Winding Down

Settling back in the USA is not going to be easy.  It's like I've dropped off the face of the earth for some people.  It's the nomadic lifestyle.  You can't make lasting friendships because your job makes you move.  And when you are ready to leave, you have to say goodbye all over again.  Jason has a point and I'm glad he's chosen to stay.  Maybe one of us makes more sense than the other.  I've always been used to moving.  I've always had different groups of friends.  I came to depend not on one, but on many different people.  And maybe that worked for me..but not for everyone.

I'm still grateful for the many blessings.  Every now and then I stumble and fall, and God reminds what I need to do.  It's that spiritual workout I need, something that I wasn't born with.  But through grace, have gained through hard work.  Life was never simple or easy for me...I continue to do many things the hard way, not necessarily the smarter way.  Maybe that was (and is) the only way I knew how.  If it wasn't hard, to me it wasn't work.

Now as I get ready for bed, I have to work on being more content..Something not easy. I keep striving for better but I'm glad that coming here, I've got to do what I want to do, to show what I've got to show and to help those who needed help.

Settled at Home

It's been two weeks now nearly, since I've returned to Baghdad.  This time around, I have adjusted much faster than coming back the last two times.  This means that it's home for me now, and scary to think that I've settled in.  I have a few months remaining but this is what they mean about Foreign Service life -- it takes you a good six months+ to settle in.  It's new environment, new friends, new routines.  I went home, saw my family was out of routine.  And now I came back and it felt like I never left.  This is Foreign Service life.  Then, you start over again.

The last couple of days had crazy dreams centering on what I valued most and is taken away from me with each move.  Friendships especially and the closeness of relatives and family members in the states.  I know now why some people are resistant to this lifestyle and unfortunately until God opens a door for me, I have to understand and choose His will.

I have been busy in the choir, bible studies and worship as well as doing double-time exercising since I've missed that on vacation.  I lost a lb but now I've come to understand that slow weight lost is OK. Although now that I'm 40, time is ticking on me.  I have to choose to give up some of my favorite foods and I've done that before so it takes a little more willpower.

I'm not sure I'm going to have time baking again...but I will have to see.  I hope I will make extra time for my certifications, it will help me in my next job and increase our income.

I guess that is all to report as it's laundry Friday so time to get back to "the routine."

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.  

The Crazies this Week

Well, I can't say there isn't much humor in the beginnings of this week.  First I've gotten at least 3-5 e-mails a day about this repin of one of my popular pins in Pinterest -- It's the Daisy Duke workout.  I don't know what happen but it just happened in a storm.  I knew this was one of my most popular repins from time to time but for some reason people are pinning it like mad the last few days -- almost as if it was an e-mail storm.  Anyone else want to join the cause?  Here it is.

In other news, I've been busy studying the bible as I am to teach it the next two weeks when the main teacher is gone.  I can't say we're teachers, rather we are guides because we are learning it all together but we lead the studies by highlighting the main topics.  I can't say I'm the subject matter expert so I'm not the bible teacher, rather the leader or the guide.  I'm hoping that with time, God will give me the ability to deliver especially since in my next assignment I will be teaching.

And speaking of skills to deliver, I've made announcements as part of my willingness to volunteer for the church as much as I dread speaking in front of a group.  Now that I realize it's not about me the attention is no longer on me.  If I can keep this thought, then I need not worry.  Maybe God didn't design me to be a speaker but a doer and so, hopefully my actions will speak louder than words.

I got to see my kitty on Skype yesterday and I can't believe in two and half months time, he has gotten bigger - face is fatter, take a look.

Well, that is all from this end.  Whether your goal is to lose weight or to become more spiritual, never lose hope, and TRUST -- that is the word to take with you today.  :-)