Caribbean Cruise

Last Sunday I left to go on a cruise with 3 of my good friends. Our ship stopped at the Cayman Islands and Cozumel. I absolutely LOVED the experience and only felt nauseous one night (thank goodness)!!! My absolute favorite part was the dolphin encounter and the crystal blue waters! I normally don't get in the ocean past my knees, but the water was so clear and I could see all around me so I felt more comfortable (I have a major fear of sharks)!! :)

                                          Dolphin Discovery in Mexico

                                          Belly ride with Rachel, the dolphin! :)

                                          Rachel pushing my feet!

                                          Hand-shakes :)

                                          Kisses for Rachel

                                             Brenda & I in the ship's foyer waiting for dinner

                                       LOVE these girls!! (me, Cherlyn, Brenda, & Chelsea)

                                        This is how we got off the ship in the Cayman Islands

                                     Arriving at Stingray City! Stingrays were EVERYWHERE!

                                          One of my favorite pictures I captured!! Paradise!

                                                      Yes! I actually went snorkeling!!

                                                                    More snorkeling

                                 Chankanaab, Mexico (This is where we did the Dolphin Discovery)

               Stingrays! There were two rules on this trip: No screaming and no jumping... I broke both:)

                         This guy in the corner caught the stingrays and put it in our hands to hold it.

                                                                     Kisses :)

                 These things would come right up between your feet. I think I jumped every time :)

Saltiest sea water I have ever tasted!!

Needless to say, I can't wait to go back! :)

Well.. summer has officially arrived!! I survived my first year of teaching and I'm already excited about beginning next year and teaching with one of my best friends from high school!! My calender is packed with lots of things already-- family vacation with my Mom's side of the family, a bachelorette party, a wedding, a cruise to the Grand Caymen Islands with some of my best girlfriends, concerts, camping out, and lots of days at Miller Lake!! Between all of the fun, my goal is to spend one day a week at school revamping, re-organizing, and repositioning just about everything in my classroom, so... we'll see how well that plays out:)

Hope everyone has a great summer!!

Quotes

I found this quote the other day and it describes me to a T :) As I read the first couple of lines I had to laugh because I thought "Wow, this couldn't get any closer to how I live my life; always ready for the next step before it's ready to begin!" and then it kind of scared me... I need to learn to let go and just be happy with where I am right now. I always set a timeline for everything I want to accomplish in life... be here in 5 years and doing this in 10, but then I am only setting myself up for failure when I reach those dates and my "goals" haven't happened. I never want to take living for granted, but I am realizing that by not being happy today.. I'll never be happy when tomorrow comes.

"First I was dying to finish high school and start college.
And then I was dying to finish college and start working.
And then I was dying to get married and have children.
And then I was dying for my children to grow old enough for school so I could return to work.
And then I was dying to retire.
And now, I am dying... and suddenly I realize I forgot to live."