We had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day spent with coworkers and friends in Jerusalem. I'm missing family and friends back home...and The Chapmans. We've celebrated Thanksgiving with them for the last few years. It felt empty without them!

But, we have so much to be thankful for and it's always nice to take a moment and think about the blessings in our lives. We prepared as much as we could the night before, got up at 5:30am to put the 30lb turkey (compare it to Georgia Kate in size!) in the oven, and basically cooked and cleaned until it was time to transport all the food to our friends' house around 1:30pm. Then we ate, talked, ate some more, played some games (like a rousing game of Settlers of Catan!), talked and ate some more. We got home and put the kids to bed around 11pm. A good time was had by all! Did I mention the kids were up at 4:30am because they were so excited that it was Thanksgiving Day??? Uh-huh. I can't wait until Christmas!

To add to the adventure of the day, Scoty got a shiner. Georgia Kate nailed him in the eye with a bat! Never a dull moment! Here are some pictures from our day, including the turkey, Scot's pies, my stuffing with a little extra added by the kids, our friends, and Scoty's eye wound.

We hope and pray that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day with family and friends! Take time to thank God for all He has done.

"Be joyful always, pray continuously, give thanks in all circumstances. For this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

The Turkey before and after! Check out the special gift we got with our turkey this year! Head on or off was Scot's question! :P

Boogies

How can we tell our kids not to eat them when they're on sale at the local grocery store?

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A beloved teacher passed away suddenly...

Today, during a routine tonsillectomy, a 26 year old teacher passed away. Ustaz Sharif was beloved by all who knew him. I had the privilege of sitting in on some of his 5th grade geography classes last school year. I also have had the opportunity to see him in action. He loved students. He could always be found going the extra mile, intervening in student conflicts, showing compassion and concern. He was a kind, soft-spoken man who didn't take any nonsense in his classroom. The children are heartbroken at this shocking loss.

I have a knot in my stomach as I think about just how quickly this life can end. This young man was full of life. He was the kind of teacher that makes a positive difference in the lives of his students. It doesn't seem possible that he is gone. Just a few days ago he chaperoned the school swimming trip. Just a few days ago he was walking the halls of the school. It was too soon for him to go. :( I suppose this is how death is: one day someone is here with us and the next day they are gone. I didn't have the honor of knowing him well, but I had a great deal of respect for him and looked forward to the day when he would teach my children. He was that kind of teacher.

Prayers for his family and the teachers and students at Frere School in Jerusalem are appreciated.

Rest in Peace Ustaz Sharif. You will be missed by many. :(

Coffee...how I love you!

Written in 1587 by Sheik Ansari Djezeri Hanball Abd-al-Kadir. But the sentiments ring true as much today as then...

"Oh, Coffee, you dispel the worries of the Great, you point the way to those who have wandered from the path of knowledge. Coffee is the drink of the friends of God and of His servants who seek wisdom.

...No one can understand the truth until he drinks of its frothy goodness. T hose who condemn coffee as causing man harm are fools in the eyes of God.

Coffee is the common man's gold, and like gold it brings to every man the feeling of luxury and nobility...Take time in your preparations of coffee and God will be with you and bless you and your table. Where coffee is served there is grace and splendor and friendship and happiness.

All cares vanish as the coffee cup is raised to the lips. Coffee flows through your body as freely as your life's blood, refreshing all that it touches: look you at the youth and vigor of those who drink it.

Whoever tastes coffee will forever forswear the liquor of the grape. Oh drink of God's glory, your purity brings to man only well-being and nobility."

Ahem. Yes. Well...powerful words. I'm still waiting for that nobility and splendor. But I do love coffee!! :)

Georgia Kate's studio birthday pictures!

I realize this might be overkill for some of you! If we're friends on FB and you're also on SS, then you have seen these pictures already! :) But I can't resist sharing them on my blog because they make me smile! We took Georgia Kate for her annual birthday pictures on Saturday. Last year she refused to even smile and we walked away with 3 semi-decent pictures of a little girl who looked slightly put-off. This year? It was like a completely different girl! She was happy to smile, pose, and even dance a little! She did most of what the photographer asked of her, and we had more than 20 great pictures of our little girl!

These are some of my favorites! Enjoy the cheekiness (literally and figuratively!) that is Georgia Kate!

Georgia Kate is 4 and more!

It's hard for me to believe that it has been 4 years since Georgia Kate was born! She turned 5 on October 9, and we had a little celebration for her. We also had our visas renewed by the Israeli Government for another year, which is always a praise since it's not a given! We're thankful that we can continue our lives here for as long as God keeps the door open! We had a camping adventure with friends, continue studying Hebrew, squeezed in a trip to the zoo, and I was able to participate in a filming of the British TV show, Songs of Praise! Watch for me on BBC 1 on Sunday, December 1. I also got to meet the show's host, Aled Jones, who is quite a phenom in his own right! I had no idea!

In any event, life is NEVER boring living in this land! Here are some picture highlights from our recent adventures!













































































Today is my sister's birthday! These are the moments when it's especially hard to be away from home! Happy Birthday, Regina! Miss you tons!!!!!

I'm alive! ;)

Well...it appears that it has been awhile since I last updated you all! I know, I know...you've been waiting with baited breathe hoping and praying with each passing day that today would be the day you would hear from me again! ; P Yeah...right!

But, I am alive and well! In fact, on the road to wellness...or at least better health! I am one day away from completing the Cough Potato to 5K running program. I'm not actually running a 5K in 30 minutes...but I am running for 30 minutes! That counts for something! I've lost 11lbs and several inches. I average about 1lb. a week, which I can live with! I've got a ways to go, but I'm happy to be where I'm standing today. My time in the US did a number on my weight!

What else has been going on? Well, Scot and I have been studying Hebrew full-time for the last 3 weeks! After living here for 5+ years and getting a pretty good handle on Arabic, we decided it was time to tackle Hebrew. So, for the next few months we'll be language students once again. I love it! It has already opened doors for communication and I've been able to use Hebrew out and about. In fact, when we were at a local burger restaurant, the guy who always waits on us doesn't speak English. We use a confusing mix of body language, sounds, and pointing. And we never get what we want. Well, I walked up a few days ago and said, "No more! I'm going to try Hebrew." So, I ordered in Hebrew, was able to read the menu and get what we wanted all in Hebrew! I was elated! So, that's the lastest project.

I am also assuming some responsibility with our church's relief team in the West Bank. I'll be taking over the leadership role of that team when we finish Hebrew, but right now I'm doing some planning and learning. I'm excited to be part of this ministry, and it will certainly challenge my Arabic! :)

The kids continue to thrive. It's been a slightly bumpy road back into the Arabic school setting. In many ways, the schools here lack much of what we've come expect in the US by way of extracurriculars, but things are getting better. My kids now have a part-time art teacher and participate in art classes once a week! There is also the opportunity for Maggie and Thomas to be involved in some after school sports programs that are run by the school. We continue with music lessons and church activities, giving our kids the opportunities to experience something beyond book learning.

Scoty was apprehensive about getting back into Arabic, but has been doing great! He's lovable and his teachers adore him. He's renewing friendships and seems happy when leaving for school most days. :)

We miss family and friends. Our time in the US was great! But I think it makes me miss everyone even more! I suppose that's the life we live.

I'm thinking of some kind of blog challenge to get me blogging again more regularly! Until next time, I'll leave you with a few pictures! :)

3 Languages?

It is hard to believe, but we are in the process of learning our THIRD language! Hebrew language class began this past week. After just 2 days, my mind is already tired, but in a good way! I love the challenge! I love the idea of opening up a whole new way for me to communicate with others! Translation: I love to talk in any language! :)

There are some real challenges to learning a 3rd language, especially one that is so close to your second language. I find myself pronouncing the new sounds in Hebrew as if they are Arabic. I have shouted out an Arabic pronoun during language class! Of course, the pronouns are so similar that it's both helpful and difficult. Ana is first person singular in Arabic. In Hebrew, it's Ani. :)

We attend language class 5 days per week. Upon returning home, we help the kids with their Arabic homework in a bizarre mixture of Arabic and English. Any meetings and all interactions with our neighbors and friends happen in Arabic. And when we venture into other neighborhoods for shopping, we're back into Hebrew again. Toss in a couple of English speaking friends and coworkers and you've got the perfect setting for some good language blunders. Trust me...I'm certain I'll have plenty to share!

Prayers are always appreciated. We would love these next 5 months of Hebrew study to really count! Following Hebrew we jump back into Arabic studies. I feel tired just thinking about it!