Spring Vacation

 We just got back from our two week vacation to KY, IL, and the Bahamas. Here we are visiting with Mom. She has her own place and it is very "homey". We would like to talk her into moving up with us too but she is enjoying Kentucky, her church and brothers and sisters. I am glad that she is adjusting well.

 We took the opportunity to visit some prospective colleges for Blake. We visited Belmont in Nashville. I think we  are sold, but we will research it a bit more. It is a great school for those wanting to enter music performance, and with all the connections in Nashville, it seems like the best choice....expensive though!

 Here we are at Natalie's visiting. Brent and Grandma and Grandpa were in for Sara's wedding.

 It was a nice visit with Grandma and Grandpa. They are getting up in age now, so we try to make the most every opportunity to see them when we can.

 We visited with my Dad. God has laid it on my heart to move him here.  He is in bad health and I don't want to risk something happening to him in Ky without us knowing or being able to be there. Our relationship has improved over the years. Mom, sis, and Josh are amazingly on board with it, though we know it won't be easy. My hope is that he will feel loved and looked out for, and hopefully grow closer to the Lord.

 We stayed with our close friends, the Lainey's. We love them and are so blessed by their friendship. They too want to give it all up and enter ministry. They have adopted 3 girls from the Philippines. Here are Miya and Sophia. They are the sweetest little girls I have ever laid eyes on! They were constantly running up and hugging us and  smiling from ear to ear. I am hoping to have Tania up next year for our ladies retreat! She has a real heart for women's ministries and does a wonderful job coordinating them!

 This is their newest adopted girl, Paula. She is a sweetheart to and they have only had her for about 6 months. She is so talented musically!

 This is Lincoln...he is such a fireball!

 Lauren, Jason, Tania, Noble and Josh.

 Driving through Kentucky.

 We stopped at Dawn and Jassens and made something for Shellene for Mother's Day.

 The Blue Bridge in Owensboro.

 Our FAVORITE BBQ!

 Our visit with Granny.

 More pics of the gift we all made.

 We took a tour of the Creation museum in Cincinnati. It was really neat. When the kids were younger, we spent some time on the evidence of creation verses evolution and watched some Ken Ham video lectures. He is the Answers in Genesis president. We thought it would be really neat if we could meet him and low and behold...he was there! We listened to a lecture and had a picture taken with him.

 We took these pics in the garden on the museum property.

 Here is Ken Ham!

 We also visited Cincinnati Christian. Our friends, Dwight and Gigi who just moved to Florida, have a son who attends. Mike gave us the grand tour. He loves this school and has made some real close friends. We are a bit tossed. Blake wants to perform and do ministry. This school is great for the ministry side, but Belmont offers more on the performance side.

Finally on the boat and this is our first dinner. Every dinner was great and the service was exceptional!

This is the serenity deck...very quiet and relaxing here. 

Playing miniature golf....I couldn't believe how much we could do on this ship!

Every morning we took our breakfast outside. So nice!

Another dinner night...we had to get a bit more formal.

After two days we see land....so weird when all you have seen is water. We docked at Half Moon Cay, an island owned by carnival. We soaked up the water and sun this day. It was as clear as pool water and the sand  was a brilliant white!

Panama Blake.

A church on the island....how neat! Probably popular for weddings.

This is Nassau, our stop the next day. Here is a picture of Atlantis resort. We wanna go here!

This is the parliament building.

We toured the inside of Atlantis.

HUGE stingray!

They clean your room twice a day and put these towel creatures and chocolates on your bed. You get a different one every night.

Our last day we took an excursion on Freeport island. The tour guide was so funny yet knowledgeable! He was like a Chris Rock/Eddie Murphy with a British Ya mon! accent.

We also snorkeled with him. A bit scary but we all survived and no sharks in sight. WHEW!

Ok, I hate swimsuit poses and excuse our extra pounds, but all you do is eat on the boat. How often do we get geared up for snorkeling though? LOL!

The kids are eating conch fritters ( the snail inside the shell) and Goombay Punch. They are both Bahaamian favorites. Not ours though! 

It was a great trip but glad to be home.