Monday, January 26, 2009

Viva Mexico!

We returned very late last night from an 8 day adventure to Cancun, Mexico. We took the girls with us and spent a week in the sun, surf, and ancient culture of the Mexican Riviera. This was Jon and the girls first trip to Mexico. I spent a summer there in college. 

Okay, I know Jon is going to tell me, "Hey you wrote on your post that this was my first trip to Mexico but I had been there before!" But really he had only been to TJ. I don't count that. It is practically California. 

In any case, I have been off the internet for about a week, but I have managed to catch up on my emails now. I wrote a journal entry one night there in Mexico about our trip that I will share in my post tomorrow. Tonight I just want to go to bed. :) I still am a bit jet lagged after the long day of traveling yesterday.

But I will share the best part of our trip before I finish my day's work and get the kids tucked in and then soak my growing body in a nice bath and get in bed. For me, the best part of our trip was finally feeling a sense of peace and joy unhindered by grief. It is said that we must know the bitter to enjoy the sweet. This, however, has become a puzzle for me in trying to find my way to joy through this grief. 

It has seemed that every joy is tainted with the pain of grief because the loss is so permanent. When the bitter is still in your mouth it is hard to fully enjoy the sweet before you. This trip, being in so far away a place, revisiting places I had been before as a single adult, I somehow was able to almost totally leave my grief at home. I only had one or two moments of ache the whole trip. The rest was pure enjoyment.

The best part of my trip was just that -- a taste of pure enjoyment.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Welcome back! I am glad your family had a wonderful trip- a much needed break.

Stephanie said...

I am so glad you had a fun, relaxing, and joyful trip! Welcome back and I am anxious to hear all about it!

Unknown said...

How is it that you can say everything so perfectly? I wish I had your writing skills. I am glad you had a nice time. I hope there is more to come for you!

Anonymous said...

what a great time!!!! welcome home!!!!

you'll have to share if you thought it was a great trip with the kiddos... we love mexico but have not been able to figure out where to go with children! i would love to hear your thoughts!

glad you had such a wonderful time. wow, what a relaxing, enjoyable vacation before the baby comes! you look beautiful and glowing with your round belly!

have a blissful slumber and can't wait to hear more.

julie : )

Mindy said...

I'm glad you were able to have such a happy experience! P.s. I am going to Cancun in April. Any suggestions on what I should do there? :)

Marleen said...

Can't wait to catch up on how your trip went. Glad your back and safe.

Anonymous said...

Hi Stephanie,

The girls look so cute in those hats!

I'm glad you had a great time down there.

You look great by the way!

Love,

Jane

Amanda said...

I'm so glad that you could have such a great time untainted by grief!

It must have been so much fun to get away for a bit.

Anonymous said...

Hi Stephanie:

This trip sounds like it was wonderful and much needed medicine for you all.

I love the pic -- especially Lauren's cute pose :)

I think of you often and keep you in my prayers.

Be well, my friend.

love 'n hugs,
kathryn_m

Leslie said...

How fun that you were able to get away and glad that you enjoyed your break. We must have been channeling you because this past week I've been researching vacation spots including Cancun so maybe you can post about that in the future so we can live vicariously (I've been to TJ, Rosarito Beach, and Mazatlan -- never been to the gulf side). I think we will go without kids so if you do decide to post about it, maybe you can give perspectives for family and couples travel. Welcome back!

Shanan said...

Lauren's pose is precious - and I love your pregnant belly!!

Hope you guys had a great trip and have lots of memories to reflect on.

Susan Anderson said...

Sounds like just what the doctor ordered! Glad you had enough insight to "prescribe" it for yourself...

=)

Bingham Bunch said...

Now THAT looks like fun! Especially as I moodily look out the window at the Fort Worth, Texas ice storm closing in. I wanted to recommend a book to you.....I really enjoyed it and would love to hear your thoughts on it. It is "A Grief Observed" by C.S. Lewis. It's not too long but (at least for me) quite profound. Love hearing about your adventures and SO glad you feel well enough to travel and run about with that sweet boy you are growing!

2thfairy said...

How fun! We had a trip to Mexico last June with all the kids. We had a great time. I am glad you are back safe and sound, can't wait to hear about your adventures.

Jonathan Waite said...

For those of you looking for a Cancun itinerary -- my favorite spot was Xel Ha (maybe an hour south of cancun) -- an ecological park. It is an ocean inlet with a fresh water river that feeds into it. You can go snorkeling (feels like you're swimming through one large aquarium), rafting, swimming with dolphins, there's a cave and a couple of water holes as well or you could just hang out at the beach. Absolutely gorgeous. Our girls at this age are a little scared of snorkeling so they had life jackets and inflatable rafts that I pushed them along in while I snorkeled. Our other favorite spot was Chichen Itza, a mayan archeological spot. It is a well-known tourist spot and is a totally different experience than Xel Ha, but well worth the trip. We felt like we were transported back to Mayan times. We actually didn't spend any time in Cancun per se, more in Playa del Carmen and up and down the coast. We chose playa del carmen due to the hurricane devastation to the cancun beaches.

Mary said...

I am so happy that you and your (growing) family had some R&R, and that you are finding yourself more able to enjoy the joys!

-Mary

Ann Traynor said...

Steph,
Glad you had a fun time. We are in the middle of an ice storm. How's the Spanish these days? I've wondered about taking my family back to the Dominican Republic, but I don't think they are old enough. I'd be too scared for them.
Ann

Marylin said...

Oh I am so glad you were all able to get away for a little while! What a fun trip! I love traveling and your girls will always remember it! Love to you :)

Anonymous said...

I stand by Jon. TJ counts as Mexico. Taco Bell does not.