister got my message and I am able to get into her apartment till we can catch a train. We pack into a Chicago cab and make it to the train station just in time to catch the train home.
Three days later, we get a call from Chicago police that they found our van. Everything of value had been taken and our radio stolen, car door lock riped out, window broken and steering column broken but it still was running. PTL.
She had to sit in the impound lot in Chicago for a couple weeks and then she was released. Sean had to make a trip up to downtown Chicago to prove that we owned her before the tow company could pick her up and take her to the shop to be fixed. That is another funny story.
Sean is thinking no big deal,he get to where he is supposed to be to get her and he has to travel down this dusty, gravel road that has holes big enough for entire tires to fit in. He is afraid that a tire will pop on his way out to this lot. He sees miles of cars and one little trailer when he finally get up the road and into the lot. He makes his way to the little trailer and he gets inside. It's small, sticky, and smelly.Then he comes face to face with the "Fat Boss". This guy doesn't talk he just sits in his chair behind the secretary and nods and he is FAT. People are running in and out and up to him put a paper in front of him , he nods and then turns his head. Sean is thinking- I have entered an episode of the Sopranos. They release Bertha and Sean is happy that he made it out alive. ( kidding ) She get to the shop to be fixed and then there is a hold up because her parts are so old and they have to get them special.
In the end, I was never so happy to see her on Saturday when I walked in the the shop. She was stinky and messy but nothing I couldn't clean up with some good bleach spray and a vacuum. She is home and she never looked so pretty to me. Part of her carpet on the inside is gone but other than that she gets me from point A to point B and I am happy about that. Everyone is in a seatbelt and no more cramming everyone in the Sunfire. Life back to normal. My life is ever an adventure! I have so many stories that I can't even believe they happen to me, sometimes. But God is always good and faithful. Welcome home Bertha!