I Am So Blessed!!

I have won two different blog contests in the last week!

First, I won a really funky pair of boots from Easy Spirit’s e Collection. The contest was hosted by Sprittibee. Read her post here. I chose the 'Clarice' style. Why?

1. Because I am short and they would give me some height.
2. They are black and I need black shoes.
3. They have a pointed toe which creates the fashion illusion that I am taller.
4. I hear they are really comfortable.
5. They are just soooo cute and funky!

I can't wait to find this present in the mail! I will most definitely have to take pictures and write a post about it....

Second, I won a book by Nicole Baart entitled: After The Leaves Fall. The contest was sponsored by Laurel Wreath. Now, I know that I am not going to be able to put it down and that I am going to fall completely in love with this book! At least I will according to her review! I can't wait to find out!

It's funny too because I hardly ever read fiction books. I am just now beginning to venture out into the world of christian novels. I look forward to meeting Julia Baaker and the other characters in this tale of love, loss and restoration. I will be sure to let everyone know what I think of it when I'm done.

Thank you so very much to Sprittibee, Laurel Wreath, Easy Spirit and Nicole Baart. I have not stopped smiling!

While you are here, be sure to check out my Blog of the Week: Elise's blog A Path Made Straight. Elise is one of my absolute favorite blog writers. She writes with such passion, conviction and eloquence. Her posts are about what most of us only think to ourselves. She focuses on what is good, noble, pure and right. I love reading the thoughts of her transparent heart. It is so refreshing.

A Path Made Straight

I Am So Blessed!!

http://www.inpursuitofproverbs31.com/2007/09/i-am-so-blessed.html

Fine Dining in Asia, uh... Mexico!

One of the benefits at El Dorado Seaside Suites was the fine cuisine. This is just one of the many culinary masterpieces we were able to enjoy. We were able to eat from each of these:

La Carreta - Authentic Mexican Cuisine.
Arrecifes Restaurant - International Cuisine.
Klay Talay Restaurant - Fine Fusion of Asian cuisine
Mia Casa Restaurant - Contemporary Italian cuisine.
Sandwicherie - Open from 11:30am-6pm.
24-hour room service available

All of the restaurants are A La Carte and there is no charge because it is all inclusive! I was in paradise. Have I said that already? ;o)


Hi and welcome to Klay Talay. A restaurant with the finest asian cuisine that I have ever had the pleasure of being served. Check out the design and the view....




A V.I.P. couple sat here, right behind us, about 10 minutes after we were served. We have yet to figure out who they were but they received lots of attention from the staff and even got an exclusive menu from the chefs and a ridiculously priced bottle of wine.








"Honey, stop taking pictures and come eat" says the red skinned girl. Yes, tubing at Xel Ha got the best of me!



100% true green tea. mmm...



The appetizer if you will.


This food was soooo good! I have never had such great tasting asian food before.



Wow! What a fabulous desert!



This desert was yummy too!



...and yes. We did learn to eat with chopsticks! ;o)

Fine Dining in Asia, uh... Mexico!

http://www.inpursuitofproverbs31.com/2007/09/fine-dining-in-asia-uh-mexico.html

Day Two in Mexico part 2 - Xel Ha

After Tulum we went to Xel Ha. It is like a water park of sorts. There was snorkeling, tubing, swimming with dolphins, scuba diving, and lots more. It was an aquatic paradise. The food was excellent too!


There were many vendors selling handcrafted and handsewn items.




We stopped to watch those who were swimming with the dolphins. They are so much fun to watch! They are so smart too! We would have swam with them if we would have had more time.


The scenery there was amazing. It felt like paradise!


We walked around the corner and saw the most beautiful birds. They were so bright and colorful. They didn't mind us at all.




They were everywhere!


This is me thinking, "honey... come on!"


This is where we went snorkeling. It was the most amazing experience. I had never done it before and was skeptical at first but it was well worth the anxiety. I loved it. The fish just swim right along side you. They don't pay you any mind at all. Wow. What an experience. I can't wait to do it again!








These were just some of the fish that we saw.



There were hammocks set out for relaxation.




And of course... more of those cute little iguanas!


Awe. Is it time to go home already? More pictures to come!

Day Two in Mexico part 2 - Xel Ha

http://www.inpursuitofproverbs31.com/2007/09/day-two-in-mexico-part-2-xel-ha.html

Are You Kidding?!!

Click HERE for more Wordless Wednesday!

Are You Kidding?!!

http://www.inpursuitofproverbs31.com/2007/09/are-you-kidding.html

When Your Child Doesn’t Die....

The worst day of my life was in the year 2001.

My second born son, who was then only 3 years old, accidentally hung himself on the swing set. Some neighborhood kids had received a punching bag for Christmas and we had let them tie it to our swing set because they didn’t have one. Unbeknownst to us, when they took the punching bag down they left the string tied to the top. Jacob saw it and on this particular day he had climbed his way to it and somehow his head became caught in it. I heard my oldest son scream, “Mommy! Jacob stuck!”

I turned around to see my little boy twitching from the nearly invisible string hanging down. My heart fell to my knees. As I ran out I screamed for my former spouse who, thank God, was an EMT. I picked Jacob up out of the loop and laid him on the ground. He was blue, twitching and lifeless....

To read the rest of today's post visit me at CWO's Internet Cafe...

When Your Child Doesn’t Die....

http://www.inpursuitofproverbs31.com/2007/09/when-your-child-doesnt-die.html

Day Two in Mexico part 1, September 10th - Tulum

**~ Just in case you can't view my photos on the blog you can view my photobucket album. ~**

After a wonderful first night in Mexico we woke up early to catch our shuttle for the days events that we had planned. Our first stop was Tulum. Tulum is the mayan word for wall. This wall extends all the way around the ancient civilization. It was an amazing site to see.


The walls on three sides enclosing the city may have been defensive, as they average 18 feet thick and are between nine and 15 feet high. We entered through one of the original five tunnels through the wall.

Here we go. How exciting is this? Learning of ancient cultures is fascinating to me so this tour had me on my toes with excitement!

The ancient trail. I can't wait to get there!

And look who we meet along the way! This is probably the 8th iguana we had seen already.

The ruins of a home of someone lucky enough to live within the walls. Remains of homes and artifacts are found for miles outside the walls of this city.

Such beauty and still so much life.

More rain. Thank you God! I was amused when I saw the locals run under the trees for umbrellas. All of the tourists did the same. It worked. We did not get wet. The rain may have lasted all of three minutes and then it was like it had never come. It was amazing!

Can you find all of them hiding under the trees?

A walk into the past.

I can just see the ancient Mayans walking around and doing their daily chores and routines here. How wonderful that must have been. Things seemed so simple then.

This is the temple where the high priest would go for a few months out of the year to hear from their god. When the sun goes down during those months it looks like the picture the tour guide is holding. The mayans worshipped what the called the "descending god".

This was The Great Palace or the House of Columns as some call it. It was one of the largest buildings in Tulum. The room in the back has its own shrine, and small outside-facing windows which still have the ring that once held curtains.

This is the temple of the descending god.

Such history.

Such magnificent beauty. Wow!

Hello from Tulum!

I could look out at this forever!

I am definitely going to be teaching the boys about the ancient Mayans.

Unit study anyone? :o)

My man taking a picture. He takes most of the best ones!

Just like this one. Wow!

Here is a fat one!

Another pic of the temple. Look at how narrow the steps are.

The view from inside one of the small homes. The mayans had no doors.

The architecture wasn't as majestic as some other ancient civilizations but it still had me awe struck.

From here we went to Xel-Ha. I will post those pictures later.

Just an FYI: I am enjoying being home and am trying to develop a routine. It is awesome and somewhat overwhelming at times. I love it. I feel so close to God. I feel His approval and peace and that means everything to me. Being a wife and mother is what I love and what He has gifted me to do. This is my ministry. Thank you God!

For more on the ancient ruins of Tulum visit this site.

Day Two in Mexico part 1, September 10th - Tulum

http://www.inpursuitofproverbs31.com/2007/09/day-two-in-mexico-part-1-september-10th_21.html