7 Months Later!

Hey there Blog fans!  It's a new year, so that means I have an excuse to start up this blog again! :)  So with my apologies for being a slack blogger, here is a recap of what I've been up to since last summer (or in other words, since my last post!)

I've been on the go more than usual, making several trips-from Sierra Leone to the UK and back, from Sierra Leone to the States and back, a sail to Ghana, then to the States for Christmas, Wales to ring in the New Year, a quick visit to Northern Ireland, then a nice long weekend with Amy and Larry in Liverpool before meeting up with the ship in Togo.  My head is spinning between Africa and elsewhere...



An unexpected trip to the UK in August meant some quality sister (and brother Lars) time at Stone Henge - among other incredible sites in England and Wales!



My second trip to Liverpool in 2011 - Grover joins the fun!



Back at work on the ship - not the most flattering angle, but this is what happens when you give your camera to a 6 year-old plastics patient.  :)  We had several regular visitors to the OR office this year. (More on these little friends later!)





I turned 30 in Sierra Leone!!!

I recieved rodent birthday cards (thanks, Beth!)......

...and a few weeks later, rodent tunes!  (thanks for the squirrel song, Umba!) After arriving in Charleston, I was whisked away by Tricia and Amber for a belated birthday Chick-fil-a feast!  Yum Yum! Then, the wedding festivities began!

Amber Williams married Sherief Khalil!  Whoop Whoop!!!



I got to do one of my favorite things -roadtrip with my best friend Tricia!

...to Saluda, North Carolina where we met up with my Mom and Dad and Ms. Beth.



Wisconsin is beautiful in October!  I can see why Mom and Dad got married that time of year.



I got to go for a hike with Dad on his birthday!



I was only in wonderful West Virginia for a few days. It's been great to see my family as much as I have this year though!

When I got back to Sierra Leone, things were beginning to wind down for the year, but there was still plenty of work to be done.  Wow, as I think back... what a year it has been!   Many surgeries were completed and countless lives were changed.  In many ways this was a very difficult year, but there were some very bright spots throughout the 10 month field service.  Brilliant spots even, like little Memuma:



BEFORE



AFTER

  

After surgeries were finished for the outreach, Jane and I had one more chance to go for a hike up the mountain with the Gurkahs.



One last party with our fantastic OR Day Workers!  We will miss these Sweet Salone smiles.

  


After a nice smooth sail to Ghana, I fulfilled a dream of visiting coffin makers in Teshi.



Days after being in Teshi, I was in the home of my Aunt Diane and Uncle Jeff, the owners of the coffe table book that inspired the dream.  :)  They also happen to be the owners of Cormac, one of the cutest pups in the world!



Missing the rest of the cousins





MeRrY cHrIsTmAs!



hApPy NeW yEaR!!!!



The sweetest cows live in Norn' Ireland



"We all live in a YellowDuckMarine, a YellowDuckMarine, a YellowDuckMarine!"