Happy New Year everyone!As you already know (or may have learned from my last blog entry), my Mom (and Jessica and Colby's Grandma), Mary-Jo Daughtrey, passed away on January 1, 2008. Many thanks to all our family and close friends who have reached out to us throughout the holiday season. While I had some "down days", I've tried to think positively, focusing on the happier times, especially for the holidays. To honor Mom in 2009, we (the 4 of us plus my brother) went to Emerald Isle Beach last weekend (the weekend after New Year's) for a time of reflecting and relaxa
tion. It was really good to be away with my immediate family.
tion. It was really good to be away with my immediate family.
The girls, Nathan and I got up really early on Saturday to watch the sun come up. It was amazing to see all the different phases over approximately 45 minutes to an hour! A 
couple 
of times during the day, we walked the beach, hunting for shells, just as we did with our Mom when we were kids. Emerald Isle was Mom's favorite beach and we spent a lot of time there growing up.
couple 
of times during the day, we walked the beach, hunting for shells, just as we did with our Mom when we were kids. Emerald Isle was Mom's favorite beach and we spent a lot of time there growing up.Last year, we went to the beach for a day to scatter Mom's ashes in the ocean. It was an 
unusually warm day for January and as you may recall, just after we sent her ashes out to sea, we saw dolphins swimming out in the water... as if calling Mom to come join them for a swim. On this January 2009 trip, the 
air was a little cooler, but the sun came out big and bright and on a couple of occasions during the weekend, we saw dolphins again, dancing in the waters! It was as if Mom sent them to say hello and let us know she was there with us.
unusually warm day for January and as you may recall, just after we sent her ashes out to sea, we saw dolphins swimming out in the water... as if calling Mom to come join them for a swim. On this January 2009 trip, the 
air was a little cooler, but the sun came out big and bright and on a couple of occasions during the weekend, we saw dolphins again, dancing in the waters! It was as if Mom sent them to say hello and let us know she was there with us.Another delightful way to remember Mom is the "365 project" that my brother is doing to honor Mom. It's based on one of Mom's favorite hymns that we frequently sing in church, "Let There be Peace on Earth". Please see Nathan's blog through his website for daily updates! (http://www.nathandaughtrey.com/ or more directly, http://marimbamisadventures.blogspot.com/).
In just a few short days, the Rabalais family will embark on our first cruise as a family of four to the Western Caribbean aboard the Carnival Legend! We are very excited about this trip, as we feel that these types of family trips are sort of a lifeline to our happiness as a family.
So, my friends, my next post will be filled with many happy memories from Cozumel, Gr
and Caymans, Belize, and Isla Roatan in Honduras...
and Caymans, Belize, and Isla Roatan in Honduras...
Best wishes for a very happy, healthy, and fun 2009!
Love, Heather
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