After spending three months in California it was a bit of shock to come back to the Mid-West and go on to the East Coast where the weather was completely different, even considering the fact that it was April.

We arrived in Chicago on March 31 and left two days later for road trip out to the East Coast. Our first stop was Beverly, Massachusetts, where Sarah's sister, Rebecca, is a senior at Gordon College. Being a senior music major, Rebecca was giving a solo recital. We arrived on Friday and were welcomed our first morning there with a fresh dump of snow. We spent time visiting with here and preparing for the recital. Part of the recital was a section of folk music. For one song Rebecca had asked her mom (of course also Sarah's mom) and Sarah to accompany her. They had no chance to practice save for the two days before the recital. So they practiced quite a bit.

Sunday was the big day of the recital and it went really well. About 60 people came, from different parts of Rebecca's life, to listen. She sang a wide variety of music including classical and folk. After the recital everyone gathered in the lobby for a reception hosted by Sarah's parents.

After the recital Sarah's parents left to go back to Chicago and Sarah and I spent a few more days in the Boston area sight seeing and spending time with Rebecca. We enjoyed a drive along the beautiful North Shore, just north of Boston. We went into Boston and got a feel for the atmosphere of the city. And one of our favorite parts was a visit to the Harvard University campus. The school we were just a little too smart for. Just kidding.

We left Boston on Wednesday and drove the eight hours to Wahington DC. My brother Justin, and his wife Kata, live and work in DC. They moved there last summer. We followed the directions they had given us to get to their appartment and were shocked when we pulled up to a row of cute townhouses only 9 blocks from the Capitol building that you can see in the picture to the right.

It was my first time to visit D.C. and it really is a nice place to visit. There are some wonderful museums. We really enjoyed the Holocaust museum and the African Art museum. The atmosphere of D.C. was something else. You really get the feeling walking around the Mall area that you in the place where "power" lies. All of the branches of government have their offices centered here, as do the World Bank and the IMF. All day men and women in smart business suits are filing in and out of buildings giving the appearance that things are getting done. And to top it all of is the security. In Cambodia, at the Water Festival, we had felt the effects of a quasi police state when pickups and pickups of soldier with machine guns had filed past protecting the path of royalty and government officials. It was almost like that. Parade of police would take over the street and file by, lights flashing, sirens wailing. Every building is guarded with numerous police cars and overhead helicopter buzz. It was a little disconcerting.

We had a great time with Justin and Kata. We really had a chance to see how their lives are going and to catch up with eachother's stories.

After 6 days in D.C. we left for south west Virginia, where our college friend Peg from Calvin, lives with her husband and new baby, Max. The ride there was wonderful. Rolling, green hills. Budding, and flowering, trees lining the road. Spring was in the air. And it only got better when we arrived. Peg and Brad live on a small street across from a small lake. There is a walking path all the way around the lake.We spent two days catching up with Peg, getting to know Brad, and cooing over Max.

Then it was time to head back to the Mid-West. The ride back took about 12 hours and brought us through West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, and back into Chicago. The day after we arrived back there was big news to welcome us home. Nikki (Sarah's brother Nathan's wife) had given birth to their first baby. A girl who was named Joy Nicole Rinsema. As it was the weekend we went two days in a row to visit them and see the new baby. If you want to see more pictures of the baby click here.

Now we are settling into life in Chicago. We hope to do some volunteering while we are here and find out what we are going to be up to come the fall. We'll keep you posted.