The life and times of a Medical School family: November 2015

Monday - Mark took his 3rd mini of the semester this morning. After the kids got out of school we went to Swirls to use our gift certificates we received from the mud run we did on Halloween for being the "most inspirational". We love Swirls' fro yo! We love Daddy even more!!!!

Lemon grass for Daddy's lemon grass tea.

In the evening we had 3 elders come for dinner. We had homemade pizza and our yummy Blendtec "ice cream".

Thursday I went out to breakfast at Corner Cafe with a group to surprise a gal who is getting married here next Sunday. It was so fun. She was truly surprised.

Friday morning I went with a large group to find a trail not far from campus. It was a beautiful morning. I love being out enjoying God's beautiful creations.

Saturday evening was RSO's banquet that we have near the end of each semester to say good bye to those who will be leaving the island. We went to Cocoa Mangos and enjoyed yummy food and good company. It was a nice kid-free evening!

Not quite everyone was there for the picture. We took another later but I like this one better :)

Bible study group

LDS ladies. 2 just got here this month and 3 are leaving next month.

Sunday - Today church was great. I always feel our meetings are inviting of The Spirit. Follow the prophet and beware of pride were the main take home thoughts that I got out of my meetings.

The church recently came out clarifying it's policies on children of homosexual couples needing to wait until 18 years old for baptism. This upset many and some have left the church because of it. It makes me sad. The world, or the "large and spacious building" from Lehi's vision, is calling out to us and so many are listening and falling away from the iron rod which is the word of God. The prophet is God's mouthpiece on earth. The Lord will not lead us astray. The things of God are not the things of man. This world is becoming ripe in it's wickedness. It makes me nervous to send my kids out into the world where there is so much evil and confusion. I hope that I am being a good enough mother to teach them to love God and know good from evil.

This week was "intersession" for the kids at the prep school. The prep school is now doing school year round school so every 45 days or so they have a week break or so... This was the first one. They can still be at school but thy aren't doing normal class work. Tuesday however was Dominica's 37th Independence Day so no one had school that day anyway.

Wednesday morning I took the kids to school and went with a group of friends to Pagua Bay and spent the morning doing what others seem to think we do here on the island. We soaked up the sun and relaxed! We ate a beautiful brunch and enjoyed good company. It was a wonderful morning! I wish we could've stayed all day!!

I got to go home to this. Not so ritzy and fancy huh? Nor is it much like an extended vacation. The last time I scrubbed poopy diapers on a vacation...oh wait, I've never done that! I can't even open my door all the way because the washing machine has to sit right behind it so gravity can help drain the water out off the balcony. Not to complain but to show that even though we live on a beautiful green paradise island we don't just lounge around. In fact, this island is very poor and many are in need.

November 5th - Emma is now 18 months old!!!! Usually that is cause for celebration because kiddos get to start going to nursery but here she's been going for months! She weighs about 24 pounds. She has gone #2 in the potty a couple times. Never #1. We're not actively potty training her yet but she may force me to. She tends to stick her hand into a poopy diaper to inform me she's poopy. She can SAY poopy but she prefers to SHOW me! YUCK!! Also, she has learned to take her diaper off... I'm also still nursing her 3-4 times a day and I'm not sure how I'm ever going to ween her!! Milk is so expensive here and not always in stock. I've only bought it twice in the 10 plus months we've lived here and one time it was sour!

Emma is very expressive with her eyebrows. She has perfected the scowl. She looks mad but she's just being silly (usually). Emma makes us laugh everyday. She is learning so much. I love this age! She seems to be enjoying going to the ELC. She enjoys dancing, running and playing with her siblings. I'm amazed at how much joy can come from having this cute happy little lady in our family.

Thursday morning it was raining cats and dogs outside and was reminding me of Tropical Storm Erika that came through in August. I decided we wouldn't leave the house at all. Our roof started leaking a little and I heard the river was starting to flood too.... Better safe then sorry. I was SO glad we had been to Pagua Bay the day before on not on this rainy dreary day. The storm is because of a "trough system" water that means in weather terminology... Friday's prep school trip to Batibou beach is cancelled and the rain is expected to continue off and on through Tuesday I believe.

Yucky brown water. BOOOOO!!!!!