Hi… Gosh when I first heard about this program I said it sounds to good to be true! Then I thought there are truly so many deserving people out there what would be my chances? I also thought if I nominate myself was I being selfish…then I just decided to go for it. I know what I’m asking for is not out of selfishness its out of both want and need which to me is a dream. My husband and I have been married for almost 21 years, but we met back in kindergarten. We’ve raised a beautiful and intelligent adult daughter who lives with her son in Iowa and were extremely close. My dream dates back a bit nearly 21 years ago when Jeffery and I were preparing to take our vows. We didnt have the smoothest path getting to the alter, but we were finally doing it. It started off being exciting, then overwhelming, then frustrating, but later it ended up being heartbreaking. within 22 days of or wedding one of my sisters gave birth to a beautiful healthy baby boy, then suffered back to back strokes. 5 days later my Moms baby sister died from cancer, then my Moms life long friend known to me as Auntie Janelle was found dead in her home on my Moms day of birth from an apparent heart attack, the truly ironic thing is 2 days before her apparent death she left me a message on my answering machine saying she was so happy and proud of me and that she would be at the wedding with bells on! At this point I wanted to postpone our wedding. I felt like it was to much tragedy and I wanted this to be a happy time for everyone, but listening to others who were saying this would be a good distraction (are distractions ever really good especially when referring to a wedding/marriage)? We decided to move forward with our wedding and 2 days before my husband to be sisters fiance’ died in his sleep from an unknown heart condition! UNBELIEVABLE, I know if I hadn’t lived it I would be thinking the same thing. Needless to say the wedding was nice, but not what I wanted or had envisioned for myself, my husband to be or our family and friends. The honeymoon wasn’t much better, heavy hearts, hurt feeling, and mis-spoken words didn’t help. Fast forward to the last 4 years of our lives. Jeffery and I are still married, but it hasn’t been without its struggles and challenges. We’ve both lost our parents… my husbands mom and died unexpectedly 6 months apart. I lost my mom and a sibling 6 months apart. I’ve. had to deal with health issues of our own, loss of employment, income. It’s just really taken it’s toll on us individually and collectively. We have faith and a small support system, and things are slowly showing improvement. Our 21st marriage/wedding anniversary is approaching soon November 23rd and I would love a Romantic All Inclusive Spa retreat/get-a-way for my husband and I. I’m a little afraid to fly so it doesn’t have to be hours away. I’m also a bit of a germ a phobe so I don’t like a lot of cloth or carpet (just saying). My husband and I have become so distant, we’re the go to people for everything when it comes to our family and friends. We can’t afford to do this for ourselves, and I feel its L…O…N…G.. OVER DUE.
Here’s to DREAMING!