Places I want to go before we leave Michigan

like how I said that?
WHEN we leave Michigan.
as if I'm not planning on being here for residency.
because I'm not.
Dear Lord Jesus please send us south. please!


So there are the obvious places that we haven't been yet -
Detroit Zoo
Detroit Institute of Arts
Tiger's Game
Lion's Game - if possible
and a Red Wings game too if we can swing it!

Mexican Town- especially the Honeybee's market I'm interested in!

I NEED to see the Fairy doors in Ann Arbor!  How cool is this!!!

Avalon Bread - downtown Detroit.  I hear they have a sea salt, dark chocolate cookie that I've got to try! 

Doc's Sweets' Candy Shop - the largest candy store in Michigan?! what?!

Historic Fort Wayne - and the Tuskegee Airmen Museum is also there.  I won't be too sad if we never go here, but it might be cool!


I do need to explore the western coast of Michigan a bit, who knows, I could love it and don't even know yet!
Here's a list of the best beaches on Michigan's west coast nicknamed the sunset coast. I like the sound of that.
Sand dunes! 

and if we get REALLY adventurous and find ourselves with time off I want to see Mackinac Island and while we're at it we should head further north to the U.P. as the locals call it, the upper peninsula of Michigan where there are MOOSE roaming free and this insanely gorgeous place called Pictured Rocks and they have   2 hour cruises that take you along the shore.  I HAVE TO DO THIS!!!!!

You never know, I may just start to love Michigan.... at least 3 months out of the year.

Babies Galore!

Lee  and I's lives recently have been focused on babies babies babies.... and none of our own.

Lee is in his OB/GYN rotation currently and I am volunteering at a pregnancy center.  We did a "Walk for Life" this weekend to raise awareness about abortion, which is rampant and casual almost in Detroit.
It breaks my heart that young women think nothing of killing their unborn baby... but that's a whole different post.   While I am counseling women dealing with a multitude of issues and circumstances that have led them to consider abortion as an option, Lee is bringing new lives into this world!!

He has delivered about a dozen babies now!  It is amazing and rather than being a little grossed out like I thought I might be, I am in awe of how awesome Lee is and what an experience he is having!!

OB/GYN has been an interesting rotation.  He started out in the surgical aspect of it, which was completely similar to his surgery rotation.  Then he moved into the clinic where he did routine exams, inserted IUDs, and dealt with STDs etc.  In OB he is with mothers during the labor process, watching football games with the dads to be, and wishing he was playing with the babies rather than cleaning up after delivery :)

His schedule has been erratic, but do-able.
He has worked a typical 7am-5pm schedule, he's worked 1pm-midnight, 5pm-7am, and some days he has nothing other than lectures for a few hours.

I think he's enjoying the learning experience and the celebration and miracle of a new life entering the world, but this isn't exactly what he wants to do for the rest of his life.
And I'd prefer to not introduce people to my husband the gynecologist.....

Our T-Shirts for the Walk for Life!
Sweet baby feet....

Eastern Market

One of the first "group outings" I did in Grenada was visit the Spice Market downtown St. George's...and one of the first things I did with a group from church was visit the huge farmers market downtown Detroit known as Eastern Market.

It was really neat, unlike being in Detroit for sure.
I'm starting to think that maybe this city very, very slightly gets a worse rap than it deserves. (yes I totally goggled "bad rap" to see if that was the correct word or if it was "bad wrap")
I'm not saying it's a safe place to walk around at night.... but it's not all bad... right?

It was huge too. huge.
more produce and plants than I've probably ever seen at one time.
and lots of free samples :)

There were people selling specialty cheeses, jellies, organics, fish, jewelry, and lots lots more.

It is held every Saturday - all year round!  How cool is that?? I doubt it's a place I'll want to be going come winter... but maybe it's cool at Christmas?

My finds of the day:

House plants for $1!!! such a great deal!! I love to have plants around the house!!
and I found a little something for Lee too - he loves it!

from one SO to another

I got this sweet facebook message from an SGU SO who has already completed their clinical rotations (which I found is really called medical clerkship) in Detroit.  She really calmed my nerves about living in/near Detroit!  I thought this might be helpful to anyone thinking about heading to MI for rotations.


Don't be nervous about Detroit. You won't really need to go there for any reason. There are some fun places in right downtown (greek town, mexican town, etc). But we lived write on Mack Avenue by the hospital and loved it. There are cops around 24/7 to keep it safe and a nice community. We never felt uncomfortable. In fact - there were for sure times I felt more nervous about living in Grenada!

Also - I went to Target at Eastland ALL the time. My husband did say they had some crime at night so maybe just stick to daytime hours. The mall is pretty ghetto but I even took my kids to play there at the indoor playland a few times during the winter. I never felt unsafe.

What is your address? Do you know what "park" you belong to? They have private community parks that we spent all our time at. A free pool, one even has a movie theater (GPP)? I hope that you love it as much as we did. Will your hubby be at St. Johns hospital? It's a great one. So lucky you were placed there. What was it on your list? You will be glad in the end. All our friends that went to Jersey and NYC were bummed cause 4th year they had to scramble and find rotations themselves while St. John's sets it all up and you don't have to move around What does your husband want to go into? We just were matched in AUstin TX for ER. We are super excited. Good luck with your adventure. MI is great Let me know if you have any other questions!




Thank you so much for your help Alexis!!
The SO community is really great, I have never even met her and here she is offering all this help!  Awesome!
And now I'm more exited about our Michigan Adventure!