Top 10 of 2019

Top 10 of 2019

In Inspiration by Sarah4 Comments

Life is Life

It has been quite some time since our last post….over a year in fact (insert embarrassed emoji). Life has a funny way of getting in the way. Life also has a way of becoming routine. I know I’ve said this before – I know we live in a tropical location and when people see our posts on social media they may think “WOW! It is like they are on vacation 24/7!” The reality is – life is life. We still have to grocery shop, do laundry, clean the house, and go to work. The mundane tasks of “real” life don’t disappear just because you live in a beautiful location.

I had this very thought today as I was grocery shopping. I thought “I really need a break from the regular trip to the grocery store to get water, eggs, and cheese.” This is quite humorous considering it happens to be Winter Break and we don’t have to be at work. However, I think we all crave the opportunities to break up the monotony of our everyday lives.

As today is December 31st, 2019 – I am reflecting on the end of the year and the end of a decade. As I think back on the past year, a lot has happened yet nothing monumental. Life has remained consistent. After 2017, when SO MUCH happened with moving and surviving a hurricane – 2018 and then 2019 have seemed comparatively ordinary. I am extremely grateful for the calm we have experienced and we continue to move forward and have been incredibly blessed.

Top 10 Moments

listed in no particular order

Boys finished 3rd and 5th grades….and then entered 4th and 6th Grade.

  • Boys entering 3rd and 5th Grade
  • Miles as Mr. Shelley
  • Gabe dressed as a Ranger
  • Miles enters 6th Grade
  • Gabe enters 4th Grade
  • Gabe's Monopoly Halloween Costume
  • Miles' Clue Halloween Costume

Gabe got glasses!

Painted the exterior of the house

Boys learned new skills

  • Miles Learns to sew
  • The finished product - a backpack!
  • Gabe learns to bake!
  • The finished product - a delicious cake!

Traveling to Florida and New York City

  • The Shelleys at Epcot
  • The Shelleys at Animal Kingdom
  • Sarah & Gabe on Dumbo
  • Miles at the Kennedy Space Center
  • Miles and Gabe in front of Shuttle Atlantis
  • Cool Car at Epcot
  • Gabe in the cockpit
  • Freezing in NYC
  • Boys in Grand Central Terminal NYC
  • NYC Skyline

Went our first cruise

  • Celebrity Summit
  • Waterfall
  • Boys in St. Kitts Ruins
  • Boys and Monkey
  • St. Croix Cruise

Many trips to the beach

  • Sandy Point
  • Sunset Beach
  • Miles crystal Clear water
  • Gabe in Sand
  • Davis Beach
  • Stewart Crystal Clear Water
  • Davis Beach 2
  • Dorsche Beach
  • Boys at Dorsche Beach

Finished our kitchen re-do

Before

After

Stewart gets a new job as Choir and Theater Teacher at GHCDS & Sarah continues her art teacher job

There he is conducting his 3rd Graders with their recorders. Check out other pictures (including pictures from the school play – Metamorphoses) at the GHCDS Facebook Page.

  • Sarah's Art Room
  • Gabe in art class working on a mural

I continue to work hard in the art room. Check out the projects that are being created on our online gallery.

Started a new business – Bard’s Bytes

We have learned that on the island it is often for inhabitants to have a side-hustle. We are apparently no different. We decided to combine our love of art and creating with our love of theater and Shakespeare. This endeavor is also our hope to help fund our wanderlust while still being able to live and work here in St. Croix. So, if you feel so inclined, pop over and take a look and find something that speaks to you. Go GET SHAKESPEARE!

Keep Moving Forward

“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”Walt Disney

The above quote really summed up how we are living here in St. Croix. We keep moving forward. We move forward with faith and allow Heavenly Father to be in every part of our lives. We are grateful for the many ways we see His hand in our lives.

May you be blessed this coming year to move forward, open new doors, continue to do new things, and stay curious!

What wonderful things have you experienced this past year? What things are you looking forward to in 2020?

Comments

  1. Awwww! I love this! And love you guys. Sure do miss you, but you still continue to inspire me!

  2. Hi Sarah,
    I continue to pursue my dream of moving to St. Croix, and I just found your stories. Thank you for sharing them. My move will be from St. Petersburg Florida and I’d like to be on the west end.
    Maybe one day we can meet up! I’ve met many mainland Americans during my 2 trips there. Don’t know when I will next travel there- covid 19 is still too fresh.
    Stay well and happy!
    Kristina

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.