A DREAM COME TRUE A YEAR IN THE MAKING
My family just came by from a dream-come-true cruise on the Princess cruise line. We traveled to Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel. But the cruise was just the vessel for my dream to come true. We took this trip so that I could spend a week with three of my favorite authors and their families.
And it worked out swimmingly (pun intended). We got to spend the entire week with two of the authors. All of our kids played together, which made traveling with kids much more fun. We are planning to get together in another Caribbean destination next year. I don’t know what your longshot dreams are, but I do know they can come true if we stay open and ready for the opportunity.
About a year ago, the authors posted that they were taking a family cruise and invited their followers to join. When I saw the Facebook post, I immediately called my husband at work, and we decided to put the deposit down on the trip. Here’s the thing about planning trips as a military family: You can plan as far in advance as you won’t, but that doesn’t mean anything will work out the way you planned.
We put down the deposit with the understanding that our trip as a family of three could easily turn into a solo adventure for me. No matter how far out or last minute we plan a trip, the military could easily throw a wrench in it. That doesn’t mean we stop planning; it just means we have to be prepared for the possibility.
My husband's leave wasn’t officially approved until three days before we left. This commander likes to wait until the last minute for understandable reasons, but it meant that we weren’t 100% sure everything would work out until it was time to load up the car. Living in that limbo is not something I am good at. I’ve gotten enough practice to minimize the stress, but it definitely hasn’t gone away.
It was easier to reckon with the possibility of taking this trip alone, though, because it was my dream come true. My husband was excited to meet the authors and ready for a week off from work, but it wouldn’t have been nearly as disappointing if he didn't get to go. That might be the biggest trick to making sure our dreams come true within the constraints of military life; we have to be willing to go at it alone.
Of course, dreams are always better when we get to celebrate them with our partners. Spending a week traveling the Caribbean with my husband and son was everything I needed right now, especially before heading into a very busy season of work. I am grateful that my family was there to make the most of this dream, and having them there fully enhanced my dreams. Bringing a toddler gave us access to the kid-centric activities that two of the authors were knee-deep in. A family affair is always more fun when the whole family is there.
I am so grateful that this dream came true, that we got to do it in style, and that doors opened because of this trip. Relationships were built, connections were made, and new dreams have grown. It was a wonderful gift, and I am so grateful for a family who supports my dreams, the opportunities that come my way, and my unwavering belief that joy is to be mine.