It's a sweet sweet life livin' by the salty sea: 2014

Two weeks ago was a 3 day weekend for Andrew, well all of the vet students. So we seized the moment and went to Nevis for the day. Nevis is the sister island to St. Kitts. Formally, the country is referred as the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. A short 20 minute ferry ride or a 2 hour swim, take your pick, and will arrive in Nevis!

I'm not sure why it took Andrew and me so long to hop over to Nevis for the day, but boy! we sure are happy we did! Our dear friends, Alicia and Austin, were our tour guides for the day.

There is saying around here, "Nevis Nice", and now I finally understand the saying. Nevis was so nice! I mean I get that Nevis is a different island, but it's like Nevis isn't even a part of St. Kitts. The two islands are worlds different. Ok, maybe not worlds different, but they are different!

Hope you enjoy the tour!

Ok...so we have an IGA Valu Mart here in St. Kitts, but it looks NOTHING like this! We were in awful of the grandeur of the Valu Mart.

The sections were labeled and there were so many options. Clean, Fresh Options!

It was as if we had gone to a Food Lion...no, really!

Nevis Nice

Austin and Alicia

Botanical Garden

Normally our view is of Nevis...this day our view was of St. Kitts!

Happy Dolphins!

Nevis Horse Racing Track

We were unsure if the track was active, but according to this site it is!

Montserrat in the distance

Place your bets!

Nevis Sheep

Donkeys everywhere!

Donkeys

More donkeys

Cows!

Lunch at Golden Rock

The Giffords

St. Kitts

As it turns out I’m pretty horrible at updating my blog, but y’all knew that already. To avoid being long winded I will give you the long and long of it (just kidding!).

Last semester was rough for many reason! Andrew’s class schedule was rigorous and I was working ALL OF THE TIME! At some point along the way my priorities were askew. I found that I wasn't doing such an awesome job at juggling work, Andrew’s hectic veterinary school life, and my masters work, as well as a plethora of other things, oh you know like life in general.

Let’s back up 2 years. Wow 2 years! Yes, 2 years. We have officially lived in St. Kitts for 2 years. When we first arrived on the Rock two years ago I had a difficult acclimation period...I missed home, my family, my friends, working, and everything that was comfortable. To be fair I had prayed and asked God to send us on an adventure and well he certainly delivered; however I was still having trouble adjusting. I had a few interviews with the University and was offered a position. I was ecstatic! It was such a blessing for me to be able to work. I started working the beginning of March 2012 and it was wonderful. God really provided for me during that season and He knew that I needed to be working.

Well now, lets get back to last semester. Somewhere along the way I lost sight of why I came to St. Kitts. I came to St. Kitts to support Andrew…..not to work. To be able to work was icing on the cake for me, but it was not my purpose. Once I got this figured out, I resigned. I resigned because it was no longer a blessing for me work. Not surprisingly I read Proverbs 31:10-31 about being a Good Wife. Talk about conviction! In the beginning I needed to work,but now I’m really enjoying being a true Lady of Leisure! I love the little life that we have here. I love our friends, our routine, our home, and and many other things about our little life on the Rock.

So now I spend my days working on my masters, cooking (WHAT!?!), exploring the island, sunbathing, hiking, and most importantly just being available for Andrew. Now that I have resigned I should be graduating at the end of summer instead of in December. My Dad was super excited about this! I’m taking 3 courses and am working on a nutrition feed trial study with sheep. I can honestly say I do not care for sheep...I like goats better. Goats are more gregarious (see photo below).

I have learned to bake bread, which we love and hate at the same time! All we do is eat bread! I also bake cookies all of time. Things are not looking good for the Cope household in terms of our figures! But that’s ok too because I’m running a half marathon in April with Andrew’s parents in Raleigh. I feel like if I can run in St. Kitts I can run anywhere! Training is going well; Thank God!

We are wrapping up our last year here. God willing we will be homeward bound December 13th, 2014! Not that we are counting or anything but we have 44 weeks left! We will know where Andrew will be placed for his Clinical Year the second week of September. We have decided that we truly don’t care where we end up! We just want back in the good ole US of A!

OHH I almost forgot! Two years ago Andrew’s grandparents came to visit us for the day from their cruise boat. Some of you might remember that post...I cried the whole way back to the dorm after they left! Well last week they came back! Just for the day again. It was so much fun to show them the island and our home and how well we are doing 2 years later! I got them to myself for most of the day : ) I love not being a vet student!

I keep remember really exciting things! Like how Andrew and I had a cameo on House Hunters International, St. Kitts. If you haven’t seen it I suggest you do that ASAP! We had blast. Our neighbors and dear friends were the ones on the show. I more or less begged to be on the show. I made sure my hair, makeup, and outfit were perfect…. “Hey Y’all” is now famous on the island..well at least in my world.

It is truly amazing how much can change in 2 years. We have had our trials and tribulations, but to no surprise God has provided for us each and every time.

Well that is enough talking for now. Below are a few pictures of our adventures since we’ve been back. For fun I through in some pictures from the very beginning. See if you can tell the difference between then and now!

My boys!

Friends : )

Eno Hammocks are the way to go!

A day in the life of a lady of leisure

Nevis

There are two lazies here...do you see the other?

Awww

Mawmaw and Ben

Studying hard...

Oh yeah!

Andrew has participating in research and he presented his research to campus. His poster one first place! Woot Woot! I have a cameo on the poster!

No explanation necessary!

When I’m home during the day I leave the door open for Duke to come and go as he please. Looks like I forgot to latch the gate! This guy just wandered in!