Summer in the USA part 1

Sorry for the long absence on the blog.  Micah and I have been really busy with all of our fun in the US.  Of course we are both back in Saudi now so I have time to sit down and try to remember our trip.  Micah was able to come to the USA with me for 3 weeks.  It was his first trip home in over a year!


Our first stop was Houston for almost a week.  My family was there to greet us in Houston when we arrived.  It is so much easier to get through jet lag when there is exciting stuff going on. During the first week home we were able to see my brother and his family and my sister and her family.  What a fun beginning to our trip! Sadly I wasn't in the picture taking mode yet so I only have a few.

Beau and Madasin

While in Houston we were also able to go to our old church a couple times and visit with our best friends from Clear Lake.  We miss getting to do life with these wonderful people.  We also feel so blessed that they welcome us back home every time and that it feels like there is no time lost.  That is what makes good friends.  Thanks Carpenter's and Harris's for being such wonderful friends. Again, I forgot my camera (so not like me) but I did get a couple pictures.  As usual, I don't really have pictures of the guys since they aren't quite as enthusiastic about posing. 

Addi C and Charlotte H at lunch

Meredith and Charlotte

Susie and Addi

Eventually, Micah and I started making our way up north to Oklahoma.  On the way we stopped by the Jackson's to see their precious new baby Emily.  Now, Holly and I have literally known each other our entire lives so Emily is more like a niece to me.  I was so excited to get to meet Emily even if it was just for a short time. 

Upon leaving Holly's we headed for Stillwater.  Micah had planned just enough time in Stillwater to eat at our favorite places: Eskimo Joes, Bad Brad's BBQ, and Red Rock Bakery.  We were able to spend some short time with my family and ride the "gator" on my dad's land.  It's nice to just be out in the country away from everything for a short time.  We could have stayed longer but there are just so many people to see in a limited amount of time. 

From Stillwater we headed to Tulsa to spend time with Micah's family.   We stayed a few days in Tulsa at Andy & Jackie's and then spent a few more days in Wagoner.  In Tulsa we were able to eat out more, go see a movie, church, shop, and more eating out.  One night we went to a Japanese steak house where they cook in front of you.  Kate thought it was really cool until he lit the onions on fire and then she cried. 

After a few days in Tulsa we made our way to Wagoner.  Our original thought was to go camping and ride jet-ski's but almost all of the Oklahoma lakes were suffering from a "Blue-green Algae" break-out.  Our camping plans were canceled but we were still able to float the river.  Micah eventually found a lake that wasn't having the algae problem so we packed up and went jet-skiing for an afternoon.  

When our time in Oklahoma was over we headed back to Houston to spend a little bit more time with my family and our Clear Lake friends.  At my parents house we spend a lot of our nights sitting on the back porch hanging out.  Well, my parents have new "neighbors" who like to pay a visit at night. This has given us new entertainment to add to sitting on the back porch....Coon huntin.  Yes, my parents live in a highly populated city in a really nice neighborhood but that don't scare no coons.  And since they live in this area we can't just pull out guns and shoot them so my dad decided to buy blow guns.  Are blow guns going to kill the coons?....No, but it is a lot of fun to scare them :)

Micah the brave hunter.

After 3 fun weeks together in the States it was time to put Micah on a plane and send him back to Saudi. Stories from the rest of my visit in the USA coming soon.