A Little Valentine's Day Fun

Yesterday was our 6th Valentine's Day together. 

Our 2nd married Valentine's Day. 

And our 1st Valentine's Day on a tropical island.

To answer many people's questions, YES, they do celebrate Valentine's Day in Grenada.  But by celebrate, I mean that the kids know what it is, IGA has one end of an aisle dedicated to Valentine's Day treats, and I found a V-Day card at the stationary store with an envelope that had grease stains on it.  This. Is. Grenada.

But ya know what?  I kinda like it better that way. 

No deliveries of generic overpriced red roses at work, no over the top displays of candies and cupids, just a special day to celebrate my husband without all the hullabaloo. 

I spent the morning at our SO "Spread The Love" bakesale where we sold a wide array of beautifully baked treats to raise money for Dorothy Hopkins Home for the Disabled.  We made $1,700 EC at the bakesale and it was our most successful bakesale to date.

Josh was busy in labs all morning but found some time to sneak over and buy me a beautiful bouquet of Birds of Paradise.  I could get used to flowers like this, forget the roses any day.

Only $25.00 EC which is $10.00 US dollars people.

After classes, Josh came home to study and I went over to Limes to celebrate Valentine's Day with all the kids.  We made paper heart Valentine's and passed out special V-Day treats.  Some of the kids glued grass to their Valentine's Day cards, while others ate the glue.  Ya know, just a typical day at the Limes field!

Looks up to no good doesn't he? :)

Baby Deanna has been coming to Limes lately.

Loving the cupcakes Miss Julie made for them all.

After Limes, I finally got to spend a little time with my Valentine.  I gave him my very appropriate Valentine's Day card.

...but you're the only catch for me!

And then we went to the Beach House Restaurant for dinner.  We had never been before but had been told that the food was delicious and the restaurant stunning.  It didn't disappoint.  The Beach House is located right on the water on a private beach.  We arrived just as the sun was setting and enjoyed a great meal and a bottle of wine.  Even though Josh has his first set of 5th term tests coming up, we spent a carefree evening discussing everything non-school related.  It was perfect.

I couldn't have asked for a better Valentine's Day and I definitely couldn't ask for a better Valentine.  I hope everyone enjoyed their day as much as we did!




Josh's 26th Birthday

Yesterday, Josh turned 26 years old.  He's not a big fan of overdone birthdays, and I am finally learning to respect his wishes and not try to go over-the-top with birthday celebrations.  It's practically impossible to go over the top in Grenada anyway.

Josh spent his morning at the psychiatric hospital (no not for personal reasons haha) and then spent the rest of the day studying.  He did take the night off to have one of his favorite meals, baked potato soup, with our friends Julie and Kevin and a special birthday treat.

Birthday Brownie with chocolate frosting and crushed Butterfinger.

And even though Grenada doesn't have much when it comes to "shopping," I was able to find something that I thought my birthday boy would like.

 Yes, my 26 year old husband is now the proud owner of an authentic Grenadian machete.  Lord help us!

Independence Day...

...Grenadian Style.

Today marked Grenada's 38 year anniversary of independence.  And I don't know if it's because Grenada's years of independence are relatively few, or if it's because people have a serious love and pride in their country, but either way, these people know how to ROCK independence day.  I've never seen so much red, yellow, and green in one place.

And ya know what?  I live in Grenada.  I think by default that makes me "Grenadian" this year.  So I celebrated with them, just the way the locals do.

Julie and I and a bunch of my SO friends went up to the National Stadium in St. George's to take part in the Independence Day festivities, complete with men on stilts, dancing, the Royal Police Force, the Prime Minister, and paratroopers landing amid the crowd

Red, Yellow, and Green from Head to Toe

They stood in their uniforms for almost two hours.  At least 7 people passed out and were taken by stretcher off the field.  Apparently, this is normal. -TIG

A sea of red, yellow, and green.

And we ran into one of my favorite Limes families amid the crowd.  Remember Deanna?  Well this is her mother Jill, and older sisters Jivy and Brianna.  They were decked out in their Grenadian best and I just couldn't get enough of them all.

Jill, Deanna, Jivona, Brianna

They are stunning right?

 The show ended with parachuters falling from the sky onto the stadium field.  Oh yea, and a rainbow.  This is Grenada afterall.

Happy 38th Independence Day Grenada!

On On!

I hadn't been on a hash since the one I did back in September.  You can read all about my first hash HERE.  I always have good intentions of going on these hashes, but somehow when Saturday afternoon rolls around, I find myself busy doing something else.  This week however, I made sure to clear my schedule so that I could participate in the Grenadian Independence Day Hash #717.  Julie and Kevin joined me as virgin hashers and our other friends Laura L., Laura C., Mike, and Jessie made the trip over to Valley View Heights.

 
**I have yet to be able to get Josh to join me on a hash.  He said he had to spend yesterday studying so that he can be clear to watch the Super Bowl tonight.  Priorities!

Now, my first hash was pretty simple.  A walk in the park you might call it.  We were back in less than 40 minutes and I wondered to myself, what is all the fuss about?  However, Hash #717 was no joke.  It was over 2 hours, 3.68 miles, and we climbed over 1,000 feet in elevation and descended 1,000 feet.  At one point, we were holding on to a chain link fence and descending a mountain and I was thinking to myself, you've got to be kidding me!?!? To say that my legs were dead tired is the understatement of the year.  And I've been working out 6 days a week!  But it was SOOOO much fun!  And the view from the top of the first big climb, breathtaking!

A view of Port Louis.

A hot, sweaty, mess of girls.

I had such a blast.  My legs are paying the price today, but it was so worth it.  I plan to go on at least a few more before our time here in Grenada is done.

Before

After

And I plan to get my husband in on the action!  On On!

I Hope You Dance

Last night Josh, Kevin, Julie, and I went out to Prickly Bay for some pizza and live music.  Fifth term has been relatively light in comparison to last term, but I expect that's about to change and so we are enjoying the extra time Josh has had together.

Josh is not typically up for dancing and so I was surprised when HE suggested we dance.  We ended up dancing the night away.  He was swinging and twirling and lifting me all over the place and I just loved it.  It was one of the best nights out we've had in a long time.

Sometimes, you just gotta dance.

Coming soon...

...to a campus near you.

Croc's Giveaway

"One is not born into this world to do everything, but to do something." -Henry David Thoreau

I wish that I could give these kids the world.  I wish I could give them new homes, new clothes, new schools, college tuitions, better medical care, dental care, and for some of them I wish I could give them new parents.  But I can't.  I can't give them everything.  All I can give them is my time and my love and occasionally, something extra special. 

Thanks to the generous donations given to the Limes program by one of our volunteers aunt and church, we were able to pass out 63 pairs of Crocs shoes to all the kids this week.  I can't even begin to tell you how fun it is to watch these precious children get something brand spanking new. 

This is what happens when you tell 3 year olds to "show me your shoes."

I may not have a job, but I get paid in big smiles and gigantic hugs every day.  And I promise you, it's better than money.