Family Graduation Vacation!!

As I mentioned in my previous post, we were blessed to have so many family members from both sides make the trip to St Maarten to celebrate Owen's graduation. We had a great time sharing our island life with family, some of whom had been before and others this was their first visit. While my parents were there for 2 weeks, everyone else was there for a long weekend. We fit a lot of fun into just a few short days!! We were able to do lots of things all together, as well as some individual vacation/down time. It seemed that everyone had a great time and we were so thankful to have everyone there!

Highlights

• Private Scuba Diving trip (thanks Octopus!)
• Hikes up to the top of Pic Paradis
• Watching planes 
• Jet blasted by KLM's 747
• Exploring Belle Creole (abandoned resort)
• Mountain biking (thanks TriSport!)
• Beach time & boat drinks
• Several family dinners (Thai Savanh, Lolo's, Boat House, Karakters)
• Plenty of Carousel (gelato!!)

A huge thank you to David, Charlotte, Jared, Mark, Lydia, Christian, Tony, and Becky for making the trip to our island home and celebrating with us!!!  Plenty more photos from your visit and dive trip!!!  Look for more generic island pictures from our vacation soon! Enjoy!

We also want to say a very special CONGRATULATIONS to Lydia and Christian on your engagement in St Maarten!!! We are so happy for you both! How exciting that St Maarten will now always hold a special place in your hearts as well. Can't wait for the wedding!

These goofs got engaged the night before!! but didn't tell us until after they left! 

So awesome to have my bro on island!!

Pic Paradis

At Karakters Beach Bar, yes that pink boat drink was Jared's :)

Jared and me

Lydia and Christian

Me and Lydia

Mark and Owen

Mark and Owen mountain biked with the TriSport group (they're in the back in yellow and blue)

Exploring Belle Creole (I borrowed these ;) from Lyd and Christian)

Jared, me, and Christian waiting to get jet blasted by KLM

Boat drinks

Do they ever take normal photos??

Our "backyard" Mullet Bay

Owen and Mark at Pic Paradis

Visit to the radio

Early 30th birthday dinner, I even got to pick my own lobster!

Graduation....The Ceremony!

Congratulations, Dr. Owen Grove!!

Well as promised, though much delayed (my apologies, we've been a little busy ;) ) I have finally gotten to sorting, choosing, editing, and uploading just a few of our 2000+ photos from St Maarten!! Due to having such a great time and so many photos, I'll be breaking up our time into several different posts, to give proper attention to all the fun that was had! I'll start with what everyone probably wants to see most and the whole reason we were there in the first place...Owen's GRADUATION (ceremony)!!! 

As you know, Owen technically graduated in December (though we didn't know officially until February...it's been a process...), however there is only one ceremony a year, held back down where it all began, St Maarten! We were blessed to have so much of our families there to celebrate with us! Even though not everyone could come to the actually ceremony (limited tickets), we were so thankful they were on island to celebrate all weekend long!! My next post will be from the extended weekend with everyone and the adventures had during their visit. We even had the support of family and friends back home who were watching the live stream (when it worked ;) ) 

Thank you to everyone who has loved and supported us throughout this crazy adventure!! We couldn't have done it without our faith, family, and friends! It's been a long, crazy, challenging, exciting, full of amazing memories and experiences, adventurous journey to becoming an M.D..  

I am so proud of my wonderful husband, congratulations Dr. Owen Grove!!

American University of the Caribbean

Mini Spouses Reunion at the morning ceremony!

Morning ceremony graduates. Owen is in the back row, second from the left.

Officially Dr. Owen Grove!! And yes, he is wearing flip flops! It is the Caribbean ;)

Being hooded

Receiving his degree (cover)

Screen shots from people watching back home via live stream

Taking the Oath

with Owen's dad, Mark

with my parents and brother

with Tony

with Doctor Soc!

Hi all, Owen here. With the "medical school adventure" ending with our recent trip to St. Maarten for the graduation ceremony, we are preparing for the next part of our journey. We are just about settled in at our new place in Baton Rouge, LA. I want to use this post for several thank you's. First, to all of our friends who reside on the island, who always made us feel at home by including us in their lives. Second, to our family and friends who visited and sent care packages wherever we where in the world. Finally, a special thanks to all those who provided hospitality along the way. I included their names and locations to show all who have blessed us along the way.

Dave & Charlotte Landgren - Unionville, CT
Mark & Chila Grove - Lansing, MI
Clark family - Homer, MI
Tony Dowling - Okemos, MI
Cornford family - London, UK
Jake & Sydney Grove - Englewood, CO
Griffin family - Knoxville, TN
Baron & Allison Eskind - Baton Rouge, LA
Amoroso family - Baton Rouge, LA
Alaina Cormier - Margate, FL
Camtu Nguyen - Bronx, NY
Jason & Cayleigh Blumrick - Miami, FL
Dunlop family - Tully, NY
Earhart family - West Bloomfield, MI

This is only a small portion of the full list of people, and ways, we have been blessed. Thank you so much to everyone. Those who we do not live near, we look forward to seeing again. I'm not sure how all this blog stuff works, but I know Jamie will be posting pictures from St. Maarten...once she has sorted through all 2,000+!

Run the race!
(Phil 3:12-14)

The never ending winter

This winter was one of the longest, coldest, snowiest winters in a very long time and we had the pleasure (read misery) of experiencing it. However even in the midst of all the snow, we tried to find some fun. As you saw in the last post, we did make it up to New Hampshire for a weekend of winter fun. However, we also managed to find some fun throughout the rest of the winter.

We made a quick trip up to Boston to see a Hawks/Celtics game, courtesy of Owen's step-cousin Al Horford of the Hawks. Before the game we went to Wahlburgers for dinner, which was awesome!! We also stopped by Mike's Pastry of course! The game was fun, unfortunately Al was resting up for the next game so we didn't see him play, but the Hawks still won.

We had tons and tons of snow. More snow than I ever remember, so I made sure to take some pictures of course ;) We had lots of fires, movie nights, shoveling snow, baking, and Owen's practiced his archery quite a bit. Owen also took up pond hockey with guys from church, which I joined them for one night, it's a lot of fun and he really enjoyed it! We also celebrated Gabby's 2nd birthday, I made a little cake for her again and she loved sampling the frosting as I decorated :) We went to a play in Thomaston, Arsenic and Old Lace. And of course we have been helping out at the church kitchen a lot, including a few big events (WOW missions dinner and a Passover Seder).

So here are just a few highlights from our winter in New England and how we've kept busy. We've also been subbing at the local schools to pass the time and save for St Maarten and moving. As I finally get to writing this post, thank goodness the snow is finally melting and the temperatures are warming!

Wahlburgers, awesome food!!

Hawks/Celtics game at the Garden

Thanks Al! Great to see you!

Early in the snow season

Piles are getting high! Tougher to toss the snow while shoveling

Owen built a snow fort and eventually tunneled through

Serious ice (the ice dams were at least double this a couple weeks later)

The chairs fully disappeared under the snow before the end of the snow season

Highest I've ever seen the snow piles on the pod

Valentine's Baking

Owen's archery

Night pond hockey

 

Thomaston Opera House

WOW women's missions dinner at Valley