A Taste of Home!

Visits from family and friends are always an amazing blessing to us! Our friend, Dave is visiting from Pennsylvania. He is taking a course with one of the local colleges here, but had some free time to hang with us. And he brought presents! Ooodles of stuff sent from family and friends back home! His wife, my dear friend Jennifer, packed up his suitcases good! She's a fellow scrapbooker, so she understands my obsession and hooked me up with tons of fun scrapbooking stuff! Can somebody say STICKLES???? I never even knew they came in colors! Well, now I know it! Yeah...just a few bottles of Stickles...and chipboard...and ribbon...and cardstock...and rub-ons...Love you, Jen!

The kids were bouncing off the wall excited to see Uncle Dave! We did manage to get them to sit still long enough for a picture:














Not only was Dave loaded down with scrapbooking supplies and gifts for the kids carefully picked by his own two children, but he also brought us several tastes of home! SOUPY sent by my Mom! And Hershey Kisses of all stripes and flavors! Mega M&Ms sent by Na-na! And, this amazing bag of FUN that I have been jonesin' for for a long, long time:
The first taste since 2004!!!!!! How did I survive so long without Middleswarth BBQ chips? The weekender bag? That's supposed to last an entire weekend? It didn't even last an hour here!

We get homesick for a lot of things. It isn't always easy being away from the things that are familiar to you...the people and places and things that you love. What a special treat to be able to hug an old friend! And the simple joy found in eating your very favorite chips in the whole wide world for the first time in nearly 4 years? God loves to spoil us, doesn't he?

This Week in Palestine

I'm sitting here reading the paper copy of the monthly magazine, This Week in Palestine. It's an excellent, thought-provoking edition. I thought I'd recommend the online copy to anyone who is interested.

This month is the celebration of Israel's independence day. And while anyone can appreciate the excitement that comes with celebrating the declaration of a state, there are often two sides to every story. Palestinians know this day at the Nakba, or the tragedy. So, as Israelis celebrate 60 years of statehood, many Palestinians mourn the loss of the life they had known. This edition of This Week in Palestine is written in commemoration of the Nakba.

This Week in Palestine gives a Palestinian perspective on issues affecting the Middle East. It is usually well written and intriguing. This month is one of the best issues I have read. Check it out. It is not light reading, but it does help me understand things a little better...

This Week in Palestine

**Please be aware that this magazine deals with controversial political issues.

Mother's Day started early in our house!

I love surprises! That is no secret! I got a little surprise today when Scot and Thomas went to buy a new tire for Thomas' bike. They returned with these:Thomas loved being in on the secret! Aren't they beautiful flowers? And since I am rarely in photos, even on Mother's Day, I thought I should have Scot snap a few pictures of me and my gorgeous bouquet! Georgia Kate wanted to get in on the action too!




















It certainly feels great to feel loved! I definitely have myself a wonderful husband and some pretty amazing kids!

Husband Tag?

I've been tagged! When I first read the title on Brynn's blog, I could not figure out what kind of game this was! TAG! You're IT! :)

I've been tagged with Husband Tag... keep reading to see if YOU have been tagged!

So here we go...

What is his name? Scot, Daddy, and Baba (Arabic for Daddy)

How long have you been married? 11 years this month! May 31 is our anniversary!

How long did you date? We started dating in May of 1996, were engaged in October, and were married May of the next year. But ask how long we've known each other! We met when I was 5 and he was 4 in the church nursery! :)e

How old is he? 32...just 51 weeks younger than me!

Who eats more? He does.

Who said I love you first? He did.

Who is taller? He is. He's 6'3" and I'm 5'7"

Who sings better? I'd say that's a tie!

Who's temper is worse? Before kids I would have said mine, hands down. But he now blows his cork too. I tend to fly off the handle more quickly, but his temper is bigger. Does that make sense?

Who does the laundry? Me.

Who does the dishes? We both do. I think I do them a little bit more than him. I definitely unload the dishwasher more than he does. But we sort of do the dishes based on who's cooking, etc.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed (when you are facing it)? Right now, him.

Who pays the bills? Me. Scot knows next to nothing about our finances. And he doesn't really care to know. He knows enough that he could take over the responsibility if necessary. Nothing more.

Who cooks dinner? Since we both work weird schedules, I'd say it's 50/50 right now. There are certain things he always cooks and certain things I always cook. If he's home and I'm not, then he cooks. And if I'm home and he's not, I ask him to bring home take-out! Just kidding! He actually enjoys cooking more than I do.

Who mows the lawn? We have no lawn. When we did have a lawn, a friend from the church cut the grass and Scot did the hedges. I'm guessing if we really had a lawn, that would mostly be his job.

Who drives when you are together? 95% of the time, him. I don't necessarily enjoy driving and he doesn't usually mind, so it works out well. I always think of a quote from Scrubs. Dr. Cox is having one of his rants and he says something like "and don't offer to drive to give us a break! It doesn't really give us a break!"

Who has more friends? Me for sure. I'm an extreme extrovert. And while he's an amazing preacher and teacher, he is an introvert on the more personal level. He counts on me to break the ice and social settings, and most of the relationship he develops are as a result of things we've done together. He is happy to sit back and observe at social events. Me? Not so much! I've gotta be talking to someone! Hey, Brynn...what do you mean, "if you count my internet friends????" Of course we count!

Who has more siblings? It's a tie! He's got an older brother and I've got a younger sister!

Who wears the pants in the family? We work as a team in decision making. But, if there ever was a time where a decision had to be made and we couldn't come to an agreement, I would defer to him. He is wise. He thinks things through. And I trust him implicitly to have the best interests of our family at the forefront of all of his decisions. And since I know that I can be impulsive and irrational, I am comforted to know that I can rely on Scot's wisdom. This has happened so rarely, that I can only thing of one instance right now.

Ok, I'm tagging... Sherry and Joanie and Kaye!

SS Blog Challenge #16: Perfect Picture

Sadly, we lost my Papa Joe today. I didn't have the emotional energy to blog, but I thought I'd pull out this post I wrote over a year ago.

Joseph Andrew Stoschack: May 19, 1918-June 26, 2009. Rest in Peace, Papa Joe. I miss you already. :(

This blog challenge is brought to us by Joanie!

So the challenge this week is to post a picture of someone you love. It can't be just any picture, it should be one of those pictures that you look at and you really see something about that person.
Once you find that special picture, post it in your blog and tell us what it is that makes it special.

This is certainly not the world's best picture. Or even what most would consider a perfect picture. But it captures not just the person I love dearly, but part of who he has always been in my life.
Papa Joe and Farmer, circa 2002.

Papa Joe is my maternal step-grandfather. I'm not sure I when I cognitively knew he was a step grandfather, because as long as I can remember, he's the only real grandfather I've ever had. He married my Na-na after her first husband passed away, years before I was born. I'm so glad he did! I can't imagine a better grandfather!

Nevermind the poor quality, this picture captures a part of what made Papa Joe special. I have so many memories of working alongside him on his farm. He taught me how to gather eggs, forcing me to put my hand under that clucking hen, even though I was scared. He sat and fished with me in his pond, which was well-stocked with catfish. He told me stories and was always ready to listen to mine. He put us to work in the fields, and we got to ride tractors and lawn mowers and use other dangerous equipment. He taught me about gardening and how to pull weeds. And he taught me about being kind to animals.

One silly memory I have is from when I was pretty small. Barry Manilow's "I Can't Smile Without You" came on their old, little radio. And Papa Joe, in his not-so-great voice, sang along, serenading me. Every time I hear that song I think of Papa Joe. He isn't a warm and fuzzy kind of grandpa. Oh, there were hugs from time to time, but I never once doubted how much he loved me.

I grew up, got married, and had my own kids. Papa Joe got older. The farm work got scaled back until all the remained was a small garden and lots of grass. He wasn't able to do what he used to do. But when Thomas was small, one thing Papa Joe still did was mow the lawn. And I remember the first time he took Thomas, whom he affectionately called Farmer, for a ride on the tractor. I was scared, as only a mother of a 2 year old could be. Papa Joe wasn't so agile anymore. His memory wasn't so good. What if Thomas fell? What if the mower toppled over?

And then I saw Thomas' face. The complete joy he was experiencing on that lawn mower with Papa Joe! It was worth any anxiety I might have been feeling. And I knew that as long as Papa Joe wanted to take Farmer with him on that mower, Farmer would go.

Papa Joe'll be 90 this month. His memory is going. He's confused a lot of the time now. I'm not even sure he'll recognize me when we go back to the US in December. And that makes me sad. Time has a way of robbing us of things that are precious to us. But it can never take away the memories I have of my time with Papa Joe. And I'm so grateful that my oldest children have some similar memories of this man who might not be related by blood, but is most certainly my grandfather in every sense of the word. I love that man...

SS Blog Challenge #15: Life Lessons

Life Lessons

When was the last time you had a life lesson -- one that made you feel "BETTER" about "YOU"? It doesn't have to be a life altering lesson; it can be something small, it can be something very minor, but it must be a life lesson. And it must be a GOOD life lesson. What was it?

I put off writing this one because I couldn't come up with any one thing. I'm always learning lessons! But this weekend I talked to my Mom. And she mentioned that my Na-na was thrilled when I called her last week to check up on how she was doing after her car accident! Na-na normally doesn't want to talk on the phone too long~~she worries about the long distance charges and doesn't understand just how cheap it is to call these days. But this conversation was fun. It only lasted about 12 minutes, but we both enjoyed talking to each other. I really miss her!

I learned that I am deeply loved. Knowing that a simple phone call from me brought my Na-na joy made me so happy! I learned that when we take the time to connect with people, we make a difference in their lives. And this happens only because we are loved and important to these people.

It feels so good to know that I'm loved. The distance has been difficult on me sometimes. I've been homesick. But there is comfort in knowing that the distance doesn't change the fact that I am loved. Something I always know...but it never hurts to be reminded once in awhile!

I think I'll call Na-na again!

Getting to know you again? Or more random facts about Carrie!

Here is a new get to know you type thing with some questions tailored to scrappers! (Thanks, Jennifer!)

Ten things you cannot scrap without:
1. Creative Memories tape runner
2. vellum
3. vellum quotes
4.vellum adhesive
5. fluid chalk
6. ribbon/fiber
7. pretty paper of all kinds
8. brads
9. Creative Memories multi-purpose tool
10. straight cutter

Nine words I love are:
1. fadi (Arabic for redeemer)
2. hillahop (Arabic for tights)
3. fatafeet (Arabic for crumbs and also the name of the Arab World cooking channel!)
4. giggle
5. experience (I love the sound and the meaning)
6. kisses (I love to hear my kids say this!)
7. aboosak/aboosik (Arabic for I kiss you!)
8. malak (Arabic for angel and used as a girl’s name)
9. Yesu’a (Arabic for Jesus)

Eight Favorite Characters:
1. Jim Halpert on The Office
2. Sawyer on LOST
3. Jane Eyre
4. Bob the Tomato
5. Buddy the Elf (from ELF)
6. Wayne from Wayne’s World
7. Romeo
8. Rochester

Seven things I love about my Daily Life:
1. Seeing Scot and the kids everyday
2. Where I live…it’s pretty cool!
3. My morning cappuccino (especially when someone sends me Starbucks Christmas Blend)
4. Hearing my kids giggling and having fun togther (happens most days)
5. Speaking Arabic! Love that!
6. Checking out favorite websites
7. Scrapbooking

Six places I’d Love to visit before I die:
1. Italy
2. Charlotte Bronte’s England
3. All 50 States (been to about 30!)
4. Backpacking across Europe
5. The Philippines
6. Anywhere I haven’t been! I love to travel!

Five things I do Everday, without fail:
1. Pray for my family
2. drink a cappuccino and/or coffee
3. kiss my husband and my kids!
4. check my e-mail and Scrapshare
5. laugh

Four Websites I frequent:
1. Scrapshare
2. Sparkpeople
3. Christian and Missionary Alliance
4. Ebay


Three Layouts I LOVE:
1. Georgia Kate’s sleeping baby picture (my first layout using an 8x10 that I took)



2. My 10^th anniversary gift for Scot. This was a challenge for me to create, and a true labor of love! But I just love the results!






3. My “uniquely” pages for all 4 kids




















Two DECISIONS I have never regretted:
1. Accepting Jesus and following his call to GO!
2. Getting married and starting a family

One additional and very important thing you should know about me:
1. I love people. I have great compassion for the underdog and most definitely have the gift of empathy. So if you are looking for great wisdom, talk to Scot. But if you are looking for someone that will feel deeply what you are feeling, whether that be intense joy or deep sadness, come to me.

Birthday pictures?

Whose birthday was it? Well...in December it was Scoty's 5th and in March it was Maggie's 7th. And I just took them for their birthday pictures YESTERDAY! Can you say procrastination? Better late than never?

In any event, the pictures turned out great! But how could they not with such adorable kids? :) They definitely take after their mother! heehee!

Without further ado, the pictures!

Scoty, age 5 1/2 and Margaret, 7:

Today's adventures with Georgia Kate!

She was napping in my bed, which she does when her brothers and sisters are home from school, since they share a bedroom. When she wakes up, she opens the door and calls for me. Not today. Today was different.

Today, she locked the bedroom door from the inside. And the door opens to the inside, so the hinges are on the inside. There is no way to open the door from the outside without the key. And the key was on the inside.

Ever try reasoning with a slightly grumpy 2 1/2 year old? She kept saying she couldn't get the key out of the lock and that she couldn't turn the key. Over and over again she said, "Mama, open the door!" She had her binky and her lovey and plopped herself down on the floor next to the door, refusing to move or try anything to help the situation.

We discussed other options. Unfortunately, there was no way to get in from the window because there are iron bars on the outside of our windows. After about 15 minutes of increasing frustration, Scot decided he would try to drill the brass lock into pieces and see what happened.

Meanwhile I'm rolling around on the floor near the door trying everything I knew to bribe Georgia to try to open the door. Hugs, kisses, ice cream, pizza, cartoons. At one point she began to throw all of our shoes at the door one by one every time I tried to ask her a question. "Mama, open the door!" she shouted.

Oh, in the middle of all this chaos, she began to cry because she had to use the potty. If you recall, she just potty trained this past weekend. Less than a week. Poor kid. She was wearing a pull-up and she finally just had to go. She cried.

Scot got the drill out. Georgia is terrified of the sound of the drill, so I knew this was not going to be pretty. I managed to convince her to get away from the door and sit on the bed near my pillow. Scot started to drill and Georgia Kate proceeded to cry and scream at the top of her lungs. "Mama! Help me! Stop that noise! Mama I want to come out!"

He got the lock core out, but still couldn't open the door. We finally decided that he was going to have to try to break the door down. She'd been in there for 30 minutes alone and it just wasn't safe.

What were the other 3 kids doing? Maggie, our 7 year old, was hysterical as only a melodramatic 7 year old girl can be. She was sobbing because she said she was worried Georgia might die in there. They were told to stay in their room, so they stood as close to the door as humanly possible without leaving their room and watched. Smart kids. They had been threatened about leaving their room, and they could clearly see that Mama and Daddy were not in the mood for a discussion.

Scot thrust himself into the door over and over again. It looked really painful. It was also kind of exciting. I've never seen anyone in real life break down a door like this! It was like something out of a movie! Now, he's a big, strong guy, but it took a lot of force. Finally, the door frame splintered and the door opened!

And Georgia Kate was sitting on my pillow smiling. "You got me out! You opened the door!" And she was off and running.

Scot has spent the last hour trying to salvage the door frame and the door. We thought we might have to replace everything. He managed to save the door and the frame . We need new trim and a new lock. Not too bad.

Later, Scot began calculating how much Georgia cost us today. I told him he has to factor in emotional damage too!

While I'm frustrated at the outcome, I was really scared when she was stuck in there. That was not a fun 30 minutes of my life!

What a kid. Oh...and I did take pictures

Sure sign that summer is almost here?

A visit by the ice cream man! Here, in our neighborhood, the man walks around shouting, "Ruuuukaaaab!" which is a local run ice cream maker known for delicious ice cream treats! He came to our house today!

Maggie paid for fruit pops for everyone! They are always excited to get Rukab!