Oh Little Town

Christmas

For Christmas, Andrew and I got the wonderful opportunity to go to Jerusalem/Bethlehem!  It was an exciting and fun experience.  I am working on a video to post that will probably be more fun to watch than it would be to read about our trip.  But here are a few pictures to wet your appetite.

This brought a whole new meaning to "a right to bare arms"

Look closely, the girl in front has a gun as well

The AC/Heating in our hotel room.  This picture is mostly for my Dad.  It is hooked up to nothing.

Andrew and I at the Western Wall

Yum Yum Coffee :)

Rugby

Andrew's new sport

Enjoying Christmas in an Arab Country

Wedding

I had the pleasure of attending my first Arab wedding Thursday night.  I have been thinking I need to post about it quickly before I forget all the details of what happened, but even though it was just the other day, it is hard to find the right words to write about it.

I guess I'll just start at the beginning.  My friend came and picked me up about 7:00.  Here in our Arab country, weddings are segregated (men and women have their own parties).  Unlike a Christian wedding, the actual ceremony is not that big of a deal.  Sometime earlier that day or even days before they go to the court and sign papers of matrimony.  Their wedding is really just a big reception party.

We arrived, blindly followed some other ladies around a building and into a packed room with lots of Arab women all sitting at tables.  We made our way to the back (me being a foot taller than ever other person there did a great job of just blending in) and found a seat which we thought was out of the way.  The music was louder than any music I have ever heard in my entire life.  When we left it felt like I had cotton balls in my ears.  They announced the bride was coming and we quickly realized we did not have such inconspicuous seats as we had hoped for.  We were sitting right by the door that the bride would come in.  We of course were in all of her intimate moment pictures the entire night as each new group entered.

The bride entered with her father and possibly an uncle.  She wore a typical white wedding dress we would think of except she had a white hood type thing she used to cover her head while she was outside but was loose enough it did not mess up her hair.  The family took off her hood and then she and her family walked down the "isle" to the dance floor.  She, her family and quickly some friends as well began dancing.  Her father left so since it was all women, veils came off right and left.  The bride did some dancing and took some pictures for about an hour.

They then announced the groom was coming.  Everyone except for his sisters and close family covered back up.  Of course we got front row seats for his arrival.  She met him at the door, they greeted each other then walked to the dance floor for their first dance.  They had a traditional arabic style dance and a slow dance.  They they went to sit and take more pictures.

After a reasonable amount of time passed, they announced that the men were coming.  These were all the men in his family and her family (seemed like any guy close enough to get in tried to).  More people, including the bride covered for their coming.  They proceeded down the isle, greeted the groom and stayed around for a dance or two then left.

It is custom for the groom to give the bride gold at the wedding.  She took off all of the jewelry she came in with then he proceeded to put on her various types of gold jewelry.  Several bracelets, several rings, earrings and a couple of necklaces.

They wheeled in the cake, down the isle, and the bride and groom cut through all the layers with a sword!  It was pretty fun.  They each fed each other the cake with a fork.  They did the arm twisty thing with the drink.  It was interesting that they had all these traditions that we have, but it seemed like they were just going though the motions with them so they could get the picture and say they did it.

We left shortly after the cake cutting.  Me being gluten free and all couldn't eat any anyway.  It seems so crazy to me in this culture where men and women do not have very much contact, one minute you have to steer clear of men and then the next you're living with one!  This has to be a radical shift for them.  It was a fun and interesting experience.  I had a headache the rest of the night, but I think it was worth it.  Now I am ready for Andrew to go to a wedding so we can find out what it is the men do!

Leg

I was leaving my apartment to walk to the souq the other day and shortly after exiting my apartment building, I noticed a goat leg laying on the ground on the side of the road.

I am not sure, but I think this is the same leg that the little boy was chasing all the girls with during the Aid about a month ago.  I am surprised that I did not notice it until now.  I took me a few days to remember to take my camera and go take a picture for everyone, but thankfully it had not run off anywhere so you all get to enjoy this leg as much as I have!

Wahead Miyat

Last night and tonight there has been a tent outside our bedroom window.  This tent is in the same place and basically looks the same as the wedding tent we were able to enjoy a week after we arrived here.  We noticed this tent along with a sign yesterday afternoon.  We thought for sure it was going to be another wedding and we would get to enjoy the loud music all night.  As evening approached, men gathered in the tent, but no music was being played.  We concluded it was not a wedding but something else.

After dinner we went to town as usual for tea and coffee.  As our taxi driver was returning us home Andrew asked him what the tent was.  He response was "wahead miyat."  A little bit of charades followed and we left the taxi confused with no clue what it was.  Wahead is arabic for one.  Mia is arabic for 100.  We thought maybe it was someone's birthday, either a first birthday or a one hundredth birthday.

This evening we saw the tent was still up, lights still on and men still gathered.  We were definitely confused now.  Surely they do not celebrate birthdays for more than one day.  On our way home tonight, we had a taxi driver who spoke a little bit of english so I was excited that he might be able to tell us what was going on.  As we approached our apartment, Andrew asked him what was going on there.  He informed us that someone had died.  I asked him how long it would go on, he said three days.

Our first funeral/wake.  It is not what I expected.  I had expected loud wailing or something.  I have not heard any.  They just sit together.  Share a meal.  Talk.  For three days they will do this, quietly remembering the one they have lost.

The Valley of Sand

This video is mostly of the beautiful scenery we were able to experience while visiting the "Valley of Sand," but I also feel that this video along with the soundtrack clearly depicts how I have been feeling the last couple of weeks.  Sometimes it is difficult going though every day, overwhelmed with language study in a place completely foreign to me and all that I consider the "comforts of home."  Yet, I will give Him praise.

Life

I know it has been a while since my last post.  Things have been fairly busy lately, but unfortunately nothing particularly blog worthy has happened.  Last week we finally got a new language tutor.  Our first tutor suddenly disappeared?  So, we finally got a new tutor and we absolutely LOVE her!  She is actually a teacher and tutors often.  Unfortunately she is a little too expensive so Wednesday we will be getting yet another language tutor.  I have high hopes for this next tutor.  I am feeling good about her and excited to continue in language learning.

This past weekend me, Andrew and a few other American friends went out to the desert for the night.  I know, I know, we already live in the desert.  But this was really amazingly beautiful.  Sand everywhere, but also mountains that just spring up out of no where.  We spent the night in bedouin tents, which was not quite glamping, but fun anyway.  The unfortunate part was it was ridiculously cold!  I am still recovering for the frozen head I got while sleeping.  I tried to take lots of video footage while we were there, so do not worry, a video of our adventures in the Valley of Sand is soon to come!

A Bob's Red Mill update:
This evening we went back to the little store that ordered the gluten free flour for us.  As we walked past the flour section we noticed that there was no more Bob's Red Mill!!  We were shocked.  But not to worry, as we made our way to the back of the store we noticed he has now created an entire gluten free section with the flour, some cereal and even bread mix!

A Day In the Life

A note to all those viewing this video.  No, we do not change clothes that many times in a day.  This video was recorded over several days, but in total it gives a good portrayal of what an average day for us looks like.

Thanks for viewing!

Times You Wish You Had a Camera

Occasionally you run across an incident where you take a very vivid mental picture, but unfortunately do not get an actual photo.  One such occasion happened to me the other day while Andrew and I were out in town.

To preface this mental picture there are a few things you need to know.  First, here in our city, there are lots of little pharmacies.  You cannot walk very far without crossing one.  Secondly, generally speaking, you do not need a prescription to get medication at such said pharmacies.

The other day Andrew and I were walking downtown.  It was in the evening, so things were fairly busy.  As we were walking, I happened to look over through an open door and window of a pharmacy.  What I saw was priceless.  I saw a man who had picked up his boy (around 6 years old) and stood him on the counter.  The little boy's pants were down and the father was pointing at something on his leg showing the pharmacist.  I find this hilarious for several reasons.  I think it is funny that pharmacists are just like doctors here.  They can diagnose and prescribe right on the spot.  The other hilarious thing is that this occurred in the middle of downtown.  Other people were in the store and many people were on the streets walking by the store.

Oh the joys of living in another culture.

Bob's Red Mill

A couple of weeks ago, Andrew and I went downtown to this local food store that has lots of things that expatriates like.  They have a lot of gluten free pastas and even my favorite cereal.  Unfortunately, he did not have any gluten free flour.  We thought the man seemed very nice and if he knew he was going to sell something he might order it.  So we asked him if he could get gluten free flour.  Yesterday we went by to check things out and we found three of these in the flour section:

Even though we just returned from the big city where we stocked up on gluten free flour, we went ahead and bought one.  I am pretty sure we will be the ones to buy the other two as well.

Thankful for helpful people around the world.

Thanksgiving Day

For Thanksgiving, we went over to some American friend's house.  Since I'm gluten free now and Thanksgiving is what I like to call Gluten Paradise, I fixed my own Turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie.  Here is what I have to show for myself.

I am fairly proud of myself.  It was the first time I have made anything Thanksgiving and I was cooking under completely different circumstances that I am accustomed to and Gluten Free.  Granted I think I will do better next year, but for my first time I think everything turned out pretty well.

After dinner at our friend's house, we came home to drink Egg Nog and put up our Christmas Tree.

Again, this is not the best tree in the world, but I am guessing for the tree, ornaments and lights we probably spent about $10.  I think that is pretty good, especially considering we now live in a place that does not even celebrate Christmas.

Thankful

This is our first Thanksgiving overseas.  Our first holiday of any sort for that matter.  It is definitely challenging us being half-way around the world today when we want so badly to be together with our family and friends.  In spite of the distance between us, we are still thankful.

Today I am thankful for my husband, Andrew, who is always so loving and supportive.  I am so grateful that we are in this together and I always have him to lean on.  

I am thankful that, for the most part, we were able to find most of the traditional Thanksgiving foods here and have been able to prepare them (even gluten free!).  

I am thankful that we are even overseas.  We went through a lot of challenges to get here, and I am so thankful that we finally made it!

I am thankful for our family and friends (including our small group) back home.  Our family is always there for us, loving and supporting us.  Our friends are more like family in their support and concern for us.  I am so thankful to have such an amazing family and incredible friends.

I am thankful that my Dad is out of the hospital now.  He fell 12 ft. a few days ago and broke his pelvis in six different places.  I am thankful that he is okay, that he did not need surgery and that now he is out of the hospital.

There are so many more things to be Thankful for.  I am so overwhelmed with gratitude, especially on this day.  I am so thankful for the things here that He has blessed me with.  I am even more thankful for the sacrifice of His Son that He made for us, for me, that we might live forever with Him.  Sometimes it is so hard to fathom how great our Father's love for us is.  Thank you Father, thank you family, thank you friends.

The Place Where It All Began

The video posted below is from our quick trip this weekend.  We travelled to a city that I have not been to for ten years.  When I was 16 years old, I took my first trip overseas.  It was to this city!  It was here that He gave me a heart and a passion for the people in this part of the world.  It was so exciting for me to get to go back.  I have travelled all over the world, but I have never been to any place twice.  It has been ten years, many things have changed, but I still recognized the place and believe it or not, it had the same smell.

The Place Where It All Began

Crazy Day

Andrew and I went on a mini vacation this weekend.  I have been eager to post about all that we did and saw while we were away, but too much has happened today that needs to be blogged about.

This morning we woke up late, had plans in mind for a slow relaxing day, recuperating from the exhaustion of traveling this weekend.  The day brought other events instead.  Last week we went to the police station to get our visa extended.  We thought we had everything we needed to get our extension, but when we arrived we discovered that we needed our landlord to sign a paper.  Last week was the Aid, so our landlord was out of the city and we would need to wait till he returned before we could get our extension.  This morning we got in touch with our landlord, he came to pick us up and together we made our way to the police station.  Upon arrival at the station and speaking with the proper authorities, we discovered there were many more things that we needed to do before we could get our extension.  Without knowing what we were doing or where we were going, we loaded up in our landlord's van.  First we went and made some photocopies (figured that out as we stood in front of a copy machine), then we went to another police station.  Got something stamped and paid some money.  Went to anther police station, but turns out it wasn't there anymore so we found the new location all the way across town.  This station was so new nobody knew where anyone was or who needed to help us with what we needed help with (I'm not even sure what we needed help with!).  After talking to several people and waiting in several different locations, we finally found someone who gave our landlord a phone number.  I am not quite sure what happened, but he took us back home and said he would pick us up again at 2:00.

At 2:00 we headed back to the same station, this time with a new paper in tow.  Waited around some more then finally got a stamp on something.  There was something else that we needed at this station but could not get until tomorrow.  Our landlord then took us back to his house where we met his family and enjoyed tea and snacks.  We finally arrived back at our apartment around 4:30 with strict orders that he would pick us up again at 8:30 the next morning.  We had not been back long before a little boy knocked on our door.  He had a piece of paper and on it was written:

Hello.  are you busy I want to visit you if its okay with you at 5.15

                                            your neighbour

This was from the lady who lives underneath us.  A couple of weeks ago I took her some cookies to meet her.  I was excited she was coming!  Andrew and I ran around straightening and I threw some cookies in the oven.  We had planned to go to town and check our mail and do a couple of other errands.  Andrew went ahead and went to town while I was to stay and visit with my neighbor.  She arrived with her three children.  Two boys and one girl.  Thankfully she is very good at English.  She talked just about the entire time, which was good for me because I was nervous about running out of conversation.  The unfortunate part about this was that I really did not get to say much at all.  But I am very excited to have had my neighbor in my house and build that relationship even more.  Hopefully we will get together even more in the coming year.

After my neighbor left, Andrew and I fixed dinner and settled in to watch a TV show.  About halfway through our show, thankfully after we had finished eating, there was a knock on our door.  It was the man of the family I got to visit with during the Aid.  Andrew invited him in and I went to prepare some tea and cookies.  As I am writing this, they are visiting together and Andrew is getting what sounds like an Arabic lesson.

It has been an exciting day.  Quite unexpected but very welcomed.  It's 7:30 here and for locals the night is still young.  I wonder if we will have any more visits today!

Day of Firsts

This morning, Andrew and I woke up to chanting.  Here and all over the world, Muslims are celebrating Aid Al Fatha.  As best as I can gather, this is a celebration of God providing a lamb in the place of Abraham's son.  After the morning prayer, there is an extended time of chanting.  I am not sure what they chant, I just know I heard it.  After chanting, about 8:00 a.m. everyone goes home to butcher their sheep (or goats or camels).  They are to give a third to the needy, a third to family and friends and they keep a third for themselves.  At 8:00 this morning, Andrew went out with some other guys to take pictures.  As I sat out on the balcony of our apartment, I could hear the goats crying all around our area of town.  Thinking I had seen all that I would get to see from my balcony, I went back inside to enjoy some coffee.  As I settled in by the window, I heard baaing louder than I had heard yet!  I grabbed my phone and told Andrew I was going outside.  Our neighbors who live below us in the apartment complex obviously had goats.  I ran down the stairs and crossed the street to watch from a safe distance.  Of course they did not miss the lone white girl across the street, so they invited me over to look closer.   Then they invited me to come inside the gate and watch.  It probably should have been more gruesome to me than it was, but I was just amazed at the skill of the butchers!

After they had finished "processing" the goats, I attempted to take my leave, but they insisted I stay for tea.  What was I to do, I mean, I do love some tea.  While sitting out on their patio enjoying tea, we observed one sheep that escaped and was trying to flee as well as a little boy chasing around all the girls in the street with a goat leg.  It was a priceless experience, I got to meet more of my neighbors (and get the scoop on everyone in the building) and I left with my own little bag full of fresh meat.  The question now is how do I go about cooking whatever it is that is sitting in my fridge?

Later that morning after Andrew returned from taking pictures, we went on a walk around the neighborhood.  Most people had finished, but blood still stained the streets where there had been a butchering.  The city where we are living now rarely if ever gets rain.  Today it rained; mind you not sheets of rain, but more than a sprinkle.  As I was watching the rain I could not help but be reminded, on this day of all days, of the sacrifice that my Father made for us.  Where God provided a ram in the place of Abraham's son, He provided His Son in our place.  Just like the rain today washed away the blood stains in the streets, the Son's blood washes away all of our sin stains and makes us as white as snow!

Another first for the day was my first time making eggnog!  Andrew loves eggnog.  He is used to drinking it when they first start selling it in the stores in November until they quit selling it in January.  Here is my first attempt.  It was not bad at all, but I'll definitely tinker around with it before I settle on a final recipe for it.

Today was an incredible day of firsts and a little bit of sensory overload.  I am so thankful for new experiences and new cultures, and I am even more thankful He is with me and reminds me of Himself no matter where in the world I am.

Happy Birthday!

Today is my Dad's birthday.  I wish that I could be at home and celebrate with my family, but I am halfway across the globe instead :(  I remember when I was away at school in Texas, my mom threw a surprise birthday party for my Dad and made him do all the prep work for it (he thought my sister was having a party at the house with some of her friends).  I flew in from Texas for the big surprise.  I got there early that morning and had to hide upstairs all day so my Dad wouldn't see me.  All in all I think Dad was pleasantly surprised by his party, but we still remind Mom about how she made Dad do all the work for his own birthday party.

Miss you lots today, Dad!  Wish I could be there.  I am so grateful that I have a father like you who is such a great example for me.  Thank you for loving and supporting me through all the years and all my crazy endeavors.  I love you!

A Day at the Beach Day

SCUBA

Today I went SCUBA diving for the first time in quite a while. It was a blast. It was my first time to dive in salt water. The water was the most clear I have ever dove in. There were so many fish. I saw a Napoleon Wrasse. I saw Clown fish hiding in the sea anemone. I saw an eel swimming among the coral. We dove to the ship wreck which is massive as you are swimming beside, and under it. It sits on two reefs and there is a spot at 25m down where you can swim beneath it. It was incredible. My favorite was that I got to see an octopus which was a brilliant crimson color settle upon the coral, settle into itself and change color and textures, matching the coral around him. It was incredible. It was definitely a day of firsts for me. I cannot wait to get my wife certified and take her down there with me.

The Infantry and the Pedi

Yesterday afternoon we spent at the beach.  When we returned home, all seemed well and good.  We unloaded our stuff, skyped.  It was after the skype call that we noticed it...an army of ants were moving through our apartment!  I have never seen so many ants in my life.  They were coming out of the floor at the door of our bedroom, moving through the hall, into the kitchen, around the floor board, up the cabinet, across the counter and going down behind the counter right by the sink.  There were millions!  They were not getting into anything, not even looking at the food, just were just passing through.  Once they realized that we had discovered them, they rapidly began to decrease in numbers.  By the time we got our cameras, their line was not nearly as thick, but we were still able to snag this photo of their masses.

We quickly grabbed our highly toxic cleaner and sprayed them with it.  Hundreds died on contact.  We then ran to our local market and bought some bug killer (and some falafel while we were at it).  We returned, cleaned up the dead ants and sprayed their entrance and exit in case more decided to show up.

This morning Andrew went scuba diving.  He has been wanting to go since we arrived here.  He finally got the chance, but this left me all alone for the morning.  I slept in, cleaned up the house a bit and then decided to take my first outing by myself and go get my nails done.  My heart was racing as I walked up the street to hail a taxi.  When one arrived, I could barely slow my breathing enough to tell him where I wanted to go, "Burger King" (not really where I was going, but easy enough to say and close to my final location).  I made it there without a hitch, but the lights were off at the salon I wanted to go to.  I had made it this far, might as well try the door.  It was open!  See, here at the female salons, they black out the windows, either with tint or curtains or even newspapers, so people cannot see the women inside and I could not tell if they were open or not.  I got across that I wanted to get my nails done.  I guess usually people make reservations, so they were a little confused that I wanted it done now.  I got the lovely blue taken off my fingernails and got this pink put on my toenails.  

Unfortunately I did not meet any women in the salon like I had hoped.  It was such a big salon, they have different rooms for each thing.  Like a room for nails, a room for massage, a room for hair cuts, etc. There were other women there but no one else getting their nails done.  I was able to talk with the lady doing my nails which was fun, but she was from another country and basically works 24-7 while she is here.

It was a fun experience.  There is a salon very close to our apartment that I will probably go to next time.  I wanted the experience of taking a taxi by myself and going to a nicer salon for the first time.  

Language

To help us in learning the language, we use these things call lexicarrys.  Basically this is a book with lots of comic strips in it, but rather than have their words in the bubbles, it is blank so our language helper can fill in what local people would say in that situation.  In theory, this sounds like a great idea.  Unfortunately, I do not believe that our language helper has ever seen a comic strip so he really does not understand the concept.  This morning our lexicarry strip was of a person who said something that the other person could not understand.  To fill in the bubble, one would need to say..."I do not understand.  Please repeat."  or something of that nature.  This was a disaster!  We spent over thirty minutes trying to explain to our non-english speaking helper what we wanted.  Rather than telling us how to say "Please repeat that," he would simply just keep repeating himself!  He understood that we wanted the words repeated, but he just could not grasp that we wanted to know how to say "please repeat."  To add to this mess, script is read from right to left here unlike in the States where we read left to right.  These comic strips are drawn out left to right but our helper kept trying to look at them right to left.

A tiring day with a few tears of frustration shed, but in the end, I think we have the word for "repeat."

First Impressions

After three days of attempting to get this online, I finally present to you our first video.  Still haven't quite figured out how to get it on my video page, and I am not sure that there is any volume.  None the less, I hope you enjoy and get to see a few of our first impressions.

Time

Today we found out the time changed.  Except it changed on Thursday night/Friday morning and it is now Saturday evening.  We didn't find out that the time changed until after we arrived an hour and a half early to dinner at some friends' house.  Guess we'll have to stay up an hour later tonight to get back on schedule :)

More Like Home

Since my last post, I have been pleasantly surprised by a few great finds.  I have found two table runners, one for the newly purchased coffee table and one for the dinning room table.  Still need other things to liven up the tables, but they are looking better already!

Coffee Table - Runner with Lantern and Basket

Dinning Room Table Runner

I was incredibly encouraged and blessed this afternoon!  I posted last about how I forgot my measuring cups and did not think I would be able to find any here since they use the metric system.  Well, to my surprise, without even looking I found two different places that had measuring cups, actual cup measurements!  These are not like the cups I forgot back home, but they will work just fine.  :)  I am so excited.  I bought both of the ones I found.  One measures up to 1 1/2 cups and the other measures to 4 cups.  I think I'm going to try to make cookies tomorrow!  Nothing like a good cookie to go with your language learning.

Creativity

I have not been feeling very creative lately, well, since we arrived.  Before we left I was feeling very creative and loving it!  It was great experimenting with Gluten Free cooking, sewing or thinking of things I would like to sew.  Thinking of a million ways to make a home more comfortable and cozy.  Now that we've gotten here, I would love to still do those things, but I'm all dry.  I haven't found any fabric here, so I don't have anything to sew.  I brought a little bit with me and I need to make something for my table, but I just haven't got the creativity to do it.  I miss the cooking, but I really haven't figured out how the oven works yet, plus, I forgot my measuring cups (which is quite important in a place where they don't use our measuring system).  Things just taste different here and it's much harder without all the conveniences or even utensils to cook with here.  I'm starting to feel a little down because I don't have anything I can make. Maybe soon we'll go to another city and get some fabric.  These curtains are certainly not helping my creativity come out :)

Coffee

It has become a routine for us in the last week to head downtown in the evenings and get some coffee.  Well, I get a latte and Andrew gets tea.  Last night the coffee shop we stopped at could not make my latte so I ended up getting the very strong small cup of Turkish coffee.  It was good, but I just enjoy drinking for a longer amount of time.

Andrew enjoying his mint tea

Love a good latte

Our New Home Overseas (Some Before Pictures)

Our Doors...

Yes that's right, we have two doors.  The one on the right goes into our living room and the one on the left goes into the dinning room.  There is a sliding door between the living room and dinning room.  I believe these two doors are so if you have company in the living room, you can close off the sliding door and still come and go as you like in the rest of the house.

Living Room

This picture is taken through the half of the sliding door that is open.  The door to the outside is on the immediate right.  There is a TV in the corner on the left.

Dinning Room

Originally this room was more like a den.  The sofa's from the living room where in this room and those green cushions stacked in front of the window where around the room on the floor (reclined seating).  Our landlord put in a table for us in this room.

Guest Bedroom

Guest Bathroom

Sorry this one is on it's side...I could not figure out how to flip a pictures in blogger.  So, if you come visit us, you might have the opportunity to enjoy this shower squatty combo bathroom :)

Master Bedroom

This bed is actually pretty sweet.  It's bigger than a Queen but not quite as big as a King, and it is a spring mattress.  Apparently these are hard to come by here, they are mostly foam mattress (and I don't mean the Tempurpedic ones).

Master Bathroom

Sorry another picture on it's side.  Standard bathroom, we enjoy it, but unfortunately you cannot flush TP here so we're still getting used to that :)

Kitchen/Laundry

This is our Kitchen/Laundry combo.  We have had to buy quite a bit of stuff for the kitchen. As you can see there is little to no storage, so we've bought some plastic shelves along with dishes and silverware, etc. I do really enjoy that I can wash my clothes in the same room I cook in :)  No dryer though, we have a drying rack I hang the clothes on then move it outside on our balcony.  It's so dry here though, our clothes are usually dry in about thirty minutes if they're outside.  Amazing!

Well, I hope you've enjoyed to before photo tour of our new "flat."  We're still getting things settled in and set up like we want them, but things are coming along.  It's not what we're used to in the states, but we're not in the states anymore so I guess that's to be expected :)  Once we get things all settled, I'll try to take some after photos.  But who knows when we'll be all settled.  Thanks for keeping up with us!  Keep posted for more to come (like the wedding that went on last night right outside our window till 3 am).

We Made It!

Well folks, we have officially made it and settled in.  We arrived last Thursday morning around 8 a.m. and have finally gotten our internet hooked up (Wednesday 3:00ish).  We travelled for 30+ hours to get here.  Put a one year payment down on a flat the afternoon we arrived, and have been running around crazy trying to get things settled since then.  So far, we have averaged 1 to 2 trips to the store daily.  I think things are starting to come together now, so hopefully the trips to the store will slow.  It is definitely a different world here.  Things are just not the same.  For example, when the guy came to put in our phone line, he ran a wire in through our window instead of into the wall.  Andrew had to stand at the window with his arm out to catch the wire as the man threw it to him to pull in through the window.  It's just little things like that here and there that remind us we are living in a different place.

I just wanted to write a quick blog now that we have internet.  Now I'll be able to blog more and keep everyone up to date as to what is going on here.  I also hope to post some videos soon too!  We'll see how things go.  I think we'll be pretty busy here for a while.  I believe we start studying language next week.  Fun times :)

P.S.  I found my favorite Gluten-Free cereal here!  Who would have guessed?!

And We're Off...

As I sit here this morning before the rush of things really begins, I am trying to fathom the fact that we are moving half-way across the world to live.  It feels so surreal.  I am not that stressed because I think I really do not believe that we are going  yet.  Eight bags total, two carry-ons each...we've borrowed a van to get us to the airport.  My dad informed me that the weight of our bags is roughly two people.  We have had so many changes in the last four months.  Two days before our July 1st departure we were informed we could not travel because I was too sick and could not handle the transition overseas.  Now, three and a half months later, I am feeling better than ever!  We have been issued new tickets and we brace ourselves for thirty hours of travel beginning this evening.  It is going to be incredibly hard to say good-bye, but the time has come. We have waited long enough, said our good-byes too many times, it just feels like the time has come.  We are so thankful for the family and friends that have surrounded us during this difficult waiting time.  We are continually thankful for their love and support as we leave them to travel the world.  Words can not even describe the love and gratitude I feel.  Thank you for your support.  Thank you for your thoughts.  Thank you for keeping up with us even though we are out of site, but not out of mind.  I look forward to writing again soon and keeping you up to date with the things that are going on in our lives.

These are a Few of My Favorite Things

My Fabulous (Tall) Friend Sandra

My Favorite Mom :)  [Don't we look so much alike?]

My Ridiculously Handsome Husband who loves Turkey Legs

Our Wonderful Grimms who stick with us through everything

Just another treat for ya'll to see the good looks of my husband with another Turkey leg

Sarah's GF Spice Cake

As many of you know, I am planning to enter the Gluten Free Baking contest in the GA National Fair this year.  I am quite excited about this, but I am not sure that I will even be here to enter.  Thankfully, my great friend, Sandra, said she would make the cake for me and enter it.  I am quite excited about this cake.  I have been working on it and tweaking it a bit, and I think I've got a final recipe.  Tonight I am going to a Ladies Dessert Social, so of course this was a great opportunity to have another test run of my cake.

I am still not entirely sure I've got the icing like I would like it.  It is a cream cheese icing but I can't seem to get it thick enough and it runs down the side of the cake.  Maybe when Sandra makes it for the final cake she can tweak it to get it right.  The taste is delicious.  It is a three layer cake.  Gluten Free flours don't rise as much as wheat flour does, so I added an extra layer to make it tall enough to decorate and look pretty.  This cake is not decorated like it will be for the fair.  I made some Marshmallow Fondant Icing, which I colored into four different fall colors.  I found a leaf mold at Hobby Lobby to shape leaves with the fondant to decorate the cake.  I think it will look pretty when it is done and I am sure Sandra will do an amazing job on it.  Probably better than I could have done :)

Clearance

For all of those who have been following my husband and me in our venture to travel the world and  move overseas, we finally have medical clearance!!!  We received the phone call this morning from the doctors.  I can't believe it....I am still very much on an adrenaline/excitement high.  Working on ticketing now, but it looks like we might be leaving next week.  Thank you all for your continued support and "thoughts" for us!  We hope that you will all stay tuned for the next leg of our journey.

Mani/Pedi

Enjoyed a manicure, pedicure and Starbucks coffee with Sandra today.

                                                

Fabulous Fall

I know it has been a while since my last post.  Things have been quite busy.  Andrew and I took a short trip to Texas and New Mexico, which I should probably blog about.  Also my mom was in the hospital, she is out and doing much better now.  I have gone in for more blood work which hopefully be my last one and then we'll be able to go.

Not knowing whether we will leave soon or not, I have been getting a little into the fall spirit.  The Georgia National Fair is October 7 through 17th.  This year they are having a Georgia Goes Gluten Free Baking Contest.  If we are here, I am planning on entering.  Here are a few cakes that are giving me some inspiration from Country Living:

Autumn Spice Cake

Chocolate Pumpkin Cake

Tiered Pumpkin Spice Cake

Horseback Riding

Here are just a few pictures to document Andrew's first experience riding a horse last week on vacation!

Just getting aquainted

Getting saddled up!

Ridding down the trail

Gluten Free Bread

Well, I attempted my first gluten-free bread baking from scratch.  It was quite interesting.  I did a bit of reading and looking at different recipes before I got started.  Since rice flour, sorghum flour and all the other flours that are used as substitutes to wheat are so much thicker, it creates some difficulties.  The neatest thing that I did different for baking this bread was putting a pyrex of water on the bottom self of the oven.  It helps to add moisture to the oven and therefore helps the bread to be more moist and not dry.  I also used a convection oven for the first time ever on this bread.  Between trying out gluten free baking and using a convection oven, I'm not sure which one made the biggest difference.

I also decided not to put it in a loaf pan.  It turned out interesting, but it is definitely better than the gluten-free bread that you can buy in a store.  It wasn't exactly bad, but I do think I need some more  practice baking it before I get it right :)

Cookies

Yet again, my husband is my most favorite person in the world.  Tomorrow Andrew and I are going on vacation with my family.  A tradition I started a couple of years ago was to bring my famous ice cream scoop chocolate chip cookies on vacation for everyone.  Well, since this year I am gluten-free, I made myself a half batch of cookies without gluten and made my family a batch and a half of gluten filled cookies.  Unfortunately, my mom's kitchen-aid stand mixer was once my grandmas and therefore an antique.  It tends to be a little finicky, so we decided not to risk it and just use the hand mixer.  Andrew faithfully steps in to be the muscle on my hand mixer, about halfway though mixing up the batch and a half batter the hand mixer decides it is done and begins smoking.  At this point, Andrew again amazes me again by stepping in with a spoon to finish the job!  We had so much batter in the bowl that we were barely able to keep it all in.  Andrew managed to get it all mixed up quite nicely and the cookies turned out as good as ever.  I think probably a little better due to all the love that was put in them.

Mid-Weeker

Have I mentioned in my blog yet that I have an amazing husband?  Well I absolutely do!!  Our continual delays have made me somewhat stir-crazy.  Having nothing to do except go in for the occasional blood work or doctor visit, I have felt a bit out of sorts.  My amazing husband planned a mid-week get away Tuesday/Wednesday.  While we are going away on vacation next week with my family, it was still a great time to get away and just be the two of us together.  We packed in as much as we could on our two day get away to Atlanta.  First we went to Atlantic Station.  A little shopping center/village.  We ate at an amazing little Asian food place (don't worry I brought my soy sauce substitute: gluten-free). Then went to see Bodies...The Exhibition.  Thankfully we waited a little bit in between eating and going to see this exhibition.  While it was quite interesting, it was also quite disgusting. :)

After learning all about our bodies, we checked into our hotel and headed off to Centennial Park.  Andrew took many photographs while we were here which I am sure will turn out amazing and we'll all want to check out on LightlyFocused when he posts them.  After walking the park, we headed to the Coca-Cola Museum for some refreshment.

Waiting in line for Coca-Cola's 4D movie

Andrew was a little bit afraid of the bright light we were standing in.

After a long day of site-seeing and visiting museums, we headed out to dinner at Imperial Fez, a neat little Moroccan restaurant complete with reclined seating and a belly-dancer.

Day two in Atlanta brought us to Salvador Dali's Exhibition at the High Museum of Art.  He was a great artist, but I am afraid I believe he probably had some problems and needed to see a therapist.  

After visiting Salvador Dali's collection and looking around the rest of the High Museum, we headed off for our favorite restaurant, PF Chang's.  I ordered off the gluten-free menu, while Andrew enjoyed all the gluten in his meal :)

  

PF Chang's never disappoints and we left happy and satisfied.  For dessert, we went to Sally's Bakery where I got some gluten-free chocolate chip cookies right out of the oven and some blueberry muffins to enjoy at home over the next few days.

We had an amazing trip to Atlanta and I am so thankful to my incredible husband who is so thoughtful and loving.