Refreshing...

Here are two videos that make me smile.. Some times you just need to see good in the world....Its Refreshing.

This one is a bit longer but definitely worth every second..

http://vimeo.com/57648966

Life happens when you make plans....

Celebrating our first anniversary with the top of our cake!
It tasted horrible :) 

Well I am now living in Hoboken, New Jersey with my husband who is half way through his third year of medical school; we survived a hurricane and a flood; I am back on the job hunt again; and it is now 2013.. WHEWWWW

2012 was our first year of marriage and it was amazing! We loved every second of our time together and finally moved into our first apartment together. (grenada didn't really count because we couldn't decorate) Moving to NJ was a shock as we thought we would be in Brooklyn, NY. So it was an interesting day for Tyler and I when his lovely school decided to give us a heart attack and place us in Hackensack, NJ. We decided on Hoboken, NJ as it was close to the city and a short drive for Ty to Hackensack. We absolutely LOVE Hoboken and the city which is a quick subway ride away. Moving to NJ was the biggest pain I have ever encountered... oh yah and super pricey! We could have bought a car for what we spent on the moving truck, brokers fees, paint, furniture, ac units and advil for our sore bodies :)

Did I mention we moved in on the hottest day of the year :)
Ty was flying in that day so I "put in"  the AC unit

All of our amazing wedding presents! We were packed full of boxes!!

Back in October as many people saw Hurricane Sandy pummeled NJ. Unfortunately Tyler and I didn't think it would be a huge deal so we didn't prepare as much as we should have. We had about 3 feet of standing water in our building so our car was declared flooded after the storm. Tyler and I could have never seen this coming as we have lived through many hurricanes before. We are lucky we live on the 5th floor as all of our belongings were dry only our new car was gone :( About 3 weeks ago we FINALLY got a new car and are hoping to not have to go car shopping for another 3 years.

We had a hurricane and a snow storm within a week of each other

Our First Snow Storm!

Our second car in 2 months...

Tyler is doing great at the hospital. He has experienced a lot of exciting things and has also learned to live off only a few hours of sleep. Every day my respect level for doctors rises as I watch my husband leave before 530 and come home on some nights after 9... Incredible. He will not let me take his picture  so this is the best sneak photo I could do :)

I am back on the job hunt after working for a NY based company for a few months. After only a couple of months at the company they decided to close the department and lay off over 25 people. Tough day... I was shocked and looking back have learned so much about myself and corporate america. It has also allowed myself some time to really look at what I want to do moving forward. Not to mention catch up on some of my favorite shows :)

Not sure what inspired me to open my blog today but I did.... I should have been blogging the last few months as we have had some entertaining times around here... Just to name a few... failed dinners, mice, decorating, 21 hour drives home, trips down the stairs, trips up the stairs (yes its possible to fall up stairs) Squirrel friends and more..


I will do my best to continue updating but to tie you over here are a lot of photos to document our latest journey..

Repainting a dresser in 30 degree weather.. a first for me!

Our First Thanksgiving in the city.. My dad, Ty and I and my sister  in law and her boyfriend

Our beautiful view.. 

Our apartment before

And After :) 

If your wondering if I still talk to my babies.. well the answer is YES!

Our "pet" pumpernickel enjoying our pumpkin

Our first christmas tree in our place!

FSU football 2012

We drove 21 hours to Florida.. NEVER AGAIN!

Not even a thought...

I saw it somewhere yesterday... it said The most difficult challenge is leaving.... That hit me hard... the most difficult challenge is leaving. Such a powerful statement for so many of us who are leaving and actually some who are staying too. It means so much to me and I know to many others...


Coming to Grenada was not easy for anyone. Even if you are excited for a new opportunity or in my case excited to move to where your husband is it is still quite scary. It is a challenge leaving your friends, family and comfort. Its exciting of course but its just a scary jump to make. you are living in a third world country, very far from home and it is SO different from the US. Fast forward almost a year since i have been here on and off and its a totally different challenge. The challenge now is leaving Grenada..... 


You would think going home to friends, family, the u.s. would be a no brainer but throw in some amazing amazing women and some precious kids and you have a whole different ball game. 
So I have met hundreds of amazing women in my life and I adore everyone of my relationships, but these are different. Many of them are very new friendships but goodness are these women amazing, they are selfless, fun and crazy smart women. I think its because we are all in the same boat we are all down here together, working toward the same goal. don't me wrong not every women here is special like these handful I'm talking about, but these handful are incredible. These women EVERY day yes I said it EVERY day do something for others. Its incredible and so eye opening. I am NOT saying goodbye because I know its not BUT see you soon because these women have taught me so much! Today two very amazing women Laura L & Laura C created a DVD of pictures with music to go along with it... Seriously we just lost it watching them. They are beautiful and I will cherish it forever. I am so grateful for the time and energy they put into my dvd because I will keep it and watch it when I need a little pick me up/cry...incredible. I honestly know God puts you some place for a reason and these women are reason number 1... 

Now down to the other challenge reason #2. The kids... I fall hard, but I have fallen really hard for these kids. I know this is not my journal but I feel like I am abandoning these kids. These precious kids who should not be in the home in the first place, these kids that should get hugs and tucked into bed every night...These kids who I have fallen harder for than just about anything else in the world. I am jumping on a plane to head back to the US and Leaving these precious children.... Challenge is the biggest understatement I could think of. 


Leaving Grenada has nothing on leaving the US. It has been the BEST year of my life by far and I just can't imagine not seeing my babies every week. They seriously make the worst day so amazing....


I'm posting this UNEDITED... I will not and can not read this...

I Love My Husband...

I have been very emotional about leaving Grenada... I am not ready, don't want to leave and feel like I am abandoning my babies..... But last night as I laid in bed with my hubby he promised this wasn't the last time we would see the babies, or be in a position to adopt. He promised me we would do Doctors without Borders to help babies around the world..... He told me he thought I was the most caring person he knows (he must not know too many people....) and he just rubbed my backed as I cried about leaving my babies.... 

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.....