10 days and counting :)

can't wait to hold my little stinker nephew.

i certainly cannot write all that is on my heart tonight. it is late. and finally, after a long day, perhaps partly because i'm so tired, the tears have come. i knew they would. i knew it was only a matter of time. they almost spilt over today walking to work knowing what would face me.

no, no one died. so perhaps these tears are just me being a girl. but today was my last day of work. and now that i'm home, after a jog that i thought would help, i sit here at home crying. thanking Him for His favor this past year. Thanking Him for all that He's done and for my sweet athletes that I will miss so much.

Will I see them again? I don't know. I have no idea what the future holds for them or for me. I do know where I'll be when it's all said and done. And tonight I'm begging Him to let them be there too. I love those girls. So very very much.

dreams are weird. #2

so, it would seem, from my dreams, that i have some anxiety. but gosh i feel great. seriously i don't feel stressed at all...but check out these whacked out dreams.

#1 3 nights ago:

i had a dream i was getting married. and i totally didn't want to marry this guy. [and for the record i have no idea who the guy was]. anyways, i just knew it wasn't right and i was freaking out. i was in the fellowship hall of lakeview where i reception would be. which is hilarious in theory cause 1. i don't want to EVER have my reception there. i want to DANCE. and for some reason...well never mind. also i remember having this terrible dress on that had like a fish net waist. yeah. hideous. hahaha. i remember in my dream looking in this mirror and thinking, what the crap was i thinking?! i can't wear this! i can't marry this guy! and basically the whole dream was me agonizing over the fact that if i told him no that meant everyone inside the sanctuary and who helped set up and prepare would have so many questions! and feel like i used them and wasted their times. but this was a huge decision. in my dream i was freaking out cause it was either disappoint everyone and break it off. or just go through with it. i had and 8 minute football play clock counting down until i had to walk down the aisle. woke up as i was watching it tick and thinking of my monstrous dilemma.

dream #2: myself along with a few others were riding in our van...in Saudi...yeah have no idea why. but anyways, we get hijacked and kidnapped. they tie my hands up with robe and tie me to a tree once we at their base. and by "their" i have no idea who i'm referring too. i guess someone who was mad from all the stuff in the news about those peeps in FL. haha. so anyways, i'm tied to a tree while the others are tied a good distance away. while the guards are preoccupied trying to get a fire in the desert to start(yeah, weird, i know), i wiggle lose and with my heart racing and adrenaline going i get the others untied as we make a run for it to the closest vehicle and high tale it out of there. i remember driving cause the people with me were hysterical. i drove all the way to the closest border, which in my dream wasn't jordan, but iraq. (?). as soon as i crossed over i called my security guy and just started sobbing that i had just escaped from my kidnappers and trying to process what had happened then i woke up.

yeah. i gotta stop reading the news. but i LOVE THE NEWS. ah.

How many Jordanian firefighters does it take to screw on a lightbulb?

So today at work six firefighters from the huge firestation down the road today came to work. I always walk pass this station on the way to work, keeping my eyes away from the men guarding the station with their AK 47s even though I know more often than not they aren't loaded....but have decided never to test that theory.

Anyhow, today 6 of them came into work! At first I thought it was for the obvious reason, to check the fire detector. But, come to think of it, I've never seen a building in the Middle East ever have a fire detector so I should of known that was a stupid thought.

They actually came in to fix the boy's rings! Yeah totally random. But they brought in this HUGE ladder and as it only took one man to actually do the fixing, the others sat around and stared at all of us working. It took the whole 3 hours of practice...imagine that.

I took some pictures. Which I will post later. Because honestly, I need to go to bed to get up for work again tomorrow.

But thought it was kinda funny it took 6 guys to fix the thing.

Football Season is here! Yay!

Wow. it's September 1st. crazy! that means one month and 10 days until I'm setting foot back onto American soil. Hard to believe I have lived in the Middle East for the past year and eleven months. Where does the time go?

So September 23rd will be my final day at work. I will most likely cry. Everyone knows now and that day will be set aside for playing, games, and a goodbye party. It's going to be an emotional day. Although it's had it's tough times and lots of stress and pressure I have loved it. I have loved it so so much. I can't imagine what life will be like back in America with out this job, without these co-workers who are like family, and without my girls. Everyone keeps asking, "when will you be back?" The coaches ask if I'll return after my masters. My girls ask if I can come back after 3 days. haha. I hate to leave them. But am so thankful to God for this season of my life.

Among other news in the sporting world, it looks like the head coach is pregnant! At least that's what she told me a few days ago. But today would be the day she'll take the test. I hope to be able to buy her baby clothes before I leave!

Also, we have two new coaches from Germany who I absolutely love. They don't speak English but coached 3 years as Syria's head coaches so we communicate through Arabic. But I love it. And I love them. Both of them are very good coaches and I'm already learning so much more from them as well as my Romanian co-workers. The only coach I feel uncomfortable around is Ustz Salaam's brother. He is new. He coached with Salaam for Iraq's National Team for a while before coming here (he's Iraqi). And he's already proposed to me twice. And it's gotten worse since he knows I'm leaving in 1 month. I guess he thinks if he tries hard enough I'll eventually say yes. I told him, as nicely as I could, to go to the US Embassy and enter his name into the lottery that allows refugees to go to America. I didn't get the impression he loved that idea. oh well.

9 more days of Ramadan. And it's been one of Jordan's hottest summers in many years. Making this Ramadan especially hard for those millions fasting from water 14-15 hours a day. I know they are all counting down for the Eid, a week long holiday at the end of Ramadan. But before this Eid, comes the Night of Power--the night Allah revealed the K'ran to Mohammad (peace be upon him). So for many here, they are praying that Allah too, will reveal himself to them. I actually think this day falls on my dad's birthday.

ok this is turning out to be the longest post ever. i'll stop and save my drama for another time.

Routy, Sadie and Pepsi :)

i don't know why, but today i really miss my dogs. i guess cause i'm going walking every night around 9 or 10 and i love that, back home, they never left my side when i went walking.

not many dogs here in the mid east. but lots and lots and lots of cats. eh. dogs are better. who can go walking with cats?

Mid East

you know you live in the Middle East when the presence of policemen make you feel less safe then when they're around...

you know you live in the Middle East when you have multiple numbers in your phone contacts listed as "do not answer", "annoying", "beware", and "creep". hah.

and when it's Ramadan! and there are beautiful lights on every house shaped like cresent moons and stars and little boys spend most of their hours setting off bottle rockets to see if you'll jump as you walk by.

man. i'm gonna miss the Middle East. seriously. must not think about leaving...

ale ale alejandro, alejandro!

Last week was an amazing week spent with my adopted brothers. Three of whom I've known since my years at Ole Miss and one "newby" who quickly became like the others. I did my best to keep them busy. I think I succeeded. And despite a car accident mishap everything else was incredible. I love these boys. And am so thankful they came!

I took them to Wadi Rum...a desert landscape with mountains and lots of sand. Our great Bedouin guide took us on a very fast Jeep Tour and an overnight experience in the desert. He even danced and sang for us (below)!

Fish and Zack, my heroes!

The boys got to teach American football while they were here. This a group of guys in Irbid who said American football was "magnificent".

Brady and Michael: these kids never stop singing. And I loved it.

Boys we taught football too. They loved it so much they deflated a basketball and wrapped it up with duck taped until it took shape of a football. Classic.

Myself and my brother Fish, overlooking my city.

Amazed at what He did this week. So grateful for an incredible week. Just wish it weren't over! But headed to Cairo tomorrow...so more updates soon.

oh and i got my diving license!! no sharks! whoo whoo! but it was an adventure needless to say!

sharks or any fish with teeth for that matter

that's right ladies and gents. i've officially decided to conquer my greatest fear. coming to the middle east: peace of cake. hanging out with various members of certain "groups": nothing. living in the #1 city in the world for sexual harrassment: bring it on.

swimming with the possibility of sharks: ahhhhhhhhh!!!!

that's right. i'm going to get diving certified! and in the red sea!! hope i don't come across any dead egyptian bodies...but more importantly, you all who know me, know my number one fear is SHARKS. oh Lord, keep them away!!!

luckily, i have 3 weeks to mentally prepare.

dreams are weird.

Had a dream last night. Half of which was in Arabic. Man I've been dreaming like crazy these past few weeks. Real vivid dreams. Aren't dreams weird? And often times hilarious? Here are a few...

So one dream was I was at the beach with my family and Amelia Foshee. I think it may have been like a youth things cause we were all camping out in the sand under the stairs...yeah, weird, but i remember thinking that in the dream "this must be a youth thing". hah. what does that even mean?

anyhow. when i woke up Amelia was a fish. An orange fish to be exact. And Dad told me she had a brain virus and that I shouldn't touch her because it was highly contagious. ... hmm. So obviously I was a little bit worried havin slept next to her in the sand and all. But Dad was like, well, she's a fish so you better put her in the water. So I put her on a hook and line and let her swim around in the ocean all the while (I was wading in the water) trying to keep this fish from touching me least I get a brain virus too. hahaha.

Then, as crazy as dreams are, the next thing I know is I'm on this raft with Dad, Mom, and Camille and Amelia (who is now, miraculously, a person) and we wade out to a pier...(yeah doesn't make sense but what about dreams ever do?). Dad tells Amelia she's looking pretty bad and she better go back to shore and call her parents. haha. We are a very compassionate family...

Then somehow or another I end up back at the beach talking on the phone with Marie (Amelia's mom) about her situation. Amelia, at this time in on her way in an ambulance to the hospital. I have dad call the ambulance and they say her eyes are bleeding and that the brain virus doesn't look good.

The last thing I remember is Dad telling me she probably wouldn't make it and that we all needed to pray for a miraculous healing. So in the middle of a prayer for Amelias life I woke up...

The dream last night involved me in a wheelchair. Kind of hilarious I know. Some guy...I have no idea who he was...was trying to help me learn to walk again. And I remember yelling out "Musaidny! Musaidny!" and then "Help me! Help me!" (Musaidny=help me in arabic). I also remember after yelling this several Americans, several Canadians (?) and several Arabs came to help and then it switched senerios and we were all laughing about how I yelled in Arabic and English...and then I woke up....

so. any interpretations of these dreams?

Cairo Bound

I am amazed. What have I done to deserve what He has given me? Certainly nothing.

Today I learned that after I go home to complete my masters studying that the gymnastics federation of jordan want me to return. And they want me to return as not just a 6 month coach that happened to go over a year... but as a fulltime staffed coach. wow, Father.

and not only that. but I had planned on taking a trip to Cairo and the Princess, HRH (Her Royal Highness) has offered to pay for me to go.

He really never ceases to amaze me with His goodness towards me.

men

Sometimes, no offense to you Esam if you are reading this. But Arab men can make me so ...frustrated.

For instance, not that this is the first time or anything just the most recent. Tonight I was on my way home from work when I notice a guy stick his head out his window to look at the "foreigner" walking home. Awesome. That's okay though. I do that too in America I'm sure.

But then he goes and pulls the U-turn to come back around. Not cool. So I walk through a field. But notice that he AGAIN does a u-turn to get onto the street that eventually I would get too. And after passing me AGAIN and then doing ANOTHER uturn I decided it was time to do something about it. I had 2 options.

Option 1: Run home and obviously he'd follow me in his black car to my home then learn where I live.

Or Option 2: HidE in the small crevice of a building and hope that he didn't see me jump behind the wall. hah.

so naturally, being a dark night, i picked #2. And I must say I was victorious. After he drove past the crevice with me peeking out he didn't turn around again but drove on. I OUTWITTED HIM! woo hoooo!

wedding day (s)

Tomorrow, my dear friend from Camp is getting married. Morgan, I can't believe I'm not there for your big day. You know how much I wish I could be. I'll be lifting you and Aron up.

So it's official. I won't lie and say it's been easy. But I've missed 3 of my best friends weddings. Jennifer, Maggie, and now Morg. Girls, I hope you know how much of a blessing you have been in my life. Such a sweet honor that I could be your "bridesmaid" even from the Middle East. I can't wait to spend time with you each and your husbands :).

Jenn, I miss you. Couldnt of survived Ole Miss without you. or Kanakuk Osage years for that matter!! Was so greatful to get to skype into your rehearsal dinner and surprise you and David!

Mags. All my hilarious stories at Auburn High include you! haha. I wish i could of been there!

Morg, You get married tomorrow!! Seems like just yesterday we were at Marannook shouting at a bunch of kids to listen to us and mostly at Matthew to kill snakes and..well...other things... great times.

Love you all.

Miss you all.

am so blessed through y'all.

I Heart Pals

Wow. It's hard to believe i only have 4 months left. I don't want to think about. It some ways I'm so thrilled to see my friends and family! How I miss you all. But so much work is left to do. So much. My heart is heavy. Must not think....

So anyways. Lots happening on this front. Israel, as evident on the news, has boarded the next bound ship for Gaza taking aid. Makes life interesting. Was in a "Ducan" (coke shop) to buy some water and the owner said, "ah yes, you and Israel, you are like bestfriends". All I could think to say to get out of the coming forceful political conversation was to tell everyone in the shop, "I love Palestine!!!" Which, thankfully is true! Then I quickly left.

I do love Palestine. I pray you do too. For I know, that He loves all people, and is currently adopting Pals as His own chosen, sweet, children.

How I love Him for it.

oh arabic. you never stop making me laugh.

so todays "hafle" or party was a success. people came, ate, socialized and left. lots of fun. my favorite part though would probably have to be my language mishap. this is HILARIOUS.

get this, so this guy who i had never met was going to first come by our house to see where it is so that he could go pick up his family then bring them back here. So when i went to arrange where to meet him, "drive to dahleeah circle, uturn, i'll meet you at the regency hotel" he agreed. So Josh and I headed out there together to get this guy. Anyhow, he was like, so i recognize you, what are you wearing? now this is a natural question for someone to ask who has never met. but because i was giving him directions i didn't at first really understand. plus he had cars in the background and was speaking 90 to nothin' in a heavy palestinian accent! so i was like...um, i don't know if i understand, but ...now heres the funny part...i said in arabic, "whatever you'd like!"

bahahahhahahahahahha.

"what will you be wearing?"

"well, sir, whatever you'd like"

oh the joys of arabic.

don't worry. i quickly realized what i'd said and after many apologies and laughter i explained to him I hadn't understood and that I was wearing black and green. hahahah.

happy independence day jordan!

So, last Friday we were invited to share a meal with a family. Friday is the holy day here. It is also family day. So it’s normally a grand event to be invited on this day because you are meeting EVERYONE and you don’t stop eating.
So after we met everyone, Aunts, Uncles, grandkids, cousins, etc we watched about an hour of a car parade. That was fun. Apparently, my friend was riding in the white van. Good to know.
Secondly, we invited them to come to our house. So turns out tomorrow, we’ll be hosting roughly 15 Palestinians who don’t know any English in our home and we’re pretty darn excited about it! This family is great. Granted it will probably be hilarious considering the following that has already taken place: below is a guide to how to plan an Arab party.

1. Make sure you order SIX pizzas and ask for NOORMAN. He’s legit. He drove all the way out to our house today just to deliver us a menu. Gotta love Noorman.

2. Be sure you can speak Arabic. When communicating to a family member…I’m still not sure who he said he was or how he was related, be sure you do not agree to anything you don’t understand. For example, he called me at 10 o’clock tonight and said “I’m almost at your house!” dude. No. it’s night. We’re busy. Plus we’re girls. Not okay. See you tomorrow.

3. make sure you pick up your phone the first time they call. If you ever try to screen then you can expect 15-20 calls in the span of 5 minutes until you give in.

4. make sure arabs like pizza. We’ll find out tomorrow.

5. Make sure that you look on the calendar before inviting a massive amount of people over. Tomorrow, it so happens, is Jordan’s Independence Day. So that’s exciting. Go Jordan! Eat your American pizza now!

6. more to come as the party unfolds tomorrow

questions

so yesterday while i was in a taxi, we hit another car. fun times. i was okay. my roommate and i laughed about it when i got home because the taxi hit a parked car that had people in it. haha. everyone was fine...

here are a few questions i've decided to ask God when I get to heaven:

1. how many men above the age of 18 do NOT have a mustache in Jordan? I'd guess about 4%. This could be FACT.

2. how many people ate last year's thanksgiving meal with just one tooth? (this one is actually a question my roommate wants to know).

3. how many feral cats are roaming my neighborhood on in average daily basis?

if you know the answers to any of these, i won't have to wait til heaven. :)

BellyDance Lessons

What a crazy and overall great week!

I was able to go to the camp twice to visit friends! I played dress up most of the time in their burqa's, attempted to belly dance...i'm terrible at it p.s....and ate LOTS of food and held adorable little new Arab babies!

On top of that, last night a bunch of friends and I went out to eat at this place where you can dress up like Bedouins. There was also a wedding going on with some pretty fancy decorations, dangerous fireworks (not surprising), and of course Lebanese PROFESSIONAL belly dancers. Over all, a great night.

Yes, the above picture is Andrew, Mimi, myself, and my roommate..who yes, does have a mustache.

This is how I try to convice my friends that i really can't belly dance..seriously.

Supha and her neice!!!! I love this girl so so so so much!

Playing dressup with Supha's mom's clothes. hah

Who doesn't love a pair of good, stuffed, sheep?

Labenese Belly Dancers and their fear of fireworks...

Sweet Micah and his gun!

fun times with arabic

so here are my most recent language mishaps...

1. i told a lady that Jesus turned the water into servants..... whoops.

2. a girl asked me who my friend judy lived with and instead of saying, "she lives with her husband". i said "she lives with YOUR husband"... another whoops.

random thoughts

5 days ago marked the year and a half anniversary of my time overseas!! crazy to think how time has in a lot of ways gone by so fast!

still working 6 days a week. the "federation" (sounds like a star wars term doesn't it?) has offered and begged me to stay with them until December. As most of you know, I can only stay until October and even then I'd planned to take some time off of work. So we'll see if they'll let me trade 5 days a week at the gym instead of 6.

Wish I had a funny story to tell. But right now life is moving on at a steady pace and temperatures are finally getting warmer. (oh no!). You can tell the Summer is quickly approaching!

Spring I love you

Well Spring has arrived in Jordan! I can walk outside and see green grass, flowers I've never known existed, and every patch of spare land, including my driveway, there can be found a shepherd and his sheep. Man I love spring! I love being able to go outside and see a shepherd napping under a bloomed tree while his sheep lazingly "mow" the grass or lay beside him. What a sweet reminder of the Word and how He is my good Shepherd. His rod and staff comfort me. He leads me beside the still waters...ah! i love it!

Wednesday we have a gymnastics competition here in Amman. I'll be the head coach representing Amman Baccalaurete School. Pray for my little kiddos and me. One of my sweet gymnasts broke her wrist in two places last week. Eh. But man, I hope she wins the judges over with her cuteness! Pictures will be posted!

On another note, please forgive my lack of English skills. No joke. Arabic is horrible for your English. It's distroying my native tongue! I tend to talk English lately like I would to an Arab. Which is basically arabinglisi as I call it. It's bizarre. And I may need English rehab when I get home, seriously, to be grammatically correct again. But speaking of Arabic it's slowly getting easier. I know what you're thinking, man, you have been in the Middle East a year and a half you should be fluent! Well I'm not even close. Google it. On average it takes a person 7 years to master Arabic. So don't judge me. haha. But I can explain why I won't marry you. haha. And I can tell you a lot of important stuff like where i live, etc. And don't worry, it really is coming along. I've memorized the Roman Road for those of you who know what I'm talking about. The story of Daniel and his 3 buddies (1 chpt), story of the woman at the well, and many others. So thank y'all for always asking for that one. Language is coming on nicely and I have lots of little kiddos to correct my southern Alabama Arabian Accent. :)

update coming...

well, i know i know. it's been almost a month and my parents have come and gone and lots has happened since then and during our awesome trip together.

but know that an update will be coming soon.........

but not tonight :)

March! Finally, you are here.

Well, this is my first post as a 24 year old. Where has the time gone??

My roommate and friend, Yancee planned me a surprise party. I was very surprised and did not expect it. I told her I'd be home early from work that night not knowing she was inviting people over. But instead of early I was late and didn't get home until 8. hahahaha. So people were waiting for me for almost 2 hours. whoops..... But it was a blast.

Last night I went to a banquet honoring the Iraqi Gymnastics Federation who has been using our facilities here in Jordan to host a Gymnastics camp. They offered me a job...which I said "insha2allah". Which is another of way of basically graciously declining. This job would place me in the heart of Baghdad and would require a body guard and in all seriousness, the ability to avoid being kidnapped. Not sure my parents would be to excited bout that offer. But still nice to make connections in the sporting world.

My parents come in a week! With Camille my sister and Amelia!! Can't wait!!! Dad will be running a half marathon in Jerusalem!! Man. I hope he wins!!

i do not prefer organs, thank you

Today I ate a chicken's heart. and then his liver.

it was nasty.

tasted like chalk.

but when you visit someone they don't ask you if you want any. they just fix you a plate and boom. "harram" if you don't eat it!!!! (harram=not allowed).

so, out of politeness, i ate his heart.

EL ZARKA

Yesterday my team loaded up in a big charter bus and we drove 45 minutes out of Amman to a city know as Zarka. Here we put on a presentation promoting the sport of gymnastics at a Center for preforming arts. The Princess was there to give out gifts to all of those in gymnastics who have medaled at meets around the world. I didn't get to video record it. Had my roommate try. And although my roommate tried to pretend she could not see the Royal guards waving at her to turn the camera off...we still didn't get enough footage. Will try again next time so you can see the fruit of my labor!

pictures of a few of my rascals before the big show:

the Dragon Dance

Today I bought a tabla from the balad. it's pretty sweet. I like to drum it while Yancee strums her guitar.

And tonight, following a solid hour of crazy made up songs revolving Cats in Jordan (affectionally named the Cat Balad or otherwise "Let's make more of us"). Then our Chinese neighbor came over. In China, the major Spring Festival celebrating the New Year is happening, she's been especially lonely for home. So we looked up a few traditions for the holiday and decided to go with one to do for her. So Yancee played my tabla, while I, cloaked in a blanket, proceeded to be a dragon for her. It was awesome. And yes. I am twenty-three.

work work work

It's February. And while there is no snow outside (albeit it did snow some a few days ago) you can still see your breath with every exhale. and this is INSIDE your house. Oh what I would give for a fireplace!!! But I am so greatful for my little propane soba. Even if that little heater will kill me early with all that healthy gas....must.be.warm.

In a month and one week my parents will be here!!! Oh I cannot wait. Coming with them will be my best friend and sister, Camille. I can't wait to see you sissy!!!! it's been too long! Amelia, a best friend from childhood will also be joining us. I cannot wait to have her here as it will be her first time overseas! What a fun place to start! ....i hope.

Work today was tough. It was the first time I've had to talk to parents about the girls behavior. Granted, I love love love to play with them. But after play time we must work and get down to serious training. So needless to say I had some back talk which I do not put up with and I felt like I was back to teaching my 10th graders (who i loved by the way!) in Mississippi. Start Strick then ease up.

well, don't want to bore you. And i'm so tired after a day of teaching english, and then visiting with my ADORABLE chinese neighbor who makes authentic chinese food for me (so spicy that I can't tell if that is air from my mouth because it is cold inside or if I'm shooting fire), and then went to spend what energy I had left on my 25 little rascals....

all in all. a very productive day. but can't wait for my fam to be here!!!

so random fact of the day...found an equestrian park in sports city! who knew?!

and secondly, i hateeeeeeeee washing dishesssssss. oh to be in the land where dish washers are in every home!

and thirdly, i have the sweetest chinese neighbor! honestly. and i love eating her authentic chinese meals! yum yum.

Wow

Princess Aisha gave me a pearl bracelet today! Insane!!! All i did was help her on one little "cheerleading" dance!

Christmas Review!

So I went bowling yesterday. I made 3 strikes and 2 spares on BOTH games!! All that wii bowling before I came overseas paid off....

I've been helping out another Princess in my spare time. She is Camille's, my sister's age, and we've been working on her "half time performance" for an upcoming basketball game. She is precious and if you didn't know, you would never have guessed she is His Royal Highness' neice!

Still teaching English. It's hilarious and so much fun. I love my girls! Pictures to hopefully come soon!

And although this is now outdated, i'm long overdo on posting Christmas Vacation pics with my brother, best friend from childhood, Jesse, and several others who went with me across the Great Jordan River....

So hopefully...if they load...here are a few pics of our adventures!

Cameron and I at JC's baptism site on the Jordan Side!

Doing a Dell Crosby pose in Petra!
Jesse and I with the Temple Mount and the Western Wall in the background
At a remake of a tomb like the one JC would of been buried in...for 3 days!
Cameron and friend starting up the fire in Bethlehem for Christmas Eve smores and carols
Hiking Christmas Day in Engedi, a beautiful National Park where Saul and his possy chased David and his men...and where Saul "relieved" himself. hah.

there are lots more... but i'll spare you guys.

To my lil man, Isaac. i LOVE YOU HABIBI!!!

so i can't believe it. in two weeks my precious nephew will be 1 year old!!!!! how the time has flown since his birth and i have yet to hold him in my arms but i love this little boy so so much! i can't wait to meet this little guy come august of this year!!

and even though he's a bama fan from birth....i still love him.



steven, my brother-in-law, and his boys

my sister with her boy :)

procrastinating so i might as well blog

10 days into 2010 and i feel like my life is in the fast lane. I'm not sure how I always do this, but just like college I'm incredibly busy. Granted now it's not sorority, CCC, NOBC, gamma chi, or student g'ment...oh yeah and class... but it is just as crazy!

Today I woke up, ate breakfast, headed to the gym. Coached there for 3 hours and left early to go to a private school and coached there for another 2 hours, then came home, threw some clothes in the wash, then took some things over to my new house (I'm moving tomorrow), went to meet up with a friend for dinner, took her to the mall, ran out early to come home and pack. Have been packing and now it's 11 and I don't feel like doing anymore and now i'm on here procrastinating so that tomorrow in my three hour break between English Class and Gymnastics I'll finish.... THEN tomorrow night, I'M MOVING!!

Good thing I love my life. and did I mention i LOVE LOVE LOVE the Middle East?

First Runway walk of 2010

Sorry I couldn't get this to turn rightside up. Go figure. I'm great with technology...

But here is take 2 of the runway walk brought to you by Mohammad and Ali, two of my friends on the national men's team at the gym. they are hilarious. and i had to make them do it over again cause i was laughing too hard the first time.

anyways, here's how we brought in the new year 2010!