spring, spring!

The trees outside my window are blooming and that means spring is here! The weather has been amazing the past few weeks and I am loving it.

the little things

Living here, I've come to appreciate the little things. Small, daily joys that make life a bit better...like finding Cheez-its at the grocery store. That is a treat for sure. Yum!

preparations

Next Monday is Sham el Nessim--which is a celebration of the coming of Spring. It is always the day after Easter. Raw salted fish, green onions and lemons are on the menu. They symbolize something that I can't remember--not my choice of celebratory food, but it's tradition! Happy Spring!

arabic homework

Is best done in pencil I've learned. Speaking and spelling are two different ball games...whew.

ismi khan.

I went to go see a great movie tonight called "My Name is Khan" If you get the chance to see it, I highly recommend it.

happy birthday!

We celebrated a friend's birthday in the park with some homemade cherry pie. We couldn't eat a bite...obviously.

Top 11

American Idol night! I love that it's subtitled in Arabic.

they've made the switch

Lately, I've been seeing Coke cans with the 'normal' top that you find in the States like the one on the right. However, the Coke can on the left is what has been 'normal' for the past few years. Oh the blurred lines between what's normal and what's unfamiliar. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

faith of a mustard seed

Another one of my favorite spots in the city. This is the place where God's people prayed and the mountain moved. Also where they built a church in a cave. Beautiful.

schatz

This is one of my favorite places to hang out in the city. Yummy food, great atmosphere, always a good time.

trip to the park

The weather has been AMAZING this week so I went to the park today with my guests. Great day for pictures!

yes, please.

I went and had coffee with a dear friend today. We talked about how one day we will open up our own awesome coffee place. A rooftop location complete with a slogan and jingle.

drive thru fruit stand

I got to visit an orphanage today and we stopped on the way to buy some bananas for the kiddos.

contestants 13 and 14

We got together to watch American Idol tonight and had a few extra performers join us :)

kolla senna wa inta tayeb!

Cohen turned the big 0-6 today! A fun time was had by all!

day with the hannahs

My friend Kristi is in town and we had lunch with our friend Hannah that lives here, then met up with another Hannah that we used to work with who just happened to be visiting my city this week!

khan el khalili

I went with my guests to the big open air market tonight for some dinner and shopping. I didn't intend on buying anything, but that place gets me every time.

outbackers

I went to lunch with my friends who are in town. They happen to work at Outback in the States. They were a huge hit with the wait staff and we got great service :)

city shot

Got together with a few families for some worship and lunch today. I love community.

wafflicious

The name says it all. I went with my friends to test out a new restaurant here in town. Two words--A-mazing.

holy moly.

I forgot how funny this show is...love it!

counting down

I spent the afternoon getting my house ready for guests...can't wait for them to get here!

still making us laugh

Reading an email my Pawpaw printed out and saved. Man I love him.

I think I need a vacation.

97 degrees in early March. Does not make me look forward to early August. Time to go to the beach.

night out

Dinner, coffee, an awesome playlist, brain teasers and the SAM scale.

game night

Card games and yummy snacks!

shopping trip

I went with a friend to pick out some new sunglasses today. So many options. She found some cute ones though!

I love this city.

keeping up

A friend of mine recently went to the States and I asked her to bring me back a People Magazine. I never read it when I lived there, but now it's one of those things that helps me feel normal.

happy tuesday!

I LOVE new music. Especially when it's this good. Thank you Matt Wertz.

wired

On the cell phone with my supervisor when my US phone rang, then the doorbell rings and dinner is delivered that I ordered online. Crazy few minutes but how amazing is technology??