Family Hike to the Bamboo Forest - Kamakura

School Play & Last Day of Kindergarten

Hiroshima Trip & Sean's Birthday

Sean took the bullet train to the base at Iwakuni (in southern Japan) to treat some of their patients for a week (since they don't have an ENT Surgeon). The base is not very far from the town that many Americans remember from WWII history (Hiroshima). He decided to travel down a day early on the weekend to visit this sobering city. We wanted to join him but Liana was sick and not up for traveling. These are some of the historic sites he visited: The Monument to the Victims of the Atomic Bomb. Through the concrete arch the Atom Dome can be seen. Under a stone slab is a list of the victims, and on the slab is the inscription "Rest in peace, for this error shall not be repeated." Also, the Peace Memorial Museum (which is comprised of two buildings - the East Building tells of Hiroshima before and after the bombing, and the West Building concentrates on that fateful August day.) Numerous graphic exhibits convey the stark reality of the atomic bombing. I'll let him post his feelings about visiting these places as a member of the military who also has a love for the people of Japan after his serving his mission here 20 years ago. My favorite picture is the last one of our girls' reaction to waking up after a week of not having Dad around. I think you can understand their emotion just from this one shot. :) It was the best birthday present he could have asked for. Happy birthday to my mom too! She and Sean share the same special day.

1st Day at Kannonazki Beach!