10 years ago today, we stood in front of family & friends overlooking the river and became husband and wife.

Oh how life has changed since then! We have been challenged in ways we could never have considered. Less than a year after our vows, I became bedridden and our journey to find help was not easy.

My new husband stayed by my side, staying awake at night to rub my neck when I was crying in pain, get water for my feet when they felt like they were on fire, and make sure I was breathing. He learned to give me injections and IV’s, changed my picc line and sort out massive medications.

None of this is what we expected – but we have not only endured, we’ve turned the tables and chosen to find the good in everything, even in our darkest, hardest days.

Thank you to the love of my life for all you’ve done and all you continue to do. I love you babe. Happy Anniversary

Pastor/Chaplain Gil handcuffed us and announced us as 1015 (prisoner in custody)

Adventures in Ormond Beach

There’s so much to do in Florida, but I am limited in my physical abilities so we did some simple things this day. We stayed at an RV Park on the beach in Ormond Beach (just north of Daytona).

The day started watching the sunrise over the Atlantic. It was an amazing thing to see – the time lapse below doesn’t do the colors justice (the sun was red and the entire sky was various shades of oranges and yellows).

We wandered around Tomoka Park and drove a 32 mile loop which took us yyyalong the coast and then inland where the terrain became swampland and rainforest like.

Tomoka Park

The Loop

Sea Turtles nest this time of year. Mama turtles dig a big hole, drop a whole bunch of eggs, and then she leaves. The babies hatch, crawl out of the sand, and make their way to ocean where they’re on their own from day one. It is estimated that 1 in 1,000 survive to adulthood.

Programs are in place to try to help them succeed. When nests are found, barriers are set up to keep them from being disturbed. Lights are not allowed in the beach at night – it confuses the babies and they may go the wrong way. Locals are trained to help baby turtles when they find them.

Watch Them Hatch Here