Spring Fever

It is the first day of March and we have been spoiled with good weather lately, it's giving me spring fever. Since we have gotten back from our vacation we are really trying to buckle down and start paying off our debt. We are so close to having our car paid off and we are getting so anxious to cross it off the list! Since it is Lent we decided to give up eating out (a big money saver) and I have decided to give up coffee (another big money saver!). Coffee is such a hard thing for me to give up (and I'm not just talking a straight up cup of black coffee, no I like the fancy stuff). We have done great so far! It is actually amazing to me that a couple weeks can go by without spending anything! Yes, that is right, spending absolutely nothing! I didn't even think that was possible.

I've also decided to really start running again. We found out last week that our church didn't get any teams for Hood-to-Coast this year, which is a total bummer, I was so looking forward to it. So I need something else to train for and I think it is going to be a half marathon! The most I've ran in a race was a 12k when I was studying abroad in Spain, I think that's about 7.5 miles...? So 13 miles will be a huge challenge. To start off I am going to do a running streak and see how long I can keep it up. That means running everyday, even if it's just 1 mile.

I feel like I'm making some positive changes in my everyday life, getting fit physically and financially, but I also want to grow more spiritually. One thing that has been on my heart lately is serving others, and just take opportunities that come my way without even thinking twice. It doesn't have to be a huge thing like going on a missions trip, but just everyday ways that I can serve or bless others. The church that Colin and I go to has so many opportunities to serve, it is amazing. They had a cold weather shelter, have a clothes closet and so many other things. My prayer is that I will not hold myself back by thinking that they won't need my help or letting "my life" get in the way. Our lives shouldn't just be about what we are doing for ourselves; our jobs, our families, our money etc, but for others. After all, Jesus said loving others as yourself is one of the most important commandments.

Back to Reality...

We just got home from a wonderful week of cruising on the Mexican Riviera! I feel renewed, relaxed, refreshed and BLESSED!! I had no idea what to expect because I have never been on a cruise, I'd never even seen a cruise ship besides on TV, so I really didn't know that they were so gigantic!!! I wasn't sure if I would enjoy spending most of my vacation at sea on a big boat with lots of people. But you know what? I had a BLAST! The food was amazing I am surprised I didn't gain 10 pounds!!! Every night we had a wonderful sit-down dinner, with bread, an appetizer, an entree and dessert! I tried lobster tail, duck and escargot for the first time and I actually liked it!!! The days started out with a morning workout (most days anyway) and time by the pool. Port days were spent on the beach. First stop was Cabo....we enjoyed Cabo! We had to walk a ways from where we were dropped off to the beach, but then we found a restaurant on the beach with lawn chairs and we parked there for most the day enjoying fresh guacamole, chips & pina coladas. Yum!


This is the life. I ventured into the water a couple times, but it was much colder than I had hoped.


The second port was in Mazatlan, we spent a little time shopping around negotiating to get good deals on souvenirs...we didn't find the beaches all that nice, so we decided to taxi it back to the ship. By taxi I mean golf cart (!) and we got quite the tour, the driver took us all over to see cliff hangers and an old light house.


We hopped back on the ship in time for lunch and soaked up some sun poolside.


Our third stop was Puerto Vallarta. We decided to do an excursion this day, so we took a catamaran out to a beach that can only be reached by boat. The boat stopped for snorkeling but it was POURING down rain, so we decided not to snorkel.



Once we reached the beach, we walked down to the end and decided to spend the day at a beach front restaurant. We had our regular meal of chips, guacamole and pina coladas and enjoyed the sun. Colin and I decided to get massages. Talk about relaxing! The rain stopped while we were on the beach so we were able to soak up some rays for a few hours.





We were the only ones at this restaurant, when I asked to use the restroom they directed me to go to the back building, as I walked about a quarter mile to the bathroom I saw what looked like the ruins of an old resort, an old pool, a broken down water slide! Cabanas! We chatted with the workers and they said the resort had been deserted and they were fixing it up!!! It is going to be absolutely amazing when it's finished, I want to look it up and stay there.

Evenings were spent on the ship going to singing/dancing shows, ice skating shows, etc. So much fun! This is definitely not the vacation if you just want to be in one spot, without many people and relax on the beach 24/7, But it is a great vacation with friends and if you want good food, lots to do and want to see different places!!