I miss Walmart

Not Walmart specifically, but stores like Walmart that fill the shopping plazas in the US! Stores where you can go to get absolutely everything you need all in one stop.

Life overseas is frustrating sometimes. You have to stop and think, "Now, where do I get that?" And then you proceed to pick up one item here, one item there. Suddenly your day is shot. You accomplished what appears to be nothing.

A coworker said to me yesterday that her advice to some newcomers was, "Plan on accomplishing 1 or 2 things each day." Truly, anything else is a bonus!

When we returned to the US in December, Walmart nearly overwhelmed us. Standing in Weis Grocery with my mother-in-law saw me imobolized by the ziploc aisle. Judy had to pick a box for me because I was simply rendered useless in decision making by the vast amount of choices. Here, I have 2 choices: buy the box of ziploc rip-offs or don't.

It doesn't take long to get used to Walmart, though I admit that I never stopped feeling overwhelmed by the choices we had to make for everything we wanted to buy. So, while I miss the idea of Walmart, there is something comforting in coming back to my small grocery store, with its crowded aisles and minimal choices.

Of course, on days when I need something from 10 different stores, I think of Walmart fondly and sigh. Today I need to buy book covers and school supplies. It will require 2 or 3 stops, working around the schedule of Ramadan, afternoon closures, and prayer times. Oh, Walmart, how I miss you!

Summer Fun!

It's been a busy couple of weeks! Thought I'd share here some of my recent photographic attempts! These pictures span the summer. You've got the 4th of July in PA, my grandparents' farm in PA, a Jordanian vacation, Knoebels, a new baby, an aunt and uncle....Enjoy some Dressler family fun! :)

Who can take a rainbowk sprinkle it with dew...

Cover it with chocolate and a miracle or two?

The Cotton Candy Man can 'cause he mixes it with love and makes the world taste good! cough...cough...sputter...

Other places in the world have Mr. Softee, we have The Cotton Candy Man. He shows up in his beat up car (or pick-up truck) with a generator on the roof, a cotton candy machine of questionable quality in the trunk, some sticks, and a smile. For just a few shekels children can have some sticky goodness. Our kids love it! When the calliope music sounds, kids come running. Cotton Candy Man means lazy, summer days. It's comforting to be home again! :)

Still running!

I am still running! I began week 2 of the 9 week Couch Potato to 5K program and it felt good. Well, it felt awful while I was doing it, but great afterwards! :) And that's the way it is for me. I increased to 90 second runs and felt pretty good most of the way. I do possess a good amount of determination, even in the face of great pain...er...jogging! :)

My sister challenged me to run a 10K when we're back in the US. I told her I would need more motivation than a simple challenge. What about running a 10K in DISNEY? :) Bring it!

The best part about starting to jog? I've heard from so many of you that have been inspired and are now jogging! We can do it...to be healthy and feel good! We're all worth it! And if this fluffy chick can break out and run, truly anyone can! :)

So, here's to completely the entire program! Here's to seeing myself running a 5K sometimes in the next few months! I know I can do it! I know you can, too!

You did WHAT????

Now, nobody fall over from the shock, but I went for a little jog this morning! Yep. Outside, even. Why is that so shocking? For a number of reasons, really. Not the least of which is the fact that I'm a little more than slightly chubby and have never been a natural runner. :) Other reasons on the list include cross-cultural issues. No one in our neighborhood jogs, male or female. So, we wondered what it would be like for me to just head outside for a jog. I decided to make sure I was out and back before things really got crazy out there. I passed only a handful of people on my way.

How did this come about? First of all, I gained more than 20lbs while we were in the States. All that, and I was doing cardio 5-6x/week since February. I knew I needed to kick it up a notch. I read about my friend Joanie hitting the pavement and felt inspired. Thought maybe it was the jet lag talking, but then wouldn't you know, Joanie contacted me and invited me to join her in the challenge.

So, after careful planning, and locating one of Scot's old t-shirts that cover me sufficiently, I downloaded a recommended podcast, and off I went!

The Couch Potato to 5K run comes from Cool Running.com
and it's a great plan to work you up to running a 5K in 9 weeks. I didn't kill me, though I wouldn't say I felt great. Here's an excerpt from a message I sent to Joanie, my accountability partner:

Well, Joanie, I did it!!!!! I just got back from my first Couch Potato to 5K morning. I feel like I might die and I don't think I'll stop sweating anytime soon, but I did it...and I think I did it pretty well.

Ahhhh...the sweet smell of garbage in the morning! Seriously, I think I should get bonus points for the handicaps I face exercising outside here. No sidewalks, chewed up/half paved roads, hills to beat the band. Ever read the Psalms of Ascent? Yeah...there's a reason someone was righting about going UP to Jerusalem!

I got out of the house about 6:40, which was a little late. 6:15 should be my goal. By 7am, I was beginning to see an increase in traffic. I only saw one person I know, and I saw him while I was walking, so I don't think I destroyed my neighborhood reputation. Well, they'll just think bad things about Scot if they think anything at all!

....When I trained to run a 5K before, I never got to the point of feeling like a real runner. I completed the race, jogging the entire way, but it was a struggle for me. I'm and doubt I ever will be a natural runner, but nothing makes me feel so darn good about myself all day as running! Even while I'm dying with each heavy step, I feel good inside about what I'm doing for my body! Once I get to the 5K part (which may take me more like 18 weeks!), I might not keep running. We'll see. But to prove to myself I can do it, and that I'm worth it. It's so important to me....

Just thought I'd share my accomplishment for this morning! All that, and still dealing with some minor jet lag. Not too shabby! ;) If you are on the fence about starting something because you aren't in great shape or you think it will be too hard, I'm encouraging you to do it! If I can do it, anyone truly can! :)

We're home!

Thanks for praying! We definitely felt your prayers as we sailed through check-in with 20 bags and security on both sides of the ocean. We had no hang-ups or problems and we were greeted by dear friends with 2 cars, a trailer, and pretty flowers! Even the guys at our favorite local grocery store were happy to see us! We were greeted with the Arabic "Thank God for your safe arrival" greetings all over the place.

It was a hard goodbye. Many tears were shed as we parted ways yesterday morning. Rest assured, there will be more shed as time passes. But, the good news is that we all felt right at home here. What a relief to be in our own home once again.

Our friends tooks us out for lunch and as we flew through the city, I reflected on our first few days in Jerusalem in 2004. We felt so overwhelmed by everything that was different. Everything looked unfamiliar and strange. We couldn't communicate in either of the major languages. Shopping was scary.

This time? It felt comfortable. I didn't recoil from every car on the road with the death grip on the dashboard! We saw many familiar faces, and I actually wanted to stop at the store to say hello to the employees!

Yes, God has called us to be here. The goodbyes will never get any easier. In fact, they will always break our hearts. But this is home until God changes our direction. And that's a good, peaceful feeling. Thanks for praying!

We snapped some pictures as we said goodbye to family and friends. Thought I'd share a few with you before I turn in for the night.

We lost my Papa Joe today....

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...

In Christ Alone

Music moves me. I love that I can listen to a song and be transported to a different place, or moved to tears, or filled with joy. At Council last week we sang a song, a modern day hymn, that I absolutely love. Tears streamed down my face as I stood and sang my heart out, declaring the truth about who I am in Jesus.

Here is a youtube video of the Newsboys' version of this beuatiful song. Lyrics follow.



In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.

I hope that you are blessed today. :)

More layouts!

Well, another month has flown by! Where does the time go? I'm currently at the Christian and Missionary Alliance General Council and loving every minute of it! It's been a great time for reconnecting with friends who serve the world over. I've been so encouraged and challenged to press on, do more, and live for Jesus in everything I do.

And I've really been meditating on the scripture from Matthew 6:20-21, "Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy and where theives to not break in and steal. For where you treasure is there your heart will be also." The theme for our conference is Jesus Only. I've been challenged on so many levels. I really do live to show the world His love. I hope and pray that comes through in my life.

On a lighter note, thought I'd share a couple more layouts I completed at Spring Thing. Enjoy!

Spring Thing

I'm here in Texas at the SS Spring Thing 2009! It's been an absolute blast so far, but I just need to prove that I am actually doing something. I am continuing to learn Photoshop Elements and digital scrapbooking. Here is the latest layout I created. I learned how to create a black and white picture by changing the saturation and hue levels. That was fun!



















More to come...