Home from the cruise

It is Sunday afternoon and we got home yesterday at 4:30. We had a Wendy's hamburger on the way home, I worked a little on my sermon and was in bed last night at 9 PM and slept 10 hours straight. Today at church people told me I looked rested - and I said I had to come home to get the rest.

The cruise was wonderful - better than I could have even imagined it would be. Here are some of the reasons why

1. My siblings were all there! Including Ellen and Tom. Ellen was weak and in a wheelchair to get around. But she was there and we were able to eat together, play cards and spend time with her. I was so glad they came.

- Wayne and Gail were amazing! I wondered if they would like the cruising thing and thought maybe they would spend a lot of time just reading quietly. No! They immediately got up and were dancing for the camera the first night. They sand Karaoke and even sang in front of a thousand people one night in the Universe Lounge! ("Let's fall in love") They took yoga every morning, and the spinning class in the afternoon. They were up for anything.

- Geoff and Karen came. They played cards with us and also Karen spent time in the Casino. Geoff has a beautiful voice and we got to hear him singing in Karaoke. My favorite was when he sang a solo Firday night. But he and Wayne sang together and he and Chuck sang together and Tuesday night - memorably - the 4 of us sang together - "You've got a Friend." We will never forget that!

2. My kids were all there. And they make me happy and they all make me laugh. I cannot overstate how much joy and jokes I get from being around them. Kacey and I won a prize for trivia and Kacey won a prize for the Limbo contest! What a kid! All three of them sang many songs in Karasoke - and they are all great dancers!

3. Friends came - friends from Bowling Green and friends from here. And some friends - the Muellers - brought their kids who partied with my kids. It was fun and there was always someone to do something with. We ate together, played together, sang together, danced together, and ate together (yes, lots of eating!)

We are already saying - we need to do this every year! We'll see. I have to get this one paid for - but it was truly a once in a lifetime experience for me.

I am a blessed woman to have such a wonderful family and such great friends.