Thanksgiving 2015

We celebrated our second Thanksgiving in Massachusetts, Rory's first Thanksgiving, and the first time Josh hasn't been working on a major holiday since last Christmas on Thursday.  But truth be told, I always get a little sad on holidays, especially when I'm FaceTiming with my family back in California, wishing we could be with them to celebrate holidays exactly as I always did growing up.  It's always hard to be away from all of our family but holidays seem to make it especially challenging.

However, we were so happy to be invited to spend Thanksgiving with my friend Cami and her family this year at their beautiful home in Fitchburg.  We've been very blessed the last two years to have had friends open their homes to us and make us feel like family on Thanksgiving.  Ryan was especially thrilled because she had two little friends to run around with the entire afternoon and even though the only part of the Thanksgiving meal that she actually ate was ice cream, I'd still call it a major success.
Rory was awake most of the day but she was very content to be held and take in all of the action.  She continues to be a relatively easy-going baby.

I failed miserably at taking any pictures of the gorgeous Thanksgiving spread and of course took no pictures of our whole family, but I did manage to get a couple of the girls and I guess that will have to suffice.

We have so much to be thankful for this year.  Two beautiful, healthy little girls.  A full-time job at UMass for Josh.  Great friends.  A beautiful home.  And most importantly, a loving Father who is faithful to meet our every need and loves us unconditionally.

Thanksgiving 2014

I know I sometimes use this blog as a sounding board for my complaints, but I really do have so much to be thankful for and Thanksgiving is always the perfect time to acknowledge a lot of the things that God has blessed me with in this life.

I am thankful for a healthy family.  It's so easy to take your (and your loved ones) good health for granted, but as I hear stories from Josh about extremely sick patients in the hospital or hear from friends that their family members are ill, or even worse, up in heaven because they were sick, I can't help but be so thankful that Josh, Ryan, and I are all healthy.  Or that all of our parents and siblings and for the most part extended families are healthy too.

I am thankful for Josh's job.  I may complain on occasion all the time about his work hours. I may complain that he had to work on Thanksgiving and even though Ryan and I did drop him off a Thanksgiving meal in an attempt to see him, unfortunately, he was in surgery.  I may complain that I sometimes feel like a single parent and like Josh is missing lots of important moments in our lives.  But, ultimately, I am SO thankful that he has this job at UMass.  There was a time this year when we weren't sure he would have any job at all and the fact that this opportunity opened up is undoubtedly a huge blessing from God.

Ice is cold!!

I am thankful for all the close friends here in Massachusetts that I have made in the last six months.  Friends that offer to open their homes to Ryan and I on holidays so that we aren't alone.  Friends that make us feel like family despite that fact that our family is 3,000 miles away.  Friends that check in on you when it's snowing because they know that you are freaking out about leaving the house in the snow.  Friends that listen to your fears, celebrate your successes, and always seem to be there when you need them.

Ryan and I celebrated with our friend Brooke's family on Thanksgiving.  We were so thankful that we didn't have to stay home alone despite Josh being at work on Thanksgiving.  Ryan and Brooke's daughter Reagan always have such a great time together.  They even had their own little Thanksgiving table all to themselves and while I'm not sure how much food was actually eaten by the two of them, they were fully entertained while us adults ate.  And, I'm fairly certain at one point I turned my head and saw Ryan feeding Reagan pie with her fork.  Toddlers.

My Mom said that when she saw these pictures, she thought the two of them looked like a little Indian and a Pilgrim.  Not planned at all, but too funny!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you were able to reflect on some of the rings you are thankful for in your life.  Now, on to Christmas!!!

Thanksgiving Eve & The First Snow

Well, I knew it was coming.  Winter that is.  At least my amazing sister-in-law had the foresight to send us some snow shovels and ice scrapers this week because it has been snowing all day long.  Apparently, Worcester is going to get somewhere around 5 inches of snow before it stops.  I tried to prepare for the storm by going to the grocery store to stock up on necessities, I got gas, and basically I felt as though I were prepping for Y2K all over again.  How am I going to get through the next six months?!?!

It was actually not a bad day to stay inside because I had a lot of baking to do for our Thanksgiving dinner plans tomorrow.  That is, of course, assuming Ryan and I actually make it there since it requires driving, ya know, in the snow.  Josh is on nights this whole week.  So he'll be getting off work tomorrow morning, sleeping all day, and heading back in to work around 5:30pm tomorrow night.  AKA: he will be missing Thanksgiving dinner.  Doctor life really stinks sometimes.  And he was especially thrilled that he had to shovel snow from behind the car in order to leave this evening.

Grenadian spices for my pumpkin pie.

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Pie

Eventually, I decided that Ryan and I should at least venture outside for a few minutes since it was the first snowfall of the year and the first time Ryan would actually get to see snow.  She thought the snow was pretty interesting, especially since she could eat it!

I hope that everyone has a wonderful and safe holiday tomorrow with friends and family.  Happy Thanksgiving!

20-7 and Thankful

Today is my 27th birthday.  Twenty-seven, that's awfully close to the big 3-0 isn't it?  But October 25th also happens to be Grenadian Thanksgiving.  And in light of the fact that I think I've been kind of a downer lately on my blog (and in my life) I think that I am going to choose 27 things to be thankful for today.  Because isn't life all about being thankful for what we have? 

Yes there are struggles and hard times, feelings of lonliness and sadness, but I think that in the past 27 years, I have mostly been the type of person to see the glass as half full and lately, I've chosen to see it half empty.  And honestly, I'm tired of it.

So today I'm choosing to be thankful.  I'm choosing to love myself and my life.  Because every single day you have to wake up and make the choice to love.  To love God, to love your spouse, your friends, your family, your enemies, the lady behind the checkout counter, the random person on the street, the other drivers on the road.  My childhood friend Grant Desme' said, love is not just an emotion, it is a choice.  And I think that's so very true.

So here I go.

1. My husband.  I'm so thankful for my husband Joshua.  He is my bestest friend in the whole world and as much as I have missed Grenada and the Limes kids in the past few months, there's no where in the world that I would rather be than with him.  He works harder than most anyone I know and he doesn't ask for much in return.

2. My parents.  I have to have just about the most supportive Mom and Dad a girl could ask for.  They are always there for a lengthy phone call or a dollar or two :) and they never cease to tell me how proud they are of me.

3. My siblings.  Bert, Rachel, and Anna, you guys are not just my sisters and brother, but my friends.  How lucky am I to have siblings that I actually get along with really really well!?! We have so many good memories as kids, but we have just as many as adults and I think that's pretty awesome.

4.  My in-laws, grandparents-in-law, sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, and nephews.  I couldn't have married into a better or more excepting family.  I have loved them from the beginning and they have loved me back in return.  They are always there to lend a helping hand and are just as supportive of my goals and aspirations as they are of Josh's.

5. My best friend Liz. We just get each other.  There's just not much more that needs to be said.

6. Julie.  My friend that I had to go all the way to England to meet, but I would do again in a heartbeat.  She's my go to girl when it comes to life as a medical student spouse.  I don't have to explain things to her, she just understands it.

7. My faith.  Sometimes I don't know how people get through life without a relationship with Jesus Christ.  I'm so thankful that I have one.

8.  My experience with the children in Grenada.  As much as I miss Grenada, I am so thankful for my experiences.  It opened my eyes to things I couldn't have imagined and changed my heart.  I can't look at the world the same way that I used to and I only wish everyone could experience the happiness that comes with doing something for others who aren't as priviliged as you.

9. My doggie Doyle.  He may stress me out sometimes with his separation anxiety and his internal issues, but he is my companion on most days and he brings me a lot of joy.

10. My health.  I am so lucky that I am healthy.  I know this is something that many people take for granted until they don't have it anymore, but after having good friends struggle with health issues and having a husband who sees severly unhealthy people daily, I definitely don't.

11. My bank account.  I know this seems funny.  Josh and I may not have much money, but we have ENOUGH and for that I am thankful because there are a lot of people in this world who don't.

12. My apartment.  I really do love it.  Which is good, because I'm in it a lot!

13. My travel experiences.  I've been to England, Spain, Scotland, Sweden, Ireland, France, Grenada, Cozumel, and many places around the United States.  There aren't many 27 year olds that can say they've gotten to do so much traveling in their lifetime. 

14. The Significant Others Organization of SGU.  Another funny one, but I would never have gotten through our two years abroad without it.  I feel lucky that Josh ended up at a school that had a support group for spouses like me when I know there are many schools that don't.

15. My job.  I know I work from home and maybe it's not ideal, but I'm thankful that I have a job.  There are many people here in the US and in the world, who don't.

16. My blog!  I started this blog almost two years ago not knowing if I would really keep up with it, if people would even read it, or what the future would hold for it.  But, I have to say it has become a part of my life.  I've posted over 200 times and I have readers all over the world.  It has been an outlet for my creativity and my internal thoughts and it has been used by many SO's as a source of information for medical school.

17. Diet Coke.  Enough said.

18. Mail.  I REALLY enjoy checking the mail.  It's one of my favorite things to do daily and I look forward to 4pm when I know the mailman has come.  I just like seeing what's in it. It's a little surprise everyday!  I even enjoy getting bills because I get to open them, mail a check, and feel accomplished when they are paid.  Is that weird or normal?

19. Books.  I'm very thankful for books.  And bookstores.  And Kindles.  And Amazon.  Whoever invented the written word...seriously, genius.  I could read a book a week.  I love getting lost in a novel.  What would my life be like with books?  It's too sad to even consider.

20. Sunshine.  God planned for me to grow up in Southern California.  I am convinced he knew I crave/need sunshine daily. He only sent me to England so I could reinforce my love for the sun.

21. Wine.  Sometimes you just need a glass.  Or three.

22. Iphones. Okay, sure, they are expensive and people are glued to them waaaaaay to much.  But google maps and Siri sure make life easier.

23. My dishwasher.  In Grenada, the dishwasher's name was Stephanie.  In Redlands, it's Nautilus.  And Stephanie is much happier because of it.

24. SGU.  They have their flaws, but they gave Josh an opportunity to become a doctor when some medical schools wouldn't.  He is able to chase his dream because of that chance.

25. Coffee. God's gift to us "not morning people."

26. Hot Showers.  Is there anything better?

And Lastly,

27. Random Acts of Kindness.  A few weeks ago, a friend gifted me with the chance to go back to Grenada.  It's these kinds of things that restore my faith in this world.  When people do something so surprising not because they benefit from it, but to help make your day better.  We should all make an effort to do this for others, even strangers.  Because of her generosity, I get to go back to Grenada in November. And I couldn't be more thankful.

Give Thanks

This post comes a bit late.  Thanksgiving came a bit late.  But hey, we ARE on island time here.  It's to be expected.  This is Grenada.

I have to admit I didn't feel very thankful on Thanksgiving day.  Josh was at school almost all day, I worked out, came home, and did nothing in particular.  I spent most of the day alone and then we had tacos for dinner.  Yes, I said it.  Tacos, on Thanksgiving day.  I don't think I'm going to win the best wife award this year.

I wanted to be at Gramma Catie's house.  I wanted to eat dinner with my family at the "kids table" even though we are all over the age of 20, all the while quoting our favorite movies, and bringing up funny stories from our childhood. 

I wanted to be at Grandma Scurlock's house.  I wanted to play with my beautiful nephews, drink Grandma's special juice, and eat pumpkin rolls to my hearts content.

Are you about sick of my sob story yet?

Don't worry, I got myself out of my funk.  I had yet to feel homesick since we arrived in Grenada six months ago.  I think I'm allowed one day.

Thankfully, I got to attend not one but TWO Thanksgiving feasts.  One on Friday night (though Josh was MIA) hosted by my friend Laura and the other on Sunday evening hosted by our friends the Durhams.

And here is what I realized:

I am thankful that for the second year in a row, I successfully cooked a massive turkey!


That is a 22 pounder my friends.

I am thankful that I have such a wonderful loving husband who works so extremely hard at school and yet still finds the time to do special things for me.  Oh yeah, and helps me lift a huge turkey in and out of the oven too. :)

I am thankful for the extremely supportive "family" of friends that we have here in Grenada. Without the support of these women, I don't think I could have gotten through this last year and a half living out of the country.

I am thankful for this beautiful island of Grenada that Josh and I live on.  And for the special opportunities that God has provided for me here.  I have never felt so connected to a community outside my hometown before and I am so blessed to be so involved with the precious children on this island.

And lastly, I am thankful for all of the family and friends back home in the United States.  Even though we couldn't be with you this Thanksgiving we are so thankful for the love and support you have continued to give us on this journey through medical school.  It hasn't always been easy, but you have been there with us every step of the way.  We love you so much.  

Grenadian Thanksgiving

I know what you are all thinking, Thanksgiving...already?  But Grenadian Thanksgiving is celebrated on October 25.  It commerates the first day that the US led invasion began in 1983 which helped oust a revolutionary government in Grenada. 

Thanksgiving doesn't really seem to be a significant holiday to the Grenadian people, unlike our Thanksgiving in the US.  Most of the Limes kids didn't even know what day it was on.  They just appreciate that there is no school.  However, both the Family Medicine Club and the Women in Medicine Club at SGU wanted to help make Thanksgiving extra special for the Limes kids this year.  The two clubs raised money and provided all of the kids with boxed hot lunches for snack, goodie bags, cake, and lots of fun American inspired Thanksgiving crafts for the kids to do.  The kids LOVED it!  The other volunteers and I are so thankful to the clubs for donating their time and money to our program.

Here are some pictures from the day:

Cutting out turkeys

Miss Jessie and Jayda coloring

My sweet red-headed Miguel

Miss Sarah and Ezra

Tamara and her Turkey

 

Shanika was THRILLED to be having her picture taken.

 

Lots of kids with turkey hats!

A rainbow came through the clouds right as we were beginning to hand out lunch.  It was such a special day and I am so thankful that I get to be a part of these children's lives.

 

Too much of a good thing? NEVER!

Probably the greatest part about celebrating Thanksgiving in Newcastle was that we got to do it twice! Talk about a turkey coma?!?!?  Louise, who is a native of Britain and knows some of the SO's from church, was kind enough to host a Thanksgiving dinner at her home on the Saturday after Thanksgiving for the SO's and their spouses.  So we got to enjoy turkey, mashed potatos and gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie yumminess all over again.  No complaints here!  It was so fun to be with all the other SO's and their husbands.  The girls and I spend a lot of time together, but this was the first time all of our husbands got to meet each other.  It also was fitting because it was the last time before the end of the term that we were all together.

The spread was amazing!

We got some great group pictures.



Rachel, Sarah G., Sarah C., Louise, Sara W., Me, Emily, Blaire, Lyndzee




The SGU SO's of Newcastle




The hubs



I was in charge of the desserts and I successfully made my first ever pumpkin cream cheese pies.  They were delicious.

I also made Thanksgiving sugar cookies from scratch.

Here's a couple pictures of us as we were leaving Louise's house.  It was a blizzard outside!