In September, I traveled to the Chicago area for an embryo registries conference and to visit and lecture at Olivet Nazarene University; then to Tennessee where I  connected with colleagues in the Knoxville office, and visit Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville.  I gave two embryo talks at Trevecca and one more at the law school at Georgia State University in Atlanta.  A more complete account appears under "September 2008 Trip Report". 

In early October, my daugher Monica and I visited Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California, where Monica attended classes for a day and talked with admissions and financial aid personnel.  This was the first of probably eight or more college visits for her between now and her high school graduation in 2010.  While in San Diego, we "did" the beach, Sea World, and at San Diego First Church, joined in the celebration of the 100th anniversary celebration of the Church of the Nazarene.  Monica also attended my lecture-discussion of embryo adoption with the science and theology faculty group at Point Loma.  We were blessed to stay with my cousin Dan Grant while in San Diego.    

In the last week of October I spent 5 days in Oklahoma, where I gave an embryo adoption lecture at Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, and three more in Tulsa: at the In His Image Family Medicine Residency, and at Hillcrest Hospital.  The time with the residents, both in the medical setting and in Bible study and devotional times, were very rich.  I also paid a visit to Oklahoma Wesleyan University in Bartlesville, where I met with President Everett Piper.  He has authored a very important article on the future of Christian higher education:  (read it at
http://www.okwu.edu/Brix?pageID=14385&reply_screen=true&bm_sakey=857 )
I also accepted an invitation to speak in chapel on the Oklahoma Wesleyan campus for Feb. 4th, 2009.

From November 5-9, I attended Homecoming at Northwest Nazarene University.  From there, I went to the national conference of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine in San Francisco.  These, as usual, were full and exciting adventures.  A report of this trip in Q & A format appears under "November 2008 Trip Report".

Between Christmas and New Year's, Annette and I traveled to San Antonio, TX for a family reunion.  While there, I gave an embryo adoption lecture at Christus Santa Rosa Hospital Family Medicine Residency for my friend, Dr. Fred Brown.

In January and February, I traveled first to Madison and Milwaukee, WI, to give embryo adoption lectures at two medical schools.  Then, I went to Oklahoma Wesleyan University and to Mid-America Nazarene University in  Olathe, KS, giving talks and seeing friends in both places.  A report appears under "Jan-Feb 2009 Trip Report".

From March 11-16 I went to NNU with 4 high school students, who attended classes and met with admissions personnel.  They also accompanied me to the inauguration of President Alexander, a two-day festival that celebrated all that NNU stands for (see www.nnu.edu/inauguration).  We also very much enjoyed the wedding of our dear friends Forest and Amanda Fisk. 

On March 16th, Monica returned from an incredible 3-week visit to Cameroon, West Africa, with 17 students and 3 sponsors from her school.  They studied French, helped with a humanitarian service project, did a strenuous mountain hike, taught some English, and interacted in homestays with national families.  Monica came home appreciating a lot of things about both cultures!  On the 18th, she and I took off  college visits to 4 schools in the East:  Roberts Wesleyan, Houghton, Messiah, and Eastern Nazarene.  We had a delightful visit with her boyfriend's family in New York state.  We got diverted by a Denver snowstorm and arrived back just in time for the Colorado District Bible Quiz on March 28.

Monica and her local quiz team qualified in Colorado to attend the regional quiz at NNU, so from April 23-26 we went back up to campus for that event.  Though her team lost the championship match in overtime, Monica was once again the top Bible quizzer on the Northwest Region.  Congratulations to her!

In the meantime I went to St. Louis, MO and Knoxville, TN for a week, giving embryo adoption lectures and attending professional meetings.  All that went very well -- especially a Grand Rounds at UT-Knoxville on April 17.  I saw friends at Trevecca Nazarene University too.  However I was delayed getting home by yet another Denver snowstorm.  

In May, I had the privilege of speaking seven times on embryo adoption in Texas, Connecticut, and Massachusetts;  at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, the presentation was recorded and you can see it on line at  http://media.texashealth.org/090512B03A.  Speaking at Massachusetts General Hospital was also very special.  In between, I took in a family reunion near Dallas.

Next I plan to go to southern California in July, and North Carolina and Tennessee in September.    We are working on possibilities for Seattle in October and Atlanta in November.