We took hundreds of pictures. It was hard to choose which ones to post, but I think these give the best taste of my week at the beach with RayRay. For more details see my blog entry from Cancun. I may add more to the Cancun album as I have time.....

My first travel day was a bit bumpy. Looking forward to being at the beach  by lunchtime I opted to travel in capris and flipflops even though the weather here was getting cold and wet. My flight was canceled and I was happy just to get a seat on the next flight. The delay made me miss my DFW connection so instead of waiting for me at the airport for 45 minutes as originally planned, RayRay waited for me for over 5 hours. Now that's friendship! Since this was my first time through customs I was so glad she did! We didn't do much that day except grab a bite to eat and book our activities for the week. That first night there was an open air market. Of course RayRay was snapping away. I just loved these dresses!

Friday was our first full day at the beach. RayRay began the day by bringing me hot tea in bed and that afternoon we got our complimentary back massages. At last the trip began to feel real. This is the garden between our building and the main lobby where we ate most mornings.

Here is a close up of the blossoms on the shrubs that were everywhere. Haven't found out what they are called yet....

Iguanas could be seen most every morning drinking from the sprinklers. This was one of the smaller ones. Ugh! Creepiest part of the trip, if you ask me....

Coconuts were growing everywhere.

In Cancun poinsettia are not just for Christmas time. They landscape with them!

Here we are at one of many breakfasts and lunches at the poolside grill. Notice how fair my complexion looks in these first pictures.

After breakfast we took a walk down the beach and found this friendly pelican who never budged while we snapped away.

The service at all the restaurants was wonderful; we were treated like royality. They even placed our napkins in our laps! At the buffets they carried our plates for us. Friday night we had reservations at the Japanese restaurant. This was the first of many dinners where we were serenaded table side. He was playing Moon River....

Every night there was some sort of production on one of the stages. This one was from the tour of Mexico featuring dances of different regions.

Saturday morning I was at the beach at sunup reserving what came to be "our spot." We took turns getting up and getting down there at the crack of dawn.... We pretty much stayed at the beach from sun up until mid afternoon every day but Monday. Wait staff from the beach bar stopped by ever so often to offer us beverages. Soothing music played in the background and we often lay in companionable silence on the thick cushions. When we got hot they helped us raise the umbrella and we lounged some more in the shade and watched the tide roll in, or napped, or played cards.

Saturday afternoon we went to an adventure park zip lining. Here we are getting suited up. The sticks were our brakes. We weren't sure what we were getting ourselves in to. It was a bit scary, but also lots of fun.  We must have been the oldest ones there because all the workers called me Moma.

In all there were 12 zip line platforms, 10 cables, and 2 bridges to cross. One felt like the walk of faith from Indiana Jones and the other more like the bridge donkey wouldn't cross on Shrek. At the end was what they called the Mayan Sacrifice where you could zip upside down if you like. Talk about an adrenaline rush!

That night we walked to the sister resort and were pleased to find the same merchants from the first night had set up there. We walked back to our room for funds and did a bit of open air shopping. RayRay was in Paparazzi mode because she took about a zillion pictures of me shopping and I didn't know it until she took this one. We both got some beautiful jewelry for a fraction of what it would cost here in the states.

Sunday we lazed around at our spot on the beach and then went sailing on a cataraman like these. Miguel took us out to a sandbar where the water was only about chest high and we swam in the ocean. It was so much fun!  Especially since he did all the hard work.

Here we are being serenaded at the Mexican Restaurant. One of the things I loved about Cancun was guacamole was available for every meal. Here they made it fresh table side.

Monday was the only day we didn't lay out on the beach. Instead we went on the Paradise tour where we snorkeled...

Went horseback riding in the Ocean...

And parasailing....

Tuesday we had late afternoon appointments at the spa so we reclaimed our spot at the beach....

That afternoon RayRay had an aromatherapy massage while I chose the chocolate body wrap since it was supposed to hydrate dry skin. Coming from windy West Texas I knew I needed that... Talk about feeling delicious! First she exfoliated with a almond scrub, then slathered me from toe to chin in chocolate and wrapped me in something before cocooning me in warm towels. It smelled as wonderful as it felt...  After a shower she then applied a couple of other silky feeling things massaging as she went. In all it lasted about an hour and a half. Mmmmmm....

Too soon it was our last day at the beach. We stayed as long as possible before spending the evening packing.

As I said before, our week at the beach was as near perfect as I can imagine any trip being...the perfect blend of relaxation and activity. The only bad thing I can find to say about Cancun is there is no Dr. Pepper!

I feel so very blessed to have a friend like RayRay in my life.   This trip was such a Godsend! Somewhere amid all the sun and sand, the pampering and unlimited chocolate, the girlie silliness and fun firsts, the last of the heaviness of the past few years melted away.  This is the lightest I've felt in a very long time. And for that I am thankful beyond words. These are memories I will treasure always.

Monday was the first day since we have been here than we actually set the alarm and had to be somewhere by a certain time. You've heard of shop till you drop.... well, we played till we dropped. It was a day of firsts for both RayRay and I. First we went sailing with about a hundred other folks on a cataraman to the second largest barrier reef in the world at Palancar on the Riveria Maya. There the beach was even more pristine and the water even bluer. Since we were both novices we got pretty much a private tour by a great guide named Eduardo who took us under his wing. He made what could have been a scary experience feel comfortable for both of us. Once we got the hang of it we both loved it! We held some kind of starfish in our hands and saw a crab and lots of different kinds of colorful fish only inches from our fingertips.  We used one of those disposable underwater cameras so hopefully we got some good fishy pictures.... Waiting to see them the old fashioned way so it will be awhile before we have any to share our underwater experience. After that we went horseback riding through the jungle and then changed mounts and got to ride bareback in the Caribbean Sea.... our very own Mexican seahorses!   Feeling the power of the horses swimming underneath us was really neat.  Most of the folks on our tour only did one or two activities but instead of stopping then we grabbed a quick bite and went parasailing. This is the ultimate view of the caribbean... What fun! Again all we had was a disposable camera so photos will come later...

Rewind to Saturday afternoon when we went zip lining. Pretty sure we were the oldest ones doing the Indiana Jones thing, but boy was that ever fun! I was telling hubby all about it on the phone that night and before I could finish my sentence about how toward the end you could do it upside down if you wanted, he said, "You did too, didn't you?" You betchya!

Our typical days have been sleep till we want, sip hot tea on the balcony, finally hit the breakfast buffet, then lounge on the beach or by the pool until suppertime where waiters bring you wonderful things to drink and you can choose to play hard at  any or all the guided activities or just do nothing at all. (We've been doing alot of nothing at all.) The poolside grill makes it easy to eat a quick bite and then get back to sunning or whatever. The service staff here is so gracious and helpful. We have felt like royalty every minute of every day.

Then  we head back to the room to doll up and the hardest decision we make all day is to decide which restaurant to dine in for the evening. So far they have all been delicious with desserts that are works of art and strolling musicians serenading us.  So far we have had Chinese, Italian,  Mexican and an open air steak house. After supper we go to salsa lessons and then choose which of the shows to attend or do a bit of shopping at the open air market.

Life is hard here in paradise but somebody has to do it! If hubby could meet me here  I'd have no problem staying another week or two...

Day three at the beach and it finally feels real! I was up at sunrise saving "our" spot in the VIP section this morning. I could sure get used to spending summers like this! Time to hit the beach with my twinkie now. Today Miguel is taking us sailing on a catamaran ~ a first for both of us.

All the laundry is done, the dog is bathed. Sunscreen, swimwear and beach clothes are piled on the bed in my guest room. I printed my packing list and as I was methodically checking it off I kept thinking, "Wow! This is really happening." Thursday I will be arriving in sunny Mexico for a full week of fun and sun with my sister-of-the heart, RayRay....  We are both blessed with husbands who understand what these girlie times mean to us and are pleased for us to go. We got another taste of winter weather this week so while it is only 30 degrees here at my house it is 82 in Cancun

This being my first trip that far South or to an all-inclusive resort, I'm sure we'll find many things to add to my list of fun firsts. RayRay seems to thrive on broadening my horizons so only the good Lord knows what she has up her sleeve this time. I'll try most anything once... so long as it doesn't involve needles, reptiles or bungee cords... I do know that we plan to spend part of every day just lounging around being pampered. One of the things I for sure want to try is snorkeling. (I'm married to a guy who's perfectly happy confining his water sports to a daily shower.) RayRay says I'm going to learn to dance. Don't laugh, Em!

Don't know how much blogging we'll attempt while we're there, but you can expect pictures and details once we get home.

Only three more days and I will be leaving on a jet plane heading South to meet my twinkie. I have been trying really hard not to talk much about it at church or small group. But what I really wanted to do last night when we told everyone we would be gone was squeal my delight and detail all the perks. Hubby is going to go spend a few days with his Aunt.

Only what were we thinking planning this trip only a few days after time here changes! As if having to be at the airport by 5:00 a.m. isn't crazy enough it will feel like it's really 4:00!  Time change always whips my butt... today I am dragging.

Today I'll be busy here at home. Laundry, etc... Getting everything done up for hubby while I'm gone and adding to the stack of things I need to pack  on the bed in the guest room.  Passport, swimsuit, sandals, cover up, sunscreen, shower shoes, capris and sleeveless tops. Do I even need anything else? Those of you who have done this before must advise me.

I'm anxious to see if the water is really as blue down there as it looks in the pictures. I can just see it now.... lazing around in our swimsuits at the pool's edge.... maybe our feet in the water.... sipping cool beverages with little umbrellas in them after a hard day of snorkeling, or shopping, or sand castle building. The resort has a gym, miniature golf, both ballroom and disco dancing, a theater, sports complex and a meditation garden, not to mention a restaurants featuring most any kind of cuisine you can think of. RayRay says there will be unlimited chocolate in our room. Something that will surely test my will power as  I plan to continue counting calories while we are there. If I don't lose anything that week it will be fine with me... but I don't intend to gain anything! Come to think of it, I read somewhere that 10-15 minutes of genuine giggling can burn off the number of calories found in a medium square of chocolate so we should be just fine!

I think we are almost as excited about this trip as we were the first time we met three years ago. Hey.... That was March too...

After almost a week of unseasonably high temperatures today is a typical March day in West Texas ~ dusty, gray and windy, with temperatures in the sixties. Hubby is still out on a job (which is taking longer than usual because of all the wind). I couldn't sleep without him so I finally got up about five this morning and began plotting my flowerbed on some graph paper. Next comes figuring out what plants and shrubs to place where so I can make a shopping list and budget.

PTL my trip to see RayRay is only a few days away! This quiet empty house isn't getting any easier to bear. After three years empty nest still stinks! Today I am especially missing the "good old days" when my house was the one my kids and their friends all ganged up at. At least I can go out to my inlaws when the loneliness gets to be more than I can stand.... sooner or later at least one of the grandchildren or great grandchildren show up out there.

Counting calories isn't getting any more fun, but after two weeks I am seeing a bit of progress. It's not happening as fast as I would like, but I figure as long as the numbers on my scale go down instead of up, I should be happy. You can see my weight loss ticker on my home page. It automatically updates every week when I weigh in. Exercising every day is still the hardest part for me.

Don't forget to set your clocks tonight. We "spring forward"  

Today we are all meeting at my mother-in-law's house to do her Spring cleaning. With 5 of us working in separate rooms it won't take long. I asked for the kitchen mainly because I wanted to be the one to hand wash her teacup collection and other pretties... At breakfast this morning hubby said if he wasn't needed on a job, he'd stop by and help me clean out the fridge.  One of the advantages of  working an on call job. During the slow season he has some free time.... When that man gets a hold of your fridge it is clean! Happy Thursday y'all!

Well, it ended up being a busy day for hubby so he barely had time to drop by and pull out the  fridge so I could vaccuum behind it and remove what was left of the light bulb that broke off in the ceiling fan.  But his heart was in the right place... and my MiL was pleased as punch when we all cleared out mid afternoon leaving her with a clean house. We'll do it again in the Fall.

Lisa Bevere is an awesome, anointed woman of God with a message for "such a time as this" to women in the household of faith. God did such an awesome thing this weekend in our lives through her and the other facilitators at the conference! My right arm was sore afterwards from writing as fast as I could each session. These are notes I will come back to again and again. Ladies, If you have any chance to hear her by all means do so!

I'll just share a couple of quotes from her first teaching session:

Lisa said, "Mentors are good, but in this day we need mothers in the house of God. Mothers who will teach and inspire their spiritual daughters to arise and spread the good news of the gospel.... God called us to be a light to the world ~ not darkness pointer-outers! Not a judge, but a mother."

Psalm 68:11-12AMP

The Lord gives the word [of power]; the women who bear and publish [the news] are a great host. The kings of the enemies' armies, they flee, they flee! She who tarries at home divides the spoil [left behind].

Acts 2:17-19 AMP

And it shall come to pass in the last days, God declares, that I will pour out of My Spirit upon all mankind, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy [telling forth the divine counsels] and your young men shall see visions (divinely granted appearances), and your old men shall dream [divinely suggested] dreams.