Rebuilding Joplin - A New Cuningham Park

On May 22nd, 2011, the EF-5 Tornado that destroyed about 1/3 of Joplin wiped clean what was once a park in the center of the city, Cuningham Park.  About 1 month ago, a large crew of volunteers came to Cuningham Park and made it into an inspired park that gives tribuite to the city and its people with a creative, modern design.

Below are a few pictures of the new Cuningham Park.

This is one of the new play structures.

One note about this picture, the building you see in the background is St. John's hospital, which was heavily damaged during the Tornado.

Calvin and Hobbes

Ethan's Art Work

Ethan is turning into quite an artist.  Here is some recent work.

A Lydia Update

Lydia has been going to school for phelbotomy for about 4 weeks now.  She is making great progress and she should be able to start finding jobs as a phelbotomist near the end of this year!

Happy Birthday Letemeskel!

A Letemeskel Update

Letemeskel has been attending 8th grade this fall and as expected, it has been quite an experience for her.  After about 1 month of school, she has begun to get the flow of things, however.  This week she auditioned for the school choir and she was accepted.  She is very happy.  Its wonderful to see her starting to adjust to life as an American teenager.

Higher Education

Its a strange month. Haeli, now 20, will start Massage Therapy school this month. Lydia will start Phlebotomy school also. Some how I thought costs would go down but it seems that it was a great time to get a weekend job for me. I can now help them not work as hard as I did in college. Isn't that the goal of a parent to provide a better life for their child. Luckily they both seem appreciative of our finanacial help.

When I look at the bigger picture of this,  Lydia is crawling slowly and surely out of the hell she grew up in. A high school diploma was an achievement for her family so being a professional phlebotomist is truely an achievement.

For Halei, Massage Therapy is right up her alley. The art of Natural Medicine and Chinese Medicine has been her side passion since about middle school. I am glad she will go to school for something she has a passion for.And hopefully free massages when ever she visits!

Ethan's Transmorgifier

Ethan has been reading my old Calvin and Hobbes books a lot lately.  Today he made his very own Transmorgifier.  Its awesome!

Zach and Ethan with his transmorgifier.

This is the transmorgifier arrow that selects what you transmorgify into after you press the button (see below):

Happy Birthday Levi

It was Levi's 10th birthday today.  We celebrated with beyblades and Spiderman Cake!

Rides at the Carousel Park

The kids went to the Carousel Park in Joplin on the 4th of July.

Here are some of the pictures.

Playtime at the Park

We spent some time in a Park the other day, here are a few pictures.

Joplin - Where the Streets Have No Name

Here is a video that someone put together:

Some Tornado Pictures

Below are a few pictures of the EF5 Tornado that struck Joplin, Missouri on May 22.  Pictures cannot do the level of devastation justice.  It reminds me of how Katrina leveled the gulf coast several years ago.  People have asked about donations - at this time, the red cross is probably the best place.  On the red cross website, you can donate to the Joplin chapter of the red cross directly and they will help distribute funds to those in need.

Home Depot

Joplin High School

Residential Neighborhood

Small Shopping Center

Academy Sporting Goods

Range Line Road - Primary Commercial District

You can find more images here.

Morning time

Doesn't she look like an angel?

Chickens everywhere

Can you believe Ethan is holding a chicken? He HATES getting his hands dirty but will actually hold his chicken if the tush is facing outward!!!!

Easter cookies

Zachary knows how to enjoy cookies!

Easter cookie decorating

Scott is on the mend

UMMMMM, Yum yum yum.

This is what your body looks like without the flu shot!!!

No really, he flew to Africa and came home with the regular ole flu. Nothing facy thank God but still kind of funny to fly to Ethiopia and get the flu. He is feeling much much better now. 

I highly recommend an African daughter!

 Lete is cooking Injera for us. We bought the teflon coated pan and it works wonderfully. No more prying it off the frying pan.









She is showing me how to make larger quanities with less teff though which is wonderful.

Lydia is enjoying the skilled braiding too. 

enjoying closeness

We were watching TV and just having a great time together.