29November2012 Deck the Halls

Don't you just love this time of year?  We do too!  Our Christmas tree is up but our stocking are not hung by the chimney with care...yet! 

27November2012 Just Grillin'

It's getting cooler but that doesn't mean we can't grill out.  Check out this purty roast P cooked last night.  YUM!

25November2012 Visitor

She tentatively walked onto the front porch and rang the doorbell.  Her friends had invited her for a visit and although she'd been there several times she was still a little nervous.  Just as she extended her finger to ring the doorbell a voice called to her from across the lawn.  "They don't want YOU there!"  "You're not welcome!"  A man was yelling at her from the street.  A large man, bald, red-faced man, stood holding the leash that was holding his little, white dog.  He was staring at her.  Shocked she remained silent and turned to ring the bell again while pulling her hijab a little more tightly around her face.  Were they home? Please let them be home! "They don't respect you!" The man continued to yell. "They don't...." his next stinging words were cut short.  The door opened and a small, smiling face looked up at her.  The little girl unlocked and opened the screen door and ran out of the house, quickly wrapping her arms around the lady's legs.  "Hello auntie!" she said sweetly and just loud enough for the red-faced man to hear.  She turned in time to see him huff, yank the leash and walk off.  She was welcome, she was respected, she was loved here.

This is not a fictional account.  It happened on our front porch a couple weeks ago.  Our sweet friend faced the bigotry of ignorance only because she looked different than the person who targeted her.  But she doesn't just look different, she is different.  A warm-hearted, loving, compassionate kind of different.  Thank God for that.  We also thank God our children see beyond the physical and for our many "visitors" that have loved them enough to make that happen. 
Please pray for our neighbors...all of them. 

24November2012 Thanks!

Color us grateful!  We hope to never take for granted the people God has placed in our lives and the blessings He has rained down on us. Yesterday was a very happy Thanksgiving indeed!

22November2012 Happy Thanksgiving!

"Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people." I Chronicles 16:8

14November2012 Quickshot: Future?

Can you see our future in the photo above?  One of P's friends attempted to divine his future by using leftover grounds after sharing coffee yesterday, a common practice in the Middle East.  We are so grateful that our future is not in the hands of Nescafe or Starbucks.  Our lives are in the Father's very capable and very loving hands (Ps.31:15).  P does report that the coffee was delicious though! 

12November2012 Quickshot: Leaf

The beautiful colors of fall are captivating.  Only God could do such work!

10November2012 Quickshot: Dolma

Last night we shared a meal with some of refugee buddies.  We nearly ate our weight in Dolma (cabbage leaves stuffed with rice and meat) and had a great time hanging out with wonderful friends. 

5November2012 Quickshot: Book Club

Love this shot of D reading to our three smallest.  Thank God for kids that love books!

3November2012 Quickshot: Early Vote

Yesterday D. and I exercised our constitutional right and civic obligation to vote.  As I walked from the polls to the car I felt an overwhelming sense of emotion.  How amazing that God has blessed us with the freedom to have input, albeit it seemingly small, in the political process.  Every day I meet refugees that come from places where they had no say in what happened in their government.  They dreamed of something so often taken for granted, the right to vote, and now they're here.  How could we not participate? 

1November2012 Quickshot: Hallow weeee!

We had a great time doing last night visiting Trunk-r-Treats, Fall Carnivals and Halloween Fairs last night.  M. and her mama rode the spinner above.  One of them was scared....it wasn't the little girl.