Dear friends, Thank you so much for your kind understanding and support these past weeks... words fail at how grateful I am for your love as we have stumbled along in our grief. I have received numerous emails about the December Caravan shop and I appreciate your patience as I honestly have not felt like creating recently. Grief is a funny monster and it sometimes makes things difficult and hard to do.
Typically in the late spring I take a "creative retreat" away as we prepare to move into the cabin for the summer and prepare for the upcoming late summer, fall and holiday season. I then re-open the shop with new boutique items on June 1st. This obviously did not happen this year.
After taking a lot of time to think and pray through it I knew that my heart needs a bit more time in this process as we continue to adjust to a difficult "new normal". So I will be re-opening the shop on Saturday, July 20th.
Thank you so much for your sweet support of my shop and all my artistic creations! The shop will re-open on Saturday, July 20th and I will share about the re-opening here on the blog!
We have cozied up on the porch each evening with warm white lights, soft pillows and cozy blankets...even on the afternoons when it has stormed it always seems to break off as night approaches and this has been a beautiful blessing...to be outside, cozied up and surrounded by light and so many prayers and love... especially as evening approaches...
As I shared last week I have been struggling with intense nightmares and difficulty sleeping since my daddy died and I was starting to dread nighttime and the dark...
As I shared last week I have been struggling with intense nightmares and difficulty sleeping since my daddy died and I was starting to dread nighttime and the dark...
Robin sent the most beautiful verse last week and I just wept reading it. It was so perfect for my hurting, broken, and fearful heart. It has brought such healing.
A huge answer to prayer is being able to sleep so peacefully for several nights this week! I am so grateful for all of your prayers about this specifically (and for my health). If you are struggling through the nights in whatever you are walking through I hope and pray this verse meets you in your pain today...
The moon will be as bright as the sun...so it will be when the Lord begins to heal his people.
The moon will be as bright as the sun...so it will be when the Lord begins to heal his people.
-Isaiah 30:26-
Happy Tuesday friends! I hope that you are having a wonderful week! Today I am excited to share with y'all a bit more about the #ADK50falls challenge and specifically about Rice's Falls, a waterfall that I visited back in April. I mentioned and shared a picture on instagram from my visit (you can see it HERE), at the beginning of May... but with everything that has taken place it has been hard to focus and write on the adventures around that time period. I know that y'all are so supportive and understanding during this incredibly difficult time.
If you aren't familiar with the #ADK50falls challenge, you can read about the entire challenge HERE, but simply put there are 50 waterfalls that you hike and visit (5 require proof with photo that you were there) to complete the challenge. Participating in this is so fun and exciting and I am looking forward to doing this and the another challenge I will share more about in the next few weeks.
If you would like to know just basic facts about the falls please just scroll down to the bottom of the post where I will be sharing basic information to help those who want to know more specifics about each of the falls in the challenge.
Rice's Falls is located right outside of Elizabethtown on the way to Blueberry Hill Trails in upstate New York and is approximately 40 minutes east of Lake Placid and about an hour north of Lake George. The falls are about 15 feet high and are considered "narrow falls" and have an upper and lower area.
The Key "landmarks" of the area is that you are about 1 mile from the Blueberry Hill Trails. As a note of warning if you follow your GPS (like we did) and turn to go over a small bridge the GPS is leading you to Blueberry Hill Trails NOT the falls which it doesn't seem to distinguish.
While the falls are not big the history behind them is a bit fascinating as at one point Rice's Falls were used to give electricity to Elizabethtown so that they could have lights.
The top of the falls are easy to see (after you walk straight in from the dirt parking area) - but the way to get to the lower falls is a bit more tricky. To see the upstream area (above Rice's Falls) it is a short 25 feet from the pull-off parking area, but if you want to see the downstream area -where Rice's Falls is located and where this picture was taken you are in for a bit of an adventure. It's not far- I would say approx. 500 feet, but depending on when you go you in the season it could be different experiences. There was no evidence that anyone had done these falls yet & we were bushwhacking our way in. Haha!
I can't recommend a visit to Rice's Falls enough and hope that y'all will join in on this very fun challenge! PS- If you are interested in reading more about each of the waterfalls - I recommend reading Adirondack Fifty Falls (click HERE to purchase) which lays out all of the falls in a concise and easy manner. It also groups the falls in the challenge by area so that you do not have to do that research!
When I was extremely sick I used to grieve not being able to be outside in nature as much as I wanted to be and if this is where you are at due to health reasons I hope that the information I provide about each of the falls in this challenge will encourage you to explore as you are able.
.
......RICE'S FALLS INFORMATION......
......RICE'S FALLS INFORMATION......
LOCATION:
Approximately 1 mile from Elizabethtown (on the way to Blueberry Hill Trails (approx. 1 hour north of Lake George // 40 minutes east of Lake Placid)
TYPE OF FALLS:
TYPE OF FALLS:
15 foot falls
KEY LANDMARKS:
KEY LANDMARKS:
approx. 1 mile from the Blueberry Hill Trails.
COST:
Free
PARKING:
Not an official one per say- It is a dirt pull off from the road.
CROWDED?:
We spent about an hour at Rice's falls exploring and in that time we never saw anyone.
DISTANCE TO FALLS FROM PARKING AREA:
To see the upstream area (above Rice's Falls) it is a short 25 feet from the pull-off parking area, but if you want to see the downstream area -where Rice's Falls is located and where this picture was taken you are in for a bit of an adventure. It's not far- I would say approx. 500 feet, but depending on when you go you in the season it could be different experiences. There was no evidence that anyone had done these falls yet & we were bushwhacking our way in. Haha!
DISABILITY FRIENDY?:
DISABILITY FRIENDY?:
No. The parking for this waterfall is a dirt pull off & is not wheelchair friendly & the ground is very unstable & the "main path" mentioned in the guide was non-existent. This may be a discouraging & difficult waterfall to experience depending on your condition. If you are wanting to see one of the other #adk50falls in this area I would check out my page dedicated to the waterfall challenge by clicking HERE!
Thank you so much for reading today friends! Please let me know if you have any questions about the challenge or Rice's Falls! I am happy to answer and can't wait to hear about your waterfall adventures!
If you would like to read about other #adk50falls that I have written about on the blog click HERE!
Have a wonderful day!
Hello friends! I just wanted to take a moment and help spread the word about some of the parking tickets that are taking place in the Adirondack Mountains this summer due to some new rules and laws that have taken place. These are new and unfortunately have come as a surprise to many people this year and this past weekend many hikers ended their beautiful days in the mountains with expensive tickets. I don't want this to happen to y'all or anyone in this community so I wanted to pass on information from the Lake Placid Website about the notice to hikers.
Here is what the website states:
Don’t End your Hike with a Parking Ticket
To avoid congestion and potentially dangerous situations, parking on the shoulder of Route 73 between Chapel Pond and the Rooster Comb trailhead is off limits. Parking near the Cascade Mountain trailhead is limited to designated parking areas and sections of the shoulder where vehicles can park out of the lane of travel. Do not park where signs prohibit parking.
Roadside parking is also prohibited on the following roads in the town of Keene: Au Sable Road, St. Huberts Road, Market Street, Adirondack Street, and Mason Young Lane in Keene Valley.
Also note the Garden Parking Area is closed this summer, but hikers can take a shuttle bus from Marcy Field to the parking area. The shuttle costs $10 round trip and it will run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends through the end of June, after which it will run daily.
What to do if the parking areas are full
Hikers who encounter full parking areas should consider some of the region’s other mountains. Baxter Mountain, the Crows, Rocky Peak Ridgefrom Route 9N, and Owl Head Lookout. Read more about alternate hikes here.
Leave No Trace
While it's fun to explore our backcountry, it's more fun — and safer — to hit the trail prepared. Before you head out, be sure to learn more about the 7 Leave No Trace Principles.
*If you have any questions please don't hesitate to reach out and ask someone who will be happy to help!*
Happy Monday friends! I hope that you had a wonderful week! Ours was okay as we are stumbling along finding our shaky footing and we are so grateful for your prayers and support during this time.
As I mention several weeks ago, with summer quickly approaching I wanted to share some recaps from my trip to Alaska last year as I hope it encourages each of you to take a road trip in this beautiful part of the world! I am deep in preparation for our upcoming trip this summer and am so excited to see so many new things and share them with y'all on Instagram and here on the blog!
Also- please take a moment to read about the #10000in7days campaign (click HERE) that I am hosting this year as part of this trip! Thank you so much for considering donating to this!
Today I am so excited to share the first part of our trip on the Denali Highway. (If you want to watch a video of the whole Denali experience check out the YouTube Video HERE!) As I have mentioned numerous times I loved my experience on the Denali Highway. It is simply breathtaking!
The Denali Highway is something that I can't even begin to explain how incredible it was. In all honesty it was probably 5 of my favorite hours of the entire trip (hahaha- yes, yes, it was a favorite!). Words almost don't do this remote and beautiful area of Alaska justice.
After stopping briefly in Cantwell to get some gas and use the restroom (two things I definitely recommend before you take the trip on Denali Highway!), we began the drive east across the Denali Highway. It took about 5 hours of driving (partly because of the rocky and bumpy highway road, but mostly because I kept stopping to take pictures and just to explore where we were) and it was worth every single second.
The Denali Highway was so vast. So remote (no cell service at all) and perfectly wild in every single way you could imagine Alaska to be.
I had already said this several times on the trip by this point, but as I stood here overlooking this beautiful river I had no doubt that I had fully fallen in love with Alaska. The beauty is so indescribable and it sweeps you up in it in a way that is hard to put into words.
For some people, like my traveling companion, Ali, the feeling was the exact opposite. She expressed that while she appreciated the beauty, she was very anxious to return to cell service, be connected to her social media, have city life, shops and stores, and was ready to be off the highway after only a little bit of time.
As I have thought back on this trip, I realized that I learned a very big lesson in this regard. Traveling for different people looks really different. Some people love to get out of their comfort zones, fully immerse in a new culture or experience, and others don't. Whatever works for you is awesome, but you definitely want to keep that in mind for your trip plans.
I say and share that as a bit of a word of caution for those who are considering a similar road trip in Alaska, and one that includes crossing the Denali Highway. Those of you who know me well know that this would totally be my element. I LOVED every minute. And this highway- the disconnectedness from social media, the beauty, and nature aspect, etc. were all an incredible adventure that I wanted to grab hold of and not let end. Had I been with someone else I would have camped right there just to experience it for as long as possible.
But if you are more like my traveling companion, a person who likes to visit nature briefly, enjoys city life, or likes to be constantly connected to your social media, than this span of the trip may not be as enjoyable for you.
It is completely rural, completely vast and very very remote.
But I can't recommend it enough y'all. Seriously. I absolutely loved it.
But if you go, and I really really hope you do, than this area of Alaska is unforgettable. I read before the trip that they say that this is one of the most spectacular drives in the world and one you should do before you die, and I couldn't agree more.
A couple of quick practical notes about this drive:
(1) As I mentioned above the road is mostly gravel so the maximum speed limit is approximately 35-55mph in most parts. This can vary due to different road conditions, but while the Denali Highway is only 135 miles, it will take you longer than that to drive.
(2) If you are renting a car, you will need to make sure that you can drive on this road as not all rental car companies allow you to do so. Make sure that you talk with them before your trip so that this is all in order for you!
(3) This probably doesn't need to be said, but as I mentioned at the beginning it definitely is a wise idea to get gas in Cantwell as there is no gas stations along the Highway.
(4) If you are visiting Alaska in the winter, the Denali Highway closes every year from October through mid-May (depending on weather), so you wouldn't be able to travel it during this time.
(5) You can definitely do the Denali Highway in one day (as we did), but depending on your time I would recommend staying a night along the way. As I mentioned in the last post, there are plenty of places to pull off and do so, and in the future I definitely plan to do this on a trip.
(6) Depending on when you travel the highway you may only see a few dozen cars- if that. I counted about 17 total that we saw along the entire stretch (which included 2 trucks and 1 cop car that was working on an area of the road). Often times we would be passing the save RVs or cars as all of us were stopping at different points to take pictures or get out and explore. Despite this and despite the vastness and remoteness, I do want to say to girls traveling together that I felt completely safe in all of my travels in Alaska, including this highway. On this road would definitely be people who could help you if you needed it.
Thank you so much for stopping by the blog today! I hope that this introduction to the Denali Highway encourages you to start planning a trip there soon! I can't wait to go back!
PS- If you are curious about the specific details of the road trip that we took throughout Alaska or if you are planning a similar road trip (or just want to see and dream about visiting the beauty!) I hope the information below is helpful. You can read all of the posts from the trip by clicking on the links below:
// 5 Reasons You Need to Take an Alaskan Road Trip//
Chugach Mountains (Alaska 1-South Drive): // Scenic Seward Highway Drive (Turnagain Arm Drive)// Along the Matanuska River on Alaska 1-South// A Beautiful Lake Adventure Near Chickaloon// A Cloudy & Beautiful Drive on Alaska 1-South//
Chugach Mountains: // Eklutna Lake//
Cooper Landing (Kenai Peninsula): // Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge Nature Hike//
// Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge //
Denali State Park Area:// Denali Highway Video// One Last Adventure on the Denali Highway//
// The Denali Highway: Part Two // The Denali Highway: Part One//
//The Drive to Cantwell// Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge //
General Alaska Tips: // 5 Things You Must Know Before Driving in Alaska //
// Best Alaskan Books to Purchase for Your Road Trip //
// What to Pack for an Alaskan Summer Road Trip //
// Why You Should Dream About Visiting Alaska //
Girdwood: // Winner Creek Trail Video// Winner Creek Trail //
Hatcher Pass Area: // Hatcher Pass Video// Hatcher Pass // Little Susitna River //
Homer (Kenai Peninsula) Area: // Homer Video// Homer Spit// Homer Lighthouse// Bishop's Beach//
// A Brief History of Homer //
Thompson Pass Area: // Thompson Pass Area Video // Worthington Glacier Hike//
//Worthington Glacier//
// Among the Alaskan Fireweed on Alaska 4-S: A Beautiful Symbol of Hope in the Hard Seasons of Life //
// A Brief History of & Drive on Alaska 4-South of the Richardson Highway//Klutina River//
// The Beginning Drive to Thompson Pass//
Wrangell-St. Elias Park Area: //Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge //
Yesterday marked another painful and difficult "first" as we welcomed in the first official day of summer (one of my daddy's favorite days)...a summer that held grand and beautiful plans (including celebrating my parents 50th wedding anniversary)and adventures of all kinds...all changed & difficult ...and all having been replaced by a deep darkness...
earlier yesterday evening I saw my mom looking at a "rescue plant" (those who know us well know we love the beautiful flowers, but always bring some sad and dying rescue plants to the cabin each year to nurse them to health)...
I asked her what she was doing & she said "looking for new growth... looking for another symbol of hope"...
and that is how I see my amazing mom living in her deep grief and sadness... looking for symbols of hope & life...
so many of you have asked how we are doing...and it is difficult to answer ...but we are spending these minutes...these hours & days... looking for hope, marveling at the words that come "at just the right time", the answered prayers of big & small things...
so many of you have asked how we are doing...and it is difficult to answer ...but we are spending these minutes...these hours & days... looking for hope, marveling at the words that come "at just the right time", the answered prayers of big & small things...
trusting our broken hearts to the one who loves us and is carrying us through, fighting the fears of "what will happen next" by clinging to truth, crying and weeping in the pain and fear of our shattered worlds...tears falling more often than not...and trusting the Lord for our very weary hearts and bodies as we take each new step of a day... drawing into the darkness where light can still be found.
If you are walking in the darkness like we are...I am so so sorry...it feels like the "bright light of summer" is such a stark contrast to the pain... clinging with you to the grace that will continue to meet us in the deep darkness.
Moses drew into the deep darkness because God was there...
If you are walking in the darkness like we are...I am so so sorry...it feels like the "bright light of summer" is such a stark contrast to the pain... clinging with you to the grace that will continue to meet us in the deep darkness.
Moses drew into the deep darkness because God was there...
-Exodus 20-
One of the ways that I have fallen in love with traveling is through cruising. Prior to my first cruise in 2014 (to the Caribbean on Royal Caribbean) I had never been on a cruise before! After that cruise (which was a miracle trip in itself considering how sick I was!) I realized the beautiful blessing of how cruising could be a wonderful idea for those who are struggling with chronic health conditions. As I have continued to do cruises and have several exciting ones coming up that I can't wait to share with y'all I have learned so many tips on how to navigate cruising with a chronic illness that I wanted to share today.
Traveling to me is such an amazing adventure that truly has helped keep me focused and excited through different treatment rounds and yet, at the same time though, I have traveled enough while I have been fighting for my health to know that you don't "leave" your sick body and automatically get a "new one" just for a trip (wouldn't that be nice?? *smiles*). Because of this it is so important to understand and prepare ahead of time for any trip when you are chronically ill.
Traveling takes a risk and a courage- especially when you don't feel well. If you haven't struggled with a chronic or long term illness the idea of traveling perhaps sounds strange or foreign. You might even question why people do this if they "feel so sick". I can't answer for everyone but when I was sick for all of those years I pushed myself to live despite being sick. I decided then and there that I was going to grab onto life and experience it. I wanted to grab onto experiences and live bigger than my world of illness "allowed".
So if you are taking that risk... if you are stepping out and grabbing onto life in a new way and are going for a cruise while you are ill I applaud you. I applaud you for any small or big steps you are taking as you heal. And today I wanted to share 10 Tips for Cruising with a Chronic Illness and hope that these will help you in your next adventure!
1. Prepare As Much As Possible Ahead of Time
Many people may pack excitedly the week before the cruise, it is wise to spend time preparing and packing as much as possible in the months prior to your trip. While there are certain items that you may not be able to pack till the last minute (different meds with insurance regulations), relieving the stress of waiting till the last minute will help your body. Preparing ahead allows you to really think about each item that you want to bring and also allows you to have the time to make sure that you have all of your medications, supplements, etc. In addition preparing ahead for your cruise can provide a fun opportunity for you to look ahead, discuss with your travel companions the upcoming fun, and look outside the difficult and painful days that you are having.
2. Face Your Fears and Choose to Be Courageous
I won't even begin to start listing all of the fears that I have when I go on any trip as I leave my family who are my caretakers, my doctors, the hospitals that I am familiar with, etc. Living with a chronic or serious illness can be extremely difficult and when we go to change up that routine it can cause a lot of fear. The mind can play incredible tricks on us and in the months and weeks and days leading up to your cruise you might be thinking, "what if this happens, what if that happens, etc." I think C.S. Lewis' words in this situation are best:
"Courage, Dear Heart".
"Courage, Dear Heart".
No one on your cruise might know what a act of courage it is to step out, leave your surroundings that are helping you fight for your health, and take this cruise, but know that you can do it. Take the cruise. Take the time to celebrate life. Take the time to remember what you are fighting so hard for in your fight for your health. You can do this.
3. Be Realistic About What You Can and Can't Do
When you are booking your shore excursions be realistic about what you can and can't do. My mom, dear friends, and my medical team (whom I run everything by before any trip) are kind and compassionate sounding boards gently saying sometimes, "do you think that you can realistically do this?". While I could choose to be offended by their words, I instead knew that they were coming from someone who knows that my heart wants to go on that 10 mile hike, followed by a whitewater rafting trip and ending with the zipline through the mountains for 7 hours, but my body is just not physically able to. Take the time to be realistic about what you can and can't do and you will end up enjoying your preparations for your cruise and the cruise itself fully!
4. Plan Your Shore Excursions Wisely
Following along with #3, make sure to plan your shore excursions wisely. Think about the timing of the shore excursions and what times are best for you in the day. Think about the amount of energy each shore excursion will take and how that will look in your overall cruising adventure.
Don't forget some important details like talking with the cruise line that you are going with about how transportation will work to the shore excursions, etc. (For example some excursions don't include actual walking on the excursion itself, but do require a half-mile hike to the start of the excursion!) Taking the time to plan your shore excursions wisely will ensure that you have fun, not just for one day, but for the entire cruise.
Don't forget some important details like talking with the cruise line that you are going with about how transportation will work to the shore excursions, etc. (For example some excursions don't include actual walking on the excursion itself, but do require a half-mile hike to the start of the excursion!) Taking the time to plan your shore excursions wisely will ensure that you have fun, not just for one day, but for the entire cruise.
5. Plan, Prepare, and Pack All of Your Medications, Supplements, Etc.
One of the things that can take a lot of time in preparing for a cruise is planning, preparing and packing all of your medications, supplements, etc. Honestly it can take a bit of maneuvering (and a lot of patience) to make sure that you have all of your meds before your trip. As much as it is possible try to let your doctors know in advance that you will be going on the cruise and that you will need meds (and extra meds depending on your situation) for the duration of your cruise. I can't encourage you enough to work on this ahead of time as some medications can only be purchased with insurance at certain intervals so you will want to work this out with your doctor and insurance company. Also, check with the cruise line as many cruise lines require that your medications are in the original containers not just in random pill containers.
Don't forget to pack all of your supplements and any other alternative meds you might use for your situation. I don't like wrapping my supplements and vitamins in aluminum foil, but for traveling I have found it so helpful to pack my pills in aluminum foil already separated out for the times that I take them. (For example: breakfast, lunch, dinner, morning snack, evening, midnight, etc.) Having my pills already prepared allows me to easily have my supplements available and also allows me not to bring along my hundreds of supplement bottles. In addition this saves me time in the mornings as I just pick up what I need for the day and head on out!
**Don't forget to check with your cruise line ahead of time (guest relations department) if you are needing to bring on board any special products. Different cruise lines have different restrictions and you will want to know this before you arrive. I recommend dealing with this two months out from your cruise, that way if the cruise line needs special documentation from your doctors office you have time to gather all of the documentation you need. I have found that this takes a lot of time to prepare in this way, but this will prevent you from having any issues when you embark onto the boat.**
6. Plan Your Travel To and From the Cruise Wisely
The last thing that you want to do is exacerbate your symptoms or start off or end your cruise on the wrong foot. Think through your travel plans carefully so that you can fully enjoy your cruise!
7. Make Use of Cruise Assistance if You Need It
If you are not familiar with cruise assistance, it is similar to airport assistance in that the cruise line will offer to help people who are disabled or chronically ill to help them get around the cruise and embark or disembark from the cruise.
Sometimes the reality is that embarking on the cruise the first day and disembarking the last day can create a lot of stress and strain on those who are chronically ill. You can spend a lot of energy walking, standing and waiting, and pain trying to get your bags, yourself, etc. on and off the boat. Making use of the cruise assistance can be a blessing and something to consider if you need it. If you think that you will need to use this contact the cruise line ahead of time, explain your situation, and ask them how to best go about this.
8. Speak Up to Those Around You
On my first cruise I wanted to "get away from sick world" and asked my traveling companion not to share that I was ill. Let me be honest- I hate being the center of attention so in some ways this worked fabulously to allow me to "get away", but it also created a ton of awkward situations and eventually led me to apologizing for not being up front more with my health to the friends I made on the cruise as they were apologizing to me for not knowing!
I am not suggesting that you can't have a vacation "away" from your fight for your health, but I am suggesting that you can quietly set the tone when people ask why you need assistance and then move on. This is what I started doing on my second cruise and from every trip since then. Lots of times those of us with chronic illness struggle to explain our invisible illnesses and this is an opportunity to learn how to share, advocate for yourself, explain that you have a long term illness and might need help, and then move on to enjoy your cruise.
**Try not to let any silent or critical judgment or words about your health spoil your trip. I heard a couple of very hurtful and rude comments on my first cruise when people saw that I had a handicap permit with me but wasn't using a wheelchair. There were also several comments about I couldn't be "that sick" if I was on the cruise. People can truly be mean and not understand what a fight it is for you to have made the decision to come on the cruise. Don't let any inconsiderate and rude comments or silent judgmental looks ruin your vacation.**
9. Expect Difficult Times and Have a Backup Plan
It can be hard when you are cruising to accept that sometimes your body might struggle and have difficult times or days. I am sure so many of us have heard- "just think positively and you will have a wonderful cruise-you won't feel pain or sickness at all". That would be awesome, but the reality is that many times we will experience pain or sickness because we are still in our bodies. That is okay!
Don't let times of sickness and pain ruin your cruise. On my first cruise I remember having a breakdown the first day on the shore excursion because I realized that I needed to sit and not explore all of the Atlantis property. It was frustrating, sad, and hard to realize that I still had limitations even though I was on "vacation". Having the opportunity to cry and release some of those expectations allowed me to enjoy the rest of the cruise with a more realistic lens. The next day, when friends were going snorkeling in Coco Cay (something that I loved to do before I got sick) my heart wanted to jump and join them but I quietly declined and watched from my chair. Instead of wallowing in self-pity though I watched with joy as my friends explored the water and thanked God that I was well enough to have even got off the boat to enjoy a very special day with my friends. What was a "typical or normal day" to many people was the highlight of many months to me.
The amazing thing also was that when I went back to Coco Cay two years later I was able to do all of the things I had dreamt about doing the years before. Time... healing... and more time are often the greatest gifts.
The amazing thing also was that when I went back to Coco Cay two years later I was able to do all of the things I had dreamt about doing the years before. Time... healing... and more time are often the greatest gifts.
My best advice is to accept your limitations, cry if you need to, find the joy in the day and the time, and have a backup plan. Take some extra time to rest and relax and join up with your cruising companions later in the day. Most importantly, take a deep breath. Nothing is ruined- keep the joy and faith, even in the difficult times.
10. Contact the Cruise Line Ahead of Time about Food Allergies
Many people dealing with a chronic illness also deal with a myriad of food allergies and sensitivities. Even though food on a cruise is always available, the food that is available might not be something that you can eat. Take the time to call the cruise line ahead of time, discuss your food allergies, and make necessary preparations ahead of time for what you will need. I also recommend carrying an allergy card and giving this to your waiter the first evening so that they are prepared and knowledgeable about your allergies.
What about you? What tips do you have for cruising with a chronic illness? Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by and read today! If you are looking for more tips on traveling with a chronic illness you can find some more posts listed below!
5 Imporrant Tips for Traveling with a Chronic Illness
10 Tips for Thriving on Road Trips with a Chronic Illness
10 Tips for Enjoying Disneyworld With a Chronic Illness
4 Tips for Enjoying Animal Kingdom with a Chronic Illness
5 Imporrant Tips for Traveling with a Chronic Illness
10 Tips for Thriving on Road Trips with a Chronic Illness
10 Tips for Enjoying Disneyworld With a Chronic Illness
4 Tips for Enjoying Animal Kingdom with a Chronic Illness
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