Toucari Bay

Since I took an on-line class this summer (3 credits in 3 weeks=intense)  and then I started work, I wasn't able to go on the Thursday activities that Jacquelle always plans, for almost the whole semester.  FINALLY, I was able to go, my last Thursday on the island.  We went to Toucari Bay and it was such a fun trip.  Relaxing and really enjoyable.  We hung out, snorkeled, saw an octopus, played with a starfish, and ate lunch on the beach.  

Star Fish--it was so cool to hold and to feel it move across your hand!

Here's a little video clip of some of our fun with the star fish.  Our friend Liz is holding him and then then passes him off to Marissa, who is Jacquelle oldest daughter. 

Little Hermit Crab--provided a bit of entertainment as well

Little Emily Roy wanted to take a picture, so I let her use my camera.  This is the picture she took, I was impressed.  I'm centered and everything.

Picture of the Bay.

Thanks Jacquelle for always planning activities every Thursday, I'll miss all of the fun "play dates!"

A bite or two...

The past 2 days have been brutal. I am always so good about wearing bug spray but I was at someone's house last night and we were inside so I wasn't worried about bug spray-but I got EATEN alive. There was a swarm of mosquitoes buzzing around me.... and they had a nice feast

I really don't want scares from these nasty things, so I'll do about anything to not itch them.

Even if I have to have pink-poka-dot legs with calamine lotion!!

Quite the fashion statement, huh?

A little of this and that

So, I am pretty much posting the pictures I took this week in one giant post.  Not too exciting, but such is our lives.

We were sitting at the table last night and I saw something fall to the floor in the middle of the kitchen.  This poor little gecko was just laying there, not moving.  I even gave him a poke and all he did was twitch.  I'm assuming he didn't make it long once we let him out, but I didn't want to find his little dead body in my kitchen.  Poor little guy.

This beast however, is far from on its last leg.  I saw this beauty sitting at the market and was a little scared to ask the price.  For $20 EC (Easter Caribbean $) I couldn't pass it up, it weighs a TON!!  Keith, who is a much better estimater than myself, guessed 8 or 9 lbs.  Oh, and it came out to be $7.50 USD.   (I have no idea how much it is in the grocery stores, so let's just say I got a great deal!)

(I was walking out the door to the pool when Keith snapped this, so no laughing at my sunglasses being worn inside)

After the market on Saturday morning, I headed down the road to meet one of my favorite groups of people.  (Our Church Branch)  The Branch cleared off a strip of the insanely overgrown sidewalk and picked up bag after bag of trash for a service project.

Jemuel, taking care of business.  

Here's  Pres. Roy with 3 of his cute kids.  They had fanned themselves out perfectly-Ben, Emily, and Xiomara.

Keith, hard at work with the dull, rusty machete that was left in our apartment when we moved in.

I got there late and wanted to do something, so I took a turn with the ole' cutlass as well.  It was pretty much a joke, but whatever.

 You can't really see, but in my other hand there is a branch that one of the members had cut so that it had an arrow head on the end.  It was an awesome tool, as you could grab what you wanted to cut with it and then wack it off.  (Wish I could say I master it, but that would be a far cry from the truth)

Special Powers

 I had a really cute conversation with one of the first grade girls today.  We were preparing to go on our field trip and I was holding the door as the kids came in and out from the drinking fountain, filling up their water bottles.  When there was a break in traffic, a girl who had been standing and waiting for such a moment, came up to me, checked to make sure no one was within ear shot, and with a very serious face, discretely shared the following with me:

(FYI--this child loves the TV series Charmed, which I'm sure gave a great basis for this conversation) 

"Ms. Chelsie?  I want to tell you something."

"Sure, what it is?"

"I think I found out a power I have."

"Wow, what exactly do you mean?"

"Well, you know how some people have special powers?  I think I am one of those people.  I think......  I think I can talk to God."

"That's really cool.  I think you can too!"

"Really?! But Ms. Chelsie, I think I can talk to him and He listens to me! I have been trying to talk to Him this week and every time I ask for something, it happens!"

"I believe it! I absolutely believe that you can talk to God and that he listens to you."

"Ya, since He does, I'll have to make sure to only ask for good things, because I don't want to use my powers to be mean."

"Good idea."

I wish this conversation hadn't happened at school so that I could have talked to the child more about my extreme belief that she can talk to God, (and that He listens) but it was really cute that she saw it as a super-power.  It was a good reminder of what a special gift prayer really is!

3 Years and Counting....

I have now been married to this wonderful man

For this many wonderful years!!

Is it absolutely crazy how fast the time has flown?  You bet!!!

Did I ever dream that married life could be so adventurous?  Not in a million years!

Would I have it any other way?  ABSOLUTELY NOT!

Keith, life couldn't be better, sweeter, or more fun!!  Thanks for making it that way!  I love you!

Zip Lining

 Some of the clubs on campus got a zip lining trip together this past weekend and we were able to go on it.  Our friends Paul and Natalynn also went and we had a lot of fun.  The course is in Layou, about halfway between here and Roseau (the capital) and it (the ropes course) has elements leading from one tree to another.  There are platforms on each tree to stand on while you clip from one element to the next, as you can see in the picture below.

There was a big variety of elements and the course was surprisingly long.  You would cross a few elements (built with wires, logs, and rope) and then there would be a zip line from one tree to the next, a few more elements, another zip line, etc.   

Us and the Hepworths

We were able to be the first ones to go up and I was really grateful.  We weren't waiting for people in front of us or stuck on one element with a million other people.

Paul went very first, then Natalynn, myself, and then Keith.  Just as Paul was reaching the other side of the element, Keith would hop on (literally).  He had a lot of fun giving Natalynn and I some extra work. When we worked at scout camp, he ran the High Ropes Course, so this kind of stuff is second nature to him and he was in heaven!   The rest of us had fun too, we just weren't doing things like Keith (in the above and below pictures).  I lost count of how many threats were sent Keith's way (as he jumped on, ran across, or just pulled and pushed on the elements to make them "more exciting") but it was a lot!  He, of course, responded with a laugh! 

At the end of the course, there is a REALLY long zip line that takes you through a palm tree (you actually smack into the leaves) and out of the rainforest into the open and across the Layou River.  You then come back across the river on another zip line to end the course.

 

Over all, we had a really good time and I'm sad we didn't do it sooner so that would could have gone again before we leave!  (which is in less than 4 weeks!)

Blue Bay Date Night

A few weekends ago Keith and I decided that we needed to go on a date. We hadn't tried one of the restaurants down on the beach so decided to have a night out.  The place was small but fun and the food was AMAZING!  We both got Creamed Fish, which sounded a little questionable, but came highly recommended. (It ended up being fish with a creamy garlic sauce--SO YUMMY!!)  It was a much needed date night though and we had a great time.  Here's some pictures-we sure are going to miss being able to go out to dinner on the beach!

View of the restaurant from our corner table.

We sat at a table right on the other side of the greenery behind Keith.

(didn't realize the flowers were in front of my face)