I never thought it’d be this way…

I can hardly believe that by this time next week I’ll have two feet in the sand off the Laguna Nichupte in Cancun!

On May 20, 2010 Dave & I will celebrate 10 years of being married!  I’m woman enough to say that in many ways it has been the very best of times, and in many other ways: a total downer!

Marriage is by far one of the most rewarding yet challenging gifts given to human beings by God.

Here’s a few things I never thought would be true heading into a 10 year anniversary vacation celebration:

1.  I never thought we’d head into a vacation like this with such a young baby!  It’s a little sad to consider leaving my little almost-five-month old for 6 days!  Seriously, who would have thought they’d be pumping their breasts 4 times a day on a 10-yr. wedding anniversary vacation?!?!  For the 2nd baby?!?!  Jeez, maybe the 4th, but not the 2nd.  Life is not always as planned, eh?  I never thought it’d be this way.

2.  I never thought we’d head into a vacation like this with so much marital drama goin’ on.  I’ve always been honest on my blog, when preaching &/or teaching that Dave & I work DOGGONE hard for the peace, joy and happiness that marriage offers.  ‘Offers’ being the key word.  I am PROUD to say that we are sludging through marriage counseling and committed to working on our marriage for the next 10 and -Lord willing- many more after that.  I guess I’d hoped we’d head into a vacation like this with no problems, no arguments and no drama.  Pretty funny, eh?  Talk about unrealistic.  I never thought it’d be this way.

3.  I never thought I’d head into a vacation like this being as chunky as I am right now.  Needless to say, my previous attempts at weight loss, um, down the drain.  I think I actually weigh more now than I did at 6 weeks post-partum.  Arrghghghghghgh!  I’m just thankful for cute one-piece bathing suits today, can I get a holla on that?

4.  I never thought we’d head into our 10th year with so many money issues.  I guess I always thought life happens like this: get married, get jobs, make more money every year, everything is fine.  Also, pretty funny.  It is not so!  I’ve said many times over the last year how hard the economy hit IV, and hit us in very real and troubling financially ways.  I wasn’t sure last year, what we would lose.  Thank God, financially things have turned around in BIG ways.  Yet, in still, I never thought it’d be this way.

5.  I never thought I’d be in a position in life where I’d have to explain to people why or most importantly how we can afford to take a 10 year anniversary vacation.  In some ways I don’t have to, no, but I want to because people have legitimate concerns and if possible, I’d like to put all concerned at rest.

It does not appeal to me AT ALL to keep the trip hidden for fear of anger or backlash.  I’d rather just explain what I feel to be a very reasonable explanation.  Of course, I want to post pics of our 10 year honeymoon!  10 years is something worth celebrating & sharing!

Long story short: way back in 2007 I began plotting a plan to surprise Dave with a fun scuba-diving trip for our 10 yr.  When I realized we were getting back a healthy -and I mean healthy- tax return in 2008 I managed to secretly set aside a portion of it for the trip.

Later that year when news of the swine flu spreading throughout Mexico hit the media, there were HUGE discounts at almost every resort in Mexico.  At the time I was subscribed to a bunch of vacation alert newsletters.  It seemed like every day was a new fantastic deal to vacay in Mexico.

I decided to strike while the iron was hot.

We got a great deal at a great all-inclusive hotel in Cancun.  We paid for 6 nights what it typically costs for a weekend!  When I say a deal, sista-honey-chile I mean, we got a DEAL.  I’m talkin’ jacuzzi in the room, ocean view, 24 hr. free room service, several restaurants to pick from all day, spa credit, the works… crazy works.

I was able to “pay” for the flights with over 100,00 frequent flier miles I’d been “saving” just for this purpose.  We’ll probably take about $100 on spending money, but have no real reason to leave the hotel.  Sure, I’d love to go out and rent jet-ski’s, dance a little Salsa, scuba-dive and visit the Mayan-Ruins but we decided to just RELAX, lay low and spend practically nothing while were there.

Now, there may be a few of you scratching your heads wondering why on earth I needed to share that or why on earth folks would be mad at us for taking a vacation.  Well, if you really want to know…

There is some sort of weird dynamic in evangelical Christianity that proposes Christian missionaries should live in poverty.  (On the other extreme end, is the very unhelpful view that Christians should be demanding wealth from God until they reach some sort of financial utopia).  Both views are GARBAGE.  Like everything else, there needs to be some balance.

For us, in particular we had such a hard year financially in 2009, including the complete break down of our roof.  All year as we were struggling financially, our trip was all ready paid for (and non-refundable) may I add!  Actually, I didn’t even surprise Dave with it until mid-Jan of this year.

It’s important to us that our wonderful ministry partners, friends and families know that we would have never foreseen the financial difficulties that came with last year, the roof problems, and the sudden turn around of our funding situation.  If in 2008, I’d have known what 2009 beheld, I can assure you, a 2010 anniversary trip would be a NO-GO.

We also want to be up front that we aren’t being financially irresponsible or taking a credit-card vacation in which we’ll pay for later.  Nope, it’s all 100% goodness and grace from the Lord.  Well, and a little bit of my eager planning.

I never thought any of these things would be an issue, need to be explained or dealt with.

But, as you can see, I’m so glad that life doesn’t work out the way I thought it should.

Now, if Dave could just find his passport…. *sigh*