Silver Wedding Anniversary (Caribbean Cruise)

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love"

- Ephesians 4:2-3

Wedding anniversary celebrations go back to Ancient Rome, when a wife has been crowned with a silver wreath by her husband in their 25th wedding anniversary. It's a milestone that deserves to be marked in any marriage. For us, the journey was full of ups and downs, and we've been through a lot together for all those years. Of course, there were plenty of good times and wonderful moments. Like when our daughters were born, birthday parties, family gatherings, vacations, recitals, school affairs, and many more. Those things have given meaning and memories that we always cherish in our lives. But there is a fair share of challenges too. The most difficult days, the one that exhaust us and keep us up at night. Those days sometimes make us want to give up, but because of our faith, everything was made possible. Despite all of the trials in our marriage, we've made it, and it's well worth the celebration. There's no perfect marriage, but the most important thing is to be there for each other, no matter what.

It's our goal to celebrate our anniversary every five years in a form of a vacation. We started on our 20th during 2012 in Cancun, Mexico with our two daughters. This time we did it with some of our closest friends, and we're grateful that they made it possible to join us in our celebration. We did a lot of planning to make it happen, and I have to commend Madonna and Amy for help organizing this vacation.

We did the Southern Caribbean Cruise, with the following destinations: St. Marteen, Bonaire, Aruba, and Curaçao. What a vacation it had been! Traveling with my friends was a vacation to remember. We were touched by James and Donna's surprise to us; our cabin was decorated with matching pillows and throws. I would like to thank everyone for the laughs, the fun, the adventure, and the memories. We're looking forward to more cruises and vacations in the future together. Here are the itineraries of our vacation cruising the happy Dutch islands.

Before we boarded our cruise ship we stayed one day in Puerto Rico to do some sightseeing, we rode the trolley to go around the old town San Juan, but we don't have enough time to explore the town.

1. Saturday - Departing Puerto Rico (Embarkation) April 29, 2017

2. Sunday - Philipsburg, St. Maarten, April 30 2017

a. Mano Beach - Dutch side of the Caribbean Island of St. Martin. Famous for the Princess Juliana International Airport adjacent to the beach. The flight coming in was so close to people at M13, it looked like we could touch the aircraft.

b. Pic Paradise or Pic du Paradis is the highest point in a chain of hills on the island of St. Martin with an elevation of 424 miles.

c. Celebrating our anniversary (photo shoot and dinner)

3. Monday - May 1, 2017 at Sea (Cruising)

70's theme show at the Promenade

4. Tuesday - Kralendijk, Bonaire - May 2, 2017
a. Flip Flop Tree - it has at least 150 flip flops hanging on the tree

b. Cactus tree

c. Ship on the shore

5. Wednesday - Oranjestad, Aruba (One Happy Island) - May 3, 2017
a. California Lighthouse located at Hudishibana near Arashi Beach. This lighthouse was named for the steamship California which was wrecked nearby on September 23, 1891.

b. Hooiberg - 165 miles high volcanic formation on the island of Aruba

c. Aruba National Bridge - collapsed limestone bridge naturally formed by waves. It collapsed on September 2, 2005.

d. Ayo Rock Formations - enormous rock clusters offering surrounding trails, steps leading to the top scenic views.

e. Aloe Vera Plant in Aruba

6. Thursday - Willemstad, Curacao - May 4, 2017
a. Queen Juliana Bridge - is a four lane road arch bridge crossing the St. Anna Bay in Willemstad, the capital of Curacao. Height is 56m. (185 ft) above the waterline, the highest bridge in the Caribbean.

b. Sightseeing neighborhood area - on the Punda side of Willemstad is Handel Skade, the picturesque stretch pier, Colonial Dutch buildings painted in brilliant, pink, blue and yellow line in the waters of St. Anna Bay.

c. Riffort Village - was built in the 19th Century to protect Curacao from pirates and invaders. It's 5 foot walls now house an upscale shopping malls booming with high-end stores.

d. Queen Emma Ponton Bridge - known as swinging Old Lady, floating pedestrian bridge that connects Willemstad's two halves, Punda and Otrabunda. Built in 1888.