My Peace Corps service in Samoa has quickly come to an end. I can't believe that almost two years have passed. So much has happened. I have made new friends from all over the world and some of them I consider to be more like family. I met my amazing husband Lafi and we got married in Samoa in March. I was suppose to leave Samoa in June, but I actually returned this week because I am pregnant. It was a big surprise when I found out, but God has a plan for me I never really imagined. My dad is super excited because he loves babies and figures since I married a Samoan I should have 8 to 10 children. Uh, I think not. I actually didn't really want to have children for a long time and used to like to make that clear to my parents, but at some time in college I started changing my mind about it. I think it was not so much that I didn't ever want children, I just didn't want to be responsible for one at that time in my life. I feel ready now and I'm really happy about it, LafI is going crazy, he always really wanted children and is always kissing and rubbing my stomach. He is so cute about it. He will make an amazing father and has already told me he will take the night shift when ever I want him to, he actually wants to. That is a trait that American men don't usually have. Unfortunately, as soon as I told Peace Corps I was pregnant I had to leave Samoa. LafI is still waiting for his Visa interview in New Zealand. We are told he should be able to get one in about three weeks and so he is going to stay with his sister for that time and should be coming to the U.S. sometime in June. So at least we only have to be apart for about a month and a half. It's really weird for me to think that I am not going back to live in Samoa, just when I started to really get used to it , it was time to leave. There are so many people I'm going to miss, I'm happy though because some of my Peace Corps friends will be living pretty close to I should be able to meet up with them pretty regularly. I start work on Monday, 9 to 5 is going to take some adjustment, but I like my job so it shouldn't be so bad. I don't have a cell phone yet, but if you want to call my home number is 630- 584-8838.

Well it's back to Samoa for me. I have mixed feelings about going back. I have really enjoyed this last month home with my family and friends. A lot of people went out of their way to make time to see me or talk to me on the phone and it just made me feel so loved. It's hard to leave behind so many people that care about me. I got to meet my niece ,Hailie for the first time and she is a doll. You can't but help fall in love with her, she is so sweet. I was happy to be able to make time to go see my grandpa who has lung cancer and thank God he is doing really well, but if I didn't see him and something happen it would have haunted me for a long time. I also went wedding dress shopping and I'm very happy with the dress I found. At the same time I'm happy to be going back to Samoa, because right now that is where Lafi is. I can't wait until he is able to come back to the U.S. with me. Living in Samoa I have met all of Lafi's friends and family and have been able to see what makes Lafi, Lafi, but the only people in my life that know LafI are Peace Corps friends and my friend Beth that came to see me in July. I know he will love my parents, but I'm just ready for us to all be together. Thank God my parents are coming to Samoa in 8 weeks for our wedding. Don't worry we will be having a wedding in the U.S. too, probably in May or June 2009. I know the next time I come back to the U.S. things are going to be much different, I will be married and starting a whole new chapter of my life. I am excited for this new chapter, it's bound to be full of lots of new and exciting things, especially considering my Dad wants me to have 8 kids, yeah right Dad!! Lafi and I want to start a family, but it may be a year or two until we get settled, although God may have a different plan. I think these last 6 months in Samoa will probably go by pretty fast.