Car troubles...

This is a vent, really. Our car appears to be dead. In a last ditch effort to get rid of it, Scot went to discuss a trade in with a dealership today. We are completely going on faith, since we do not have the money for a new car. And we were hoping to get something for this car.

It didn't pass the dealership's inspection. They are calling a specialist in to check it out on Sunday to see if they can even offer us anything for it.

On the way home from this meeting, the car left Scot and Thomas stranded. It was a long day for Scot.

We can't afford to fix it. The money has been long gone. Now it seems we won't get any money for it on a trade in. This car has been nothing but heartache since we bought it in May of 2007. It has cost us money and time~~time we weren't able to be working in all the ministries we are part of. We've been left stranded all over Jerusalem and the West Bank in this car. We even had to push it across the border between Jordan and Israel! It's truly been awful.

I know God is teaching us something in the midst of this. There have been tears and fits of rage over this car. But we praise God that we've never been hurt. We've been stranded. But we are all healthy and safe.

Now to see how God works it all out. Enjoy the pictures of our many breakdowns!

I love stealing surveys and questions!

Yet another survey. I stole this one from Beth! :)

I give you money and send you into the grocery store to pick up 5 items. You can only pick one thing from the following departments. What do you buy?

1. Produce: pineapple or maybe MANGO!
2. Bakery: fresh bread!
3. Meat: Spare ribs
4. Frozen: Turkey Hill Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup ice cream
5. Dry goods: rice

Let's say we are heading out for a warm weekend getaway. You're only allowed to bring 3 articles of clothing with you. So, what's in your bag?

Assuming I'm already wearing some clothes?
1. light weight capris
2. clean underwear
3. bathing suit

If I was to listen in on one of your conversations throughout the day, what 4 phrases or words would I be most likely to hear?

1. Where's Georgia?????
2. I'm talking, can you please say excuse me?
3. And Arabic phrase meaning "Really?"
4. In Sha'allah (Arabic for God willing)

So, what 4 things do you find yourself doing every single day, and if you didn't get to do, you probably wouldn't be in the best mood?

1. Check my e-mail
2. Drink my cappuccino
3. Talk to Scot
4. Surf the net

You're driving down the road, and suddenly you're hit with this sense of road rage. What 3 factors probably contributed to it?

1. Someone cutting me off by passing an entire line of stopped traffic to try to push in front of all of us! Grrrr
2. Stupid pedestrians
3. One of my kids screaming which just makes me fly off the handle in the car. Does that count as road rage?

Sweet, you just scored a whole afternoon to yourself. We're talking a 3 hour block with nobody around. What 5 activities might we find you doing?

1. Scrapbooking
2. reading
3. checking e-mail/surfing the net
4. sleeping
5. watching a favorite tv show

We're going to the zoo. But, it looks like it could start storming, so it will have to be a quick visit. What 3 exhibits do we have to get to?

1. tigers
2. penguins
3. monkeys

You just scored tickets to the taping of any show that comes on TV. You can pick between 4, so what are you deciding between?

1. The Office
2. Scrubs
3. Lost
4. CSI Vegas

You're hungry for ice cream. I'll give you a triple dipper ice cream cone. What 3 flavors can I pile on for ya?

1. Turkey Hill Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup
2. Cookies'n Cream
3. A delicious vanilla bean

Somebody stole your purse/wallet…in order to get it back, you have to name 5 things you know are inside to claim it. So, what's in there?

1. Wallet
2. Picture of my kids
3. My Israeli Driver's license
4. a brush
5. McDonald's coupons

You are at a job fair, and asked in what areas you are interested in pursuing a career. Lets pretend you have every talent and ability to be whatever you wanted, so what 4 careers would be fun for you?

1. Broadway actress
2. Professional singer
3. College professor
4. Tour guide/Travel expert

Questions, questions! Who's IT?

I found these questions in the August 2008 Lasting Moments magazine and thought they'd make a fun blog entry! I'm going to TAG someone at the end of this entry, so be ready!

1. Who makes you laugh the most? This is a tough one. Laughing is one of my favorite pastimes! Scot is definitely at the top of the list. Sometimes his sarcasm makes me laugh so hard I can't breathe! Maggie, my 7 year old, is getting sarcasm and can make some pretty funny jokes herself! I love sarcasm...can you tell?

2. Where would you most like to visit? Italy. I have no idea why. I have some romantic notions about visiting Italy. I will get there one day!

3. What is your favorite dessert? It's a tie: Scot's apricot/peach pie, and Na-na's pecan pie! YUM-O! Add some ice cream or whipped cream and I'm in dessert heaven!

4. What was your most memorable vacation? From childhood? I really loved our trip to Maine! I got to see lots of new and interesting stuff and went back for my honeymoon. Our car engine exploded somewhere in Massachusetts, so I got to spend a day watching Nickelodeon at the garage. Considering our cable company did not yet carry Nick, that was a winning day all around...for me, not my parents! As an adult? I'd have to say London. Spent a week there in the spring of 1999.

5. When was your saddest moment? Though there have been a few heartbreaking moments recently, I'd say it was when I got the news that my Mam-mam died in October of 2005. I was an ocean away and would have done anything to be there for her last days...

6. What makes you mad? Smart mouthed kids! My own included! Grrrr!

7. What day of the week were you born? Thursday

8. What's your favorite flavor of ice cream? Turkey Hill Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup. The swirls of peanut butter are unbelievable!!!!! Gah! I can't have it for another 4 1/2 months! Feel sorry for me!

TAG! Sherry, Kaye, and Brandi are IT!!!!!

Back from Jericho!

Well, we didn't melt! We just got back from our annual church conference in Jericho. It unites people from the 3 Arab Alliance congregations in the greater Jerusalem area for a few days. We get to relax, worship, sit in on special seminars, swim, and enjoy each other's company! We don't get to see all of our church members often throughout the year, so the church conference is a great opportunity for all of us to reconnect.

I love worship, and I especially love to worship in Arabic. It feels like such a triumph to be able to read and understand worship in my second language!

They run special programs for the kids while there is preaching and teaching for the adults. And of course, there is the afternoon free time. If the kids have anything to do with it, we hit the pool! Maggie and Scoty got sunburn while on a summer camp trip on Tuesday, so we had to end the week by staying indoors just to protect there terribly white...er...red skin! Thomas? He generally gets brown. I don't know where he gets that from!

We also got to share during the morning teaching sessions about Family worship and Bible Study. It went well. How could it not, with my incredibly smart husband leading? My part was small, but it was just fun to be asked to share.

It was a wonderful time! I thought I'd share some sights of Jericho with you! You'll see scenery shots, pool shots, hotel shots...just some of the things I saw and experienced this week. Now I should share the "doing a weeks' worth of laundry at once" shots too!

I'm so blessed to be where I am. I love my job (most days!) and I love serving others! Funny. I'm homesick for PA. No doubt about it. But Palestine is home too. And I know when I leave for 7 months, I'll be homesick for this side of the earth while I'm gone...that's a good feeling!

Georgia Kate sings!

I've been trying to make videos of my kids every so often to share with family back home via YouTube. Since I use a private setting, the videos aren't viewable to the public. But, I just realized I could embed them on my blog! I thought this one might make you smile and give you some insight into our sweet yet feisty Georgia Kate!

She loves to sing, and one of her favorite songs is Shout to the Lord. She sings it over and over and over again. I thought I'd capture it on video. Georgia was happy to cooperate for a moment or two, but as soon as Jesse, our cat, entered the picture, Georgia could no longer concentrate. And Jesse wasn't going anywhere.

So, here is Georgia Kate, singing, being silly, and tormenting our cat. ENJOY!

BAMBA!

What? What in the world is Bamba? It's a cheese curl, but instead of cheese, it's peanut butter flavored! You read that right: peanut butter flavored cheese curls! They were revolting to me at the outset, but I have to admit, they've grown on me. They are popular here. The word Bamba is part of every young child's vocabulary, though it's techincally the brand name of one company, it's used for all corny, peanut butter curls. Think bandaid. At every turn, someone is handing Georgia Kate bags of Bamba bliss!

The other day while teaching English in the West Bank, Georgia was in the care of one of the staff members at the center. She is normally overfed with all kinds of junk food: chocolate, wafers, chips, sugary sweet juice, etc. I figure she won't die after a day of this. She loves it!

As I excited the class I found Georgia covered in pink juice, chocolate, and crumbs. She proudly held a small bag up to me, and through her slightly orangish, crumby face she shouted, "I have BAMBA!"

But these were no ordinary Bamba. They were TOMATO flavored Bamba! Yum-O! I asked Georgia if I could taste one and she handed it over. What a strange taste...kind of like ketchup. But it was really yummy...or at least I thought so. Georgia agreed.

I bought a bag for the trip back to Jerusalem. And I bought another bag today. Tomato Bamba. Who knew it would be so delicious in such an odd way!

And these are my deep thoughts for the day!

Guess what Georgia Kate feasted on today!

3 moldy pickles! I mean MOLDY! I found them at the back of the fridge from who knows when. They were in a Tupperware modular mate and I sat them on the counter where they stayed. I forgot about them until Georgia came running with the lid and said, "I ate the pickles!"
She ate 3 big, moldy pickles. I, of course, being a mother who is always prepared, promptly washed her off and raced to my computer to google "eating moldy food."

Turns out she won't die. She might throw up. She might have an upset tummy. But she isn't going to die.

I tell you...that girl is going to be the end of me. I still can't figure out how she pried the modular mate container open!

Music obsessions...totally normal!

I get obsessed with music. I tell myself that this is normal, that everyone listens to the same song 50 times in a row without stopping. I refuse to recognize this as an OCD or some other "issue." It's normal. Say it with me: Carrie is not crazy. She is normal. ahem...

Latest obsession? The Call, by Regina Spektor, from one of my favorite movies (which will become yet another of my obsessions the moment it is released on dvd!), The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.

I bought the soundtrack on iTunes. It's lovely. But this particular song, and how it is portrayed the in movie...well, it just captures me.

I swoon. Love it.

Now, I've just been introduced to a new song by my little sister. I feel another obsession coming on! "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz. Poor Scot...

Summer Camp...or why I haven't blogged in the last few days.

I'm not a kid person. Honest. This statement usually prompts a comment like, "But you have so many of your own!" Yes, I love my kids. I even love a few other kids. But naturally, I am not a kid person. I lose my patience. They don't amuse me. Babies? Bring 'em on! Teenagers? Love 'em! But those in-between years? Not so much.

What have I been doing the last 2 weeks? Teaching English lessons at summer camps in the West Bank to KIDS! Lots and lots of kids! We cycle through more than 100 kids a day over the course of 5 sessions at the camp that's running this week. I am up to my ears in kids! And I'm loving it!

Okay...not really loving it like, "Gee, I hope I can do this for the rest of my life." And not even loving it like, "I don't have any complaints because this ministry is so amazingly wonderful!" But loving it because it is what God has called me to do for this time, right here, right now. Nothing else. And there is joy in serving God, even when what he's asked us to do doesn't come naturally.

I'm loving it because lots of these kids have no one else who loves them much in their lives. They have little to laugh about, so I seek to make them laugh. And not just a little snicker. I want a big belly laugh! So, I jump around, make faces, try to make jokes in Arabic...all to make them laugh. Scot's with me in this. And frankly, being with kids doesn't come any more naturally to him than it does to me. But he's got more patience. :)

There is one little girl, a trouble maker. She's got a 'tude. She can be belligerent. She can be argumentative. And she can be violent with the other kids. She's a real pain in class. And she's been there for every single thing we've done so far.

Today, she came to the classroom while I was alone, cleaning up. She asked if she could help me with something, so I had her help me hang up some posters. While we were working, she started talking. Her daddy's in an Israeli prison. He might get out in August, but he might not. He had divorced her mother, and remarried. She doesn't see her mother. She lives with her stepmother, who now has children of her own. While she was helping me, I realized she was trying so hard to do something right. She proudly told me she helps the principal in her school with projects. She offered to help me when I need it anytime.

And I choked back tears. I didn't like her. I wrote her off as a problem. I said I'd rather not have her in my class. Shame on me. Here is a 10 year old girl without much in her life that is good. And I am here to make a difference in the lives of children by bringing some love and joy into an otherwise gloomy day, yet I didn't want her around. My heart broke.

I was just this moment thinking about what I can do to keep her busy tomorrow at the end of the day. Maybe it's only 10 minutes, but I can give her that much of my time to see her smile. And she does have a beautiful smile.

So, if I'm absent for a few days, not posting, just know that I'm knee deep in kids...and silly songs, and duck duck goose, and glue, and Arabic, and Red Light, Green Light, and coloring pages, and broken crayons...and I'm busy trying to love some little people who can really use a hug...

I stole this!

I stole this from Beth's blog...and she stole it from Cyn...and the cycle never ends! I hope someone steals it from me! :)

What is in the back of your car?

Honestly, I'm not exactly sure. The car is Scot's domain. I'm sure he's thrilled about that! I know the stroller is back there. Maybe some car supplies?

What color is your toothbrush? I have two. One is pink and white and one is teal and white.

What were you doing at 8 am this morning? Dropping my kids off at summer camp before heading off to the West Bank for English classes with kids.

What Were you doing 45 minutes ago? Giving my girls a bath while hanging laundry.

What is your favorite candy bar? Snickers and this Lindt bar that has hot chili peppers in it!

What was the last thing you said aloud? "Georgia, Maggie did put on Dora and Boots with Santa! That was just a commercial! Go see!" Said in a loud voice of complete exasperation since Georgia was melting down at the very thought that Maggie undermined her choice and put something else on instead!

What is the best ice cream flavor? Turkey Hill Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup. YUM! Can someone send me some of that? HA!

What was the last thing you had to drink? Water

What are you wearing right now? My really old, falling apart use ta be black capri pants and an old yellow t-shirt and my Nile Crocs. You don't really want more details than that, do you?

What was the last thing you ate? An avacado with fresh ground pepper and salt. But I'm hiding a bag of Snyder's of Hanover Buffalo flavored pretzel bits in the cupboard for after the kids are asleep! Yeah, they're great for my diet! :)

Have you bought any new clothing items this week? No, but I just filled my cart at Gap.com with some marked down t-shirts, which I'm sure I'll just leave sitting there for a few days until they are no longer available.

What is your favorite flavor of popcorn? See now, Beth, I love movie theater popcorn, ADD the butter! I also love the popcorn from the More with Less cookbook that Scot sometimes makes. YUM!

Ever go camping? We went to a beautiful national park on the sea in April. Hope to go again in the fall. And I used to camp lots as a kid.

Do you take vitamins daily? Well, I try to remember. It's a goal. Doesn't always happen.

Do you go to church every Sunday? No. Because our church meets on Saturday nights. But if the question is asking if we go every week, then yes. And every other time the doors are open.

Do you have a tan? I think this is physically impossible for me.

Do you like Chinese food over Pizza? Hmmm...tough decision. Depends on where both are from. I wouldn't choose anything over a Mattucci's pizza. Nothing. But a good Chinese buffet over mediocre pizza? Yes.

Do you drink your soda with a straw? I often try. But then the stuff bubbles up out of the straw, or the straw floats so far to the top that it actually falls out. Annoying. Then I remember that I always get annoyed when I try to drink soda with a straw.

Are you someone's best friend? Scot.

What are you doing tomorrow? I'll be teaching English in the West Bank to 6-14 year olds. Hopefully in the evening I get to rest some.

Where is your dad? Pennsylvania.

What color is your watch? It's a silver Citizen watch.

Do you use Chapstick? I like to think that I do. But I usally lose it or forget until my lips are so stinkin' chapped that they are killing me! "My lips hurt REAL bad!" And for the record, I will not use the school nurse's chap stick either. I don't care how many sticks she has in her drawer! :)

Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive thru? There are no drive-throughs here. I forget what that convenience is like!

What is your favorite number? 54

Do you have a dog? No.

Last person you talked to on the phone? Scot

Any plans today? Well, it's 7:09pm. My only plan is to get the kids to bed! And enjoy aforementioned pretzels. :)

How many states have you lived in? Two, Pennsylvania and New York

Ever go to college? I did.

Do you dye your hair? Never have.

Biggest annoyance in your life right now? Annoyance? Hmmm...the fact that Georgia Kate thinks she runs the house. Yeah...that gets real old real fast.

Last song listened to? King of Glory by Third Day

Can you say the alphabet backwards? Yes, and I can even sing it in a little Sunday school song too!

Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time? My crocs! How did I ever live without these????

Are you jealous of anyone? I don't think so...

Is anyone jealous of you? Doubt it.

Do you love anyone? That would be a long list...

Do any of your friends have children? Yes.

What do you usually do during the day? Study Arabic, teach English, surf SS, scrapbook, read...oh, yeah...and all the mundane, daily stuff like cook, clean, wash clothes, wash dishes, give baths/showers, hang laundry...

Do you hate anyone that you know right now? No...

Do you use the word 'hello' daily? Yep.

What color is your car? White Nissan MPD.

Do you like cats? Yep. We have two, Jesse and Dora.

Have you ever been to Six Flags? Yes, Six Flags Texas and Six Flags in Jersey.

How did you get your worst scar? When I fell off the back porch. Dad has just taken the railing off to replace it or fix it...I can't remember why. I slipped on water, fell to the cement and hit my elbow. The kids just asked me about that scar the other day. Yeah. I've got some battle scars from my hard life! :)

This was fun! And silly! Go ahead...steal it! :) But if you do, let me know, so I can read it!