30December2011 Quickshot: Rez

Anyone want to guess what one of our New Year's resolutions is????

29December2011 Quickshot: Chaos

A little of the Christmas chaos at Papa & Dede's house.  Actually this is the reading of the Christmas story, with all the kids having parts.  However chaos followed soon thereafter. 

27December2011 Mama's House

Understand why we love going to D's parents' home?  If you think the table is beautiful you should have tasted the food.  Edible artwork! 

26December2011 Shadow

Singing Silent Night during the candlelight service at Green Street, eating a big ole southern breakfast at mama G's house, seeing our Kentucky kin hold baby L for the first time, watching the kids bounce with excitement while opening presents, eating scores of those little Reese's peanut butter Christmas trees...we've loved spending Christmas in America!  However, regardless of the joy, there has been a constant shadow in the peripheral of our holiday merriment.  Here are some of the situations we're praying about:

Families in crisis. Our hearts are broken by the number of dear friends that have either completely given up on their marriages, decided self is more important than their commitment, turned their backs on God or maybe a combination of all three, leaving children and loved ones in the wake.  It's a terrible thing to witness and certainly something that grieves the Father.  God please heal our families.

Refugees entangled in international bureaucracy or struggling to survive in a new environment.  We have now had the privilege of seeing the resettlement process from both sides of the pond. A painstakingly long, drawn-out procedure, filled with many legal hurdles, often void of any regard for humanity, can be spirit crushing.  Then after landing here, language and culture differences, financial difficulties and throw in a heaping spoonful of post traumatic stress and you've got a recipe for disaster. God please bring hope to the forcibly displaced. 

Millions across the globe who are dying without knowledge of the Truth.  To forget or ignore this fact is wrong.  Even as the world sing about the Savior's birth in Bethlehem there are riots in the malls of America over Nike's latest tennis shoe offerings.  Really?!  People are dying hopeless deaths and we're fighting over a pair of Air Jordans?  God please draw the lost world to You.

20December2011 Cookie Cookers

Below are pictures from our annual Christmas cookie baking party:

18December2011 Quickshot: Birthday Breakfast

If you know anything at all about her you know the way to D's heart is through her stomach!  So, for her birthday, this morning, we fixed her a tasty breakfast.  She felt loved and we all felt full.  Happy B-day D!

17December2011 Quickshot: I'm gonna let it shine

We rode around looking at Christmas lights tonight.  The scene above reminded us of one of the kids' favorite songs, This Little Light of Mine.  So proud of children that don't hide their lights under a bushel!

14December2011 Quickshot: Arrivals

Last night, well actually in the wee hours of the morning, I had the privilege of welcoming 16 new arrivals to America. A couple notes from this experience:

1. They only had 8 bags of luggage.  That's half a bag per person.  Most Americans would take twice that much for a weekend trip to Myrtle Beach and this was everything they owned in this world!  Do I really need all this stuff? 

2. Travel is exhausting and stressful for everyone.  30 hours of flying with children is insane. Yet, these were some of the sweetest, most humble, patient people I'd ever met.  Perspective is everything!,

3.  Finally, and I think about this nearly every day, the world is coming here.The nations are our neighbors!

12December2011 Quickshot: Missing

A great reminder of some wonderful visits in our old city.  We miss our local friends who welcomed us into their lives, like family.  Thinking of you today.

8December2011 Dinner with Friends

This past weekend we had the honor of participating in a Christmas party for refugees at Green Street. There are few things more beautiful than watching the Body do It's thing! 

5December2011 Quickshot: Oh Deer!

Oh deer!  Check out these cute cookies the girls made. 

2December2011 Decompress

One thing that we'd nearly forgotten was the hectic pace of life here around the holidays.  It's palpable, rising like a surging wave and at times powerful enough to knock you off your feet...if you let it.  

Decorations, parties and events, buying that special gift, buying the other fifty special gifts, rushing from here to there, buy a tree, put some change in the bell-ringing lady's bucket, create, address and mail those Christmas cards, etc. ad nauseum.   

Here's some advice for a Friday morning. Take a deep breath, grab the hand of someone you love and go for a walk.  Spend a little time being a human being not a human doing.  DECOMPRESS!  

Some shots from a recent decompression trek.

26November2011 Quickshot: Big Bird

This is what a 19 pound turkey looks like...before consumption.   That's a big bird!

25November2011 Quickshot: Home

We could list all the great foods we ate yesterday but this picture best represents why we were glad to be back in America for Thanksgiving.  Nothing beats being at G'ma's house!

25November2011 I am thankful for:

Gratitude is so valuable and we love the fact that America has a specific day set aside for giving thanks.  There are some things that we are thankful for on Thanksgiving Day:

P - That He never gives me more than I can handle, a new job, the health of and provision for my family, that He never leaves or forsakes me,  for the folks that sacrifice so much to share His love with the nations, for friends that seek the best for us, for all the people that love on our kids AND time in the outdoors

D -My family, assurance of salvation, Fall, being back in America

J - My school, that we can celebrate Thanksgiving together, that we can have a relationship with God. wildlife, Star Wars, food.

Z - Being home with family, a place to stay, that God sent His Son for the world, food, hunting, Legos, school.

M - Katie Grace, my baby sister, my mommy and daddy, my brothers, my Grandma, my teachers. 

A - My brothers and sisters, mom and dad, my toys, G'ma and her puppies.

L - Milk

23November2011 Bibliography

Language classes and the daily responsibilities of life prevented us from reading as much as we would have liked but over the couple years we did sneak in some reading time.  We thought it would be helpful to provide a list, a bibliography of sorts, from our time overseas.  If you like to curl up by the fireplace with a good book here are some to choose from:

Abraham by Bruce Feiler
Peace Child by Don Richardson
The Middle East:  A brief history of the last 2000 Years by Bernard Lewis
Guests of the Sheik by Elizabeth Warnock Fernea
Understanding Arabs by Margaret K. Nydell
A Muslim's Heart by Dr.Edward J Hoskins
Son of Hamas by Mosab Hassan Yousef
Stones into Schools by Greg Mortenson
The Crescent through the Eyes of the Cross by Dr. Nabeel T. Jabbour
Walking the Bible by Bruce Feiler

20November2011 Dear Self...

Dear Self,
You've been on my heart and mind so I thought I'd send you a little note.
It seems you are a little down in the dumps lately.  A little grumpy, are ya?
I have some questions for you:
Did you miss a meal yesterday? 
Did you sleep on the street last night? 
Did you get a bad report from the doctor? 
Did someone try to kill you for your faith last week?
Okay, was your answer "yes" to any of those???  If you don't mind me saying so, you have too much to be thankful for to be walking around like that.  Get real, be grateful and live abundantly. 
Yours truly,
Self

18November2011 Quickshot: Colorific

There are at least 2 things we will never grow tired of: American water pressure and beautiful fall colors. 

12November2011 Eid Meal

Some friends invited us to an Eid al-Adha meal last week.  What a neat experience.  There were folks from all the Middle East, Africa, Asia...basically all over the globe.  The world has come to us!

11November2011 "There are even live camels..."

A friend was inviting us to go to an upcoming living nativity scene.  "It's really neat.  The costumes are beautiful and they have live animals.  There are even live camels....wait, that's not a big draw for y'all!" 

6November2011 Festival of Sacrifice

Our friends are celebrating Eid al-Adha, or the Festival/Holiday of Sacrifice, today.  For information about this day check out this site. 

3November2011 Full vs. Just Getting By

"I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."

We are a pitiful lot aren't we.  I mean just look at us.  We trudge from day to day, just getting by.  The bright spots in our lives are checking our friends' Facebook statuses, watching must-see TV, purchasing the next big thing, or anticipating the next weekend, holiday or grandiose event.  When I read the quote above and look at the lives it's intended to impact, something just doesn't jibe. 

So in an effort to counterbalance this nonsense, we've started paying more particular attention to what we are calling "abundant life moments."  Abundant life moments are those times when something wonderful happens and it affects you so deeply that you don't know whether to laugh, cry, shout or maybe a combination of all three.  Simply put your heart nearly explodes with joy.  

Here are some of our latest abundant life moments:

1.  Witness a flock of Canada geese come in for a landing on a farm pond.
2.  Listening to A. sing along to praise music on the radio in the car.
3.  Seeing the beautiful, changing leaves of Autumn.
4.  Having M. crawl up into her father's lap and whisper she's sorry after getting into trouble. 
5.  Sharing a cup of coffee with a longtime friend.
6.  Tossing football with Z. and J. on a beautiful fall afternoon.
7.  Overhearing J. lead his siblings in prayer for different countries. 
8.  Watching A's grandmother read Star Wars books
9.  Joining in song with a room full of like-minded believers.
10. Watching our newest member being born.

No matter how black and white your life may seem, God has gifted you with some vibrantly colorful experiences. Let us encourage you to join us in inventorying abundant life moments.  Fight the notion to just get by and live life to the fullest! It's too short to do otherwise.

31October2011 Quickshot: Sweets!

"How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!  From Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way." Psalm 119:103-104

28October2011 Quickshot: Pumpkin Goodness

Fall means pumpkins and pumpkins means one thing.....baking.  Here is one of D's latest creations.  Pumpkin cheesecake with oreo crust and caramel drizzle.  On top she placed Hershey pumpkin spice kisses.  Oh my!

23October2011 Support

sup-port (group) noun:  a group of people with common experiences and concerns who provide emotional and moral support for one another 

If you'd like an illustration for the word "support" all you have to do is look at our family's experience, particularly over the last 4-5 days.  We've never felt so much love.  So many folks have called, emailed, visited us this week that it's been a little overwhelming.  We are so grateful for our friends and family.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!  

20October2011 How it all went down: A pictorial narrative

19October2011 Introducing...

Here she is, "Hamseh" in the flesh!  Thank God baby & mama are wonderful.  We are so grateful for your prayers and support!

19October2011 Yalla Booboo!

We're at the hospital waiting on Hamseh. Say a little prayer for D and the baby. Yalla Booboo! (Hurry Baby!)

17October2011 Shower

Yesterday some ladies threw D a surprise baby shower.  She had a great time and is so grateful to be surrounded by such good friends again. 

17October2011 Drive II

Below are some additional pictures from our recent trip to the mountains:

14October2011 Quickshot: Drive

We took a little road trip to the mountains today.  God used a lot of colors when He created the world and we saw nearly all of them today!  Simply beautiful!

10October2011 Quickshot: Pumpkin Spice

As you can see the Little Feet are really enjoying fall!

8October2011 Quickshot: Bread

Bread is an important part of nearly every meal with eat with our Arab friends.  Often it comes in a flat form referred to as "pita" in America, but there are many other varieties, like the one pictured above.

1October2011 Quickshot: Fall Treat

A beautiful, crisp, Fall morning plus pumpkin doughnuts from Krispy Kreme is the perfect way to start the weekend. 

28September2011 Chasing Game

We said when we got back to the States we were going to enjoy being in the outdoors and chasing wildlife again.  Apparently A took this literally! 

23September2011 Quickshot: Colors

The days are getting shorter and the evenings are turning cooler.  Leaves are hinting at an impending change in colors.  Fall is upon us and boy are we enjoying it! 

19September2011 Quickshot: Names

With approximately 5 weeks left we're trying to decide on a name for this little girl.  Have any suggestions????

14September2011 Quickshot: Growing

"Hamseh" is growing.  D had a checkup today and everything is perfect.  Please continue lifting up our newest family member and her mama over the coming days.  

11September2011 Remembering

3000 killed, a nation crippled, the world changed.  

Praying for the folks affected by 9/11 today.  

9September2011 Acclimated

The conversation usually goes something like this:

Family friend: "Are you use to living in America again?"

me:  Pretty well but we don't want to get completely acclimated to US culture.

Family friend:  (blank stare)

me:  I mean, we're getting use to living here but we don't want to adopt the culture completely again.

Family friend:   (scratches head, confused look continues)

me:  Well we sure do love being here with family and friends

Family friend:  (smile) How is your mama?

Yesterday we were visiting with very sweet family.  They've been living in the States for longer than a year and are well adjusted to life here.  As we were talking the wife had water running in the kitchen sink, in preparation of making some tea.  She continued talking, and talking, and talking as the water kept running.  Finally I said, "Um, you're wasting a lot of water."  She made a funny, shocked face and ran to turn off the faucet.  From the kitchen she yelled,"I guess I'm becoming American."  We all laughed.  But an idea rooted itself in my mind.  Is being a US citizen equivalent to being wasteful of precious resources?  Initial answer:  No!  But after further thought, to some extent our friend hit on something.  We have so much and often appreciate so little. America is so affluent but we always want more.  As we were getting ready to move overseas we got rid of so much stuff.  Selling, giving away and I like to say "burning" things.  One of the things we're determined not do is buy so many possessions.  Acclimation after all doesn't have to mean accumulation!   

6September2011 Family Camp

We spent the long, Labor Day weekend in the mountains of Tennessee.  Being in the great outdoors with lifelong friends and a bunch of brand new buddies was like a much-needed emotional exhale.  Below are some photos of our time.

5September2011 Quickshot: Home away from home.

This was our home the last 4 days.  We had a wonderful time with some of the finest people on the planet at Family Camp.  Photos to follow over the next couple days. 

30August2011 Eid

Ramadan 2011 is over.  Our friends have fasted from sunrise to sunset for the last 30 days.  That's over 450 hours without food, drink, cigarettes, etc!  Talk about dedication! We were blessed to break the fast, once a week, with four different families, more than we were able to do last year, while living in the Middle East.  That's pretty cool! 

For the next 2-3 days they will celebrate Eid Al Fitr, the festival/holiday of breaking fast, by praying, having parties within their community, giving money and gifts to family, donating food or cash to less fortunate folks and NOT FASTING!  

26August2011 Quickshot: Initials

26August2011 Recent thoughts

A couple quick thoughts from the last month:

• There are few things on this earth that feel as good as a sincere homecoming. 
• Being able to hug and hold onto family is such a blessing.  
• Being in a room full of friends, hearing their stories, listening to their laughter, even watching their facial expressions, is wonderful. 
• The ability to physically hug someone we've been praying for over the last couple years is beautiful.

There are so many thing we took for granted in the past. 

22August, 2011 In a Jam

Thanks to Larry and Joyce for allowing P & the boys to come by and pick some of their tasty pears. 

18August, 2011 Quickshot: They're Back!

D, M and A walking the 2 oldest boys into school on their first day.

15August2011 Quickshot: Full = Half

The full moon means Ramadan is halfway over.  Praying for our fasting friends.

13August2011 Quickshot: "Birthday Biscuit"

9 year-old Z with his Birthday Biscuits.  Happy Birthday buddy! 

12August2011 Intermediary

"blessed are the makers and maintainers of peace"

Omar and Mohammad sat in chairs opposite one another.  Hussein and I were sitting on a couch between them, in Hussein's living room.  Tensions were high and the clock was ticking slowly.  How in the world did I get in the mess?

It all started with a snide comment, an angry stare, and some hurt feelings between a couple high schoolers on the bus.  Now, I was sitting in a room with the fathers of those kids, feebly attempting to mediate what had escalated into a middle eastern family feud.  My Arabic was pretty weak so I could only understand a little bit of what was being said, but I clearly understood that two of my friends were getting ready to come to blows over this disagreement.  Hussein and I were there to resolve the matter and make sure things didn't get out of hand.  He did all the talking in that regards.  My only contribution to the process was sitting in between the two men, providing a physical barrier.  After several hours and several glasses of tea the men agreed to end the argument.  Nearly as quick as it started it was over.  

This was a whole new thing for me, being the peacemaker, but an important aspect of Arab culture.  I had no idea that basically everything, from solving arguments to finding a job, is done through a third party.
Not only was this a great ethnography lesson but it also brought something I'd recently read to life.

"there is one mediator between God and human beings"

Thank God for intermediaries!

10August2011 Quickshot: Breaking Fast in America

Our family was invited to iftaar (the meal our friends have after fasting all day during Ramadan) last night.  The food was excellent but enjoying a sweet time of fellowship with a beautiful family was what made the experience. 

7August2011 Quickshot: The Fam (KY Edition)

So blessed to hang out with our Kentucky family!  Here is a very happy D with her mama and sister.

3August2011 Quickshot: B-day Feast

D made supper for her daddy's birthday last night.  The food was so good but being able to celebrate a loved one's birthday  IN PERSON was priceless. 

1August2011 Walking Lessons from a 4 year-old

This morning M decided she wanted to be my walking partner.  She loves "going" anywhere and my daily walk was her only apparent outlet, so she laced up her pink tennies, emulated some of my stretches and pronounced herself ready to go.  

I'm still on Pacific Time so we got a later start than usual.  By the time we walked onto the road the sun was well up and the humidity was already high.  We walked about a hundred yards and M informed me that, "Running is better exercise than walking." The she smiled and took off.  After 20 yards she stopped and said, "Let's walk backwards."  I declined on both counts.  

A quarter mile into our 3 miles M declared, "It's hot and my bottom's sweaty."  Quickly followed by, "You said we were only going on a LITTLE walk."  A hundred yards later she couldn't go any further.  So I picked her up, put her on my shoulders and continued our walk.  

I learned a couple lessons about partnering from M this morning:

1. A good partner will help you with pace, a poor partner will slow you down.
2. A good partner encourages you to keep going while a poor partner may stop your progress.
3. A good partner lifts you up while you may end up carrying a poor partner.
4. No matter how cute or lovable they are, not everyone makes a good partner.

These are pretty simple lessons but boy are they important.  Especially for us as we plan, evaluate and determine who our partners are going to be for our next step.  Be careful who you partner with!

29July2011 Quickshot: Lights

In 3 days our friends will begin the annual celebration of their holy month, Ramadan.  Stores selling decorations and lights, like the one pictured above, are all over the place.

27July2011 Quickshot: Perspective

Although our scope and understanding is very limited, since we've returned, we are trying to experience life in the US through new eyes, even in some small way, what our friends moving here see, hear, taste and smell.  We hope to incorporate this perspective into some upcoming blog posts. 

24July2011 Quickshot: Right at Home

We visited a local farmer's market yesterday.  The international flavor made us feel right at home. 

23July2011 Our Trip II

11.  We stood and watched the baggage carousel go round and round.  Finally all our bags, minus the stroller, came down the conveyor belt and right by us.  Three carts, each piled about 6 feet high, were pushed through immigration without a hitch and off we went again.

12.  After receiving directions from an airport employee we hurried up an elevator (2 trips) to the wrong ticketing office, back down the elevator (2 more trips) and the air train to a different terminal, out some doors, through a garage, up another elevator (again, 2 trips) and to the right ticket counter.  

13.  "The closed the gate 7 minutes ago.  Sorry!"  We just looked at each other.  After all of that we had missed our flight.  You hear stories about airlines putting you on a different flight, sending you with another carrier, or at least providing a hotel stay and some food vouchers.  Apparently these things are made up.  The US Airways employee just stared at us like we were crazy and blames another airline.  Our option was to sleep in the airport and take a flight the following morning.  Yep, you read that right.  20 bags, 4 kids and a pregnant lady in an airport lobby for the night.  So we bit our tongues, arranged some chairs and covered the kids with blankets and clothes.  Around 1 o'clock a security guard came and told us we needed to move to a different part of the terminal.  In spite of having the okay from the customer service supervisor we were forced to move.  

14.  At 3:45am we headed back to the ticket office, kids and bags in tow, and waited for them to open at 4.  

15  At 4:20am we got to speak with someone.

16. At 4:40am a very sweet customer service representative, Helen, handed us our boarding passes, apologized again for the situation and wished us a pleasant journey.

17. Through security, x-rayed bags and scanned people...again.  Patted down, thanked and bid pleasant farewell.  

18.  By 5:15 we were drowning our sorrows in McDonald's bacon, egg and cheese biscuits. 

19. We got to the gate and were getting ready to board when the ticket agent said, "Wait, you don't have a seat assignment."  Fortunately there were enough seats for us.  Unfortunately none of them were together.  How do you tell a 2 year-old and a 4 year-old to sit beside a stranger?  Thankfully our kids are resilient and other passengers kind enough to move.  

20.  "Ladies and gentlemen we have a small mechanical issue that we're dealing with.  We're gonna do some checks and hopefully be out of here soon."  We weren't surprised at this development.  Of course the plane was going to break down.  Would we ever get to North Carolina again?

21.  2 hours later we were landing in Charlotte.  The mechanical issue had been quickly resolved and although we sat on the tarmac for nearly an hour we were able to take off.  

22.  30 minutes later we were hugging family and waiting for our bags on another conveyor belt.  

That's the basics of our trip.  Quite an adventure but definitely worth it.  Welcome to America 14 Beautiful Feet.!

See some pictures from our trip on the kids' blog. 

23July2011 Our Trip I

A step-by-step of our voyage to the US:

1.  P took our luggage, nearly 600 pounds, to the airline a day ahead of our departure.  Nonetheless we arrived a couple hours ahead of departure time just to be safe.

2.  When we got to the airport the line for departures was out the door.  Nervous travelers, well wishers, crying family members, and luggage was everywhere.  P navigated us through the chaos and we went through our first checkpoint.  4 carry-ons, 6 backpacks and a stroller were x-rayed.  6 passengers were scanned and patted down (D and M went through the women's line and made through in seconds).  Something suspicious caught the attention of security in a couple of the boys' bags so further, hands-on inspection was required.  The culprits---a couple rechargeable batteries, a nerf blaster and a ram's horn.    We were waved through to another checkpoint.

3.  Checkpoint number 3 revealed that all of our carry-ons were too big.  Maybe we looked suspicious or something, all those white faces in a see of olive toned ones.   People rushed by us in scores with humongous bags, some the size of SUV's without a blink but ours were a huge problem.  After P "discussed" things with the man a while he walked off mad, looking for other infractions, leaving us to wonder what to do.  P took a couple carryons to the supervisor in charge, paid $75 and we kept on trucking.

4.  The immigration line was huge.  D and 3 little ones made it through without a problem.  P & Z got behind a tour group or something and waited 30 minutes to talk to an official.  Without a question their passports were stamped and we headed to the gate.

5.  Money exchanged.  US currency in hand.

6.  Checkpoint number 4.  Bags x-rayed again and another pat down.

7.  Checkpoint number 5, this time the gate was in sight...and we still had 20 minutes before departure.  Every carry-on was opened and searched.  No problem...until the official got to the boy's bags.  Apparently this was the first time the gentleman had ever seen toys.  When he got to the bag full of Legos he nearly lost it.  The supervisor in charge came to our rescue, told the man to get a grip and sent us all through.

8.  After having our passports and tickets checked one more time we boarded the plane, put all our stuff in overhead bins and buckled in.

9.  Touch screen monitors, videos on demand, 3 square meals, tons of snacks, repeated trips to the lavatories, a little sleep and there, and 13 hours later we landed.

10. US Customs was a breeze.  "Welcome home" and a big smile marked our reentry into America.

21July2011 Quickshot: The eagle has landed.

20July2011 Quickshot: End of the Road

Alas all good things must come to an end.  Our family is looking forward to the next road He leads us on.

18July2011 Quickshot: Foundation

The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

17July2011 Quickshot: Driving Around

Above are some photos J took with his father's mobile phone yesterday.

15June2011 Quickshot: The Candy Man Can

This fella walks through our neighborhood regularly selling toys, cotton candy and other sweets.  He has a little whistle that he blows as we walks letting all the kids on the street know he's coming.  We call him the Candy Man.

14July2011 Quickshot: Market

Found another outdoor market.  We love these places!

12July2011 Fleeing....again.

"I have tasted the bitter taste of sectarian war and bloodshed, 

and I did not wish to be part of a new wave of violence...”

Check out this interesting article about the plight of refugees caught up in the recent unrest. 

11July11 Quickshot: Mud!

I've been told people pay a lot of money to have this done to them in America.

8July2011 Quickshot: Bon Voyage

Our friend, H, is leaving us.  She's been such a blessing here and will be sorely missed.