Reflections on the New Year

I read a post earlier that I love.  "Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365 page book.  Write a good one."

It's new year's eve and I'm pondering the resolutions that I want to make for 2014.   I'm wondering what my book will be like.    I want it to be filled with love and adventure...tender moments and joy... unexpected blessings.      I'm sure it will be like other years where there are disappointments...final goodbyes...rainy days.

I've written my "resolutions" for the new year - except I call them goals.   There are the typical ones - exercise every day, a healthier diet, get better organized.   I'm also challenging myself to do something new:   tomorrow I will start a Gratitude Journal.

Each day of 2014, I will take time to write down one thing that I am grateful for.   I'm sure I could write ten or twelve things each day; but I want to be very intentional and write just one.    There will be days when I don't feel well or things haven't gone well - those days will be more challenging.   No matter how bad the day goes, I know that I am loved and cherished by God and that I have abundant blessings - so I will write them down.    If I'm having one of those days that you think I won't remember to be grateful, please remind me.    I promise it will make me smile.

Wishing each of you ... my family and dear friends ... a new year filled with good health, joy, blessings, love ... and gratitude.

Happy New Year!

Christmas Blessings

I love Christmastime.   I enjoy decorating the house....shopping for gifts....wrapping...preparing cards to send to dear friends and family...festive gatherings....catching up with people that have been longtime friends.    I love the season of Advent.   The special services at our church leading up to the beautiful celebration of the birth of our Saviour on Christmas Eve.    I love watching the grandchildren as they grow up and experience this holiday season.    This year the grandchildren range in age from 3 to 14...and seeing Christmas through their eyes truly brings it to life for me. 

Adam and Joel got to ride on a Christmas float the day after Thanksgiving and throw candy to the crowd.    Tyler, Nick, Paige, Heather and Caitlyn went to Chattanooga to ride the North Pole Express and visit with Santa.   Precious memories for all of them.

We've now become the grandparents who live away.   We didn't move ... but most of the children and grandchildren did.    Emile is in Oregon and absolutely loves life in the northwest.   It's our new normal.   We've been accustomed to making a trip to New York City in December....perhaps now we will visit grandchildren instead.   What fun it would be to see them in a school play...or just hear them talk about their Christmas plans.   Yes - definitely more fun!

 

We still have Tyler and Mallory close by.   Their wedding is approaching and it is such a fun time to be near them and enjoy all the festivities.     I am so thankful for our family....and our friends.   All those that we get to see and spend time with during this blessed season.    I'm thankful for Skype and facetime - that allow us to see the faces of those we are talking to.    I'm thankful for funny stories from the past that we can share...and new stories to be added to that list.    And most important I am thankful for the reason for the season.....otherwise none of it really matters.

Merry Christmas.....

 

Homeward Bound

We pulled out of Charleston and headed to Miami - our final destination.  We've had great fun and met great friends, but I'm excited to know that in a couple of days I will be sleeping in my own bed.

One of the highlights of every cruise is the "Krew Kapers" show, so we made sure to attend.    These young men and women were great!

Now time to pack up and get ready to be back in Florida :)



 

Charleston

Charleston is one of our favorite cities so it was fun to have two days in port there.   The pier was located near the Custom's House so it was an easy walk into town.

We took a long walk when we arrived, visiting some of our favorite places.  Emile proposed to me in Charleston so I always love revisiting.   After lunch we took the tour of Boone Plantation and enjoyed the history lesson (even though the original buildings were destroyed by fire and have been rebuilt).

That evening we had reservations at "Magnolias" and we invited two other couples that we had become friends with on the cruise.   One of them lives in Vancouver, BC and the other in Chicago so it was their first real introduction to southern cuisine.   The food was excellent and I think everyone enjoyed a little break from dining on the ship.   

The following day we ventured out on our own.   We took a tour at the Nathanial Russell House and then walked through the shops at Charleston Place and the market.   

Now back to the ship to start packing - we'll be home in a couple of days!

New York Harbor

We've been to New York City many times, but there is something thrilling about arriving in the harbor.   Traveling by the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island I wondered how many others had traveled that path before us - arriving in the US for the very first time.   It was quite emotional.

Now I must share with you, our voyage from Boston to New York was a little rocky.   They were experiencing stormy weather with 50 mph winds which kept the ship rocking throughout the evening.   Walking to dinner I thought perhaps we were on the S.S. Minnow (of Gilligan's Island fame...)    Just another adventure....

We actually had two full days plus an overnight in New York; so lots of time to explore.   Arriving at our pier we had a great location - only five blocks from Times Square.    It was a perfect fall day!

Back to the ship for the evening, then we opted for room service for breakfast!

We had arranged to meet Margaret on our second day in the city.  She finished her masters program at FSU last year and moved to NYC to begin her career with a well known gallery.   She made lunch reservations for all of us to meet.

We had a great brunch at Pigalle's and then spent some time in Central Park before we had to be back aboard the ship.    The weather was perfect (although Margaret said I was probably the only person in Manhattan that was wearing flip flops in November....)

Time to head back to the ship but what a great day!  

On to Boston

Our arrival in Boston just happened to be the morning after they won the World Series.    The entire town was celebrating so it was fun to be in the midst of it!    We were only in Boston for a few hours so we chose to tour two of the presidential libraries that are located there:  John Adams and John F. Kennedy.   We enjoyed both but especially the history at the Adams home.

It was also Halloween on the ship and they had fun with the decorations for the day!

Friends in Bar Harbor

When we saw the cruise itinerary and that Bar Harbor, Maine was one of our ports - we immediately got in touch with our friends Cindy and Tom to see if they would be in town while we were there.   They built a home near Bar Harbor a few years ago and enjoy time in Maine for a few months every year - heading south when it gets too cold.

The weather was beautiful for our day there.   They met us at the Pier and we walked through the shops near the Bar Harbor Hotel and took a walk along the waterfront.    We stopped for lunch at one of their favorite "local" restaurants and had a great meal and lots of time to catch up.

We had time for a waterfront walk along the harbor before it was time to return to the ship.  We're looking forward to returning their hospitality when they head south mid-November :)

Now we're off to Boston......

Halifax, Nova Scotia

It was quite a brisk day in Halifax but the sun was out and we made the best of it!    We left the Pier for a boat ride on a 54 year old "tall ship" that has been around the world a couple of times.   The ride into the harbor provided some great views of the city.

Then back to the ship to for coffee and hot chocolate - had to warm up!   Dinner at Prime 7 to celebrate Emile's birthday :)

Birthday - Cruise Style

Emile celebrated his birthday on Monday in Sydney, Nova Scotia.   We arrived early in the morning and after breakfast he went ashore for a tour at Fort Louisburg.   It was a reenactment and I think he really enjoyed it.

I stayed behind to do some birthday things.  Our room stewards were extremely helpful in making it a festive occasion!

Happy birthday to my sweet husband.

Green Gables

For several weeks I've been looking forward to this visit to Prince Edward Island and to the home that was the inspiration for "Anne of Green Gables".   I recently read the book for the first time and have been enchanted by the wonderful story that has entertained and inspired for generations.

 
The house was one that was often visited by the author as a child.   The rooms have been restored and furnished in as they would have been at the time the book was written.

We could even walk "Lovers Lane" and other paths that Anne invented.    It was delightful!

  

Quebec

Thursday was spent in Quebec City.   We spent a few days here on a vacation several years ago and it is one of the most romantic cities in the world.   As with Montreal, French is the official language and the city has a lot of French influence.

When we selected our tours we were sitting in our living room at home - not thinking about the temperatures in Canada in October.    It was a very brisk 41 degrees and windy when we set out for our walking tour of this beautiful city!

The Hotel Frontenac is a beautiful property in the upper city.   The board walk of the hotel is bordered by the St. Laurence River and has breathtaking views of the city below.    We spent some time there in the afternoon enjoying "high tea" and confections. 

We walked through some beautiful cathedrals and churches downtown before making our way back to the ship.    Here are a few pictures...

By the end of the afternoon, we were VERY happy to get back to our room and warm up!