Rainy Day

Today started off well. My friend, Blair, and I had play date plans at the zoo and the weather looked great. Looked forward to it all day long. THEN, while hanging out at the zoo we got rained on. Not just a light sprinkle either, it was raining hard! We laughed about it and counted our blessing on the way home that an elderly man helped us find a taxi. It wasn't until I got home and saw my laundry laying on the wet, dirty floor outside (they were drying) that frustration boiled inside me. There are just some modern convinces that I took for granted while living in the states and a dryer is one of them. Writing all this to say....Give your dryer a hug today. Here are some photos of Elianna and my rainy day mess.

First Step

On October 22nd, Justin saw Elianna take her first step by herself! I was out with a friend and Justin was watching her. This is how the story goes: She had a book that she was playing with and was giving to Justin. She was standing by the couch and he took the book from her. He knew she would want it back so he handed it to her just far enough away that she would have to take a step to get it. The rest is history. She took her first step and got the book. Since that time she has taken several more "one" steps. Maybe someday soon she will be walking around by herself. Until that time she is getting lots of practice on her push toys that some friends of ours have allowed us to borrow.

Hair Cont...

Here are a few more of my favorites.

Hair, Hair, Hair

Hi, we are back!! It has been forever since I have posted, but I hope to remedy that soon. This posting isn't very revolutionary concerning our family or daughter, BUT it is a major part of our lives. This major truth is HAIR, HAIR, HAIR. Elianna has a ton of it. Some days I dream of waking up and finding that she somehow became bald during the night, but at the same time I really enjoy fixing it and trying to tame the monster. The lady who cleans our house informed me that parents here cut their children's hair short until 2 years of age. Now I know why. Some days I think about joining in on this cultural norm, but then I can never muster up the courage to do it. It just makes Elianna, Elianna. Here are a few memorial hair pictures.

Kitchen Help

Who ever designed our kitchen forgot one little detail: cabinet doors! Elianna is loving it because everything is so accessible for her little hands to grab and explore. Thankfully my friend Reasa helped me arrange our kitchen when we moved-in so that it would be child proof. My mom is making curtains to work as doors, but until those arrive via mail Elianna is having the time of her life (and I'm always out of breath). Thought I would share pictures of my little "helper."

Elianna is leaning on the only cabinet in our kitchen that as doors. Why? Because she knows that Cheerios from grandma are inside. Look at that smile. She can't wait to sink her 2 teeth into them.

Engagement Party

Engagement pictures of Elianna's babysitter.



Last Saturday evening we went to the engagement party of a close friend of ours, Imen. She babysits Elianna during our language lessons and you could say she is Elianna's Arabic teacher. Imen's older sister Manel is our Arabic tutor so we have known the family since we got here (about 3 years). We had a lot of fun and Elianna did great. The party didn't start until 9:00 pm, so she had a very late night. I prayed the whole day that the loud music wouldn't bother her ears and that she would be in a good mood. She totally surprised Justin and I when she actually enjoyed the music and even tried to dance "baby style." Kids are so much more resilient than we think. She totally acted like everything was normal. You can see the engaged couple below and listen to the traditional music from the live band. It's amazing they have a huge party like this for just the engagement. The poor couple "to be" just sit on a platform the whole night while people dance and look at them. It would feel a little awkward to me, but that is tradition. Typically the "groom-to-be" brings the engagement ring and a few other gifts to the bride and her family during this party. Hope you enjoy the video and get a little taste of the culture we live and work in. This time next year we will be posting pictures of their wedding.

Processing Life

Not sure if copy right laws apply to blogs or not, but I just can't help putting a couple paragraphs from my friend Reasa's blog on here. We have been processing life together and I can't tell you how wonderful it is to have a fellow friend and mother to process with. Here is what we have been working through lately. (Side note: Reasa's husband is Jon) :

"Lately I have been stressing myself out and I couldn't really figure out why. I tried to put it all into words the other night while I was talking to Jon. It really came down to figuring out who I am here in this place. Thankfully, Jesus provided my friend Veronica and I with some time to take a walk with the kids yesterday (in the heat of the day! what were we thinking?!). After chatting awhile we figured out we were both struggling with some of the same emotions. One being guilt. I remembered something I heard from our friend Phil when he and his wife visited this Spring. He said (well, what I heard him saying anyways!) was in order to truly be authentic you have to keep the gap closed between who you know you are and who people think you are. That is why I started this blog back then...in hopes of keeping this gap closed. I don't want my friends and family back in America to think I am something I am not. And when I feel like I haven't clearly communicated who I really am and what I am doing here then I allow myself to feel guilty...like shouldn't I be able to learn a new language, build relationships with nationals, have good relationships with Americans here, keep a clean house, never have dishes in the sink, stay on top of relationships back in America, grow in the Lord, take care of my husband and my 2 children, exercise & eat right, cook healthy meals, read books about parenting, get out of my house, and get 2 loads of laundry done a day (without a dryer)?? I mean, really, what is wrong with me??!! I guess I finally came to the conclusion I can't get all of these things done perfectly :) Are any of you surprised? :) I didn't think so!

Phil shared Hebrews 3:12-14 with us when he was talking about being authentic and also the importance of encouraging one another. Authenticity and encouragement are what help us choose Him over sin. I had never really put that together when reading these verses before. But now it makes perfect sense to me why I need other people and why I need to allow people to see the real me. It produces unity, harmony, and is praise to the Lord (Romans 15:7). And it helps me put aside my own fleshly desires & reactions (like grabbing the chocolate when the ants start coming in through my cabinets).

Jon used this verse to encourage me the other night. Maybe it can also encourage you today...leave the dishes in the sink, forget about the dirty floor and all the demands that come with raising small people...b/c when we know Jesus, we have everything we need already :)

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." 2 Peter 1:3

I am so thankful that what I need to be doing most of all is just knowing Jesus."

Veronica here: Can I get an amen to this insightful work of blog theology? Yes, I am totally blessed to have friends around me who love the Lord more than anything else this world has to offer; even things in Africa like cheap amusement parks. I'm not really sure what people think about us living in Africa. About what our life is like and the challenges we face or don't face. All I know is that my life feels pretty simple right now. I'm a stay-at-home mother of a cute 9 month old who is trying her best to love her husband and love those around her. Some days that role is easier than others. What I want more than anything else is authentic relationships with my friends and family so that the stress of being someone I'm not will vanish and I can just be me. The unglamorous, simple, yet fun loving (wink) woman God is creating me to be. Stay tuned into this blog for even more insightful words of wisdom from Reasa-- as soon as we are able to find time to walk together and process more. First it is discovering the value of being vunerable and authentic, next we will tackle world hunger and euthanasia. Well, more like the best cure for diaper rash, but that's is interesting too...right?