Thanksgiving #1, 2011

I dare to say...I look like my mom in this picture! Thanks, Hugh.

I said I'd post about our trip to China during the Eid holiday, and I fully intend to, but I've become a little side-tracked. See, there are just too many fun things going on right now that I can't buckle down to write out what happened two weeks ago. While we're back to the full throttle busyness that characterized the first two years of our marriage (we're at 6?!), it's much more enjoyable this time. We're serving and being busy together instead of heading in different directions, which makes things a lot more meaningful and fun; that's how I'll start my official list of "thanks" this year.

We had our first Thanksgiving dinner on Monday night, and since we've already celebrated, I'm sitting here typing as I listen to Christmas carols. Did I ever mention that "O, Holy Night" is my favorite?

I organized a dinner that was originally intended for our Monday night bible study (life group) from church, with a few others that we are connected to from there. Well, in one of my emails I happened to use the phrase "the more, the merrier" and that's exactly what we got. Out of a group of almost 20 people, half invited one extra guest. You do the math. Interestingly enough, there has been a shortage of turkeys in Kuwait this year, the reasons for which I am still investigating. So, I set out on an adventure to get a real turkey, somehow have it cooked/roasted for dinner, and arrange for a location and food for 35.

Success came through one of our friends, who works at the US Embassy here in Kuwait. As she graciously opened her home to everyone, she also acquired a 20lb. Tom from Camp Arifjan, the US Army installation in the South (leave it to the Americans!), and even pulled out a few Chardonnays, Rieslings, and Pinot Grigios to go with it. It was a wonderful night of fun and fellowship.

We have a few more Thanksgiving invitations, two of which I think we'll accept. One is tomorrow night, the beginning of our weekend here in Kuwait, and the other is Friday afternoon. I've been alerted that one or both of these parties has also acquired a turkey, so I will definitely have my fill. I've requested for my mom to bake ham for Christmas.

Speaking of Mom and ham, did I mention that I'll be traveling to the States for the Christmas season? I'll be around for about two weeks, arriving shortly after we finish the school term and heading back to Kuwait on New Year's Eve. I hope to see a few familiar faces while I'm there, but I'll probably spend most of my time tying up loose ends with our newly remodeled house and chasing around my adorable niece and nephew.

21 Bundles of Joy

...more like bundles of exhaustion hyped up on ice cream, but I love my kids, and I love Zoo Day. 

Class 1A, 2011-2012

The more years that I'm an educator, the more I find that increased "obstacles" make my job more rewarding. Sometimes, initially working with particular students is so mind-boggling and frustrating that I lose a lot of sleep. Now into Quarter 2 of the school year, we (especially the girls) are reaping the benefits of consistent discipline, consistent practice, and lots of love from their teacher. I guess that rearing children is a little like this, and it's a little like my walk with God, but He isn't perplexed by my slowness to learn or be obedient.

Now, to the personalities. If you click on the picture, you can enlarge it.

Check out:

- my "diva," last row, 3rd from right.

- the sweetest girl ever, front row, on the ground to my left

- the...most active...one, front row, 3rd from left

- my sweetheart who hasn't spoken to me yet, front row, over my right shoulder

- Kuwaiti Barbie, my assistant (I would tell her this!), last row, 2nd from right

All the rest of them make my days and my heart very full, too.

Out of China, Into Madness

We just got back from our vacation to China, which was amazing. More than anything we saw or did, it was wonderful because Chris and I spent nine days of unhurried time together. It was great.

In the next few weeks, I'll be posting about some of the adventures we went on and some of the strange things we saw while in China, the foremost of "habits" being that people spit a lot. Everywhere. That sounds super stereotypical, but truly, it's not an overstatement. Men, women, and children alike love to get a good cough out in the morning and let it fly. Gross, yes. I think I had to duck once or twice to avoid it.

This week, I'm finishing report cards, typing up meeting minutes, organizing a Thanksgiving dinner, attending four to five church functions, and then crashing on Saturday, so I probably won't post much. Here are some pictures to hold you.

from our favorite little lunch place in Hutong, Beijing

 

 

just enjoying an outdoor walk, Imperial Summer Palace, Beijing