phases of the moons

Every six months we have the opportunity to watch (or listen to) a series of broadcasts from the Conference Center in Salt Lake City. Presented by leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the messages they share are always uplifting, encouraging and offer hope. I think we all need more of that these days as the world is getting scary, goodness seems to be fading, and we find ourselves asking hard life questions.

A couple of my favorites were God Shall Wipe Away all Tears (Sunday afternoon session)
Joy and Spiritual Survival (Sunday Morning Session)
Fourth Floor, Last Door (General Women's Session...what faith is and what it isn't, what it can do and can't do.)

If you would like to browse through the titles and topics click here.

Normally we stay at home so we can stream the live feed and watch General Conference on TV. But this year, I couldn't stand the thought of being cooped up inside. So for Saturday's two, 2 hour sessions we drove out to the lake and listened to it instead.
We couldn't have chosen a better way to participate. What a lovely thing to be surrounded by God's creations while also listening to His word.

For a few years now, we watch the Sunday morning session with friends in pajamas after sharing a French Toast Frenzy breakfast and we all look forward to this tradition. (Though, it is REALLY hard to NOT go into a food coma while sitting on the couch all comfy cozy in Mom's quilts.)

Left to right: Country French, Cinnamon Raisin and Sourdough Rosemary bread.

If you would like to steal this tradition, you have my full thumbs up!

Toppings and sides: strawberries, bananas, maple whipped cream, hot syrup, pork sausage, jalapeño bacon, maple bacon, and various drinks.

OF COURSE we went on another cruise. When they're so cheap, and we don't have to do ANY dishes, how could we not? Plus, I LOVE that I get to turn my phone off for a whole week. This time we tried the Carnival line, Freedom ship.

This year we stopped at Key West and a couple of places in the Bahamas. The Gulf wasn't as calm this year as previously. Let's just say there was a lot of puking going on around the ship. And some of it from a stranger splattered on my foot. Don't worry, there will NOT be more on that later.

Have you seen Doctor Who? Do you know what the Daleks are? Click here for a reference. Let's just say, the Freedom ship looks like it could have been built by the Daleks. Finger down throat—so INCREDIBLY UGLY. My poor designer sensitivities—they needed a detox when we got home.

After exploring the ship, we found our tiny room...

...and promptly went for a drink...

...and explored other parts of the deck—like the track. Which we didn't visit again.

And later of course we spent time playing cards. Our go-to past time with these friends.

First stop! Key West! Don't you love this photo? They were all pretty much already standing like this looking out at the island. So, after nudging Adam over bit, and calling everyone's attention...click!

Key West is sunny, humid, and green.

There are no beaches so we walked around looking at shops.

We also found a nice little spot for lunch that was featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.

See it...? Right back there. Garbo's Grill. It's a tiny little booth, they're open until the meat runs out. Which was quick! We were lucky to get ours.

I ordered the Korean BBQ tacos. Wow! Very full flavored, and deliciously spicy.

Enter a giant macaroon for dessert and that finished off our afternoon in Key West.

Next stop:

Finally, a chance to find a beach! We crammed into a Taxi Van with another group of people and off we went! Can people BE any happier than when they are headed to a beach? I think not.

This was a great beach. Calm water with all kinds of creatures to find and see...like live conches!

We brought snorkeling gear and spent the entire time exploring the ocean floor. To my dismay, I brought the wrong size batteries for the waterproof camera. So I can't show you what we saw!

I don't think Nick got out of the water until it was time to leave. Most of the time we saw his fins in the air as he dove down into the water.
Below: Snot on Adam's face. Just kidding. We learned last year that snorkeling masks won't seal over facial hair. We brought Vaseline this time and he enjoyed it much better.
(I learned how to snorkel in a high school P.E. class. How cool is that? It's totally made a difference for me. I'm glad I finally get to do it. I love it!)

Stacy wanted to take a starfish home that her hubby found. Alas, she discovered it was still alive and so she tossed it back into the ocean at port. I wonder if starfish make good pets?

Last stop:

Such a pretty beast. Uh...I mean beach...Cabbage Beach to be exact.

I found the right batteries to take the camera into the water...but alas...this part of the ocean was a beastie. It was rather wild. No snorkeling here.

It was almost impossible to stay together for a good photo!

If you're not a good swimmer *Ahem Adam* this is not the beach for you. I even got a little sea sick...so I didn't stay in the water long.

Is this the beach where Marla described Stacy and my almost drowning as "Epic"? Why yes. Yes it is.
Getting out of the water and back onto the beach was like going through a wash cycle in a front loader. I asked Adam to illustrate in the photos below while I tell the story.

When it was time to get out—I was afraid. I knew getting past the waves were going to be a problem. A bit of positive self talking and then Stacy and I made our way inland.
But not before waves came crashing down on top of us and the rip tide pulled us right back in again. Stacy and I tumbled over each other, she went over me, and my own legs went over my head, and the water went up my nose and into my brain. We were both holding pool noodles while this was happening—it must have looked ridiculous!

The scary thing is, once it was over we had to figure out which direction was up, which direction was landward, stand back up, catch our breath and start hauling booty out of the water—except that the tide was pulling backward at us so we were moving too slow and next wave was coming too fast.

I shouted at Stacy, "We have to get out NOW!" She was still sputtering next to me. I think she thought we'd cleared the waves. I looked up the beach for Adam, hoping maybe he could rescue me....And then the next one slammed into the back of us. Again with the tumbling, and the ocean going up my nose and my face slamming into the sand.... "Am I going to make it out of this one???"

We made it out. Barely. We crawled up the beach and as soon as we knew we were clear we stopped and plopped down and stared out at the ocean. I think we were both a little stunned and trying to process what had happened. We were still clinging to our pool noodles, coughing and spitting, and laughing trying not to cry. It was scary funny.

Have you seen Finding Dori? Did you see the little short with the baby bird and the ocean? There's a scene that perfectly illustrates our experience. If you see it, you'll understand why I cracked up extra loud in the theater.

Hours later I was still blowing water out of my nose—every time I turned my head to the side more drained out involuntarily. The sand was...well...everywhere. It looked like I had shampoed my hair with it (it was very sparkly) and later when I took my swimsuit off, I still had another suit of sand caked to me. Adam thought it was hilarious. It kinda was.

On the taxi ride back, as I was replaying the whole experience in my head, I was laughing so hard I was crying.

Yes Marla...I think it was epic too.

And then just like that we had more:

Sitting around.

Cards and more cards.

Late night movies on deck.

Fancy dinners.

Eating too many dinners. (Seriously, Carnival is good with the food. Come dinner time, no one was hungry because of all the lovely snacks we'd had during the day. We ate out of principle. Not out of starvation.)