To Lebanon with Love

Ceasefire Now

I want to begin by expressing my deepest gratitude to each of you for your unwavering support and for accompanying me on this journey of sharing stories, love, and adventures. Your kindness and encouragement have been a beacon during some of the most transformative times of my life.

However, today I find myself in a position I never anticipated. As much as I want to keep weaving the tale of Joseph and I—our incredible connection, the unexpected twists, and the beautiful moments we've shared—I just can’t right now. At this very moment, Lebanon is under siege, carpet-bombed in a conflict that spares no one. The places and people I hold dear are being torn apart, and I can’t, in good conscience, pour myself into a love story while Joseph’s brother and our family are living in a war zone. They are hiding from the explosions, watching their homes crumble and telling their children, barely old enough to walk, that the bombs are just balloons popping.

We’ve tried literally everything to bring Joseph’s brother and his family to safety over the years, but now, it feels more urgent than ever. Their homes are gone, and their reality is one of survival in the face of unimaginable destruction. So instead of writing love letters to Lebanon, I find myself writing eulogies—because this war is tearing apart everything and everyone I love.

This isn’t about politics or religion. It doesn’t matter that they’re Christian artists, who have never been part of this chaos. What matters is that they are innocent families, like so many others, caught in the crossfire, and they need help. Now, I’m heading to the Capitol to plead with senators, asking them to grant my brother-in-law Humanitarian Parole, and give my son’s uncle and cousins a chance to escape this nightmare of imminent danger.

Lebanon isn’t just a place on the map for me—it’s the home of my favorite people, the backdrop of some of the most meaningful moments of my life, and a land that gave me Joseph. But today, it's being ripped apart. So I ask for your patience and understanding as I put our love story on hold for a moment and focus my energy on something bigger—saving the lives of my family. 

Please, bear with me as I try to convince those in power to help. I need to be there for them, and while I can’t share the romantic adventurous chapters right now, know that every part of my heart is with them. And I’ll return to you, with stories of love, resilience, and hope, when it’s time. 

For now, I’ll be fighting for their future. Thank you for understanding. 

In faith and defiance, April Larson Assi