ERC Cancun Trip!

ERC Specialists did a trip for the original partners and their spouses, and it was amazing! The timing of it was not ideal because we had been gone in Jerusalem and then we went to Disneyland, but it was so amazing to get a break from the winter and go somewhere beautiful and sunny! Mom and Dad watched the kiddos so that we could go for five days and it was glorious! It was also such a great thing because the last time we went I had multiple panic attacks- and it really was awful. This time- NO PANIC ATTACKS! It was so wonderful! This is the most relaxed I think I have been in many, many years. 

We left Wednesday and flew first class for the first time! I totally loved it and think I am ruined forever now. There was SO MUCH SPACE and so many snacks and treats. I read some, did some puzzles, and watched a rom com and it was wonderful.

There were drivers there ready to pick us up and take us to the hotel- Live Aqua. This was a really beautiful hotel, and our room was amazing! Right when you walked in the curtains opened automatically and I felt so fancy!

After we got settled in everyone was going to meet for dinner, but not for a couple of hours. I was hungry and so we ordered room service and I did not want to leave after I had gotten in bed haha. So Rusty went down with everyone to say hi and I got to stay snuggled up in my bed! I started reading a book series called Red Queen on the plane and was absolutely sucked in so I wanted to stay and read.

The next morning we lounged around and went and got some breakfast before heading out to the beach. Some of the people had reserved some bali beds for the group so we went down there. We had the best time relaxing and drinking mojitos and pina coladas! I've never had a mojito before (I didn't know they could make that virgin) but man that was my favorite and basically all I drank the rest of the trip. We laid out, read a little bit, and then took a nap.

Sadly, we woke up from our nap in a pretty dramatic way. There were lifeguards running and blowing their whistles because there was a man drowning. His wife was sitting on the bali bed behind us, and the next thirty minutes were really awful. He didn't survive, and I had to take some time to try to work through all of those emotions to not go into a panic attack. It was horrible and we had to deal with those emotions and then keep going on our vacation. It was a large reminder of how fleeting life is and that we need to make the most of it. We talked through stuff for a little bit and then went to lunch. We tried a cool place that was right on the sand. The ambiance was cool, but the food was so-so.

We walked along the beach for a little bit, still trying to process what had happened. I was so excited that I was feeling so relaxed and I didn't even get 24 hours before that happened haha. It was good practice for me for being able to grieve for someone's hardships but not having to take them on personally. This time last year this would have thrown me into a major panic attack, and I didn't have one at all! It was amazing among the terrible ordeal. It also made me think a lot about the gospel- the Plan of Salvation, and the warnings that we are given through the scriptures and the prophets. The rip tide was so bad that everywhere along the beach had red flags except for a very small section. The ocean looked peaceful and calm, but obviously it was not. We went to dinner that night with the group and got to see some mariachi musicians and dancers! The kids would have loved it.

Friday morning everyone was invited to go deep sea fishing. I usually want to do all of the activities I can, but I have been loving this new calm about myself and I was having a great time lounging around in Cancun so I opted out. I stayed in the room for a while and then went out and read my book on the beach! And, you won't believe it but another man had to get rescued. Luckily, he lived, but I did decide that maybe the beach is not the most relaxing place right now.

                                        

Rusty had a great time deep sea fishing! It was just him, Rocky and Rocky's wife, so they had everything to themselves. The caught lots of barracuda and they cleaned it right on the back of the boat and served some raw in ceviche and also grilled some up. He said it was delicious!

The rest of the day we lounged around and ate yummy food! We took lots of naps on this trip haha.

Saturday was the first day that we ventured out from the hotel. Justin and his wife set stuff up so that whoever wanted to go could if they wanted. We decided it would be fun! We first started with these little speed boats that we could drive ourselves. We drove through some cool mangroves to a spot where we went snorkeling. The snorkeling was alright- we saw a barracuda! Rusty drove there and then I drove on the way back. I kept singing the Mission Impossible theme song haha. 

After the speed boats we went out on two separate boats and got to go parasailing! We did this on our honeymoon a million years ago, so it was fun to do it again after so much has changed! It was really relaxing and fun. When they let you down they'd soak you in the water a little bit haha.

We went back to the hotel and showered and then went out to a fancy steak place for dinner. The food was delicious, but we were there for like 4 hours waiting for it haha. It was SO slow. We had a chance to talk with Jayna and Earl.

We tried the bone marrow and it was actually good!

I definitely skipped on the oysters

I got the lobster!

Rusty got this giant steak!

Sunday was our last full day in Mexico, and we were supposed to take a yacht to Isla Mujeres for the afternoon. We went there last time, but only for a short time, so I was really excited to get more time there. But, the currents were too bad we couldn't cross over to the island. They gave us a smaller yacht and we just went around through some mangroves and then went back over to where we snorkeled and jumped into the water and swam onto a little private beach. It was fun to be out on a boat! Rusty and I laid on the front part for a while and it was so peaceful!

Room service before we left!

We had a couple hours to ourselves and then it was time for the Super Bowl! Rusty and I don't really care about the Super Bowl very much (him more than me) but we usually watch it and have some snacks. The resort here went all out. They had a giant screen on the beach with bali beds and tons of snacks. Waiters came around to take drink orders. It was really cool to have it down right next to the ocean!

On Monday our flight left in the early afternoon, so we got a late check out and were able to be lazy in the morning and then go for a walk along the beach. I meant to put sunblock on, but forgot and I ended up getting roasted haha. I was good the whole time and then the last two hours I burned myself. It made the flight home pretty uncomfortable, but not the worst. Every morning we were there, the hotel management would gather the seaweed and write a message with it in the sand. Today it said "Congrats ERC Specialists!" That was pretty cool!

Mom and Dad were great and watched the kids for us! I got them a reservation at the Alpenglobes for breakfast one morning while the kids were at school and they had a great time!