ENCOURAGED IN HEART

We’re back safe and sound and what a vacation we had! We set sail from Baltimore, MD to St. George, Bermuda and it was AWE-SOME!

Well that’s not entirely true – day two we had four to six foot swells (waves) and three – three to five foot and four inches Finks of sea sickness!

More about that later….

Wanted to give you a snapshot of our trip with some snapshots and commentary which I don’t ever seem too short on!

We decided to do a “technology fast” while on vacation as we normally do each vacation. What we deprived ourselves in technology, we made up for in food. The food was everywhere…EVERYWHERE I TELL YOU! I don’t really think I’m going out on a huge limb by writing this…if your in eating addiction recovery, you may not want to cruise. Why? BECAUSE THERE IS FOOD EVERYWHERE AND AT EVERY HOUR! We deemed the 10th level buffet, the “Angry Trough” because those fools were far too serious about their chow!

The fifth level “Seven Seas” dining room fit our style more. A sit down, peaceful, non-body-checking, with moderate portion sizes and a menu selection to nearly bring this grown woman to tears…Dave and Pop too, with their beef selections!

Dave and I have only been on one cruise before, BC (before children). The very same three day cruise where we both gained five pounds sailing to and from Bahamas. Eight years and five days of cruisin’ later, the Finkster gained three, Pop gained two and I gained only a half pound, which in my world, I could just blow my nose and shave my legs and arm pits and come up even on that one. (TMI? Undoubtedly.)

We were SO happy to have my Pop travel with us!

Before we boarded the ship…

My guys on the ship…and what happy travelers we had! That is, until the seasickness hit…

Yes, that’s my honey and hero, Dave. Accompanying Dave in this photo is a barf bag and “Quease Ease” – a $17 herbal remedy from the gift shop…that did hit the spot for Jake, Cal and I! Pop and Dave were unaffected. Thankfully I entered the Air Force, not the Navy, AND that the seasickness lasted for just one day. NOTE: NEVER GET A CABIN IN THE FRONT OF THE SHIP!

Here the boys and I are fresh off the boat and hugging onto the first non-buoyant Bermudan thing we could grab onto – THANK GOD FOR NO MORE WAVES!

Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce you to our two hour tour guide, Mr. Barry or “Nine Eggs” as he preferred to be called (and no, I’m not making the name up!). If you’re ever in St. George, Bermuda – look him up – he ROCKED! A native that loves his country and having fun!

The Fink Fam in front of the beautiful Bermudan water (which felt like bath water it was so warm and gentle!)

Our “last supper” before entering the “real world” (you know the world where you cook your own food and clean your own messes up!). Listen, I know my Pop’s a “looker” (and he’s single and knows how to cook) if interested please send resume and letter of intent to Steph at steph@encouragedinheart.org!)

But how dare I close this post out without my vacation MVM (Most Valuable Moment). We were enjoying the comedy and dancing of, “The Black Street Boys” while we sailed on peaceful waters in the ship’s theater holding about 400 other passengers. When Alfred and Seymour picked three men to come onto stage…Dave being #2.

After affectionately titling their three selectors, “The CEO’s of Chrysler Corporation” they went on to dance and then ask each man to dance after.

I’m telling you what ladies, MY MAN CAN DANCE! This was the ONLY moment when I wished I had my phone (with the video recording capability!)!

Here’s my baby busting a move…he had the place wild!

After Dave’s f-i-n-e performance, the guys caught a glimpse of Dave and said, “There he is…Smooth Operator!”

Dave with Alfred and Seymour!

But here’s the kicker…an hour after the show, Dave, Pop, the boys and I were waiting for our elevator when two women approached Dave and said, “YOU ROCKED IT! Were you an audience plant?” Dave humbly thanked them and said that he was in fact not an audience plant. I felt the need to insert commentary, but decided to develop the fruit of temperance…it wasn’t easy I’m telling ya!

Then, about a half hour later, we were at the cruise Reception Desk where Jose from the Dominican Republic said, “I saw the show man…you really can dance!” Dave again humbly expressed his thanks and after a brief conversation we were on our way back to our cabin.

Dave’s humility promptly ended once in our cabin.

I can write this with ease as when Dave shook his be-hind and inquired if we should, “get this thing insured” and if he should, “wear the same brown shirt tomorrow so his fans could recognize him more easily”….Yes, I believe it was in that precise moment where I prayed one of those tender personal prayers to my Creator, that went like this…Sweet Jesus, please rapture me off this cruise ship now!

Well, that’s a quick rap up of our trip, on behalf of Smooth Operator, Pop, Jake, Cal and I we give Bermuda
two thumbs up!