Mark and I recently celebrated our eighth wedding anniversary. We eloped to Antigua in the West Indies and a tropical traveler was born! Mark has traveled all over the world as he was in the US Navy for twenty years. We never knew each other as we only had one year of high school together as we were both "imports" to our little town. He was in history class with me and thats all I remembered of him until we met up 24 years later in 2001 at the YMCA on the walking track. At the risk of sounding corny, almost nine years ago we "walked off into the sunset" together! 
For our fifth wedding anniversary we went to Jamaica and renewed our wedding vows. We compare our five years together to most couples twenty-fifth!
The resort provided us with a beautiful cake and champagne reception after the renewals.
I loved checking our room every afternoon to see what cute towel creation that maid had left on the bed.
Mark surprised me with a private candlelit dinner on our anniversary here in this little cozy spot. Security guards are everywhere at the resort. Although during dinner the guard did walk off and up the beach! There are so many hawkers of jewelry, shells and carved art on the outskirts of the resort and they also paddle their surf boards outside the swimming area, all of them trying to outshout the others so they could attract customers. They love to chat with the guests and we brought home some beautiful gifts!
This man pulled his little boat up on the very edge of the resort every morning and quickly made friends with Mark. He insisted on having his photo taken!
Mark snorkeled alot and I watched from the nice, sunny beach.
This is a private island belonging to the resort and a boat who take guests out there to have dinner. During the day one could go out and laze around the bar and lovely pool out there. 
Peacocks roamed freely.
This is a view of the resort from the private island. I was amazed by the different colors of the water.
38 comments:
looks like a lovely time...we have been married 16 years so it will be a long time until we hit our 25th. Glad you were able to renew your vows and enjoy such a lovely place.
So good to re-visit Jamaica. Everythig looks so different in your blog. I can feel the "heat".
Oh this is a lovely post, so happy for both of you....:-) Hugs
It ain't fair! It ain't fair! I'd LOVE to be there right now. You got so many wonderful photos, Cheryl. I had fun seeing them. Thank you for sharing this special trip with us.
I'm SO jealous!!! *sigh* maybe some day! Its gorgeous, glad you guys are so happy!!
Cheryl. looking at these picture bring me joy... both of u are one blessed couple. Life is precious, do treasure the happy moments together and loving is each other is the best thing that ever happen to anyone.. :) Happy Anniversary!
Cheryl, I'm so happy for you and Mark that you two are so happy together. Thanks for sharing these stories about your marriage and vow renewal. These are very precious memories! I would love to have a candlelit dinner in that spot right on the water! Mark is quite the romantic!
Congrats on your eighth!!
Vicki
such a fun visit...oh I'm ready for summer
Congrats Cheryl! It's cute how you two found each other. The pictures are breathtakingly beautiful. How different it is from Maine! Hope you enjoy your stay in Jamaica :)
All the best to you and your wonderful hubby!
Congratulations on eight years, Cheryl. Your 5th year visit to Jamaica looked awfully inviting, maybe you should do it every 5 years. I've only been as far south as Florida, I loved the ocean, but not the heat, I've always thought I would love Maine.
I think it's wonderful that you and Mark renewed your vows on your fifth anniversary. I can relate to your statement about thinking of your fifth as a twenty-fifth. Betsy and I figured we would have a lot of anniversaries, which is why we celebrate monthiversaries of our wedding. It looks as if you had a great time in Jamaica.
Hi Cheryl! I see you at so many blogs that I stop by, and so I figured I should stop by and say hello. We travel in the same blogging circles. Your photos are beautiful! I am so ready to see flowers like the ones you posted. I've had enough of winter!
That's looks like a wondeful and romantic time. Congreats on your 8yrs. I really enoyed the pictures from your 5th. I've never seen such beautiful water.
It sounds like Mark and I were in the Navy at the same time. I was only in the navy for 4 years during the 80's.
I hope you have a great week!
P.s. I like the new look of your blog!
Oh Cheryl, this one made me cry.. You two have the kind of love that George and I have.... We got married on June 23, 2001--we'll be married 9 yrs. this June!!!!!! As George told you, we celebrate Month-aversaries!!!! We also celebrate the date of our first kiss, our first date, etc. Our love--like yours--is just awesome!!!!!
Love the pictures. Thanks SO much for sharing.
Hugs,
Betsy
What a special anniversary celebration renewing your vows. You are a wonderful couple.
congrats, you're so CUTE together!
congrats on ur 8th year together. hope there are many more happy years to come. both of you look g8. the place is so exotic too. so its the right place for the right people at the right time.
Congrats on your aniversary! A romantic escapades!
Wow, looks like a lovely trip or two. And it seems you have found one romantic fellow. Good for you, hang onto him.
You and your hubby look radiant in the pictures. The place is just Paradise, and the atmosphere around, so romantic!
Happy Anniversary!
What great pictures, Cheryl! Steve and I never went on a honeymoon, so just recently we've been talking about going somewhere tropical. Hopefully we can make that happen around our 10th anniversary.
Cheryl,
Congratulations upon your 8th wedding anniversary. Thanks for sharing the beautiful photos of Jamaica. Looks like you and Mark had a wonderful time at that beautiful place. What a lovely land. I want to go there sometime.
I was surprised to find this post and not cold, cold, Michigan somewhere. LOL
Nice to see you guys know what it is all about. Congratulations. Make every day count.
lovely! happy anniversary!
How wonderfully romantic! May you have years of happiness, together. I loved reading about you in your profile. Keep up the wonderful spirit.
Thank you all very much for your lovely comments. Glad you enjoyed the tropical trip. When I need to de-stress, I just think of Antigua or Jamaica, standing on a warm sandy beach, looking at the beautiful blue water, sipping on a pina colada....
All very romantic. My son married on a beach in Fiji about five years ago; now he and his wife are about to holiday on another tropical island with their two little boys!
Such a beautiful love story, Cheryl! Made me fall in love over again! Such a beautiful place and so many wonderful photos! More anniversaries to come for you guys! *hugs*
Congrats and nice photos.
Hi Cheryl, WOW! Outstanding photos. Really beautiful to see the crystal waters. And it sure warmed me up as we still shivering in our Canadian Winter.
Glad to read Mark was in the Navy.
Just like the song, 'Cindy....I joined the Navy to see the World...'.
Cheryl, congratulations on your 8th wedding Anniversary. Here's wishing you many, many more to come, with lots of sunshine, laughter and good health, not to mention, ahemmm, 2 moon nights, ha ha.
Have fun Cheryl....and my best regards to Mark.
Love his moustache and beard, ha ha...Lee.
Oh wow! What a wonderful way to celebrate your anniversary! Lovely place indeed! You and Mark are a blessed couple! Amazing how fate worked on you guys! Ha ha.. imagine? You met again after twenty-four years coz you're bound to love each other for life! Fantastic!
Congratulations to you and Mark!
Cheryl, I don't know how I missed this post. Shame on me because it is wonderful. Congratulations.
Lin: No matter how many years Mark and I have, we are packing all we can into them!
rainfield61: Ah, so you have been fortunate enough to visit Jamaica as well. We've also been to Ochos Rios as well as Montego Bay.
Bernie: Thanks for your sweet comment.
Aunt Jean: Start saving your change, we hope to go to St. Lucia in another year or so...the more the merrier! I want to do the zip-line through the rainforest!
Margaret: Well if it weren't for you we probably would never have even made it to Antigua, so I will blame the travel bug on you!
reanaclaire: Thanks so much for your very thoughtful comment!
Lucy the Cat: Thanks for the lovely comment. I think I found the "right one" for sure. Life is good!
Deb: Thanks for stopping by. Today sort of felt like spring, there is hope!
Rose Belle: Thank you very much for the lovely thought. Good things come to those that wait is true for me!
Wanda: Thank you for coming by. Maine is lovely with its four seasons. We don't get very hot here, maybe the 80s or 90s in August!
George: Thanks. I do know how very important it is to celebrate monthiversaries, before Mark and I were married we celebrated each month as well!
Mare: I am so pleased you stopped by. I enjoy your blog and you will see me around! Its wonderful how we meet such nice bloggers through each others blogs.
James: Glad you liked the new look. It took me awhile but I did it (finally!) without help from Ashton. The header is one of my very favorites. I wonder if you and Mark were ever stationed together somewhere...Some day we hope to visit other countries as you do.
Betsy from Tennessee: Oh your comments were so nice. Thank you. I love following the adventures you and George have as they do remind me of us in a way! Happy 9th anniversary to you both and many, many more!!
TechnoBabe: Thank you very much for the lovely comment.
Gary's third pottery blog: Aw shucks, thank you!!
nituscorner: Thank you. I love your comment, the right place at the right time for the right people!
Pete: Thanks for coming by. I must admit we are very spoiled by these great trips...wish we could go yearly-ha!
Patty: Hello, yes I am hanging on to Mark! Sometimes one must wait for the best part of life, but it was well worth the wait for us!
DUTA: Yes, the Caribbean is heavenly as far as I am concerned! I could get very used to that kind of life but would have to have an endless supply of money to maintain it!
Heather: Oh I do hope that you and Steve can have a honeymoon that is somewhere very special. Highly recommend Sandals!
Brenda Kay Ledford: Thanks for your wonderful comment. I highly recommend a tropical vacation.
Abraham: I got tired of constantly complaining about the cold and snow so dug out the Caribbean photos for a change! It sure made me feel better.
Wenn: Thank you!
Rachna: I am glad you stopped by and left your lovely comment! Thank you.
Rinkly Rimes: Hello! Ah, Fiji..now that sounds very romantic indeed. And how wonderfull your son and his family can visit another lovely spot.
Tes: As always thanks for your lovely comment. I am glad everyone else enjoyed "the trip" as well! At least the photos added color to winter's drab...
Tiffany: Welcome and thanks for coming by!
Uncle Lee: Glad you came by and enjoyed the post. I am so glad that Mark decided to come here after the Navy years! I do hope the winter is finally giving you a much-deserved break. I think I need to move to the Caribbean for the winters....
Beng Gee: Oh thank you very much for the lovely words. I am indeed, a very fortunate person!
Linda: Hello! Glad you found the post. You've been busy with family I know so I can see how you may have missed it. I seem to be getting behinder and behinder in my blogging...have a nice week ahead!
You caught that peacock at the right time. Did you have to wait for a long time before he strutted his stuff?
Hi Ann, no I didn't have to wait too long. There were two peacocks actually "strutting" around and I waited for one to do its thing!
wish my lovely wife and me could do what you and hub did in Jamaica,,,, nice very nice ... happy for you
Oh my goodness, Cheryl... That is just so fabulous! What a beautiful, relaxing way to celebrate your years together.
Aaaaawwww...contragulations!!!
What a wonderful spot for romance.
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