Chickpea is born (awww what a cute baby)

Well, my life is about to get crazier but in a good way this time (by my own choice). Our first market day is Tues. I can't believe its here! It seemed soooooooo far away! My sister in law Wejdan is here- I can't believe that she is really here either! I am so happy she is here to help me- now I actually have someone to talk to and make decisions with. It makes my life so much better having someone to work with. Just in case you missed it- I have started my own business- its called (dah dah dah) Chickpea Cafe and we will be preparing and packaging mediterranean food at the market on Sat and Tuesdays thru Sept. Well, I doubt if she will stay that long (her hubby is still in OH) but we'll see- at least I am planning to sell thru Sept. So here is the GRAND OPENING of my logo. YOU ALL ARE SO SPECIAL because you are the first ones to see it. I designed it myself and gave it to someone to create a PDF file that I can use in my publications. Are you ready?

Isn't it cute and beautiful and great and the most wonderful logo you have ever seen? Anyway I am apologizing ahead of time for not posting as often but I just want to keep everyone up to date on what is going on here. It's such an exciting time in my life- God has truly blessed me and my family with hope and love! I know that He is guiding me every step of the way. Here is what today's devotional was:

"We attempt to think of that which we fancy He will forget; we labour to take upon ourselves our weary burden, as if He were unable or unwilling to take it for us. Now this disobedience to His plain precept, this unbelief in His Word, this presumption in intruding upon His province, is all sinful. Yet more than this, anxious care often leads to acts of sin. He who cannot calmly leave his affairs in God's hand, but will carry his own burden, is very likely to be tempted to use wrong means to help himself. This sin leads to a forsaking of God as our counsellor, and resorting instead to human wisdom."

What that means to me is such freedom! I don't have to take on the worries of the world or be weary with my own. This is God's job to work out things in my life for the best. What a good feeling!

Get ready for the weekend!

We are going to Spokane tomorrow (its a six hour drive). I will tell you about it when we get back. I lost three pounds (that is slow torture) so hopefully I won't mess it up too much this weekend.

Love,

Jen

Faith in God is like Legos?

OK so I was sitting here this evening spending about 2 hours putting together a lego set that Adam's daddy bought him today (he came home today-yay!). As I was putting it together I was thinking about why it is so relaxing to me to help Adam construct these sets. All the pieces serve a purpose and each piece has an exact place to fit. There is something reassuring about that. All you have to do is follow the directions and you know- that if you follow the directions carefully and the right way it will all come together to make something really cool. Well, isn't that how our faith should be? That we trust God, he has the plan, we just need to follow his word and guidance in our lives. If we can do that- trust that his plan will create something great in our lives- shouldn't we rest easy? Deep thoughts huh?

Whining and reflection

I have been so weepy, serious, and reflective the past few days. I think it because my husband is in another country and we all miss him so much. The first week was OK but this week has been really hard. We just miss him. We have been jumping on each other for the smallest things and the kids have been fighting constantly. I think its just an imbalance not having him here. But he will return tomorrow and things hopefully will go back to "normal" whatever that is. But that also depends on how he is doing- I think he had a REALLY rough time but I knew it would be really hard for him. I just don't think he realized how hard.

I forced myself to get the kids going and go to church this morning. I couldn't bear sitting around here another day with nothing to do but the twenty million chores that will never get done while the weather is nice. It was OK- they fought because Summer refuses to go to the kids class and sits with me and Adam's class ends right in the middle of service (I know its weird) so he has to come and sit with us for the last half hour. Well they got to bickering and I was VERY irritated. Let's just say my patience is running VERY low. God bless the single parents. I feel like I have been correcting and breaking up fights the whole weekend. Oh well, time to move on. I also forced myself to go to a dinner at the church with the kiddos this evening for the Vacation Bible School kickoff. I really REALLY did not want to go for many reasons- one my brain and energy level is dead, two I really did not feel like socializing, three I hate walking into a room (especially a dinner) not knowing barely anyone and sitting down and eating with strangers, four my kids really did not want to go. BUT we went. It was OK and the people that I will be working with were very nice. But let me tell you what happened when we left. So it was 8:00 and we were pooped getting ready to walk out when we heard this beautiful unbelievable voice singing opera. I was drawn to it. We went into the sanctuary and a lady was practicing her opera singing. We sat down and listened. The three of us were the only ones there listening. It was so beautiful I started to cry- I mean not like blubbering crying but tears in my eyes crying. Once again I embarrassed my daughter with my uncontrollable emotion. SOMETHING moved me. I don't know if it was the emotion she sang with or it was just that moment but I truly appreciated that moment. We didn't stay long- only a few minutes because Adam was beyond tired but it was beautiful. Marwa always reminds me- to stay in the moment because it will pass! I know one day I will look and my little boy will be a young man and the last thing he will want is for me to read his favorite fairy tale. I know because I now have a young lady on my hands- a beautiful, smart, reflective, empathetic young lady. OK the tears are coming back again-I am just a weepy mess! time for me to go get something done.

Adam's thoughts...

When my dad sent Adam a train comforter set a few weeks ago his favorite part was the little throw pillow that came with it. Conversation at "tuck in" time tonight:

Adam: Mommy what size shirt and pants do I wear?

Me: Size 6- why?

Adam: This pillow is the perfect size 6 for me!

It's official!

I am a resident of Montana. This week I went to get my Montana Driver's license and today I got my plates (which I think are ugly). I see everyone driving around with all these cute plates with Montana scenes (mountains, fish, horses etc) and when I went there she handed me these institutional looking plain blue and white plates. She proceeded to tell me that the cute ones were another 50 dollars! Say what?? Hecky no. Well, I came to find out that the plain one I have are the brand new ones that are "retro" from the 70's. Whatever.

I am losing my battle with the 5 pounds I gained plus the 10 I wanted to lose before I gained the 5- in fact on my "plan" I gained another few! So I took action and I am back on the weight watchers online plan- which forces me to keep track of what I eat. The online plan is cheaper but I don't go to any meetings. I like this plan cause its nothing crazy and I can "save" to eat something I really want. Everytime I do this plan I am shocked to see how many "points" I am really eating. I am supposed to be staying around 23 plus I get weekly points I can borrow. Wow- I was probably eating well over 30. I have lost a few pounds already and I am surely NOT hungry at all. Just trying to push past my night time cravings which hasn't been too much of a problem this week because I have been exhausted every evening. I also joined Jazzercize which I LOVE. It's perfect for me- I pay ONE dollar for Adam as opposed to SIX at the gym and I get a great workout in an hour and I leave. I though it was funny- weight watchers and jazzercize are so "80s" but I really think they both work- which is probably why they have been around so long. I am working on my food blog and when its ready I will let you know. Not sure I'll have time to do both but we'll see. SOME PEOPLE (ahem) say they don't want to hear about my food struggles so I thought I would do a food blog/journal just for that.

Update about Ali (Hamed): he is doing fine but really misses us and home ALOT. His dad is scheduled to have surgery on my birthday. So please keep them both in your prayers.

I opened my business account for Chickpea Cafe today!!! I have my own business account- oooohhh. Now I just need some money to fill it :O)

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to my sissy! I love U!

A big trip

No one knows the plans God has for us- what he has in store. We don't have to know- I wouldn't want all that responsibility. Hamed (Ali) left for Iraq today to go see his Dad. Did I want him to go? Absolutely not, but I knew that he had something in his heart to go. It wasn't an easy decision- he agonized over it. He didn't want to leave us or his job. His dad is not doing too well so if he didn't go now he wouldn't be able to go in June when the season on the ranch started. There are sooooo many incredible people here- including his bosses. They both gave their consent for him to go and told him not to worry- just to go! I told him that we would be fine- that we have people that I can call now if I need anything. But its still hard. We really miss him. I know its going to be hard on him- to go across the world to sit in a hospital in Baghdad. Oh it sucks! Please pray for his strength and for his dad- he is in pain.

Here's what's going on here: I am still slowing unpacking everything and I still need to go back to the condo to get the rest of the stuff and clean. I joined Jazzercize- I am bound and determined to lose the 5 pounds I gained. It's nice because I can bring Adam for a dollar- although he is not crazy about it.I have been eating mostly vegetarian the last few weeks. I came to the realization that I don't really like meat! It just makes sense to me- I hated it when I was little. Noway am I saying I will never eat meat but I am doing fine without it. It might sound cliche but since I have been here I have had more of an appreciation for animals. We went to a dairy farm the other day and we were admiring all the baby animals. The piglets were a day old- their eyes weren't even open! I asked the guy what would happen to them and he said his son has an organic pork company. Sniff- poor little piglets. Just kidding but it has made me think about what I am shoving in my mouth. I am still moving forward with my business- I am working with someone on my logo and I am going to the commercial kitchen this week to talk to the lady over there about some details. My sister in law, Wejdan, is coming the end of the month to help me! Yay, I am sooooo excited to have someone here to help and be just as excited about Chickpea Cafe as I am. The cooking is going well- I think I am getting better. Although I have not perfected the grape leaves- but I am waiting for her to come and help and teach me. My mom is coming in July and my dad is coming in August. It will be nice to have family around.