Love it

"Mom!! I met REAL Americans! Like the ones in the Embassy!!"-My 12 year old Iraqi neighbor :) So cute.

I remember this one time...in america....

top things i wish i could do if i were in the states!

1. tailgate in the Grove with Ellison and Jennifer and Anna Golsen at "our tent"

2. Eat at the Beacon for breakfast, Handy Andy's BBQ for lunch, and Ajax's for dinner. yum yum.

3. Meet up with Amy Cole at Bottle Tree Bakery.

4. Roll Toomers and grab some lemonade.

5. go to Panera with Amelia and Cierra all while eating frozen yorks

6. laugh with Maggie while planning her upcoming wedding!

7. Visit Morgan at the summit in B'ham

8. Hug my nephew!

9. Hug my dogs! I love you, Pepsi! (and Routy, and Sadie)

10. Obviously be with the fam and beat Camille at the Wii

Visitors!

So October is almost over. Wow. Where did it go? It has started to feel more like Fall. Granted I don't see leaves changing into any vibrant colors. But as one of the Jordanian coaches I work with put it, everything is different-over the course of 3 days people have changed what they wear, what they eat, and are all happy that summer is officially over.

With November around the corner I anticipate the arrival of many guests. Let the good times roll. :) First April comes at the end of November, then MY BROTHER! yay! and childhood friend Jesse for Christmas! As well as Joy and Madi! Can't wait to see you all! And then... once Spring Break rolls around I'll get to see the parents! And Camille! Can't wait to see you, sissy! And possibly/hopefully Amelia!!

Now if only I could convince Carla and Kimmie to come...

KRUMP

i kinda want to learn to krump now....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8kKbbdJTFA

Sana Wahed! [year one!]

Yesterday marked one year from when I sat foot off the plane into the Middle East. Looking back now, it is amazing how much that first year flew and how much I love it.

If you had told me just a few years ago I'd be living in the Middle East I would of thought you were crazy. But my love for it grows and grows everyday.

For those of you who don't know, the gymnastics federation was impressed with my work (By His grace alone) and have offered me a year residency to continue coaching. I'm now working with the National team 6 days a week as well as training a few girls at a local school during their P.E. hours. It's a lot of work. But I love when I'm coaching and another athlete comes up behind me to give me a hug. Or the approval they so seek after each skill. Granted, they hate it when I punish them with 40 pushups or make them condition...but it's amazing just how quickly and how much I love my little ones!

Mr. Salaam

An Iraqi man picked me up today and swung me around by my arm and ankle. Who does that?!

3 day Getaway :)

"I am against you, O Tyre, and I will bring many nations against you, like the sea casting up its waves.  They will destroy the walls of Tyre and pull down her towers; I will scrape away her rubble and make her a bare rock. Out in the sea she will become a place to spread fishnets, for I have spoken, declares the Sovereign LORD." -Ez. 26

So I had a few days off of work for the Eid Celebrations that mark the end of Ramadan. They told me at the gym on Thursday that I had 9 days off before I have to return. So spur of the moment I asked my roommate if she felt like going over to a neighboring country. Sure enough she did and we booked our ticket a day later and flew out on Monday to Beirut, Lebanon. 

As you flew in to the city the sights were breathtaking. Storm clouds of thick rain rolling in over high mountains on the edge of the Med. Sea. I haven't seen rain in a while. It felt good, sounded good, and was beautiful. 

Day 1 consisted of biking along the Cornish. We rode over to Penguin Rock, a famous Lebanon landmark, got a little rained on, and enjoyed the oceanic scenery. Messed around the downtown area and ate some fabulous Lebanese food. (two thumbs up!). 

Day 2 was one of my favorites. We drove down to Tyre Lebanon where we heard the good beaches were. We passed through a city where the crazy Queen Jezebel was from. Got out to take pictures. Passed several old Crusader castles from the 

1500s and passed closed to where Elijah gave a widow some water. 

But arriving in Tyre was awesome. The morning we went to see the largest recovered/found Hippodrome in the the world. We saw a full size field where gladiators once fought for deadly entertainment and the locker rooms for the home and "visiting" team.

Later, we are lunch of beef and hummus and then spent the day swimming over the ancient city of Tyre prophesied above to one day be underwater. It was incredible. You could snorkel over ancient columns of the city and see old pottery and rooms and Roman baths and find ancient Egyptian/Roman/Grecian/Tyre coins engraved with their respected carvings. It was breathtaking. Granted the current was really strong over the rocky ruins but it made for an adventurous swim. Not to mention the thrill of avoiding massive jelly fish that had swam over from Egypt.

Day 3 consisted of driving out to the Cedars of Lebanon. Crazy beautiful. You HAD to drive to

 spectacular mountainous views to get there  and once near the summit of one mighty mountain Cedars were abundant and beautiful. The air was cold but my favorite thing was the smell. It was heavenly! We saw one 

tree dated back to be more than 3000 years old--sometime before Isaiah. Crazy to think these were the trees so demanded around the world and used for the building of the Temple Solomon would build. 

After the Cedars we had to hurry or we'd miss our flight--- but man it was an amazing vacation!