February 2012 Recap

* My supervisors returned from their 3 months in the states. Their son was able to come visit with them. It is a great blessing to have family come and experience life here!
* 'Camping' Trip to Istalif Lodge with a group of gals.
* Goodbye Pizza Party for our friend Warrick
* Valentine's Day Ladies Lunch (We basically meet up once a month for lunch to hang out and catch up. This time we decided to go out to a restaurant and it was on Valentine's day.)
* Monday B Study Small Group was at our house and instead of a unusual dinner theme we had breakfast! Complete with waffles, pancakes, toppings, and bacon!)
* I hosted a Louisiana Party for all my friends - Americannand Foreign (but let's face it, any American who has never been to the South is a little foreign). Post on this to come soon!

Hard - *The accident with the burning of the Qua ran caused a lot of protest around the bases and within several cities. Many were killed or wounded. It makes it hard on us because we are forced to stay in our offices and homes.

Some pictures that give you a view of what my February looked like. Enjoy!

 Our supervisors got back, and they brought there son with them for a week. The snow was really high!

 Boy selling balloons in the snow.

Determined. 

 Even more snow.

 K took this from the rooftop of the office. 

 Shoveling all the snow off the roofs so we don't get any damage.

 Celebrated Carol's birthday (and my mom's in the states!)

Baby sheep were born.

 Our local staff hanging there clothes out to dry. K took this one.

Me being oh so cool.

Excited about the trip to the Lodge.

 On a walk near the lodge.

The fun group of gals!

 Happy Mardi Gras! 4th year to make a King Cake from scratch!

 I had to share the King Cake with all my friends! So I threw a Louisiana Party.

And of course I need to show off my favorite picture of Isabel this month! 

I hope your February went well!

January 2012 Recap

JANUARY

*Visit to TepeNadirKhan. This is a great place with a view of the city. In warm winter, people come here to picnic and fly kites.
*Bowling with B and K - with our headscarves on!

*Henna Night with Matching outfits from K's local friend. Shaw-e-Henna is the night before the wedding where the ladies get together and put a glob of henna on the bride and their hands. (nothing pretty or fancy about it)
*Wedding the next day with K's local friend.
*Poker Night with some of the MedA peoples.
*Good'Pie' Party for Colleen.
*Weather: COLDDDDD. Most days where between 6 to 32 degrees. We had 3 HUGE snowfalls. One morning I woke up to 1 degree F outside! For a Louisiana Gal, that is COLD.
*Films/TV:  Castle and Friday Night Lights series, Pilgrims Progress
*The Word: Finished up Beth M's Daniel Study.
*Work: All of our workers came through the Staffhouse in Transit to their retreats. Busy, Busy
*Ouch: K got stung by a scorpion and I sliced my thumb open on a metal can lid.
*Hard: Coming back from Iowa and some emails where lots of things were miscommunicated.
*Back Home: My good friends Sean and Katy got engaged on New Years. Isabel turned 1 month old. Parents bought a Motor Home!
*Goals: I have definitely blogged more consistently- to be continued...  I have done birthday gifts for my mom and Mollie - also to be continued through the rest of the year.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from January!

Bowling time

 View of one part of the city

Pretty roomies

all dressed up from going to a wedding. K's local friend had them made for us.

Cute kids

awkward stares 

3 big snowfalls!

View of some of the mountains.

Looking towards 2012

I spent the last of 2011 back overseas, somewhat sick (cause I have gotten sick every time I have come back into this country) and watching Lord of the Rings Trilogy with about 15 wonderful group of co-workers and their teenage kids. It was a great time to just hang out with some sweet friends who moved back to America after being here for 7 years. They too are going to have a big transitioning year ahead of them just like me.

For some reason, I have this fear that 2012 is going to just be hard. There are lots of changes coming my way. Not small ones... BIG ones.

If you haven't heard yet, I am finishing my time overseas in about 8 months. Really if I leave in July, I only have a less than 6 months. By the time I finish, I will have lived overseas 4 years.  I am unsure as to what moving back to the states looks like, meaning if it is only temporary or if it is for the long-haul. The Father has yet to reveal the next plan except for the part where I move back. So, as of now, I am just looking to finish well and head back to the states for a season.

Here is what 2012 looks like it is holding for me:

JANUARY - JULY - Continue work here as usual.

MARCH -Short trip back to the states for my last roommate's wedding!

APRIL - Turn 27! CRAZY

JULY- Exit for our summer meeting in Dubai.

AUGUST - Hang out in Turkey for a short time visiting both Turks and Americans that I know there.

FALL - Moved back to the states! Oh believe me, I already have grand plans for this time, but that will come later. It for sure will hold the wedding of my friends Katy and Sean in it!

Goals 2012:

* Be more disciplined.
* Blog 2x a week (on average)
* Send out my Monthly Newsletter.
* Read 10 Books this year. Preferably non-fiction. (But I bet able half of them being Fiction)
* Study Revelation.
* Take a class online from a Sem.
* Memorize my list of verses I have chosen.
* Finish my last two 2011 Photo Books.
* Work on Photo Books from my time in Turkey.
* Keep up to date with 2012 Photo Books.
* Learn to crochet a scarf. (Let's see if this one actually happens.) 
* Travel to some town within country to see our other offices there. More specifically Htown and Ctown. If possible I would like to make it to Jtown and Mtown (which makes no since to you but it doesn't matter)
* Finish my job well here.
* Send cards home from here to my family and friends back home.
* Take a Money Management Class.
* Save money up for when I move home. (This includes Emergency Fund, Housing, Insurance- even if it is just a start).
* Be more generous with my money.
* Travel to a new Country.
* Visit Turkey again.
* When I move home in the Fall, Start up my hard-core running again.
* Run a 5K, 10K, and a half Marathon.
* Move back to the States.
* Be a part of K and S's wedding!
* See the Bradley Family and my sweet niece in Iowa in the Fall.
* Go the the City of Lights Festival in Natchitoches the first weekend of December!
* Discern what the Father has for me to do next! (Job, City, School?, Housing)

Here are a list of questions I went through below on my own. If you are looking for something that will help you process what you want to see happen this year/make goal for this year. I got it from here. I only filled in the answered the first section for my blog. Maybe at the end of this year, in my review I will go through some of them with you or fill them in later.

I. Personal Growth

1. What healthy character traits would you like to see developed in your life this year? What are some specific steps you can take to develop these?
* I would like to be more disciplined. (somewhat immeasureable) See some of the goals above that will help me see progress.)

2. What is your plan for maintaining accountability for progressing in personal growth?
* I have a sweet friend that actually took time last year and went through a B study with me. Though we didn't meet every week on schedule, she did make an effort to take time out of schedule to work through the discussion questions with me. Hopefully, we can do this a little more this year. :)  I am praying for someone in the states who will be looking to mentor someone during the fall when I get home.

3. What are some of your learning goals for this year?
Lets see ... I wrote a couple of things.
*Take a Money Management Class.
*Take an online Sem Class.
*Read some books. I have a list already :) (and most are fiction! haha)

4. What books would you like to read this year?
* The Hobbit- because there is a movie coming out. I have a weird thing about reading books before watching movies (that doesn't necessarily always stop me from watching the movies first)
* The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Series (It was on my list last year but I never got to it.)
* The Word. (I'm already a little behind.)

5. Do you enjoy your job or jobs (include being a stay-at-home parent, if this pertains to you)? If so, what are your favorite things about your work? If not, what are some ways you can change this?
Things I enjoy:   
*Knowing everyone in the country with our company
*Working with the flight chartering service
*I enjoy visiting my Language teacher but not always taking the classes anymore. I'm tired!
*Having Parties with the Locals.
Things I can change:
*My attitude when things don't go right or take me by surprise.
*Be better at keeping recods of what I do and remembering things.
*Improve my organization at my desk.
*Improve the staffhouse menus, check system, etc. Things that will help the next person.

II. Physical Health

1. What is one area of progress you’d like to see this year for maintaining or improving your physical health?
2. What are some tangible, daily choices you can add to your life that will improve your health?
3. In what way would you like to be physically healthier by December of this year? 
4. What is your plan this month for starting this progress towards a healthier you?

III. Money Matters

1. What is one specific area of progress you’d like to see this year in your financial health?
2. How is your current income? In what ways can you make this increase?
3. How much debt do you have? In what ways can you eliminate a sizeable portion of it (or all of it) this year?
4. How is your savings account? In what ways can you save more money this year?
5. What are some of your long-term financial goals? In what ways can you make progress on them this year?
6. Are you giving regularly? If not, in what way can you give financially this year?
7. What is your plan this month for starting progress towards better financial health?

IV. Relationships Outside the Home

1. In what specific way would you like to grow in relating to your friends this year?
2. What are some ways you can be of service to your immediate community?
3. Who are some specific people in your life that can use some encouragement? What will you do to encourage them this year?
4. Who are some people in your life that you admire? What are some practical ways you can positively use their influence in your life?
5. Are there any damaging relationships in your life? What will you do this year to make these relationships better?
 _________________________________________________

I have pretty ambition goals. I know for sure which one will get done. A few other I  will have to be more diligent to complete.  What are some of your goals?

Happy 2012 Everyone!

Looking back to 2011

STATS

Roundtrips tickets: 8

Actual Plane Flights: 23

Hotel stays: 5

Guesthouse Stays: 2

Friends House Stays: 5

Family House Stays:  10

Countries visited: 5 (1 being the states)

New Countries visited: 0

Weddings attended: 2 (both international)

Hours documented sitting on the floor:  countless

Hours documented not wearing shoes: more hours than I have actually worn shoes this year

Hours documented actually sitting at a desk: more than I did in college i think...

Hours documented that I stayed indoors: Wayyyy to many.

Days that I have worn a headscarf: maybe 3/4 of the year. More days then not having to wear one.

Countries I have driven in: 3 (and not the one I actually live in)

What was the single best thing that happened this past year?
Becoming an Aunt to Isabel Anne.

What was the single most challenging thing that happened?
I think I will keep this one to myself. ;)

What was an unexpected joy this past year?
I got to spend 2 and half months working in Turkey helping out some old teammates.

What was an unexpected obstacle?
Living and being friends with the same people I work with.  We have had to learn to work through this. Lots of prayer and communication is key. :)

What were the best books you read this year? 
Non-fiction: The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
Fiction: Hunger Game Series by Suzanne Collins
Classic : Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

With whom were your most valuable relationships?
My Family hands down.
My roommate K is in the same grouping :)
Overseas: VN in Turkey (and my small group)
States: KS and few others :)
In Country Locals: F Jan

What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year? 
*I moved to a new country - meaning a new culture, language, people, traditions, roommates, coworkers, and supervisor. To say that work isn't a personal change is just silly. It has a huge affect personally.  *I went from random always changing schedule where I went everywhere and did lots of things on my own - to a more set schedule of office hours, sitting at a desk, working on a computer, and learning to have lots of people do things for me like grocery shop, drive, and my own personal 'bodyguard'(it's not as serious as it sounds.)  *One of of the biggest changes is going from hanging out with people all the time to learning to be by myself a lot.  I have notice that I almost require it now.

In what ways did you grow emotionally?
*Hum, I think I may have mellowed out a little. I can still be pretty dramatic though like if things change last minute and I have to come up with a hold new plan. :)  *I think I have cried less this year than any other year living overseas, but I think it is because I have a steady sleep pattern (which helps a lot). I tend to cry when I have done to many things at once or I haven't slept enough.  My mom may disagree with me because she seems to be the only one that sees me cry anyways. * I also just remember being sometimes very lonely or just sad, but it was back when i first got here, it was winter, and we were stuck inside a lot. (Man that sounds depressing. I am a fairly happy person and I have been a lot this year. I just remember that from the beginning of this year during my adjustment period).

In what ways did you grow physically? 
I am sure I have gained a few pounds from the change of moving/walking a lot to sitting a lot. :) (It is coming off this year! Just wait for my next post on 2012 goals.) I miss running and walking everywhere!   *I also sleep and require more sleep here then I did in the states or in Turkey. I think is because a good portion of my day is hearing another language or speaking another language or language lessons. There are still times that I go out and things are still new to me so lots of sensory overload at times. (I should keep this one up when I move back to the states. )

In what ways did you grow in your relationships with others?
My friends from small group are probably the coolest relationships that have formed over this last year. We are a group from all different countries(UK, Holland, America, India, New Zealand to name a few) , cultures, backgrounds, and reasons for being in this country. However, our common belief in Him is the same.  It took a while to form these friendships- one reason because we are so different, but the bigger reason is seeing who sticks around for a longer amount of time. There ends up being a lot of turnover in this country with break, contracts ending, etc.  I've noticed that we are really starting to form a good solid group together.
* I think to that I have talked to less and less people back home outside

What was the most enjoyable part of your work (both professionally and at home) ?
My most unexpected joy this last year was becoming such good friends with my language tutor.  I also like that now I can talk to the locals in my office and the locals that keep guard at night. We can joke around now. I know more about their families cause I have visited most of them. For Christmas, me

What was the most challenging part of your work (both professionally and at home)?
Language and communication. I work in an office where I use Dari everyday. Especially in the mornings when telling Z Jan what to make. It is all done in Dari. There have been several days where one thing got made and not the other... or only the noodles for the spaghetti got made and not the sauce. :) Charades is a daily game I play here.
Some others:
*Always having someone with me when I go anywhere.
* learning to deal with winter time here and short day and lonnnnnngggg night (sometimes without power)
*Limited movements

What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?

Tv shows!

What was the best way you used your time this past year?
Language Learning with F Jan and making Photo Books of my adventures (I know some of you are laughing right now... if you are still reading this! )

What was the biggest thing you learned this past year? (I had 3)
1. 2 Languages other than English can be conquered
2. Communication is key in all area.  (Don't take poorly written emails personally!)
3. Be creative with what you got!

Time to Reflect:

JANUARY – 

                Celebrated the new years in the states.

                Moved to a new country

                Started a new language

                Started a new Job

FEBRUARY –

                Language Lessons

                My supervisors wife's 60^th Birthday

                My Mom's birthday!

MARCH –

                My boss and his wife were gone for a month and a half.

                I found out I am an AUNT!!!!

APRIL –

                I turned 26!

                Helped with a Medical Team from the states

                Traveled to see the Buddas and Lakes in country

MAY –

                NGO meetings here at the National office. 30+ people here for about 5 days.

                Meetings in London with our international office.

                Trip to India for my friend's wedding - First time back in 5 years (It was the first place I ever went on this side of the world!)

JUNE  -

                K's sister came to visit

   Traveled to Turkey for a temporary assignment for the next 2.5 months.

               While in Turkey, I had to take a road trip to switch out cars. My great friend V came with me. We stopped and took pictures in the sunflower fields!

JULY –

                Spent this month in Turkey

                Went to join my co-workers in Dubai for summer meetings.

AUGUST –

                Join some co-workers in Turkey for their meeting about 4 hours outside of the city.

                My 3rd Ramazan overseas.

SEPTEMBER –

                Returned back to my normal job in Ktown

OCTOBER –

                Join some friends for my first ever Bonfire on the rooftop of a third floor building.

                My supervisors headed out of town for the next 3 months.

                My sister's first Baby Shower in our hometown

NOVEMBER –

                We hosted some friends for our Fall Fair Fried Food Festival and carved pumpkins.

                1st time I have ever used carved pumpkins to make Pumpkin Puree afterwards.

                First time to really celebrate Eide Kurban. 

                Thanksgiving (times 2) - Killed our own turkeys for this one folks.

                My sister's baby shower in Iowa.

DECEMBER  –

                Joined friends for an Advent Party and at a later date an 80s party.

                Baby Isabel was born!

                I went home for Christmas and hung out with Family and friends in Iowa. (first time i have ever bought an international round trip ticket out of Iowa...Definitely didn't see that one coming.)