Cinco de mayo

Shaina graduated from Truman State University!!!!!

Given the date (see this blog’s title) and her major (Spanish….and English), she felt it highly appropriate to wear a sombrero. Since we live in the southwest we could happily provide!

All of her roommates’ families attended, and we all had a great time celebrating the graduates. This was the first time since Christmas that we were together as a family. Ab and Rosie (Keith’s folks) were able to come too!

Shaina and Karl are both centered around the Chicago area now, while we’re still in Albuquerque. Growing up feels kind of strange sometimes…..

Displacement 2

The end of April found us heading to Phoenix again, this time with friends (Alf and April) to participate in a “Displacement Event.” This overnight experience, organized by Invisible Children, was meant to simulate and raise awareness of the plight of Northern Ugandan citizens forced by their government to live in IDP* camps as part of an unsuccessful effort to protect them from rebel armies.

While hardly a realistic simulation, there’s something about sleeping in a self-built cardboard hut in the middle of a football field surrounded by noisy, somewhat self-centered, teenagers that promotes a very profound understanding of and gratitude for the resources and security we possess. And prompts incredibly sincere prayer in fervent solidarity with the Ugandan citizens and the majority of the world who lack what we take for granted.

*Internally Displaced Persons

(Please visit April's "old" website to hear some of her great music: http://www.heyapril.com/.)