My Sabbatical Valentine

As my 8 weeks of a time apart enter the concluding quarter, what I have been looking forward to the most is about to begin. Yesterday, I picked Sue Ann up at the Fort Lauderdale airport and this morning we will board "The Miracle" for 8 days in the Southern Caribbean. The theory behind these kind of leaves is to spend significant time with your family. It seems good then that at least these two weeks I get to spend with the love of my life.  I have enjoyed portions of solitude, but was really designed for community.  And, the center of my community is my bride! This year we celebrate 35 years of marriage. I will be the first to admit that I am not the most romantic guy in the world, but it is pretty cool that today, on valentine's day we get to board a cruise ship. Our first valentine's day of marriage in seminary, I got Sue a set of white enamel pots...not my finest moment as a gifting husband, but you can understand why it might be memorable.

Here are my thoughts anticipating the community of a cruise. On other cruises, acquaintances/new friends have helped make the experiences joyful. I wonder who our table mates will be this time?  What songs will I sing at the karaoke bar? Oh yes, we will rock! And, will there be "smooth sailing?"

I will not pop for the exorbitant costs of wi-fi, so I will not be blogging until Ash Wednesday, the day we disembark, ( ironic huh?) Until then.. let's all sing together...."THE LOOOOOVE BOAT"