We're not in Kansas Anymore. (Well ok Utah)

Well, I guess I have to come to terms with it... we're back in Grenada. I shouldn't complain though, we had an excellent flight coming down and it took us roughly 15 or 16 hours (Jim, that ones for you). We woke up early in the morning and got and three different flights and we were able to make it down here about 10ish Grenada time(Yes! All in ONE day). Nick has had such a wonderful time in his new classes. He loves talking to patients and loves what he's learning so far, and I can't complain because he doesn't have to leave early in the morning anymore!

Anyways, just to recap a little bit of our vacation. Nick and I were able to go to the temple once a week, it was such a nice experience and helped us get the "recharge" that was very much needed. We were able to go to Park City, it was SO fun see all the different things that were there not to mention the wild life that kept popping up as we went down the Alpine Slides. We took a walk up Bridal Veil. It was so beautiful. The heat was bearing down for a good part of our vacation and it was pretty hot, never the less, we enjoyed it thoroughly. It did rain a little toward the ending of our stay. We were able to see most of Nick's family (besides Erika guys) and my a small portion of my family.

I think the thing I enjoyed most about Utah was feeling like I was alive again. I have wonderful sister-in-laws that are always so kind and inviting toward me I feel like I hand picked them out of the "worlds best sisters". haha, corny, I know. I KNOW, I have the best mother and father-in-law out there because nobody can be kinder and more genuine than Brent and Jenni.

The thing I MISSED about Grenada, (yes, it's true I actually missed something) was probably the children. My primary children are so inviting and so loving and just your interaction with them will make you want to wrap you arms around them all and hold them tight just so they know you really truly love and care for them. They always have a smile on their face when they greet you at church, I can't wait for us to finally go to church this Sunday(although, I can probably tell you I'll be wishing to go back to Utah in a few weeks, or maybe even days!)

Well, as you can see we have put a little count down widget(it probably just makes us seem a little excited to get off this Island, FOR GOOD!). Anyways, stay tuned we'll try to keep you all as updated as possible(if I'm not too lazy). We love you all and we thank our family for such a wonderful time! We'll see you in December(maybe I should post my Christmas list so you guys can start gathering everything ;) jk)

A Run in with Ginger

Well, here we are back in Grenada. Something funny happened to me on the flight down. I asked for Ginger Ale because I always order Ginger Ale when I am on the plane. I noticed Canada Dry Ginger Ale now makes their Ale with real ginger. I wonder what they made it with before? Anyway, I was enjoying my first sip with all the sudden like I felt a sharp pain in my upper left teeth. I have a sensitive spot there and the Ale was cold so I figured no problem. Then I noticed my upper left lip was numb. My teeth were soon to follow and it felt like the dentist had just given me that notorious "little pinch" and shoved a huge needle in my gums loaded with anesthetic. I kind of panicked a but and wondered, oh no what happened! Have I somehow cut off the blood supply or damaged a nerve? I told Kuulei my symptoms and she said, "Oh you know what I think it is? Ginger can do that." Sure enough about 5 minutes later I felt normal again. I never new ginger could do that...now I want more Canada Dry!

You may have noticed I put up a countdown to when we leave Grenada for good. It is kind of depressing to look at right now but it should be fun to see the days get closer to zero. Luckily I don't look at my blog every day so that this unwatched pot will eventually boil. If anyone knows how to tweak the HTML correctly so that I can get the thing to fit all the way I am all ears. Enjoy!

Full Bellies and Empty Pockets

"Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity."
~Voltaire

Well, where to start. Our vacation has been so relaxing and fun I don't know where to begin. Actually, I do. The food! I think back a while ago when I was still in Grenada wishing I could just eat a nasty greasy burger, well I got more than my fill. I actually think we've gained a little weight indulging ourselves in all this fast GOOD food. Just so you know what I mean, beneath is a list of places we have gone to while we've been home for 7 weeks.

Wendy's Red Robin
Burger Supreme McDonald's
Outback Steakhouse Mimi's
Zuppas Texas Roadhouse
Olive Garden Cafe Rio
Bankok Grill Kneader's
Chik-Fil-A Sabarro's
Papa John's Flaming Wok
KFC Chili's
JCW's Burgers L&L (Hawaiian Grill)
Cold Stone Pretzel Maker
Apple Bee's Einstein Bagels

It has been tons of fun to be with friends and family. Being able to be in a familiar place, with familiar faces. I think we over did it on the food, but what can we say we had to make up for six months! I think I've even forgotten how to cook! hehe, jk. We are very excited to begin our last semester in Grenada. The next post will probably be the places we've gone to have fun (it's not even a fraction of where we've eaten, don't be surprised to see a tiny list).

Those Lazy Days of Summer

Well, school starts again on Tuesday. I thought I would give a summary of how our vacation went. It went all too fast as we knew it would. It was a time for us to come home and eat dirty disgusting fast food. We got to go shopping at all the stores. We even went shopping in Salt Lake! We didn't buy a whole bunch of stuff but it was fun just to pretend and window shop. We got to see MOST of my family and even part of Kuulei's family. We lost a loved one, we gained a new loved one all within a couple of months. We got to eat our favorite cereal and eat at Texas Roadhouse. We went to the temple almost every week. It was pretty cool because I have not learned so much there as I have this summer. I studied a little bit for boards and spent more time playing video games or hanging out with the fam and Kuulei. I think that even though we don't want to leave and head back to Grenada, we are rested and energized to take on the challenges that lie ahead for the next 4 months. I was terribly tired by the end of last term so I am happy and excited to work hard for 5th term. It is hard to leave loved ones, but we only have 4 more months to go and then we don't have to go back. Once we are back in the states for good it will be easier to come and visit the family. Our goal is to get residency in or close to Utah so the harder days hopefully are behind us.

Brought to You By the Letter "P"

I was reading a funny story that a friend of ours wrote about her son getting peed on and it brought back a funny story of me getting peed on. My family and I were just kneeling down to family prayer and normally after family prayer I would take my dog out to go to the bathroom then lock her in her bed. Well, as we were praying I heard Mahina(the dog) whining, I thought she could hold it, being that while she is in her bed at night for 9 or so hours she doesn't let a drop touch her pillow. Well all of a sudden she jumps on my back. I thought she was just going to play around because she would sometimes just jump on me and run away. I was wrong. She actually jumped on my back then straddled my head and started peeing on my neck. I was really grossed out but I didn't want to disturb the prayer so I just sat there I was making little squeaking noises so my dad looked up and saw what Mahina was doing, all of a sudden he yelled at her and she jumped off of me and the prayer was ended. I hurried to my dogs defense saying she was doing what she was trained to do by not going to the bathroom on the floor. Anyways, it makes me laugh every time I retell the story, even though it is sort of embarrassing, but what's life without a little embarrassment!

It's a Celebration!

In case you missed it, this was the scene at our apartment today. Ok you are right our apartment isn't quite this big. That doesn't take away from the glee and celebration we had today after my last exam. We were a little nervous that I might blow it and not pass pathology but I made it through and did alright on the final. We have been here a long five and a half months. It has been full of stress, busy bees, and relentless pressures. We have lived to tell the tale and are happy for the experience we have been able to have. We now feel if we can make it through 4th term we can make it through anything. I think that is true, us humans can do just about anything we put our minds to as long as we work hard enough to make it work.

Now We Know Why it is So Humid Here!

Of all Sundays, I would say that today topped all of them. For one, it is our last Sunday for this term! Secondly, today seemed like it was pretty normal until the end of church. Grenada has given us so many memories to look back on that I can't resist mentioning one that will forever be stuck in my head. Nick and I were heading out to the car and right in the opening of the church (which is only about 3 feet wide) a little boy decided he couldn't hold his pee any more. He decided the front gate was the best place to let loose. He pulled his "thing" out and started to pee, after he finished he looked up at us like it was nothing. He put his "thing" back in his pants and reached down to wipe off his shoe (and it wasn't a couple drops, it covered the top of his shoe) which got in the way of his stream. He wiped it off on his pants and just strolled along. I have been in Grenada for nearly 6 months and in those months I have seen more people pee on the side of the road than all of my years I have lived in America, that includes camping trips with 5 brothers.