things I love right now

Here are a few things I'm lovin' right now...

This veggie mix from trader joes.  I miss TJs!!

Since I can't just run and buy this pre-chopped deliciousness, I have to do it the old fashioned way.

But it's SOOOOO worth it!

I just heat up a little olive oil and cook it in the skillet until the carrots are just right.  mmmmm!

This weed...

It's a little stalk full of seed pods shaped like HEARTS!!! 

The kids picked me a few on a walk the other day! :-)

These books...

That was a good one, but I'm really enjoying every book I've read of his!

They have been my very happy down time lately!

This game with the kids...

So now you know some of my latest faves!

Have a great day!! 

back home from our trip!

It has felt so good to be back home.  We missed the boys SO much, so we've gotten to enjoy lots of hugs and snuggles and wrestles!

Our trip was really, really amazing!  We come back more excited than ever about what's next for us.  We loved the place and the people we got to meet.  We loved out teammates and their kids. 

I love the mix of Arab culture and western influence.  We are NOT going to be roughing it! 

Here's proof...

A mac store!  There is every store imaginable, malls, restaurants...it's a cool place!

It's also a really cool mix of third world and modern.  Modern stores and restaurants with sheep or goats or camels on the lot next door.  You can easily jump in a taxi for not too much money.  Kids don't need car seats.  It's a different world...but not so different, too.

We got to look at 3 schools.  No decisions yet, and nothing seems to be the perfect fit.  Most schools are already full for next year, and the one that has openings doesn't have Kindergarten.  So, we're still praying it through.  And knowing that God has a great plan for us and our kids!

While we were there, we got to do some COOL stuff!  Here's us on Mount Nebo where Moses got to go to look at the promised land...

Here's what we were looking at...

Here we are at the dead sea...

A street view...

I know some of you haven't gotten a chance to visit us in Waco, but don't worry.  There's lots of amazing stuff to do right around our new hometown, so you can just come visit there!  :-)

my kitchen window

This winter has been the most mild and beautiful weather.  Since it has felt like spring most of this season, we made our own winter snowflakes with borax and ball jars.  We've had them hanging in the kitchen window.  They often bring a smile to my face when I'm washing dishes.

Catie-girl made the colorful ball.  I love it.  I think it might even go to the middle east with us!

We had the BEST time hanging out with our future teammates last week.  She mighta' thought I was a little nuts when I asked if I could keep her old oatmeal container that was heading to the trash, but I'm so glad I did!!  My mom sent back some flowers from her yard in Atlanta with the boys, and now I have this super-cool tin written in Arabic (that reminds me that the harvest is now!) holding flowers from my mama.  It's my favorite souvenier!  Tomorrow I'll post some more pics of our trip and some updates about our great time there!

Fun 2 days part 2

Today we went and saw 3 schools and a language school. The schools for the kids were fascinating. Two were bilingual...and big...and impressive. One was smaller and caters to third culture kids. The two big ones don't have openings, but we're on the waiting list. We'd really appreciate your prayers for direction.

I'm sorry for the lack of pics. Most of them are on our camera, so we'll post more pics once we're home. But here are a couple pics of the boys I'm missing...(except they're the pics are in the first post cause posting from the iPad is a little wonky!)

Awww...I miss those boys! Can't wait to see them in a few days!! A couple months ago, I was having a day of feeling like "what are we doing to our kids?!" We're choosing a life that has so many benefits for them, but it also involves lots of transition, lots of unknowns, living farther from grandparents, and less roots (which I highly value!). And in that moment of fear in my heart, I felt like God said, "you did not choose Me, but I chose you" and peace just flooded my heart...cause I know that since God is choosing this life for our family that even in the transition and the unknown that there will be Life and joy in the midst. Being here and seeing it with my own eyes has brought so much peace to my heart, too. This is a good place. And I can't wait to see all the ways that God shows up in the midst of this journey!

A fun 2 days!

Yesterday we went to some friends' house who live here in the city and work for the same company that we work for. It was so fun to get to know them and pick their brain about education, language learning, and what they would pack to bring. For example, I need to bring my face moisturizer because many of them here have skin whitener. Good to know!! They served us our first Arabic breakfast...falafel, hummus, pita, and eggs with veggies. Soooo yummy!

We got to do 3 taxi rides yesterday, but don't be impressed! The only reason we got anywhere was because of our friends here who speak Arabic told the driver where to take us! We got to see John's new office which was so nice.

We spent the evening hanging out with our teammates. I'm really enjoying and so thankful for this sweet opportunity to start building relationship. We're working through a long list of questions provided by the home office in America. Those questions are providing us with great jumping off points to have some good conversations. I made a coca-cola cake for everyone. But at the corner store they only had Pepsi. I did feel slightly traitorous to my Atlanta roots!! :-)

Catie is doing so great here. We went to McDonald's the other day. She went right into the play area and made a friend. She was excited to see camels yesterday. She said, "I KNEW there would be camels here!" She's trying new foods, sleeping well, playing with new friends...I'm really proud of her.

She's just a girl like me!

Yesterday was so much fun. Two ladies and Catie and I went on a road trip about an hour and a half from here to meet with a local lady. The country is BEAUTIFUL in the spring. We saw some amazing Roman ruins on the way. Then we got to the city. I checked google, and that city began in 5000BC. Whoa!!

When the lady met us, she was wearing the full muslim covering. Just her eyes showed...and the adorable baby on her hip. But I realized that I've felt intimidated and scared by that kind of outfit. That's embarrassing to admit...but true.

When she got into our car, she pulled back the face covering, and guess what? She was a woman...just like me. She laughed and talked (English and Arabic fortunately). She's a mom and a wife. Do you know why she wears the full covering? Because her husband wants her to. Wow...I have some things to learn from her.

John did some amazing stuff yesterday, too! You'll have to ask him about it!

Last night we went out with our teammates and another friend. We went to the most amazing Arabic meal. Delicious!! When you come visit, we'll have to go!

Well, we're about to grab a taxi, put our non-Arabic skills to the test and head out.
Sending love to you from the middle east, friends!!

My view from here part 2

I'm trying to figure out how to make a post from my iPad, so here's part 2. Part 1 has all the pics!
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> Isn't that view just beautiful?!?
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> In the evening we had a yummy dinner...homemade pizza and...
> DIET COKE!! Courtney, I got that picture for you! :-)
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> After dinner we spent the evening connecting with our new teammates. They're amazing, and it's so fun to be building friendship with them!!
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> Today, John is off to his new office, and I'm off with two other ladies and catie to go on a home visit. I'm already feeling motivated to learn Arabic. I want to be able to understand people and communicate!! Here's our little cheat sheet on john's phone... (see picture in first post)
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> Shukran for reading and being part of this journey with us!