Today was....

A great day!! I just wanted to share with everyone that today was a great day...and let me tell you why: I didn't have to work today really at all, instead I played with three really cute boys and I hung out with my friend Lindsay. I spent some time just hanging out, and then I spent the evening with my husband. We even went to see a movie! It turned out to be one of those days where I just felt blessed to just "be." Great friends, great fun, great husband, great life. Thank God for all of it!!!

So, here are some shots of the great boys and the great friend Lindz...for pictures of the great hubs...well scroll down and check out the hottie in the sunset photo!!!!





Tyler!!! Colby!!! Traci & Brady!!! Lindz!!!

Blessings,
The Church Lady

Final Views from our Cruise!

So after two fun days in ports of call, our third and final stop was Cozumel, Mexico. We took a cab and headed to Paradise Beach for some relaxation and fun!!


It's our sandy toes!! I am so proud of Cory because he is not a beach guy or a water guy so much at all simply because he doesn't fare so well in the sun since he is so fair skinned. But, he was a great sport and indulged me in some beach time and snorkeling!


Brenda and I were very excited about the shopping in Cozumel! We were especially excited about the $1 maracas (even though we did not purchase them!!!)

After dinner the night we left Mexico Cory and I were able to enjoy the beautiful sunset. It really is a neat thing to be out in the ocean and watch the sunset. We were able to really enjoy it a few nights of our cruise, but these are the best pictures...beautiful sunset combined with some sunkissed faces! I know I am a little biased, but would you take a look at that hot guy in the last picture!



Last but not least, my favorite towel animal of the trip was hanging in our room on our last night! Good thing Cory knows how to make these!!! (It's a monkey wearing my sunglasses!!)



So, ultimately our cruise was a huge success...we had a great time, enjoyed being with our family, and loved the ship and the ports of call. I wasn't too keen on the formal dinner nights, but alas I did survive them...and I would even do it all again. So, for those of you contemplating a cruise vacation, GO! Cory and I are alrady contemplating what our next ports of call will be!!!

Thanks for reading...
The Church Lady

Cruise Views Part Three...

Off to Grand Cayman we went!!! I really liked it in the Cayman Islands...so I think Cory and I will move. There really is just one teeny problem: it's a little pricey. We learned that it costs about $100,000 for every foot of land there. Hmmm. Guess Euless is looking pretty good!


Since Grand Cayman is a pretty small place, there isn't a pier. So, you get to take these fun boat taxis from the ship to the shore. In cruise language they are called Tender Boats. For most peopl taking the cruise, they are called a pain in the butt. For me they were a highlight of the trip!!! But hey, we all knew that I am a little off, right??!!! Seriously...I thought it was way fun to get on this little boat and be on the ocean. Plus, check out the cool pic of our ship!!!


There is a town in Grand Cayman called Hell. Thankfully we went there and managed to make it back!!!!!


Cory, Brenda, and Charlie in Hell. The whole reason for the name is this: one day a while back a British dignitary visited and said, "This place looks like hell." That's it...and the reason he said that is because there are some very strange looking coral formations that have pushed up above the surface of the water.


We went to a Turtle Farm!!! I was absolutely thrilled to hold the turtles!!! In fact, I was so excited that I held three different ones! Ha! Plus, we have a ton of cool pictures of turtles now. Isn't he so cute? They like it when you rub the underside of their necks...just a little tip in case you happen to hold a sea turtle soon!


Here is a sample of the towel art that our stateroom attendent, Richard, did for us every evening. Since the big thing to do in Grand Cayman is swimming with stingrays, we got this design on our night in Cayman. Just a little side note...Cory went to a class to learn how to fold the towels into cool animals, so if you are having a party, he is for hire!!!

Cruise Views Part Two....

So, we are now cruising on into Ocho Rios, Jamaica. We didn't go far from the ship...instead we wandered around, did a little shopping, and had lunch at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville. It was pretty fun! Also, we stopped at a little local bar and had pina coladas and talked with the beach vendors. Brenda bought a walking stick!


Cory and I at Margaritaville...I had some local jerk chicken and Cory had some nachos. LOL!


This is the view from the pier (or whatever the appropriate term is). That's our ship, Rhapsody of the Seas. Pretty darn cool!


I am standing on Deck 5 of the ship. The views were so amazing!


Just a pretty flower that I came across while we were wandering around...the flowers and vegetation are really beautiful.


Back on the boat after a fun day in Jamaica. Aren't we cute??? It was Caribbean night on the ship, so we did our best with what we had to play along!! It would be nice if they would tell you before you pack that there are theme nights to be prepared for!


Here's a pic of the best wait staff around! Sergy (left) from the Ukraine was our assistant waiter, and for anything you asked him the response was, "My pleasure" in this lovely accent. I have Cory practicing it as we speak!!! In the middle is Enrico from Italy and he was the head waiter for our area. He was really interesting to talk to...and he has been working on cruise ships for over 15 years!! On the right is Allan. He was our waiter and is from the Phillapines. He was so cute and had a great sense of humor...for example when he would clear crumbs from the tablecloth in front of me he made a little vacuum cleaner noise!!!!


Cory, Charlie, and Colleen hoping to hit it big at the roulette wheel. Unfortunately, the wheel won!


The Wheel of Fortune slot machine, however, was a lucky place for me to sit!! I put in $2 and got $40 back....so I quit!!!


After dinner and the casino, Cory made his on board singing debut!!! He sang with Jim Moody two nights in a row!!! His ship hits included Five O'Clock Somewhere, Pretty Woman, and the theme from Gilligan's Island!!

Views from our Cruise!!!

These are pictures from our first two days of the cruise. We boarded in Galveston and then had two full days at sea before we visited our first Port of Call: Ocho Rios, Jamaica. We enjoyed our time on board for the couple of days...and then I really liked visiting the different places. Keep checking for picture updates! I have about 400...but thankfully I am only going to put 30 or so on the blog!!!


Here we go...boarding the ship! Cory, Colleen & Johnny, and Charlie& Brenda (and me) make our way onto the Rhapsody of the Seas. Our ship really was pretty.


I am ready for a Titanic episode!!! Ha!! I really had a blast at our Mandatory Muster Drill!!! Seriously...is that little water activated beacon and whistle really gonna make the difference???


Cory and his dad (Charlie) chillin' as we head out from Galveston. It was pretty amazing to be that high up! The Sail Away Party was on Deck 10.


I went to an Adults Only Art Class on Monday. That's me with the "Beckster" from England. She was part of the Cruise Director's Staff. I colored a really pretty picture with oil pastel crayons or something. It was fun times!


The first night of the cruise was 70s night...none of us knew that, but Matt from Canada sure was ready to party!


Here is a nice shot of Cory and me looking all spiffy. We are dancing at the Captain's Gala. Ooooo la la!!!


Colleen was highly amused by the Cartier cologne for men. Indeed her amusement was somewhat valid as she pondered about the necessity for the shape of this particular men's cologne bottle. Hmmm....