You Make My Heart Sing

It's so good to be home! This morning I read a chapter in James, and this verse popped out at me, because my heart has been singing a lot these past two weeks. I'm singing today because it's the LAST day of winter!

Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. James 5:13

I'm singing songs of praise for all God's blessings, and giving Him thanks in all circumstances. My happiness flows because of Jesus' love and care for me.

Here are a few fotos since getting back from the Caribbean vacation. Ella keeps my world constantly "spinning" literally and figuratively!

I'm anxious to get some vacation fotos printed and work on the Close To My Heart acrylic album I haven't tackled yet...I've enjoyed seeing those other consultants have made and am so motivated!

Ella's new Caribbean-motif dress fit her just right. The bright colors of the people in Central America and Mexico are so vibrant. I wonder what our neighbors would think if we painted our house a bright Caribbean blue with hot pink shutters?

Here's Ella at our patio door, watching for the woodpeckers and cardinals to come for lunch.

We just saw a blue jay eat peanuts we left for him on the deck.

She's very into birds and planets right now...yes, planets...and knows their names and talks about the rings around them!

Ella & Emily read a farm book together. Ella likes to put the magnetized nose of the puppy on the animal making the sound on each page.

That's a Vacation!

The sky and the water are truly these brilliant blue hues in the Caribbean!

We left winter behind and cruised from New Orleans to Costa Maya, Mexico, Santo Tomas de Castillo, Guatemala, Belize City, Belize, and Cozumel this past week. We literally soaked up the sunshine, fresh air, good books, pools and hot tubs, shuffleboard and ping pong, local music, and rested--we accomplished our goal! That's a vacation.

It was heavenly to feel warm breezes and 85 degrees. Our bodies, minds, and souls have been renewed and rejuvenated. We didn't use a watch or a clock once--that's a vacation.

As the Creoles say, "Whadahurray, mon?" (We learned a little Creole!) That's a vacation.

DH and I got to hear & see the howler monkeys (and a few alligators too) on our river rafting excursion in Belize. We sampled all the local beers but none can compare to good old Busch. That's a vacation.

We didn't write or mail one postcard. We didn't make one phone call. That's a vacation.

I haven't used paper, adhesives, and embellishments nor cooking utensils in almost two weeks. That's a vacation.

DH used tools only once in our stateroom--to break open his luggage lock. That's a vacation.

We spent most of our time walking the upper deck tracks, eating fresh fruits and veggies, lounging by the pool, staying dressed in swim suits and accessorizing with sunscreen. That's a vacation.

How I missed our family--vacations are good and necessary--but how good it is to be home!

We thank the Lord for our safe travel and for the time for needed rest.