Tonga once again!!

Our Tonga nursing group

Picturesque scene in the harbor at Vava'u

Celebrating  mother's day with the mothers from the ward

And my favorite:  The Blowholes

In Tonga once again (actually, the 5th time) with the nursing students.  There are so many wonderful things here, and aside from missing my family, I love being here!!

One year

It was a year ago Dell Blair's heart stopped beating, a year since Mike helped bring him back. A lot has happened since that time
--A conversation stopped mid sentence with Dell pitching forward in the locker room. Last words on his way down --"I need help!"
--At least 15 minutes of CPR in the locker room before paramedics arrived. Two, sometimes three or four breaths between chest compressions to keep Dell from turning so blue
--2 shocks with the AED, followed by another 4 administered by paramedics and medical personnel after they arrived, before Dell's heart started again
--hours of cooling to minimize brain damage
--days that Dell doesn't remember; most memories starting in the MICU after a surgery--a single coronary artery bypass graft
--5 months of cardiac monitoring-- and NO SWIMMING
--7 months of swimming 5 days a week, first starting with 1,000 meters; now back up to 6500 meters/day
--25 paintings and works of art
--Hours spent with Dad, linguist Robert W. Blair, including working on Chinese and Russian courses
--A two week visit to Ecuador, including one last visit with Rafael Tabango, one of the first two Kichwa members of the LDS Church, before he passed from this earth
--Countless meaningful visits with family and friends, providing comfort, laughter, stories, and even a one last grasp of a hand from an elderly 102 year old friend, and then she was gone.
--A friendship, forged at death's doorstep, between Mike and Dell
--30,484,800 heartbeats, and still counting
--"Don't be afraid--I am with you"

Amsterdam

After saying goodbye to Michele in Brussels, we took the train to Holland, where I had my nurse educator conference.  The conference was held at a hotel out in the middle of the tulip fields, which would be great if the tulips were in bloom, but we weren't there at that time of the year.  Still, we did get to do some fun stuff, like riding bikes and walking, other than just attending the conference.  Our last full day we took a bus and two trains and went to Amsterdam.  While there we visited the Riksmuseum, and the Anne Frank house, and of course walked, seeing the canals and beautiful houses of Amsterdam.

A field by our hotel.  The hotel is on the left (tower is part of the hotel grounds)

The train station in Amsterdam, with beautiful architecture, once again

A church near the train station

I don't know what this building once was, but now it is a mall!

Rachel with the Riksmuseum behind her

A painting of the crucifixion from the year 1260.  Blows my mind!!

And this one is from 1300

A self-portrait of my favorite Dutch artist--Rembrandt

Rachel in front of a Rembrandt

And another Rembrandt

This is one of Vermeer's famous paintings--The Milkmaid

Even the architecture IN the museum was beautiful

Musical Company by Van Rijn

The outside of the Riksmuseum--Beautiful like the art within

Across the canal is a group of girls waiting outside the hotel that One Direction was staying in--hoping to get a glimpse

And of course, the canals, which Amsterdam is famous for

Rachel and I waiting in line outside the Anne Frank House

So Belgium has chocolate, and what does Holland have?  Cheese!!

Our last train ride ended in Haarlem

Our new nurse friends from Malaysia and Indonesia that we met at the bus stop on our way home from Amsterdam

Rachel on the beach near our hotel at sunset (Noordwijk).  Goodbye Holland and Belgium!!  I have had a wonderful time seeing you with Rachel

Antwerpen

Antwerp--It could be my favorite city in Belgium, although with so many pretty cities it is hard to pick a favorite.  You be the judge!!

Upon arriving in Antwerpen, we were immediately impressed by the amazing architecture in the train station

Last day to buy Belgian waffles, so we had to do it!!

Shopping district, with more beautiful Belgian archtecture

Rachel and I with the main cathedral in the background

Look at the detail!

Rastafari man blowing giant bubbles outside the cathedral

More cathedral views

I could never get enough of the beautiful buildings

The statue has come to life, thanks to Michele and Rachel!

The central square

Michele and I

The three of us with the cathedral spire in the background

Construction on this castle started in 1200 AD.  Wow!

More beautiful Antwerp architecture

Yep, that says 1626 on it!!   Built 6 years after the Pilgrims came to America.  

The inside of a cathedral

Good bye, Antwerpen!!  I hope to get to see you again.

Happy Birthday, Rachel!!

So for Rachel's 19th birthday, we took the train from Brussels to Liege (Belgium).  Michele gave us great directions again, and it was a mom and daughter day.  It has been a great 19 years having Rachel for a daughter, and hopefully the memories we have made on this trip will be remembered on many of her future birthdays as well.  Here are some from Liege:

Happy 19th Birthday, Rachel!!

The train station in Liege is a a must-see architectural wonder--of course it was easy to do so since we took the train there!

St. Paul's Cathedral

The Castle of the Counts

Another way cool church, which unfortunately was closed  (All were but St. Pauls)

Rachel and I at the bottom of the 375 stairs up to The Castillion

And at the top!!

Look closely--bet Anny, Michele and Alison didn't know they also came along on this birthday trip!!  (Taken from the top of the Castillion)

Such a sophisticated 19 year old!

Kaoma had a specially prepared dinner for us with food from the Congo--complete with the delicacy of caterpillars!  It was a great day/birthday.