Affirmations or Askfirmations?

I've been reading a lot about stair climbing in the last 48 hours, since I decided to do The Big Climb March 20, 2011. Setting this as a goal, with a weight loss goal of 20 pounds by the time of event seems to have really motivated me. When I want to eat something not on plan, I think about climbing those stairs (like those chocolate truffles someone brought in to work today).<br /><br />It turns out stair climbing is quite a competitive sport. Who knew? I certainly had no idea. <br /><br />During my research on how to train (the StairMaster alone isn't go to be anywhere near enough - I have to do real stairs), I came across a very interesting article.<br /><br />The article is <a href="http://www.westseattleherald.com/2010/12/02/features/which-better-affirmations-or-%E2%80%9Caskfirmations%E2%80%9D">Which is Better: Affirmations or “Askfirmations?”</a> by PJ Glassey, but this is the excerpt that really caught my attention:<br /><em>Is there a better way?</em><br /><em><br /></em><br /><em>I am always on the hunt to reduce the need for willpower, because I firmly believe that achieving true fitness doesn’t have to be a battle. This is why I was so excited to read the research study by Dolores Albarracin, published in Psychological Science, April 2010, Volume 21, Number 4. She discovered that phrasing affirmations as a question instead of a statement drastically increased success! When people asked - “Am I going to exercise today?” instead of saying “I will exercise today.” – They were much more likely to follow through.</em><br /><em><br /></em><br /><em>She found that framing the desired outcome as a question presented a challenge to the person -instead of a requirement that they might rebel against. By asking themselves a question, people were more likely to build their own motivation. The results of this experiment showed that participants not only did better as a result of the question, but that asking themselves a question did indeed increase their intrinsic motivation.</em><br /><br />I really like this idea. There's rarely a morning that goes by where I don't have an argument with myself about going to the gym. It's a battle that usually I give up fighting it and just go, but I wonder if it might be easier if I try this approach that PJ talks about. Tomorrow morning I'm going to give it a try.<br /><br />My food has been pretty good the last couple of days. Although I can't get over the zero Point fruit. It seems that I was spending a lot of my Points on fruit, as well as Points on vegetables because I never ate a 1/2 cup serving of any vegetable (and there were Points in vegetables if you ate more than a minimal sized serving). <br /><br />Now that I don't have to do that I feel like I have a lot of Points available. I honestly don't know how this is going to work but I'm going to give it a try. I believe Weight Watchers knows what they're doing, but this one seems a little bit too lenient to me. I guess the proof will be in Saturday's weigh in.

Affirmations or Askfirmations?

I've been reading a lot about stair climbing in the last 48 hours, since I decided to do The Big Climb March 20, 2011. Setting this as a...

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Family Fun Cruise – Days 1 & 2

<p>Early Sunday morning Kyle & I arrived at our local airport to wait for a delayed flight. :( We ended up sitting in the airport for 2 1/2 hours before taking off.  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtReuaF-Jj0eps-iURte4MikIYCi3qQ_nhd4CVJzZmhzMcY1ZcnaeD6paonrT2xBCoxdNzxIxvCjYumTlh-VbVGSegEaWPnhiflfeVA1BbW5AtezfJ60-R6prv1XQ3nR-jgHWx3nMQbMS/s1600-h/DSC09353%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09353" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6QPNHTfEsM9EwfEQGMCSDMu-fhnBx31b7quSTI83dpgKoe1K3rGLRn2-tKTNG13faYPkrK8YgItDLJPTkc6eLl3bLlp0VMQaxzA_BBtuYQn2Hdwo-KZ3MGxVRTtqnZcxRB-VqWqR60qo/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09353" width="404"></a></p> <p>We stayed positive though and were excited for our upcoming vacation!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvSAfo0C-oA0JNuUolwV57POyIcqFEnLuYpEv-y-iYUOf-MVrrBJ9R5BmAIsPyHtkLkntSlmqGVDIfhcicyXBUMYG9ybjbhlpRIdVmt_b1879y34iBmQ-uMvPN41GPmZS4dJgykls0DWv/s1600-h/DSC09356%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09356" border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbpHqxdeYUIOzctO_QbH__aYjvYmJPpQ8cY3kuW9BH2ZndRiCDAlJG70AaIMOZ_mfoDI_mW5TU3FAX7dcBsK6dbCrkE5s2WZB9N9xqkgJeSwqBe0tyyEgYNCtLPn62EPtbKlKuVRxco3lN/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09356" width="304"></a></p> <p>We missed our connecting flight and got to Tampa around 6pm, rented a car, and picked up my sister, Mindi, & her hubby, Preston.</p> <p>We hit up Giordanos for 2nd time in 2 weeks! <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/11/weekend.html">Chicago anyone?</a> ;)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1At2qpV2nq-zcbePPmMtWYPOgUXq3Xa_CUU7bt_4AbujyT3ZbUXwp82Y1maT6y4Nraj5TdhrylZESDptMUkQxYV97MlPA3nZey8fukblX5FhB-oNq0FUmoTXI5vaGrypDeu6-cB0LllC2/s1600-h/DSC09361%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09361" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71vPHJRp4UdTSZLwu4OwOeTY52WlvVugoE9Ogk8KqZS1wDgqVf8OCmwHhv74V3S4_vRwyG9D7dBsLZ0KkrLN8SZdmj0zJVI4D70jc4FWcdSElVi6-Rokl0Nu5V8_hFzOfyfWaF3gBX8eh/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09361" width="404"></a></p> <p>Mindi & Preston were more than excited to try Chicago style pizza!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF82Oqxng-4ICpLDrdo8rNFs9ErZhAr8ej07fY1AjiXrjGjaMj06N7mtSZcoMmF0d-Xaz1Qwt7S389d_GCUrtagXgF_nrGHHI1nqPZlWTQsFKWtvYoJXjXNy-u0LoDyNoERpOgxII3ZkGe/s1600-h/DSC09357%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09357" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiry7jzh6xrqts_YsfRPhYCnrB2SMyc837u6kvjvzZe3EyV4A0HBLn3fj1ltDTlJdnqFDCbfdEyC3HhxzYrHAWJRFMK__uLsFRE4TOf8ttGE_eE8zkpCMfU81KkhQAh8Gvk56HROndZsynD/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09357" width="404"></a></p> <p>And of course Kyle knew all the yummy, pizza goodness that was he was about to devour!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6M8g2CLqHn8TgGgIHcZUMFUFSfYS1Zr60VzLS6A-aKZc30JH5xp2g-KsZOI1btyySqUQjEgAeqQFQJnESP00B6yeCWzCahGYiEw5EV3NCZOjtU0_aWnRz6eog1a3uTCgiSV8U7rAOSRD/s1600-h/DSC09358%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09358" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fvbeO2jlGz4_gfd0l52r8BAjjCIv410duYveRijqmgG8nSU3HIF59z_O2XI7RmRXt5MkDmcROM7nQXDrQGD_s_ewUOPVFdWB-9u3XIJvFfah2172CiDOhq0q5pVske5M0sDxRAYflVNO/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09358" width="404"></a></p> <p>We met up with my sister, Stef, and her husband, Geoff. <img alt="_DSC1612" border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkk3wAsKyvz10KIlRiyWTT07B-02_CtOKF_dHqt81x6PdTvb6pYnFuFzOwvY79AA06bZfsWQ6H0R8inO_ELJLMFQ4muT2kn1zqcbE4N4RaGb8wvXtl2NNU2YJqXIkVh9x5Z0Hpf6FxXeQY/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="_DSC1612" width="404"></p> <p>And my cousin Dar, and his fiancé, Julie!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13MuzqR5QxMgTacD-7NhcgIl-qysvachb63EKJFeGL5Z8vpEhqZ-UAUa0zmw4OGcWJYKi1X0H-1WiybsDWXE0lmlOcxA1Zv3I7ekMMKMcypa_qWALjieIbpU-lmAKsgi4Qk-4edQpcGZm/s1600-h/_DSC1615%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="_DSC1615" border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_H764WUZkciWrGNjML8_qcIJHjF-eD8Q0IesHSd-bVsZ6TVmtxTAgMH7rVr-z8Fo2mo7r3m2GQhVJyGzyLKvoo-kyI383QN6WXaS4HnUpgBUYZ8sdUILULp2EfqHYnfM7XrjqlLpNsIHT/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="_DSC1615" width="404"></a></p> <p>We all stayed in downtown Tampa for the night, just a hop, skip, & a jump away from the port!<img alt="_DSC1603" border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLMNq_qojw76JkLILiK86Wdo1a-Ra0MOKgHzpCj7t4DVrc19GRgANRetgkC0ewbGwroSnePuU7RGwh66aT7MdH3vR8_BqyHdzNUFXsj-OPjnT_dLRucQpGMBTl4GiCDujY6GMHM7A_OZb/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="_DSC1603" width="404"></p> <p>We all met up for breakfast the next morning and couldn’t wait to get on the boat!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0jZCd9bhh0Xg1IbgWO4CVuJLI2YbDc660qlM_H7L3VhVNsw7blNUkJTLYPea3DxC0qKrMTB_MY-h4YYhLzrRW3UMXzuU5nLValHZ9Ic6legchvGunuuDzuf2IPcq8gxfV0eJtvsCV7V3/s1600-h/_DSC1636%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="_DSC1636" border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQKgpqmyPtVgN439teratE4xmrRuXM2H-cQWCcByMLUwmQGZJ0QolJEqsKEXAiSTLsPG26Eg3bfAiTm97TmbaZne6l0ybUBJw79zeRmuHDp7Yj79kO9xGOZJU0W27FWF4VxafZL_hAzam/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="_DSC1636" width="404"></a></p> <p>It was a short bus ride to the port.<img alt="DSC09365" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrnb8TMQAtcVc9KBsXr_Ph7e7cScCMN2FBC9v_dnO4tOOAb3ivXnL67xkrP6radldAZ3b8IiAWbfKk7H1p5yIj8i6FlAoa3z6d0-AgiZQpUXB-6TL8BDZQSxQiX355uq2x3RDt7aPPLc2E/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09365" width="404"></p> <p>Everyone was all smiles!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIvWjMByTCzRFDYTneI_ujGXQPGs_0fxpWOunZlWblcolX5evB-1jjyCC0aAOSkG3iQ-f3ceN1OuHWP_duiUt5XtkWiKZqVt9BTQIhtYUuqeOLLFpGY_AbAV8rvHXntMyHUlvO_ZsvSC5U/s1600-h/DSC09362%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09362" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg57hyVdxVDvACtarVckB7vX9F2Hnnp7lKCMintPgewbNH_L6HTiWBSMfJ7C2HILfU6_RHyuZGYJcM2LpF5bA5ppa9MD7z7tfannsunRmWDZs4wyc87sX7foAK0tGqU2R-cwyOEIB0E2jPG/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09362" width="404"></a></p> <p>Especially me & my Superman…aka Kyle! ;)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibWlE9ND31Z9OC52iueRM1kGS4k7CsPAEaqvE4bFwtDRI1NxdcAo2YiY3nRt4EAutFop25Gv6fK-yd1MSi5ghJbio3cOdMmzzoIc0z8XM_waP7WusCJnpNjOEdqcQ8U1QLrYVwVClHF5tG/s1600-h/DSC09364%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09364" border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLSt9MN3xLFx2jJU2c_MkTVM-in1SoZxnmLTEjiAe3zIF5SZdCEClBY2BX45mr9WhllG6iBcZWKZsRUdA2nGVOnNX6dcaz32iQmTG633JGEVR4oky-a05XiqYFrEQOzEmxN4udjhSj-7fK/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09364" width="304"></a></p> <p>Checking in was a breeze, this was the first view of my home for the next 5 days! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdd-ZwTAN889MfqwSWw2P4bxOXPa4lWx8pfP_eVOpdRUoVfp6MDhqs9uISZbfGIxXiioJgkrJtHJmrsBXhtQFEZd4gCUc_sCc3fTSpvzSKAlGDE9D2K_aiTE1dlvaBMs6rHWYuvVkHbKuB/s1600-h/DSC09367%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09367" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9IU1H48JdCDmX9Adqc-oGpCN3My4mRLTVmq8aWW9JULIVr3q7lTrAUncTKN-UH8M24YF2cPwGXy8oE3yaDU3JGORxyCJjyKKAesBgckLniBQLyn-K85jIUgKJwenUGl9qQq4M-o2rYcoA/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09367" width="404"></a></p> <p>We spent the first few hours exploring the ship. Check out our room!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Mr9qlnLAV87RhQwBicN_etiKs2jp32DNXG7VnsQkx_KduAfjzjOSZMof0kooD_hnjSAgM-CexkKGsunVXdH4xxmTZAmsY09jZCP_Jz8t8_e1SkpOQ0lTphhb0UIh_SKemvCkJ5fCLiQj/s1600-h/DSC09467%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09467" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRlHMnumMgSHxrlTUwXGq9S0OrHe_RY_UGkPVBFdXkd5ysWJZPAMVgFHr4BQJSLo_qSxTkd0f3RQWRWsu1qkDq5WgulfKG7BTLcR4lyEFkrIWzvsxZ6kMeXy4kHxgsCXz6knpfadld6Gh/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09467" width="404"></a></p> <p>The bathroom wasn’t quite big enough for my burly husband!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaeUWiHBZ7u73aEQaoRPVzcO2bcColdC5khPW5i5vIEuAs2dKXPR5fDPzSZ3fPNyM9Pp7mKQirVHaQMfIaUTkqW95m9ow2mDFY8PMH24UnHe_Erbb0nH0D6TzU3VZXfd2GPeifRr2l3Xst/s1600-h/DSC09468%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09468" border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBR3tyhwEPVWrq4OV20CxKGDcHN6XDTBHXPJ0gPHfqpmnDVL3RiJkfNfxddRiPwu76c9NaMigYPZEykAxHBFDiJ7siKPLPQF0Xb0HPonoRl1iTAbLJKgV_qxPGN8P6P2vWHH_-9dyHOAAh/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09468" width="304"></a></p> <p>We even squeezed in a few activities before we left port. <img alt="_DSC1681" border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZ8u5NySMtNm8bzmX1LeJYlCYRIJlnQcLGI6bz8g1FuSY2-U8_OyxA6BnHOpTl_De_lYTsAyC2y0rJgVn0dOEfLunKKrhHZyUFzVVqYR0tQZBSAW8S0F2v9tDUqKHOIVfMw33shQTHzIj/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="_DSC1681" width="404"></p> <p>At 5pm sharp, we left the Tampa port…..<img alt="DSC09370" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOCVeyn_CJ0bZnnx24OIj5qyWWgddpeFpO0rTK2VftHoEA0idmyDP9YD9t2r72ztx-NEyTlkPkabFv7SEs-qqNi4KIt1FggGtn3Oe3_A0jriveVpQ6dGjCUKFp3BZiX5SUbjXRNUxub7SZ/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09370" width="404"></p> <p>and we had front row seats!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5j-5piecMfyfKfAte9vw3kZyhGLIXSmz7ejNd023rqI3DTv1S4p5aca32gk1W-LbrHzcGQ_esfPSHib2_DwZ0mK-7TPycwGj-gIV5dTh9CQ_ZgVqq5EX7RxNqdtkmA53vR79aOBakfZM/s1600-h/_DSC1707%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="_DSC1707" border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicItElLYTb501_OAHNVGI8i3U-GA0vbxrlGMU5OxejMd2J7gUbqgYpIHrer995-4D0_LIp0_6HPjjdCNuvKlcjxiJcek324qUeot8bav_AIjZ7zChCn7bw356JjZX1nYworyUn3j4KmrU3/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="_DSC1707" width="404"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7QpMZDTEDpMQ1D249VIdi41yKHNq5vb1P0Ta1wUIQiEprzw-oamj6f8y3uMDf-2qfnG_JWFlGagsW3QI03LtDjez_raDvLkpamnzEEJYnIEwU962013lrf9MpH0k8ZOs8SZcXp7X7ohf/s1600-h/_DSC1778%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="_DSC1778" border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EdYRgn4LnLuHUy8JfJvKdNUdLetV1ha9vH7i7yT3NwHU9VxjMBjAVY1WF0ojtYTFFVR6engJTw3oKNDhRLaREvB08LRHbSiMJi75wgAWgbKDHU8VUxffmkFZi7ntNtPFoDkvBwApzImA/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="_DSC1778" width="404"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7YfRyopKd9h-so7uZlqyMJ7nHIQ6dVVfV3KGLVIHMnXHgmp309y5w88U_XRO1glc-Bkr8n9nApbgMsqo4nlu0RzYFWHYaKS074BajUEOo62CHn5B-ZeJSmGMR7F5vk5vRNAv15zvvioG/s1600-h/_DSC1783%5B9%5D.jpg"><img alt="_DSC1783" border="0" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Jb0rTx5aWYdAaGHi-sP0TN_h6nBAPwg_v-jLqo-tIOIYJv9pmMHeFNIM25er8wT87CjbMuPqj0INEInZXti8mvy3hKdfqCMbaw8huHLXdQqRy_k6y4zxXd-oDOh6KhYwNp__DhzWBUQE/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="_DSC1783" width="355"></a></p> <p>Everyone cleaned up & changed for dinner!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfOGoeG84s_5BObhSVSWD1OHiuulzvkv4v7M-KMwRWHjsqb1xWuX-LTEhShR517fvX6eqOnsdvL9rkR7sjiSbxfdJzrVqItQjfAVDbGkVEkmL0UutWA_yphHwe0XN3lbz64OAZwYFtgbr/s1600-h/_DSC1800%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="_DSC1800" border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNysAZvsCl0xrglWTw3VPO1VpTxF4A8fOSOk40YS8SPYSWTYt1RI64ELwN9yCkkyK_ncuNmVTarzMM_srl7epAGzvqmYMWQjRHwFG78P4SQCm_3LO4bmbFW2M8xgEy2_M-OP86bUx63E-T/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="_DSC1800" width="404"></a></p> <p>Brent & Shelly were the last couple to join our group, 10 of us total!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlHI6jTUsFeSQ3ybO8jrfB3DW6Lw2CFhGvamdKjzhw6bKp3ebRHnSRs6Q09herY-c_8-g1RtY2AXMojD4PmLJV79cElfVoZ6FYHOBVtFs4yPTL0okMSRzvo93gaLgBsM9II1osRupy7YR/s1600-h/_DSC1803%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="_DSC1803" border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQIBfWdSyGgR_gNr1-iAI4aLX29RtFK2iFvQ6zOrwDZriEuGj42Sbla0wAOWV4fpTCbOUFzB2bVtS2XkVv5olEX1OUloVwlksogXEf9xYk9kWzFhRktoOSWo9_BVbDg0ZCeK3dS64YFI1/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="_DSC1803" width="404"></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj65bFUAxY0-NXG4AObXxX5jBevH88k43G9rheItC3cG150CESbCa_gG8d2PI7F5Sct0u2TPg65di34yZ3WqKl-dRwF6ar8-MfoxTeVRdHvFbfs9vye_7PPtbjy1C3gi7ThrEPTUxpknNVG/s1600-h/_DSC1805%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="_DSC1805" border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1FvdOJktlTc4QNTzW6wz_zqwNC8eFg5FD1OVH0s0Wrd-2Wp7ZgGROPa1MovHuSBBXgYVHIF-NeyyZ-ioI-STfhkkAu9qx_EDkMC-cZmqUK1JP-oWXu8x0p7hi4lm2y9rU0gNi2FHdXu_K/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="_DSC1805" width="404"></a> <img alt="_DSC1799" border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGO615H59fS5QM74m6pI1K1fKlvX64nWzqNnn7YJ7fNLNYMFh3dpPtxwx63nd10PN52wxluR2JCKCQRjihT6Jt8CLrQet6fh4f70cwEladZpnWlmUJcxXHflFlMA7sxIdOsQzAJnAeHegd/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="_DSC1799" width="404"></p> <p>The menu was full of options!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzYekwtsQ7dTAalAjuY5VHC7TelrpiplhftwfDeXZdyW1EKToDWQX9sI8b1d341Fn9g-J1GNEVwq-xgHVAltKl_8YUedAPRwWvoInzN1pZZvmTP84JvWR3jcWM8Lo-YXJ_ZcXFHkKYVkTE/s1600-h/_DSC1794%5B8%5D.jpg"><img alt="_DSC1794" border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh121FHAxkllNSR0pYkGLJHwoltTuFo7LqeftWAnHZq4dScWMldUf1fkAmX4r_VTX5G5sbos_fE_ISNb1v8a-XsRQ8AzRyDwH5qsBak6WREeteYBm_VuFeHUOhL-aNyyhVPRsLQV7L_kPre/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="_DSC1794" width="304"></a><img alt="_DSC1795" border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbg0CRcT2ABsiKZUJPEOpbpYDKmsDaV4DeM34U-JoNvlQK9rMZpARypsLrfjmUoZTeGuCw4Y9kn0Xiiwg6drpi6oVtXfaE-sLOvNIWCUfklSRKe49KkUgzjYLYGyTzWzK3I1SuQGiSJ9B/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="_DSC1795" width="404"></p> <p>Even healthy options!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_xNnzm6Ti5uddRPDNW7iuub8LSHQQaRucR4Y7PSwd9GjQGJtG72KfvE-t-sYZOCX6WhO7pchVUSnchOs6JG4sL-UIzThfST_L-QkKxsmDbxFrqTcTIJMrCNZFHQGdtzcTbSV-QsLcR6C/s1600-h/DSC09377%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09377" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZWve_OxDgsXGm5gvN9ODISdYIBMKjoWuuXdAd3eTSlfXzXxE6YaBXf8CFyoieod8FRbcjIRlR5gA6gFV0DZNhLwwnqA4IOivlT93viIAm4EF1IXTtq56sUNMPkV4FOSGxzf6uEqHQLaa/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09377" width="404"></a></p> <p>And maybe some not so healthy ones! Gotta splurge on vacation!<img alt="DSC09379" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFCZVz9ZCFZ7FDnaKon8g1AGnT6HKDTR4x7xeF-cEfUkf123p4Uda9tdKTo9HePj5BT0hRL52-h4vn_Us2AD3xzclcfQD545uYQHx5jP4GfBTBzNj5WcPq4h92zDsHpEjahz1tqNWJnnP/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09379" width="404"></p> <p>Dessert is our favorite course!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLKKZp7wDn0hNJqb4y6vnLYUzsmjvRyqNTEVAGNwAy1wBXsvLKp2bpwJsJ1d-xEsZdhvHI2tg_H1-ZwjkbmcxM27LBhyphenhyphenp99HArN47h2EFcA7bJCip8oS_fZnYfhs7Xlzk3796WR6wMcvU/s1600-h/DSC09382%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09382" border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmMGhUL7rm88xSCG-W5Vx6fpXtq0tIiY5B0Urv0Y_GdJzE6_Zz7J60SzjJhR7Y-Qt5MVZc4id_EZ00E4rH2eK44LBfzYo9CK6HqSEGZxOyNjCxXBqx_xox5c0rOjF19s_nkVfbliskGdn/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09382" width="304"></a></p> <p>After an excellent dinner with happy tummies, we headed to the front of the ship for the opening show!<img alt="_DSC1822" border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJN3Mr-3Tqa6cmJ70UxGB11HCnoJs3tMZEQ30f4lHTXSIICN-O7HV0QS7mCzgGkbat0VO-IHHCtmbL6OCTRuQo1jqKcwwtQD9s4_MaLcRLhHH_iomRb_DWn5W0qHq5R6U51MIQTVKLklE/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="_DSC1822" width="404"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3NrMj_7GjT-kvp6o3RjQeFel6rD_EbQe2cbNqzCY2mw-XCcJepIgJ_EbiWiOZLTru6PqhEOqxQmkfR2N3cQIJUwfO8E1AjwZzbuKXBMiJLI1hTP4hh88uW7LVfMlRgLx4rnpRllc_uBax/s1600-h/DSC09383%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09383" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-hhjR4hXSjHPw9ZWT-zLHjznUSuCcqdVXSuug7LsZKJgerjrFy0dsQvLRYLlm6firZrJlyarWgCh6h8rvlfj_oMxwU46BOwW-VlxXxPDDa5zXdf1u__icEmunCLmCGCRN8m83eKjx9o-u/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09383" width="404"></a>           </p> <p>Day 2 – At Sea  </p> <p>We spent the majority of the day, RELAXING! We slept in, enjoyed a wonderful breakfast was a view of the Gulf, and soaked in the sun! It was glorious!</p> <p>Dinner day 2 was the formal one and I LOVE to dress up!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphvWphm9cYlURJ-T5Uk72ZKbCeGq8NMmCO-c2kltn6Pot_C58w0aTbR0RDb9El_jmZdzd49TAZN6_yt6fJ16kttGXaSFSYwONr9IXUtHUrxR-It_6qvqpjb7kCO1nz8ygB-k3yM9R0-zH/s1600-h/_DSC1830%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="_DSC1830" border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkL0s4gP-RrDsf8QA07XuuXhc196T8rrrq5nlHWinKL_AkxbZojY7hXVcC-El-IJnh_ATZF_485SRjQWo6Ncg6-ZPWkd5pegF7YxGFUEeO345IzsGIZY544U2s6bMU7ElRaEVbwqfRoOq/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="_DSC1830" width="404"></a></p> <p>I picked up my dress at Younkers, a size too big, had it altered and still only had $17 total in it! LOVE good deals!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjRP2oh-M5flU_AKYSiqGzgojqTJ7PHA0Hshhyphenhyphenf7Y3CSf0EGnQKPCKGFIa2xreHp3k7Fd79uYs0AhythiDFGf49HRtrPXjEtzPTVz0q5d4gmll7b8gqZKyGiNIdWzE3HDLiV8LUeD8nyn_/s1600-h/_DSC1832%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="_DSC1832" border="0" height="451" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNK91StLRyrOIBy1EQP4PxHVr60eowoVXonJuErh1uOElzmeGMQ8kFb0sO_KsOkyf-JkBS4gX06fPPdeNSxOaXBv8zcFLu3rCVrAWtW9BoKGJKpd1zYsdEzY_O5HUs1gEhyPMeTtOUlt2/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="_DSC1832" width="304"></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-y9XoJ-tUJWawEoet6l2EEYd-jKqIvbFxZHwSevO_kDICY1O7vjGf11Yz0ufU5At-4RfSE4oefWIPrWrEN5jq3CvKskwK-c9NiDb-nNJyeR670VZW-zXsgcG2wecB_oA-AqPehoTegBS/s1600-h/_DSC1833%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="_DSC1833" border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrapS0GXBhBzJpsDFbPdD5TZGOj3JDlBAdD5PrYucKYkRQ2g3k9MvJJMPhLi3qbOcXCH8QyapkzI5SGGTlpf9y2rdr4TL6kMCmOdQ7Pym2WkPkDqoL7gE720ISVV7Pr1R5ejTSZcP7i-8h/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="_DSC1833" width="404"></a>   <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwS39ymdeYCmmlVv2MrH4B-o2eCMC4YjLaKvBGNVruEaS1v8RVFOB7BjU-z4Hz3SAnN7NexE6_IVffumXhA7VoDamd33ogfdC4nytrq0r8B3RC0_XQ6_CHlOvlXODjHXleUCPQ5qYqWefK/s1600-h/_DSC1845%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="_DSC1845" border="0" height="451" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdX8xGF-N6HR1Dyu3W8WB7JUhsIHFT3i5B2_Ca6svr801GWJzOuFPyRpuzvhJT59NbLEVxkYgA3zjM002PMWc4BPrSJ8nWhHzkAgHAuCkBmHRdcNHeDTwx6Spni-Iz2FPsNfqSDZbXzMhr/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="_DSC1845" width="304"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKr2ytTme9qgP7cFzrrHXSa_yBksdutaPgZ4TKJ8iCrwZhWrhC5tFx2H-Tt4cB7CbAdJkBwAcOHu5t-58MNIxDsispDWkNARrtU1KgvFMl9C6kvGdxhRZzTk_CUnhiUZ8l6E5HIFrLrpBJ/s1600-h/_DSC1847%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="_DSC1847" border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1IrWeD4tQ2xKmWbq_jjQITuWH56M3DfzOQab3zJaQv1CnKro0pTGlyo1t14CCFJZNiVvvwKc68bp1dz3U6gNVShHk1ufe6WdXEvmjD_bZeaYHX7JdgKpaCF3nakubHJKoP9iE9QTiriZz/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="_DSC1847" width="404"></a></p> <p>We met up at the President’s Reception before dinner for some complimentary champagne! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6xhPyK4kVOQ2eYC2ImZzv8b3AlJP1KsMFmNbWczKQDuK2VhB82xzkI1v2p8S_TmXZ099b9qfqtQVOeUKArOavN8_vUG4heV79gGN7RNx47UB4snzTDtsoDWSZyFKSt-GDUvillFgZFKy/s1600-h/_DSC1843%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="_DSC1843" border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70ZXfOR4sJOGIVNYE2JoKc27J3SQaWmCHxvb1N99W5PBGqc_nyjuxZ3niB-nO5FGHy0KOOT5nEmzliWlxcaZEmIcFJp0Zf8TC7vEheqN5s8txqxEhuE6O-Gw3az7yH74a0BKx4hXPZ2Nc/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="_DSC1843" width="404"></a></p> <p>Who can say no to free drinks?!?!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvmaAGygq-x3c8Ml9Y-VUtaGTxi8SNUWIYvJyz6FOkdRL36f0r0s0DgyzPuFs-MpfR_XKRU2MBHIzEu_eZ90zMN-PDnRhVmPqPBeCUFKBz8BlZNK5gLAX0zxayxDYX4hlP2UV4dVG2TbR/s1600-h/_DSC1849%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="_DSC1849" border="0" height="451" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQ6DODctj3NZq01-ALnJnBEt41UlBiRh0JlX9ENpek7Le6F1i3bgiCc8ESHg75KopVFo6KH5dlzh5VsjoEG8Y6LjCBSu6tMqKAeFcTsjHGinMUtTOVzm6AhsBjBoUDKHpHmyRsy4enxF5/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="_DSC1849" width="304"></a></p> <p>It was SO fun to go on the cruise with my sisters! One little sister was missing though! :( Next time, Wendi, right?!?! ;)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheAPngQHbJaB4NTX2Ypib_QksQ8IVD9j0LEBBUSoDbq0-eJa-PgQEmVl-FRE7xgMHMT3tadILyv65rPgQWsyUvPGBPrG7TiIKj6ct0RGkMRobAt6ZfcvBAGxisCY4pcvMf75Xdfoi_ZLn3/s1600-h/_DSC1848%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="_DSC1848" border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4Vm9HYARYisGi-KZKI1alGQ1KrId_A2LAF4JNWGOw5QPA7MKWDj8uJ5bQu2AdyH13aVKK0bT3pRpzSxbFgsa7P59jSdGBPcMlyoTd3DKXo299BQePZxoakNt4Q-FzvLhBw_rRc9t_EKI/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="_DSC1848" width="404"></a></p> <p>Once again, the food did not disappoint!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeFum8WL8tQPS56PTxFI5G7PFlzeudNpm3u_tCumNdL5NgK-TeD1t14wb30dg5XyqXYnTTbe1asnGq18GsrWC1arq0yrkPHTdhgxGMve0h7MCijB2qRuaIwk6twZjFS-uJy2c9FfrHpC5/s1600-h/DSCN3742%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSCN3742" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4DkB_Wo15RrBmXSEW5HViY5QvbmJ1MI64iUSmGCrdD-dwuN7BwSbJtQUlvmf150i5Bum9U4tEBaYThfdyWDWHUo7hakiDAOmVvA185-a57eqHLmB42Qu7N0st0TABDY84TariEqQBYpb/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSCN3742" width="404"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUaw1Km0vt7AqFGDQT1_x1-C50_l7HzXkWOvh-iMQ2HWROmJ-dOODwK2WEJ6M6aiq1rT6iphsmUnVrDzUAk9WBm-XUw_WE3UaAJwkpgVVzgG79__Q0PkSNKXTHCNt4vbfGlm9El10Fr4fX/s1600-h/DSCN3744%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSCN3744" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMN7uf95_5FDssSg42WAHzPSDt8DWSp2W55_VQ7vjyBiyCQA4ZCW8J8uFPeg1ukOPlIbMPTZ2Nb0Ivg41MdjzJUUdyWJoaYNnRy1P50MW04560a4ofUfZbJt1KvsQUW5VMVTK-WtZkBJ3/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSCN3744" width="404"></a></p> <p>But of course, dessert was, as always, my favorite!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZHsUxUcXdAeKwtocpuvN8xSmDMJtR5BA5OPeO0fjSdEzF-vSGyGGDIOIf2n1WAbTTgQiMedshWHj-_gvNPfOxT6bv_geajVBc8sS44xBZr7pgaZKY10vjiJTXMRB-g_g95FF4tbcZdgA/s1600-h/DSCN3745%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSCN3745" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilqD3UieLX2LxJZafIlMaTd_i-G1kK-x24oSzoCMoHBDkJyIlF-RE5LUWJ8-kBPoKbAQoRvQIV8R2EEZuwL8JlSzQIKUE0QzTtYLcsEzg9gQ4XbhTMGKa_lVhyphenhyphenDw42v2Ojwfpx-Y-N-Fqi/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSCN3745" width="404"></a></p> <p>And I love that you can order more than just one! ;)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-xQQgZruGBlDJcRY9yeAV7BUtA1gbhwjSXBW91fQshvTzhdWlzZE2q0f6Z-KxzD6u97Qu7cp6gtL9JcaRQm2TGz_-aJvGvTEfkIJiH3VFdE0a-qBCu4KEdP5psjsQ211tNENnPPxcvur7/s1600-h/DSC09385%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09385" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Q1gT3260-JXgbyj31OJoDpZOhMSkgfTOBchVD3vP0ldd8HYS0IpNgpsleNZTNuJEV8LrzciM_rqgK_EvAJsOApd9LtmHbWgsK9uGS3nodcM5Z7Ta-7l4wjnzVt84rOQo4fw_BjwWk3Ck/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09385" width="404"></a></p> <p>Heaven!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGA4uBeH65ufCKJHn3THzb2MQoRc246CLxauUBBdAPY0ImeWrIPh_Se1di6OgoOtzdrKpDNayAYQfHdrJKJA_451ad772SLkmgvvTM1aZXKF5PCNCajKihdDgHxzY4p2kzgzU7yCDKjDY/s1600-h/DSC09384%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09384" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRbr8UjeBH_a6Imj9HB0hLSQ4-nYJcQCzHyHvRTd1xx3HD6_FusOSmIBVaCmihxkKQ9N9Q8vOFJ2a7HecF5bAIC4V5rrcItvkxvVNEn5TY68DR8g5hSYfhrWLeFh3kdCJsxNkVf7vxmhd/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09384" width="404"></a></p> <p>I ended up calling it a night after dinner. I know, I know, party pooper! I was feeling a bit under the weather. The rest of the crew enjoyed the show & some dancing! </p> <p>To save you from picture overload, I’m going to split my cruise re cap into a few posts. Check back tomorrow for more!</p>

Family Fun Cruise – Days 1 & 2

Early Sunday morning Kyle & I arrived at our local airport to wait for a delayed flight. :( We ended up sitting in the airport for 2 1/2...

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The Asian Journals Of Bishop Dan: Part 4

Last night I had dinner with Bishop Alex Wanadag and a young engineer from New York who is here with the Young Adult Service Corps doing community development work with the diocese. We then shared a traditional Filipino breakfast this morning before joining the diocesan staff – about 18 of them – for Morning Prayer.<br /><br />After the daily office, the staff told me about the things they do. There is a major push on evangelism. The Episcopal Church has traditionally been identified mostly with the Igarot tribes, but is now drawing members from other tribes as well, especially in this diocese. The other big push is on Christian formation, specifically “lay enhancement” (particularly training lay preachers and Eucharistic Visitors) and continuing education for clergy. All of the clergy come to the two clergy retreats per year. I was about to explain that our clergy cannot do that because of our vast distances. To set up my explanation I asked Bp. Alex how long it took the most distant clergy to get to the retreat. He said, “It’s about a two days’ walk.”<br /><br />Next I heard from their staff members who work full time in community development. There were 6 of them. They have more people working in community development than our entire diocesan staff. Community development includes a variety of projects like: forming agricultural cooperatives, setting up micro-credit small business and agricultural lending to free farmers from usurers, building a warehouse to store agricultural products without charge to the farmers, converting a water project’s power source to solar for cost savings, working with Heifer International to provide livestock to farmers and overseeing the farmers’ passing on the offspring of their gifts to other farmers.<br /><br />Community development begins with the diocesan worker living with the community for a few months to learn their needs and earn their trust. They then do Asset Based Community Development analysis: what could this community do together for economic support? The diocese then offers training – first in the values of Christian living essential to being a cooperative, then in business methods and financial responsibility, then in the enterprise itself.<br />The government has also tried to form these cooperatives but theirs fail while the ones established by the Episcopal Church survive. The difference is the Church builds a real community with relationships and values.<br /><br /> I was inspired by the enthusiasm of the whole staff about how they were overcoming poverty through creative enterprise and Christian values. Instead of offering band aid charity to the poor, they are putting people on their feet. Self-reliance is a core value they practice and teach. Their challenge is to keep the social ministry tied to evangelism so that they nourish the souls as well as the bodies of the people. It is a challenge but it is a front burner priority for the community developers. This is, by the way, closely related to what we are trying to do through PICO in Reno and Las Vegas Valley Interfaith with our community organizing efforts. It is so inspiring to see the Episcopal Church here going beyond maintaining its Sunday morning operation and going beyond hand-out charity, to make a lasting difference in people’s lives and transform the society and economy around them.<br /><br />This afternoon, I visited two small open-air churches. One had a large concrete slab used for drying the members’ grain and a warehouse for storing it. The priest, Fr. Tando, also showed me their health clinic. They have no doctor so they use herbal remedies, massage, and acupuncture. They grow their own herbs and have begun a major herbal soap business. Fr. Tando is also a bee keeper and has hives there on the grounds. Poor farmers can’t sustain the church with cash so honey and soap sales go to pay the bills; and the farmers can give more since they are not paying a warehouse to store their grain. Other churches are helping farmers convert to organic farming. Some are helping their coffee farmers who have been selling raw coffee beans to big companies process the coffee for sale themselves.<br /><br />Bp. Alex and I had a serious talk this morning about the human rights situation here. I don’t think it best to blog about that, but one story is public knowledge – except that I somehow missed it. Did you? On Nov. 23, 2009, there was a massacre here in Miguindanao. One political leader had warned a potential rival that if he announced his candidacy, he would be killed. So the rival sent his wife (figuring in a Muslim region women would be safe) to make the announcement accompanied by a convoy of journalists. The entire convoy of 57 people was abducted and gunned down in broad daylight. 32 of them were journalists. 42 were women. That case was unusual because of the numbers, but political killings here are frequent and usually go unpunished. Human rights violations are being addressed this week by a group of visitors from the World Council of Churches. Participating in or reporting on the political process here is not for the faint hearted.

The Asian Journals Of Bishop Dan: Part 4

Last night I had dinner with Bishop Alex Wanadag and a young engineer from New York who is here with the Young Adult Service Corps doing com...

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