Last year at this time, we were living it up in Costa Rica (with no clue of the deadly cancer that was growing inside of me)...

Looking back at these shots, it's so hard to believe it's just been 12 months ago. So much has happened in those 12 months...seems like forever ago.

And just two lifetimes years ago, we were exploring St. John's, US Virgin Islands...

There is nothing quite like a tropical vacation in the middle of a Hoosier winter to make this girl's heart sing.

But it just wasn't meant to be this year.

We've got a couple of fabulous vacations planned for July and September, but for now we're sticking close to home and focusing on healing and getting stronger.

A few years ago, I sat at our kitchen table in the dead of winter and longingly told Kim, "I want to go where there's fresh pineapples."

Kim promptly answered.  "Put on your coat.  We're heading to Kroger."

Not exactly what I had in mind....but gotta admit, the man is clever.

That's how I'm feeling this year.  

I'm craving palm trees and tropical breezes and, yes, fresh pineapple.

God had other plans for us this year...but you better believe that next February we'll be finding us a tropical spot for a few days.

This year, though, I've got to settle for some...

...tropical dreamin'.