Maybe One Day.....

A while back, I saw a post similar to this from Jen. So while I mull over upcoming posts, I thought I would share my list of places I dream of visiting. Because what does it hurt to dream? What can I say, the travel bug has bitten!

Central America:

Guatemala

Honduras

Costa Rica

South America:

Ecuador - Yes Emily, Equador is first on this list. :)

Peru

Columbia

Brazil

Argentina

Antartica

Australia

New Zealand

Papua New Guinea

Europe:

England

Ireland

Scotland

Iceland

Netherlands

Germany

Austria

Switzerland

Poland

Denmark

Norway

Sweden

Finland

Czech Republic

Hungary

Croatia

Bosnia

Serbia

Italy

Greece

France

Spain

Portugal

Romania

Moldova

Ukraine

Cypress

Middle East:

Pakastan

Afghanastan

Saudi Arabia

Turkey

Lebenon

Israel

Jordan

Asia:

Mongolia

India

Nepal

Bangladesh

Myanmar

Thailand

Sri Lanka

Malaysia

Indonesia

Cambodia

Laos

Vietnam

Philippines

China

Japan

Russia

Africa:

Kenya

Tanzania

Ethiopia

Nigeria

Morocco

Zimbabwe

Madagascar

South Africa

Swaziland

Word of the Year

Let's face it:

- Not every desire will be met.

- Not every encounter will end well.

- Not every event will go off without a hitch.

- Not every choice you make will choose you back.

- Life throws us curve balls.

- People make bad choices.

- Our words can slip out sharp and harsh.

- Our hearts are broken.

- People let us down.

- We take on too much.

- We hold in too much.

- We don't say enough.

- We say too much.

- We don't let go.

- We overanalyze, overreact, and get overwhelmed.

- And life is hard.

But sometimes.....

- The way things don't work out are better than if they had.

- Our realities are better than anything we could have ever dreamed up ourselves.

- People we least expect come though in big ways.

- The thing we feared the most becomes a source of strength.

- Our tears of sorrow become tears of joy.

- When we've been stretched until we fear we will break, we see that in reality, we've grown.

- And as hard as life is, it is a beautiful thing too.

My focus word for 2012 is hope. Not the silly, idealistic hope that Cinderella wakes up singing about or stubborn false hope that can't let go or face realities. It is the hope that:

- at the end of a good day, tomorrow will follow suit.

- at the end of a bad day, that mercies are new each day.

- after things didn't go quite as you planned, maybe one day they will.

- gray clouds have silver linings and our realities aren't as gloomy as we thought.

- disappointments will turn to joy.

- our tears will dry and even turn into laughter.

- in the end, it won't just be good. It will be beautiful.

We all need it - especially me. Here's to 2012 - a year of hope.

2011 Retrospect

One of the things that I received many comments on when I was in the states was that I needed to update the blog more often. Message received. So two weeks into the new year and I haven't done my obligatory "Year in Review" post. I've been planning on not doing one because, let's face it, I'm two weeks late. Then I ran across Amanda's blog. And since I can't seem to bring much creativity to this table, I'm going to follow in suit. So here are 27 questions about 2011:

1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?

Spend time on three different continents - North America, Africa, and Asia

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't think I made any resolutions so, therefore, I didn't fail. For this year, my resolution is to invest in people more and put action to my beliefs.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My dear friends Jill and Michelle bookended 2011 by have sweet little boys!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
I don't think so. I'm really sorry if you remember some that I've forgotten.

5. What countries did you visit?
Moved to Egypt (not really a visit), Singapore, and America

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
No debt! Thank you AISE!

7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
June 24, 2011 - accepting a job to move to Egypt

August 21, 2011 - Flying away from my home and family to a whole new life.

8. What was your biggest achievement for the year?
Adjusting to such a different place without any major breakdowns or regrets.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not staying in touch with people better

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had the flu pretty badly and then a nasty case of pink eye. Oh the life of a teacher.....

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Place tickets to new and exciting places.

12. Where did most of your money go?
Relocating to Egypt

13. What did you get really excited about?

Getting to see my family after four months of Skype and facetime.

14. What song will always remind you of 2011?
Constant by Charlie Hall

15. Compared to this time last year, are you:
-Happier or sadder?
Happier!

-Thinner or fatter?
Thinner - I now know why so many Americans are obese!

-Richer or poorer?
Richer - in SO many ways! The Lord is providing a way out of debt, a new family of friends, new experiences, and a deeper knowing of him!

16. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Serving those with greater needs than me.

17. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Eat

18. How did you spend Christmas?

Mom, Dad, and I went to worship and then lunch. After a quick nap, we picked up the grandparents. We took them to Dennys and visited back at home. We then joined a friend to see We Bought a Zoo. Great day! About everything important - family, friends, and fun.

19. What was your favorite TV program?
Kept the same old ones - The Office and NCIS; Picked up some new ones - Once Upon a Time, New Girl

20. What were your favorite books of the year?
The Help, Beautiful Outlaw

21. What was your favorite music this year?
Hillsong United, Schuyler Fisk, and Matt Wertz - with a few days of Willie and Wynonna thrown in along the way

22. What were your favorite films of the year?
Midnight in Paris, Moneyball, We Bought a Zoo

23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
On my 31st birthday, I had an amazing birthday dinner with my girls and a sister date with my Erin

24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
It was a good year. It was everything God wanted it to be. It was everything I needed it to be.

25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Moving to Egypt would make anyone dress more conservatively.

26. What kept you sane?
Knowing that no matter what happened or came my way, I was not the first one to go though it. People experience things every day that I was going through and not only survived it but flourished through it. Nothing new under the sun......

27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
Our perceptions of the world are not always the realities of the world around us. In order to know what life is like for others, we need to experience life with them. Only then can we make honest thoughts and beliefs of the world around us. Only then can we honestly love.

Reverse Culture Shock

While I've been living in Cairo, someone there introduced me to the website First World Problems. It's this website that showcases problems only people in Western, developed coutries have. It cracks me up. I also call it the website of brats. Since being back for a visit, I've been so aware of what a brat I sound like and often find myself thinking #firstworldproblem (yes, I think in hashtags sometimes - don't judge). So here are a few things that have stopped me in my tracks:

- I'm up early on the 26th and want to go hit the day after Christmas sales but my money is in the bedroom my parents are sleeping in. Guess I'll have to put off that shopping list and just hang out in my pjs.

- My skin is itchy and dried out from the heater and I don't have any lotion.

- I think in hashtags.

- Well, I can't use Kahula in that recipe and I don't drink coffee. Wait! I can run to Starbucks for a cup! Or McDonalds, or any other place within a two second drive.

- Frustrated at HEB, I couldn't find the exact ingredient I needed while standing with about 15 other options right in front of me.

- I want to make a new cookie recipe but we still have leftovers of two pies and a sheetcake in the kichen.

- All I've done since getting home is eat.

- So which church are we going to go to on Christmas Day?

Yep - I feel like such a brat!

Cairo Christmas Dreams

For as long as I can remember, I've had very vivid dreams. Thankfully, the majority of them are good ones. I've woken myself up laughing from time to time. The best part is that I remember them too. I had one about Johnny Rosenauer when I was in college that still makes me laugh when I think about it. So it's no surprise that when Christmas time comes around, I have fun Christmas dreams. I really do love it. However, last night's Christmas dream beats them all, hands down....

I dreamed that we were lighting the advent wreath and talking about the symbolism of each candle. It was so beautiful and my grandmother was lighting each one. As we lit the last one, the candle burst into the loudest song I had ever heard. And it wasn't a sweet Christmas Carol either. It was loud and intrusive. No matter what we did, it kept singing. Since we couldn't get the candle to stop, I roused myself awake. It was the first call of prayer for the day. Basically, I dreamed we were celebrating the incarnation of Jesus to the sound of the call of prayer. And when I heard the call when I got home, all I could think was Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus.

Merry Christmas, Cairo Style......

My First Expat Thanksgiving

As Thanksgiving approached, it was so bizarre. It almost seemed a non-event because, well, all around us, it was. With the elections and the fact that we aren't in America, it wasn't a big deal. So a few of us got together and decided to make our very first Thanksgiving meal. One of the best decisions I've made in the past three months!

We started Wednesday afternoon by taking our list to our neighborhood market for shopping. Yes my American friends - we shopped the night before. And it was beautiful. And easy. And we found everything we needed. And it was all delivered to us. Don't worry, it's OK to be jealous.

Thursday morning came early but it met us with warm kitchens, delicious foods, and lots of talking/laughter. Everyone spent the day in the kitchen whipping up amazing dishes. I learned how much you can make without the canned foods we take for granted in America. Can you say only two cans used? (chicken broth and cranberry jelly) Oh my goodness, yum! Our table was the picture of gluttony. I learned that I actually do like sweet potato casserole!

As we sat around the table enjoying our hard work, we spent time looking ahead. We all enjoyed it so much we decided to do it again in seven years. We spent time talking and teasing about what life will be like in 2018. There was a serious amount of laughing involved and I feel secure to say that I good time was had by all.

As we ate and laughed, I couldn't help but feel truly thankful. If you would have asked me a year ago, I never would have thought I would be celebrating Thanksgiving in Cairo, Egypt. Yet, here I was surrounded by some pretty amazing girls. I knew Jen was fabulous before coming over but the past few months have confirmed it! Not only is she funny and a great cook but knows how to love people well. I didn't know Emily at all before coming and now I'm so thankful I do! Definitely one of my new favorite people and I'm so glad she stayed one more year. Tessa is my buddy in trying to figure out KGII in Cairo. She has a tender heart and is quick to help out anyone who needs her.

I did miss my family on Thanksgiving but I was reminded of a very important fact. You can have family wherever you are. These girls share life with me here and I'm better for it. But the family isn't limited to them. I've been so blessed to know several different people here in Egypt. They are making me better for knowing them. So for Thanksgiving 2011, I'm thankful for my little Cairo family!

Excuses, Excuses, We Use Them Every Day....

When I accepted the position in Cairo, one of the things that I was most excited about was the fact that I had an established blog. It was to be one of the strongest ways to keep in touch with those around the world and a way to keep track of this part of my journey. As you can very obviously tell, that hasn't happened - at all. I've been trying to think about why and here's what I've come up with:

1. Time. Yes, this can be said for all of us not matter where we are and what we are doing. However, it's gotten pretty busy here. Thankfully, not all of it is work. In fact, most of it isn't. Building a community is time consuming and worth every exhausting moment. Birthday parties, working out, hanging out, going out, girls' nights, shopping, exploring, softball games, cooking together, and so much more. I wouldn't trade a moment of it but by the time I sit down to share about it, my body is exhausted.

2. Learning a new culture. If the act of building a community weren't exhausting enough, the sheer magnitude of learning your surroundings would be enough to wear you out. When you live somewhere so different, you have to relearn everything from how to walk down the street to how to navigate streets/taxis. You learn that you really could kick some butt in charades because it is your best means of communication while you try to learn bits of the language around you. Plus trying to sleep through the new speakers the mosque got a month ago to further amplify the 5:00 a.m. prayer. It can overload your senses and leave you brain dead.

3. Relearning myself. Moving somewhere so different than all you have ever known will change you. I was warned but not prepared. Everything you know, think, feel, believe, and hope for are filtered through entirely new eyes. Every filter you thought through before is replaced and you start all over again. You feel more confident and sure of yourself. However, you also find yourself different. You know that if you really said what you thought about that facebook status update, it could start a fire of debate so you don't. You know that sometimes, it's better to talk about things rather than write them out because you can't discuss your new thoughts on a blog like you can face to face. You can't share because lots of people will not understand from lack of experiences.

So yes, life is full and good. There are good and bad days - many more good. So I'll try to share more but in the meantime, thank you for understanding!

Singapore - Part II

Sorry for the break in these posts. Nothing says "Welcome Home" like a week-long cold. However, I'm so thankful that it held off until I was back in Cairo! Now that I can breath and sleep through the night without waking up coughing, I thought I would share a few fun memories of the week. They are random and completely out of order. Thanks for humoring me so I have them for longevity:

- On Thursday, Levi and I were headed home from the zoo when the taxi driver decided to be chatty. He was nice and Levi was playing with the "Cute"s (stuffed animal sugar gliders he got for himself and Caleb) so we chatted. He asked where I was visiting from and I told him Egypt. He looked at me like I was crazy. I explained and he shook his head knowingly. "Yes, you have the Obama accent. It is easier to understand than the Australian or British accent. You open your mouth really big." Um, thanks? Then he said I didn't look American. I looked "European, you know, like Venezuelan". Hmmm.....

- The boys were awesome! Everything we did, they asked if I had done it before or seen it before. I think they found it funny that their normal was new to me. They had a ton of questions about Egypt vs Singapore as well. Do we have ______ in Egypt? Can you ______ in Egypt? However, I think that my favorite moment with them was Thursday afternoon. Jennifer had to leave for a girls' weekend and I was watching the boys until Justin got home. Jennifer had been gone for about three minutes when they decided they missed her and wanted to make her cards. So we went to the school room and made her "I miss you" cards. What is it about four year old hearts that is so adorable? I don't know if you got them, Jennifer, but your boys were really trying to make beautiful cards for you! :)

- One thing I loved about time with Jennifer and Justin were separate "expat" moments. Most revolved around food. With Jennifer, it was in a grocery store. We stepped into the grocery store in Singapore (where everything is imported). As we walked among products from America, China, Thailand, etc I caught myself singing along to the song - Feliz Navidad. I got so tickled! Then a few nights later, we were running some errands for some things I can't find in Egypt. As we were waiting for the light to change so we could cross the street, she pointed out the girls next to us. Apparently Singaporeans love their corn. They had a styrofoam cup of corn they had bought from a street vendor. Corn! Then the next night, I was with Justin and the boys in a 7-11 and something caught my eye. Instead of an Icee, there was a mashed potato machine. I asked Justin about it and he said they are in most 7-11s. Again, I got so tickled! I think it had become normal for Justin but in that moment, he just laughed with me at my surprise. I mean, you go into 7-11 to grab something really quickly and grab a cup of mashed potatoes on the way out.

- On Wednesday, Caleb woke up ill so that changed our day's plans. I wandered over to the Botanic Gardens and spent a few hours there. It was stunning! Flowers, green, and water everywhere! There were several areas that I loved but my favorite was probably the Orchid Garden. So many varieties and colors! When you live in the brown of the desert, you forget how vivid nature can be. I told Jennifer that I was going to feel like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz when she lands in Munchkinland. This was the first time that happened. I seriously have more pictures of flowers than I know what to do with. The whole time I thought about my grandmother. She loved flowers and she would have enjoyed this one. I can only imagine all she would have had to share. Even now, she would have loved it!

- Stateside, I tend to not wear anything sleeveless because I didn't like I arms. After three months of covering up, I got to exercise what my Cairo Jen calls "The Right to Bare Arms". It was glorious and I didn't think about how they looked once!