be-musings

Colossians 3:12-14 So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you:
compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

More on the Jamaica stories. Nothing else to post about right now except real life, so bear with me.
One day we took a tour to Negril. One of the highlights was a stop at the west end of Jamaica, to one of 7 lighthouses. We were told about the cliff dive there. The cliffs were rugged, the water blue with rock crops. So beautiful. I love this picture of the house on the edge of the cliff. I can imagine sitting by the open window, with the sea breeze blowing in, watching the sun go down.

So, once we got to the cliff, we were told that we could dive from it for a donation. No way most of us were going to risk the 30 foot descent into the craggy water. Even Scott kept saying "I'm not going. No way. You can't make me." But somehow we didn't believe him because he was ripping his clothes off at the time, with every step toward the jump.

What a ham.

We spent a number of afternoons at Sandals Montego Bay, and would spend evening through lunch at our resort of Sandals royal Caribbean. During one Montego Bay afternoon, I found a fabulous gauzy white skirt at the gift store. We bought it, bagged it, and then waited for the shuttle bus back to our resort. Back in our room, we realized the skirt didn't make it back with us. I was so disappointed, and frustrated about losing something we had just spent money on. Two days later, after stewing about it in between, we went back to montego Bay. Right away we headed to the gift shop, because I was on a mission and there was no deterring getting the skirt somehow. I thought maybe it would have been returned there. I relieved through the rack, found an identical size medium skirt, and was convinced that was the one. There had been only one size medium left when we bought it (or was there). The tag on this item was wrinkled, like it had been wrapped in a bag crunched. The evidence was complete. We went to the till where we explained the purchase and I said "I think the exact skirt is now hanging on the rack. There was only one medium when we bought it." I was ready to offer to be fingerprinted to prove that the item had been in my possession (though I never said that to the clerk because she redirected us immediately to hotel reception) So, then we stood at reception. Knowing my fervour over the pretty, swoopy skirt, Scott told me to let him handle it. I consented - in part. He began to tell Charlene the story about buying the skirt and presumably leaving it on the bus when I burst in about the item probably being in the store, with the crinkly tag on. Mid-stream Charlene went to a drawer and pulled out a bag containing...the skirt. I began to turn pink as Scott looked at both of us and said "That wasn't nice for you to accuse Charlene of stealing. She is only trying to help." Crimson. Charlene saw the joke and stayed around for it, which made the bantering worse, and I uttered partial words, stuttering in my chagrin. We left, and laughed uproariously.
Forever now, Scott will be able to say "Do you remember the skirt?" when I get adamant about something.

Scott had a hard time taking me away from the wedding reception...

Honeymoon Story #1


The honeymoon was all about food. Most of our pictures were taken at restaurants by the water. We also snorkeled and Scott waterskied, and we did other things, but somehow didn't get many pictures. So, that brings me to a story. First I will tell you to remember "shoes". Why? Oh, you'll find out this week.
From our resort there is a small island (Cay) that has been transformed into a pagoda style Thai gourmet restaurant with beach and beautiful plants. We didn't get a picture of that (of course). We were boated over to the restaurant and had a peacful dinner there.
The next night we ran into a couple we had met a few days before, and mentioned the Thai restaurant. The man said they ate there a couple days prior, and that it was weird food. He said "What kind of food is Thai anyways - is that Chinese or Japanese?" We paused not sure whether he was joking or not. Then we said "It's Thai." His response: "Yeah, but what is that? I mean, when we go to the China Palace and I order chicken balls it looks nothing like what we ordered here."
You might wonder what nationality this person was. I can't say.

We're back


Just got in from Seattle. Lots to do to settle in, but I wanted to take a moment to say hi again. Here is just a sample of our honeymoon. More pictures and stories of the wedding and Jamaica to come this week.
Thank you to everyone who made our day so incredible. It was amazing.