This past week Ashlee and I felt like we really needed to take a step back and get away for a few days. We decided this at 1:30 Friday afternoon and by 4:00 we were flying to San Pedro in a 4 passenger Cesna plane. My awesome wife put together a four night trip (hotel, flight, etc.) in a matter of 2 hours. It's was great to get away for a few days and reconnect. When working with youth from 8 in the morning to 9 at night, it is easy to feel like we just pass each other by as we go about our daily routines. This being the case, the time we had away was used to it's fullest. We explored the whole island, drank the best milk shakes known to man, and even were blessed by another family who paid our way to go snorkeling and spearfishing! Ashlee did have a slight panic attack as when we first arrived. It happened when she jumped off the dock and realized that she had never ventured that far into the ocean before. She blamed it on her mother forcing her to watch Jaws movies when she way young. (So Mrs. Laura if you are reading this: Big thanks for traumatizing my wife at such a young age, evidently she never recovered!) But besides that hiccup she was able to overcome her fears and even enjoyed swimming around the reef way, way, way away from shore.
Today was a fun day for those who have been helping us on the farm. We took them to the Blue Hole National Park. It was a crystal clear pool that was made when an underground cave which collapsed and left a deep ice cold swimming spot. We took 11 students with us and each had a blast swimming, splashing, an those who were very brave found a spot to jump off of on a small rock face. Unfortunately Tibbs had to watch because the park ranger would not allow him to swim. He was devastated but is now recovering by napping on the porch. After swimming for a few hours we took the boys to another side of the park which held a huge cave. The boys were amazed as they walked with their flashlights in hand. None of them had ever entered a cave before and this one happened to be very impressive. It was very large and had a river that ran through it. They even have guided tours to ride inner-tubes through the entire cave. We weren't able to do that though because the cost was quiet high. But they even without inner tubing they had a great time...so much so that almost all of them passed out on the bus ride home!!