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.