Batibou Bay

During break we were able to finally visit Batibou Bay. We had a 30 minute fun filled curvy, nausea inducing ride. Everyone (about 20) get off the bus and start walking. It takes about 15 minutes to actually get to the bay. Think unpaved road cut in the middle of thick forest that is slowly winding down hill. Also think deep ruts of yucky mud due to lots and lots of rain:) Out we step onto the most beautiful beach I have ever seen! I can not do it justice so just enjoy!!!!!!!!!!

Breathtaking view for lunch!!

Caleb loves anything coated in sand!

Fun in the sun

Our hike back up the mountain

Can't miss a photo op:) Looking down on the beach

4 months!! REALLY!!

Today marks a momentous day. I have lived on this blessed island for 4 months. Now I feel like these months should be marked in years:) Not really. They have flown by. Maybe not the moments but the days blur in to weeks and then a month is gone. The days are marked by the next big test or birthday or sleepover or fun thing at school (girls school not Marcus' school). There have been a myriad of emotions. Laughing, crying, yelling, crying, smiling, crying, upset and crying, happy and crying, but mostly well you get the point.
3 of my family has had a birthday here:)

I turned 34 a week after arriving

Caleb celebrated his first birthday. What a cutie!! He also started walking here. As well as he says juice and ball and rara:)He also gets to sleep in my crib that all my babies slept in. That is really important to me. Who knew I would be so sentimental!!

And big destroyer Gabriel turned 3!! Complete with Toy Story accessories!! One of his favorite things right now is to blow up baloons and let them go all over the house. He literally laughs out loud. He also likes to hit his brother. No surprise there;) And he is able to catch a basketball! His big sis Rachel taught him! He is also a big boy and doesn't want to ride in our new stroller. Naomi gladly takes his spot!

We have.......

~seen some beautiful scenery
~walked on breathtaking beaches
~swung from a rope attached to a coconut trees into the water
~walked miles and miles and miles
~thrown up on the way from the Airport:( Only my sweet Gabriel, "My tummi hut"
~eaten expired food and survived
~eaten bug infested food and survived
~been rained on and rained on and rained on (it is a tropical island)
~lost electricity a few nights. Not in a row. It was beautiful and peaceful.
Marcus and I sat on the porch and enjoyed the stars. Oh and it was soooooooo quiet
~been woke up by dogs, chickens, roosters, goats, frogs, and some really drunk locals
~made friends and enjoyed company
~loved friends
~said goodbye to friends

Our sweet friend Haley.
She went home a week or so ago:( We miss her bunches!!

~rejoiced in little things:

....a cold can of dr pepper (thank you Jesus and Marcus:)
.....clean water..... sun shine.....clouds.....clean water
.....rainbows.....food to eat.....clean water.....electricity
(notice the "little things" are things I usually take for granted)

~ cussed a stroller......wheel fell off again
~rejoiced in a stroller:) check out my new wheels:)



~survived on peanut butter and jelly (And COKE. There is a bottling company on the island. Of course.)

typical lunch:) Looks a lot like home!!

~learned how to make homemade pizza and tortillas and refried beans
~ enjoyed fresh produce: mango, avocado, starfruit, coconut, tomato
~learned how to fry plantains
~found a recipe to make the most amazing banana muffins

I have missed Sonic and Gloria's and really any kind of mexcian food you could think of.

El Guapo....lets just take a moment....yum.....

one of my favorite meals. Beans and tortillas and eggs.
Always reminds me of Guatemala (where I left a little piece of my heart)

Sunday is Pizza Night!!

All the while trying to figure out how to live a life that is not....well...what I expected.
I am hopeful to not only survive but to thrive on this little piece of heaven. For all of its faults this is truly the most beautiful place I have ever experienced. It is my own backyard. So this week after finals we are going to explore some beautiful places. We are going to laugh and smile and cry I am sure. (by we I mean me and probably Gabriel and definitely Caleb)
And hopefully fill our Daddy love tank up before we start our next semester!!!!!

What was your week/month/year like? Shoot us an email marcus_amy@yahoo.com

Our new house

It is fun to see how we have made it "our home!" I did not just magically wake up this morning and become the worlds best house keeper:) In Dominica you hire one. So I took photos so everyone could enjoy the fruits of student loans. Hahaha:)

Kitchen

Dinning Room. Complete with cute kids:)

Living Room

"The Parents Room"

Boys room

Rachel's Bed

Naomi's Bed

Bathroom

We are still adjusting. Mostly to the heat. But we live in luxury. I say luxury because most people here do not live in a wonderful house like this. The people across the street come over to fill up their water bottles and take showers....which means they have no running water. Our landlady..I will have to post pics of her house later.... lives in a mismatch of rooms in my back yard. There is much poverty here. It is easy to be frustrated with the inconveniences. I am trying hard to focus on the wonderful things we do have!!
Living in Paradise~