Sometimes, life is just good...

It just hit me as I'm sitting here.  I work with kids who have a lot of junk in their lives...parents who aren't the best, no parents, parents who use drugs, homelessness, domestic violence, poverty, just to name a few.  But right now, I have 18 kids in my class, and all I'm hearing is laughter.  This block is "Game Day", and I have 7 playing "Apples to Apples", 2 playing War, 2 playing chess, 3 playing "Screw Your Neighbor" (a card game), and 4 playing UNO.  Everyone is getting along...the "misfits", the "cool kids", the ones who are sometimes on the outside looking in... everyone is having a good time, and the laughter is the genuine laughter of teenagers just being teenagers.  It's a lovely sound, and it does the heart good!  :~)  Today is a good day. 

I'm so excited!!

And there is one reason for it...I am heading to PARADISE in December!  Gary and I are going on our first cruise...well, my first cruise, his second, but our first one together.  :~)  In a little less than 7 months, we will be living it up on the beautiful waters of the Caribbean, and I CAN'T WAIT!!

We will be sailing on the fabulous Carnival Valor...

Our first port of call will be Grand Cayman Island...

I can already feel the warm water swirling over my toes as I walk along the beach...

Warm sand, blue skies, gentle Caribbean breezes.  Heavenly!!

Our second port will be Isla Roatan, Honduras...

Breathe in the sea
air, absorb the
sunshine, be
fascinated by the

rustle of the
palm trees...

Next day, we get to experience Belize...Mayan ruins and all!

I can only imagine a time when ancient peoples,

with wisdom and knowledge beyond our ability

to grasp completely, built such magnificent creations...

And finally, the sights, sounds, and atmosphere of Cozumel, Mexico...

I plan to live every moment, love every experience, and to capture in my heart every wonderful second to relive time and time again when I finally have to return home to our very special kind of Oregon paradise...