29March2011 3650 Days Ago

This is P&D one decade ago to the day, nearly to the minute (taking into account our current time zone difference).  D's laying in a hospital bed, happily medicated.  P's reading the newspaper wishing he was medicated.  You might say this is the calm before the storm.  We had no idea how much the world would change when just a couple hours later our firstborn, J.P.G, entered the world.  In the past 10 years J has grown into a beautiful young man, often in spite of his parents mistakes. Our family is so blessed by J.  Join us in wishing him a very happy birthday!

28March2011 Quickshot: New Neighbor

It's always a blessing to see old friends.  Here's D with our old friend and new neighbor, Henrietta.

24March2011 Noise Ordinance?

Notice the large speakers perched on this minaret?  Five times a day they unashamedly call the faithful to prayer.  In the States the ACLU would probably be pushing for some sort of noise ordinance!

20March2011 Quickshot: Classmates

M invited her father to join her at school this week.  Fun times!

15March2011 Quickshot: Long Distance Relationship

M likes camels she just likes them from a distance.  When asked if she wanted to ride one again she said, "No!" (rather emphatically).  However, she let us know in no uncertain terms that she wants to ride a horse.  "Why don't they have horses here instead of camels?" 

13March2011 Quickshot: Bread

There are a lot of different types of bread here. It's readily available with bakeries found everywhere. It's usually cheap too because the government subsidizes the cost.  Pictured above is "hamam" or dove bread.  Be careful when ordering it though as the word for restroom is "hamaam."

11March2011 Moving

We were rearranging the furniture in the boys' room last week.  Before their bunk bed could be moved we had to get three huge, black suitcases stored under it out of the way.   Then there was another blue, rolling Samsonite beside their nightstand that needed relocating.  Out of curiosity I checked the other bedrooms and there were, in fact, suitcases in conspicuous locations in each of them.  What a way to live!  Luggage in every room.  I was about to feel guilty for putting our family in this situation, I mean isn't one of the requirements for a healthy childhood deeply planted roots?  Then I remembered something our friends, Joel & Robin recently shared with us.  In the past 9 years they have moved over 20 times.  TWENTY!  Surely this resonates with those of us who get facial ticks at the thought of renting a U-haul! 

As we draw closer to using those suitcases again, and making another move our family is focusing on staying closer, leaning on one another more and being more dependent upon our faith.  Besides, are we really ever supposed to feel "at home" here? 

9March2011 Quickshot: "Kiblah" (Direction)

During salah (prayer) our friends here face Mecca, a city in Saudi Arabia that houses the Kaaba (shrine).  This is a photo of the ceiling in D's hotel room in Dubai.  Signs like this one are placed everywhere so they know exactly which direction to face when they pray.

8March2011 Quickshot: A picture is worth a thousand calories!

This weekend we had to leave the country to get our visas renewed.  Our hotel was....um...not swine-free!  You're looking at a breakfast consisting of egg casserole (with Canadian bacon), ham and sliced bacon.  Have mercy!  We sure are glad Peter was told to arise, kill and eat! 

4March2011 So Much More

Yesterday I looked out the front door of our apartment and saw a group of teenagers shouting and running down the street.  At first I thought they were chasing a thief (flashback).  I walked out into the garden and saw 15-20 shabbab (young men) screaming and fighting.  As quickly as it started it was over.  Several neighbors were on their cell phones, I assume calling the police and the young men dispersed quickly in different directions.  It was a very surreal experience. 
As I sat down on our front steps, replaying in my mind what had just happened something occurred to me.  We were made for so much more than that.  Humanity, that's each and every one of us, were fearfully and wonderfully created.   Made by precisely determined, carefully thought out workmanship, to do good works also carefully laid out for us.  Why in the world do we trade this promise for anger and impurity and envy and greed and violence and pride?  What a shame.  Today I am praying for our neighbors and friends to know they were made for so much more and that they will come to know their Creator.  But I'm also praying for those of us that know Him.  That we won't treat His gifts lightly and especially that we don't trade Treasure for trinkets. 

2March2011 Quickshot: Drive-thru II

If you don't want hummus or falafel stop by and see this gentleman.  He and his coworkers make some of the best Arabic baked goods in town. 

1March2011 Quickshot: Drive-thru

Want hummus, fool or falafel?  Dine-in, take-out or delivery? This guy can hook you up!