Blessed

I have been thinking a lot about being blessed, in the sense that I have much more and not just in the material things but in the thought of family and the ability to give of my love and time freely.  I am beyond blessed to have parents who are working towards accepting me among all the changes I am continually going through, siblings who can make me laugh, cry and be stern in the words and wisdom I try to share with them.  I was raised by an amazing group of women- my ama (grandma), aunts and cousins.  The connection has always been strong but trying at times as I try to make Indy my home.  I am blessed that after giving up on love and creating my own family I found a wonderful man, that at times may drive me crazy, is helping me to become a more patient person, giving us opportunities I did not know I needed, and the adventure of making our own family traditions in this home that he has been working so hard to renovate.  He is constantly showing me that this new life is way better than the life plan I wrote in pen before him. 

I am blessed that this year I am less stressed about Christmas, less stressed about having too much to do, more anxious in sharing the blessings that God has given me. 

Last weekend we celebrated Christmas at my parents home; mom, sisters, Eze, Tegan, Darren and I.  It feels slightly strange to know that Christmas is 2 days away but we have already started sharing the greatness of this season.  My grandfather was opening the gifts that us kids had for him, he stated that he that day luck had followed him and my mother and I immediately let him know that it was not luck but a blessing.  A blessing that we have jobs/careers that allow us to share with one another in giving.  And since then, if not before I have been thinking about how much all of this is a blessing.  I have a car that still runs even after all these years, I have great relationships to continue to build on, I have entered into a loving family and see more clearly all my parents do.  I have entered the stage in my life where I now have a the best relationship with my mom, I have let some people walk out of my life and gained longlasting relationships, I am continually working towards giving the love that am capable of to family and friends.  I am seeking the purpose that God has for my life, the career and life that I can be a blessing and give of my myself in which others will be blessed.  For now I just want to relish in what he has given me, life.

List

So I have been thinking a whole lot about what I would like to put on my gift list. Really, am I allowed to ask for:
• clothing to be put away same day it's washed and not be in the basket for weeks at a time
• for the kitchen table to stay clean at all times
• for things to be put back in their place and not be left out
• more help in the house besides the construction (the basement is a mess)

I know there is more but these are the ones that come to mind right now.

Love Language and some

Gifts. I love the surprise behind the receiving of gifts and the sneakiness in giving, the excitement leading up to the opening.  I throughly enjoy putting a list together for the many people I love,  finding the best places and putting the items together for wrapping.  I even hide items as long as I can to keep up the excitement in giving.  It's my love language, giving gifts allows me to express my love and how I care.  I look around for great deals to allow more buying and purchase items that they want not just what they need.

The excitement has once again grown, being in the same house with Darren means I have to be careful of where I place my items to keep the fun in it.  Last year I hid his stocking for probably the whole week leading up to Christmas as it was overflowing.  I fibbed about the giant box under the tree and said it was for may niece when in reality it was a tool chest for him.

Darren asked me to put a list together, (he is not the best listener otherwise I think at this point in the year he might have a great list by now) and I am finding it hard.  I find it hard because the wants are usually just put on a back burner so when I am up for spending money/shopping or because they are pricey items.   I also hold out in hopes of finding a better deal.  Needless to say I am at a roadblock right now and we are only a couple of weeks away from celebrating.

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some tips

So I just got back from my first cruise ever, It started off bad and frustrating just trying to get on the boat but after sleeping it off our first day at sea turned it all around.

We were aboard the Carnival Inspiration, with a 5 day cruise into the unknown, for myself.  I never really thought about going on a cruise or the benefits that would be just beyond land.  I thought that it would be just another thing to do and at least this time it was to somewhere new unlike our regular schedule of destinations we make every year that are already becoming bland to me.  I do not get highly excited about anything and just boarding the ship proved to me that I was not as prepared as I would have liked to be. 

1. Check in online as soon as you can, doing so the morning before your ship leaves does not enter you into the system and you have to reiterate everything to a person.

2. Print ALL necessary and maybe somewhat unnecessary paperwork.  Boarding passes, luggage tags and any vital information you might need-they also do a great job of setting out an agenda of different activities and leaving it on your bed nightly to prepare for the next day.  I also kept my phone to a website where I could show that was allowed to bring a bottle of champagne per person. Just in case.

3. I actually took the time to research the cruise line in regards to what we can bring on board as to possibly save money while on the ship.  So we picked up 2 bottles of 750ml of champagne, and a 12 pack of soda.  (They allowed 20cans per person, and one bottle of wine or champagne per person) Soda on the boat is over 1.50/per cup, which can add up fast if you have a large family or people who just like too much soda.  I would also suggest you take your own cooler if possible to keep these items cold-since we flew in this did not work for us but we had a great lady, Bo, who was in charge of the section of rooms we were in, made sure our little ice chest was filled up and our drinks got cold.  If you decide to take wine remember a corkscrew as the boat charges a fee that might be as much as the cost for the wine to DE-cork.

4. Along with drinks I wish I would have thought to take a nalogene bottle with me, with the food area so far  away and being on excursions for part of our land time I tried to drink as much water at each meal but did not get my normal 64+ ounces of water that I make a point of consuming each day.

5. Make some activities a priority, we had only one breakfast as a sit down but attended every sit down dinner, I wish we would have made more sit down meals to enjoy each others company.  Also I missed out on some ship activities like the art auction and early morning stretch due to either sleeping or soaking

up the suns beautiful rays- things I would have loved to experience.  We did attend karaoke to kill time, a late night comedy and late night battle of the sexes trivia.  We also made time for the gym while aboard.

6. Pay the extra money to go on excursions, this allowed us to see more of the land and learn something great.  I snorkeled for the very first time and only wish I had purchased/owned an under water camera. It was a great experience and workout due to the abnormal choppy waters in Grand Cayman.  We also took advantage of climbing Coba, Mayan Ruins.  This is the last location where it is still allowed and the Mexican government will most likely stop this in the very near future- And we got to experience it!

7. When you arrive at the dock to be corralled into the various checkpoints make the men taking luggage take yours-only carry on your musts like alcohol and drinks are mandatory carry on items.  I currently use carry on without wheels and by the time we made it through the various checkpoints and received our identification cards I was exhausted and yes it brought me to tears that I concealed.  While I am now on the hunt for new luggage I will not carry those and in the future have everything tagged and ready to be loaded by the ships employees. (they accept cash tips as well)

8. Take cash! I am infamous for never carrying cash but Darren does thankfully.  We purchased some handmade items put up for display in our home.  Other people bargained and purchased jewelry and such.  Also on excursions the local guides ask for tips, which in the case of our guide at the Ruins it was well deserved for all the knowledge he shared with us through the whole day.

9. You will be surrounded by people of different ethnicity's so be ready for anyone to cut you in line and act like everything is okay. Be Patient.

10. Be open to meeting new people as well, our sit down dinner table included 2 other couples and getting to know them over the various dinners and their experiences on excursions and just cruising was very nice input for future travel.  They also made going to dinner an enjoyable event.

 

Every night when we returned to our cabin after dinner we had a towel animal awaiting our arrival.

Formal dinner was not very formal for all- but wanted to take advantage of this opportunity.  Pack nice sweaters/cardigans as it can get cold late night and also indoor areas.

Tendering, is using a small boat/ferry to get from the ship to land as the ship can only get so close due to the depth of water.  You will need to carry your boat ID and personal ID/passport when off the boat- your boat ID allows for purchasing items as it charged to either the credit card you entered at check in or the cash that you put on for ship use only.  This would be the drinks that you order or from the stores on ship.

From the ship before going onto Cayman there were pirate ships along the coastline.  One even had clothes hanging on a line to dry.

Iguanas overtake the land of Grand Cayman, such a site.

Before we took on the rough waters to snorkel.

After we got beat up for over 45 minutes in the water by the waves in 12ft deep waters.  I hope to become better at snorkeling so that I can see more.  There are always other people who are willing to take your photo, thankfully, just return the favor.

In Grand Cayman I had my first taste of coconut water, I drank it all but nothing I would want to experience again.  Needless to say my family made it sound so good in times past.

Since Darren had cruised before, we were invited to free drinks and appetizers while we heard about the History and various ships that Carnival now has.

We took our hand at shuffleboard, it was fun/funny.  Darren almost pushed one of the pucks out into the ocean.

When we reached Cozumel we took a ferry to Playa Del Carmen and then a bus to Coba Mayan Ruins.  On our way we stopped at a shop for restrooms and shopping.  Our guide let us know about the Mayan Calendar and the Aztec Calendar and how the differ.

After an over hour drive to the foot of the ruins we began a walk, so pack good shoes.

We climbed all the way to the top, we were told this is not the steepest of the Ruins but it was a workout and at top overseeing it all was the reward.

From the top

Just a short rest before we descend

This was at the foot of the Ruins, we did not have time to read it but the guide was able to show us photos/drawings of what the ruins are thought to look like and their significance.

Listening to our tour guide, something Juan said was that we were travelers as we were taking advantage of learning something in history and not tourists that would go to Cancun and do nothing.  He praised us for taking advantage of this opportunity and the families that had taken their kids to see this World Wonder.

This is a ball court, Coba has 3 ball courts- across from this one is an identical one used as competition for the Mayans.  Based on the various stones found around the courts it was believed that cougars were sacrificed after competition and eventually the players but not known who- the winner or loser.

So much history it was amazing to soak it all in the shade.

Catching the sunset on our ferry ride back to Cozumel.

Our last "Fun Day at sea" was spent in the sun, we got some reading done and mostly relaxed.  The earlier you get on deck the more likely you will get a great spot.  Families/People claim chairs by putting their belongings out on the chairs but rarely see them filled, this I found to be very annoying.

This boat had a couple slides, kids and adults were found to be enjoying this throughout the day.

These are the tendering boats used in case of an emergency.  Before leaving the dock everyone had to participate in a drill, we were taken to our Muster station and then moved to the dock where we would be helped off the ship in case of an emergency.

Our last sunset before we docked in Florida come morning.

We were entertained every night at sit down dinner by the waiting crew.  Our waiter made a point of knowing our names and what we usually ordered- like the coffee drinkers for their dessert.  These employees come from 30 different countries- none are from the USA and work 5 straight months of the year.

Our last night aboard we did not find a towel animal but a towel heart.  I am very much looking forward to our next cruise and the new adventure of seeing new places.  I got plenty of sun and now look "healthier" thanks to my now bronze skin- too bad I won't be showing it off now that we have arrived back home in the not so predictable weather.

Thankfully our Disembarkment process went very smooth, we left our luggage out the night before which made for less stress in carrying heavy baggage and allowed for a relaxing morning where we had our last breakfast and were called off by sections.

 Darren believes this is a great way to see different places as it is cost effective.  I was just glad to do something different and learn for future trips.