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F or a while, when I heard the word, vacation, I’d cringe. Ever so slightly, but I would. For me vacations were distant memories of broken down cars, camping trips gone awry, or hotel carpet not clean enough to house a llama. Hence, the cringe.
When I was five years old, my family decided to camp in Yosemite. With a borrowed Toyota Corolla, my oversized family zig-zagged through the mountains and pulled over every five minutes due to car-sickness. Many hours later, we arrived to the campground only to realize we were totally not prepared to camp. With no camping reservation, we had to park in the RV section of Yosemite and pitched a two-man beach tent. For a family of six…in the freezing cold. There we slept—surrounded by $85,000 homes on wheels—and tried to make the best of it. The next morning, we woke frozen and hungry. So, while the campers to both sides of us were cooking bacon and eggs and pancakes in the morning on their gas stoves, my mother poured us cereal in plastic bowls, then reminded us to pray and thank God for this awesome experience. Right, mom.
When I was I freshman in high school, my dad said he found an awesome beach resort in Mexico. Swimming pools, beach access, kayaking. It was his dream vacation at his dream price. What he failed to mention was the hotel was in Tijuana, Mexico. Not the beautiful beaches of Cancun or Puerto Villarta, but Tijuana. Tijuana?!? When we pulled up to the so-called resort—complete with exposed cinderblock walls half finished and broken ceiling fans—my dad told me to pick my jaw off the floor. The rooms reeked of bleach and the brown shag carpet recoiled from the walls, as if they, too, knew just how desperate the accomodations were.
These vacations—regardless of their modest accommodations and simplicity—have fertilized awesome family memories. And while I wouldn’t change a single thing about my youth, I’m also happy knowing I’ll never have to do something like that again!
As JD and I planned our vacation, we wanted to make sure things were perfect. Because of all the amazing suggestions my blog readers provided, we spent night after night trying to find a good fit. It wasn’t until our good friend, David Jay, invited us to join him and a group of friends to Nicaragua when we realized we found a perfect fit. At first we thought we’d literally be camping on an island (JD seriously contacted the US Embassy, insisted on bringing water-purifying tablets, and wanted to buy a flare gun), but when David emailed over pictures of our beautiful accommodations, we were overjoyed regarding our new adventure! Be sure to check out DJ's Blog to read more about our adventures!
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We’re on our way out the door right now and won’t return until January 8, 2008. I highly doubt I’ll have email access, but please know I’ll respond as soon as I return, if not earlier.
I’ll still be blogging, so be sure to check back for trip updates! ;) |
    
I know I’m almost a little too late, but MERRY CHRISTMAS!
I love this time of year because I’m blessed with amazing family and friends, all of whom I spend excessive amounts of time with laughing, eating, and enjoying life. They are the core of who I am and help me seeing life’s truest beauty.
I’ve pretty much spent the last few days consuming far too many calories, exchanging gifts, and simply loving the holidays…you know, all the things that make my heart explode with gratitude. God has blessed me beyond belief this past year and hanging out with my friends and family further ensures I deserve none of it…but, dang, I’m SO thankful.
Merry Christmas and I hope your day was filled with unadulterated love, goodness, and joy!
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| I just had to add this picture of my little Polo...because, really, I think he looks adorable! ;) |
L ate last night I noticed a pleasant surprise…lucky Tony Bisson of Bisson Photography was my 4,000th commentor. Hollllla! He’ll be receiving a lovely iTunes card via email and my eternal gratitude via the web. Lucky guy! ;)
And in staying with tradition, I Googled “4,000” to see what random photo I’d attach to this post…and, again, Google didn’t let me down! I have absolutely no idea what this picture is all about, but it make me feel so good. Like feel good in a jump-up-and-scream kinda way. It’s so nice to know me and some sort of Chinese game show have 4,000 in common! ;) |
P lease don’t ask me how, but I just discovered The Grinch and I are long-lost cousins. Once removed by marriage. And if you’ve seen me lately, you’ll notice an uncanny resemblance, complete with a furrowed brow and unforgiving eyes.
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I spent the last few days trying to accumulate last-minute Christmas gifts in swarming hives—oops, I meant shopping malls—attempting to salvage my last ounce of holiday cheer. As much as I’ve tried listening non-stop to Christmas carols, wondering what figgy pudding really is, and dressing Polo like Santa, I’m still feeling like the Grinchest of them all.
Today, as JD and I were buying wrapping paper in a line spanning the length of what appeared to be the Atlantic Coast, he rolled his eyes at one of my impatient comments. I turned to him and said, Heeey, YOU’RE not allowed to be grumpy…I think you’re acting a little Jasminesque.
JD looked at me dead-on and dramatically rolled his eyes again. Just in case I missed it the first time.
Jasmanian. That’s what JD said I should call people when they’re acting like the decrepit side of me. Apparently, Jasminesque sounds a little too nice. So, the next time your son is acting up in the grocery store, or your husband won’t relinquish the remote control, just turn to them and say, Stop acting so Jasmanian! That should get them straightened out right quick! ;)
Tonight JD and I are calling it quits and renting a movie. To be honest, I had a very nice dinner with my family celebrating my sister’s birthday, and I’m quite sure a nice holiday movie will make the evening even better.
So, maybe if I’m lucky—and I hand over the remote control nicely—my Grinchy appearance will disappear…and my Jasmanian characteristics will thrown away with all our extra wrapping paper!
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