A NEW kinda Thanksgiving

HAPPY TURKEY DAY!!!

Gobble Gobble Gobble................

NOT the words I am hearing around me this year.

In FACT, though I'm surrounded by little people that would normally be making that silly noise--TRANSLATION:  I WORKED NOT ONLY THANKSGIVING WEEK, BUT TURKEY DAY!!!!!!!! I am actually surrounded by little ones that have NO CLUE that such a day exists.

Today, I have many thoughts.  And the fact that I am now tearing up as I type reminds me of why it has been a few weeks since my last post.  Being reflective and writing in such a way to allow you into our new reality can be emotional at times.  Today...is one of those days.

I am currently at home waiting on my 3 to get out of school so we can travel to Dubai to celebrate the holiday with new friends.  At least the traveling part is similar to our past holidays. :)  I could honestly write MANY funny stories relaying the adventures of just finding ingredients for recipes or what have you.  It's ALL an adventure!  Somedays, not so funny anymore.  However, we ARE learning and adjusting. 

I hesitate to bring up the real thoughts of this day because the tears are already flowing.  I have stories to keep it light and funny about today that I will most definitely share.  For now, I will dive in and GO THERE. 

Being away from all you know....love.... and cherish deeply;  traditions that hold a tender place in your heart....and yes, all the little things you take for granted ( whether it be people you see everyday, or being able to run to the BELOVED Walmart ---you know it's crazy when you would give anything to take a trip to good 'ole Wally World--- to rush to isle 2 and find pie crusts).... bring a whole new meaning to a holiday we sit and GIVE THANKS for.  :)

Today, I am thankful for a Christian family that sat around and prayed and gave thanks in various ways.  I am missing the "hidden Thankful strips in the crescent rolls" :).  By the way, Glaze Family---I would do it again this year just for laughs if I were there.  I am missing loving, thoughtful conversations with loved ones that know you from birth to present.  The laughs over memories.  The tears from remembering..................

Don't get me wrong.  I am sooooo thankful for new friends and that there ARE Americans that have come together to celebrate what we know and love.  But somehow it's just not the same.  Conversations can only go so far with people you've only known a couple months.  It's the trips down memory lane.  It's the remember when's.  It's the .....

I am thankful for you, Mama and Daddy, for raising me the way you did.  For loving me no matter what.  For ALL you've done and continue to do.

I am thankful for you, Rhonda and Lou, for being the kinda sisters that can love, fight, forgive, laugh and be there for me at the drop of a hat.  For loving me despite my oldest child, bossy moments or my tantrums for not winning.  (we'll just stop right there.....no need to go ALLLL the way down memory lane, right?!)

I am thankful for you, JT and Spence, for being the brothers I never had.  For always making us laugh.

I am thankful for you, Reagan, Brady and Nathan, for making me an Aunt and for letting me try to best aunt EVER.  (Sorry I'm out of the country right now so the spend the nights/weekends are at a slight halt---but don't let Aunt Lou win the title, k?) :)

I am thankful for you, Gammy and Pappy, for adopting me as your first daughter (n-law).  For welcoming me into your family and loving me as one of yours.  For ALLL you've done for me and for us in the past 16 years.

I am thankful for you, Scott, Nikki and Macie Moo and Morgie, for being another brother and sister that I can laugh with, talk to and play with.

I am thankful for my Grandma and  Meme, who won't be reading this :(.  I am thankful that at 94 years old, and a fall that broke her back a bit, she is still strong and HERE.  I am missing her a bunch at the moment b/c she's the one who taught me how to make pumpkin and pecan pies, sweet potato casserole and her secret dressing. I can't call her and ask what to do.  I am thankful that she is still with us and the legacy she has left for all of us.  A woman of GYNORMOUS faith. 

I am thankful for our dear friends who have walked through life with us over the years.  I cherish the roles that each of you have played every season of my life, our lives and our marriage.  Thank you for loving me/us unconditionally. 

I am thankful for all of you reading this.  We wouldn't be here if it weren't for so many of you as well.  Thank you for your continued prayers and support.  Thank you for the "check ups" you send. 

This one is crazy, but I truly am thankful for facebook this year.  This way, we stay "connected" (and or sad--haha) with you at home. 

So, now, my family has stormed through the door ending my sappy moment.  I guess that means I should wrap this up. 

We are about to be on our way to a new kinda Thanksgiving celebration.  But I wanted to take "my turn at the table" with my family.  I love you all and am thankful for family and friends and a God that I can give thanks to at any moment. 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!
gobble .....gobble.....gobble...... (annoying I know, but that's what we do in our family HA)

DREAM(ing) BIG!

Today, I am one-step ahead of the game.  In my American world, I'm usally a FEW steps ahead...but we won't go there.  Let me just relish the moment! :)

Since, I am ahead, my mind began to wonder about what the Lord is up to with the Davidsons.  My mind went back a few months to the beginning of this great adventure.

I realize some of you don't know the whole story of how this came to be--us picking up and moving halfway across the world. 

You see, "what had happened wuzzz" (those of you who know us best can hear how we are saying that line hahaha).  It was a Sunday in March that Greg read on the AJC about a TeachAway job fair that was held in ATL.  Well, we obviously had MISSED the job fair (which led to us having to FLY to Denver weeks later---but that's ANOTHER story :)).  Greg read me the article and I went to church having what I call an Experiencing God "Crisis of Belief" right there in the pew. I began "battling" with the Lord....."would You REALLY give me my dream?  was this article really meant for me/us?  I mean seriously, it's on the front page for all of GA to read? Is this FOR REAL?  You wouldn't really let me live my BIG dream, would you?  I don't deserve it. ....etc etc..."  You know how the conversation goes. 

This continued on the ENTIRE day.  Even later that night when I had to pull over on the way to Walmart b/c I was crying so hard.  I asked the Lord again, "okay Lord, what is going on with me?"

Turns out, that day marked the beginning of the reality of a childhood dream being fulfilled! 

So again...... well, 8 months later..... I'm sitting on my "almost new" red couch in what's beginning to feel like home...a little less slightly overwhelmed by the culture and chaos of our new life, but speechless again as I reflect on HIS love and grace for us.

My mind keeps thinking about the new opportunities for my amazing hubby!  I'm not going to spoil his surprise.....that will be for his next blog!  (so please don't get mad at us or me for hinting but not revealing--hahha)  Details will come in time. :)  Teaching overseas was NOT Greg's dream.  It was Amy's (since childhood).  The funny part of that March Sunday was that I told Greg he had to send my application in for me if he thought we should do this.  His response to that was, "Amy, if you can't fill out an application, we have bigger problems than we realize! HA!  The reasoning behind this was, if HE sent it in, it wouldn't be about ME chasing a fantasy.  It would mean that he was behind me 100%.  Two days later...he informed me that he sent in my papers.  :):)  I LOVE THAT MAN! :)

Back to today......I'm sitting here smiling thanking the Lord for being so good to us. The thought of Greg getting to live out his dream while over here is BEYOND exciting!  It's the opportunity of a lifetime! I cannot wait for to watch and see how the Lord plays this one out!  It's an incredible thing to be able to SEE God's hand move mountains and place each stepping stone down right in front of you ready for you to take the next step!

 One of my motto's has always been DREAM BIG!  It began a long time ago when I heard a song by that title and adopted it as one of my own. 

Then, life happens.....mistakes are made..... time has passed and memory fades of those dreams and desires and vows to the Lord.  Families grow.....some dreams are shattered.  LIFE happens.  We forget.

We forget what we dreamed.
We forget that we believed we could reach for the stars.
We forget who MADE those stars!
We forget who gave us the DESIRE and EQUIPPED us to do so!
We forget that NOTHING IS TOO HARD FOR OUR GOD!
We forget to KEEP DREAMING!!!

And sometimes we think, He already gave us one dream....could we really get this one too?!?!?!?

WHY-- YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YES YOU CAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My prayer for you right now is that you BELIEVE God for your dream!
 I pray that you won't forget. 
And if you don't have one right now...DREAM BIG!!!!!!!!!!!   And it can be CRAZY CRAZY , or CRAZY GYNORMOUS--- just dream it, pray and seek the Lord!   Seek Him whole heartedly! 

And then.....ENJOY THE RIDE!!!!!! :) (But keep in mind, I'm not saying it will happen overnight or anything like that.....ours has taken over 20 years of preparing, teaching us and training us ...eh-hemmm and growing us up a bit as well :/)

but LIVING OUT YOUR DREAMS FOR THE ONE WHO GAVE THEM TO YOU -------- is well worth all the time, tears, growing pains, training, discipline, failures, closed doors and all other opportunities leading up to it.

DREAM BIG!!!!! :)


 

Top of the Morning to you......

Thank you Mandisa and Toby Mac for being the song in my head waking me up before sunrise!!! (the title of this blog is one of their songs that we love).

I'm up WAAAAY too early for a weekend day (it's Friday, yes, but here, it's our Sunday), but I think that means I have begun to adjust to our "new normal".  I have always been a VERY early riser, but since moving to the other side of the world, I haven't found "my groove" yet.  So, being up at the first call to prayer time makes me smile and fills my heart with HOPE that I am HERE.

Which brings me to the point of this blog.  I have been pondering (meditating and chewing on as good 'ole southern Christians call it)  a saying for over a week now.  It goes like this:
                     
                         Wherever you go,
            Go with ALL your heart.

I've been "writing this blog" in my head for over a week and yet I'm still sitting here staring at these words not able to begin typing.  My mind is racing with all kinds of thoughts on this. 

When you move, begin a new project, start a new relationship, try something for the first time.....whatever it is.... you have COMMITTED yourself to a certain degree, right?  Some things we are able to jump in full force with enormous amounts of energy and excitement.  We are easily productive and navigate through with speed and grace.  Other tasks...not so much.  We wake up each day with dread or we find ourselves frequently asking the Lord for the motivation to begin, continue, or to finish the task. 

The task (which is more realistically---a BUNDLE of tasks wrapped into one)  for the Davidson family was moving and beginning a new life overseas. 

Many thoughts hit me at once as I read this quote. 

We are living our dream! 

Guess what.....our dreams don't always look, smell or taste like what we imagined it would.  In the past 7 weeks, I've had many conversations with the Lord.  Some are thankful prayers.  Some are "Lord, what was I thinking???" Others go more like this...."Lord?  I asked for this?  THIS is my dream?"  and I'm reminded that He has allowed me the opportunity to live out my dream and GO and DO something I believe with all my heart I was born to do. 

With that being said.... HOW INVESTED AM I?  WHERE IS MY HEART in all of this? 

Here's the main point that has stuck with me since my first week in the schools here and the Lord connected the dots for me when I saw the quote above. 

Someone told me "the only way to make it here is to go home and drink every night and then just become numb to it all". 

That sits heavy on my heart even at this moment. 

Being numb is NO WAY to live life.  Neither is drinking to "cope".  I refuse to do either.  I am not that girl and I WILL NOT BECOME that girl. 

I see numbness all around me.  I see the blank stares of  expats (westerner/foreigners).  It breaks my heart. 

It's so easy to sit and dream your dreams and start out on new adventures.  We start out so committed and bubbling with excitement.  Then the reality sets in.  The first "brick walls of conflict/struggle or glitch in the plan" pops up.  Then  the second.  Then the mornings of "ughhh I have to wake up and do this again?"  Our excitement dwindles.  Motivation fades.  Hearts become.............hard....cold.....numb.   Maybe we still go through the motions because we are "good Christians" like that.  But really? 

Are we really "going there with all our heart?" 

Wherever I go, I want to GO THERE with every bit of me---with every bit of Jesus in me----with ALL of my heart!  I want to give it all I've got.  TO THE VERY END!  

The workout plans for the year always start out great.  By February, it's not the "cool" thing anymore.  Moving to a new place is exciting....but not being able to go to Target for matching sheets packaged together nicely in a LOGICAL place in the store---gets OLD!  Starting a new job or a new relationship is WONDERFULLY AMAZING until the "honeymoon period" is over.  EVEN STILL we have to GO THERE with ALL of our hearts. 
Fully committed. 
            Totally invested. 
Happy all the time?  Not necessarily.  Bubbly and bouncy every day? (this may only apply to me :)).  Maybe not.
But each day we must ask ourselves....did I give it my all?  Did I hold back?  Am I in this with all of my heart? 

Some say "just do the bare minimum to just get by.  Don't be too good and make us look bad, it'll just be more work for us....etc etc."

I don't know about you......but that doesn't set well with me.  Yes, there have been times that I have been guilty of this.  In the end, it never paid off.  Deep down, I felt that pain of knowing I was just mediocre. 

I think I was at a middle school camp, maybe high school, when I heard a message challenging us to not settling for mediocrity.  That challenge has stayed with me my entire life.  I don't want to be in the middle, or less than or just getting by.  I want to be EXCELLENT and ABOVE AVERAGE!  Let's be honest....I'm way too competitive....I want to WIN! :) 

As my Mama says, I'm the extreme one.  I'm either hot or cold.  High or low.  In or out.  I don't do the middle very well or for very long. 

But this is how I view it.  If you're gonna GO THERE ..... then do it for real. GO THERE with all of your heart, with all of your soul and all of your mind.  Train your heart and your brain to be fully committed even on the bad days or as you muddle through doing the Death Crawl (remember Facing the Giants?) to the ENDZONE baby!!!!!!!!!!!!  See your ENDZONE and run towards it! 

Now my heart is dancing and my face it smiling b/c that thought is exciting and makes me wanna shout for JOY!!! 

We love you guys! 
whatever you find to do today......wherever you go.......GO WITH ALL YOUR HEART! :)
 

Worth Noting

Tonight we received a BLESSING that brought tears to ALL of our eyes (Hayden and Riley included). 

However, before showing you the BLESSING, we need to give a little history. 

Our adventure in a foreign land among MANY foreigners from all across the world has opened our eyes and hearts to new discoveries.  Discoveries about people, cultures and ourselves. 

Since being here, our hearts have been bent towards the workers.  They are the true servants of this land.  Some are more accurately defined as slaves.  While others, have come to the UAE because working here for less than 1000 dirhams ($273 U.S.) a month is better than the life their own countries have to offer.

We find ourselves being drawn to these people on a daily basis.  Whether it be the 5 that surround you when you are simply looking at washer or a stove.  Or the ladies that live inside our schools and clean up after us.  Or our dear friends, Cliff and Jimi, the doormen at our first hotel who knew us by name immediately and served us as if they desired nothing more than to take care of our every need.  Or our favorite waiters, Rowell and the sweet girl I have NO IDEA how to pronounce or spell her name, at 'Lil Italianos. 

These people have NOTHING--especially in comparison to those whose country this belongs to.  Yet, they have the BIGGEST hearts and the smiles that melt your heart!  They know you by name and remember things you've told them from previous conversations.  Bottom line:  THEY CARE!   They serve with a smile.  They still smile even when they are doing the nasty jobs none of us want to do.  They make eye contact with you.  These are the ones that don't look THROUGH you as if you are less than or don't even exist.  AND YET they treat those that snub them, run over them, ignore them and act as if they are less than human with the same servant's heart and ear to ear smiles. 

Are we humbled?  Yes.

Have we said more than once---"Think about this----even on our WORST day, we have it soooo much better than that busload of people driving to the Workers Compound that just worked 18 hours straight." 

Yes we have.
  
Here we have constant reminders that wealth does NOT make you happy.
                   I wish you could see the faces. 
Reminders of what TRUE servant's hearts look like and act like.
                I wish you could see THEIR faces.  The two are night and day. 
Reminders of who we WANT to be like and who we pray we NEVER resemble.

We could go on and on with stories.  But it is WORTH NOTING that our Filapino, Ugandan, and Bangladesh friends have touched our lives to the very core.

 

Tonight, Rowell, our waiter friend  (he is our friend we mentioned in an earlier post that asked Greg's permission to shake my hand and ask my name) ran out of the restaurant to catch me.  He had a gift to give us.  Here it is:

 

As we walked away, tears were in all of our eyes and Hayden even said "that made me cry Mom"..

 

 

Let this challenge you as it has already challenged us: 

 

Look for ways to SERVE others rather than be taken care of.

 

Do your SERVICE with a SMILE and not just for show but because you CARE.

 

Look AT people ----not THROUGH them.   

 

Because EVERYthing you do/say

 

----good OR bad-----

 

 MATTERS !!!

 

......and leaves a LASTING IMPRESSION!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

This is what we know.....

After 6 weeks in a foreign land..........

   Teaching in an ALL BOYS school............
 
         Teaching Middle School for the first time EVER........................

               Driving roundabouts.......................

                       Living in hotels for over 4 weeks................

                              Surviving the malls............................

Having every important meeting with instructions you are held accountable for  IMMEDIATELY spoken only in ARABIC..................

 

Getting to the right place in a taxi with drivers who don't understand English.............

                   Following the 134 steps and 14 different stamps to process ONE document...then REPEAT for the next 214 documents needed..........................

                   Establising an ENTIRE house ALL WHILE working full time...........................

(this is our bedroom so far from PAN Emirates) 

Searching for sheets and comforters with only 2 major cuts and injuries..........................

                          Surviving IKEA without TOO MUCH marriage counseling afterwards...........

                                  Putting IKEA furntiture together.................................

 

 

THIS IS WHAT WE KNOW..............

 

 

 THE DAVIDSONS CAN DO

 

ANYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

                                          

A Fun Adventure!!!

So I (Amy), am sitting here on my nearly new RED couch watching 6 men work furiously putting together all of our new furniture!  I really have nothing to do except to watch.....sooooo I decided it would be a GREAT time to blog! :)  Seeing how we had an exciting adventure yesterday in Dubai, it really is perfect timing! 

In the midst of a crazy move-in weekend, Greg's school owners invited all of the teachers and their families to join them in Dubai for a fun bonding experience.  Once again, I am struggling with a bit of jealousy---b/c ME---being the warm-fuzzy-social-butterfly-type am missing this environment at my school.  HOWEVER------------ I am blessed to be totally accepted and embraced as one of the Manor Hall team already!!!!!!!  Being there and being around these people FILL MY CUP each day (even if it takes a 12dirham taxi ride for me one way.  IT IS WELL WORTH IT!!!!!! :)

After our first very "chill" day at the new crib, we got up early with lists in tow and smiling faces ready for some fun!  We rode a bus to Dubai and enjoyed seeing hundreds of camels along the way walking on the sand dunes.  Once we arrived at the World's Largest Mall (Dubai Mall), the Davidsons caught a taxi to the World's Largest IKEA!!!!!!!!!  This is where we were bound and determined to buy EVERYTHING we needed for survival.  We even prepared everyone that we were purchasing many, many packages and there might not be room for some of us on the bus!  :)  Welllllllllllll.............that did not happen. :( In fact, we decided we might have needed some marriage counseling after such a fiasco!  lol  With a very short time frame, a VERY LARGE, VERY SPREAD OUT store and a BAAAzillion people that don't follow "shopping etiquette"...... we walked out of the store with a shower curtain (that I'm not quite sure we even liked) and cheapo shower rings.  Oh...and at the cash register, Amy threw in a box of plate sets (who knows what they really look like---------she just knew it was a priority purchase and was Sooooooooooooooooo OVER this shopping frenzy that it didn't matter anymore!!!)  THUS reminding me of my thoughts that overwhelmed me and put me in the fetal position more times than once at our humble abode on Wagnon Court-------oh how we miss our little home!!!  The thoughts I could NOT wrap my brain around was this:  "I have EVERYTHING I NEED for living and teaching here..........and I'm NOT taking a darn thing?!?!??!?!!?"  And it made me quite sad today as I'm purchasing towel sets that I still have brand new sets in tubs given to me as wedding presents 15 years ago!!!!!!!! I was thankful again today for wedding showers and wishing someone was throwing me a housewarming party right about now!!! lol  Though I must admit, buying new and different colored towels and sheets and comforters is kind of exciting b/c we all know we get bored after about 2 years of the other, right? ;)

ANYHOW....... we survived the shopping and then got snookered by yet another taxi driver who, b/c of him, we "ran-out" our own leg of the Amazing Race to the Burj Khalifa, the World's Tallest Building, just in time for the tour to begin.  The elevator to the top was super fast and incredibly smooth---all 124 floors.  (We aren't real sure why they called the tour At the Top b/c they don't allow you to actually go to the top, only the 124 floor.)  It was pretty amazing!!!!  HG and Greg searched and searched for that ONE baseball field by the camel track.  Found the camel track.........still looking for baseball.............

We enjoyed a favorite meal at PF Changs!!!  Greg was happiest of all! :)  We couldn't figure out how to fit in Texas Roadhouse, The Cheesecake Factory, Red Lobster and Ruby Tuesday into 4 hours.  I guess that means we have to go back next weekend-------seeing how we had epic failure at IKEA and still need curtains, cups, rugs, a dresser, containers, tupperware....etc...etc.   hahaha

Amy did NOT do a good job "blending in" as she walked around with a friend who has more money than she could ever dream of and shops at Fashion Circle on a weekly basis.  Yes, I have now been in Louie Vouton (no clue how to spell it) Coach, and several other famous fashion designer's stores that I have NO IDEA how to spell or say!  

We have yet to figure out who is wearing these type clothes in a culture that dresses in abyas, shaylas, and veils and has signs flashing on the screens in the malls to PLEASE DRESS CONSERVATIVELY.  Our other Rome friends, Ansley and Megan all said "who would have thought it would feel so weird to see someone's knees today"!!!  We all saw more skin today than we have seen in a month!!!  (and really, all we saw were elbows and knees)

We had a blast gazing at the beauty of the Largest Aquarium in the world and salivating in the largest Candy store in the world! We ended the day sipping coffee and people watching with our new friend and riding back to Al Ain in the most expensive car we will ever sit in.  We spent the hour on the road learning more about the culture we are now living in and trying to understand the people we are living among and serving.  As we gain understanding, we will be able to see their hearts and not just judge a people group based on media, opinions of others or different clothing.  One of the fears of our kids before moving was "they look weird/dress weird".  At that moment, I knew we were doing the best thing for them........exposing them to "every tribe and every nation" and prayerfully their hearts and minds will be opened to loving all the children of the world as Jesus does. 

Our lives have already been forever changed by watching and building relationships with the "workers".  The poorest of the poor coming to this country to serve the richest of the rich.  Their servant's hearts and constant smiles have challenged us in more ways than one.  For us, this adventure hasn't been all about the wealth that surrounds us or the "world's largest" whatevers.  It has been the little Phillipino lady that walks behind the rich that throws down his Starbucks cup and picks it up for him all while singing one of my favorite praise songs. 

I could keep going with more stories like that one, but that's for another day seeing how this post just became a novel.  :) 
 

It's the Little Things..............

Holy Moly ---Crazy, Crazy!!!!  It has been one T-totally Crazy month! 

However, I can JOYFULLY report that I am writing this blog from our very own new house!!  HIP HIP HOORAY TO NO MORE HOTEL STAY!!!!   lol

Though it has been chaotic, exhausting, strenuous and requires a line-backer's stamina to brave the malls, LuLu's and the Carrefour's....the DAVIDSONS have pushed through and are IN THE ZONE!!!! 

We are "camping" on the floor due to furniture not being delivered for 10 days AFTER the "5 day deadline to GET ON OUTTA HERE" of the hotel. 

Nevertheless, our faces are smiling because IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS that make life in the UAE good right now! :)

Here's just a few of our Little Things that are causing our hearts to be happy:

1.  We got internet hookup earlier than expected! 

2.  WE ARE WATCHING BASEBALL!!!! (can't believe the boys survived a MONTH without it!)

3.  We have a washing machine!!!!  and have already done 7 loads.  Washers here are SO SMALL a load can consist of about 3 pairs of jeans only!  Shirts---oh, lets say, about 10.  You might get a few pairs of socksin there too.  I'm really NOT believing that I am JOYFULLY reporting that I have done laundry---but after a month of sink washing and paying for cleaners WE ARE ECSTATIC!!!!!!!! 

(Please note that the drying rack on the left is blocking a door!!!  This is a hallway and we have to zig-zag our way through the maze... ha! Just adding more fun to the adventure right??!!)

 

4.  We will have a DRYER soon!  "Inshallhah"  (beginning to despise that word--but this is a happy post so I will not go there). :)  Side note for those of you who have no clue why this is a big deal:  people don't buy dryers here!  SHOCKING!   Drying racks outside are the way to go.  And yes, clothes really do dry in about 10 minutes.  However, this family of 4 are (A.) tired of crunchy undies and (B.)  tired of walking in a maze trying to dodge all of the drying racks!  Though it cost us a small fortune (dryers cost $450 US  where our washer was much less AND came with a FREE microwave)  WE ARE HAPPY!!!! 

5.  Today was our 1st "chill" day!!!  We sat around and relaxed.  3 of  us even had a NAP!!!!  This is a REALLY BIG DEAL!!!  lol We haven't had a day like this since we've arrived.  In fact, no one has had a nap since the first week due to jet lag.  It is now 1 am Saturday morning and we just got in from the mall about an hour ago from dinner and searching for household items.  As we were going through the mall we said "it's amazing what a chill day and sleep will do to your perspective and your tolerance level for people in the mall".   (That thought worked until Greg was holding a cell phone and discussing phones with the service guy and a kid pushed up in between Greg and the sales man and  jerked THE PHONE out of Greg's hand and started playing with it.  Greg's jaw was on the ground.  No one else was shocked by this behavior (other than the Davidsons).  But again, we will not go there and discuss THAT part of life here b/c this is still a HAPPY post!!! :)

6.  We have GREEN BEANS AND CORN!!!  We have laughed b/c we haven't seen a green bean here yet!!!  (in restaurants that is).  These people LOVE  their  breads, carbs and "American" fast food.  Though we don't have a can opener yet, it is on the IKEA list for tomorrow. yipee!!!  We DO have pots and pans though!!!!! :)

7.  We have a printer!!! This is a very big deal, especially for Amy!  I no longer have to find the business center and pay for copies of my lesson plans (which, by the way, are 15 pages long!) And no, for the brainiacks who are reading this and probably going to post the question "why don't you do it at school" I don't have computers or printers or internet at my school!

8.  We have a fun colored shower curtain that keeps water in the tub.  I don't know if you remember Greg's fb post a week or so ago, but he mentioned that the showers in our 2 hotels have been quite disfunctional.  The last one being the "favorite"----a piece of glass only shielding HALF of the tub.  And I do believe I had some good practice for the next time I decide to become an Olympic Hurdle track star!!! My knee hit my nose as I tried to climb INTO the shower.   And climbing out.....well, that wasn't very pretty....much less graceful.  

9. We have a COUCH  to sit on!!!!  and HG's room feels "homiest" of all!  His room has the most furniture in it so far and is almost complete!

10.  We have dangly keys signifying we have a REAL house!  We are done with the hotel keys that kept getting shut off every 4 days.    :)

These are just a few of our LITTLE HAPPYS that are allowing our life to feel more normal and like we can really begin to enjoy our adventure.  Tomorrow will bring new excitement as we go on a fun, full-day field trip with the leadership/administration of Greg's school, as well as a few busloads of other co-workers and their families.  We are headed to Dubai for all day shopping, eating AMERICAN food and climbing Burj Khalifa---the tallest building in the world!!!!!

Oh----another HUGE HAPPY that cannot go without mentioning is Greg's school (and Hayden and Riley's).  We couldn't have asked for anything better! And to think, this is what we were most concerned about before getting here!! haha  The atmosphere is encouraging and the fellowship is refreshing to the soul.  There is laughter and smiling faces.  When we walk into that school, Amy feels the warm fuzzies that she needs by teacher people.  The love of children is evident.  The love for PEOPLE is obvious.  The community and togetherness provides a place of belonging.  There is love and laughter and people who love what they do!  Each day, Amy flags down a taxi to take her to the school after a day at her own school just to be in "her happy place"!!!!  We are so thankful for the opportunity to be at Manor Hall.  We are grateful for the relationships that are being built with teachers, leadership and families at this school.  Though Amy isn't a "real" part of this school..... it's truly a home for all 4 of us!  It's funny, I've been involved in more "impromptu" parent-teacher "conferences" at the mall with Greg Davidson and his students in the past 2 weeks---at the mall!!  It's a fun blessing to watch my hubby be a teacher and even do all those awkward moments (like I used to have in Walmart with student's mama's).  More importantly, it's fun watching him minister to the lives of kids and their families and watch him do what he does best!  The kids LOVE Mr. D and so do their parents.  :)  I'm just forever grateful that I get to be a part of all of this!  :)  They couldn't have picked anyone better for the job!  He may not think he's got the hang of teaching English yet (he will breeze through it once he actually gets his textbooks) but I can surely testify that he has the touching lives part down pat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alright, it's 2 am and I better get some sleep before our exciting adventure in a few hours!!!  Thank you so much for lifting us up so faithfully in prayer.  Thank you for helping us through the chaos and the tough days.  We couldn't have done it without you!  We love you all!!!!