Home SWEET Home

Just wanted to let everyone know we are safely back in the United States and have found our family in the little town of Lamar, CO. Our trip here was an adventure. Pics and explanation to follow.

Moving right along

Time is just going right on by down here in Dominica. I can't believe the semester is over. Johnny is taking Mini 3 as I type. That means only three more tests then one day and we will be flying home. Super crazy! I can't wait to go home for so many reasons. I can't wait to see family. I can't wait to see Johnny's parents new home. I can't wait to go shopping and eat real food. I can't wait for Christmas. I can't wait for everything!!!! 12 more days!!!!!

I just had to let everyone know that I got a pedicure today! I know in the rest of the world this is not a big deal, but here in Dominica it is a super treat. The first and last time I ever got one was for my wedding. Understandably My feet have gotten pretty bad living here, and it felt so nice to get 8 months of gunk pumused off my feet. This blessed event got to take place because one of the girls in our branch is going home and getting sealed to her husband and son during the break so we had to celebrate.It was great fun. We sat around and talked while we got our feet did up, we had cake(probably the best cake EVER), and I got to play with all the little kids. All in all a great way to spend the morning!

P.S. Seeing as it is text time here in Ross land, please keep Johnny in your prayers. 3 down, 4 to go!

T-Day Pics

Me and Johnny










Our Thanksgiving Day Dinner Family

Traditions, Old and New

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!! The more T-Days I live through the more I realize it has to be my favorite holiday. You get to stuff your self and no one can think badly of you. You get to have fun with family. Lastly, it rings in the rest of the holiday season.

This year I am missing a few traditions. I miss pulling out my Christmas decorations in preparation of putting them up the day after. I miss the cool weather. I miss spending time with family. There are a couple of traditions I did get to indulge in and a few new or rather different traditions too. I was so happy to wake up and watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. It always makes me feel like a little kid and I always cry for some reason. (yes I know I'm a sap) We got to go to a wonderful turkey dinner. It wasn't with family, but it was with some really great friends. It was weird having T-Day dinner out by the beach in the heat, but it was fun and it will be one I never forget. There is one tradition I will not be missing this year Black Friday Shopping, but I think Johnny is feeling a little sad that we're missing it. I'm thankful I will be getting a full nights sleep tonight among many other things!

For some reason the computer won't let me upload my pictures, but I will post them as soon as I can.

Its begining to feel a lot like Christmas...

NOT!!!

It has cooled down a very little bit though. I woke up today and looked at my calender to see how many more days 'til we leave (29 days)and realized we only have a week until Thanksgiving!!! I couldn't believe it. I feel like it was just Halloween yesterday. Anyway the point is I listened to some Christmas music and drank some of my heaven sent wastel. It makes me dream of a white Christmas!

What I did

I know you have probably noticed my lack of enthusiasm for the island the last coupe of weeks. Well, I think I have turned a new leaf. The island is not looking so bad anymore. I don't know if its because I have a full belly right now, but I feel life was pretty good this week. I really didn't do anything. I was actually sick most of the week, but the days I could get out of bed were great. Monday night I cooked dinner over at Jessie and Paul's house. (Girl, I stole this pic off your blog. I had to show everyone your pertty face and for some dumb reason I don't have a pic of you). Than I was sick all week, but I got my bum out of bed on Friday and guess what I did. I spent my day with Jessie of course! Jess thanks for being the best and letting me come over and hang all the time. I never get sick of lounging on the couch and playing with the boys! Love ya!

Johnny did something crazy on Saturday and took time off of studying! WHAT?!? It was great. We went to to beach and swam and played in the waves. We usually don't have any sort of waves, but on Saturday the waves were a rollin'. I got mauled by one and scraped and bruised my knee and hip. It hurt, but was worth it to spend a little time with the hubby!

P.S. Has anyone else had a problems posting on your blogs recently? For some reason My posts don't want to go up. Just in case I can't post this 'til later I wrote this on Sunday, November 14, 2010.

Pieces of America

Since my recent break down I have been thinking a lot about what makes America, America? Today I think I received my answer...........

We got this wonderful box of goodies today all the way from to USofA! Johnny's mom was so good to realize that we don't have gummy worms and sunflower seeds here in the Caribbean, so she sent us some. The biggest shock was the Stephan's Wassail! Its like fall in can!!! Thank you so much for the pieces of America, they arrived just in time!

Missing America

If you haven't gotten the picture I am a little done with being here in Dominica. I have always loved it here so I dodn't know what has happened to me in the last few weeks. It may have been the fact that my computer broke. It may be that I have been hungry for six months. It may be that my in-laws are buying a new house and my inner design star wants to help pick out and decorate the new home. It may be that I have hit the 6th month wall.(All the Dominica ladies know what I'm talking about.) It may be that I know I'm going to America soon and so I'm comparing everything here to my beloved country. Or it might just be a combo of all these things, but I have to admit I just want to go home!

Just for Nikki!!!

Well Nikki where to begin!?! There is no way to adequately describe life here in Dominica. If you decide to move down here the best thing you can do is keep reading the blogs!!! Nothing we say will prepare you for what is down here, but it is so nice to come down and see the people who's blogs you have been reading. Meeting friends you know all about, but have never met is a great feeling and very comforting!

Life here is hard. I'm sure you have read all about how much it sucks to be walking home, in the pouring rain carrying everything you just spent 4 hours shopping for and didn't get everything you needed because the 6 stores you just went to didn't have everything you needed to make that comfort food you NEEDED because you are so sick of eating beans, chicken, and rice you could just kill one of the cows that is chasing you and eat every morsel of that wonderful meat known as beef! That being said moving here is the best thing I've ever done (besides marrying the best man in the whole world)! I have learned so much about myself.Like you, I have grown so much closer to my husband, because all we have here is each other. I have such a better view of the world, what is really important in life and what is superficial. I have made friends that are more like family than people that I just met 6 months ago. Not a day has gone by that I don't feel blessed to have been able to come here. You will get bored. You will want to go to Olive Garden so badly you honestly think it may be worth paying the $1000 to fly home. You will cry. You will miss your friends back home and resent the fact they have air conditioning. But if you really love your boyfriend you will grow closer together. You will become a better person if you come here.

I'm not trying to convince you one way or the other I just wanted to let you know the facts of living here. I wish you all the best for you and yours! Have a great life and enjoy watching the movies on your list, a lot of them are really great!

I know I'm a little early, but I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Halloween now because I don't know if I will be able to get back on here before then. So HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!
Life has just been flying by here. I thought it would go by slow because I have been so bored without my computer, but apparently not. The semester is halfway over now! This is great news because we have decided to go home for Christmas!!! You don't even know how happy this makes me. I really like living here, but the last two weeks I have just wanted to go back to America. I want to go to Target, and eat a Junior Bacon Cheeseburger and have a never ending pasta bowl at Olive Garden. Yesterday I had my first "I NEED to get of this rock" experience. Everyone has them and yesterday was my first. Island fever is setting in. It may be the fact that I don't have my computer or it might just be I have been here over 6 months!
The Halloween Kids Festival that I am in charge of is next Saturday so I will be busy this week prepping for that. I really think it is going to be great. I have never been a big Halloween person, but this year I am pretty excited (again probably because I'm missing America)!

Worst Dominica Day ever!!!!

So I personally think the worst thing that can happen to you on this island is your computer to not work, so guess what? Mine broke and it can't be fixed until we go home for Christmas. Ahhhh TWO MONTHS without a computer, on an island where there is nothing to do except spend mind numbing hours surfing the web. Well, the point is you won't be seeing to much from my superly awesome blog because my dang computer decided to get eaten by ants!!!!

P.S. I really think it was ants. I think they got in the computer and ate the cord that connects the computer to the screen. Curse them, curse them!!!!

Sorry!!!

So how rude am I that I would chew the whole blogger world out about not postin and then here I am taking a few days off myself. I'll try not to let it happen again. The reason for the lack of posts is the fact that my life has been filled with nothing the last few days. I was trying so hard to stay busy, but I guess my body just needed some rest. I've just been laying around watching a lot of tv. Boring I know.

Whats with the blogs lately?

I feel like the blogging world has been a little slow since the semster started. It makes me sad 'cause I love evesdropping on other people's lives. Bring back the blogs people!!!!

Today was a pleasent day. After feeding the hubby lunch I came home and took a very nice nap, love doing that! I'm superly excited for tomorrow, Johnny is taking the night off from studying(at least 45 minutes anyway) eventhough he has two big tests this weekend. How sweet! I am not that big on birthdays and anniversaries and that kinda stuff. A dinner out with my best friend is all I need and thats what I'm getting. Life is great!

A New Week

So a new week has started. I can't seem to keep up! I went to Roseau on Saturday. It was just a short trip. I just needed to go and get a couple of things. My little friend Shane and his mom Kelly were on the trip with me so it was way more fun.
Today I went to playgroup. We went to Purple Turtle Beach. It was very relaxing and the water was perfect! It is always so nice to get out of the house and hang out with friends. When we got home I went and had a yummo lunch with Johnny. We just ate at the shacks, but it was a shack I had never been to and it was so nice to have something different. I have just been vegging out and watching Law and Order SVU the rest the day. What a life!

Happy Friday

Yesterday was so great!!!I started by waking up at ten 'til 10am. I went straight to play group. of course that was fun. There were lots of people there and kids were everywhere. They played outside and that meant lots of muddy feet and bums. The whole time I was thinking, "I'm so sorry Jessie, I know I wouldn't want to clean this up." Bless your dear heart Jessie!

I went home and just hung out after lunch. Then around 4 Jessie called and said they were going to the pool, so I headed out. the taylors and a new family were there. We had a great time. It was nice to go to the pool later in the day. It was so much cooler, but the sun was still out, Perfect!

Last night we had a party because a few of us spouses' birthdays were this month. It was so much fun to have a big girls night. I love going out and just talking with the girls. We played games and had jello shots (don't worry they had some that were virgin), and just had fun. I had a deep conversation with my friend Nicole. She was so sweet to sit and talk with me. Thanks Nicole! I love having so many awesome friends here that understand you and are so sweet. We are all different and from all over the world, but we have one thing that binds us together for the rest of our lives, thank you Dominica!

Hide and seek

So I was over at Jessie's house about a week ago and I started hiding from the Matix and Shane. They got such a kick out of it! I hid under a desk and once they found me they thought it would be more fun to hang out there and tickle me.

Lets just say it was a blast.

So now under the desk is Matix's new place for us to hang out. He grabs my hand and leads me over to the desk and crawls in. Jessie told me that he kept saying my name, but it sounded different than usual. She figured it out and he was saying "my Tace". How sweet is that!!! It is always a battle at the Bergs, do I play with Matix or do I talk with Jessie? How to choose? Most of the time Matix ends up deciding for me, but I'm okay with that.

Called it!!!

So my trip did get canceled, but thats okay because I went to play group instead. That is what I am doing most mornings now. I feel kinda lame because I'm the only one there that doesn't have kids, but the kids mom's are my friends. I have a great time with the kids too, of course! Matix, Jessie's little boy, is like by best buddy. I love seeing his face when he sees me coming. He calls me Tace. Way to cute for words. I miss hanging out with Rachel and Matt. I don't get to see them very often it seems. I have always just loved kids. Maybe its because I don't want to grow up or something.

Yesterday I went to yoga for the first time in a week and of course she kicked up the workout so I am SUPERLY soar right now. I didn't want to get out of bed today I hurt so bad. I went to a body tracker today and I am average in everything. My metobolic age is right on target, I'm the correct weight for my height, I burn the right amount of calories, I'm just how I should be. I was hoping I had lost more weight, but Johnny said I probably haven't lost as much as I think I should have because even though I'm losing fat I'm also gaining muscle at the same time. Here is a before and after picture of me.

Big difference right!?! I know I have lost fat. All my clothes are to big for me now. Dominica is a good way to lose some inches!

Shiver me timbers all you scallywags!

Well I'm a total loser this week at writing! I'm telling you, when I keep myself busy all day I come home and don't want to do anything. Just so you know all my busy nothings were just that, NOTHING. So your not missing out on me not telling you about them. I have another busy week planned and some of them are fun things I have never done before. So hopefully (if the trips don't get cancelled) you will have somthing interesting to read about on your next visit. Tata to another week. See you in the next one!

And time can do so much...

So Yesterday was the one year anniversary of starting my blog. Its seems unreal how different my life is from when I started this, and I am such a different person. We were in Salt Lake City, Utah. Johnny was working for the Primary Children's hospital and I was working at Au Naturale. I was not to happy with my life then. I was going through a really hard time, but now I am doing so much better. I know I have grown and matured from all the experiences in my life, good and bad. I am so thankful for all the people that have been in my life. You have all changed me and shaped me. I am so blessed!!! I have a good family, great friends, an amazing husband that does so much for me, and my Father in Heaven that watches over what I do, that knows me completely, the good and the bad, and continues to love me and bless me.

So happy bloggety anniversary everyone. I hope you continue to enjoy reading about my totally awesome life. Don't be jealous!

Friday Fun Day!

See I told you I would tell you all about my wonderful Friday.

So My friend Ronnie invited me to go in this superly awesome day with him and I'm so glad I did. We went and visited Trafalger Falls. It was really a great place. It was so beautiful there. There are two falls there, but it had been really rainy the night before and that morning so there were THREE falls. We had a great time being crazy and jumping on rocks and crossing over logs. It was a blast. We spent two hours there and it only felt like thirty minutes.

Next we hit a little sulfur spring. It of course was smelly, but pretty cool. You could feel the heat coming up from holes in the ground.

Next we were onto Screw's Spa. This is just some hot springs in the jungle. They have it set up very nicely. There are four different pools each a different temperature so you can go from super hot all the way down to cold water. it was very relaxing and made my skin feel really nice.

Then our last stop, Scott's Head. This is the southern "toe" of the island that separates the Atlantic Ocean from the Caribbean Sea. We climbed up to the very tip top of the mountain/hill there and took pictures. Then we hiked down and went snorkeling. Let me just say it was the BEST snorkeling. The water was super clear and there were so many fish. The further out you went the bigger the fish got.

All in all it was a great day! I was extremely tired at the end of the day, but it was so worth it! It was the perfect way to spend the day on a Caribbean island!

Fun filled days!

So I have found a problem to my plan of staying busy this semester. It seems I am so busy I run out of time to write in my blog. Last semester I never wrote because I had nothing to say this semester I have so much to talk about, but just can't seem to find the time.

Well I had a super amazing day on Friday and will give you a full account of that tomorrow when I can do it justice. Wednesday and Thursday and all Saturday and today (after I got home from Roseau) I have been cleaning/organizing our apartment. It looks so super amazing. Everything has a proper place and looks so nice. I love the feeling when you walk in the house and everything is clean! Yesterday at church I got my new calling, Nursery Leader! I know this is a calling I will love. It didn't come as much of a shock either, seeing as it was the last calling needing to be filled and I was the last person without a calling. I have always wanted to be a Nursery Leader, but to be one here is doubly awesome because I know and love all the kids here. I have seven kids in the class and I'm all by myself so it will be challenging, but I am so looking forward to it!!!

Today was the RSO free trip to Roseau. It was a great time. I went on the bus with the moms because they like to get home early and I didn't want to spend all day in Roseau. It was really nice because I sat in the back with Jessie Berg and we got to talk and get to know each other better. We have a lot in common. Jessie if you settle in Fort Collins keep a look out for Johhny and I! I got a lot of MUCH needed food. I was getting a little tired of the PB&J. I also found a real treat, Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips, my weakness! Even now just writing about them is making my mouth water. I promise Johnny i tried to resist, but my mouth wouldn't let me. Don't worry I will set them off with the Yoga I just did and the Zumba I am heading out to do now. My figure will remain intact!

A fifty minute walk home?

So there is NO WAY it takes fifty minutes to walk from Fortune Apartments to my house when it only took ten minutes to walk there, but that is what my clocks are telling me. Definatly NO WAY!!!
Today was pretty great! The morning was just normal stuff, but after lunch we had our RSO Meet and Greet. I got to spend some time catching up with Katie Taylor. Yeah, remember her? It has been so long since we have got to hang out, just the two of us (well with the kids, but you know). It was great to get to talk with her. Then some of the girls went to the pool to cool off. Jessie Berg was there so I got to play with my awesome buddy Madix (sp?) and spend time talking with the girls. After I got home I was hanging out on FB and lo and behold one of the girls in my semester, Emily, asked if anyone wanted to come over and watch Project Runway. Do you have to ask? Needless to say I went over there. It was really nice to get to know her better. We really didn't watch much of the show because we ended up talking and eating chocolate cupcakes the whole time. So much fun! All in all it was a pretty good day. I hope it gets better by my brother calling me. Come on Arlo, we need to do this man!

Beginning of the Semester

I love the beginning of the semester. It is always filled with activity. I seemed to be very busy yesterday. In the morning I got my cleaning itch. Everyone in awhile I get this need to clean and organize everything. It took a long time but now the apartment looks super good. I also did yoga and it was wonderful. The SGA club sign up was last night and I signed up for Zumba club and the Photography club. This semester I want to get involved in some more things . Last semester I spent to much time sitting at home and watching tv. So I will be doing: Yoga on M W, Zumba on M W F, I'm going to be in a Bible Study again, I am still on the RSO Board and I am planning on going on more RSO trips, I will be doing to the photography club, I will also be volunteering with a after school group called In Light In, I will be doing SP again, and hopefully be babysitting. So basically just keeping busy.

Two weeks of no internet!

Wow, I really feel behind in the internet world. I have to admit i did check my FB and write a short post on my blog after Johnny's family left, but other than that I didn't go on the internet during the whole break. I didn't even mean to do it , but we were so busy it just happened.

We had such a great time with Johnny's family. I think we killed them while they were here. They were hungry all the time and walking in the humidity was a little much for them , but that is Dominica. We were on the beach the whole time it seemed. We swam at PBH, Red Rock, #1 Beach, and Purple Turtle. We also took a trip to Emerald Pool and to Bense Pool. It was great to just spend some time with them. You get so home sick for family here, so it was a great gift to have family come to visit.

Emerald Pool

#1 Beach

Well I am so glad that Johnny and I saved and scrimped the first month on the island because we got to splurge on our trip to St. Lucia. We had to have a leaving fright from Dominica for our visa requirements, so Johnny bought the cheapest flight anywhere and it was St. Lucia. We figured we would go for a couple nights and then come back, but we saved so much money we decided to stay six nights in an all inclusive resort, The Coconut Bay. We had the best time. We ate as much food as our small shrunken stomachs would allow. They had activities going on all the time and we did most of them. The nightly entertainment was great. They did a Charity Casino night, Country Western night, Karaoke night, Steel Drum Band night, and more! We played and relaxed and just spent some one on one time. It was such a good break from life in medical school! I really didn't want to leave!

But we did and life has resumed here on the island. I have been busy with RSO and all the new semester chores. Life keeps moving forward and I'm loving it!!!

Sorry My Friends!

Okay I WILL write all about the wonderful break we are having, but not now. I have been really sick since Wednesday. I am so tired! I have not had the energy to even eat much less write, but I have been feeling guilty that I haven't posted in awhile. So don't worry its coming! Just let me get better first.

One Day More

Oh wow, I only have one more day until I get my husband back! He has been spending far to much time with his "other woman" Talitha. I know everyone with in hearing distance already knows my wonderful plans, but I can't hold them in so here they are again.

He gets done with his test tomorrow so we will have a few days to do things that don't have anything to do with anotomy or DPS or histology. It will be me and him! Then on Friday his wonderful family will get here. We will do a little sightseeing as well as a little chillaxing with them. I am beyond excited for this! The next Thursday will be a sad say because they will leave us, but a happy day as well because he will be ALL MINE! I know you probably are thinking what a needy girl, but seriously every other wife who is on this rock will know what I mean when I say "I'm getting my husband back!". Then that very next Monday we head to what I am refering to as our "honeymoon" in St. Lucia! I am expecting to be fully pampered where I will lay on the beach, get a massage, run the AC as much as I want, and gain ten pounds from all the wonderful food that I will nither have to cook nor wash the dishes for! Doesn't that sound wonderful!?! The day after we get back I will lose him again to that awful Talitha for four months, but two weeks will have to be enough.


P.S. Just so there is no confusion, Talitha is really not a woman, she is the name I gave the time Johnny spends studying. I know its rather pathetic, but its my life!

McDonalds and a Peice of Heaven

Wow, the last two days have been pretty eventful. I haven't even gotten a chance to get on the internet in two days! That is very impressive for me.

Yesterday started out on a bad note. I was planning on going snorkeling with some girls, but my phone died and I couldn't get a hold of them so I went and waited at our spot, but they didn't show up. I was about to go home when I remembered that playgroup was at ten. I love little Matix so I decided I had to go over to hang out. It was fun to go talk and play with Jessie and Kelley. We went to the CAC so we could have some AC and met some more friends there. Lunch time came around so we all had to go our separate ways, but I planned to meet up with Sarah and Cassi at the pool later. the kids were so cute. Norm was so funny! We were all swimming and he all of a sudden shouted, " Look, there is McDonalds!". You should have seen Avery's face she was looking around like, " Where? Where it the McDonalds?". So we all played like there was a McDonalds. We ordered fries and cheese burgers and chicken nuggets. I could taste the fries and they were the best fries I ever had! YAY for imagination, the best thing in the world! I love kids!!!!

Johnny took me out for dinner. It wasn't a very romantic date seeing as Jay came with us. It was a ton of fun though! We walked home from Portsmouth, because it was so nice out and we ended up bothering Shantell and then Cory just cause. Great times!!!

Today was long, but very fun. I went to Roseau this morning to do the rest of my grocery shopping before Johnny's family gets here. The trip is always so tiring and today was no exception. I was very tired, but had plans to go to Red Rock with some girls. I am so glad I sucked it up and went. It was a PERFECT afternoon. We laid out on the most gorgeous beach and talked and relaxed. The water was so nice. It was so clean and clear and cool. The best thing about Red Rock is the food. It was so so amazing! It is worth the money. It was one of the best meals I've ever had!!! It really was the most wonderful experience. Can't wait to do it with the fam!!!

Potluck Luck

Our church branch had a little potluck party tonight. It was so nice to be able to hang out tonight. I have had nothing to do to pass the time today, so it was nice to have the party to look forward to. I lucked out and got to go hang out with some friends afterward too. All in all it was a pretty great night. Now I just have to wait for Johnny to come home.

These beautiful little girls are our Sunbeam class. They are a handful, but very fun. I love their little voices, especially when I walk in a room and I hear "Tracy, Tracy". They are so cute and so loving. We used to have a big class, but people have had to go home for medical reasons and so our class has shrunk. We are going to be losing Lucy as well after this semester. We will miss you Lucy Goosy!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

I just have to say thank you to Paige! Here are some of the great pictures she took of us. They turned out great and we had such a good time. Paige I'm ready to be your model again anytime!

Johnny took his last Mini of the Semester. Only one week and one test to go!!! You can tell it is Mini/Final time around here. Everyone is tense and all the spouses are excited about getting their husbands back.

I spent most of the day down at the pool today. I met a new friend on a trip I took to Roseau last week. We both needed a pool buddy so we decided to be each others. We had a great time relaxing and getting to know one another a little better. Thanks for the great afternoon Reina!!!

I'm angry at my camera!

So I have been so excited about the fact that I have been learning a lot about how to use my camera and about general photography skills. I have always wanted to be very good at taking pictures. I've always felt I take pretty good pictures and I just needed to set my mind to it and learn some basic skills. I have been doing that by reading online. So you know the other day I told you I was going to go take some pictures? I was all set, I customized my aperture and shutter settings, snapped a shot and was very disappointed when the camera didn't do what I told it to. I was so frustrated. I tried setting the aperture again thinking maybe it just didn't set. Nope, my camera just didn't do what it is MADE to do. Now I'm a little mad at my camera and have shunned it the last couple of days. Pathetic I know, but I just want it to work!!!!
Anyway, enough crazy talk. I'm sorry I've been a little lackadaisical this week on posting, but I really didn't do anything this week worth writing about. I did go out to a little good bye party and it was a good time, but other than that its been a whole lot of nothing this week. Johnny has been in super study mode and people are leaving the island for break so things are just a little slow around here. Not that they have ever been fast, but this week has been dead slow. I need the next 11 days to go by quickly!!!

Baking bread

I haven't written in a couple days, bad llama! I did have a fun little run in with the Bergs on Monday, but other than that its been pretty lame around here. I plan on getting out of the house today, so that will up the excitement level. I think I'm going to go out for my first official photo session. I'm just going to take pictures of whatever tickles my fancy. I will post pics if anything turns out well. I'm going to fool around with the settings on my camera and see what it can do.
Today is Johnny's last day of classes for this semester! He still has the big tests coming up, but no more class!! We slept in this morning to celebrate. It was sleeping goodness!!!

Hanging with the boys

The last few weeks Johnny and I have been having dinner with Jay and Cory on Sunday after church. The first was at our house, second at Jay's and today we went to Cory's. We have really enjoyed it! I hope to keep it a tradition. I hang out with them in study group sometimes, but its nice to see them talking about something besides school, and I have to say the food has been very good as well. Sometimes I feel a little weird because I'm the only girl, especially when they talk about sports, but it is still a good time! Heres to more good times!!!

Thank you Paige!!!!

I am so happy and excited!!! My photography friend Paige, took pictures for Johnny and me. I can't wait to see them. She did such a good joba and it was great fun. We went to a lot of different places and did a lot of different things. I really can't wait to see them. Hurry Paige, my patience can't stand it! No just kidding, but I really want to see them!

Thank you so so much!!!!

Just Another Day In Dominica

I am completly finished with the SP Program, atleast for this semester! I got my check today as well! Now I am entering, what I refer to as, "No more Johnny Week". This time around its going to be worse because it will last twice as long. He has the third Mini in a week and then a week after that he has his final. So two weeks of long hours for Johnny.........BUT then I have two weeks of bliss! Johnny, his family, and then an all inclusive vacation to St. Lucia!!! How great is that?

Wedding Reminiscing

The last few days I have been working on a project. I took our wedding pictures and did my own editing and then made a slide show. I think it turned out well and you can check it out. I posted a link to it here on the blog.

I did another SP session today. I should be raking in the dough soon enough. Another thing I am excited for is that this semester is so close to being over. I can't believe it. Johnny only has classes for six more days! He only has three more tests!!! Its crazy. Only three more semesters and then we have to leave :-(

When do I get paid?

In a few minutes I am going to pretend to be a patient. For any spouses coming to the island I will recommend getting into the Specialized Patient Program. It is easy money!!! It is also pretty fun, at least if your into acting. I am going to be getting a pretty big check in the next little while. So excited!!!!


So one of my new favorite pastimes is to go on olio board and design my dream home. I have had this picture of my guest bedroom forever and now it is put to paper. I also did a bathroom.

Guest Bedroom
Bathroom

If you want to join in the fun I have added a link on my blog. The best part is its FREE!!! So go, put on your designing caps and live it up. You can search what others have done or just make you own. Your very welcome!

Tracyographer

I just spent all day on the computer editing photos and making my new and improved blog! How do you like it? There are a couple of things I want to change, but can't seem to figure it out. I am not very talented when it comes to doing anything on the computer, so I'm very impressed I did this well. If anyone knows a lot about how to make your blog superly duperly awesome leave your email in a comment and you will be sure to get an email from me with lots of questions.

Time out

Yesterday, Johnny took an hour off from studying and we went snorkeling. It was so much better than last time we went. It was clear and the fish were out. It was so nice to spend some time doing something we love. I really can't wait until break starts. Besides all the fun things we have planned, I just can't wait to have Johnny back, NO STUDYING!!!!!

Pioneer Day with old and new friends

Today was a great extention of yesterday. Johnny and I went up to campus first thing this morning because we had a volleyball game. The other team didn't show, so no game for us. We ran into the Taylors down at the CAC. Katie was going to the pool with the kids, so I tagged along. I have missed hanging out and playing with the kids so it was great to do so. We had a great time. The Hintons and the Beattys also joined in on the fun.


After lunch I got to talk with my best girlfriend from high school. It was so great to see her! We have not seen each other face to face in three years. So I just want to say thank you to Skype for having video chat.

Girls Gone Wildrer

I don't think thats a word. Wilder....it sounds wrong. Anyway, I had such a great time tonight!!! I was in charge of the Farewell Banquet. This morning I was stressing out because we had a little hiccup, but the banquet rolled around and we had a great time! Dinner was great and afterwards we went to DeChamps. We danced the night away. I haven't been dancing in such a long time. It was a BLAST. I am going to be super soar tomorrow and my voice will be gone. After, a few of the girls decided we should go down to the beach. We jumped in the pool just for the heck of it and then headed down to the beach. It was a great night, thank you ladies!!!

Picniks is good!

I got Picnik today!!!! For those of you that don't know, its a photo editing progam on the internet. Super cheap and super easy to use. I love it!! You might have noticed my new picture up top. Yeah, cool I know. Here are some others I did today.






I played a really fun game of volleyball as well today. The court was coverd in water because it has been raining so much. It was so much fun! It reminded me of when I played in the front yard as a kid. We would get in trouble for this, but it was to much fun to resist. We lived on a hill and we would take the hose, place it on the top of the hill and let it run. It was such a blast!

Girls Gone Wild

I had a blast this weekend. I participated in Dive Fest canoe races with some awesome Dominican ladies. It was such a blast to go out with the Sirens. It felt like girls camp and senior class trip rolled into one. We were braiding each others hair, chatting the day away, sleeping on the bus. We just happened to be awesome at canoeing too! We had three teams and and we got 1st-3rd place! There were only four teams in the race, but we still kicked that teams butt. I wish I had pictures, but my camera decided it didn't want to work that day. Sadness~

I thank heaven for babysitting!

I have been babysitting a lot since we came to the island. I have really been enjoying it. The kids here are so easy. It gives me time off from the monotony of me day to day.
We had Jay and Cory over on sunday for dinner. It was a lot of fun. We just sat around and talked and had food that sort of resembled mexican food. It was great! I really have enjoyed getting to know the guys. I always sit in while the guys are studying, but it was great to see them out of study mode. I'm glad I could give them a good home cooked meal, since their wives had to leave. I love to have people over. I love to cook for them. Life is grand!!!

Chicken, chicken, and more chicken

So I feel like I have been running around a lot the last couple of days. Shopping, babysitting, errands, and SP are the main culprits. One new and exciting thing happened this week. My inlaws have decided they are coming to visit in August. I really didn't think they were going to be able to come so I'm very excited. Our break is going to be very busy. On the 20th Johnny's family gets here. I am going to plan some awesome stuff for us to do. they leave on the 26th. Then on the 30th Johnny and I are heading out to St. Lucia. We don't know where we are staying yet. I want to go to an all inclusive place. We have been bugeting really well and are going to have some money left over from our first semester. All the places are at least 50% off right now because it is the off season. My thinking is when are we ever going to be able to go an a fancy vacation for so cheap? The answer is never. We haven't decided when we will come back from St. Lucia. we have plane tickets there, but are tacking a ferry back so we can decide when we want to leave. Needless to say I am super duper excited.

Two Minis down!

Johnny finished his second Mini today. So we celebrated by participating in our favorite pastimes; snorkeling and free food! The water was merky today so we didn't see anything cool. It was nice to go out though. We haven't snorkeled since the last Mini.

After we went and got free hot dogs. We ran into Jason and Liz. I am going to miss them it won't be the same here without them. Liz helped me so much ajusting to island life. Thats how life is though, people come and people go.

Summer Fest

Today was the summer festival. It went very well. There were so many kids and they had a great time. They were laughing and screaming and running around. It was a lot of work because we had some last minute changes. I want to thank all the people that helped me out. I feel like I didn't do much. Michelle you were awesome! I am totally pooped now.

June Pictures

A house on the back of a semi.

Bus crushed by tree.

Beautiful Dominica Rainbow

On my way to Roseau

Ross campus

I promise I'm not dead!

I am so sorry for my long absence from the internet world. My computer adapter burnt out and I was only alotted minimal time on Johnny's computer. I got it back today! Living here on the island is hard without your computer and especially without the internet. Never the less, life has been just great here. The rainy season is in full effect along with the summer heat. I have been super busy lately: babysitting, specialized Patient Program, the Summer Festival. time is still rushing by. We have less than two months left in the semester. CRAZY!!! I'm excited to go to Saint Lucia in August. I have been taking some good picture which I will post later.

Oh how I've missed this!

I should just go to med school.

I promise I'm still alive. I have been really bad at keeping up with my blog. My days are filled with sweet nothings and the time goes by so slowly. i am always doing something, but I'm bored at the same time. it doesn't make cense to me, but its my life. i have felt really lonely here so I have found that I spend a lot of time in class room 5 with Johnny. He studies, I sit and read or watch shows or just surf the internet. I also go to his study group and I am learning a lot. Mostly Anatomy and Embryololgy. Its cool to see how much he is learning and how much he knows. I can't imagine keeping all that information in my head. He's a crazy boy.

Dominica Style

Iguana 967 on campus. They all have numbers painted on them because they are endangered and this is how they keep track of them.

I have decided that Wednesdays are my busy days. I always feel like I'm running here and there all day. I love it though. This is because it is my yoga day. I am going to start going on Mondays too. I was planning to from the beginning, but it hasn't worked out yet. I just love how it makes me feel.

Johnny in his usual spot, Classroom 5.

Johnny is still plugging away. He thinks he did well on his first ever Mini. Ross sends out the questions the day after the Mini so you can figure out a preliminary score. He figured his average would be a B. It may come out differently because Ross will take out some of the questions from the actual grade, but it should be about the same.

This is so Dominica!!! He is carrying two logs on his head!