sail away

Nothing can compare with your first ever cruise.

After my Grandmother Hodie died back in the late eighties,

 my mom and dad took our whole family sailing away to the Caribbean

 for seven glorious days of sun and fun.

The trip was a novelty...

not many people we knew had ever gone on a cruise before.

We had no idea what joys lay ahead.

We went to Puerta Plata, the Cayman Islands, St Thomas, and Puerto Rico.

I can still remember the excitement of that momentous occasion.

Here we are, 

dressed to the nines, 

waiting for the evening meal in the main dining room.

 There were chimes to announce dinner.

This was probably 1989 ~ 30 years ago.

2020 is a big year for Bubba and I.

In April we will celebrate 50 years as husband and wife.

We started saving years ago to take our whole family on a Caribbean cruise.

I began working with Stacey, our travel agent, last March to find the perfect itinerary.

We wanted to try to recreate, as much as possible, that first cruise.

We booked and have waited with much anticipation for almost a year.

We will be visiting Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, the Turks & Cacaos, and a private island.

Excitement is now over the moon.

I get the kids all stirred up every time we are together.

We gave them snorkeling masks for Christmas

and there is talk of a zip line on Amber cove. 

You can just imagine how exciting all of this is for them.

Can't believe this is finally happening.

Paradise here we come!

🌅