So Thankful....For America :)

I think everyone should live on an island or in a third world country, it is eye opening!!!!!! I just love this little island, adore it really. Not sure how I feel about leaving here soon, but I do appreciate my country more than I ever have in my life. 


I know the U.S. is soooooo far from perfect, but I do have to say how thankful I am for all of the hard work people have put into our country and health of their citizens. Yes we have a long way to go but after my first experience here in a doctors office and hearing about Tylers experience in the hospital here I think we should all be thankful for a few seconds..... 


I know I am lame and corny BUT I just am missing my convenience and comfort back home this week. I miss the comfort of my doctor, my CVS down the street, my clean and always stocked publix, and my family. I am so lucky that I have my husband down here who won't leave my side unless I ask him to, who tucks me in every night, and usually wakes me up with the biggest smile on his face during the week days! I am also so lucky for my precious little children down here that give me the BIGGEST hugs everyday I walk in! I never feel more loved :) I have enjoyed taking them to dinner once a week and can't wait to continue it tomorrow night!!! KFC here we come!!


Anyways, I am so lucky to have this time here in Grenada as I learn to appreciate what I am soooo lucky to have and learn to help others everyday. 


My Dad is landing bright and early on Saturday morning to come visit!! I cannot wait!!!! Not quite sure what we are going to do yet...Eat......sit on the beach.....eat....I will keep thinking!! 




I love my little island of Grenada... adore!

Bad mood to Better mood :)

I had one of those days today.. I was a bit of a grump! I haven't been feeling the best so I decided to head to the campus clinic to see a doctor. I signed in and noted I was the wife of a student, waited 25 mins to then be called in. I was asked what I came in for then she said so you are not a student correct, well you need an appointment! Even though it says clear as day NO APPOINTMENT necessary! She said yes we should update that.. GRRRRR!!! She said I could make an appointment for tomorrow but I was so angry I made an appointment someplace else! No way they are getting my money.... This was the first time I felt a little helpless in Grenada...Im used to having my doctor right down the street who I trust and always solves my problem but here I know no one and do not trust anyone... I do have an appointment tomorrow at 2 and am crossing my fingers it goes well :) Anyways I came home in a terrible mood and Ty suggested maybe you should go play with the babies..... Excellent idea and that is just what I did... 


Here is little man Delante, cute as can be. He was so snuggly today and I just love that! I get sad when he just wants to run and play and stop cuddling :( He is really starting to try to talk, so fun!! 

Kippsie, KPC, KFC!?!?!

How ever they say it they just LOVE IT!! When I say they I mean the kids at the home here in Grenada! There are 27 kids who are currently living at the Belaire orphanage in Grenada. I am so lucky to have found the home and now almost visit them daily when work isn't crazy! These kids are just some of the most precious kids ever.

Is it super hard? YES Do I cry sometimes? YES Do I want to take them all home everyday? YES But I have never in my life felt more wanted by someone. 

You walk in the door and you are literally tackled by at least 6 kids just for hugs, they want to know how long you are staying and when you are coming back before you even start to play... Breaks my heart! Discipline as you can imagine is VERY tough with about 20 kids under 8 and 2 workers taking care of all of them! Did I mention 6 of them are under 2 and 1 is 6 months!!! What a handful, they do their absolute best and they really do love the kids. It is nearly impossible to discipline and have order with so many kids and also have one on one time with the kids. So I suggested that as a reward system if we get good news back from their teachers and they are good at home then Ms. Kara will take two kids to dinner a week! 

KFC to these kids is the holy grail! They just LOVE the chicken, fries and oh yeah Ketchup! They would eat the ketchup alone!! All joking aside, KFC is such a treat to them! Its delicious and also so much more food than they normally would receive. So I am so happy and just love to be able to do this! 

Last week was my first trip with a 4 and 6 year old! Goodness I am either becoming very old or just having an emotional night because I seriously just about cried 10 times. They were so excited.

The night started off with me picking them up and they seriously still wouldn't believe me until I told them to get dressed. They got in my car and had a little bit of water and a handful of fishies!!! (gold fish) We then went to the stationary store and bought a new pencil for school and a little tiny notebook. We then left for KFC! The line was SUPER long but they got a kick out of being there!! Remember this is their first trip to a restaurant and later to the grocery store! They ate every last piece of chicken, fries and TONS of ketchup!!! We then left to go to the grocery store to pick up a Popsicle!!! We ate our Popsicles in the car and headed back home! It was a fabulous night and all I wanted to do was just take them home with me. It was so rewarding and I can't wait till Friday when I get to bring two more kids to dinner! Here is a great video of them at KFC, and shondell's first time using a straw! So precious! The second video is just a video to hear (can't see them too dark) but I love listening to them talk about the night!

New Name, New Year, New Husband!

Well hello 2012, hello Kara Manis, hello husband!!!! So much to catch up on and to chat about! So I have a new name, its a new year and I guess I should say I now HAVE a husband and not a NEW one :) He is so handsome by the way and I love calling him my husband!


As you may or may not know I went home in October to finish planning the wedding. I thought I was way ahead of schedule until I touched down in Orlando.. it was a rush of planning and constant to do lists! Would I do it over again and go home sooner... probably not because I loved my time with Ty but would I like to plan a wedding again..probably not! Haha! I just adored my wedding and loved having all of my family and friends all in Orlando for the wedding. I do wish we could do it all over again but not plan it again!! I have a couple sneak peak pictures to share :) more to come soon! 

I had heard there was something called the wedding blues. Where after planning your wedding for so long you get pretty sad when its all said and done; I had a feeling I would have that because all the way up to the end I enjoyed the planning process. BUT Ty and I were so lucky because I hadn't seen him in 3 months, then a week later our wedding, then a week later Christmas, a week later our Honeymoon, then a week later back to Grenada! It was NON stop for about a month which kept my mind very occupied. We had an amazing Christmas, and an amazing (very lazy) honeymoon! Here was our daily schedule on our cruise.. sleep in.. breakfast...pool or off the boat...back on the boat to shower...nap...get dressed for dinner...dinner..go out.. to sleep! For 9 Days!! It was just fabulous!!! 


We are back in Grenada now and I just LOVE it here! I guess I would say I love the time with my new husband! Don't get me wrong I love Orlando BUT here I get him all to my self. Im so lucky! I have been at the orphanage here in Grenada almost everyday. 2 new babies and my old babies who I adore! I get so much back from those little kids and I am going to miss them when we leave in May! 

We only have 3 1/2 months here and I have a lot to do before we leave! I know Ty is ready to get back to the states but I'm not yet :( 


I will try to catch up some more soon but Happy New Year! Here is to an amazing 2012!!!!

Oh Crap....

My mom just said "Hey Kara, how about you make the Christmas turkey so you know how...."

Major major problem.... Maybe I shouldn't have shared my blog with my mom....Maybe I can pull the I am a newlywed spending time with my Husband.... or maybe I can tell her the only way I can make it is if I am fully naked..or maybe I can just start sneezing everywhere the night before.....I might be stuck....

The last Thanksgiving :)

As I called Tyler today over Skype and said Happy Thanksgiving, I just saw this little frown on his cute little face. He just looked sad. This is his second Thanksgiving that he has been down in Grenada and not back home. There is nothing like your moms thanksgiving and I know he misses it so much! I told him today though it is the very last Thanksgiving he will ever be alone!! I will be there from now on and I will be able to whip up my very best thanksgiving meal!! No promises! It makes me a bit nervous as I am not yet ready to do a whole meal alone YET!! Today I did a broccoli casserole and the mashed potatoes! The turkey is what is a bit frightening but who knows maybe next year it will be show time!! 


It is just crazy to think Tyler and I might be in New York next Thanksgiving! It will be such an exciting time for us, but just crazy that we have no idea where we will be for another 9 months!!! 


I hope you all are surrounded by your family and friends and you have lots of little blessings. I have so many I just can't even believe it. I am living a dream life right now and have SOOO many people to thank especially my family! 


I hope your tummies are full and happy!!! 


HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Paging Kara Wright?? Kara Wright?? Anyone!?!?

Well Hello there!!!! 


My mom wondered if I quit and gave up??!?! My answer is WEDDING OVERLOAD! I have to say I was pretty calm and collected regarding our wedding UNTIL I came home in October and realized my life is now CONSUMED by our wedding. Not only am I planning the wedding but I also have to do it with my cute fiance thousands of miles away :) Oh yah and have I mentioned he is quite busy down there, like 7AM-2AM studying!!!! I never realized what a labor of love a wedding is. Yes I knew it was a lot of work but had NO idea how much love, energy and time you put into 1 weekend. Everyone says it is so easy to loose sight of actually what the weekend is about and let me tell you I have had to remind myself several times this week!!! 


I have to say I am over the moon excited to become Mrs. Kara Manis! I am incredibly incredibly lucky to have the most amazing girlfriends on this planet! Seriously I can't even explain how these girls have been! One of my bridesmaids was 1cm dilated and having some contractions and CAME to the entire bachelorette weekend! seriously?!?! 
Or how about I had a DOCTOR take off an entire weekend of saving lives to come celebrate with me... Seriously!?!?! 
Or how about my sister who had EVERYTHING under the sun monogrammed with my new initials and the most amazing weekend decorated just the way I dreamed it would be!!!! 
Or How about I had 17 of the most amazing girls completely spoil me and just surround me with the most amazing gifts and love!! YES these are all 100% real! 


There are moments when I just wish I was on the beach in Grenada (of course in my dress) and its just tyler and I and we are barefoot, and we get married just the two of us and our pastor :) (we flew him down) The weather is a little breezy, No mosquito's (yah right :) ), really pretty music and a gorgeous sunset. Just Ty and Kara.... I am so thrilled to be his wife and I think he knows that! 


So that is where I have been, oh yes and I have I told you I am in the process of serious working out and dieting. It is so much fun! NOT!!!!! I have to be patient and I am 100% not patient!! Omg I thought after like 4 weeks of working out I would look like brooklyn decker... well unfortunately I'm FAR FAR from her, but I still have 30 days!!! AHHH its crunch time so if you don't hear from me you know where I am trying to steal a Victoria Secret Models body!!!!!! 


12-17-11 Can't come faster!!!!!!!! 


P.s. did I mention how much I miss this little one!! I  think about him daily and hope he is being hugged and kissed every day while Aunt Kara is away :)