Ahh Florida (days 5-8)

We left Orlando and went back to Clearwater for the duration of our trip. This time we were upgraded to a junior suite and the kids were ecstatic! The room was huge and was about 10 feet from the beach! They delivered a tray with grapes, Evian, chocolate and candies. The kids put on the robes and lounged on the wrap around couch. They thought they were living the life of luxury!

This part of our trip was more leisurely with the exception of a half day trip to Busch Gardens again. We spent the days swimming, digging in the sand, body surfing and relaxing. Paul and the kids did a great job molding a sea turtle on the beach. Xander was so happy it lasted through the rain storm and was still there the next day. Many people came over to admire it and some even took pictures.

It was really great to start off each day with a solitary walk along the beach. I can't think of a better way to start the morning watching the sun come up on one side and the waves crash on the other. I even found a whole sand dollar! We would end the day with a walk on the beach or watching the sunset from our balcony. We are a bit "greasy" and a bit sun burnt from all of the sunscreen and lack thereof.

When I asked the kids what their favorite part of the vacation was I hear a unanimous "THE BEACH!" I am thinking next year we will skip the whole amusement park part and head straight for the beach!

Ahhh Florida (days 1-5)

I had better get going on our Florida vacation before we set off in 8 more days to California!

This year we started off our vacation with a night on Clearwater Beach. The water was really calm and we could see the fish swimming. The kids had fun chasing the fish and going night swimming in the ocean for the first time! Paul and I happily watched from a soft spot on the smooth white sand. The next day we were off for a few days in Orlando, but not before we had a swim in the ocean and played in the sand.

While in Orlando we went to Disney. We haven't been there since the kids were 4 1/2. Now they could ride Space Mountain. It was fun having them ride a "real" roller coaster rather than the kiddie ones. We had a great day because we got there early and rode all 10 rides by 2 o'clock! We have never had such luck with little lines.

I was laughing so hard while taking these driving pictures I am suprised that they came out. While the kids were "driving" we kept being wacked back and forth! It was quite the experience! Thankfully they have 8 more years until they are driving for real. Yikes!!

On Friday evening Alyssa started to complain that her ear was bothering her. OH NO! The next morning we were off to CVS's Minute Clinic and after a quick exam she was diagnosed with swimmer's ear infection! She was given antibiotic drops and instructions not to immerse her head underwater. UGH! So we bought a bright green tube and let her float away. What else were we to do on a water vacation? We just looked the other way when her head went under on occasion. Oops! Xander had to get a mask and snorkel so he could explore the underwater world.

We were back to the Tampa area for a day at Busch Gardens! This was truly the best day of our entire trip-the weather was perfect, the lines were short and we stayed at the park from open until close! The Busch parks are so much more mellow than the Disney parks. We meandered from one ride to the next. The kids could go on all rides, but 3. They were able to go on their first loop de loop roller coaster and went on it again and again and again and again....Paul and I gave up after a few loops! Our poor stomachs couldn't handle it. We both love coasters but we are finding the older we get the fewer times we can ride them in a row. Especially me since I get vertigo on vacation due to the flying, elevators, coasters and pools/beaches. I felt like I was rocking back and forth on a boat for the entire week. Hey no dizzy blonde jokes!

We enjoyed the bird area where we could feed the bird sweet nectar and have them sit us. I was a bit weary when one landed on my head. I was afraid it would poop on me. Thankfully it didn't but the kids thought it would be really funny. I would laugh, but only if they choose Paul and not me!

Delve a little deeper

We have been away on vacation to Florida and are slowly getting back to life... back to reality before we are off on our next adventure. Today at church in our morning ward council we were discussing the need to look a little deeper and take the time to really understand people for who they truly are. The example of a first place ribbon was used and how much work it actually takes to not only make the ribbon (thousands of threads) but to print the words on top of the ribbon (each letter has to be type set individually). When you quickly look at it, it doesn't seem like something that would take much effort to make, but if you take the time to delve a little deeper and really study how it is made you would understand how intricate it really is. This can also be applied to people and the choices and decisions that they have made which have led them to where they are in their lives. It is so easy to judge a person without thinking about the circumstances behind their decisions or feelings. This week I am going to try harder to delve a little deeper and understand and have compassion for people and their circumstances rather than judge hastily.

We sustain many decisions in the Church, but most often we are asked to sustain the callings of Church leaders. Once we have acknowledged our support and approval, we should continue to sustain our leaders. We can do this by supporting their decisions, remembering them in our prayers, following their counsel, and willingly doing what they ask us to do. President Gordon B. Hinckley has taught: “The procedure of sustaining is much more than a ritualistic raising of the hand. It is a commitment to uphold, to support, to assist those who have been selected”

We can have confidence in our Church leaders because we know that important callings are directed by the Holy Spirit (see D&C 52:1). Those in positions of leadership are not placed there to exercise authority but to direct with kindness and serve with love. The Lord expects us to follow and uphold His chosen leaders because they are authorized to act and speak for Him.

Today at church we had a safety counsel meeting with the Bishop. He addressed several of the concerns that we have had in primary for the children's safety and welfare. While the Bishop was talking I felt such a strong witness of his love and concern for the children in the ward. He said that he sustains the primary presidency and that he didn't see one hand being raised when we were called that did not sustain all of us. This is the first time I really thought about how it is for ME personally to be sustained by others. I know that I sustain the prophet, Bishop, church leaders etc...but this time it really hit home that others in their actions and response to what the Bishop, as well as we, are asking is a form of sustaining us also.
It is so nice to have the love and support of the members and children that we serve. It makes the service so much more rewarding.

That's my story!

A few days ago Alyssa drew a picture of our family in Florida. She is in the quick scribble impressionistic phase of her artwork. (We are leaving in less than a week and the kids are really excited!) In the above picture it has her, Alexander and Paul in the pool with me on the lounge chair grabbing a book. I totally cracked up! Hey I resemble! Oops...I mean resent that! Then today when the kids are outside sliding down the water slide (that Christy so generously let us borrow) Paul was off (FINALLY) and we were both taking pictures. When looking over the pictures later on what do I see?

ME sitting on the lounge chair watching the kids and Paul throw water balls at each other. I had to ponder this for a bit. Do I just check out when Paul is around? Is it because it is usually me doing all the running around when he is traveling and I get a break? Am I not as fun? Am I just plain old lazy? I came to the conclusion that it is his special time with the kids and I get to sit back and really enjoy watching them play. Just because I can read and watch at the same time does NOT mean I am checking out! Just multi-tasking!! That's my story and I'm sticking to it!