This trip has been a strange mix of wonderful and surreal. Sometimes I feel like I’m on Pinocchio’s Pleasure Island, where every vice is indulged – especially gluttony and greed. Food is always available, and last night at dinner I had TWO desserts! Cheesecake and chocolate lava cake. How’s a person to choose, right?

I’m just glad I don’t drink alcohol. I think if you have any predilection for substance abuse or “isms”, you are in trouble on this floating city of temptation! I can’t even – it just flows like really expensive water here. You could ruin your whole trip with hangovers and forget half of it. I wonder how a parent avoids sending the message that drinks are necessary in order to relax and have fun. I’m not saying it’s impossible, but I am glad I don’t have to figure that one out. I think explaining Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy is complicated enough!

I’ve been studying Nephi’s Vision of the tree of life (1 Nephi 11-15) and it’s starting to invade my own dreams. I woke up in the night dreaming I was in a spacious building with no foundation, only to realize that it was true! 😳😁

I wonder how many times I miss the obvious parallels God places in my life. I think today about how easy it is to eat and not be satisfied because I’m trying to satisfy a hunger that’s not for food or drink with the wrong things. It seems easy to try that, especially when it’s what everyone around you is also doing. It’s hard to see another way if there is no one there pointing it out to you. I think that’s one of the benefits of the different 12-step programs, and also the benefit of having loving family, or church leaders who try to help point out a better way. I think that’s what Jesus did, right? He came to show us all the way to live God’s Plan of Happiness. Jesus is The Way, The Light, and The Life. When we eat what he offers and drink his Living Water, then we can be filled and never hunger or thirst again.