Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Family, Friends, and Christmas Time!

It's Christmas time! Hooray! It has been a fabulous week. Maybe because it was the last week before flying home to see our families for Christmas. I finished up sealants which was a lot of fun. Our sealant group had a big lunch at a Mongolian grill to celebrate. Also, Rachel and I went to several fun Christmas parties this week. We love our Cleveland family and feel grateful to have good friends out here.

Now we are headed back to Utah and Idaho for our long winter break. Rachel will be having a baby shower in Utah to see many of the relatives and friends out there.

Christmas is a wonderful time of year. First of all, for the constant reminder of our Lord and Savior. Also, for the love, family, fun and friends. Really, the people make the season. Thank you to everyone who is making our Christmas a happy one. We wish all of you a wonderful holiday season. Merry Christmas!

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Counting down to Christmas

It's official. Rachel is constantly able to maintain a busier lifestyle than I am. I didn't think that was entirely possible, because I am a pretty active guy (at least I like to think so). Also, she has every reason to not be active, being seven months pregnant and all. Nevertheless, she somehow keeps running between work, school, several social events, church meetings, working out at the gym, and home. I don't know how she does it! Every day I am more impressed with the girl I married.

As for me- Well, I stay pretty busy as well. Recently my dental school class has been going into local elementary schools to place sealants on the teeth of second and sixth graders. This is a cool confidence building experience that lets us do some real dental work, even though we've only been in school for a few months. Actually, Case is one of the best schools in the country when it comes to early clinical experience and I feel lucky to be here. I think I'm learning a little too, because it seems to me like I am hurting fewer and fewer children as I get more practice!

On Saturday we were honored to attend the baptism of a friend, Kevin. I first met Kevin while doing splits with the missionaries, and we have since gotten to know him better as we give him rides to church, and have the occasional missionary discussion in our home. We have also met some of his family members who are remarkably nice people. Rachel gave a talk at his baptism, and I was able to confirm him today at church. We were excited to see him get baptised and I think that everyone there felt the spirit.

As for the latest book reviews from the Hazards- I just finished reading "Team of Rivals" by Doris Kearns Goodwin. It's about Abraham Lincoln and the civil war, and is very interesting. I wasn't really interested in political civil war history before reading this book, but I am now! Also, Rachel just finished reading "The Twilight Series" by Stephenie Meyer. This is a trilogy- yes, she has outdone me yet again :)- about vampires which is extremely popular. Rachel says that the books are good-- but not as good as all the hype. We both love reading and are open to any recommendations.

Anyway, that was our week. Here are some pictures:


This wasn't taken this week, but I love this picture of Rachel playing my guitar and I just had to post it.


Here I am doing sealants. The other guy is my partner, Kee Kang.