End Abductions Now – An Update!

You may remember I wrote a post almost two full years ago about our friend, Eric.  We met him in Mexico while we were living there for four months, studying Spanish, and working alongside a local church.  Here is my previous blog post:  End Abductions Now!  My Story.  Though his home is in Michigan, he has been living in Playa del Carmen off and on since January, 2013, when his wife abducted his two sweet babies while on vacation. We had the opportunity to see Eric once more when we returned to Cancun/Playa… Read More

Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Maya

August 2016:  Updated photos from our most recent visit:  This July and August, we spent a full week at Secrets Maroma and just loved it!  From the most stunning, white sand beach to the exquisite dining, it is now one of my favorite resorts in all of the Riviera Maya and Cancun area. Here is a quick synopsis:  This is a lovely, active, fun resort set on one of the most gorgeous beaches in all of Mexico.  It is laid back and relaxed, but also offers an active, energetic vibe.  The dining… Read More

When the Storm Sweeps In

We spent several hours exploring every nook and cranny of this spectacular stretch of coastline in Puerta Aventuras.   Tide pools and craggy coral rock formations were mesmerizing and I could hardly put my camera down. The kids were equally absorbed in their explorations, diving into the natural pool, navigating the rocky coral, and discovering all sorts of new creatures.  We found this colorful crab bathing in a tide pool before scurrying away from us, looking for protection.  He was gracious enough to let me photograph him for a few moments, but… Read More

Day 141: Saying Adios to Playa

It’s hard to describe what we’re feeling tonight as we pack for our late afternoon flight tomorrow.  It is a mixture of sadness and joy.  Sadness to be leaving dear friends who have welcomed us into their hearts and homes for the past almost five months and joy to be heading toward another church we similarly left ten years ago, when we moved away from CA. Sometimes God allows a church to open their arms, their hearts, and their homes to strangers on a journey…and blesses them richly as they leave not… Read More

2014 Turtle Release

Ryan and I recently had the opportunity to get away for a few days to attend a conference.  Here we are below, working very hard! We stayed at the Moon Palace.   While there, we participated in a turtle release program.  We had to wait until after the sun set, as the turtles hatchlings typically make their way to sea in the cover of darkness.  Here we are below, beyond excited as we wait for the experience.  Well, let me take that back. I’m the one beyond excited, as turtles are one… Read More

Royal Hideaway Playacar

Resort Photoblog:  We only had a brief visit at the Royal Hideaway, so photos will be our major means of communicating what we experienced.  Enjoy! The Royal Hideaway is located on the gorgeous, soft sandy white beach of Playacar, on the south end of Playa del Carmen.  In our opinion, it is the most elegant hotel situated on this stretch of beach.  The property is gorgeous, the landscaping well-maintained, and the staff and service just amazing.  We would love to spend a few days enjoying this resort!  If we had to rate… Read More

Reflections a Four Months

Four months.  We’ve been here in Playa del Carmen for four months and have been surprised by how quickly God has allowed friendships to form.  We’ve moved a lot in our lives.  Each time, we’ve had to say good-bye to dear friends and start the whole relationship-building process again.  We’ve learned over the years to be patient and  give it at least two years before we start feeling those bonds of friendship deepen. When you make the decision to journey around the world for a year, you hardly have time to wait two… Read More

Day 123: The Break In

We knew it would happen at least once.  We even tried to mentally prepare for it, wondering what would be stolen first.  Like most responsible travelers, we also made sure we had travel insurance.  But the truth is, unless you’ve gone through something like this before, there really is no way to prepare for…The Break In. So, what happened?  Saturday night, while we were sleeping, a stranger scaled the walls of our home, traversed the roof, and swung himself into the screened window of our daughters’ second floor bedroom, while they were fast… Read More

Ocean Coral and Turquesa

Ocean Coral and Turquesa is a beautiful resort located about 20 minutes away from Cancun International Airport.  It is about 30 minutes south of Cancun and 30 minutes north of Playa del Carmen, so guests have several fun options if they want to get off the property.  Keep in mind, however, that taxi fares can be rather costly.  As always, photos first and then the review.  Enjoy.  Return to Mexican Resorts. Ocean Coral and Turquesa Fact Sheet Size:  Ocean Coral and Turquesa offers 591 rooms/suites, a large variety of restaurants, four beautiful… Read More

Day 107: Sun Setting Over Playacar

Some of our best family memories are created when we take time to walk to the beach.  We sit and watch the kids swim and splash in the turquoise blue water while the sun melts into the sea. This is the sun setting over our beach in Playacar tonight.  It was just stunning.  No matter how long we’ve been here, this site never feels repetitive or boring.  We’re so thankful for this experience and just wanted to share it with you tonight.  Buenas noches todos!