Crazy Nance Fam Travels: Part 2

Two days of lots of walking and waiting in lines at Universal had us ready to head to the cruise ship and relax for the second leg of our trip. We climbed aboard the Enchantment of the Seas in Port Canaveral and set sail. 

We were joined by our parents (all of them) my brother, my niece, my sister-in-law and her mom. It was a big group, but we managed to balance togetherness time with time apart.  The kids loved having their whole family there.  Especially after 3 days of just us, I think they were ready to spend some time with other people. Although, there were several people that saw us on the ship that totally understood why our t-shirts said Team Chaos. 

Our room had a great balcony, so we spent a lot of time out there, including meals.  Room service was included, and it was easier to manage the kids through a quick meal on the balcony than to sit through dining room service. And, who doesn't love to eat a meal staring at the beautiful ocean? 

Our first port was Coco Cay in the Bahamas, which is Royal Caribbean's private Island.  It was amazing! 

Fletcher got to swim in the ocean for the first time.

And so did my niece Macie. 

All of the kids had fun playing in the sand and swimming.

And the adults had fun relaxing in the water and enjoying the delicious drinks they had for us.

We were also fortunate to see a real, live conk.  I wasn't expecting it to come out of its shell when I lifted it up, but we did get some good photos in the process.

The next day, we were in Nassau, Bahamas.  We spent the day on a Blue Lagoon beach and then went back to walk around and do some shopping in Nassau.  The kids loved this beach even more, because it was more secluded and so there were less fish and other animals around (sharks and jellyfish specifically).  It still took Barrett a while before he wanted to be in the water, and by then it was time to go back to the ship.  Fletcher needed a nap, and naps were definitely a challenge when we were at the beach all day.

Barrett and I did some paddleboard and kayaking.  He loves doing it at lake of the Ozarks, and in the Lagoon, the water was pretty still so I wasn't as worried about him not being able to make his way back.

The boat ride to and from the ship was also a great experience.  Fletcher took his nap there on the way home, and it was great to see some of the Bahamian Islands from the water.  The water is just so clear and has so many shades of blue.  We even saw some dolphins jumping while we were cruising along.

Audrey was a bit overwhelmed by the shopping.  The bartering back and forth really made her uncomfortable, so after just a little shopping for some souvenirs, we headed back to the ship.

The last day we spent on the ship.  The kids swam in the pool, the adults enjoyed a few cocktails, and we all had dinner together. It was fun to watch Macie and Fletcher "play together," even if that was really just them being side by side playing in the water. Audrey and Barrett both got some one on one time with different people too, which is always great to see.  It doesn't get much better than fun in the sun with family!

All in all, we really enjoyed the cruise.  The kids want to know when we're doing it again. I want to know when we're doing an adult-only version!

Crazy Nance Fam Travels: Part 1

Back in January, Billy and I got this great idea to take the kids on a cruise for spring break.  We quickly realized that 2 months wasn't enough time to plan and coordinate that, so we decided to aim for the kids' fall break. So, this past week, we got to take our much anticipated vacation after months of planning.  

For both Barrett and Fletcher, this was their first time on an airplane.  They both did great.  I had hoped Fletcher would sleep.  Fortunately, we were next to a very nice man who didn't mind how active Fletcher was when he didn't sleep.

The first stop on our trip was Orlando, Florida and Universal Studios.  Audrey wanted to go there because of the Harry Potter exhibits and rides.  Audrey and I agreed, the Hogwarts ride was definitely the coolest one. Barrett liked the Spiderman ride the best though.  For Fletcher, I think the Dr. Suess Fish ride was the highlight.  

They did all agree that the Butter Beer at Harry Potter Land was delicious. It was especially good after a lot of walking on a hot Florida afternoon. 

Initially, Fletcher did not like all of the characters roaming around the park in their costumes.  By the end, however, we managed to get him to go say hi to the "kitty cat" more commonly known as Puss in Boots.  He's never seen the movie, but we did get some pictures! 

The kids loved the Volcano Bay water park too. We spent most of our first day there and ended up going back the second day because they liked it so much.  I guess we are one of those families that loves the water.  

After spending the days at the parks, the kids just wanted to relax at the hotel.  Chilling at the hotel pool was always their first choice, until the sent went down and it started getting chilly.

One night, we decided to try bowling.  The kids did well, especially after we requested the bumpers for them.  I think our arms were all a little sore the next day, but it was a lot of fun.

We tried a lot of different foods at Universal too, although all the kids wanted were pizza, hamburgers and chicken strips. The Cowfish Sushi/burger fusion place was their favorite though, which did bring a certain amount of pride as a parent. We also squeezed in breakfast at Homer Simpson's favorite donut shop one morning too.

After a few days of walking, rides, and waiting in line, we were already for a bit of R&R.  That came in the form of a cruise for the 2nd leg of our trip.  That will also come in a second post since this one is already getting too long!  

Over the Years

When we got engaged, the odds were against us.  We were still in college, and both of us were extremely busy.  We hardly saw each other since we went to different schools in different towns.  We were both young and immature.  We both had a lot to learn about ourselves, each other, and life in general. The first year of marriage was tough...really tough.  There were times when we questioned if we'd made the right choice.  But, by the grace of God, 13 years later, we're still going strong.  It hasn't been easy, but it has been fun.  I can't imagine going through this crazy life with anyone else.

At our wedding, one of the readings was from 1 Corinthians 13.

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

I know that verse is used so often that it seems sort of cliché, but it is such an amazing guidepost for what God's love looks like, and how we should strive to love others. This is how we try to practice love in our marriage.  We fail...a lot.  But we haven't stopped trying yet, and we never will. Happy Anniversary to my lifelong partner in crime and the best friend I've ever had!

  

All Over the Place

Sometimes, well, most of the time, I just feel all over the place.  This week has been more all over the place than usual because Billy had a very last minute work trip.  I was actually feeling pretty good about it initially.  The first day he was gone, things went surprisingly well. Then, the second day my back really started to act up again, the kids were arguing constantly, and I totally forgot that Audrey had an in-house dance performance instead of just the normal rehearsal (that means wrong leotard, hair wasn't done, and I didn't have anyone to watch the boys so I could go). None of these are big things, but it seemed like all at once a hundred little things piled up.

After getting the kids to bed, I sat down to work, and I was just too tired to function.  I had so many things to do, but I just sat there staring at the computer screen.  I broke down and cried.  I prayed that God would give me the strength to persevere.  And, he did.  I was able to get done what I absolutely had to and went to bed at a reasonable time.  Friday I woke up ready to face the day.

During weeks like this, I often feel like I am on a roller coaster.  One moment I am resting in God's grace, overflowing with joy at the blessings he's given me.  The next, I feel like the blows keep coming, and I can't even lift my head up to get a handle on any one thing.  It never ceases to amaze me how in those moments, God is constantly revealing himself to me.  This week, it was through scripture.  There are two verses that stood out and really helped me stay focused.

"That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:10

"The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call him in truth." Psalm 145:18

For anyone who finds themselves in a similar time of feeling all over the place, I hope you find comfort in these verses as I do.  They remind me that as all over the place as I may be feeling, there is one thing that never changes and never fails...God's unending love.  As long as I center myself on that, I will make it through whatever challenges stand in front of me.