Birthday - American style

As with most things, celebrating birthdays here is generally a different than usual affair. Last year my friends, both local and expat, joined together to give me a surprise birthday party at a nearby coffee shop. So this year, we decided to have a typical American birthday party...not really for me, but just as an excuse to have friends over. It was really a lot of fun! The three of us all pitched in to make it feel quite homey and to prepare a plethora of delicious treats!

One friend that came even said, "I feel like I'm in America! It's just like the movies!" 

Enjoy a look around our American birthday party!

You may recognize the table runner...it's the remaining fabric from the baby quilt we made for a friend, ya gotta love a dual purpose. 

Jordan prepared a beautiful cake!

And a true behind the scenes look at what we like to call the "after party!" - hand washing piles of dishes!

30daysofgivingthanks: day 5

November 5, 2013

Today I am thankful for random local holidays.

It's always a pleasure to discover on Sunday that the week holds a holiday! The funny thing about holidays here is that the dates are ever changing because some people here follow a lunar calendar. On Sunday evening we heard that the lunar new year might start on Monday or it could be Tuesday. As an Western, it strikes me as really odd because January 1 is always January 1 and the beginning of a new year. It's interesting to see how differently people decide to measure time and makes me realize that my time here is short. I hope to make the most of it by serving the very One who created time and can't be bound by it!

As the locals say, "May every year be the best!"

We enjoyed the holiday by starting Shaun T's Insanity workout (sounds like relaxation, right?) and playing board games after exploring the medina a little. 

"The Train Game" as we call it!

30daysofgivingthanks: day 4

November 4, 2013

Today I'm thankful for community.

Traditionally, I don't make friends quickly or share personal facets of my life freely, but there's something special that happens when you only have a handful of people from your home culture to talk to. It seems like the processes of building trust and deep friendships are kickstarted forward as you face a variety of unknown and unusual circumstances together. 

Even though I didn't see all of them today, I'm thankful for the people that have been placed in my life that are a lot like family during this season of my journey. The ones who bring chocolate bars when it doesn't look like your pet will make it through the night, those whose shoulders you can cry on when family back home is hurting and you can't be there, those who know you well enough to tease you, and those who ask you the hard questions even when it's uncomfortable. 

So lieu of gathering a large number of talkative adults and wandering children for a photo shoot, here's the pile of shoes we left at the door as we walked onto holy ground and enjoyed His presence together. 

Today's Challenge: Thank God for Silence. Due to the fast pace of our lives these days, most of us have forgotten the gifts of silence and reflection. Take a few minutes sometime today, find a quiet spot and think of things you are grateful for.

What are you thankful for today?

30daysofgivingthanks: day 3

November 3, 2013

Today I'm thankful for cool weather!

Not only does it make everyone a little more relaxed,

it finally feels like fall here along the Med.

Cool weather brings quilts in abundance,

lights candles aglow,

warrants more than one cup of coffee,

and makes cozy slippers a "go!"

We experienced a lovely thunderstorm yesterday afternoon, even though the forecast called for 0% chance of precipitation. So I think the temperatures actually dropped below 60* last night! It may not sound like much but in these cement houses with open windows - the cool comes in and lingers! It's an exciting thing, especially after the feelings of perpetual summer we experience even in October!

Sometimes our house looks like quilt center! It's a popular new hobby of all three of us. We just finished a scrappy baby quilt for a friend of ours that's expecting. We were all pleased with the way it turned out. Hope she likes it because it looks like she's gonna need it!

Bnaya girl especially loves a curling up under a quilt. Every time she sneaks into my room, I find a heap underneath my blanket. 

Today's Challenge: Thank God for Today. All we really have is today. Thank God for giving us this day...after all He is the one who made it! See Ps. 118:24

Easy Baby Quilt

A local friend of ours is expecting a baby any day now and thankfully we just put the finishing touches on her scrappy baby quilt.

We based our quilt on this free downloadable pattern from www.connectingthreads.com, although we don't have access to many high quality quilting fabrics over here, so this quilt was made from scraps. We actually found some of the fabrics from used scrubs or blouses.

the quilted block

the finished product

the quilted back

up close

Happy Quilting!

30daysofgivingthanks: day 2

November 2, 2013

day 2: refrigerators

We had a melt down at our house on Friday - yes literally.

Our new refrigerator stopped cooling and started melting. The saddest part was that it melted my post surgery ice cream stash, but I somehow managed to survive. After the girls emptied our fridge into the neighbor's, the machine started working again. Go figure. Although I am definitely thankful that we didn't have to endure the arduous process of claiming a warranty to get it repaired. A true blessing!

our sad empty refrigerator that mysteriously started working again

Today's Challenge: Thanksgiving Invitation. Invite a friend to join you for Thanksgiving festivities. Or if you will be out of town, have them over another day for coffee and pie.

What are you thankful for today?

30daysofgivingthanks: day 1

November 1, 2013

day 1: I'm thankful for Modern Medicine

I have a confession. 

I've been planning this blog series for a few weeks now, but I'm already behind. But I have a good excuse...I always do. ;)

Last Tuesday, I had the last major surgery in a series of oral surgeries. Yay! Since I was a teenager I've been wanting to get dental implants to fill the gap, if you will, of several missing (since birth) teeth. Insurance considers this procedure cosmetic and the procedure costs thousands upon thousands of dollars. And not only did I need 4 implants but also 2 sinus lifts because my jawbone had weakened without teeth. So I had always assumed it would never be a possibility for me.

Thankfully here along the Med, this procedure can be done at a teaching hospital for only the cost of materials. The price was still steep and out of pocket, but nearly 1/4 of the cost of having it done in the States.

My first and most extensive surgery was in May. They performed the two sinus lifts and inserted the implants on one side. The recovery was long and included swelling and bruising into my eyes...let's just say I was looking quite a lot like a chipmunk for several weeks.

Tuesday's surgery was just for the implants on the other side. It was much less extensive but I've been pretty tender still. When this process is all finished, I plan to post the entire journey, pics included.

So my excuse for getting started late and my offer of thanks are the same: modern medicine, which allows me to have genuine-like teeth replacements and painkillers (that's what really prevented me from being able to think clearly enough to blog).

Today's Challenge: Floral Thank You. Express your thanks to someone by giving them flowers. Doesn't have to be expensive  - you can cut them from your own garden, if you like. Or what about origami flowers?

Don't forget to tell us what you're thankful for!