It’s 5:30 in the morning and I’m wide eyed. My body still has not been able to wind down from the buzz of adrenaline of the stresses of med school. Also, I think my body is still two hours ahead and I get up every morning at 7ish for class, so this is "normal" time for me... I started this blog as I was sitting in the San Juan airport on the 18th, and I was going to post from there, but the plane was early... Here’s what I was writing:

Craziest quote I heard today in the airport was from a girl who was probably 9 years old. She was walking w/ her grandmother and said to her: “You know, I’m probably going to drink so much that I will be an alcoholic”. Her grandmother replied: “I never want to hear you say that ever again!” To be honest, I don’t know anything about their circumstances or even their conversation leading up to that comment, but I wonder why such a young girl would say something like that?

Last night, I arrived in San Juan and went to the hotel and to eat a steak! Luckily, a couple of guys from my class had an overnight layover and we all split the room. They were going to spend the night at the airport, which is insane. So, as I flew into San Juan yesterday evening and I was a little emotional. Maybe it was the fact that I was one step closer to my wife, or maybe it was because I just finished a grueling 3rd semester and my brain was beginning the 3 week cool down? I believe it was because of Liz, really. You know the first thing I saw? A Cadillac Escalade! I immediately thought of Kathy (Liz's mom) when I met her for the first time. She rolled up in the McDonald’s parking lot in Ft. Smith in her Escalade truck (since I had never been there before we had to meet somewhere easy). She flies in, Liz hops out and Kathy yells: “I like yer truck!” Nice to meet you too...

Any way, being in Dominica makes me realize that we live in our land of excess... Have you ever seen the movie “Super-size Me”? Me either, but that’s all I think about when I walk through the airport, or go to a place to eat. There is just so much stuff in the states. All of the coke machines I have come across do not have anything less than a 20 oz. drink! I am not complaining at all, I guess, because that’s the culture we’ve grown to love and it makes us happy. Although I love America and American food, I really like the good cooking Liz has grown to be sooo good at making! She made me gain 10lbs. this semester, seriously! Also, I would have never thought I would take a girl out of her perfect world down to an island where you never know if you will have power or clean water that day. She has sacrificed so much for us in this past year and I am very thankful for her. I am also thankful for the support of our family and friends. It’s hard to believe we have been in Dominica for ONE YEAR! To me, the time has flown by, but I spend my days in the books and there never seems to be enough time to study all I need to study.

Okay, back to writing from Arkansas:In the few days that I have been back, I have had a great time with my wife, eaten entirely too much, made a 5 hour road trip to El Dorado from Ft. Smith, and have gotten to see my family (well, a lot of them). I thank God for getting me through Semester 3. Without Him there is no way I would have made it through. Really, Semester 3 was by far the most grueling and tough for me. I appreciate the prayers and support from everyone! I studied a lot this semester and Liz (and Ellie) were my biggest fans on the island. Thank you Liz, I love you!

I am including a picture (see above) from Google Analytics that analyzes our traffic flow to the website. As you can see from the US map there are people from many locations that visit our site. I have NO clue who many of you are, but I thank you for checking up on us. Feel free to leave us a message or email some time. I wanted to include a map of the world because there are visitors from all over, but it really didn’t look right. Crazy, that in one year we could have over 8,000 visits from all over the world to a blog that Liz initially started to keep our family informed of our life!

Have a Merry Christmas!

I leave TOMORROW!!!! Can yall believe it?? I am a bunch of emotions!! As you all know – Ellie is leaving with me. Please pray that I will chill out! Thank the Lord that Sarah will be with me to hopefully calm me down a little.

This semester has gone by extremely fast! Almost too fast. I have made a bunch of new friends who I wish would have gotten here my first semester. They are great. Two of which are my new accountability and prayer partners. Great girls! If only Sarah would stay ONE more semester life would be near perfect. The end of the semester has been pretty busy for us spouses. Parties galore! There is a new hotel/bar in town called Comfortel de Champ. The people that own it are great. They invited us over for a wine and cheese night last Saturday. We had a blast!! There were about 12 of us and we danced like crazy! We were prime examples of people who knew how to have fun without being drunk. Even though the pictures look otherwise.

Then the next day we went tubing down the river. Its about a 6 mile tube down one of the 365 rivers in Dominica. It was a blast! It’s a little faster than a lazy river with a few small “rapids” here and there. One of my friends fell out of her tube on the first rapid. Im not real sure how it happened – but it did.

Then Monday night we had a Christmas Cookie Swap at my friend Ashleys house. We all (well most of us) wore red and green and brought a batch of cookies (or fudge, cupcake, etc.), and then played a game called Garbage. My team lost but it was fun! I took my dads FAMOUS chocolate chip cookies (which I have almost perfected) and some peanut butter cookies.

LIFE IS GOOD!!

Well yesterday was Justins last day of class!!! Now its test time! Here is his test schedule:

December 8     Path Lab Final
December 11   Behavioral Science Shelf
December 15   Mini 3 Exam
December 17   Final Exam (cumulative of all semester)

On December 17th he takes his test at 8:00 am and then his plane leaves at 2:55 pm! We are so grateful he got this flight out. He was originally scheduled to leave on the 21st. One day he was just looking at flights – just in case - and found one seat left on the December 17th flight. He calls me and asks if he should book it and my reply was “ARE YOU CRAZY???” Duh!!! Of course I want to spend 4 more days with you! I believe with all my heart that God made him look for flights that day so he could come home earlier. 

I am coming home on December 10th (JUST ONE WEEK!!!). I am bringing Ellie home and I hate traveling with our dogs. It really stresses me out and I do not do well. I get sick and I will be nervous and worried about her until I see her out of her crate in Fort Smith Arkansas! Luckily Sarah will be flying with me until Dallas. She was originally leaving a little later but then changed her flight just for me (and Ellie)!! So she can help me with Ellie when we get to Puerto Rico, etc. How great is that? 

Also – Ellie cannot fly if it is over 85 degrees here in Dominica or Puerto Rico. So please pray that the weather cooperates. The Lord really has looked over us in all our traveling that we have done this past year. The dogs have done great flying and for that I am extremely thankful! 

One other thing – HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!!!!! Her birthday was this past Sunday (November 30th) and she was 52!! She said this one was great because unlike the last two years – she didn’t just get out of surgery AND she has hair!!  I love you so much Mom!! Below are some pictures of my gorgeous mother!! Not many people can look as good as she does post cancer huh?