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.