A thing of beauty...

Meet Blessie. Her full name is Blessing Dressler, but she's Blessie for short. When we first all climbed inside before taking her for our first family ride, I said, "She's so pretty! She needs a name!" Maggie shouted from her new spot in the back seat, "We should call her Blessing because God answered our prayers and she's a blessing!" I said, "Yeah, like Bessie...only it's Blessie for short!" And we all agreed: she certainly is a blessing. We have taken to referring to her as a she, since cars are feminine in Arabic and it gives her more character. :)

This morning, during our first Arabic lesson of the new school year Scot got a call on his cell phone. He returned and said, "We've got a new car!" He had the chance to pick her up and bring her home after school today. Scot was grinning from ear to ear as he drove up. Not only does this car not make any of the awful sounds our old car was making, but the engine is quiet, the AC works in all 3 rows, and he drove away from the lot with just 15 kilometers on her! And a nice stereo with rear speakers to boot!

Why is this car such a blessing? For oh, so many reasons! First of all, because she is reliable. We can safely do our work. We can travel into the West Bank knowing she isn't going to break down. She is a blessing because she was purchased through the kindness and generosity of our supporters back home. She is a blessing because we have now been without a car for over a month and walking and taking the public bus gets old fast with 4 little kids. We knew the very first day we got this car we would all be thankful. The kids expressed such genuine joy and appreciation that is warmed my heart. And made me think about how much walking we've been making them do!

Blessie. I'm so very thankful to God for this car. She is beautiful, isn't she? Even more so because she is a reminder to us of God's faithfulness in our lives and the love and support we have from people back home. Blessie.

SS Blog Challenge #29: Wordless Post

Brought to us by Joanie.

So this will be a wordless challenge this week. Find a picture that speaks for you. Use google image or one of your own images.

Joan of Arc
Jules Bastien-Lepage

Back to school; a Mother's reflection

Today was the first day back to school for my oldest 2 and Georgia Kate's first day of preschool. Scoty went back last week for 2 days of orienatation. That means today was the first day they all went to school. I thought I'd shout Hallelujah! Maybe I did, just a quiet one. :) But mostly I felt nostalgic and maybe just a tad melancholy.

They are growing up. They have changed so much since we left the US 4 years ago. Well, Georgia has really changed considering she didn't even exist! HA! Time keeps moving on and once it passes, you don't get it back.

I am the first to admit I enjoy time spent away from my kids. I look forward to the return back to school just because I crave schedule and I don't do it so well on my own. I like that we know what we have to do and where we have to be at certain times. I like that the house gets quiet. At least I enjoy it for a few moments. Then suddenly it sounds too quiet.

And for some reason, Scoty entering kindergarten has hit me hard. I think because he is the most baby like of all 4 of the kids. I see him as this little boy who needs me. I watched him walk into his classroom today, the last day I could walk him all the way to his class, and I thought, "My, how big he's gotten!" He waved and took his seat and glanced back just one more time to see if I was still there. I was. I felt a tear fall. Time passes.

The new school year seems to emphasize that passage of time. A new year. A fresh start. Excitement mixed with slight apprehension in the eyes of all the children entering the school yard. There is no stopping time, no matter how much we'd like to. And for all the wishing for tomorrow, I sometimes find myself just wishing for time to stop...or at least slow down just a little bit. One more day with my kids at home.

At least until that first cry of "He's teasing me!" At those moments I'm happy to see the school hour come once again!

Scot's Thoughts

Well, my dear blog readers, you are in for a treat! Today I am bringing to you the first edition of Scot's Thoughts. Not only is my dear husband extremely handsome , but he is also hysterically funny and witty and an exceptional writer. He did a blog entry on another blog we keep, and I thought, "Hey...I should share this one with the readers of my blog!" He is writing about the challenges we've faced in living without a car for a month while the car that we have purchased is caught up in the customs office paperwork. Enjoy. He's much more articulate then me. :) If you all enjoy this, we can make it a semi-regular happening. And check back soon to find my ponderings upon taking my youngest son to kindergarten for the first time.

Without further ado, Scot's Thoughts:
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We are still playing the waiting game, no word back from the car dealer as to whether any progress was made in the customs office. We are actually not expecting to hear anything until Sunday (which is a working day in Israel) or Monday at the earliest. Apparently there is a van out there with my name on it. I got a call a few days ago from the satellite tracking service that is part of the cars anti-theft system (car theft is a big problem in Israel) asking if everything was all right with my KIA. I assume that somewhere in the country the alarm was going off. I responded that I have never even seen my new KIA and that they should call someone from the company. I hope that turned out well for them.

We’ve been on foot a lot lately. Yesterday we dropped Scoty off for his first day of school. He nearly expired on the way from the weight of his new Superman backpack fully loaded with books, but he insisted on carrying it himself most of the way because, after all, “new Superman backpack”. He went off to school without a hitch (we thank God for that) and we continued on with the rest of the family to the Beit Hanina post office, about two miles from home, to mail a belated birthday present and some other items. To our chagrin we arrived to find that the post office had been closed! We asked some passers by on the street and found that it closed about a month earlier. So we returned home with nothing to show for our trek except a little exercise. Carrie seemed a little perturbed by this since she had risen at five to get her elliptical trainer workout in and didn’t really want any unsolicited exercise.

Thankfully we live within about ¾ of a mile from the bus stop, so it’s not too hard to get around. We’ve been able to catch rides with friends to church and most of our meetings lately. We are always reluctant to do this with the kids since there are never enough seats and seatbelts for all of us. But we don’t really have many options. Thankfully many of my regular meetings as well as the markets and the kids school are all within a mile or so from home. We are praying that the car will come before Georgia begins school because the Sunshine School is quite a hoof from home. The kids are feeling a little trapped, and a little tired of walking everywhere, but I think, all things considered, we are taking this setback in stride.

Probably the most difficult part for me is just the mystery involved, no one being able to tell exactly how long the process will take. This is one of those areas where you just have to shake off your American frame of reference and say, as our new coworker Marshall is already fond of saying, “Hey, this is Israel.” Many of my scripture readings lately have been taking me to passages that speak in different was about the culmination of human history, passages from Isaiah, Ezekiel, and various places in the New Testament. In light of what I’ve been reading I think I can plant my tongue firmly in my cheek and make a comparison between the parousia or second coming of our Lord and the arrival of this new van. For both the following can be said: “(w)hen everything is ready, I will come (to)… you” (Joh 14:3), “(h)owever, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven”(Mat 24:36).

Scot

SS Blog Challenge #27 What do I like about ME?

SS Blog Challenge #27, brought to us by Tracilouhoo.

I've come to realize that I spend too much time being my own critic. I can easily pick out my own flaws. I don't think I'm alone in this habit, I believe that we all have this same tendency.

My challenge to you is this: Tell me what your own favorite character trait/ability is. Tell me all about it and how you affect others through it. If you honestly can't pick out your own strengths then I'll give you an easy way out. Just ask the 3 people closest to you to pick one for you. Then blog about those. I'll even give you permission to quote them. I'm sure that you'll find out that you can love what they love about you...

Why is this so hard? It shouldn't be. I suppose we have always been taught not to be vain or self-centered. But often we turn that into, "Don't like anything about yourself." And that is wrong. The Bible tells us that we are God's workmanship, created for good works in Christ. He formed us. He loves us. That alone gives us value. It's okay to celebrate the good things that make me me.

What is may favorite character trait or ability? I am comfortable with people. I love people. I am energized by time spent with people. I enjoy making others feel comfortable and can ease tense situations without much effort. I am extremely sensitive to how others are feeling. If someone is nervous or uncomfortable, I can often perceive why and help make them feel better. And I am able to feel the depth of someone's emotions. I cry when they cry and can carry someone else's heartache with compassion. While I consider this a good trait, empathy isn't an easy trait to have either.

I enjoy laughing and making others laugh. I can tell a good story and take something that, on it's own, wasn't funny and make it laughable. Some may consider my story-telling obnoxious at times, but I know that it's helped to liven up meetings and parties and helped put people at ease.

So, that's it. I love that I am a people person. Scot is not, and I love and appreciate that about him too. I think if we were both extreme extroverts, we'd never survive! He is kind and sensitive, but does not always enjoy social functions and hates small talk. He has told me on more than one occasion that he is always happy to go to a party or other function when I am with him because I ease the tensions and get to know people. I give him the chance to sit back and observe, which is something he enjoys. And while he is hysterically funny and can tell a good story with the best of them, I'm happy to do 90% of the talking when we are out and about. It works for both of us.

Back to school????

Is it possible that it's time for school to begin again? Where did the summer go? Today was the day to pick up Thomas and Maggie's school books. Since we were out and about we decided we could walk (still no car) to the local office supply store and see what kind of backpacks they were offering. Thomas and Maggie's from kindergarten breathed their last breathe by the end of last school year, and we promised Scoty he could get a brand new backpack too.

We got the books with relatively little trouble. The earlier you go here, the better as it's not an early rising culture. We arrived at the school just 15 minutes after the doors opened and were ushered directly in to pay for and collect the books.

After buying all the books and notebooks, we headed to the office supply store. They had all their shiny, new backpacks strategically placed halfway into the street. Perfect for causing chaos among the little people accompanying us! They went into an immediate backpack choosing frenzy, picking up and grabbing everything they could see and reach. At least the littlest one was strapped into her stroller. That stemmed the tide of crazy at least a little bit.
After looking at at least 100 backpacks each (or maybe just 10~hard to tell with all the little hands grabbing and the flying backpacks), they settled on their very favorite. Since we were giving the owner of the shop so much business so early in the morning, he gave us a great discount! We entered the extremely small shop to buy the other random supplies we needed, including the plastic covers for the books, pencils, rulers, scissors, erasers, and glue sticks. After 15 minutes of complete chaos, we made our way out of the store, put the backpacks on the kids, and headed home. Thankfully, today is pay day!

The next 2+ hours were spent labeling everything with names and classes and covering all the books and notebooks with the plastic covers. Then I thought, "Hey...this was so interesting, I'll blog about it!" :)

I'd love it if you remember to pray for our kids too! The older 3 go to a school completely in Arabic. Which leads to my special request for Scoty. For some reason I've got anxiety about him starting kindergarten in his second language.

He's starting at the Arab school and he's a little nervous. He seems excited, and yet scared. We met his teacher and I didn't think to ask if she speaks English. I'm sure she does. He didn't seem to mind that she spoke only in Arabic with him. I guess it's just my mother's heart, thinking about him heading off to the big bad world of school in his second language. Scoty isn't like the older two. For some reason we all have the urge to protect him, even Georgia. :) We'd love to have his first couple of weeks of school blanketed in prayer!

Happy School Time!

Vacation, all I ever wanted!

Ever have one of those days? Seemed we have been having one of those years! Car troubles, stresses in work and ministry, family problems back home. We needed to get away for just a little while. Even that seemed impossible without a car. But when something seems impossible, God is faithful! We did get away...

And I am back and blogging! We left for a mini-vacation last week and got to spend 3 wonderful days at a resort in Aqaba, Jordan! We slept, we swam, and we relaxed! That was a first for us in a long, long time! We even got a complimentary upgrade from a junior studio room (basically the cheapest room they had that would hold all 6 of us) to a 2 bedroom apartment! Now, that was more than a little blessing from God!

After 3 days in Aqaba, we joined coworkers and friends at a hotel just outside of Petra, Jordan, for 6 days of conferencing, laughing, and having fun! We conference with this same group every year, and we always have a great time! These are all foreigners, mostly from the US, living and working all around the Middle East. We get to debrief, laugh, cry, and share each other's burdens.

I often say I feel like a pressure cooker. We live and work in a stressful place and bear the burdens and hardships of those we work with. By the time we get to Jordan we are tired, worn out, and ready for a break. We are able to release the pressure valve and just let loose some of the emotions that have been threatening to spill over. It is a guarantee that I will cry more than once during the retreat time. And I will get to laugh until my sides hurt! This year we did karaoke (Scot and I wowed the crowd with our rendition of I Got You, Babe!), played spoons and scum and just got to talk with others in the same situation as us. What a blessing!

So, we are back in Jerusalem. We've got school starting for our kids this week, which means buying books, uniforms, and backpacks, and getting fresh haircuts for the boys. It also means planning our fall schedule of Arabic studies, English classes, and church ministry.

And at the forefront of my thoughts? In just over 3 months we'll be headed to the US for the first time in nearly 4 1/2 years! We'll be staying there for 7 months. We could use some prayers that we are able to prioritize, prepare and stay focused over the upcoming months! To say I'm excited about getting back to the US would be an understatement. But in the back of my mind is the knowledge that part of my heart will be left here too.

For today, I'm up to my ears in laundry, e-mails, and phonecalls. But it's still good to be home.

5 Course Dinner

I stole this one from Beth too! Pretty soon, she's going to start charging me!

Appetizer: When was the last time you had your hair cut/trimmed?

6 days ago! And I loved it so much, I blogged about it! The entire experience is so much fun for me! And then to come out loving my hair, well, that's a bonus! Here's another picture for good measure!

Soup: Name one thing you miss about being a child.

The carefree, lazy days. Days that had no agenda. Now, even if we think there is no agenda, there's an agenda--a schedule to keep. Little people need fed, deadlines have to be met, there are baths to give, meals to prepare, dishes and clothes to wash. There is an agenda. I remember as a child laying for hours in a field, watching the clouds pass by overhead. Or playing Barbies until I got bored. Or riding bikes and playing Dukes of Hazzard until the arch lights came on and it was time to go in. No agenda, no deadlines, no demands. Just lazy, carefree days...

Salad: Pick one: butter, margarine, olive oil.

While I do enjoy butter and margarine, after living in Palestine, I'd have to choose olive oil! There is nothing like fresh, extra virgin olive oil! WOW! I had no idea just how delicious olive oil is until coming here. In the States, we bought the cheap stuff. Here, there is no cheap stuff. We buy from our Palestinian friends, who grow and harvest the olives themselves. We've even had the privilege of visiting the olive pressing factory and seeing the freshly squeezed, rich, green liquid flow from the pressing machine.

Give me some bread baked over the hot coals, a little bit of za'taar, and some fresh olive oil, and I'm in my own, private carb-addict heaven!

Main Course: If you could learn another language, which one would you pick, and why?

Funny you should ask! I'm in the midst of learning Arabic. The process is not always fun and it's never easy, but it is rewarding! I would say I'm conversationally fluent. What do I mean by that? I can follow and participate in non-specialized conversations without much effort. The moment the conversations moves to a more difficult topic, I may or may not get lost. But, I am no longer uncomfortable approaching strangers to ask questions, and I'm able to hold up my own end of conversations without translating in my head. I can even teach little kids at church! Speaking a second language is exhilarating! The moment you realize you can effectively communicate and be understood? Magical!

I'm not sure I would have chosen Arabic prior to coming here, seeing as how it is considered one of the world's most difficult languages for a native English speaker to learn, but now I can't imagine wanting to learn any other language! Arabic, with all of it's complexities and frustrations, is truly a beautiful language.

Dessert: Finish this sentence: In 5 years I expect to be…

38. Wow. I hope to be wherever it is God calls me to be. And I'm praying that's right here, in Palestine.

Celebrating Sisterhood! SS Blog Challenge #26

This Scrapshare Blog Challenge has been brought to us by Baysmom!

Today, August 3, is National Sister's Day!

From the Holiday Insights website:

Sister's Day celebrates being or having a sister. That means a lot of us will celebrate this special day.

Sisters are truly special and unique. Sure, we may argue and fight. But, when it comes right down to it, sisters are the best, the very best.

To celebrate Sister's Day, your blog challenge is to tell us what this sisterhood here at S&S means to you. Some things to think about: What special experiences have you had here? What makes the "sisters" here special enough to come back to day after day? What would you celebrate about this community?

First, I have to say a word about my RL sister, Regina. We had a rocky start as far as a friendship goes. She's 5 1/2 years younger than me, and I'm afraid I wasn't the best big sister I could have been. As we both grew up, we just naturally grew together. We've been through the same stuff together, good and bad. She's walked through the best and worst parts of my life with me. I have seen her go from annoying little sister to one of my best friends! I can't imagine life without her now!

As for Scrapshare...well, I was led to this group by a friend during a time in my life when I was a lonely scrapper. I wasn't scrapbooking much because I don't do alone very well. At first I found SS to be a place where I could gather some new and fun scrapbooking ideas. After a few months I found the courage to share some of my own layouts and ideas too! I definitely found scrapbooking inspiration and began to scrapbook more frequently.

It wasn't long until I began to dig a little deeper into the SS community. I started to check out places beyond the scrapbooking threads. And I found a group of people sharing their lives and stories. I found a group of people praying for each other, laughing through funny times and crying through hard times. I found encouragement and joy in the threads. I started to get to "know" some people better through board posts and private messages. And I realized I was developing friendships.

When I felt like God was opening a door for a scrapbooking ministry among Palestinians, SS sisters responded in such huge ways! I began receiving encouraging e-mails and boxes full of donated material! The response from a group of women I'd never met was overwhelming!

I have found support, encouragement, and a lot of fun on Scrapshare! I share a whole lot more than scrapbooking layouts these days! I never would have dreamed that an online community would become such a big part of my life. Living far from family and all that is familiar, Scrapshare has filled in a gap. I've made real friends here. I'm so thankful someone invited me to check it out a few years ago. I often say to Scot, "Scrapshare saves my sanity!" It's been a blessing to me!

What is it about a fresh haircut?

I walk out of a salon after a good haircut and I feel like a million bucks! I had an appointment last Sunday with one of the best stylists I've ever had. It's so expensive that I only visit 1 or 2 times a year. I love my new do! I had him take 4" off the length and then he added some major layers, which I just love!

I came home and told Scot to snap a few pictures for my Book of Me. I then proceeded to share the pictures with family and friends. It's rare that I ever want my picture taken. Scot said if I feel so great after a haircut, I should go more often! Maybe he's right!

So, here's to a fresh haircut and style! Sure did make me feel good! Of course I recently lost 6 more pounds! That helps with that good feeling! :)