Eight weeks ago, about this same time, my husband and my two boys, set out on our first cruise together for a Spring Break vacation that would change our lives forever. The boys were mine

from a previous marriage, but Thomas considered them his as well. We had driven down to

Valdosta from our home in Buford on Friday, April 2nd to split the trip in half. We got up early the next morning and drove to Port Canaveral to catch the Carnival Dream. Our trip down to

catch the ship was uneventful, until we actually saw the ship. I was tired from the drive and just

cranky, because no one knew where to go, and expected Mom to figure it out. I fussed and was

cross with Thomas because he was of no help. I wish I hadn't been "cross" with him, but I was.

Nonetheless, we found our way onto the Dream and she met all of our expectations. She was

beautiful, just as promised.

Our accommodations were very small, but we did have a small balcony that we could escape to if the quarters became too close. I thought Thomas and I could escape at night and sit out there and chat. Thomas loved to talk when you could get him away from the TV. Little did I know,

we would never get a chance to sit out on the balcony because in about 48 hours our lives were

going to be changed forever.

We had our first dinner on the ship Saturday night. Again, I was cranky with Thomas, which I

regret once again. I had been recovering from major surgery since February 2010 and I think

I really was just "overtired" and just needed some rest and relaxation and that's what this trip was going to be all about for the whole family, but especially Thomas and I. The ship's photo

person came around to take some candid shots and Thomas didn't even want to be in the picture due to my bad attitude. I told him I want the whole family in the photo and to get in the picture, so

he scooted over and we got our picture made. That would prove to be one of our last family pictures. All was well with dinner and Tom and Trevor

went to watch some basketball on the big screen and I took Carter back to the cabin and put him to bed.

Tom and Trevor came back to the cabin after the game and the three of us had some laughs as

Thomas tried to negotiate the cabin in the dark amidst all of our luggage. At home he would have just flipped on all of the lights. He made it into bed without harm. God was definitely looking out for him. We had a good nights sleep and woke up ready for our first day at sea on

the Carnival Dream. Life was good.