Blueberry

I didn't take this picture. Petr Kratochvil did.
This is a blueberry. 

I like blueberries.

We can't get them here. Not even the blueberry muffin mix. 

I will pack some of that mix when we come back here. 

There is something else about blueberries that's interesting.

 I have something in me that's the size of a blueberry this week!

That's right... that something is actually beginning to be someone.

A blueberry.... just two weeks ago it was a poppyseed.

Seriously?!?.... I'm amazed at God's workmanship!

Slowly, carefully, intricately beginning to form. 

Meanwhile.... Zander has NO CLUE! But when I hold the 1-year old girl from across the street, he gives me evil eyes that imply "What do you think your doing?"  He will have to start getting used to not being the baby of the family anymore!!!

Sorry I didn't have Zander wearing a "Big Bro" T-shirt. But then all you had to do was look at the picture. That's normally my style, but..... not today. Today I wanted to talk about blueberries.

March Madness- Day 3

Some of the best times come unexpected. We were expecting to rest today as Kurdish picnics wear you out! After spending the morning baking, I was still in my t-shirt and sweatpants when our neighbor came over and asked us if we wanted to go on a picnic with their family in 10 mins!

Lucky for us they were running on Kurdish time and we had 30 mins to get ready plus their niece who I have really been able to connect with (also speaks flawless English) came over and helped me do my hair :)

We found our spot! Gelly Cort (Short Valley) It was a popular place.

This family has been our closest friends while we have been here, and have told us we are like family to them. This has at times seemed more like a polite way to welcome us into their home. It wasn't until today that I actually felt like they meant it because they asked me to help prepare the meal! Coming from a culture of hospitality, this was a first for me while here. So this meant alot. So I got to work chopping the veggies for the salads.

It's chow time! They even had grilled hot dogs because some of them were at our house a couple days ago (see Day 1 of this madness) and liked them so much they wanted to have them again. The simple treasures!

Andy of course lovin' the Chicken Tikka and some quality time with Neighbor and Zander's girlfriend.

So don't judge. Zander drank a pop and had about 100 cookies that were given to him by Kurds. I look at it kinda like grandparents spoiling him. If it only happens every so often it's ok. Right?!?!

All the Ladies (+ Zander)Just the guys!

Ok- Now the real party starts. Get your pinkies warmed up because they will get tugged on for the next hour! Time for some Kurdish Dancing.

Zander didn't quite make it home awake. He had to take a quick power nap while we finished dancing. I know buddy, it's been a long day! But quite memorable!

March Madness- Day 2

Our student "David" asked us to go with his family to a picnic today. So we left at 9am ready to go fully equipped with our badminton rackets, coloring books, coats, diapers.....Not quite knowing what to expect!

2 1/2 hours later it looked like we found our picnic spot. Looked similar to the spots an hour back, but they wanted to take us to the "perfect" spot. Andy enjoyed some kite flying with his student while there is still no rain.

Meanwhile, everyone else gets to work unloading the vehicles and preparing the food.

These aren't the typical pack some cold meat sandwhiches and chips picnic. They bring their little grills, make kabobs, salads, and dolma (rice stuffed cabbage leaves basically)

Ladies here.....Men overthere.....

Just when everyone finished eating and we poured our cup of chai it started sprinkling. Zander was just starting to make friends

But we decided to pack up after it starting raining pretty good. So started making our way back to Duhok. Where both lanes of traffic were going same way. Normal? Only in Kurdistan!

Amidst the tired drive home. David asked about Baptism. Andy feel asleep. So I was talking to him about the difference between infant and believers baptism. He had a puzzled look on his face. "No like what they do in the hospital when a baby BOY is born." OHHHHHHH..... that's not called baptism. That's called circumcision. Slight difference! David is always a good question asker though!

March Madness- Day 1

One of the funnest times of year for me back in the states is March Madness. Growing up with "It's tournament time.... the best time of the year!" in my bones, I can't help it! So although we can follow some of the basketball madness on the internet we don't have the hype of it all here. However, we have our own hype this week. Kurdistan's version of March Madness- Nawroz!

We just completed our first official day of Nawroz. The 3 day celebration for the beginning of the Kurdish New Year, which also coinsides with the first 3 days of spring!

We started the celebration with some badmitton and volleyball in our yard with the neighbors. They came with a gift- Alum Kurdistane (Kurdish Flag).

We then took a drive out of town to the top of a mountain that overlooks the city. It has a large flat area on top, so many people like to go there to jump start their celebration with fires, food, and flying kites.

It started to be a cloudy day, but the city was also full of smoke. Since fire here is a sign of victory, everyone celebrates by having some sort of fire (but since there isn't much wood here people burn tires instead) :S

We saw many people we knew there, which was fun!
After the fireworks were over we made our way back to our house to have a fire on our roof. But first we got a few of these Chinese mini hot-air blimps and let them go in the sky.

Zander even got to participate.

What better way to finish our celebration than with a HOT DOG! That's right you heard me.... a hot dog! Although they aren't American Hot Dogs, they are Kurdish friendly- Chicken Franks. Our neighbors have never had them grilled before and they actually loved them! Who knew?

Crispy and all! Just the way I like em'Kurdish Hot dog bun (a piece of nan quartered and wrapped- sorta like a pig in blanket)
Bon appetite!

yummmmm!

Mom aren't you proud?!? I thought of you a lot tonight :)

So that's Day one of our 3 days of Kurdistan March Madness!!! Fun Times!!!!

Fun Packed Weekend!

We started out our weekend enjoying some Assyrian food at our co-workers house after school with our teammates. Most nut-o's here don't eat lunch until 2:30! Which means I get to eat two lunches! Then like most end of the school weeks we enjoyed a movie with our teammates. This week's choice: "True Grit"-- I recommend!

First thing Saturday morning, I got to have a Kurdish cooking lesson with our landlord. Enjoying her beautiful well equipped kitchen. She told me she always cooks with the TV on. She showed me a cooking channel and guess what show was on. RACHEL RAY! Ahhhh it was so fun :)
Most Kurds take great pride in their beautiful homes. This family is more well-off (thanks to our rent money) so no sitting on the floor for them. Fine by us long-legged folk!

It was a great time to learn some Kurdish and also some cooking tips. Within about 30 mins of arriving home to breathe, our friend "Zach" called us wanting to go for a drive!

We got to enjoy some roadside "Nook" which is basically chick pea soup, but so yummy on cool evenings.

A family was having a fire nearby so we stopped and said hello. They all wanted a picture with the tall Americans and kept laughing at how short they were (or how tall we were).

Zander met lots of friends too and they were teaching him how to eat seeds.

We love "Zach"!!

When we got home, I had to prepare some food for the next morning because we were hosting our "Fellowship" It was a small gathering, but had had a great time praying and saying good-bye to our dear brother Rod who is going back to the states to have back surgery. He may or may not be coming back depending on healing process etc. He doesn't have health insurance so please PRAY for him, that the VA Hospital would give him the surgery! We will truly miss him!

Shortly after everyone left and we got our place cleaned up and I went to the seek (town bazaar) with 3 other woman to go shopping for a Kurdish dress. 4 1/2 hours later, I came back with some 2nd hand clothes for Zander but no dress. It's so overwhelming... shop after shop of fabric. Maybe like 20 of them! Maybe it's because my brain was tired after a busy weekend but we'll have to go another time!

What a great weekend...

and a big thanks to hubby hub for allowing me to cook and shop "Zander free" :)