MSC Divina Vegan Cruise March 2014

MSC Divina Vegan Cruise March 2013

Slowly starting about four years ago, I noticed more and more inflammation has crept into my body.  It was getting bothersome but not painful.  So, in November I had read a book on foods that contribute inflammation.  I found that foods like wheat products, dairy products, tomatoes, potatoes, corn, sugar, citrus fruits, pork, commercial (non-organic) eggs, shellfish, peanuts, peanut butter, coffee, alcohol, juice, decaffeinated teas, soda, anything containing hydrogenated oils, processed foods and fried foods contribute inflammation.  The way that our bodies react to the food we eat has always fascinated me.  I should have been a dietitian or nutritionist.  I experimented some of the recipes from that book and in January I decided to go vegan.  I looked up recipes from Oh She Glows and it has quickly become my favorite site to go to.  We loved some of the recipes and some not so much.  It was a trial and error experience as I have never cooked vegan foods.  I found ingredients I have never heard of like nutritional yeast.  This is not the same yeast that make bread rise, but it is deactivated yeast.  It is commonly used in vegan recipes to replace a cheese taste.  It is also high in protein and it is fortified with B-12, a vitamin vegans need to have.  I actually have come to love this stuff!  Harmons is the only store I know that carry it.  So, now I shop at Harmons because they have most of the foods that cater to vegans.

In the meantime while I was educating myself with books and websites about the lifestyle of vegans, Andrew and I wanted to go on a vacation.  Andrew loves cruises but I don’t.  I get bored on the ship.  It bothers me that we have to get back to the ship so soon and I want to explore and see everything I can about the culture.  However, I wanted to come up with a compromise that both Andrew and I can agree on a trip.  I thought how about a vegan cruise?  This is a compromise because I have come to love vegan foods and Andrew wasn’t sold on some of the vegan dinners.  I’m not an excellent cook by any means, but I like to think I am a fine cook.  He just doesn’t like the healthy vegan recipes like salads, but he liked more of the “comfort” vegan foods.  Anyhow, I didn’t know if a vegan cruise existed, but just out of curiosity I typed vegan cruises on the Internet and that is how I found it.  We agreed and began preparing for this trip. 

This ship can hold 6,000 people (including crew members) and on board there were a total of 1,500 vegans.  This ship had a Holistic Holiday at Sea program that consisted of well-known vegan speakers, exercise and cooking classes all included.  They had presenters like Dr. T. Colin Campbell who is the bestselling author of “The China Study” a book on relationships between the impact of animal product and plant-based diet has on the human body, Rich Roll a world-renowned vegan ultra-endurance athlete and #1 bestselling inspirational memoir of, “Finding Ultra”, Robert Cheeke a vegan bodybuilder, motivational speaker and author.  Many others speakers were there too.  Topics included B-12, Osteoporosis, raising plant-based kids, etc.  I found that this would be a great learning opportunity.  I did not know this but fruits and vegetables have plenty of protein.  If you consume just fruits and vegetables (a lot of it) for one day you would get enough protein.  I also learned that 10% protein is all we need; in fact any more can lead to osteoporosis, arthritis and many other problems.  Scriptures from the bible cautions us to use such meat sparingly.  It motivates me all the more to kick it up a notch to eat more fruits and vegetables.  We attended two classes from Robert Cheeke and two more classes from Rich Roll.  We got our butt kicked!  Robert Cheeke sat at our table and we had a good conversation with him.  We met many wonderful people on the ship and they shared stories of how and why they became vegan.  

  

We had both never been to Miami Beach and wanted to arrive a day earlier.  We found this nice hotel at a very reasonable price considering it was on the beach.  Thanks to Trip Advisor!  We guessed the hotel is about 20 or so more years old judging by the decor and style and it was very clean.

We took an early flight so we could enjoy the beach as soon as we got there.

Afterwards, we went to dinner at the hotel and took a walk on the boardwalk at the suggestion from our waiter.

That was such a beautiful night and might I add romantic too!

The next morning, we got up early and put on our running gear and ran on the boardwalk so we could see the sunrise.  It was so beautiful and it made us feel alive to watch a new day begin.

Andrew wanted to run 6 miles and I was planning on 3 because it had been a while since I ran as I have shin splits to heal.  I enjoyed running so much that I could not help myself but ran the whole 6 miles!  My body paid for it.  It was well worth it.  I loved the sunrise, the boardwalk and the beach so much that I did not want it to end.

Here we are boarding on the ship.  We learned that the ship is 2 years old and what a gorgeous massive thing it was.  I wore my “Powered by Plants” t-shirt that I ordered online and it arrived a day before we left for our vacation.  Good timing!  Many people loved my shirt.  I must have had about 15 compliments!  I thought it was funny.

We were pleased with the size of our stateroom.  We did not pay extra for a bigger room.  It was supposed to be small but got this nice big room.  Sweet! 

We were out at sea for two days and I was anxious to get to our first stop.  We arrived to St. Maarten, Phillipsburg.  I wanted to do a little shopping and site seeing before it was time for our excursion.

Our excursion plan was a catamaran boat ride to a snorkeling area and then afterwards to the beach called Simpson Bay.  It was on the French side.  Later we found out from other people from the ship that they had been to a topless beach.  It’s a good thing Andrew didn’t see that topless beach.  We would never have gotten him off vacation!  Ha ha!  When we arrived to the beach we jumped off the boat holding hands and plunged into the ocean and swam to the shore.  The water was warm and the beach was beautiful.

We were also surprised to see an airplane take off and land just off shore.  It was so fun to watch that.  It wasn't at all like this:

Airplanes took off and landed behind these homes.

Before we got to the beach, while snorkeling, we were surprised to see people in old fashioned diving suits at the bottom of the sea about 20ft below walking through a built maze to look at a shipwreck.  We thought that was pretty cool and took underwater pictures from a cheap camera and hoped they turned out okay. Well, it didn't turn out so well.  We only got a few out of the many pictures we took.

  

The next day our second stop was at San Juan, Puerto Rico.  We had an excursion planned to go zip lining and rappelling.  We were looking forward to the rappelling part but it was a joke.  The advertisement was misleading.  It was still fun though.  One of the presenters Rich Roll, his wife and kids was on the same excursion with us.  Here is a video of us. 

On Friday, just as we were inside our cabin getting ready to get off the ship to the Bahamas beach, we heard an announcement from the captain that due to bad weather the sea was too rough to tender from the ship to shore and cancelled our stop to Bahamas.  We had no window in our cabin and had no idea it was raining so, we were surprised to hear that.  We wanted to try the stand-up paddling and more snorkeling.  You should have seen Andrew throw what you might call a childlike tantrum!  Let me explain why.  In the past, we have been cursed with bad weather at almost every vacation.  I thought it was funny.  We were so bummed, but when we went to the indoor pool, we could definitely see pouring rain outside.  So, we had to spend another day at sea, blah.  I was glad to have a few books to read.  What was I reading?  “Finding Ultra” and I highly recommend this inspiring book! 

To make up for our lost time at Bahamas, we went bowling, experienced the F1 stimulator race car driving and the 4D extreme cinema.

Many of you might be wondering how the food was.  Well, the food was just okay.  It could have been better.  We were expecting great tasting food and it was not.  When I started cooking vegan dishes, I chose foods the way that Andrew and I would enjoy.  The ship did not provide the same familiar foods.  They had to accommodate everyone meaning that there were two menus to choose from and that was either oil free or regular vegan dishes.  At first, we did not know we were eating oil free dishes, but then caught on to that and asked for regular vegan dishes and it was a little better but not much.  Andrew was such a great sport about the vegan dishes at our evening meals.  The ship had a restaurant with two floors.  The upstairs served regular meat dishes and downstairs served vegan dishes.  The last three days he was told it was okay to order food from upstairs and eat with me downstairs.  We tried to eat upstairs and have them bring the vegan dishes upstairs but they were against that.  I am not sure why.  Almost every morning, Andrew got meat dishes at the buffet and I took advantage of the vegan buffet.  Even Andrew was not impressed with the meat dishes.  After having had just okay food, he is realizing what a great cook I am.  Ha ha!  Like I said, the food was just okay, but we were very pleased with great weather all week long and had a great time.    

        

  

 

         

   

My Conversion Story

My Conversion Story

When Joshua was 2 ½ years old, my ex-husband Jim and I discussed attending church.  Together we tried to find a new church and religion.  Unfortunately, Jim and I had different views on religion.  Jim was raised Catholic and went to Catholic school.  I was raised without religion in my life, but the funny thing about that is that I remember praying sometimes whenever I had difficulties.  Looking back on that, I think it was the example of my extended Mormon family who prayed at the dinner table.  So just having a Mormon background and learning from their example, I prayed and hoped that it would help me.  Growing up, I prayed alone in my bedroom with the door closed.  Being so young, I didn’t understand why they prayed, but I remember feeling love and comfort, and it gave me hope.  I was never sure if there was a God, but I prayed anyway.  I had a sincere desire to learn more about religion and its role in my life.  I was determined to surround myself with good people who could uplift me and challenge me to be a better person.  Our marriage was already on the rocks and on one particular day, again, we had an argument.  I was very emotionally hurt and I prayed to the Lord about it because that had always brought me comfort.  The next day missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints came to my home.  Wow!  Certainly nothing is a coincidence in the work of the Lord.  The missionaries had a message to give me and it was the most important invitation to learn about Christ.  I was pleasantly surprised by their visit and was excited to meet someone from my Mormon background.  I wish I could remember their names and look them up and talk to them.  I invited them into our home and listened to what they had to say.  I felt the Spirit witness to me that they spoke the truth. The missionaries invited us to church and Jim was apprehensive about going but went a few times.  Most Sundays, it was Joshua and I that went to church.  When I read the Book of Mormon for the first time, I had never read scripture before and I was truly amazed at the stories in it.  I sought spiritual confirmation of the truth.  I hadn’t seen angels or witnessed a miracle or received a revelation, but the spirit told my heart the truth.  Even when I did not yet understand or accept all the principles of the gospel, I accepted the Lord.  I had a faith in prayer that carried me through periods of doubt.  It was my prayers as a youngster that I recalled in my greatest need.   

I was baptized shortly afterwards in May of 1988 by the missionaries who taught me the gospel.  Jim did not want to read the book and he had mixed feelings about my baptism.  However, he didn’t try to interfere with my decision and even came to watch my baptism.  I opened the scriptures to Joseph Smith-History 1:14-17 where it describes how Joseph went to the grove to have a personal prayer: “I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.  It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered…When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages.”  Instantly I knew that Joseph Smith had indeed seen Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ.  I am grateful that I was granted this witness of the truthfulness of the First Vision. 

Jim and I separated after three years of marriage and eventually divorced two years later.  I wanted to seek counseling but Jim was against it.  We were not meant to be together as it takes two people to make a marriage work. 

I moved to live with my parents in New Jersey.  So much had interrupted my spiritual growth.  My "testimony" of the gospel was still new.  I was going through depression about the divorce and it was difficult to attend church as I simply did not feel like going.  I eventually became inactive and went back to my old ways.  I had never practiced going to church every Sunday and was not used to that lifestyle.  The Word of Wisdom was very easy to commit to as I didn’t smoke or drink alcohol.  I knew the church was true, but at the time then I wasn’t in a place where I could be 100% committed.  I believed in the truthfulness of the gospel but faced the difficult task of transitioning into a new culture with new expectations.  Sometimes I found myself asking, “Can I really do this?” “But when we live what we know, more knowledge and strength will come. The Lord will make of us what we could never make of ourselves.”  The Lord knows us better than we know ourselves.       

When I moved to Salt Lake City in 1992, I wanted to strengthen my spiritual status.  I felt that I was missing something in my life and I was very aware that the happiness that I felt when I was baptized was now absent.  It was at this time I was ready to be committed and become active in the church again.  Josh and I went to church across the street from our basement apartment every Sunday.  Also, dating life was bleak as I was not putting myself out where I could meet men of the same faith.  So, I went to a singles ward at the Monument Park ward during the summer time when Joshua was away visiting his father in Georgia.  I went to almost all of the fun activities that the ward put together and had so much fun making new friends.  In August 1998, a man came into my life who I believe had a profound effect on me.  I marveled at him.  He was truly a Christ-like example.  I decided then that I needed to prepare myself to go to the temple.  I understood the importance and seriousness of the temple and I felt that I had to be ready to take upon those promises I had to make.  I take the promises I make very seriously.  It was good that I waited until the time was right for me.  I learned that the temple is a place where we can perform baptisms for the dead, be sealed as families, and make higher covenants with Heavenly Father.  On February 24^th, 1999, I took my own endowments at the Bountiful Temple.  I had my sister-in-law Gayle as my escort and my aunt and two cousins came as well.  It was the most beautiful, joyous, and wonderful experience I have ever had.  I understand why my relatives had suggested I take the early morning session at the Bountiful Temple.  When I arrived to the Celestial room, the sun was beaming through the window.  It was so beautiful!  My sister-in-law said my face was glowing!  I felt a warm blanket around me and it was at that moment I felt what it would be like to be wrapped in the love of our Comforter.  I was emotionally overwhelmed.  So many tears were coming down my face.  I didn’t want to leave!  When it was over, Gayle suggested we have lunch.  I didn’t want to leave, so I chose the cafeteria in the temple.  When I was driving home from the temple, I wanted to go back.  I made a promise I would go back regularly as often as I can.  I enjoyed being inside the temple where it was peaceful, loving, quiet, and away from the chaotic world.

I read a book called, “Teachings of Presidents of the Church…Brigham Young”.  There is a chapter in the book that talked about the blessings of trials, chastening, and persecution. That chapter hit me hard.  It read, “It is recorded that Jesus was made perfect through suffering.  Why should we imagine for one moment that we can be prepared to enter into the kingdom of rest with him and the Father, without passing through similar ordeals?”  This gave me a new perspective.  Since it takes a lifetime of learning and growing, it is my hope to accomplish many things the Lord would have me do in this life.  I know I have so much work to do.  I read somewhere that so many people fear hard times. They go through their life solely seeking comfort and avoiding personal growth at all costs because it hurts.  Life is like a choose-your-own-adventure book.  We think we’d be on page 68, but we’re not.  Others thought they’d be at page 71 today, but are really on page 49 instead.  I believe it will still end well as long as you stay on a Christ-like route.  Some choices I have made were positive and others were negative.  The negative choices taught me lessons, and I learned from the consequences.  They helped me mature and gave me understanding.  Positive choices gave me freedom, happiness, improvement and confidence.  So, as time went on, just consistently doing simple things, like attending church meetings, studying the scriptures, praying, and serving in callings, has helped me nourish my testimony.  I learned about the gospel and grew “line upon line, precept upon precept”.

I am so grateful for the missionaries who came to my door and taught me the gospel.  I would not be where I am today without the gospel in my life.  The examples and teachings of Jesus Christ found in the scriptures is the way of life.  I know that he is the way.  I’ve been so fortunate to have met many kind people in my life.  They were people from all walks of life.  People who are kind make life a little brighter and make me want to be a better person.  I love this church because it gives meaning to everything I do. Before this I felt like I was floating through life — doing nothing too profound, yet nothing too bad.  I am so thankful for all of the wonderful people that have helped me get to this point in my earthly existence.  This church has changed my life forever.

To my friends who want to know more about this church, I invite you to click on this link:

http://mormon.org/