Back in February, we went on a Western Caribbean cruise for our third anniversary, but this trip was different than the others. This time my siblings David and Rebekah came with us and we had the time of our lives. I think I laughed more on this trip than any other haha. It makes a laugh just thinking back on it. There were several times during the trip you could catch us in the Garden Cafe right before they closed impersonating people and doing improvisation comedy or being in the kiddie pool hot tub several nights (since no one was ever in that one) playing "Truth or Dare" or giving Rebekah CPR because she can't keep her mower shut (kind of kidding). We ate a fancy dinner and saw an awesome live show every night. Life on vacation is rough.

We stopped in Cozumel, Mexico the first day and most of it was spent at the beach. This is where we were served the most amazing authentic Mexican food right on the beach. The second stop was Roatan, Honduras where we went ziplining. This was Rebekah's favorite thing (Haha, not really. We convinced her to go and she, well, let's say, didn't enjoy it as much as we did). They had a animal park next to it and we were able to hold the monkey's and Toucans. Our drive drove us all over Roatan -- such a beautiful island. The beach there was great also. The third stop was Belize City, Belize (our anniversary day). We had to take a tender boat from the ship to the island due to the reefs, and than took a small speed boat to the Island of Goff's Caye, which is this tiny little island only 1.2 acres big. The water was so still, warm, and shallow. They took us out where you could barely see Goff's Caye to snorkel. The guard told us "If you see a shark just make circles around your friend." haha. He was great! The last stop was in Costa Maye, Mexico. We saw some ancient Mayan ruins there that were thousands of years old. When we spoke with the tour guide about seeing the ruins he spoke verrrry broken English. You should have seen us after he told us all the info we pulled each other aside to talk about it and none of us knew what he said haha. We were all counting on each other to be able to decipher what he was saying. We finally figured it all out and were set to go see them. Definitely worth it. We came back and spent the rest of the day on the beach. The last day we were sailing back to New Orleans. So glad my siblings could join us. It was their first time out of the country so it was special for us to be able to take them with us.

"God's grace is sufficient for you" and "God never puts you through a trial you can't handle" have been my words to live by as of the past few months. It seems like hardship after hardship has crept up on our family + church and turned our lives upside down. How real and close your relationship with God comes to life more when you are tested than at anytime. It is the purifying time when you are tested. The "actors"-impure-weak in Christ will be sifted and fall by the way side while the strong in the Lord keep focused on one thing - God and bringing Him glory.

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all they ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths". Has always been my favorite verse but I have never had it be as real to me as it has been the past few months.

I don't usual like to be doom and gloom in my blog but this is real life right now. Trials. It is a nasty 6 letter word but everyone has do go through them. My constant pray is that the outcome will be "...when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." and that I will be even stronger in the Lord once the trials have pasted and that I will depend solo on HIM and that my faith will be increased and my life will be a living example of His faithfulness.

Because He IS faithful

and has been faithful to Reed and I. We are blessed beyond measure with all the things the Lord has done for us and I know these' trials are just to make us stronger individuals and together.

Amongst all the hussle and bussle of life we took a little weekend trip to Sleep Bear National Lakeshore in Michigan to spend some

him and I

time alone. Our relationship has blossomed so much over these' trying months. He has been my shoulder to cry on, my sound mind when mine wasn't, my listening ear, my best friend when it seemed I had lost so many "good" friends in the past few months, my support, and most importantly my leader. He gave good council when controversy was brought up. He knew what my limit was and what I could and couldn't handle. It is a true beauty when God brings two souls together as one in a marriage relationship.

We had such a wonderful time together climbing the dunes and seeing northern Michigan. We are both a big fan of MI now.