we're going to the chapel and we're...

...going to get maaaarrrrieddd!!! YAY!

We're engaged and loving it!

Last week I had a family trip to Mackinac Island planned with my family. Nick has been busy trying to schedule shadowing opportunites with doctors in the area, and since it was just a short trip I decided he didn't need to be locked into the commitment and so it would just be a short family vacation without him.

Welllllll, that all changed when he decided to make the 4 hour trip by himself to surprise me! It was perfect. Perfect in absolutely every way. Honestly, I could not imagine a more romantic proposal if I tried!!

Also, knowing me so well, he even made sure we had pictures of our special moment, and they are something I will cherish forever. So I will let the pictures tell the story for me :)

Waiting to surprise me

His perfect set up of rocks and the beautiful ring <3 

Prettiest ring I've ever seen and he picked it out all by himself!

Completely oblivious (as my clothing demonstrates) I was so completely surprised to see him!

Oh my goshhhh is this for real?!

He's the best, in every possible way.

Best moment ever. He was so cute and nervous and I was so shocked, excited, and happy!

Lots of love for this guy!

Happy, hot mess? yes I think so. It was all very surreal 

Showing off my sparkly, gorgeous ring!

Riding a tandem bike around the island is the only real way to celebrate :)  

To say we were on cloud 9 would be an understatement

Planning a wedding around medical school is not an easy task, but thankfully we have very helpful, supportive, and excited, family members and friends to help with the leg work while we are in Grenada :)

I am so blessed to be going through this fun planning and engagement period with such a wonderful man, and we are looking forward our big day! I get to spend the rest of my life with this guy?! I think that makes me the luckiest girl on this planet!

Things I miss about Grenada

1) The kids!! Seriously, needing some Limes Kiddos in my life asap. I miss their silliness so much and need a good Jada hug!
2)Our house! I miss waking up to the pretty ocean and crashing waves. Yes, I got spoiled.
3) Smoothies! Although I've had a few since being home, they just arent the same!! 
4) Walking-- might sound weird, but I miss the natural exercise of walking around. I miss the calm that comes with it and the smell of the ocean or flowers.  My car is awesome though, and I will miss that when we leave again... ha, the grass is always greener eh?
5) Salt water- clean water is awesome in that you arent sticky when you get out, but still, nothing beats a swim in the crystal clear salty ocean.
6) The cliff!!!!!- Self explanatory and will be one of the first things we do when we get back :)
7) Oddly enough, I miss my clothesline. Weird right? And although I dont miss the scratchy clothes, it is crazy awesome to put the clothes on the line knowing they will remain there, wrinkle free, until I want to put them away... here I find myself constantly waiting on the dryer to finish, or forgetting about it and ending up with a bunch of wrinkled clothes!!
8) "Miss" "Miss" "Miss" - love hearing that whenever I go to the store or am just wandering around and pass a child I know, or of course at Limes. Ahhh, love ittttt.
9)  Routine- It's funny how coming home has been more of a vacation than anything and while I cant complain one bit and it has been a blast, I am starting to crave a little structure!
10) Simplicity- Grenada is wonderfully simple. We don't have a car, I buy what I can carry at the grocery store, I cook all our meals, use my cell phone maybe once a week, listen to crashing of the waves all day, play with wonderful kids, and help make life easier on my favorite guy... those are the important things, and the extra noise and fluff is so minimal, that it really is nice in a  lot of ways.

These are just a few of the many things I miss. Being home has been wonderful, and there are soooo many things I will miss when we leave again, but I think it is important to remember all the things I love about Grenada- there really are so many things. As the countdown quickly approaches, it is bittersweet because, I will miss family and friends so much, but at the same time, can't wait to get back to that tiny spot of land we call home!

longing for a paycheck

Just out of curiosity I did a job search today.
The good news is, there were several jobs I'd love to apply for.
Seriously, so many that are very, very up my ally.
The bad news is, I can't apply for them.

One more year and then we will be back in the States.
Better yet, and fingers crossed, back in Michigan.
Also fingers crossed, these jobs will still exist.

Being the SO to a medical student is not always easy.
It is taking thousands of dollars you have in student loans and moving.
Moving to a place where you don't get a paycheck, and the interest on your loans keep rising.
It's waiting almost 2 years to see all your hardwork pay off in the form of dollar bills.
And it is counting pennies until then.

Yes, this past year has been filled with sacrifices.
and honestly, I think it is important not to overlook them.
It is important to recognize and remember that we as SOs deserve careers and lives outside of our student's medical career.
It is equally important that the student's themselves recognize the sacrifices it takes on our part as well.
We go through every step of the process with them...
and we feel the stress of an empty bank account, the constantly rising loan payments...
and living in Grenada- sometimes the helplessness of being unable to provide a paycheck to help counter our many expenses.
But, we do all of this willingly...
With a smile on our face, an unfaltering belief in their dream, and admiration for their hard work and dedication.

This period of our life is temporary.
And when the stress seems overwhelming I try to remind myself of this.
I try to remember that we will somehow get by, and that this journey would be much more challenging for him without me.
And that even though these many jobs tempt me to want to snatch them up and stay in the States for the sake of the paycheck associated with it...
That we will survive the next year financially, that in a year I will be able to get a job, and that slowly we will start to dig ourselves out of this debt we have accumulated.
Not to mention... there are 50 Limes kids in Grenada that I can't wait to be reunited with and who will quickly help lessen the financial burden that is currently crushing down on my shoulders.