Hanging out with the Snyders

Alison and the neighbors. Happy 23rd birthday, Alison!!
At a park near Alison's

Alison's baby shower

Palmyra and upstate New York

After spending a day at Niagara Falls, we saw more of upstate New York. We drove through Letchworth State Park on our way to the got to the Hill Cumorah, and then went to the Sacred Grove, and the Smith homes there, and to see the Grandin Printing office. The following day we drove through the Adirondaks, and ended up the day very late at Alison and Ethan's in Long Island, because we wanted to make it there for Alison's birthday.

Rolling down the Hill Cumorah

The Sacred Grove

In the Smith Home


In the Adirondaks

Niagara Falls

After the graduation activities were finished, we got to go see Niagara Falls. We stayed on the Canadian side. What a view!! The falls are amazing.

Graduating

This is a video of the actual "hooding", just in case you wanted to be there!

Dr. Reed's Graduation

I did it! I actually finished my work and graduated with my DNP (Doctorate in Nursing Practice) Degree!!

I flew from Ecuador to Cleveland, arriving on May 16th. I met Mike, Annie, Rachel, Ruth, and Sam at the Cleveland airport, and Alison and Ethan later at Kirtland. They had driven out from Long Island

I wasn't really sure it was happening. Yes, I had pulled another all nighter right before I left for Ecuador, and yes, they said everything was okay, but until I checked in and the card with my name on it was there, I wouldn't let myself be sure...

It was there!! I got to participate in graduation, and got my doctoral hood. I feel like the weight resting on my shoulders is considerably lighter

And, here is the college I attended and graduated from--the Frances Payne Polton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom

It's hard for any of us children to pinpoint what we love most about Mom, but I asked my siblings today what they love most about our Mom and what their favorite memory of her is. Here is what we all have to say.

Alison - I love how she is so talented with children, and how she loves babies. I love how she has stayed close to her siblings and family. I love how she likes to scream at the top of her lungs when she buys a new car. I love that she wants the best for us children and encourages us to pursue every opportunity. I love that she is a good cook. I love that she is a strong woman who is motivated and driven. I love that she has the answers. I love that she is always there to talk to. I love that she was willing to welcome so many children into our family. I love the way she laughs after she tells a good joke or says something she thinks is really funny. I love how she tells stories. I love how she has a sense of adventure. I love that she is good at explaining things. One of my favorite memories of her was going to see Les Miserables in London together, and turning and seeing the tears stream down her face as she listened to Jean Valjean sing "Bring Him Home."

Neil - Mom is loving, smart, hardworking, and beautiful. She manages to work and study, but is sure to make time for every one of us. One of my favorite memories of her was...a time when, as a small child, I face planted in a large puddle of cow manure at Grandma and Grandpa's farm. Covered head to toe in manure, she patiently and lovingly hosed me off until I didn't smell quite so detestable. Good times.
Another good memory of Mom was when she learned to dance the "Jalisco" with the ward in Mérida. She got really into the dance, and did it so well!

Shawn - I appreciate how she is always there to help me when I'm in need. She gave me the life that I now live. My favorite memory of her is when she made me a cake and threw me a surprise birthday party when I hadn't had one for 5 years. It made a tear roll from my eye.

Annie - I love that she's so ambitious. I love how she's able to handle us kids when we are upset or crying and make us feel better. She knows how to comfort you and she gives really good advice. She can do a million things at once. A favorite memory I have of her is doing "lotion time" when I was little.

Rachel - I'm so happy that when she is so busy she finds time for us. I don't know how she does it, but she loves me all the time. I also love how she always comes to my performances, even though no one else will. Even though she's busy, she will. She's just like a mom should be. My favorite memory of Mom is of her hugging me and telling me she loves me. I don't have one specific memory of that - I have lots.

Ruth - She does so much for us. I feel bad she has to work every day and do everything for us. I hope she a good mother's day. I love how she manages to spend time with the family and also work and to do stuff at church and manages to make time for everything. My favorite memory of her is at the pool and she was just floating in the water with me and she was hugging me and holding me up.

Sam - I love how she makes food and she takes us to the store and she goes to work. I love everything else and everything about her. My favorite memory of her is when she sings songs to me at nighttime.

Dad - I love everything about Mom. She is very helpful and she's always there. My favorite memory with her is walking down the mountain in socks when we were dating, and scaring off the other guy who was trying to date her with a surprise party and opening her front door in a robe.

We all love you very much, Mom, and we hope you have a wonderful Mother's day.

Mom's in Ecuador

I am in Ecuador again, with the BYU nursing students. I got to come last year, and it is fun to be here again, only a little more familiar with where we are going and what we are doing. We work in the hospitals of the Junta in Guayaquil, and with an organization called Hogar de Cristo, in the outlying communities.

Mike is home with the kids. This month has probably been one of the busiest and most eventful/stressful of my life. Mike's brother died last week, and we had a funeral. Other family difficulties have happened. And, on top of it all, I defended my doctoral work, and passed. Yeah!! Still, after passing, I needed to revise my work based on committee suggestions. I have spent several all-nighters fixing and revising. My last all-nighter was Thursday night, before leaving for Ecuador. My chair says it looks good, and I get to walk in graduation in Cleveland on May 17th! This is a good thing, because long ago when tickets were purchased, they routed my ticket from Ecuador to Cleveland. Finally, during Thursday's all nighter, I trusted the situation enough to buy tickets for Mike and the kids to meet me in Cleveland, so they can see me graduate.

As it is Sunday here in Guayaquil, I had time for a nap. A good, long nap, maybe three hours, and I could have slept more. After this past month, I have a lot of catching up to do. Especially with sleep.