A Rare Treasure

Last weekend I got to spend a couple days with these girls:

Ada and Brit

Let's get some background on these pretty ladies! We met 10 years ago, moving into Freeman Hall at Iowa State. ahhh Dorm life... do you remember the "Dorm, Sweet Dorm" life?!?

We were all freshman on the ISU women's bball team, and little did we know the path God would bring us down.  

 These two were the girls that said "Lisa, have you ever read the Bible?" I responded with a "No, I don't think so?" So that night we jumped in the car and headed to Lemstone Christian Store and picked out Bibles. In excitement of not knowing what to do with this big book. Brittany said she heard that you could start at Psalms and read one every night and highlight anything that you really like. Well that first month or so, every night I would read a psalm and highlighted pretty much the entire thing I read. Even on the nights I came back to the dorms a little tipsy. 

After about a month of this highlighting extravaganza.... a girl next door to us in the dorms was talking with her roommate about what it takes to get to heaven, and I happened to be walking by and joined the conversation. "By being a good person" I thought. That night she showed me this scripture... "By GRACE you have been saved through faith. and this is NOT YOU OWN DOING, it is the GIFT of God! (Eph 2:8) I had a lot to learn, but I put my faith in the gift of Christ that night, towards the end of our freshman year. Then a couple months later, Brittany laid down her life at the cross as well.  Ada was continuing to grow in her faith from her junior year of high school, but we were all 3 growing together. 

We then moved into the same house together with my sister, Katie. Always had a blast. Doing crazy things together! Like driving this blue mustang around town, picking up partiers from downtown to take them home, dancing to the triller at bars, wearing these outfits. Acting as if it were COMPLETELY normal all while under the influence of a lattee! 

Cass, Ada, Brit, me 

Why do most of our favorite memories include dress-up?

Iowa/ISU game. Thumbs down in front of an Iowa bus

I wish I could show you more, but the others ones would really have you saying "What a bunch of nut balls!'  (Specifically referencing to a sweet music video we made!) But we better save that for the privacy of our own homes, which it still makes me laugh so hard I cry to this day! Point is.... We have a history. Not just of laughs, goofiness, and fun times. But a history of before we knew Christ, growing with Christ, and learning what it looks like to follow Him. 

We have all kept in contact over the years but this was the first time we all got to hang-out since college graduation. I got married and moved to Iowa City then Iraqi Kurdistan. Ada moved to Texas then Colorado. Brittany has continued to play basketball all around the world. So to say the least, all of us 3 getting together has been a little tough. So for the first time in about 5 years we made it happen!

We went out to eat. 

 Met our friend Cass for lunch too!

 Went to the Saylorville beach. Sang worship songs, asked questions to each other and talked about the joys/struggles of life,

 Enjoyed some Starbucks in the park!

Got to hang out with this handsome young guy! After a night of being up to late, he's also known as "The Bearcat"

Spent the evening walking around at the State Fair, talking about boys, art, livestock, and how our bodies are getting old (why we needed to take a stretch break) 

It was a short couple days. But an amazing time. We are sisters. We get each other. We can be REAL with each other and know that we will always be there for one another. 

 These girls are SOOO special to me. God has brought us a long way. But I am so thankful for these ladies.. they are the best. It's a rare treasure to find friends that are such a blast to hang out with, yet SO sharpening to my faith! 

You guys are the best....Thank you for your friendship... Thank you God for the gift of great friends!

I love! xoxo

What kind of Adventure?

Today has been a unique morning for us in the Bishop household. We are IN Iowa City, and I had a fun "31 gifts" Saturday morning party with my friend Annie.  That meant Andy and Zander were on there own. Something that doesn't happen very often, but makes me realize how awesome it is for Zander to get to spend alone time with each parent.  Andy has so much to offer that I just don't do with Zander. He's so creative!

When I got home I asked them what they did while I was gone.
"We went on an adventure, didn't we Zander?"
A huge smile on Zander's face. The kind where his eyes even smile. "Yeahhhhhhhhhh"
A little surprised and yet curious, I asked, "What kind of adventure?"

Andy continued to tell me about their adventure, about how he hid a variety of stuffed animals/toys around the house. He put a special backpack on Zander and they each had swords (paint stirrers) and helmets (stocking caps) and they were off on their adventure trying to find each of the animals to save them, and put them in a special bag (garbage bag) Andy was including Zander in the story telling by asking him, "Where did we find the lion?" or "What did we find under the TV?" and finally the end of the adventure was finding the princess in the castle (our roommates doll, that was hiding in a cooler)
The whole time, Zander was lov'n  the re-telling of what a fun adventure they had.  I can only imagine him skipping to each of the rooms in excitement for the next find.

I mean seriously, I never think to do things like this! Andy is so creative! I'm supposed to be the "artistic" one. But I've always told Andy he's much more creative than me.  I LOVE that about him!  How cool that Zander got to use his imagination and experience this with his daddy!  Here's the remmants of their fun:

Toys and garbage bag laying on floor, Andy whooped, and Zander still so excited that he was the only one that DIDN'T want to take a nap!

This really just made me thankful. Thankful for my guys. Thankful for the variety in parenting. Thankful for Andy, that he was willing to play WITH Zander and not just give him something to do.  (I need to put this in practice most days! Even thankful for the time away, to appreciate good friends, and what I missed at home.

No wonder it's been different

I couldn't decide if I felt so much different during this pregnancy because of the cultural stuff, being a 2nd pregnancy or because the baby was a girl. But things have been different! That's for sure.

Yesterday we found out that it's probably ALL of the above!  That's right... she said "I don't see ANY boy parts... Your having a GIRL"

We are SSOOOOOOO excited! We both can't wait to have a little girl.  We really didn't care either way. But like my friend Bridge put the pressure on and asked this way...
"So let's say you HAD to pick that you wanted a boy OR a girl, or else... let's say you would get a goat."
HA! Love friends like that!

I picked a girl over a goat-in case anyone was wondering.

Zander was chi-ill babe. Taking after his daddy. But, I have a feeling this girl is going to take after her mommy, a little more difficult to handle! Remember when we had our ultrasound with Zander . I thought he was going to be just like me. Well he does have some physical qualities of mine, but all Andy's personality.

I love ultrasounds. Just like with Zanders, yesterday was equally as amazing! Seeing how God forms that blueberry I wrote about a few months back, into the 1 1/2 lb. baby we saw yesterday, into the 9 pounder-ish that we will get to see and hold in a few more months.  What an amazing creator God! He is so good!

Baby girl.... we can't wait to meet you.
And put bows in your hair.
and pierce your ears.
and dress you in pink.
and when you get to be 2... put a basketball in your hands!

We're Back

I know... a month late, we have seen a lot of you, but just to record it......

WE'RE BACK IN IOWA!

We have been enjoying running wild in big soft grassy areas!

 Teaching Zander a thing or two about Iowa... like eating sweet corn

 Playing in the backyard pool with old friends!

Seeing and visiting with family

It's been a fun month. Although living out of suitcases and bopping around from place to place is getting a tad old, it's all worth it! 

It has been different from what I was expecting. I thought more relationships would be awkward, and American consumerism would make me sick.  But that hasn't been the case at all. I think God has just been protecting me since 1. I tend to have more of a critical spirit  2. Our time in Iowa is longer than what was originally planned on. So He wanted me to enjoy our time back :) Which we have! IMMENSELY! It's  so fun to hang with friends and family again, picking up where we left off.  And the cheddar cheese, pork ribs, coffee-creamers, and Mexican are still tasting REAL GOOD!  

It's been a breath of fresh air in a lot of ways. However, looking back at pictures and receiving phone calls and emails from our friends back in Duhok, quickly makes us realize where we came from just a month ago.  Our heart still beats to that drum. God has given us that and affirmed that.  

Lord willing, we will be back there in 6ish months. Until then, I'll welcome the great/real/fun/hard/joyful/english conversations with people, and some yummy comfort food to go along with em'! Driving, shopping, playgrounds, camping, grillin, live music, Art fests, pool parties, are all just extra... Bring it on, Iowa! 

Thank You God for an amazing last 10 months, what you did, and what you will do. Whether here in Iowa, or there in Kurdistan... Use us to bring you glory!

Kurdish Haircut

If any of you saw the picture from our last email, you would have noticed that our little guys hair was getting quite long! I've cut it a couple times since we had been here, but we thought it would be fun to take him to one of the many barbers on each street!

Do you think he needed a cut? :)

The barber was amazing! He did a great job, and don't you love his decor?!

HA! This picture CRACKS me up! Seriously... we have a boy?!?!?

All done! We wanted to still keep his curls so we didn't give him a short cut like his daddy, but wouldn't you agree what a handsome little boy and a BIG improvement?!?!