Arriving in Duhok Aug. 2012

On August 24th, 2012 we left Iowa for the 3rd time to go to Iraqi Kurdistan. 

Typical travel posture.... with not enough leg-room for Bishop legs. Trying not to covet 1st class recliners :)

It was Zephie's 10 month birthday on the second half of our travel day so she wore her little 10 month old onesie to celebrate!  It was of course a long day, but thankful for God's grace throughout the day!

The site that we are about to land in Iraq. Lots of emotions when we see this...... but mostly causes us to say "Hallelujah, Glory be to our Great God"

After we landed, we were greeted by a familiar face (always a blessing in itself) who had a bus ready to take us to Duhok. We loaded our bus that only had one thing missing.... Our other teammates, The Nelson family :( So it was our family, and Helen and Sarah with all our luggage.

A few of the sites on our way to Duhok......

 (photo collage by Sarah)

We were immediately welcomed by our excited neighbors with "Chowani?" (How are you?) 

 It was so wonderful to come into our home, that had beds made, and in pretty decent order. (Thanks to our last year's roommate, Emily)  It made it much easier to get back in the swing of things. 

Then the Nelson's arrived.... Zephie was really excited to be reunited with her little buddy again :)

In the first couple weeks.....

We brushed up on some Kurdish

Ate at some of our favorite although quirky restaurants

Breathed in lots of hot-dusty air while we went shopping for some of the main necessities.

We tried to get our kids to know the difference from night and day. The first couple of weeks are always rough with little sleep, so we tried to get outside during the day as much as possible and enjoy the city.

No strollers or car so lots of walking with my little cuddle love. 

Here's to the start of a new year in Duhok... doing ministry and life with these rock stars!

August 2012

K- this is REE-DIC-U-LOUS-LY LATE..... but it's done for the "scrap-book"

The last month of our time in Iowa for summer 2012 was one filled with vacation, family, and friends.  Not to mention moving once again.

First off, we went to Colorado (most of the pictures were in my "Ada Post" but another HUGE highlight of our trip was to see one of my bestie high school friends, Erin and her new little baby boy, Camden who was less than a month old at the time: I can't believe I didn't get a picture of him :( but here's us girls!

Not sure which picture to call "normal" for us?

On the way home from Colorado, we stopped at Omaha Zoo and had a blast!

The next weekend, we enjoyed a total chill weekend with the Bishop's for last time in 10 months.........

Then it was the Kriener Family's turn.....

Here are some more highlights from our time in Iowa during August. 

then.... our last few days.... movin' and packin' but still enough time for some fishin'!

Next stop.... Iraqi Kurdistan

Ada's getting MARRIED!

Do you remember THESE girls?

Well we had another reunion in Colorado at the beginning of August.....

 Mostly meeting this guy, (Cameron) who asked my girl Ada to marry him!  He's legit so I'm pumped! :o)

 Yeah... they are getting married TODAY! I know crazy, right?! September 22, 2012, Ms. Ada Anderson will be tying the knot!  The knot of 3 cords. (cheesy, yes... but I have this childlike freedom to talk cheesy when I'm in context of these 2 lovelys!

We had some great times together like usual! Hiking, Andy and Cameron went to Rockies game, out to eat, lots of chattin' and coffee, and oh yeah we even threw a little bridal shower!

But like usual, we had to have a Dress-up Girls Night on the town (and lots of picture posing)

and crazy-fun-unihibited dancing... we got some mad skills

My college besties.... How I love you so!

To my home girl Ada, 

I'm sosososososososo sad I can't be there today. I wish I could have a genie right now... Wish #1: Fly me to Denver! Wish #2: Make it be free! Wish #3: hmmmm... I'll save that one for when I need it.

But the fact is.... I don't have a genie... but I have a God who is way bigger than giving me what I want..... If God were like a genie, then God wouldn't rule the world, we would.  (scary thought!)

HE does what He does on His own time. He is the KING of ALL CREATION! So I will wake up in the middle of the night  (Lord Willing video skyping will work) to watch you walk down the aisle, cry, and praise Him for our friendship and what He has in store for you and Cam. I know your going to be absolutely stunning! I have peace that God has put me (our family) HERE for a reason. And I will try to celebrate with you unselfishly. Joy overfilling that He is uniting you with Cameroneh! 

(loud Indian war-cry)

xoxo

July 2012

We were busy each weekend in July.... One weekend we went to visit my sis, KT and my parents in Des Moines area.  Lots of relaxing and swimming.  Including diving into shallow pond water off this sweet pickup truck diving board! :)

Next weekend...Grant and Maggie Baker got married and asked Zander to be the ring bearer in their wedding. Their rehearsal dinner was at Fireside Winery on a beautiful night. The next day was also beautiful in the sense of seeing two people sharing a commitment with God and their closest family and friends (sweaty or not!) It was beautiful! (ohhhh and Zander did awesome, with a little bribery of a batman cape and costume) Still we were so proud of him, it actually brought some tears to our eyes. 

The Sunday after, we had a get together with awesome friends... , C. and V. Nelson, and G. and C. Nelson with all the kids.  Love these guys!


Then it was the big family reunion. We went with my mom and sister Alice in the motor home to Minnesota. Lots of Dax/Zander bonding time and singing "Red Solo Cup".


Next, we got together with high school friends Mandy and Bri. Then that Saturday Andy ran in his first 5K with a buddy at SugarBottom.  Zander was so excited that he wanted to have his own race. A little later that night my parents brought cuz Dax to Iowa City for a night and spent the next day at the beach.

Here's some other family snapshots from the rest of the month of sweet Z's!

June 2012

I wanted to give a little Summer 2012 at a glance this week. So first up JUNE!!!!

We landed in America the last day in May... first thing I did after a long day of traveling... 

Enjoyed some Starbucks with my little man!

OK now for real.... First days we enjoyed some much missed down time with our Family and Friends. Here's some memories captured in photos!

With my family......

 then Andy's....


We drove down to Nashville to spend time with our sending organization, Servant Group Int'l and our sweet team! So thankful for all of them!


And lastly... here's an assortment of times we spent as a family or with great friends!

What a blast!