sailing, sailing...and a new "friend"

So today was another third termer weekend adventure.  It has been so nice to be able to have J around more, and for him to experience a lot of the what the island has to offer while he can.  Our friend Andrea had a lifelong dream to go out on a sailboat, and found a pretty good deal to make it come to fruition here in Grenada if she could gather 10-12 people to tag along for a 2+ hour charter.  

J and I were among them.  

I am prone to motion sickness and I had heard that sailboats were the worst offenders, and so I popped a WHOLE dramamine pill before take-off.  Alas, it did not work as well as I was hoping [or did it really work and I just didn't know that I was saved from some serious cookie tossing? I don't know...] but I felt relatively sick the whole time and wasn't able to engage in much conversation. However, when I was laying down with a cool drink in hand, feeling the cool breeze travel across my face while listening to the conversation around me, it was pretty relaxing.  I just couldn't sit up very long :)  I did manage to get some pictures because it really was very pretty.  J loved every minute of it, and didn't feel motion sickness at all...of course :)  But I am glad we were able to do this together, even if I am a novice at these types of adventurous things :)

We were able to watch the sunset and come back to Port Louis with the moon glowing above us and the city of St. George's glittering around us.  These are the moments I remember how beautiful this little island is truly, even though it is difficult living here at times. 

 

There she is!

 The planner herself! She was VERY excited :)

This was before I just gave up my attempt to hang out and laid down :) [photo courtesy of Andrea]

 Look! Haircut and clean-shaven! WIN!!!

 Friends with a mast.

 St. George's.

Another sailboat that would have been thousands of dollars to charter, ha!

Unfortunately, the awe was short lived as we got home to discover the HUGEST roach I've EVER seen [and I've seen quite enough for my lifetime, thank you] skittering over our stove where I had left some leftover PLAIN rice in our one pot [that has no lid] in my hurry to get out the door.  A dumb move on my part considering my knowledge of the bugs here, but I was hoping the stove [which is not attached to anything else in the kitchen] would have prevented any little food-snoopers. WRONG. I will never do that again.  And the worst part is that my fearless husband was unable to kill the sucker.  So it is still alive and well, probably waiting for us to go to bed to come out and search our house.  Ug, I just got some chills thinking about it...I also think I spotted some poop?? Not sure, but it sure did look like a goodie of some kind, and J said it was possible.  Gross.  Everything is currently soaking in a lot of water and tiny bit of bleach, just for our peace of mind. Well folks, sorry to end that story on such an awful note, but I gotta present the good and the bad, you know? :)  We're fine, really!  

Tomorrow night is the second installment of Batman back on campus in a lecture hall...then we will just wait until Grenada decides to buy and ship in the new movie reel so we can all see the third one :)  I hope everyones' weekends are going well!  

Much love from your sailing roach hunters here in Grenada :)

quote on friendship.

Today, as I am missing home a bit more than usual, I was thinking about the friendships the Lord has brought into our lives, and consequently searching for a good quote [outside of scripture] that might sum it up for me, and I stumbled across this one from CS Lewis...

“In each of my friends there is something that only some other friend can fully bring out. 

By myself I am not large enough to call the whole man into activity; I want other lights than my own to show all his facets. 

In this, Friendship exhibits a glorious “nearness by resemblance” to heaven itself where the very multitude of the blessed (which no man can number) increases the fruition which each of us has of God. 

For every soul, seeing Him in her own way, doubtless communicates that unique vision to all the rest. That, says an old author, is why the Seraphim in Isaiah’s vision are crying “Holy, Holy, Holy” to one another (Isaiah 6:3). 

The more we thus share the Heavenly Bread between us, the more we shall have.”

I am so thankful for the dear friends and family that indeed share with us this Heavenly Bread, and the daily remembrance of them encourages my soul :)  

Much love from Grenada.

first post-midterm weekend of the "fall" term.

So J had his first midterm this Friday which means that he had absolutely NOTHING to do this weekend except spend time with his wife :):) - which he did!  

Friday afternoon we headed straight to a new restaurant for both of us: "Umbrellas."  We got fries AND sweet potato fries [we were really hungry, and I was craving some "USA food"] and he got a pulled pork sandwich while I got a basil mayo chicken one.  We were both pretty impressed and glad to be in the shade of the restaurant, although Friday continued to be a pretty brutal day heat-wise.  

To continue our health kick, we then visited the ice cream factory that is literally a two minute walk from our apartment!! [Good thing we have a budget, is all I gotta say ;) ]  

We came home, took a nap [hey! it's hot and he took a test!] and then we walked to Lance Aux Epines beach [the now-closest beach to our place which isn't so typical as its filled mostly with sailboats, but its still very pretty and relaxing].  The rest of the night was filled with reading and watching a movie - it was very fun to have a whole day devoted to hanging out.  I am cherishing these times for when 4th term sucks the life out of everything... :(

Saturday J got up and played basketball [crazy man] and I slept in :)  Then when he got back we drove over to a place called "The Merry Bakery" and it was merry, indeed.  J had been wanting to try that place since last term when we found out about it, but it seemed to be closed every time we tried to swing by.  However, it was open when we got there and J finally got his long-anticipated cinnamon roll - straight out of the oven!!! It was very good, and definitely enough to fill the both of us up for breakfast, so then we headed home where I prepared lunch for the day before we went to campus to hang out with the Cappas before we went ...on a hash!

Now, I know I haven't talked about hashing on here before mostly because I had no desire to do one...ever.  But since J really wanted to go, and I didn't want to spend so long without him on our big weekend, I decided to toughen up and brave the experience.
Just a quick note on hashes:  It's usually a muddy, muddy hike through some densely forested area in Grenada with trails marked with little piles of paper.  There can be false trails, etc, and then there is a big party at the end with local food and drink for sale.  If you admit you're a newbie, you get a certificate after being hosed down with beer.  Yup.  Luckily, we knew this ahead of time, so we pretended like our hashing experience was old news.   

I mostly walked with my friend Angela while J walked a little ahead with our friend Phil, but it was still fun for us to do "together" and I think J appreciated that I tried it out :)  I got pretty muddy, and it was difficult to hike in Chacos [which, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that what they're for??] but it was a better experience that I thought it was going to be.  I also think I was lucky in getting the kind of hike we did that day.  I have heard of many other hashes that included rock scaling in the rain, etc., and others that last for hours and hours, and so I was grateful for our simple, muddy, yet beautiful one-hour hike :)  

Unfortunately, we were at the mercy of the bus driver for when we could leave, and apparently the bus driver likes to party.  Just to show you: we got done with the hash probably around 5:30, but we didn't leave until almost 8pm, and we were definitely all ready to go no later than 6:15pm.  That alone would probably keep me from going again.  Oh well.  I told Jonathan I would be willing to go on one or two more if he really wanted to...and preferably in the spring term when its "cooler"...but either way, it was nice to be able to say that we've "been there, done that"...I'm good with experiencing everything at least once so that I don't leave with regrets :)  

Here are some pictures that my friend Chloe took of us/for us...I know, I know, J needs a haircut...he's getting one tonight...or tomorrow.  Promise.

 See? MUDDY!!

 Angela and I

Chloe, Angela, me, my gigantic arm, Marieke...successful hash!

This morning we went back to a local church that some friends of friends found [long story, beginning in the states! It's crazy how small is the world!] and invited us to.  We were no longer "new visitors" so we didn't have to stand up and introduce ourselves again, but we were still addressed from the pulpit.  I don't know if that's the best way to make people feel welcome, but maybe its standard for people in Grenada :)  Anyway, its been encouraging to go there and hear solid teaching and to know that there is a church here in Grenada that is concerned with the gospel!  We also found out today that there are "sister" churches that may be closer to us, so we might check out those [right now its about a 15 minute drive, but in our car its a little scary ;) ]  We will see... :)

Tonight we are having a showing of "Batman Begins" in prep for the [hopeful] release of the movie in Grenada...sometime soon.  There have been phone calls made to the theatre, but no definite answers on when it will actually show.  But we are doing our best to end the weekend on a fun note, so we are showing it on the "big screen" in one of the lecture halls.  Should be a good time :)  So that wraps up our weekend!  I'm looking forward to the last three or so before J gets turned into med school zombie again :(  Be praying for him!

Much love from Grenada.

back in the saddle again.

So this is my first official day back in Grenada and I've made at least one new friend...the handy-man's dog.  Seriously.  This dog follows me everywhere, tries to walk into the apartment when I come home, and then chills outside my door in the meantime.  The sketchy little dude even pawed on my screen trying to get in...I threatened that he would pay for a broken screen if he tore it...he stopped.

Oh! And I also made an enemy.  Namely, the roach that was IN MY FRIDGE and I killed in cold blood [and cold surroundings]...it makes me sick to even think about it. 

A. How did it get there in the first place?

B. How LONG had it been in there??? [it's COLD!]

C. WHY was it in there?? I mean, what was it doing?? 

Luckily, a friend and neighbor [Amber] was over and came to the rescue by sacrificing her shoe to be the weapon.  Sucker was gone quick, but not after a bit of squealing and "Ew! Gross! Seriously!?!?"s...it was disgusting.

HOWEVER, on a better note, I have thoroughly cleaned the place, and I am currently drying our sheets and other newly cleaned items in our FREE dryers downstairs [after being escorted by fore-mentioned neighbor watch dog...who, by the way, is the most ridiculous looking "guard dog" I've ever seen...who is scared of a mini bear-faced, puffy haired, 25 pound dog? I will try to take a picture soon...]  I went grocery shopping [with Amber] and bought enough food for this week and stocked up on some things for the term.  

Surprisingly, it feels very normal to be back here again.  I even drove to the store and didn't have to think TOO hard about driving on the "wrong" side of the road.  Being back in the grocery store felt very normal - it is great to know where everything is already and the lack of adjustment is very refreshing.  I still hate the heat, but our apartment is very breezy so its actually bearable and even cool at night!  Of course, I really miss home, but its been so nice to be back in a home-place with my J and get settled back in and mentally prepare for the year to come.  He was very sweet when I came home, by the way.  He came to the airport prepared with a dark chocolate bar in the car, white wine in the fridge at home, and surprised me this morning with a goat cheese omelet breakfast in bed [which really is our only option...we only have one chair...] but needless to say, very sweet and I am so grateful for him - he really did a great job setting up the place as best he could before I came :)

So tonight I think I will be making some beef and potatoes since he's been missing out...plus, that can be well-paired with white wine, right?  :)  I miss everyone, always...but know that for now, we are doing well in Grenada.  

Much love.

the fourth with the fam...

Currently, I am with my family in NY and J is back in Grenada.  It's been great to be home with them and spend some good time hanging out and experiencing Buffalo a bit :)  And this was a great July 4th!  Mom made a bunch of food and my Grandma, Pap, and Aunt Sue also came for the celebration :)  Considering I haven't seen them in over a year, it was a great reunion...lots of food, playing "Telestrations" [similar to our telephone/drawing game we played in college] and lots of laughs, it was a great night :) A neighboring couple also came over to join us in our eating revelries, and Mom and I are going to go walking with the wife tomorrow - finally some exercise!  I've been a slacker this summer for sure :)

 With Dad :)

 With Mom :)

 The Aunt and the Nieces.

 Missing Anna here...

Aunt Sue decided to borrow my hair...

We also happened to be matching :)  I'm so excited she and Mom will be down in October to visit!!!

Happy Fourth, everyone!  And let us remember out true freedom: that in Christ...in Whom we will still be free when the world as we know it fades away...He will never change nor fail us in any way :) Praise be to Him forever!

brooke's first birthday :)

 I miss this adorable little face and blabbering :)  Here are some highlights from the fun get-together...Staci made ALL the pizzas, it was incredible!

I call this her senior photo :)

 Sweet feeding her daddy :)

 Chattin' with her friend...before she moved in to steal all his food and sippy cup -ha!

 "Hiiiiii...."

Pretty Beth :)

 The aftermath :)

 The Limantis :)

 Do I like this?

 YEP!!!

 Daddy thought it was a good idea to interrupt the cake eating for a picture...

 Then this happened.

 Then I got my cake back, and I was fine :)

 Jonathan's reading club.

Wonderful family, wonderful friends :)

So glad we got to share in this with you all!!!