Love Hawaii!

I have heard from a few of you that welcomed me back to my blog.  I really appreciate knowing that someone out there is reading my ramblings.  You make it worth it!  Feel free to leave a comment.  I actually heard from a good friend that said I should have ended the last blog post on a high note and gave me a couple of suggestions.  What I left out that was the big news for us in November that Ashley was one of only 16 chosen from the Army medical field to receive the 9A Designator recognition.   This designator is the highest recognition of professional excellence in the AMEDD.  It is an honor bestowed upon candidates approved by the Army Surgeon General for professional excellence, who have attained full professional status and have received national prominence in their field.  The candidates must be leaders in their specialty and have significant contributions to the advancement of knowledge in a particular field.  They must be a distinct asset to the AMEDD both as an officer as well as a professional specialist and they must have had at least 15 years of professional experience with at least 10 of those years being on active duty in the US Army.  Can I get a hip, hip, hooray!!

In other good news, Ashley applied for a position at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD and found out in early December that she got the job.  She had to interview while in VietNam on some phone app and was a bit nervous about how that would turn out.  She will be leaving Hawaii in June to start her new job as Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs.  So, this was probably our last trip to Hawaii although Ashley wants me to come back and help her get packed up in the spring - we'll see!  I am excited to have her closer to family!

We stayed in Hawaii for a month this time and sure enjoyed ourselves!  Here are a few pictures from our stay. 

Ashley always greets us with a lei!

The Bell Ringer was playing his ukelele and singing Hawaiian Christmas songs!

Ashley's birthday - she and I went to the beach!

Birthday glass (or 2 or 3) of wine!

Ashley with her Dad at a local brewery.

Beautiful sunset!

Beaching it!

Sonny at the Marine golf course!