Im obsessed with Turtles...

I Know its such an odd title but my husband just said to me this morning "man you really love turtles now" and its true I had the most amazing experience last night and I love/am obsessed with turtles!


Last night at about 6:00PM about 25 Significant Others (wives, Girlfriends, fiancés, etc) Loaded up in a big bus and drove about two hours to the northern tip of Grenada! You can see in the picture below we are in Point Salines thats where the school is and we went all the way to Levera Beach to watch the turtles. A few fun facts before my pictures! 

Leather Back Turtles are the largest turtles and the the largest living reptile in the world. The turtles can get up to 6.5-7 feet long and about 2,000 lbs!!!! The females lay clutches of about 100 eggs several times during the nesting period. 


The leather back turtles are Critically endangered and there was a research team Ocean Spirits that stay throughout the entire nesting period. They sleep on the beach and are up from sun down to sun up watching for turtles and assisting the turtles when they get to shore. They track and tag all of the turtles that come to Grenada and a lot of times the Moms go back to the same place they were born to go lay their eggs. Out of about 1000 eggs about 1 will make it to adult hood. The mom we saw has been nesting on this beach for the last 6 years. 


It was an amazing experience, we sat on the beach for about 30 min until we got the call that a mom was ready and started to dig! They wait to allow people to come up until they are fully committed so we don't disturb them. There are no flashes aloud and you have to be very quiet. The mom works so hard digging about a 3 to 4 foot hole and then lays about 100 eggs. (last night our momma laid 109 eggs) When we were leaving we got to see two more coming to shore and one just finishing up laying. I seriously was ready to call my husband and let him know I was moving to levera beach for the rest of the season. 


It was that incredible, if anyone has the opportunity PLEASE go watch! It is a lot of waiting and for us about a 2 hour drive but one of the most amazing experiences in my life!!! Now to pictures... Here she is! 

Here she is digging a 3 to 4 ft hole...A lot of work..

The lady in the picture is part of the research team and is counting the eggs and catching them as they are laid.

There are the eggs! 

We were allowed to touch her and it was amazing! 

I wanted to start to cry as I was sitting on this amazingly beautiful beach. I have had a once in a life time opportunity to live in this beautiful country and experience things I would never get to do. Just such a wonderful experience I will never forget...

Makes me giddy...

Just came across this engagement video and how precious and creative is this!! LOVE IT!

http://vimeo.com/40568330

What am I going to do in 20 days?

Having a very tough timing thinking about leaving this little baby here.....

32....

The countdown is officially on, we have 32 days until we are on the plane back to the USA forever :( It makes me excited because I am really excited for the next adventure but also VERY sad. My journey here and time in Grenada has been incredible. I am soooo glad I moved here and will never look back because I have grown and learned so much.


There has been a lot going on, can't talk too much yet but really exciting things! I have been interviewing to go back full time for the last month or so and let me tell you its exhausting! So much going on, but all of the time and travel has really paid off. I am moving up to NYC in 35 days...yes you are reading it right! I land in Florida on the 17th and move on the 20th. It is such a world wind and I can't wait for the next step!


So much exciting and scary changes!!


Here is a lovely picture that Ty and i took on Saturday when we went to the beach and relaxed!

JENGA!

What is on my wish list for our next apartment?!?!?! 

You guessed it!! A DISHWASHER!!!!


While I have enjoyed mastering jenga with our dishes on a daily basis, I would love to be able to just put them right into a little machine that washes them for me! Seriously, I appreciate a dishwasher more than anything right now after finishing our huge load of dishes!! I am quite proud of cooking in almost every night, but I miss being able to just run out and pick up a great ______.... I keep telling Ty, I have been tested in Grenada with very few ingredients to cook with. Example 1: I went to get limes today...Excuse me can you show me where the limes would be?....... "no limes today.." Kara has a sad face and walks away. Can you imagine Publix just completely being out of limes? Or MILK! Milk is always gone. OR if there is a huge shortage the grocery stores back home would post a note of sincere apology. Here no milk, no cheese, no limes..... 


We officially have a count down, back to the USA sign. Our cleaning lady who I adore to pieces saw the sign and said I see you all are counting down the days. It made her sad, and I know I will miss her, the little kiddos, and the gorgeous beaches.... 


Sincerely, 
51 days left in paradise

Wait what? March? No seriously...what?

Whooooaaa whoooooaaa whooooaaa hold on there February, not so fast! When you leave its March and then we only have April and 17th days in May and then we are leaving this beautiful island. Last time I checked it was like January 13th and now you are telling me its almost March!!! 


Ty and I are officially in the process of our next step...hopefully NY! We have to rank the states in order and we did NY 1 (obviously :) ) and NJ 2 (not obviously but the others are worse.....) Anyways we will be back in Florida on May 17th and then will find out where our next home will be in the end of June. 


Just to show you what I  imagine our place to look like here are a couple of pictures of us in our new apartment... 

Wait..... hold on......its how much a month.......... oh ok well can we at least have the chair in the study?!?! Wait what?!?! There is no way......a chair... ok how about one of the books...you know what never mind...  So in conclusion Tyler and I (i wish delante) will be living in a fancy box for the next two years :) I will make sure there is a 2nd box for visitors :) 

Can't wait for our next step though, can barely wait!! 

Moving right along...

We are almost to the end of February! Can you believe it?!?! All that is left is March and April and we will hardly have a May and then we are back in the U.S.! I seriously cannot believe it!! So many great things have been going on in our lives and we are so lucky to share them with our family! 
This past weekend, I was so fortunate to share Grenada with my Dad! It was a short 2 day visit but it was so fun to show him around! I so wish my whole family could experience Grenada but unfortunately flights are outrageous!! Luckily there are videos and pictures of Grenada to last a life time! 


This was our second visitor, Ty's parents were our first and its so fun to have one. It's almost like we are on a vacation too!! Crazy that we have only 2 more months and we can no longer say we are residents on the Caribbean! It has been an unbelievable experience and can't wait to print pictures from our crazy adventures when we are back in the states! 


Next week we get the list of rotations for where we could possibly be for the next two years. I have been talking about the day when we have to rank where we would like to be and goodness we are right around the corner! We will be new residents in AUGUST!! Life does fly by, I remember the day where I was when I found out Ty got into SGU. I was so excited for him but also so nervous and scared for 2.5 years of long distance. 2 years later we are now married living together in Grenada and now planning our move to NY very soon. How time flies!! 


My health is still not back up to par yet.... It is really tough to be around 27 little ones in Grenada and not get sick. Unfortunately that is the risk I take going to visit every week. I try to be as careful as possible but unfortunately some things I can't control. Back to the doctor tomorrow for a check up and if things don't go well I will be making a quick trip home next week!!! 


I will post some pictures soon of my recent days in Grenada!!