25 was a great year!

Yesterday I turned 26! Which leads me to my first question: How old is, you know, OLD? Let's do a quick review of my life at 25...I moved Ryan to Miami for his MERP program. We drove the long long drive to Miami...with a Uhaul behind us (which meant we had to go about 45 the whole way!) I visited Miami about 6 times while he was there. We celebrated our first anniversary by taking a trip to the Mayan Riveria in Mexico. Ryan was accepted to Ross University. We sold our house and moved to the Caribbean! Ryan completed his first year of medical school and began his second. I opened up a bread business. We became active in Ross Christian Fellowship. I went on a mission trip to St. Maarten. I took a trip to Barbados. We sailed to Guadeloupe. I got tanner than I have ever been in my life! We met many wonderful people who will be our lifelong friends. I'd say that was a great year! However, turning 26 has started to affect my body because this year I noticed the first appearances of (brace yourselves) spider veins. Gross! What am I going to do about that? Any suggestions? So, to celebrate my birthday about 20 of us loaded up on a big bus Monday night and took a 30 minute ride to a restaurant called Sunset Bay. It was so, so, so much fun! I felt so blessed to have so many people to share my birthday with. I was afraid I might feel sad being away from my family and friends from home, but everyone here went out of their way to make this birthday very special for me!

Hopefully Ryan can find a little time to get out in the sun this semester! As you can see, I have been able to find time for that very thing. :)

Justin & Liz. Justin is also a leader for RCF. They are from Arkansas.
Ralna & Sophia
The Wade men. This is the first picture that John Walker has cooperated and smiled.
The Morgans
Mike & Marissa

Chris & Katy

Rabbi & Lisa






Everybody!

My beautiful birthday cake that Andrea slaved over for hours. It was four layers of absolute heaven! She made the icing and it was buttercream just like on wedding cakes.

The fun bus ride! Andrea and I played musical catch phrase the entire ride home.

Unlimited lobster!
The chef at the restaurant was very excited that it was my birthday and he kept playing the birthday song, only it was a male opera singer. I bet we heard/sang that song 20 times while we were there! I kept saying "one more time" because he just kept playing it! When we all loaded up on the bus to go home someone started singing it again so I tried to video but only got the end. (See video below)

So last night for my birthday dinner just Ryan and I went this place called Sisters. Ryan says it is one of the two coolest places he has ever been in his life. It is owned by two sisters from Germany and looks like a place out of a movie. Johnny Depp ate here when they were filming the Pirates movies. When we arrived the lady said "Blue Marlin is ok?" and we said sure! I guess they don't really have a menu so they just serve what they have. They brought out this big plate full of banana pancakes, potatoes, rice, pineapples, slaw & whatever that green stuff is.

Everything was delicious! This is my marlin.

Ryan gave me some pretty flowers for my birthday.
The view from our table.
View of the restaurant from the beach.

One of my best birthday gifts came from a 7 yr old. William found 26 beautiful sea shells for me for my 26th birthday! How thoughtful!!! After dinner Ryan needed to spend a couple of hours in the library studying, so Andrea came over to play. We did facials and played games and watched Sixteen Candles. Then Emily skyped us and gave us a belly dancing lesson over the computer. It was hilarious! We're not that good. :) Just about everyone I know either called, emailed or sent cards for my birthday. It was definitely one I will never forget!