Bahama Mamma!

Where have you been? I've only been in the Bahamas. I know ... I am back in Alabama and even though I'm glad to be home; it is hard to leave gorgeous turquoise, sandy-bottomed beaches.

We left last Sunday for a January Bible Cruise. We drove to good ole Jacksonville. It was great to see my former home town. Brought back wonderful memories ... Tim and I met/married there; we had both girls in Jacksonville, etc. We got on board the Carnival Celebration and headed out! Our first stop was Freeport, Bahamas. It was very nice. We went around a little; then Ashlyn and I headed back to the boat to sit out in the sun. The next day we were at Half Moon Cay; which is a private-owned island owned by Carnival. Absolutely gorgeous. The water was breath-taking. Several of us could dig our toes into the sand and find whole sand dollars. They were plentiful. You know me ... I have a story to tell ... Tim had rented these huge intertubes to "sit" in the Sun all day. Well now, I'm short-legged and fluffy and getting onto it was not going to happen. I have forgotten to mention half of our staff was also on this cruise. We all had beach chairs together and so they were watching this "thing" take place; which made me very self-conscious. Tim could care less; I so could care! We have sweet friends from Georgia waiting way out in the water for us. I begin attempting to get onto my intertube. As I get onto it; I am successful (I forgot Ashlyn was helping me). I begin tilting; trying to get my balance. I go overboard completely ... my legs are flailing in the air; my sunglasses fly about five feet and land luckily into the crystal-clear water. When I come up, the entire gang of staff we were with are laughing hysterically. I was mortified but died laughing! Ashlyn got me back up on it and I floated to Tim and our friends from Georgia. I'm sitting and sitting on it and it's not very comfortable AT ALL. I'm thinking "I'm not sitting on this intertube all day". I tell Tim and our friends that I'm getting off the intertube. I jump out of it into the 8 foot water. As I do, I hang onto my intertube ... well ... the intertube goes flying into the middle of the ocean. Our friend, Lee, has to go swim out and get it. It's heading towards the cruise ship literally. I gave Tim the "this is totally your fault" look (later apologizing). I swim in and get onto my beach chair and didn't budge the rest of the day.

We did have a great time at Half Moon Cay. The next day we woke up in Nassau, Bahamas. Ashlyn and I couldn't get dressed fast enough to go shopping and go to the Straw Market. We rush off the boat; Tim trailing. Found some fun, great buys at the Straw Market. I had been told of a lovely linen shop. We took off looking for that. I bought some lovely organza place mats for our dining room. It was a lovely shop. From there we boarded a small boat and headed to the Atlantis Hotel. WOW. It is amazing. We've decided we definitely want to go back there one day. We got back on the boat and headed out. The next day we were at sea all day heading back to Jacksonville. We all lay in the Sun and drank virgin daiquiries. Yes, I'm ready for Summer now. We got sun and just hung and relaxed. We were in Jacksonville the next morning and headed back home in time to watch the Jacksonville Jaguars.

We had a great week. We met many new friends; preachers and their families. We saw old friends that we didn't know were going; so that was an added blessing. Daddy, Jon and family were on the boat. This was a working cruise for Dad (preaching), Jon (working Dad's ministry table). We would like to go back next year. It is heading out from Mobile. We'd love for some good friends to try to go too ... hint hint!!