"Can't Nobody Hold Me Down"

I'm pretty sure I heard Jared humming the tune to this song as he got dressed for graduation tonight. Jared is the last of us to finish highschool and everyone is so excited to be done with the Springfield Public School System. If you can make it out of there you can probably make it out of anywhere- going to school in Springfield allows you to learn a whole lot more than just what the books teach you, it also forces you to learn some street smarts! Here is the whole family including my pregnant sister and Aunt Louyse who flew up from Georgia and has seen each of her nieces and nephews graduate highshool! We are so proud of Jared to be done with highschool and moving along to college. He will start at American International College in the fall and continue to live in Springfield at my parents.

My Country, 'Tis of Thee

Land where my fathers died,

Land of the pilgrims' pride,

From every mountainside

Let freedom ring!

I made it home yesterday evening after about 24 hours of travel. Despite the tornado that touched down in Springfield just a day before I got here, I have had such a warm welcome home with e-mails, phone calls and visits from friends and family. The air is clean, the weather is a perfect 70 degrees and the sun is shining. My parents neighborhood was untouched by the tornado but, not everyone was so fortunate. I already went to the mall and managed to pump the American economy... just doing my service as an American.

I can't wait to see each and every one of you.

I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane

My bags aren't packed but I am ready to go. I need to get myself together- I leave to come home in just about 5 hours and I haven't packed a thing. I have ordered new clothes on-line that I sent to my parents house and those might be the only clothes I have at home. I can't wait to see everyone!

I'm looking forward to seeing normal street signs again- I'm realizing that life here really is so different from home!

Congrats!

Hooray! Yesterday my brother-in-law graduated with a doctorate in physical therapy. Our whole family is so excited for Jeziel to take his boards (pass them!) and start work! He has worked hard throughout his degree program and the end is here! He has already been offered two jobs and this new career is surely necessary since Jeziel and Jessica are expecting a baby boy this summer.

Congrats Jeziel, we are all proud of you!

~Photo courtesy of Lemuel

"I don't want to work, I just want to bang on a drum all day"

At the hospital I am on the Social Activities Committee, essentially we try to make sure that there is something fun for the staff to do at least once a month. This month all the staff went bowling. We rented out the entirety of Bowling City and it was open to all hospital staff for free!

I am not much of a bowler, despite our family's tradition of going bowling the day after Thanksgiving or New Year's Day every year. I went anyway because I do a lot of things that don't seem that fun to me for the sheer sake of being social.

It ended up being a really fun night especially since it was 115 degrees out today. Indoor activities are well received when the weather gets like this!

To Lebanon and Back

Last week Hannah and I headed to Lebanon for a 5 day power tour. We saw 5 cities in 5 days and tons of amazing sites!

We flew into Beirut on Wednesday morning from Sharjah airport which is about 2 hours from Al Ain. We had a great time that day in Beirut just poking around the University, shops and had lunch on the water. I was able to go outside and run along the water all alone, it was gorgeous and I felt amazing!

We went to Beeka Valley to the most famous winery in Lebanon called Ksara, then off to the Roman ruins in Baalbek.

Next up was more Beirut, a night out on the town in Gemayze, with the smallest restaurant I think I have ever ate in. The next few days we crammed in Byblos, Tripoli, and the Cedars of Lebanon up in Bcharre.

Byblos

Beirut

The Cedars of Lebanon

We had a chance to stop in the village where Hannah's family is from, just a few generations back!

A guest is on her way!

My dear college friend Hannah-Jane Simon Girard (she has lots of names) is coming for a visit! She arrives tomorrow night and will be here in Al Ain for one week before her and I head to Lebanon for 5 days. I can't wait to see her and I can't wait for my big trip!

She is always a good time and we do a great job of wasting many hours talking about everything and nothing!