Mazatlan! The story!

So here I am --- our first night at Mazatlan. My view is of an infinity pool going into the Pacific, and to my right is my handsome hubby taking pictures of the sunset. And me.

The flight this morning was smooth and predictable. Which, for those of you who know my flight history post my senior year in high school, you know that is a wonderful thing. What wasn’t predictable was the time we were to land. The pilot announced that we were to land right on time—as stated on our boarding pass. And what, you may say, is unpredictable about that? Nothing really, because of the awesome God we have, Who constantly sends love surprises to us. We landed and were supposed to land, exactly at 10:23. This is a very special time of day for Josh and me—a.m. or p.m. because it is the time of day we remember God’s faithfulness to bring us together and we smile in love with each other when we see it. It started when I was in high school and I attributed Hebrews 10:23 to God’s faithfulness in providing. Years later, Josh was in my life as a miracle provision. So, what a way to begin the “vaca” (pronounced vay-cay) as we call it—blessed by God from the initial landing.

We arrived in Mazatlan (at 10:23 MX time) and we had to wait a little while before our room was ready. We quickly made friends with another couple from the US- Tony and Katie. They had also been married 4 years. They shared with us that they bought a timeshare and said we’d be perfect candidates for one as well, being so close to the coast in Houston (they were from Ohio). We smiled (They didn't know yet that we were big Dave Ramsey fans--and trying not to spend!) They were cool, though! We ran into them everywhere we went for those few hours while we were both waiting for our rooms to be ready. Finally, a man named Jesus said he would send someone to check on preparing a place for us. How Biblical is that?

Veinte… …gotta love this story. The first day in Pueblo Bonito in Mazatlan, I was, of course, scoping out the souvenir shop/on-site grocery store. I was showing off my espanol- Courtney Style. Josh was very impressed at first with my “Cuanto Cuesto?” to the uniformed employee. However, the little man answered something that was about 4 syllables more than I expected, and Josh just remembers looking over at my confused face as I said a big Texan, “Huh?” The man repeated himself—again—not to my understanding. “Twenty” he finally said. Josh cracked up about that for days—running around the hotel, following me, saying “veinte.” I was so embarrassed that when we went back in that night to buy a snack—we found something else unmarked w/ a price and even though we were at a DIFFERENT deli… guess who was working that cashier? So, my Love asked for the price for us. Thanks, Honey!

Josh and I are similar on a lot of things—except book reading. A good fiction, John Grisham could keep him occupado for hours at the pool, while my brain thrives on non-fiction that’s interesting and not too-too serious (I mean, we are on vaca here). So J listened to an audio book this week for his leisure- -The Appeal. Over one of our meals together, he was telling me about some of the characters and the different voices the narrator played. It made me think about some of what made this trip really fun—the people we met. It was like we stepped into a book—live. We had the opportunity to meet and really get to know the life details of some fellow vacationers.

C & A

Ok so here’s a “Hola” (that’s a “Hollah”) J to Cody and Angela. We met them our first full day in Mazatlan and we became close after spending the afternoon with Alfredo and sharing a pnunomia (the Mazatlan over-sized golf cart used for transportation). We found out they had been married only 4 days! They are from Ocean City Maryland, where he serves in the Coast Guard and she is an 8th grade Algebra teacher. You could get Cody’s attention by saying any of the following phrases: “Vamanos a la casa” or “When in Rome.” Here’s a pic of us eating out with C & A at Pedro Y Lola—best food in town. The restaurant had outdoor piano/sax/guitar dinner music, and we ate right on the street of the town square, where they mark off the streets on Fri and Sat nights.

Morales' from Louisiana

Another family we met – the Morales’. Mom and Dad (Tammy and CJ) and daughters, Destiny and Keeley. They were so much fun to hang out with. Cody and Angela met them at the Mexican fiesta on Wed night, and they joined us at the town square that evening. They were from Baton Rouge, LA. I took a special liking to Keeley, as she reminded me a lot of myself at that age. Besides the fact she was very cute and funny (I’m kidding)… she was always looking out for everything. She was very worried about the taxi driver we had that evening. He not only gave us a ride that almost had us falling out of the truck, but he kinda waited around for us to eat b/c he wanted to make some money giving us a ride home. Yikes. Keeley did not want that to happen and seemed to be worried that it would. Just like me! I cracked up just watching her—reminding us that she didn’t want to go back with him and blaming me for him keeping an eye on us b/c I was wearing a bright orange shirt. God used that to remind me that I get a little too worried at times and He watches over me just like we were all watching out for Keeley and she had nothing to worry about (well, if we HAD gotten back in the car with that guy, then there would have been due cause). But we didn’t. The Morales’ were great. I introduced myself to the dad, CJ as “CJ, Courtney Jo” myself. We had a good laugh at that. Great family with yes, Destiny,—a great golden tan—and golden hearts as well.

T & K

Back to Tony and Katie--Columbus Ohio. We shared a taxi with them on the way back to the airport b/c we wanted to have a nice leisure breakfast by the beach (one last fling) instead of going back to the airport so early. So we did. We enjoyed their company very much. We laughed on the way back at how nothing we saw scared us now that we had seen the Maz city and market, recalling how weirded out we were on the way into town the first day leading up to our hotel. Katie is my kind of friend- we both sighed big relief sighs as we saw the luxury of PB Emerald Bay, loved to soak up rays, and we wore (unknowingly) matching Ann Taylor shirts on the way home. We had another bonding moment as we hit the jackpot at the Maz airport—a great jewelry store. Our hubbies didn’t think we were buying anything, but we came out with some great deals of bling. I think Tony and Josh got along well too—both wearing their blue golf shirts home today.

But best of all was getting to know my best friend better. Josh and I had a great bonding as well. While we did spend some time with other people, we had plenty of time for quality time for us. My favorite time was time we spent overlooking the ocean while eating at the fancy hotel restaurant or hanging out on the swinging bed on the sandy beach. See pic. We had a picnic on the beach one night and took pictures of us in the sunset. Most of all- we laughed our heads off.

It was a great trip. Craziest thing—we checked the weather 2 different times before our trip, and it was supposed to rain—storm ever—everyday. I had a moment with the Lord and asked Him if he could provide nice weather. Boy, He sure graced us with that – and he didn’t have to. It didn’t rain (except when we were sleeping). Beautiful skies—many afternoons we actually looked for shade or a cloud for a break. Felt so good being by the ocean breeze looking out over the infinity pool. We couldn’t have asked for a better trip. Praise be to God- who can do infinitely more than we could ask or imagine. Ephesians 3:20.

Mazatlan, Mazatlan, Let's all go to Mazatlan!

Posts and pics to come soon.....hopefully this evening!

Okee Off to Sweet Pea

Well, I let my baby go off to camp "sweet pea" this week. Camp is probably too primitive of a word, as the name is actually "Sweet Pea's Pet Resort." She will be well-pampered there....that's for sure! (check it out at http://www.sweetpeaspps.com/) Anyways....boy, did I feel a little depression the last few hours before taking her. If you didn't know better, you would have thought I had just dropped off my 5-year old at kindergarten for the first time. We really bonded yesterday (which didn't help things). She slept beside me on the couch all day when I wasn't feeling well.


At first I didn't even think Okee would say goodbye to us as we were leaving the resort; she was having such a blast. But then she came out and walked Josh and me to the front gate as if to say..."I'll be fine!" Even though these people certainly seemed to know their stuff .. the mother in in me couldn't help but ask a few more questions when we got there. When I was told she would sleep not only in the owners house (inside..this is like a pet hotel vs. motel)....but in their bedroom....I could let her go knowing she would be well-watched and cared for. The reason she gets special treatment is because she is part-pug, and the owners love pugs! God really looked after us. Our first parenting drop off...and a praise that Josh and I decided and agreed on such a big decision together. :)

Chick at Middle School Camp

ok, lisa pierre :) this is for you :) ha ha. well, i thought i would share some of my recent experience at middle school camp with our youth from hfbc! it was culture shock in the best sort of way. it began on the bus. the girls asked me what things i had to disect when i was in 7th grade...and now....i learned the coolest thing...they have the option of disecting online. ok, so maybe technology has it's negatives, but this would definitely be a plus for those junior high days! then the Lord completely began to take me out of my comfort zone. i tried to excavate from my mind any stories or movies i had seen about tragic things happening on church bus trips because there was no turning back now. as comfortable as they tried to make it, with a dvd/tv combos mounted every few feet from the bus ceiling, i was forced to face a lingering fear. well, the movie began, and i see bruce willis...and my nemesis from childhood--two words---lily tomlin. yeah, that incredible shrinking woman where she goes down the garbage disposal never sat well with me. oh- and then she sat in the big rocking chair that was not her size, thank you very much. it was just freaky. so there i was on a bus with my new found buds...but trapped watching the incredible shrinking woman on 20 screens ---all right in front of me!

the chicken ensemble came to be because our group will forever be flocked together as the "superchicks." yes, we finished with a fashion show the last night of camp (this is where this gorgeous pic was taken). becca, my co-sponsor and new friend, made the girls clutch purses out of Chick-fil-A bags. oh- what fun! definitely not my typical week--a vacation from the daily grind (whatever that is!) not that my job is ever typical or monotonous anyway (I love my job) -- but this was a break from whatever norm there was! after a week at camp with the girls, I now know cool phrases like "brick wall, waterfall, boy you think you know it all...you don't, I do....." I could go on, but I'll save it for when I need a really good comeback.

Here's to all my superchickadees! Thanks for a great week in the Lord~!

Real Simple

I've got to hand it to my friend, Ashley Park. She had me cracking up the other day. She gave me a subscription to Real Simple magazine this year. But when she had me laughing the most was when I was all by myself...finally...sitting still enough to read the magazine. So, the published work is designed to help people manage their time and the particular aritcle I was reading (in the middle of mulit-tasking many other things-- planning my sister's bridal shower, trying to get a little R and R by the pool, making a grocery/meal list for the week , probably trying to return a phone call to a girlfriend, and making a list for work on a random sticky)....was entitled "More Free Time: Realistic Ways to Tame Your Schedule." Ok, so the funniest part is that Park and I...well, we don't really do well with or have a lot of downtime. We are busy gals! How funny it was to think about the two of us while I was reading the article. So here's to my dear friend, Ashley, who not only has full days like myself, but a full life of joy. Love her!