CHOOSE JOY...December 8...

Friend brought me joy today! We spent the morning/early afternoon with some of our closest friends here. We visited a Stalagtite cave, stopped at McDonalds and a playground for lunch, and just hung out. We won't see them again before we travel and I'm going to miss them like crazy!

Goodbyes stink, no matter how you look at it. But it's good to feel sad about saying goodbye. It means you love and are loved. I'm so thankful for my good friends, Irene and Anthony and their adorable little guy, Zebulun.

CHOOSE JOY...December 7...

Today I'm feeling full to overflowing with joy! First of all, last night, we had the privilege to attend the ordination service of one of our local pastors. It doesn't happen often here, and it was just a beautiful experience. I felt such a love for the Palestinian people and for our church family here. The church is growing, and seeing Mazan and his family honored in such a special way last night was a blessing for me. (Here's a picture of our national leaders with Scot in the background and our newest ordained minister and his wife in the center)

Then today we cooked another Thanksgiving dinner for some of our Palestinian friends. We told them we could cook the meal if they could host it, so we made a mobile Thanksgiving dinner and took it on the road! What a nice evening spent laughing and talking and dreaming for the future.

I love life here. I love my friends. It's nice to know that though I'm thrilled beyond belief to be going to the US, I will miss life here. Palestine has become part of me. That's a good feeling!

CHOOSE JOY...December 6...

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

CHOOSE JOY...December 5...

Today I found joy in the spontaneous giggling of my daughters! I heard them giggling and squealing and jumped up to try to sneak a picture or two of the craziness. I thought they would be perfect for the LOVE pictures challenge! I was right! So, here is my JOY and my first entry in the LOVE category!

TICKLE FIGHT!

CHOOSE JOY! A Challenge!

I realize that I never explained the whole "Choose Joy" idea! So, here's what Sherry challenged us to do:

by MidniteScrapper

...

So, if you are up for another challenge - here we go!

1. This will officially start on December 3rd and will end on December 31.

2. The challenge of this blog will be similar to our Gratitude Blog idea. Look for JOY each day and blog about it. It might be something as big as attending a wedding or as small as how cozy your slippers feel...it's up to you. CHOOSE to find joy.each.day.

3. There are a few extra challenges for this one too...don't worry - don't stress....have fun! Those that complete the journaling AND the photos will be able to be have their name in the drawing for the prize TWICE.

Each week, you must post at least 3 photos based on the themes I have chosen.

Week 1 (Dec. 1 - 6) - LOVE

Week 2 (Dec. 7 - 13) - RED

Week 3 (Dec. 14 - 20) -GLITTER/SHINE

Week 4 (Dec. 21 - 27) - FAMILY

Week 5 (Dec. 28 - 31) - PEACE

4. If you are going to participate in this challenge - please comment in this post so I will know. I will check on your blogs as often as I can. At the end of the month, you will need to come back here and follow the directions for being entered into the drawing for the GIFT AWAY.

5. If you have any questions - please let me know. I tried to type this up as clearly as I could, but I do have two toddlers running around me at the moment (my JOYS). =]

So, that explains why I'm CHOOSING JOY! :)

The end of an era in our family...

Taken from a Scrapshare post...

The Binky Era. 4 kids; 4 binkies. As we were told that after age 3 binkies and bottles, etc. can cause some serious damage to teeth, we set the binky cut-off at age 3. We took each of the kids to the toy store and allowed them to "buy" a toy of their choosing (which some major help and persuasion from Mama!) with their binky.

Georgia Kate turned 3 in October and she still had a binky as of yesterday. We've been talking about trading it in and yesterday when we asked if she was ready, she said yes.

She wandered through Toys R Us but didn't find anything that really grabbed her until she saw the Piglet slippers. That was it! And they were cheap, too. BONUS!

She paid, the cashier chucked the binky (less temptation on our part to return it when the going gets tough), and we headed home.

Last night GK didn't cry at all. Things were good. She woke up once and asked me if she could have her binky back, but it was a pretty smooth night.

Today was a different story. GK used her binky as a comfort thing when she was upset. Something upset her and she sought out her Shirty (one of my shirts) and binky. Binky, of course, was not here. She freaked. Screamed for 45 minutes. I held her, consoled her, offered to read to her...nothing could distract her from her complete and utter sadness at the loss of binky. It broke my heart.

She finally stopped crying, said she wishes she could take her piggy slippers back and trade them for the binky, but she managed to move on. Not another tear was shed and she went to sleep without incident.

We'll see what tomorrow holds. I'm glad to be finished with them for many reasons, but there's part of me that is sad too. My kids are growing up, and that's bittersweet.

CHOOSE JOY...December 4...

Today I found joy in teaching my last English class. I love teaching English, and I love it even more when I've got a fun group of students. My class this semester has been one full of laughter! I taught mostly university age students as well as a few teen-age girls, and I loved every minute of it! We laughed at each other during the lessons, but I also got to have some "girl talk" during breaks and outside of class.

The Palestinian people have been kind and gracious. I have loved getting to know so many and only wish I had more time to spend with them! Today, my class made it easy for me to choose joy.

December 3...Today I find joy in...

The anticipation our kids have about our trip to the US! Wow, are they ever excited! It's been a long time since we've been back. A nephew has been born that we are dying to meet, Georgia Kate was born and has recently turned 3! We haven't seen my in-laws since the summer of 2006! I'm so excited I can't sleep! I've got travel stomach 2 weeks before we actually travel!

For all my excitement, the kids' excitement is quadruple mine! Today Scot said, "How about we just leave for the US today." They all started shouting and only Thomas voiced slight hesitation. "But Daddy, we didn't finish packing yet." Scot said we could finish really quick and then just go an sit at the airport and wait for our flight out in 13 days. All 3 of the older kids shouted immediately, "It's just 12 days, Daddy!" They are not missing a single day in the countdown.

And Scoty asked, "Really, can we wait at the airport?" :)

Yeah, their excitement brings me joy. Oh, there have been tears shed already at the thought of saying goodbye. Maggie and I both cried some, and I'm sure there are more tears to come. But seeing them dream and imagine what life will be like for us in the US brings me great joy!

Everyday I pray that our time in the US is all they dream it will be and more.

Christmas playlist...

Well, I finally caved. As a music lover, one might think I'd have a playlist on my blog. I do not normally because I realize that people might read my blog in places or at times when it is not convenient to have music suddenly come blaring through their speakers. However, I am making an exception this holiday season. I just can't resist Christmas music!

So, if you do not wish to hear Christmas music, it might be too late! By now my Christmas playlist should be blasting some fun Christmas tune-age for your listening pleasure!

Merry Christmas! :)

December 1...Today I'm thankful for...

My friend Sherry. I have never met her. She lives a billion miles away. We don't talk much. But she is my friend. She has inspired me in so many ways. She and I share a bond of faith that is strong. I love keeping up with her family activities and seeing her gorgeous kids and hearing about her amazing husband. I love her honesty in sharing the struggles she faces.

Sherry, you inspired me to post a thankful blog every day of November. What a wonderful challenge! Thank you for helping me take account of the myriad of blessings in my life! You are beautiful person; your selflessness and acts of service are inspiring! You live your faith, and Jesus' love just pours out of you. I'm so thankful to call you friend. You bless me. :)

And so ends the month of Thanksgiving. But it is my sincere prayer that these days of giving thanks will remain with me. I praise God for calling me to serve Him. It's been an exciting life so far! I can't wait to see where He takes us in the future! But one thing is for certain: I am blessed. Blessed with family and friends, blessed with food and clothes and all the little extras that make life fun...so much to be thankful for!