I'm Back

We are back in Cebu after a month break to the US and Canada. I have not blogged since before we left. Sorry for the long lapse. I find it so difficult to keep up on emailing and blogging while we are away. Probably because we aren't in any one place for very long and there is just too much fun stuff going on to be able to sit down for very long at someone else's computer. It's all good though because when I'm with my family and friends in N. America, I don't have as big a need to connect through blogging. And a break every once in a while is good. I'm happy to be back in Cebu and back to blogging. The trip accomplished it's purpose. I was really ready to come back by the end.

What a blessing to have had the privilege of spending time with so many of you. We had a fantastic nine days in Tampa with practically my entire family. Our Florida family took time away from their busy schedules to hang with us, which was so appreciated. We went to the beach, had BBQ's, celebrated my brother's 40th birthday, tubed down a crystal clear river and spent almost a whole day shopping with my mom - most of it in Target. It's a tradition.

The rest of our time was in Canada. Except for the night in Seattle we had when Matt & Colleen, Taj & Danny and their three kids collectively hosted us for a delicious dinner of smoked wild salmon, roasted veggies, salad, and key lime cheesecake. Yum! Those guys are so good to us.

In Canada we spent a week in the Okanogan Valley in BC with friends on Osoyoos Lake. It was hot and we got a ton of sun, spent many mornings at the beach on the lake, and went tubing. Then the last two weeks were spent between Calgary and Saskatoon. We got to connect with pretty much every family member in both cities. We threw a party for Andrey's parents in Saskatoon to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. It was a huge hit. I think that fact had something to do with the reenactment of the wedding procession with several members of the original wedding party - Lou, Marilyn, the flower girl (our cousin Cathy), and Marilyn's brother and sister. Both Marilyn and her sister wore the original wedding dress and bridesmaid dress, respectively. Those skinny ladies are amazing! The thing that made the party so fun was the karaoke machine we rented. Oh man do we have some funny videos of that. I already posted lots of photos on facebook.

Everywhere we went, family made time to spend with us, hosted us generously and showed us a very good time. We are so grateful for each one of them.

Now it's back to business. I have two midwifery assignments to finish this week and two tests to take before I'm finished. Then just a few last clinical skills to master before we submit everything to the college by mid October at the latest. Then I will have to start studying for the licensing exam I plan to take in the US in February. I will continue to work at the clinic as long as they let me so as to gain more experience.