I'm going HOME! We spent literally the entire day packing, cleaning and organizing in anticipation of our trip to the US on December 15. It's horrible and stressful. I hate packing and moving. It's unsettling and tears have been shed by me and the kids. Today Maggie cried when she realized she couldn't take all of her Christmas ornaments with her. We let the kids choose one to take along, and she just couldn't bring herself to do it. It broke my heart.
But, all of this work means that I am going HOME! I love it here, but thinking about going home is filling my heart with joy! There are struggles and stresses there, including some major family upheaval since we left in 2004, but it's still home. Things are familiar. The language is easy! :) And Christmas is a major holiday! It's all good!
So, in spite of the stress of packing and the mess and chaos that is our life right now, I'm so thankful that I'm going home!
~~seeking respite from the insanity I call life~~
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Saturday, November 29, 2008
November 29...Today I'm thankful for...
My church family. Our church is nearly overrun with children, so some weeks it's insane. Chaotic is a description I use frequently when describing our church. It is certainly full of life! Our new name is fitting in so many ways: Fount of Life Alliance.
We are a daughter church of the larger Alliance church from the Old City. Our make-up is primarily young families. And we are growing! Tonight was our once a month family service, which means the kids stay with the adults for the entire service, and the message is geared to families. It's always noisy and somewhat chaotic. But tonight, as I stood at the back of the church, I was struck by several things.
First of all, I love worshiping in Arabic! I now understand 90% of the worship songs, and can freely worship without trying to figure out what I'm saying. Arabic is beautiful, and there is nothing more beautiful than worshiping God. I love to lose myself in worship.
Another thing that struck me is what good friends I have here. I looked around and my heart felt full as I thought about the blessing so many from this church family have been to me over the last 4 years. I realized how much I will miss so many of them when I return to the US.
Tonight one dear friend told me that she can't imagine our church without us there. She said she thought about what she'll miss the most when our family is in the US and she decided it is my laugh. She said my laugh is genuine, full of joy, and catchy. :) I realized that I do laugh a lot at church, because I am surrounded by so many people that bring me joy.
I praise God for my Palestinian church family. It's a welcoming church. And we are growing and trusting God to find us a bigger place in a different location. What a privilege to serve here with such kind, dedicated people. The laughter is the icing on the cake!
We are a daughter church of the larger Alliance church from the Old City. Our make-up is primarily young families. And we are growing! Tonight was our once a month family service, which means the kids stay with the adults for the entire service, and the message is geared to families. It's always noisy and somewhat chaotic. But tonight, as I stood at the back of the church, I was struck by several things.
First of all, I love worshiping in Arabic! I now understand 90% of the worship songs, and can freely worship without trying to figure out what I'm saying. Arabic is beautiful, and there is nothing more beautiful than worshiping God. I love to lose myself in worship.
Another thing that struck me is what good friends I have here. I looked around and my heart felt full as I thought about the blessing so many from this church family have been to me over the last 4 years. I realized how much I will miss so many of them when I return to the US.
Tonight one dear friend told me that she can't imagine our church without us there. She said she thought about what she'll miss the most when our family is in the US and she decided it is my laugh. She said my laugh is genuine, full of joy, and catchy. :) I realized that I do laugh a lot at church, because I am surrounded by so many people that bring me joy.
I praise God for my Palestinian church family. It's a welcoming church. And we are growing and trusting God to find us a bigger place in a different location. What a privilege to serve here with such kind, dedicated people. The laughter is the icing on the cake!
Friday, November 28, 2008
November 28...Today I am thankful for...
PIE!
Scot makes the world's most delicious pies, which is great because my Na-na is an expert pie baker and I miss her pies! One day, a few months after moving here, Scot de
cided to try his hand at pies. He has since mastered pie crust. His pies are to die for. He baked 7 pies for Thanksgiving and our day after Thanksgiving Pie Party. They were YUMMY!
I'm thankful I have a husband who bakes pies. It's such a nice treat. Check 'em out. Drooling? :)
Scot makes the world's most delicious pies, which is great because my Na-na is an expert pie baker and I miss her pies! One day, a few months after moving here, Scot de
cided to try his hand at pies. He has since mastered pie crust. His pies are to die for. He baked 7 pies for Thanksgiving and our day after Thanksgiving Pie Party. They were YUMMY! I'm thankful I have a husband who bakes pies. It's such a nice treat. Check 'em out. Drooling? :)
A BOOK PARTY! :)
I'm having a PARTY and you're all invited! :) This isn't my thankful post! I'll be back later today for that. This is my "I'm hostessing an online book party" post! :)
I have a friend (SabraInPA on SS) who is selling books through a direct sales company called Usborne. I thought it would be fun to host an online party. Since we don’t have access to libraries here, and English books are scarce and expensive, I would love to build up my kids’ home library with age appropriate books. My friend, Mika, shared Usborne with me, and in an effort to help her business, I signed up to hostess an online party. Their books are wonderful! My mom actually bought us a book of Arabic words from this company our first year here and my kids still use it!
Here is the e-mail invitation they send with party details:
Usborne Books - the books kids love to read!
Hosted by: Carrie Dressler
Place: www.ubah.com/HOS134282
When: Today thru 12/7/2008 11:59:00 PM
Everyone is welcome, so invite a friend.
It's a rewarding experience when a child opens a book and discovers the magic of reading.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Thanksgiving Day...today I am thankful for...
My family. I praise God for my best friend, Scot, and our gorgeous, energetic, and happy kids, Thomas, Maggie, Scoty, and Georgia Kate. They bless me in innumerable ways on a daily basis. They are a treasure.
With a heart of thanksgiving, I send my sincere wishes for a blessed Thanksgiving Day to all my readers. May you find so many things to be thankful for today and always!
With a heart of thanksgiving, I send my sincere wishes for a blessed Thanksgiving Day to all my readers. May you find so many things to be thankful for today and always!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
November 26...Today I am thankful for..
Thomas Pa
ul. Today is his day. Thomas has been a bundle of energy from the very moment of his birth...and eve
n before that! Thomas began walking at 8 1/2 months, and was seen running through the mall in Nyack before he even reached 10 months! He never slowed down!
Thomas is extremely intelligent, wowing us all with his amazing abilities in both English and Arabic. He lacks the patience to study hard. We're hoping that changes as he gets older.
Thomas is affectionate and enjoys lots of hugs and kisses! Sometimes it borders on annoying. :) He is a friend to all and loves to stay after school to help his teacher in the classroom. He excels in physica
l activities, including TaeKwonDo. He is a natural athlete, which he did not get from either of his parents. I love to watch him run! We have often been heard saying, "Run, Forrest, run!" when Thomas was on the move.
Thomas is spiritually sensitive and enjoys understanding more about his faith and the faith of his friends. He loves to read and memorize scripture, which is exciting to me!
Thomas is also the family peace-ender. He picks on his brother and sisters when he's bored. "Thomas is teasing me!" is often heard ringing
throughout the house. Oooo, does that ever get on my last nerve. Of course, I hear he is much like a certain uncle who will remain nameless...
Thomas is a fun-loving boy. He certainly brings life to the family. I just wish he'd take a rest once in awhile...or at least sleep past 5:30am! :)
ul. Today is his day. Thomas has been a bundle of energy from the very moment of his birth...and eve
n before that! Thomas began walking at 8 1/2 months, and was seen running through the mall in Nyack before he even reached 10 months! He never slowed down! Thomas is extremely intelligent, wowing us all with his amazing abilities in both English and Arabic. He lacks the patience to study hard. We're hoping that changes as he gets older.
Thomas is affectionate and enjoys lots of hugs and kisses! Sometimes it borders on annoying. :) He is a friend to all and loves to stay after school to help his teacher in the classroom. He excels in physica
l activities, including TaeKwonDo. He is a natural athlete, which he did not get from either of his parents. I love to watch him run! We have often been heard saying, "Run, Forrest, run!" when Thomas was on the move. Thomas is spiritually sensitive and enjoys understanding more about his faith and the faith of his friends. He loves to read and memorize scripture, which is exciting to me!
Thomas is also the family peace-ender. He picks on his brother and sisters when he's bored. "Thomas is teasing me!" is often heard ringing
throughout the house. Oooo, does that ever get on my last nerve. Of course, I hear he is much like a certain uncle who will remain nameless... Thomas is a fun-loving boy. He certainly brings life to the family. I just wish he'd take a rest once in awhile...or at least sleep past 5:30am! :)
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
November 25...Today I'm thankful for...
Stroopwafels! YUM-O! Dutch friends of our sent some of these things back as a gift from Holland with a coworker passing through. They are cookie type things filled with a caramel and they are to die for! So yummy! So, while at the local grocery store that specializes in catering to foreigners Scot found them! So, we bought them, of course! And ate the whole bag in one day! Uh-oh!
Stroopwafel means syrup waffle. If you can find them, try them. You won't be disappointed! You can check out this website if you really want to know more!
Stroopwafel means syrup waffle. If you can find them, try them. You won't be disappointed! You can check out this website if you really want to know more!
Monday, November 24, 2008
November 24...Today I'm thankful for...
2 bags of garbage and 6 bags of give-away stuff. Purging. It feels amazing to get rid of so much stuff that has been filling our house. We got rid of toys, clothes, towels...anything that we did not use and did not foresee using when we return in July. It's gone. Ahhhhh...
And that's just the beginning. We still have 3 more rooms to purge. Look out! The Dresslers are downsizing! :)
And that's just the beginning. We still have 3 more rooms to purge. Look out! The Dresslers are downsizing! :)
Sunday, November 23, 2008
November 23...Today I am thankful for...
SHRINKY DINKS! A friend from Scrapshare sent me a package awhile back and included a pack of Shrinky Dink paper. I haven't done Shrinky Dinks in years and was excited to try it with the kids. It took a little longer than anticipated just to get them all colored and cut, but we did get to finish quite a few pairs of earrings for me and some gifts for family. And all 4 kids made a Christmas tree charm that they want to make into a necklace.
Who can forget the magic of Shrinky Dinks? Watching them curl up and shrink was so much fun the kids were fighting over who got to stand closest to the oven. Humph. Well, it wouldn't be a family craft time if there wasn't at least one fight!
It was great fun, and I've got some fun, funky, mildly obnoxious holiday earrings to wear for Thanksgiving and Christmas! :)
Who can forget the magic of Shrinky Dinks? Watching them curl up and shrink was so much fun the kids were fighting over who got to stand closest to the oven. Humph. Well, it wouldn't be a family craft time if there wasn't at least one fight!
It was great fun, and I've got some fun, funky, mildly obnoxious holiday earrings to wear for Thanksgiving and Christmas! :)
Saturday, November 22, 2008
November 22...Today I'm thankful for...
God's protection on the road. I spent the night away with some friends for a girl's night in. On the way back to Jerusalem, I was driving a friend's car and a tour bus turned left in front of me. I praise God that he gave me the reflexes I needed to respond. The bus driver never saw me coming for some reason, but I was able to make a hard right turn, avoid the divider, and come to a safe stop on the side of the road. It wasn't until we were stopped that I realized how close we had been to a terrible accident.
It was scary and we were all pretty shaken up afterward, so someone else took the wheel and we stopped just a quarter mile up the road at a rest stop where we were able to unwind, laugh, and regroup. The rest of the trip was uneventful.
I am thankful God had his hand on our car and we were all safe.
It was scary and we were all pretty shaken up afterward, so someone else took the wheel and we stopped just a quarter mile up the road at a rest stop where we were able to unwind, laugh, and regroup. The rest of the trip was uneventful.
I am thankful God had his hand on our car and we were all safe.
Friday, November 21, 2008
November 21...Today I'm thankful for...
Silly surveys! I love filling them out and reading them. It's like my grown up version of Slam Books! I stole this one from my friend, Beth's blog!
Getting to Know Me...Christmas Edition
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper! While I do use gift bags for showers, etc. I don't use them for Christmas. Half the fun of Christmas morning is getting lost in the piles of wrapping paper!
2. Real tree or Artificial? Real. I have said if I can't have a real tree then I don't want one. I'm not sure I'd go that far, but I'm not a big fan of fake trees. I've never had one in my life and I never plan to. I will make my children promise that if I ever get too old to get my own that they will get a real one for me. Bonus if we get to cut it down ourselves! :)
3. When do you put up the tree? Given my own choice, I'd do it the weekend after Thanksgiving or the first week in December. But while living here we get a free Christmas tree from the Israeli government, so we take it the day it is offered, which is the last Tuesday before Christmas. It's been the 18th, 19th, 20th...I think as late as the 22nd.
4. When do you take the tree down? When it's dead? :) Usually the first week of January sometime. It's so depressing to take it down, I try to avoid it.
5. Do you like eggnog? Non-alcoholic, yes! YUM!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? My Boom Box, my cabbage patch kid, my vanity set, Golden Dream Barbie, and a bike.
7. Hardest person to buy for? No one. I can't think of anyone on my list that regularly causes me trouble. Some years I don't have a great idea for someone, but then the next year they're the first one I find something for.
8. Easiest person to buy for? Scot, because I know him so well. Not always, but usually I know exactly what I want to get for him.
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Many. Too many to count, actually! Since coming here my collection has grown exponentially! I now have many sizes and shapes of nativities made of olive wood! I love it!
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail!
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I got this hideous silky shirt with pictures of horse shoes and chains and other weird stuff on it one year. Remember that one, fam? :)
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Elf, A Christmas Story, and It's a Wonderful Life
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?I shop continuously throughout the year, but really kick it up on September. I find it hurts the pocketbook less and reduces the "impulse" buying at the last minute.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I'm not sure if I've ever recycled a Christmas present. None come to mind. I have recycled gifts, but I think they were wedding and/or birthday gifts...
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Soupy was on my list growing up. I love some cookies and always enjoy Christmas dinner. And Gertrude Hawks Peanut Butter Smidgens. Mom always gives us some of those. They last about a day!
16. Lights on the tree? Yes, blinking madly and making us all have seizures! :) Scot doesn't like the same mad blinking as me, so we switch it up. I love the twinkling setting, where they just blink randomly. I love Christmas lights and can't wait to see them when we return to the US!
17. Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night
18. Travel at Christmas or stay at home? Stay home AND visit family close by. Never travel away from home at Christmas.
19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeers? Of course!
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Neither. We put a crown of thorns on top of our tree to remind us why Jesus came to earth as a baby.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas Eve we open the ornaments that Scot bought for all of us and that me and the kids got for him. :) I love that tradition! The rest Christmas morning!
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? When people start discussing all the nasty parts of Christmas and how annoying things are and how they don't like blah blah blah. I don't like negativity in general, but at Christmas, it just bursts my happy Christmas bubble! :)
23. What theme or color are you using? Our theme is anything goes! I love my olive wood nativities, but the deocorations are completely mismatched and we like it that way.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? I miss Mam-mam's Heaven. I always looked forward to that every year.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Honestly, I can't think of any one thing. I always enjoy scrapbooking supplies and books and favorite shows on DVD and music. I'd love a mother's ring one day. I'm not sure I've ever said that out loud, so I'm not anticipating one for Christmas. :)
Can I tag someone???? I'd love to see Joanie and Sherry and Brynn answer these! :)
Getting to Know Me...Christmas Edition
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper! While I do use gift bags for showers, etc. I don't use them for Christmas. Half the fun of Christmas morning is getting lost in the piles of wrapping paper!
2. Real tree or Artificial? Real. I have said if I can't have a real tree then I don't want one. I'm not sure I'd go that far, but I'm not a big fan of fake trees. I've never had one in my life and I never plan to. I will make my children promise that if I ever get too old to get my own that they will get a real one for me. Bonus if we get to cut it down ourselves! :)
3. When do you put up the tree? Given my own choice, I'd do it the weekend after Thanksgiving or the first week in December. But while living here we get a free Christmas tree from the Israeli government, so we take it the day it is offered, which is the last Tuesday before Christmas. It's been the 18th, 19th, 20th...I think as late as the 22nd.
4. When do you take the tree down? When it's dead? :) Usually the first week of January sometime. It's so depressing to take it down, I try to avoid it.
5. Do you like eggnog? Non-alcoholic, yes! YUM!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? My Boom Box, my cabbage patch kid, my vanity set, Golden Dream Barbie, and a bike.
7. Hardest person to buy for? No one. I can't think of anyone on my list that regularly causes me trouble. Some years I don't have a great idea for someone, but then the next year they're the first one I find something for.
8. Easiest person to buy for? Scot, because I know him so well. Not always, but usually I know exactly what I want to get for him.
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Many. Too many to count, actually! Since coming here my collection has grown exponentially! I now have many sizes and shapes of nativities made of olive wood! I love it!
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail!
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I got this hideous silky shirt with pictures of horse shoes and chains and other weird stuff on it one year. Remember that one, fam? :)
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Elf, A Christmas Story, and It's a Wonderful Life
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?I shop continuously throughout the year, but really kick it up on September. I find it hurts the pocketbook less and reduces the "impulse" buying at the last minute.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I'm not sure if I've ever recycled a Christmas present. None come to mind. I have recycled gifts, but I think they were wedding and/or birthday gifts...
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Soupy was on my list growing up. I love some cookies and always enjoy Christmas dinner. And Gertrude Hawks Peanut Butter Smidgens. Mom always gives us some of those. They last about a day!
16. Lights on the tree? Yes, blinking madly and making us all have seizures! :) Scot doesn't like the same mad blinking as me, so we switch it up. I love the twinkling setting, where they just blink randomly. I love Christmas lights and can't wait to see them when we return to the US!
17. Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night
18. Travel at Christmas or stay at home? Stay home AND visit family close by. Never travel away from home at Christmas.
19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeers? Of course!
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Neither. We put a crown of thorns on top of our tree to remind us why Jesus came to earth as a baby.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas Eve we open the ornaments that Scot bought for all of us and that me and the kids got for him. :) I love that tradition! The rest Christmas morning!
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? When people start discussing all the nasty parts of Christmas and how annoying things are and how they don't like blah blah blah. I don't like negativity in general, but at Christmas, it just bursts my happy Christmas bubble! :)
23. What theme or color are you using? Our theme is anything goes! I love my olive wood nativities, but the deocorations are completely mismatched and we like it that way.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? I miss Mam-mam's Heaven. I always looked forward to that every year.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Honestly, I can't think of any one thing. I always enjoy scrapbooking supplies and books and favorite shows on DVD and music. I'd love a mother's ring one day. I'm not sure I've ever said that out loud, so I'm not anticipating one for Christmas. :)
Can I tag someone???? I'd love to see Joanie and Sherry and Brynn answer these! :)
Thursday, November 20, 2008
November 20...Today I am thankful for...
Friends to scrapbook with! I was a lonely scrapper for awhile. Then I found Scrapshare and an online community, which made me feel less lonely. Then the woman of SS alon
g with many from churches across the US, helped me get a scrapbooking group going here with my Palestinian friends. It's been a small group up until now due to space issues, but there are big plans to make this something much bigger.
But for now I am thankful for my faithful friends who have taken the love of scrapbooking and joined me in the insanity! I don't do lonely so well!
Tonight is our last crop night and I'm feeling a bit weepy and sad. I know I'll be back, but I always struggle with goodbyes. But, I'll enjoy my friends tonight. We'll laugh and have a great time. I'll think about goodbyes another day.
g with many from churches across the US, helped me get a scrapbooking group going here with my Palestinian friends. It's been a small group up until now due to space issues, but there are big plans to make this something much bigger. But for now I am thankful for my faithful friends who have taken the love of scrapbooking and joined me in the insanity! I don't do lonely so well!
Tonight is our last crop night and I'm feeling a bit weepy and sad. I know I'll be back, but I always struggle with goodbyes. But, I'll enjoy my friends tonight. We'll laugh and have a great time. I'll think about goodbyes another day.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
November 19...Today I am thankful for...
A husband who takes the time to read to his kids. When Scot is working at night, the bedtime duty falls to me, and I realize the sacrifice he makes and the patience he has. While I'm always there for the showers/jammies/teethbrushing part, Scot takes over and does the Bible/story reading part. The kids love it. He not only makes it educational (they are now memorizing a Bible verse for every letter of the alphabet and have completed through K), but fun!
We are not talking about some 5 minute story time. Sometimes he's in there for over an hour, reading favorite books and stories until the kids are asleep. They are currently on their 4th (or is it 5th?) read-through of the Chronicles of Narnia books. With Daddy it never gets old.
The kids sometimes feel cheated when I tuck them in. Oh, I give the best hugs and kisses, but I don't read nearly as long as Daddy does.
Scot's amazing. I look forward to seeing how this sacrifice of time that he makes nearly every day enriches our kids lives in the future. And I love that even Thomas, our 9 year old, begs for more. "Just one more chapter, Daddy! Pleeeeaaaaase!" :)
We are not talking about some 5 minute story time. Sometimes he's in there for over an hour, reading favorite books and stories until the kids are asleep. They are currently on their 4th (or is it 5th?) read-through of the Chronicles of Narnia books. With Daddy it never gets old.
The kids sometimes feel cheated when I tuck them in. Oh, I give the best hugs and kisses, but I don't read nearly as long as Daddy does.
Scot's amazing. I look forward to seeing how this sacrifice of time that he makes nearly every day enriches our kids lives in the future. And I love that even Thomas, our 9 year old, begs for more. "Just one more chapter, Daddy! Pleeeeaaaaase!" :)
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
November 18...Today I am thankful for...
Christmas music! Oh, I love Christmas music! I can't get enough of it! I buy some new stuff every year. My sister recently wrote that it's that time of year when iTunes becomes as addictive as caffeine and you can't stop buying Christmas music! So true!
My purchases this year so far? Tracy Chapman's version of O Holy Night. I'm working on a collection of different versions of that song, seeing as how it's my very favorite Christmas carol of all time! I also bought John Rutter and the Cambridge Choir's Christmas music, by Scot's request. He prefers chorale music, and I love it all, so everyone's happy! I also bought Harry Connick, Jr.'s newest Christmas Album. Good stuff, all of it!
I begin listening to Christmas music much earlier than many. It's not unheard of for me to listen to a Christmas song or two year round, but I begin in earnest sometime in October. iTunes has made it much easier to feed my addiction, including the ability to create specialized playlists! Oh, that's like mixed tape heaven for this music lover! :)
Christmas music makes me happy. It helps me think of happy times, snuggled up and enjoying the Christmas lights on the tree. My parents have 2 records that I used to listen to when I was small. I'd love to find those exact recordings on CD. The memories...
Yep, I love Christmas music. It's the most wonderful time of the year, afterall! ;)
My purchases this year so far? Tracy Chapman's version of O Holy Night. I'm working on a collection of different versions of that song, seeing as how it's my very favorite Christmas carol of all time! I also bought John Rutter and the Cambridge Choir's Christmas music, by Scot's request. He prefers chorale music, and I love it all, so everyone's happy! I also bought Harry Connick, Jr.'s newest Christmas Album. Good stuff, all of it!
I begin listening to Christmas music much earlier than many. It's not unheard of for me to listen to a Christmas song or two year round, but I begin in earnest sometime in October. iTunes has made it much easier to feed my addiction, including the ability to create specialized playlists! Oh, that's like mixed tape heaven for this music lover! :)
Christmas music makes me happy. It helps me think of happy times, snuggled up and enjoying the Christmas lights on the tree. My parents have 2 records that I used to listen to when I was small. I'd love to find those exact recordings on CD. The memories...
Yep, I love Christmas music. It's the most wonderful time of the year, afterall! ;)
Monday, November 17, 2008
November 17...Today I am thankful for
Laughter. Oh, boy, do I ever love to laugh! Sometimes I laugh at what other'
s may consider inappropriate times. I find laughter puts people at ease, smooths over rough situations, and makes people happy. So I laugh often and I laugh much. And I laugh a little too loudly most of the time. But hey...that's just me! :)
I am so glad to have family and friends who enjoy laughing as much as I do! First, my mother taught me about the hysterical laughter, the kind that happens spontaneously, usually about something completely stupid. You know the kind: you can't even catch your breath. Yeah, Mom is great
that! My bff, Mara, and I have always enjoyed breathless laughter. My sister plays her part. All of us together! FUN! Scot makes me laugh like no one else, with his dry sense of humor and sarcasm and quick wit. I love to watch him laugh so hard he can't breathe. He's always so in control of himself...unlike me! No big shock to anyone when I lose it completely!
And finally, my kids. They've got the laughter gene too! They can laugh hysterically with me over the silliest stuff! And they love to try to get me to laugh, too. They can be silly, witty, and just plain hysterical! I'm going to share some pictures from our zoo trip yesterda
y. See if you can tell which ones were intended to elicit laughter! :)
I love laughing, so if you are an old fuddy duddy, we probably won't get along. But if you enjoy laughing, then let's hang sometime. Nothing helps heal my heart better than laughter. And ice cream, but laughter's better for me. That whole "you burn 7 calories/minute when laughing" thing. Yep. It's even exercise!
And I'm including this picture just beacuse I think the girls look absolutely gorgeous in the sunlight. And then I had to include th next picture because I don't want you to think our only adventures are on fake donkeys at the zoo! That's a shot of Maggie and Sc
oty riding our friend's donkey. :)
s may consider inappropriate times. I find laughter puts people at ease, smooths over rough situations, and makes people happy. So I laugh often and I laugh much. And I laugh a little too loudly most of the time. But hey...that's just me! :)I am so glad to have family and friends who enjoy laughing as much as I do! First, my mother taught me about the hysterical laughter, the kind that happens spontaneously, usually about something completely stupid. You know the kind: you can't even catch your breath. Yeah, Mom is great
that! My bff, Mara, and I have always enjoyed breathless laughter. My sister plays her part. All of us together! FUN! Scot makes me laugh like no one else, with his dry sense of humor and sarcasm and quick wit. I love to watch him laugh so hard he can't breathe. He's always so in control of himself...unlike me! No big shock to anyone when I lose it completely!And finally, my kids. They've got the laughter gene too! They can laugh hysterically with me over the silliest stuff! And they love to try to get me to laugh, too. They can be silly, witty, and just plain hysterical! I'm going to share some pictures from our zoo trip yesterda
y. See if you can tell which ones were intended to elicit laughter! :)I love laughing, so if you are an old fuddy duddy, we probably won't get along. But if you enjoy laughing, then let's hang sometime. Nothing helps heal my heart better than laughter. And ice cream, but laughter's better for me. That whole "you burn 7 calories/minute when laughing" thing. Yep. It's even exercise!
And I'm including this picture just beacuse I think the girls look absolutely gorgeous in the sunlight. And then I had to include th next picture because I don't want you to think our only adventures are on fake donkeys at the zoo! That's a shot of Maggie and Sc
oty riding our friend's donkey. :)
Sunday, November 16, 2008
November 16...Today I am thankful for...
My baby sister, Regina. Seeing as how her birthday is October 16, I thought it would be fitting for me to give her a shout out today! We were not always friends. I suppose I did not come to appreciate my little sister as a friend until I was off at college. Suddenly, as be both were growing up, we realized how much we had in common. Now, I can't imagine life without her. She makes me laugh the good kind of
laughs~~the hard to catch my breath kind of laugh (notice a theme in my thankful posts...always something about laughing! I love to laugh!) She appreciates good sarcasm, cares for me and my family, is kind and loving, and she's a faithful friend! She isn't, however, the best package sender, though I suppose I can forgive her that one flaw! :) She loves her nieces and nephews and they love their Aunt Danni. Ask me where the Danni came from! Thomas, when he was pretty small, struggled with the name Regina. It came out something like "Dajna." This evolved into Danni, and this is her name. My kids have actually asked, "Why do you call Aunt Danni 'Reg' or 'Regina'? Does she have another name? :)
Reg has become one of my best friends. And I can't wait to just hang out with her where she lives and works! Maybe a little Office marathon...or Gilmore Girls...just chillin' with my sis!
Love you, Reg! :)
Saturday, November 15, 2008
November 15...Today I am thankful...
That in exactly one month I get to go home! Not that I've been counting the days down or anything! :) We fly out on December 15. This is the first time we will have returned to the US in 4 1/2 years and I am ready to go! That's it. That's what I'm thankful for today!
Friday, November 14, 2008
November 14...Today I am thankful for...
Scrapbooking! My addiction...er...hobby! :) Scrapbooking is a stress reliever for me. I 
can sit and design album pages, journal about the events and pictures, and just lose myself in memories. I love to reminisce, and scrapbooking allows me time to do that. I love that my kids love to look at our albums and remember days gone by. I love that th
ey will one day have many keepsakes of their childhood to take with them. I love that it gives me the opportunity to write about people who are precious to me....
Scrapbooking is a way for me to unwind, but also an important way for me to preserve our family story.
I am so thankful that I can scrapbook. And I won't
even begin to say thanks to all who have sent me scrapbooking supplies to keep me going! You know who you are and you know you bless my socks off!
can sit and design album pages, journal about the events and pictures, and just lose myself in memories. I love to reminisce, and scrapbooking allows me time to do that. I love that my kids love to look at our albums and remember days gone by. I love that th
ey will one day have many keepsakes of their childhood to take with them. I love that it gives me the opportunity to write about people who are precious to me....Scrapbooking is a way for me to unwind, but also an important way for me to preserve our family story.
I am so thankful that I can scrapbook. And I won't
even begin to say thanks to all who have sent me scrapbooking supplies to keep me going! You know who you are and you know you bless my socks off!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
November 13...Today I am thankful for...
Maggie. Little Miss Margaret Theresa. Today is her day since her birthday is March 13, 2001. And I will cheat and post the same thing on both blogs today, rather than waiting a day and doing it anyway! :)What can I say about Maggie? She is a bright little girl. And while it takes her awhile to warm up to something, once she is in, she is all in. She is committed and determined. She is also hysterically funny. That girl can make me laugh! She gets sarcasm, which is a good thing in
this house! And I very clearly remember when she began to show her own sarcastic side. Sometimes she says things that make me laugh so hard I can't breathe. I love laughing. So does she!Maggie is stubb
orn. She can be a challenge. But she is also helpful in the home and has always taken good care of her younger siblings, especially Scoty. She is like a little mother.Maggie is a packrat, much like yours truly. I find myself going crazy because I find the strangest things shoved into corners in
her bed or at the bottom of her backpack. She keeps her bed so full of stuff I'm not sure how she sleeps. But she does, so until it's time to strip the bed down to wash the sheets, I just let her live in her mess. As long as she keeps it all confined to her own space.
Maggie is musically gifted and excels in school. She enjoys learning, love to read, and makes me proud with how she conducts herself in public. She is a teacher favorite and the friend of many. She is also not afraid to stand up for herself. Maggie is strong.
She's a good mix of my and Scot's personalities. Though I fear she picked up my more negative traits! :) I see her Daddy in her, and that's a good thing.
Love me some Maggie!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
November 12...Today I'm thankful...
That my kids are happy, friendly kids. I never take that for granted, especially when given the opportunity to interact with other children. My kids love people! They love visitors! They enjoy sitting and talking, and are quite good conversationalists. 
We had the wonderful experience of having a good from our past show up here for a few days! We haven't seen him in 10 years, so that means the last time we saw him we didn't have any kids. We have definitely added some excitement to our lives! since then. But A enjoys kids and our kids took to him immediately.
I love that my kids can socialize so well. And that they are so loving and kind...and FUN! I've got some pretty great kids! :)
We had the wonderful experience of having a good from our past show up here for a few days! We haven't seen him in 10 years, so that means the last time we saw him we didn't have any kids. We have definitely added some excitement to our lives! since then. But A enjoys kids and our kids took to him immediately.
I love that my kids can socialize so well. And that they are so loving and kind...and FUN! I've got some pretty great kids! :)
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
November 11...Today I'm thankful for...
Veterans. I want to express sincere gratitude to every person who has served or is serving with the US military. And I also want to express my appreciation to the families who are left behind. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for your service. From the very bottom of my heart...
Monday, November 10, 2008
November 10...Today I am thankful for...
Is this cheating? I loved my post from yesterday on my other blog and thought I'd share it here too! Because many of you, my faithful readers, know GK and all of her antics. So...even though this post was from yesterday...today, I am still thankful for...Georgia Kate! A friend is writing about each of her children on the date of their birth this month. I thought it was a great idea, so I'm stealing it! Thanks, Joanie! :) Today is Georgia Kate's day!
What can I say about this little girl? She is excitable, full of life and love, enthusiastic, happy, and a ray of sunshine. She is also difficult, stubborn, strong-willed, trying, obstinate, and loud. Oi. She's loud. :) She is a bundle of endless energy, one day doing no wrong and one day managing to g
et herself into a whole lot of trouble. Who can forget the day she locked herself in our bedroom? Or the day she ate a few moldy pickles after being told not too. She has written on the walls in every medium ima
ginable, has gotten gum in her hair (and Maggie's hair!), colored on both of our tables, dumped pencil shavings all over the house, dumped cat food into the water dish too many t
imes to count. She has convinced Scoty she put one of his toys in the toilet, only to reveal, after much persuading, that the toy was safely tucked up inside her shirt. She emptied 2 bean bags in the kids' room, causing teeny-tiny little styrofoam beads to snow all over the bedroom. She has climbed on top of the microwave cart, pulled things off the walls, climbed on top of the counters to help herself to something she wanted in the cupboards. She has taken more falls than all of the other 3 kids combined! No stitches so far! 
Georgia Kate is like a tornado some times. People are constantly telling me in Arabic that she has a strong personality. She tires me. I can't keep up with her. But, with her two little hands firmly planted on either of my cheeks, and her earnest declarations of "I love you, Mama!" she can melt my heart.
God's got big plans for Georgia Kate. I can't wait to see where he takes all of her personality!
Sunday, November 9, 2008
November 9...Today I'm thankful for...
PUPPY! Puppy joined our lives at Christmas, 2003. He was given as a gift by my Na-na and Papa Joe to Scoty when he was just turning one year old. Puppy was enjoyed at that time, but took on greater significance when our lives were turned upside down! We left Shamokin for Sacramento for our church's national council where we were being commissioned and sent out. We flew directly from Sacramento to Wheaton, Illinois, where we attended T
he Summer Language Institute and Wheaton College for a month, incorporating some Alliance specific training in as well. We returned to Shamokin for about one month before it was time for us to leave for Jerusalem. Sometime, while we were at Wheaton, we began
to notice that Scoty was carrying Puppy around everywhere we went. Puppy gave him a sense of normalcy and security. Every picture we sent home from our first few months in Jerusalem, someone commented that Scoty was clutching Puppy. It's been 5 years, and Puppy has lost much of his original luster. He has no stuffing left anywhere except his head. He's traveled the world, though h
e's relegated to the bed more and more these days. Puppy went missing this week. Scoty didn't cry, but he was upset. Today we tore the house apart, determined to find Puppy. Scot found him! Scoty and Puppy were reun
ited once again. I have to admit, I was feeling sad at the thought of the Puppy era coming to such an abrupt end. He's been Scoty's friend for 5 years now. I'm so thankful that friendship can continue, at least until Scoty decides it's over...
Saturday, November 8, 2008
November 8...Today I am thankful for...
Coffee. I love coffee. It's fun to drink in the morning with Scot, or out with friends. I love all kinds of coffee: iced coffee, espresso, cappuccino, steaming hot, a-fukh (Hebrew for upside down, heavy on the milk), flavored, specialty drinks...pretty much, if it's got coffee in it's name, I'll love it! Ooooh...coffee ice cream! YUM! Coffee, for me, isn't just a drink, it's a social event. I know many who enjoy their morning cup of coffee in isolation. That is so not me. Drinking coffee alone isn't fun at all. I'd much rather sit together with Scot in the morning, taking 15 minutes to just sip a cup of coffee together. I would never go and sit at a coffee bar by myself, but give me a group of girlfriends and I am all over that!
In our last apartment, when selecting the color for the living room, we settled on 2 tones of brown. And after painting the walls we realized we had a problem. A coffee addiction! The walls looked just a like a cappuccino! :)
Scot is the primary coffee maker. We're still drinking iced coffee in the mornings which requires some forsight. I fill up ice cube trays in the evening. Scot starts the coffee in the bodum press before anything else so the coffee has time to chill in the freezer. When we switch over to hot coffee, Scot will resume his expert cappuccino making skills.
Yep, love me some yummy coffee! Dark roast preferable, but I can enjoy milder roasts. Starbucks Christmas Blend is my favorite coffee in the world. And I'll be in the US in time to buy some of my own...I hope! :)
Friday, November 7, 2008
November 7...Today I am thankful for...
Scrapshare. A message board. Yep. Why? Scrapshare entered my life in January 2006 as a place to find scrapbooking ideas. I had no one to scrap with. It was lonely. So, I joined Scrapshare hoping to find some new and different scrapbooking ideas. I found so much more!
I found a group of (mostly) women with lots in common with me, a group of women who would come to support what I do and challenge me in lots of areas of my life. And though I have only met one of them in real life (Hi, Carol!), I consider many of them my friends. And when I am stateside, I hope to meet as many of them as possible! They have made donations to my scrapbooking ministry, sent gifts to me and my family, dropped encouraging notes, and have blessed me in so many ways....
Joanie blogged about Scrapshare yesterday. She is currently at a Scrapshare retreat...a retreat that I had dreamed of going to. The funny thing? I'm thankful for her! :)
I found a group of (mostly) women with lots in common with me, a group of women who would come to support what I do and challenge me in lots of areas of my life. And though I have only met one of them in real life (Hi, Carol!), I consider many of them my friends. And when I am stateside, I hope to meet as many of them as possible! They have made donations to my scrapbooking ministry, sent gifts to me and my family, dropped encouraging notes, and have blessed me in so many ways....
Joanie blogged about Scrapshare yesterday. She is currently at a Scrapshare retreat...a retreat that I had dreamed of going to. The funny thing? I'm thankful for her! :)
Thursday, November 6, 2008
November 6...Today I am thankful for...
My Mom. She has been such a support to me my entire life. She was the mom that was always there to do carpooling and spontaneous trips. She was the driver for many a Monkee adventure, even though she couldn't stand them. :) She serves without question, both he
r family and her friends and church. And I love how much she loves her grandchildren with all her heart. She came to live with us for 3 months in 2005, and those 3 months meant so much to me and my family! She was able to be close by for the birth of all 4 of her grandchildren!
Through this last year, which has not been an easy one for her to weather, I have seen her stand strong and firm. I have seen her better herself and show a strength of character and fa
ith that I hadn't previously seen. My Mom is strong. And she is good, kind, loving, giving, and FUN! I know, without a doubt, that when I spend time with her we will laugh so hard it hurts! Usually we laugh about something ridiculous or nothing at all. Add my sister and my BFF, Mara, and you are guaranteed to get some good cardio in with a long-lasting, uncontrollable belly laugh.
My mom is one of my best friends. I thank God for blessing me with such a wonderful example. Love you, Mom!
r family and her friends and church. And I love how much she loves her grandchildren with all her heart. She came to live with us for 3 months in 2005, and those 3 months meant so much to me and my family! She was able to be close by for the birth of all 4 of her grandchildren! Through this last year, which has not been an easy one for her to weather, I have seen her stand strong and firm. I have seen her better herself and show a strength of character and fa
ith that I hadn't previously seen. My Mom is strong. And she is good, kind, loving, giving, and FUN! I know, without a doubt, that when I spend time with her we will laugh so hard it hurts! Usually we laugh about something ridiculous or nothing at all. Add my sister and my BFF, Mara, and you are guaranteed to get some good cardio in with a long-lasting, uncontrollable belly laugh.My mom is one of my best friends. I thank God for blessing me with such a wonderful example. Love you, Mom!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
November 5...Today I am thankful for...
The Disney trip I am planning for my family. I'm sure some of you must think this is a silly thing to be thankful for, but it's such a fun blessing for our family that I can't help but be excited! My mom mentioned sometime before we left the US 4 years ago, in passing, that maybe she'd take the kids to Disney when we came back. Maggie never forgot (actually Maggie forgets nothing!). Maggie mentioned it, Mom was still willing, and thus the fun began! And she's coming along for the ride, which is going to make the trip even better! And no, not just because we'll have an extra pair of adult hands to help out with 4 kids, though that's a bonus! :) I'm thrilled that Mom will get to experience this with the kids and that they will have Mo-mo with them to share in the magic that is Disney.
I love planning for things like this, and it's been such a blast to see the kids getting so excited about it! We've watched that free planning dvd Disney sends out about a billion times! I check out discount boards and Disney information boards. To some it sounds tedious and even insane, but for me? A planner's heaven!
Disney has been something I've been able to focus on when life was stressful. It's something happy on the horizon, no matter how rough things may seem. And it's something I never dreamed would happen for our family.
I am so grateful for the little extra blessing of being able to say to the kids, "We're going to Disney!" Without my Mom, this trip wouldn't be happening. Thanks, Mom. I know we're going to have a blast! The Mouse is just 64 days away!
I love planning for things like this, and it's been such a blast to see the kids getting so excited about it! We've watched that free planning dvd Disney sends out about a billion times! I check out discount boards and Disney information boards. To some it sounds tedious and even insane, but for me? A planner's heaven!
Disney has been something I've been able to focus on when life was stressful. It's something happy on the horizon, no matter how rough things may seem. And it's something I never dreamed would happen for our family.
I am so grateful for the little extra blessing of being able to say to the kids, "We're going to Disney!" Without my Mom, this trip wouldn't be happening. Thanks, Mom. I know we're going to have a blast! The Mouse is just 64 days away!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
November 4...Today I'm thankful for...
Jesus. My savior. I love to reflect on the many names the Bible gives to Jesus. I can't imagine my life without Him at the center. He gives me purpose. He gives me direction. I am certain of my salvation. I am no different than the next person, yet I find myself living in a different land with the sole purpose of showing people the love of Jesus. Why? Because He has called me to be here. This is not an attempt to preach at you, my blog readers. It is simply me expressing my gratitude for all that Jesus has done in my life. I hope and pray that His love pours out of my life, touching all those I meet with His love and compassion.
I'd Rather Have Jesus than anything...
This song has always been one of my favorites. It expresses my heart. I found Michael English performing it on YouTube. The lyrics follow.
I’d Rather Have Jesus – The Lyrics
I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands,
I’d rather be led by His nail pierced hand.
Than to be a king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin’s dread sway,
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.
I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I’d rather have Jesus than world-wide fame,
I’d rather be true to His holy name.
He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;
He’s sweeter than honey from out of the comb;
He’s all that my hungering spirit needs,
I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead.
I'd Rather Have Jesus than anything...
This song has always been one of my favorites. It expresses my heart. I found Michael English performing it on YouTube. The lyrics follow.
I’d Rather Have Jesus – The Lyrics
I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands,
I’d rather be led by His nail pierced hand.
Than to be a king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin’s dread sway,
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.
I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I’d rather have Jesus than world-wide fame,
I’d rather be true to His holy name.
He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;
He’s sweeter than honey from out of the comb;
He’s all that my hungering spirit needs,
I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead.
Monday, November 3, 2008
November 3...Today I am thankful for...
Good health. I don't think I thank God enough for my good health and the good health of my family. We are rarely sick. The kids miss, on average, one school day per year due to illness. Last year I don't think Thomas missed any days. On days when we are healthy we don't often stop to think about what a blessing that is.
Today, Thomas has been sick. He's got a fever, sore throat, etc. Took him to the doctor's and found out he has a sinus infection, so he's on some antibiotics, among other things, to clear it up. He's been lethargic and so not like himself. It's never easy to see our kids sick. But, this is Thomas' first trip to the doctor since we came here! Yes...we should be more proactive for him, but he's been so healthy with a minor 24 stomach bug being the worst illness he's had. We rarely go to the clinic. That's something to praise God for!
I'm healthy. My kids are healthy. Scot is healthy. That's a good thing!
Today, Thomas has been sick. He's got a fever, sore throat, etc. Took him to the doctor's and found out he has a sinus infection, so he's on some antibiotics, among other things, to clear it up. He's been lethargic and so not like himself. It's never easy to see our kids sick. But, this is Thomas' first trip to the doctor since we came here! Yes...we should be more proactive for him, but he's been so healthy with a minor 24 stomach bug being the worst illness he's had. We rarely go to the clinic. That's something to praise God for!
I'm healthy. My kids are healthy. Scot is healthy. That's a good thing!
Sunday, November 2, 2008
November 2...Today I am thankful for...
My friend, Sherry, challenged her blog readers to post a gratitude post daily this month. I love the idea! Unfortunately, I missed yesterday, so we start fresh today!
From Sherry:
Colossians 3:15
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
This month I challenge all of you, my blogging friends, to post a gratitude post daily. If possible, post a picture to go along with it!
Today I express my gratitude for Scot, my amazing husband. Not only is he extremely intelligent, but he's hysterically funny. No one makes me laugh like he does. He is kind, thoughtful, faithful, hard-working, generous, compassionate, loving, and committed to the call God has placed on his life. In our line of work, we have counseled couples in crisis. I have counseled women in troubled marriages. All of this has made me even more grateful for my husband. He is one in a million and the perfect match for me. I know it sounds cheesy, but he really is my best friend.
Just a little bit of interesting background: we met when I was 5 and he was 4! That's 28 years! We didn't begin dating until 1996, got engaged in October and were married May 31, 1997. But all those years of friendship laid the foundation for a wonderful marriage! I'm blessed...and so very thankful...
P.S. That picture if of us in Mali, West Africa, January 1997!
From Sherry:
Colossians 3:15
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
This month I challenge all of you, my blogging friends, to post a gratitude post daily. If possible, post a picture to go along with it!
Today I express my gratitude for Scot, my amazing husband. Not only is he extremely intelligent, but he's hysterically funny. No one makes me laugh like he does. He is kind, thoughtful, faithful, hard-working, generous, compassionate, loving, and committed to the call God has placed on his life. In our line of work, we have counseled couples in crisis. I have counseled women in troubled marriages. All of this has made me even more grateful for my husband. He is one in a million and the perfect match for me. I know it sounds cheesy, but he really is my best friend.
Just a little bit of interesting background: we met when I was 5 and he was 4! That's 28 years! We didn't begin dating until 1996, got engaged in October and were married May 31, 1997. But all those years of friendship laid the foundation for a wonderful marriage! I'm blessed...and so very thankful...
P.S. That picture if of us in Mali, West Africa, January 1997!
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