Vieques Island: Our Last Big Adventure

Day 6 continued . . .


I realize that this series of Puerto Rico posts isn't too exciting for many of you (as my comment section has been so quiet, I think I've put you all to sleep with my vacation stories); however, since this is our Family Journal (and since my my Mom loves the play-by-play action), I will now wrap up our 30th Anniversary Trip.  

A Typical Day of Dieting

Since returning from our week in Puerto Rico, I have found a pretty good 
pace / schedule / plan for my Daily Menu.  Having lost weight 14 of the past 16 days (averaging over 1/2 pound loss per day, for a total 9.6 pound loss in 16 days) . . .  I think it's working.  (big smiles)

El Yunque

Day #6

The Dance of the Ping Pong Ball

I think it is time for a Takin' Care of Mama update.  While I would love to say that "I've lost a lot of weight" the past month . . . I haven't.  During my 30 Days of Fun, my weight bounced up and down like a ping pong ball.  It never bounced too high, and never fell off of the table, but it did bounce around a lot.  (smile)

While it is easy to get discouraged on the "up" days, I do want to report that I've had more "down" days than "up" days, and I am still losing weight.  So, I'd love to share a few of my successes this month . . . and the milestones that I have reached.

Mommy, You're Beautiful

Musings of a Mentor Mom

Houston Texans Tailgate Party in the Pouring Rain

2009

"Mommy, You're Beautiful

first published in the June 2002 edition

of the Hearts at Home Magazine

What do you think about when you flip through the pages of the current women's magazines?  You may be looking for decorating ideas or recipes, but I would bet that it is often the latest fashions and hairstyles that catch your eye.

Who do you notice while rushing through the mall on a quick errand with all of the children?  Do you notice the other moms in sweatpants and dirty t-shirts, or do you just take note of the businesswomen who seem to "have it all together"?

When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

          Beautiful hair . . . styled by your one-year-old?

          Beautiful clothes . . . covered with baby burp?

          Beautiful eyes . . . surrounded by dark circles?

          Beautiful fingers . . . with nails painted by your six-year-old?

Why do so many stay-at-home moms so often see only the flaws in themselves, rather than the beauty of a godly woman?

Noah's Baby Dedication

We were BLESSED to be able to attend the church service on Sunday, 

at which Gregg & Kayla DEDICATED Noah to the LORD.

It was so SPECIAL  . . .  

for so many reasons.

We attended Lighthouse Christian Center

from February 1991 (the very first service)

until November 1999 (when we moved north).

Pastor Art was our pastor from when 

Gregg was in Kindergarten until he was in 9th Grade.

Pastor Art praying over our First Grandchild . . . 

more precious than words can convey.

The Big Bioluminescent Adventure

Day #5 continued . . .

After exploring Laquilla and its Beaches (and crazy little Kiosks) for the afternoon, we headed to Fajardo for dinner and our Big Event of the week.

Have any of you ever heard about Bioluminescent Water?  Have any of you ever experienced it?  (It only happens in 5 places in the world . . . 3 of which are in Puerto Rico.)


Most Fun Event of the Whole Week:  The Bioluminescent Kayak Tour

Biggest Disappointment of the Whole Week: Didn't have a Waterproof Camera

In A Funk

I wrote a post on September 13th telling you that  . . .

  "My Calendar is FULL".

I told you that  . . .

20 of the next 31 days will be FILLED with FAMILY and FRIENDS and FUN, FUN, FUN !!!

Well . . .

. . .  my calendar WAS Full.

. . .  the past month WAS filled with Family, Friends, and Fun.

. . .  we arrived home from our 30th Anniversary Trip on October 13th.

. . .  we had another CRAZY BUSY weekend on the 20th-21st.

. . .  and then I pretty much CRASHED.

Noah at the Pumpkin Patch

Once again BLESSED by Noah's Great - Grandma's Photography Skills.

Thanks, Evelyn!

Sure wish we lived close enough to be involved in their day-to-day lives.

Laquilla's Beautiful Beaches

Day #5

After our complete "Fail Day" on Wednesday,

we were ready for some Beautiful Beaches on Thursday,

and Laquilla, Puerto Rico did not disappoint.

Fail Day

Day #4


Seen on a t-shirt in San Juan: 

"Even a failed day on vacation in Puerto Rico,

is better than a good day at the office."

Does this mean that vacationers to Puerto Rico often experience "Fail Days"?

Ready. Set. Go.

Mama was off and running all weekend.

Oh What A Beautiful Family!

Our Anniversary Dinner

Day #3 Continued . . .

After our morning at the beach . . .

and our afternoon by the pool . . .

Jim and I got all dressed up and took a little walk 

to a restaurant we'd seen earlier in the day.

Uno Chicago Grill is an American chain restaurant . . .

but it definitely had a Puerto Rican flare . . .

and Puerto Rican specialties on the menu.

I had:

Chimichurra Steak

(not found on the U.S. menu)

Skinless Baked Potato

Tostonos  

Fried Plantain

(also not found on the U.S. menu)

Yes. Fall has Arrived.

When we left for our trip to Puerto Rico, it was still Sunshine and 70 degrees here in Washington.

When we arrived home a week later, the grey skies and rain had descended on the earth.  (smile)

One sure sign of Fall at the Big D. House is when Mama starts making Hot Mochas.

I love my Iced White Chocolate Raspberry Mochas for hot summer days . . .

but once the cold weather arrives, Hot Peppermint Mochas are the drink of the day.

Playing in the Waves

Day #3  *  San Juan Puerto Rico

We walked a block from our cute little hotel to the ocean this morning.

"Just a Short Walk"

Day #1

After a 6 hour overnight flight from Seattle to New York . . . a couple hour layover in NY . . . a 4 hour flight from NY to San Juan, Puerto Rico . . . finding our luggage and a taxi . . . we arrived at our hotel about noon.  Check-in time wasn't until 2:00 pm, but they let us leave our luggage in the hallway while we headed out to find lunch.

More important than lunch, though, was a walk to the beach.  (smile)  I really thought that Jim might just walk right in, while wearing his traveling clothes.  (picture above)

Bebos Restaurant was the first Puerto Rican restaurant that we found, and the food was delicious.  Jim loved his Goat Stew, while I was a little less daring with Puerto Rican Chicken & Rice.

Isn't this beach beautiful?  As you can see, we came at the "Off Season", and nearly had the beach to ourselves.  Our cute little hotel, At Wind Chimes Inn, was a Restored Spanish Colonial Villa, just a block from the beach.  It wasn't modern or fancy, but it was just what we needed (and in a great location).

Prayer . . . Poetry . . . Praise . . . Petition

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a short post with a list of things we were in need of prayer for.  This is what appeared in the comments . . . a sweet, cute, fun prayer, written by an old friend.  Thanks, Linda, it sure put a smile on my face!  It takes a real gift to write like this.

God please bless the whole lot of D's,
And quickly heal up mama's bum knee. 

Help all the kids to just get along,
In a happy home where they belong.

UberBless The Tweens, Teens + twentyish's
As they live for You, just as You wishes!

Praises, oh yes, for Papa's next gig,
Working so hard to bring home the pig!

Keep family safe in travels all over the place
And Rachel healing in the place where she stays.

God soften & heal the hurts that abound, 
Bring joy & peace that will grow & astound. 

The marriages, Lord, that You have ordained,
Grant extreme Love, I ask in Your name. 

For G&K, & their little man N, 
Living it out in crazy ol' "P"town

For C&D, & their W soon to appear,
Enjoying Minnesota & ministry there.

For J&A all High-Flying now,
Settling in, in their Florida town.

For J&H, may their love ever soar, 
Guide them each day & forevermore.

Also for the kiddos not yet In love true,
Strengthen their hearts to glorify You!

For B as he runs as fast as the car,
For sweet C & L in their travels afar,

And the rest of the sibs, H,S,R,J&E, 
Give them a smile & a Hip-Hip-Horreeee!

Now Papa & Mama, with hearts & minds good,
Show them Your ways to parent this brood!

Finally, God, let us laugh, sing & dance in accord,
And Praise YOU for being our Awesome great Lord!!

Have you ever . . .

. . . spent HOURS writing a blog post . . . only to have all of the words DISAPPEAR ???

Seriously, I did a "Preview" several times and everything looked perfect.  Later, I had pre-scheduled it to post tomorrow, and wanted to check something.  I went back to the post and every.single.word had up and disappeared.  The pictures are all there . . . but the story is GONE.

Sooo . . . frustrating.

I stayed up an hour past my bedtime to finish the post . . . but it's gone.

So sad.

You'll have to wait a bit longer to read about our Puerto Rico Adventures.

I did add a few pictures, though, to my last few posts.  So, you may want to scroll down and take a look.

No Explanation Necessary

One of you sweet readers mentioned in a comment on the last post that we don't "owe anyone an explanation" for how we paid for our trip to Puerto Rico.  And, I certainly agree.  I could just as easily have said (or not said), "Jim is a hard working man and he deserves to take a vacation if that's how he wants to spend his hard earned money."  Period.

However, because we see this trip as a wonderful GIFT straight from the LORD, we want to share how it came about . . . in order to give HIM all of the glory!

Sunshine & Beaches . . . in Puerto Rico.

Yes.

Papa and I are home from our . . .

30th Anniversary Vacation Trip.

Where in the World . . .

. . .  did Papa & Mama go for their

Sunshine & Beaches Vacation?

Trivia Question of the Day:

Where is the only U.S. National Park Tropical Rainforest located?

(Yes.  We have a "Rainforest" here in Washington State.  But, it is not a TROPICAL Rainforest.)

Breaking Generational Health Issues

I wanted to share another email that my mom wrote to me a couple of months ago, to encourage me on this weight loss journey.  Some of you may also be struggling with Generational Curses Health Issues.

"The most frustrating part of my journey to lose weight is that nearly every minute of every day is focused on what food I need to eat and when I need to eat it."  (quote from my blog post)

What is a M.O.M. ?

Musings of a Mentor Mom

"Do You Work?"

first published in the February 2000 edition

of the Hearts at Home Magazine

"Do you work?" the grocery clerk casually asked as she glanced at the group of young children crowding through the checkout line with me.

"No." I meekly responded.

But wait . . . there was so much more I wanted to say.

Just Because . . .

He's Cute !

I know.  I know.

All of my kids are cute.

All of Sheri's kids are cute.

But . . .

there is just "something" about this age . . .

that I LOVE to photograph.

This is Sheri's littlest guy.

What is he thinking?

How Do We Feed Our Family of 11 for Under $250/Month?

sorry . . . the title line was taken from an article I wrote in 2001.  

but . . . it got your attention, didn't it?

Musings of a Mentor Mom

"What's Cooking?"

first published in the Spring 2001 edition 

of the T.E.A.C.H. Magazine

How do we feed our family of eleven for under $250 per month?  (even in 2001, that was very economical) Let me try to answer that question for you.  In addition to learning how to shop for groceries and where to find the great deals, you also need to know what items to put on your grocery list.  I am often asked, "What exactly do you feed your large family?"

Sand on the Beach . . . Kites in the Air . . . Sun on our Faces . . . Flip Flops on our Feet

Here are some more FUN pics of our time at the BEACH with Sheri and her Sweet Family.

We searched for Treasures.

We found the flattest, roundest rocks we'd ever seen.

We flew kites.

Prayer . . .

Please pray for our Family this week . . .

Papa Got It

Woo Hoo!

Doin' the Happy Dance!

Papa's bid was accepted,

and he got the BIG painting job,

that will keep him busy for 3 months this winter.

It's the first time in 2 years that he has known where

he would be working for the next 3 months.

And . . .
one of the project managers from the construction company
already told Papa where they "need him in the spring".

So THANKFUL!!!

Thank YOU for praying with us for this opportunity!!!

Sand, Surf, Summer Weather, Special Friends

The Young Ones and I had a MOST AWESOME trip to the BEACH this week!

Oh. So. Thankful.

just FILLED to OVERFLOWING . . .

with THANKS and PRAISE tonight . . .

THANKFUL for . . .

my sweet husband . . . 

the man that i have loved for 31 years

my young ones . . . 

so blessed to be homeschooling for the 22nd year

my big kids . . .

the ones that i miss so very much

my grandson . . .

oh. so. adorable.

Weight Loss Plateaus

Awhile back my mom wrote me an email after I posted about hitting a plateau on my weight loss journey.  She had this to share . . .