Volunteering in the 1st Grade

I was happy to be involved with Alyssa's school again during this last R & R, getting to know her teacher and classmates.  As usual, Alyssa requested that I volunteer at her school.  She enjoys seeing me and I enjoy the attention of Alyssa and the kids.  The last two times, I was able to read to the children about what they were learning that week (US flag, black history month, etc) and then helping them to write a few things they learned.  One time I even helped them to draw/assemble crafts for veterans day.  It was a lot of fun.

I'm happy that Alyssa is bright and getting along well.  During the last teacher's conference, Alyssa's reading has improved dramatically and will be smooth sailing in the 2nd grade.  I get good reviews from her teacher about how Alyssa is a great student and helping others.

Alyssa doing her poetry assignment                                                                         Her friends nearby

 Reading Time

 Poetry Assignment - Circle word rhymes then draw.  Her artwork is displayed 

here as she is supposed to draw something about "legs."

Time at Home

This visit this time around I felt like I didn't accomplish as much as I should have.  I hope that I have helped Jason and Alyssa a little bit with the support of having a woman in the house, cleaning, packing lunch, giving them a bit of a break.  I know Jason got some home projects started which he never would have with all the priorities he has to take care of on a daily basis.

As for my faith, it's the same but somehow being with my family my attention is focused so much on keeping things a float that to have an hour of Church each week or 5 min of prayer or quiet daily bible time is a luxury.  I still would not trade it for anything.  I love being with Jason and Alyssa. Now I know what it means to devote your life to Jesus when you leave your family for His sake. You have no other worries or burdens, you just have to worship and glorify Him and hope to show to others who He is.

I went to the Dentist and it has been two years.  Turns out I had to get two fillings, after being overseas for nearly two years with no check-ups.  I take for granted simple things I should be doing to keep healthy and now that I'm near 40 years old, I can no longer keep them at a low priority.

Alyssa is at the age of exploration and she is keeping active.  She enjoyed the trial gymnastics class and I think it's a great way for her to burn off energy and get her sleepy for the evening.  Now that CCD class is done, I think it's worth it for her to do gymnastics and ice skating.  She also wants to do horseback riding too..wooo!  When I get back if I can get me tennis lessons, ice skating lessons and maybe do Zumba then I'm happy.

Well that is all for now.  Got to get back to my to-do list and figure out how to cross some of it off!

Chic Paris!

I love transiting the city of Paris, especially Charles De Gaulle Airport.  I got to pick up a box of French Macarons, enjoy the shopping and comfort of this chic place, from the bakery to the art.  I feel like I'm in Paris without leaving the terminal.  There's even a massage/relax spa.  One of the things I missed about living in Paris is the chic-ness of it all...From the art and fashion to the lifestyle.

I got to see this Museum exhibit about travel history here and it reminds me why I love this city.  The people are fashionable and have good taste..Why not!  Art is exhibited in almost every shape or form you can find.

 Never travel without your perfume or Manicure set... From the 19th century

Who wouldn't love that trunk?

Outfit from Africa and Europe.  You must always be in style.

These days a t-shirt suffices (unfortunately).

I am looking forward to transiting here again just for the Macarons. Hmmm..Maybe I will utilize the 10 min massage relaxing.

Trip to Jordan Before Last R & R

I feel blessed.  The day before I travel I get a new work Blackberry to replace the other one that didn't take great pictures.  They were retiring the old ones.  How nice and fortunate. Now once I get voice recognition on this phone, I am all set. This camera will take a lot of nice pictures especially for my trip to Petra, Jordan.

Day 1 - So far all has been well.  I got to visit the city of Madaba and see St. George's Church and the mosaics.  It was very lovely.  I bought two pieces to bring home for Jason and for his friends.  I stopped at Mt. Nebo where on a clear day, you could see Israel -- this is where Moses took the people to see the promised land and is his memorial.  Then I went to Jesus' Baptism site at Bethany Beyond Jordan..it was a beautiful day, the birds were chirping and I felt I was in the presence of God.  This was where the heavens opened.  I ended the day at the dead sea with the MOST amazing experience ever.  I floated without having a raft..it was like I was literally walking on water.  This place is amazing and after I got out, I felt so refreshed like the salt cleared my face..I can feel the sting.

Then we continued journeying along King's Highway.  I saw beautiful canyons along the way and even visited a museum where they had history about the lowest point on earth and also saw the remains of an woman who lived there.

Tomorrow is the day to see Petra and though I originally planned to see Wadi Rum dessert and canyons I decide to take my time to fully enjoy my day here, get some good exercise, pictures and just have fun. 

In my 39 years of life as a Catholic Christian, I never learned what a tabernacle was but thanks to the Women's Bible Study on making Disciples, I'm learning more about the bible and God from Genesis through the old testament to the new testament.  Now I know simply going to church without having my heart behind it was not something God wanted.




Day 2: Traveling to Petra, Jordan

I can say, I've absorbed as much as my mind can absorb.  From horse carriages galloping through the gorges, to tombs and water systems of this natural wonder.  I think it was an amazing visit indeed.  I learned that the Nabateens valued life as much as they did death, which was why all those fancy tombs were carved into stone.  They had a lively market center which bought about the Caravans.  The wanted to make an oasis out of this wonder.

As for modern day people there -- the bedouin  people hussle as much as they can and use young children to rack up money for the grown-ups in the tourism field.  I hired a tour guide from the Cleopetra hotel I stayed at to do a 3-hour guided tour and it was nice traveling with someone.  He also took me through interesting walks off the beaten path showing me some of the hollow tombs.  It wasn't until my driver took me to a rest stop along dessert highway that I thoroughly enjoyed a cup of Jordanian coffee -- sweet with milk.

The desserts was also very nice in the restaurant.  Walking through the 1200 meter gorge (the siq) was amazing as I arrived at the first sight which was the Indian Jones scene in "Last Crusaders." I learned that the site has much more to be excavated and the building of it was during Christ time.  I didn't climb the many steps to get to the high place of sacrifice but I did take a donkey ride about 3/4 of the way up.  The monestary was larger but after a while everything looked the same.I then went to a free site, "little Petra" which is a small version followed by Shawbak castle.

It was a fruitful day and the canyons and sites around me were amazing.  Would I come again? Probably not.  Tourism in Jordan is expensive for guides and cabs and left and right, you need a dinar, even to go to the bathroom!  Well that's what they start to expect at famous sites.  The non-highlight of my trip is the boy who walked me back with a horse demanding a $5 tip (nora. Maybe I should write to the Petra site and say that was a not a nice way to end the trip. But I could complain why should I right? I had a great time that many people would never had the opportunity.

For those who don't have my Facebook, you won't be able to see my awesome Story Book movie with music created right from the BB.  And because it was taken from my work phone, it will only upload to FB which is an approved application, and I can't even upload the file anywhere else.  The file is too big..Oh well, the memories live up here in my head.  At the same time, I have always loved, and continue to love sharing with others.