Cairo Kairos

2010-10-24T11:33:00.000-07:00

Everyday is Halloween!

2007-12-27T01:06:00.000-08:00

Dear All,
The guilt is getting to me over my failure to produce a letter, so I thought that maybe I could put something together here and invite folks to catch up with my life via this blog. I feel like on the one hand I communicate a great deal via this blog, and Facebook, and e-mail, but then I realized that there is a whole segment of my friendship world of which I am not virtually connected,so if that includes you welcome!

I know it is trite to say, but I really can't believe yet another year has swept by me! For the most part not much has changed since my last Christmas letter. It is Christmas break and again I am packing to move apartments, (my 7th move in 14 years!!) but I have assurances that this is my last move for a long time...enshallah! I am still in Egypt, still tutoring, still working with youth, still loving life, still single and the list goes on. But I will attempt to make the same old thing a bit more interesting and informative.

I continue to earn a living tutoring kids primarily with special needs. I enjoy the interaction a great deal and find it pretty stress free which is nice. This year I have changed my scheduling around so that I am home most of the day with Caleb, and then I start work when school lets out at 3:15. He is going to school 3 mornings a week and is absolutely thriving on the social interaction. He is a a definite extrovert whose philosophy seems to be "The more the merrier!" He is finally starting to speak coherently and sure enough it is a mix of English and Arabic. For the most part words concerning household matters are in Arabic and everything else that involves people and school and the outside world is in English. He also chooses which ever language offers the easier version of a certain word.Now that he has words to work with we can earnestly embark upon potty training which is one of my goals for the holiday break.

This past year included visits from my aunt and my mom in April and good friends the Capps' came in August. On my mother's visit we enjoyed a week at a time share in Sharm El Sheik which is a luxury resort on the Red Sea. The weather was great and the snorkeling awe inspiring. I had longed to get my mom there and get her head under water to experience it's beauty.She enjoyed it and it was a great experience. August brought Kelly and Erin back to visit along with Erin's mom Tallie. It was like Christmas in August as they came laden with good coffee, games, clothing and various yummies to remind me of home.We spent most of our time hanging out with old friends and enjoying coffee on the balcony, and then we made a short visit to Dahab; a less luxurious but equally as beautiful resort on the Red Sea. We celebrated my 43rd birthday out under the stars in the shadow of Mt. Sinai...how is that for cool?

I made a return trip to the Sinai for a 4 day backpacking trip in October. The scenery was amazing and so much more than I ever imagined existed out in the wilderness of the Sinai desert! I now have a better understanding of how Moses and the Israelites could have survived out there and also great admiration for their stamina. (photos in my Oct. blog posting)

I have continued to lead a small youth group in another expat church in the downtown area of Cairo, but feel this will likely be the last year for that. I continue to love teaching and sharing the amazing story of Christ and will look for other ways to use my gift in that area. Another big focus for me this year was my role on the Senior Pastor Search Committee. It was a task I reluctantly accepted having a deep fear of committee work, but found myself pleasantly surprised. We were a very diverse group and yet gelled as a committee and really worked in harmony the whole time. Hashing through 50 resumes was much more difficult than I had expected, and learning to ask hard questions and examine my own motives proved to be an eye opening experience. Joyously we announced a candidate right before we broke for Christmas break, and so we as a church anxiously await a visit later in January to see if he is God's man to lead our church forward. It has been a very hard year as a church and I think we are all eager to start a new chapter.

As I look forward to the year to come I expect a visit from my Dad in late March and doing some new exploration with him. More visitors are always welcome! Many ask when I plan on returning to the US for a visit but at this point don't hold your breath. I am simply not comfortable leaving the country and leaving Caleb behind, as I do not have the necessary paperwork to get him out. Hopefully in the coming months I will be asking many of you to join me in a letter writing campaign to seek stateside assistance. Obviously I can not go into great detail here but will let you know when the time comes. In the meantime, please continue to pray that God will unfold His plan and give guidance and wisdom on when and how to proceed.

Fortunately I love this land and the people of it and believe that God has great things in store for Egypt in His plan. This country is pivotal in the region and the stability here helps determine stability elsewhere so keep us in your prayers! God is so good in so many ways and it is such a privilege and joy to be called a daughter of the Most High God. I do hope that in this holiday season you are celebrating it in its fullness and depth!
Blessings and Love,
Amy

2007-12-25T09:08:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve

Buzz Lightyear! It doesn't get any better than this.

Buzz Ecstasy!

Christmas Day

2007-12-25T07:23:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas 2007

The Christmas Photo Ordeal Part 1

Please Just Smile and Then You Can Have a Cookie

Great He Smiles and I Blink!

OK So this is as good as it gets. It isn't exactly fridge worthy but hopefully the thought counts for something.

2007-11-04T12:41:00.000-08:00

Not much to report from the home front, but I am trying to be better at being a regular contributor to my own blog. Enjoyed a good weekend filled with work and projects but I enjoyed what I was doing for the most part and so the hours passed effortlessly. I finally finished Caleb's first year of life photo album and made a sizable dent into year two. Then we started phone interviews at our Saturday search committee meeting and one went really well. It is exciting to see this process take shape and to feel God's hand guiding and moving us. The meetings have always been full of good conversation and really healthy debate, and I have enjoyed it way more than I had ever thought possible.

Later on Saturday I had the chance to hear one of my favorite authors speak. The Anglican Church has an arts program where they bring in big name authors to speak and opine on various topics of their choice and expertise. Terry Waite, Elias Chacour and Os Guiness have been past speakers,and then Saturday it was Anne Lamott! It was an interesting event, not at all what I was expecting, which was probably best ( she has been known to drop the occasional "F bomb" in the midst of a discussion on her spiritual journey... not your typical Christian writer.) I expected a brash, foul mouthed liberal and instead was greeted by a somewhat cute but awkward, uncertain, liberal. It was a pleasant discussion... a bit predictable, nothing very edgy as far as I was concerned. Of course Paul,, the pastor of the Anglican church had specifically warned her that she needed to be conscious of our host country and how they might perceive things such as Christians using profanity and talking harsh politics. Actually the Egyptians would have totally enjoyed an evening of Bush bashing! Anyhow, she was a very good girl and colored in the lines...but I would have enjoyed a scribble or two of humorously placed profanity just for the adrenaline jolt. She talked mostly about the things she writes about, but a more updated version of the same old topics. Her poor son Sam has been great writing fodder since he was born and she wrote a hysterical book called "Operating Instructions". Now he is 18 and living on his own so those stories were all new and insightful. I wondered as I listened to her talk if my relationship with Caleb will be nearly as funny or painful as her relationship with Sam. Man! I hope my kid goes easier on me!
Well the midnight hour has arrived and although I am perky and on a roll I think I will end here and try and call it a night so that my 6:30 wake up call isn't so painful.

2007-10-30T05:41:00.000-07:00

Well Finally!
Sorry it took so long to upload pixs but the internet and my old slow computer just can't get in sync. I know you are saying "Old Computer?" but at this point I can't get online at home with the new laptop and am still a novice at how to work the photo program sooooo.
Anyhow here are some pixs, they realy don't do justice to the beauty but at least it gives an idea. I am always so intrigued by how varied beauty is. It was so beautiful, yet would require a completely different vocabulary to describe it than I would use to explain the Rockies, the coastline of Greece. Beauty is interesting that way.

2007-10-30T05:33:00.000-07:00

2007-10-30T05:25:00.000-07:00

2007-10-29T00:16:00.000-07:00

2007-10-28T23:53:00.000-07:00

The photos below are from day 2 hiking down into a canyon. Well the one is me taking a short nap up on top of a peak

2007-10-28T23:44:00.000-07:00

2007-10-21T00:14:00.000-07:00

I was checking a friends blog and was irritated at the lack of new news and then felt a twinge of guilt realizing it had been a while since I had posted anything of interest. Caleb is off at school, although not as enthusiastic as he was the first day, and I have a quiet house to myself. Sure there are many productive things I could be doing but I am choosing to spend quality time with YOU, whoever you may be.

Last weekend I took a mini vacation without the boy and went on 3 day backpacking trek in the Sinai. What an amazing experience! I have driven into the Sinai Peninsula a kajillion times but I never knew it held the beauty and magnificence that I saw, maybe that is why Moses and the Israelites hung out there 40 years!!! I will post pics as soon as my friend passes them along. It was by no means a hike in a barren desert. I had taken a camel trek a few years ago and enjoyed the scenery but wasn't awed per say, (although we had been promised a waterfall and beautiful oasis huh Jen?) but this trip just blew me away. There were gardens tended by Bedouins, natural oasis springing up all over the place, wells, and greenery sprinkled through out. The mountains were much higher than I had expected and the coloring of the rocks was fascinating. I was worried about trying to drag my sorry 43 year old butt up a mountain with a bunch of 20 somethings but did alright. I did get a bit whiny on the last day cause my boots were killing me but other than that I did great. My favorite part was sleeping out under the stars. I don't see stars in Cairo, but out in the desert it is as if the sky droops heavy with the weight of so many stars. And the silence is deafening! Cairo is a constant whir of white noise, if it isn't the horns honking, or the mosques praying it is the cats mating or the locals screaming but it is always something! Even as I sit and write I am listening to 5 different classes at the French school across the street shouting their recitations through their broken windows( a very advanced education system.) In Cairo there is no rest from the noise, ahhhh but in the desert even the wind caught your attention as it broke the silence. It seems so easy to pray there under the stars, Heaven seems so imminent. Each night we struggled by the campfire to stay awake at least until 8 p.m. by playing the initial game (I am thinking of someone whose initials are G.M.)and setting ants ablaze. To bed at 8 and up with the sun! The last night was one of those cool youth pastor moments when I sat surrounded by 4 old youth group kids catching up on their lives. Such amazing kids I have worked with! One lives in the Gaza strip, another in Jordan, one is heading up a Bedouin trekking company and the other is back in Cairo (home) teaching. God so knew what he was doing when he brought me here!

2007-10-04T00:23:00.000-07:00

Well today is Caleb's first day of preschool, and I am celebrating up at Cafe Greco! He wasn't exactly in great shape to start school as he had ben a bit sick, took a late nap yesterday so hence had a tough time getting to sleep early,tough time waking up and an even tougher time forgoing his morning Barney ritual..BUT he did and joyfully ran into the school and never looked back. That's a good thing right? He is only going to preschool 2 days a week and already I am a bit shakey how will I handle kindergarten?
I am really liking my new schedule that allows he and I to hang together quite a bit, we painted suncatchers yesterday! I also get more time to be with friends and drink coffee although it is easy to allow social time to crowd out my reading and study which I had hoped would be more of a priority. I guess my quest for a schedule orderly life must go on!

2007-09-29T06:58:00.000-07:00

Caleb celebrated his 3rd birthday on September 12. I can't believe that 3 years has flown by so fast. We had a construction theme party hence the cake in a dumptruck and the pile of dirt cake.

2007-09-12T14:03:00.000-07:00

Kelly and Ramadan walk the village

A typical Cairo summer night spent out on the bridge looking out over the river. Nothing more realxing then loud traffic whizzing by, horns honking, and teh smell of the river mixed with exhaust. I love this place!

2007-09-12T13:59:00.000-07:00

he is loving it but none the less hanging on for dear life

2007-09-12T13:55:00.000-07:00

2007-09-12T13:50:00.000-07:00

2007-09-12T13:33:00.000-07:00

I do apologize for the lack of updates over the last few months but I swear it is not due to lack of effort on my part! But alas hope is in sight!!! My pathetic 10 year old computer is about to go by the wayside to make room for my new Macbook!!! Hopefully being brought to me by the end of the month. At that point I will determine how much of my problem is lousy computer verses bad connection speed. I have lots of pixs to upload of various summer adventures and I will try yet again but if the spot is empty you will know why.

Summer was great but fast. I basically had July and August free although I did some tutoring most days to make ends meet. I really enjoyed teh freedom although I can't say that it was a slow pace as I seemed to find a million ways to fill my time. I made no headway on my photo albums, didn't organize all my tutoring materials as planned, nor did visit a sick friend as often as I had hoped. BUT I did spend great quality and quanity time with Caleb, I did do a ton of reading, and I did spend 3 awesome weeks with friends Kelly and Erin and her Mom Tallie. The heat was bearable most of the time, I had my old house and pool to retreat to anytime I wanted which was a real blessing (Thanks Keevy's!) So all in all I give the summer 2 thumbs up!

Would you believe that my boy Caleb is 3 today? We are planning a big celebration on Saturday and hopefully I will post pixs of that as well. I can't believe how fast time moves. He is going to start nursery school next week for 2 days a week and he seemed pretty excited about the place and definately loves playing with other kids. He loves to go to Friday school and has no problem being left on the spot so hopefully this will be just as easy.

My tutoring is off to a great start and as always God has faithfully provided all that I need. I began the year with a full schedule and managed to get paid upfront before the start of Ramadan which means they cancel they lose not me. I really enjoy tutoring and especially like the kids I have this year. They are all fun and easy going and pretty willing to work with me to get stuff done. Now if I could just convince my 3 year old of that same idea!

2007-09-05T13:20:00.000-07:00

2007-08-02T06:47:00.000-07:00

Playing a game of Sardine

2007-08-02T06:42:00.000-07:00

Except we don't like the smoke.

2007-08-02T06:38:00.000-07:00

I think he likes it!

2007-08-02T06:20:00.000-07:00

Shmore Making! But does he really care?

2007-07-20T15:23:00.000-07:00

Praying As He Sleeps

I have spent the day reading Elias Chacour's book "Blood Brothers" ,and, as always, when I read about someone who is really doing something significant for the Kingdom I always get pains of jealousy. Life always seems so mundane to me and every so often God hits me with the reality of what a blessed adn privilaged life I lead. I watch Caleb sleep and I am filled with awe of the gift God has given me.Often at night my prayers focus on our safety and peace of mind but tonight I felt bold and able to move away from prayers of peace and comfortability. I so want this boy to grow to be a "Caleb" whole hearted for God which may not come at an easy price, nor a comfortable lifestyle. I am praying that God will give a vision for Caleb, words that I can pray over him, encourage him and build him up with, and words to set before him to challenge him as he makes his own way and mark for God's kingdom. I am such a haphazard mom, not very disciplined nor structured all things that are not terribly conducive to effective child rearing, yet God has chosen me for this task and I am so thankful. If ya think about it pray that God would give a clear vision that will guide his years...oh and praise Him for HIs great love and kindness Truly He is awesome!

2007-07-20T15:20:00.000-07:00

"Bye Bye" is the first thing out of his mouth every morning and his favorite mode to go is biking. Not sure how much longer the backpack or my back can take it though.

2007-07-20T15:14:00.000-07:00

He is such his own little person! Loves to dress up and talk to himself in the mirror.

2007-07-06T06:22:00.000-07:00

Good Reading Time.
Beside quality time with my boy, my other main goal was to catch up on my reading across all genres.
My Summer Reading List:
1. Prayer by Philip Yancey
2. Lost for Words; The Mangling and Manipulating of the English Language
3. Renovation of the Heart
4. The Hobbit
5. Lord of the Rings
6. Thomas Paine's Rights of Man a short Biography
7. The Color of Water; A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother
8. Strange Virtues; Ethics in a Multicultural World

The Hobbit I have finished and hate to admit that I really enjoyed it and look forward to the LTR. I read it somewhat under duress as I agreed to read it alongside of one of my student ( "I will if you will" he said "Fine! Whatever" I responded). So wipe the smirk of your face Kelly. I began salivating from the moment I read that Yancey had written a new book and ws even more intrigued when I learned it was about prayer. Prayer has forever been a stumbling block to me spiritually. Don't get me wrong, I love to talk to God, and I do it all the time! I need to pray, it is a form of thinking for me. I put my thoughts and feelings in order as I offer them to God. BUT all that said sometimes (alot of times) I just don't "get it". The Bible makes it sound so easy and natural, but at least for me, sitting with other people trying to work out my salvation with fear and trembling isn't natural nor easy. For some people it is like their lifeline, they talk about it, they are always doing it, they are always asking for prayer, offering prayer, have a new way to do prayer, outloud, all at once, in solitude, in tongues, through music. Sometimes others sound more satisfied in their prayer life than I ever really feel in mine and I feel guilty, and sometimes I don't ...and that makes me feel guilty. All that said I love reading Yancey because he affirms my questions, and frustrations and somehow that makes me feel better. I give it 2 thumbs up!
I have also finished The Color of Water and loved it! It is by a guy whose mother was white and Jewish and his southern black father. The author grew up a bit confused about his identity and every time he broached the subject with his rather quirky mother she rebuffed him with a lecture on the equality of all people and that color and race doesn't define a person nor a family. I know Caleb will ask many of these same questions one day, starting early with "Why are you so white Mom?" and wondering about his birth parents and his nationality. How will I answer him in such a way that builds identity while not creating insecurity and uncertainty. We are called to be aliens in this world, different among the people we live and walk with, well he and I each are aliens in our own way, that is for sure! But, enshallah he will see that being an alien is his God given identity until they day he is called "home" and assumes his full identity as a child of God.
The English book is just a funny read on how language is changing for good and for bad. My hope with all this reading is that it won't just be an accumulation of more information but that God will work in my heart and mind, and parenting etc... and continue to shape me into his likeness. But who knows I am pretty good at status quo!

2007-07-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

My little chip eating hobbit

2007-07-06T05:52:00.000-07:00

Orange shades, orange speedo, and purple swim diapers how is that for cool?

2007-07-06T05:39:00.000-07:00

Man I could get into this vacation thang! I have totally enjoyed 2 weeks of low level work responsibility and hands on parenting and it has really been great. I am tutoring about 3 hours a day and then Caleb and I have the rest of the day together and we have been swimming most days either in our little yard pool or, when we get invited, out to a club. We have also done quite a bit of exploring by bike. It is such a quirky place to live that you can stop along the way and pet goats, or follow ducks. Tomorrow we are going out to Ramadan's with some visitors and he always loves that!

2007-07-02T13:11:00.000-07:00

July 4th picnic

2007-06-15T13:01:00.000-07:00

Let The Summer Fun Begin!!!

2007-06-15T12:52:00.000-07:00

He will love this at 16! Hiding in my underwear and dishtowels.

2007-06-15T12:44:00.000-07:00

Exhaustion eventually kicks in

2007-06-15T12:41:00.000-07:00

A well earned scar!

2007-06-14T14:31:00.000-07:00

Pulling A Late Nighter!
Caleb and I are up waaaayyy too late waiting to go to the airport to pick up a friend of a friend. I have no clue why every flite coming into this country must arrive in the wee hours of the morning but Egypt must have been at the bottom of the air traffic totem pole!!!
Anyhow...
1 more week of school but only 2 more actual teaching days and I can't wait! Looking forward to at least a month of relative freedom maybe more. Should start tutoring by 3rd week of August. Yancey's new book on prayer is arriving tonight with this friend and I am looking forward to a good read and time to contemplate the theme of prayer and maybe actually spend some serious time in prayer...what a concept!

2007-06-08T11:34:00.000-07:00

Argghhh! Still in school while most everyone else has been set free...well 'cept for the British kids. 8 more school days!!! Actually most of my tutoring has stopped except for 6 appointments which will carry thru the summer. I am actually home tonight and kinda bored. Caleb is in the middle of a schedule change so I am staying put and trying to develop and new routine. He is in the midst of giving up napping it seems :( so he needs to go to bed earlier which is awesome as slong as he can make it thru the whole night. Last night he zonked at 8 p.m. and slept until 8:30 this a.m. which is unheard of. He is winding down with veggie tales as I type so hopefully it will be another good night. Not having a nap tear into the day could be a nice thing ...except when I want to nap.

Life around here in Maadi is feeling very weird these days lots of sin coming out into the light which is disconcerting but good I know. I am on the Sr. Pastor search committee and really feeling the weight of the responsibility especially in light of all that is going on. Please pray for our church and its witness in the community.

I have enjoyed having the Kuhn girls staying with me as they have been back for Hannah's graduation. My little apartment is proving what it can take! Shower usage, toilet flushes, water pressure all have been under major testing but other than a cosmetic case lost in the toidy all has held up well. John Tucker has been in town as well, He and I and Travis all were at coffee the other day pretty weird!

Its good bye time again but this year no real losses to my close community which I am so thankful for. Although 4 months without SkipBo seems like a goodbye but at least I know they shall return eventually. A decent number of folks will be around for the summer so I shouldn't be too lonely.

Well that is all to report

2007-05-29T12:51:00.000-07:00

Well you know it has been way too long since your last post when it takes 5 tries to remember your user name and password but alas my memory pulled through. (still waiting on a pin number epiphany for my bank card)

Enjoyed a spontanous day off as my maid called in sick leaving me stranded for child care but honestly I didn't mind. I have been feeling the end of the year blues where you just want it to end and make a change. I don't know if summer will really be all that much more relaxing but it will at least be different. At this point still unsure whether or not my ESL daycamp idea is going to fly or not. I am getting lots of interested calls but few actual reservations. I know this is tre' typical but it is nerve wracking none the less.

I am slowly dipping my toes into potty training mentality. I decided to put it off until I had time to really focus on it and do it myself without the maids input on how they do it here. (stick them on the potty and leave them there until they produce) We have been practicing getting near the potty,

then sitting Barney on the potty,

and then actually trying it out for ourselves

So far so good

2007-04-30T13:29:00.000-07:00

Caleb giving poker advice on the allnight train ride
fellow teachers ... also husband and wife
Caleb LOVED Omar
Sarah and Katie cheesin for the camera
Caleb joins the band

Class Trip to Luxor

After much begging and planning we were able to take 6 of our students to Luxor for 2 days. We took an all night train on Friday night. Spent all day Sat/Sun touring the many sights of ancient Egypt and then headed home Sunday night. I don't think the kids really cared a whole lot about the sightseeing as much as being out on their own.Caleb went along for entertainment. We had a great time!

2007-04-30T13:14:00.000-07:00

I am so proud of my mom!! She conquered her fear and explored the undersea world just cause I wanted her to.

Peeing shame one and two

2007-04-30T13:00:00.000-07:00

What a great week relaxing, being together and catching up on American TV! Caleb loved the attention of Teta and Sandy but seemed to love most, every Egyptian guy who came along and took his hand.
He quickly got the hang of the hunt
Dancing up a storm with Sandy

2007-03-29T12:54:00.000-07:00

An Evening To Myself
Every Thursday night Caleb usually spends at Skip and Bonnie's because I have youthgroup until late, tonight youthgroup was canceled but Caleb went to SkipBo's anyhow and I got a free night to do whatever I wanted!!! But how pathetic is this...I have sat here at home squatting crosslegged on the floor for hours in front of this computer! I thought about calling friends, or maybe going out to dinner, or even doing some productive reading but nooooo. I have totally wasted a night doing nuthin and ya know what? I kinda liked it!

Last weekend myself (and Caleb) and 2 other teachers took 5 kids to Luxor for a school trip. These kids never get a chance to do that type of thing yet their brothers and sisters at regular schools get to travel all the time. We have been planning it since November and it went off quite smoothly. They were an easy group to please, they were just so excited to be out on their own. Caleb loved the non stop attention, and the opportunity to run his little heart out. Everywhere we went he went full speed ahead and was a blast to be with. We rode every form of transportation imaginable (horses, donkey, boats, train, trolley) and he was in heaven.

I have to teach this next week and then Spring Break in Sharm!!! I am tre excited about a week at the beach. My mom and aunt are coming so it ought to be a nice time. I am taking a bunch of photo album stuff and hope to get some albums made. It will be odd to spend Easter at the beach but I am sure we can tough our way through it..Only 10 more days until I can drink Diet Coke again!!!! I am sick of water and tea!

I will post some Luxor photos soon

2007-03-11T23:49:00.000-07:00

2007-03-11T23:39:00.000-07:00

2007-03-11T23:36:00.000-07:00

2007-03-11T23:30:00.000-07:00

2007-03-11T13:50:00.000-07:00

2007-03-11T13:18:00.000-07:00

So I am getting an abundance of hate mail for failing to update my blog....well sorry life is busy man!!!! I officially moved back into Maadi the first of February but only got the last f my stuff from my place in Sakkarra this weekend. Progress is being made sloooooooooooowly but it is looking MUCH better than where we were a few weeks ago. My good friends Skip and Bonnie have really helped me organize, and Skip is doing all the home repairs and picture hanging. He is also designing a major kitchen overhaul, but that will take a few months to complete as I get money. All in all it was a good decision and I think we can make a home here long term. Caleb definitely misses life in the country, but there are other advantages for him here as well so I am sure he will adjust.
I am raking in the working hours, but am able to come home an hour here and an hour there between classes and sessions so I don't feel as if I am away from him so long. I did tell my boss at the school that I am not going to teach next fall and stay home in the day and be a full time Mom. I will just tutor after school and evenings. 20 hours of tutoring a week is what I need to live and save, so Lord willing I can get a good start from the get go in Sept. Right now I am working out a game plan to start a summer school for Egyptian kids who are switching from Egyptian school system into an American school system and need English help. There is quite a market for that so hopefully I can tap into it.
My mom and aunt are coming the end of March and we are going to Sharm for a week which will be a great break from the grind. Caleb loves the beach and it will be good to have some concentrated time with him. Currently hereminds me of hanging with hormonal teenage girls, he literally laughs and howls one minute and then dissolves into tears the next. He is trying so hard to find ways to deal with his shortage of usable words (words that get a response) and these power surges that he has that almost cause him to burst. He is all about doing it himself, and being his own little person. I am all for it if he could just get things done when I need them to be done! One recent adventure was his discovery of a slimy oil puddle in a friends driveway, of course he was wearing a white shirt! It was absolutely hilarious and worthy of pictures, but his guilty conscience overwhelmed him as soon as he realized that I saw him. He instantly fell apart and threw a tantrum all the while wiping oil everywhere in the process. So sadly no pixs of the moment.

2007-01-21T00:39:00.000-08:00

2007-01-21T00:33:00.000-08:00

2007-01-20T23:56:00.000-08:00

Classic Cairo Moments!

A friend passed on these hilarious Cairo scenes and I thought I would share them. This is why many of us now travel with a camera in hand to verify our stories that we share so often. This is the real Cairo!

Great architectural works

2007-01-17T06:53:00.000-08:00

Cast your vote

2007-01-17T06:32:00.000-08:00

Good News!

With no hassles or questions asked I was able to get a renewal of my visa for another year! Yeah God!!! So thanks for the many prayers.
Christmas break has ended and now it is back to the routine...not that I am complaining don't get me wrong. Actually the break wasn't much of a break so getting back to work was not all that hard. Spent most of the break apartment hunting again and finally I have signed a contract and paid a deposit so enshallah nothing should stand in the way. It is a rather small place but we don't need much, the real blessing is the yard. If you have never been here then that won't mean a great deal to you but for any former Maadities you know grass is a precious commodity in this town and one has to pay handsomly to have a little plot to call your own. I really lucked out in finding a place in my price and grass to boot. My hope is that this will be home for a long time. I am looking to make repairs and create a warm home and raise Caleb there. So hopefully this will be the case. I will get pixs of teh place soon.
I had a potrait done of Caleb but not sure which is the best so I am posting the final choices and you can vote.

2007-01-01T12:04:00.000-08:00

It is so cold in these big ole villas that we have had to resort to creating our own fireplaces! This is in the foyer of my neighbors place.
Talk about trying to fill some big shoes!

Welcome to 2007!

Caleb and I rang in the New Year and partied on until 2 a.m.(this kid is soooo Egyptian!) We party hopped a bit and ended up at the Stringfield's to celebrate with them and SkipBo and family. I had a chance to catch up with some of the college kids who were back in town and that was fun as always. Caleb and I spent the night at SkipBo's and then got up and went apartment hunting...yes I know I reported that I had a place...yes I know that I have reported that on a number of ocassions, but things keep falling thru, so I am not going to say anymore until I actually sign a contract.

If you read this before tommorrow (Tuesday) I would appreciate your prayers as I have to go and renew my visa in the a.m. Now it really should be no problem as many folks live here 15 -20 years on tourist visas but it is happened that people have been refused a renewal. That could be a very serious problem for me so even though it is unlikely it still eats at me, so I would greatly appreciate your prayers that all would go smooth and easy and that I could relax in faith.

2006-12-26T09:09:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas 2006

2006-12-26T09:03:00.000-08:00

Caleb as Rudolph

Caleb as Santa

2006-12-26T08:53:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve

2006-12-25T09:46:00.000-08:00

2006-12-24T15:00:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve 2006
Spent most of the day baking away on my Christmas baskets, this years specialty item was almond truffles! I am amazing even myself (cheese popcorn was a total flop though). Went to the Christmas Eve service sang all the songs but it felt pretty shallow...Christmas Eve without Dave P. just isn't normal, but as we (Petrescue Kids and Brenda and I) keep reminding ourselves that it is a new and different definition of good and normal. So I am not prone to talk in terms of a "Merry" Christmas but it is still a joyousday worthy of our celebration. It is awe inspiring to think that Dave and my Macon are celebrating it together in His presence.
Tmorrow Caleb and I will do our morning thang and hang with the neighbors a bit and then head over to SkipBo's around noon. To all who read this before the day may you have a blessed and joyous day celebrating the birth of our King!
FYI cards have all been mailed! Late I know but way better than years past

2006-12-24T14:49:00.000-08:00

No the kitty was NOT a present for us...nor will there be, but Caleb is darn cute and comfortable around animals which is cool.

Caleb the elf helper!

2006-12-24T14:30:00.000-08:00

Caleb at Skip and Bonnie's in his
new bathrobe, driving his cool new car.

2006-12-08T12:36:00.000-08:00

Scenes from my neighborhood (aka The good, the bad, the ugly)

2006-12-08T12:27:00.000-08:00

2006-12-08T11:24:00.000-08:00

I know it has been awhile since my last update and as always I apologize. Life is has just been whizzing by me at warp speed! I just turned in my report cards for first semester and am now turning my attention to decorating the house for the holidays. BUT before decorating can begin I have to so a major clean up job. I have my regular school day until the 22nd but most of my tutoring will end next week. I have about 2 full weeks off and then another week free of tutoring. During that time I will be packing up yet again and getting ready to move. In reality I won't really move until February but I am packing up and will live in a temporary house until my new place is finished. The place I have found is currently a dump with a capital "D" it has been used as storage for the last 15 years. But the potential is great and the landlady is very kind and willing to work with me to put the place in order. Honestly I like fixer upper kind of places so this should be fun. She gave me a great rate for Maadi standards and is willing to sign a loooong contract so it will be home finally! I will keep ya'll up to date on the process as I have never done such a thing before.
I am bummed about leaving the countryside but am glad we had the time we did and enjoyed it. We can always come out and hang and play now that I have a car so that it cool for the Cabester (Caleb).

Speaking of the little guy he is getting into the Christmas spirit oohing and ahhhing at the lights and terrorizing everyone's tree. This year I am blocking the bass speaker hole before he rediscovers last years fun of hiding my ornaments there. Still not up to his 75 word vocab that the baby bible says he is suppossed to have but we add a word every week or so. So far the English list consists of "MaMa" (addressed not only to me but to every older female whose attention he wants, I am not taking it personally) Cold, baby, up, out, car, hot, and "yeah!". In Arabic "de and da" which is this and that, mum (food) embru (bottle) and a few others that I am not cognizant of. He talks non stop mind you ...I just don't understand. I am hoping that I can get him into preschool for a couple hours a week this next semester to get him socializing more with other kids his age. He is very comfortable going to a few houses that I leave him at regularly but things like Friday school we have not parted well so few hours in preschool should be a real interesting feat...for the teachers.

2006-11-14T06:14:00.000-08:00

Sorry if this strikes anyone as non p.c. but I just thought it was too funny! The title is "Pointless Family Photo"

2006-10-28T01:42:00.000-07:00

Allison Brown comes to town!

This week was the official end of Ramadan and in celebration we got a full week off from school! My friend from my early years here in Cairo, Allison, came back to visit me and another friend. We enjoyed a great week sight seeing, hanging ou,t eating and having great conversation. She also had to endure the lengthy process of my purchasing and taking ownership of my new car. (How long can it take to pick up a car you ask??? Hours!) It was awesome to have my own car to toodle around in and she was there to encourage me thru my first scratch which took all of 20 hours. I am going apartment hunting this morning as I have a great lead on a villa in old Maadi. I was hesitant to move back in town as I love being out in the country but the price is great on this place and it has a garden which is my main prerequisite. Pray that it can work out in reality as well as it does in my head.

Caleb is shooting up in more ways than one. He has really grown taller which leads me to believe he has the Widener height factor which is great he will fit right in! He is really picking up words as each day goes by adding to both his Arabic and English vocabulary. He is going totally two with the fun playful angle and the fall on the ground throw a temnper tantrum angle...I could do without the last one.

2006-10-28T01:00:00.000-07:00

Yeah!!! My New Car...finally

2006-10-03T07:22:00.000-07:00

Dolphin wrestling is the newest sport

Singing into his mic

2006-10-03T06:50:00.000-07:00

Together Again

(Left) Michelle and Janelle

(front) Phil Rizk

(back l-r)

Jeanette Rizk, Jared Lebel, Janelle, Michelle,Tim,Leo,

Travis (interim youth pastor) Miles, Mitch Derksen

(Petrescue cousins)

2006-10-03T05:04:00.000-07:00

I am still alive! Sorry about the stale news that has lingered on my site but I must admit I have not been highly motivated as of late. Sadness has lingered and sort of a heavy laziness. A month has passed and people are starting to move on to other topics and at church a sense of normalcy has started but the hole is still quite evident.

On the home front not much to report. It does look likely that I will be moving yet again in November but just around the corner (well not literally b/c we don't have such orderly concepts as blocks and corners but not far) this time. I will continue my community living with the Keevy clan which is great. We are renting a 4 floor apartment type building on a mango grove. They will take the upper 2 floors and I will take the middle one and then the bottom apartment will be a guest flat and school rooms for their alternative school that they run. My place will be much snugger than my current home but in reality I don't live in most of the space I have right now so it shouldn't be too noticeable. The place has not been finished off yet and that is a good thing because it allows me to give my input on things such as light fixtures and cabinet work. Too late to give a fashionable opinion on paint color so I will be repainting here in a few weeks...Unless I can come to grips with pastel blue. I probably won't go for the bold orange of my previous apartment but something that says "Amy!" with flair.

The place at this point is pool less and actually that is fine with me, less to worry about as far as Caleb is concerned. Right now he is in a phase where he wants to be up high, so he is on table tops, and pulling over chairs to get on the cupboards, he seeks high ground at all opportunity, a fall is imminent I am sure! He is definitely lacking healthy fears.

We are well into Ramadan season which is the holy month of the year but in reality ignites new levels of ridiculousness, and selfishness! Traffic is unbelievable and people just switch off any sense of being part of a world bigger than themselves and their own car. If you thought traffic was wild before you gotta see Ramadan driving! I won't even get into the fasting aspect!!!! But don't get me wrong I love this place!

Ok on that happy note I am going to get out and mix it up a bit on the streets at the height of rush hour traffic.

Ramadan Kareem!

2006-09-09T07:05:00.000-07:00

Saying Goodbye

There are some things one just isn't every ready to do, goodbye's we don't expect to have to say. I have said many a "goodbye" in my 13 years of expat living and they have all been tough each in their own way, but saying goodbye to Dave Petrescue is more than my mind can really comprehend. Often when I have said "farewell" the reality is I probably won't see them again on this side of eternity, yet I know they are out there somewhere in the world. But how can we grasp never again in a worldly sense (the only sense I really know or understand).

I know someday in eternity is real but it sure seems a long way away.

I was just talking with Dave the day before he died, something I don't do as often as I used to, he was asking me to share a story I had told him once, at church in few weeks for a sermon he was preaching. It stood out to me I guess b/c it is the first thing that anyone at church has asked of me in the 2 years I have been gone, little did I know that 2 days later I would be asked again to do something...this time to write his obituary. (available to read at www.maadichurch.net)

I must say it was a rather cathartic experience, helping me to sort out my feelings. Many have questioned over the last few days how Dave could have done something so foolish or risky? It has been good to have the opportunity to share about the Dave I knew who loved high speed, dizzying heights, and knew no fear. Anyone who has been around a few years to hear his stories or see the glimmer in his eyes when he discusses one of Tim's recent stunts, would know that Dave didn't view a 4 foot rappelling act as a life threatening adventure. He simply needed to be somewhere, found himself locked out, and that seemed the fastest way to solve his dilemma.

The service seemed a bit brief to try and capture all that Dave loved or stood for but it was a good time of community. The Africans shared a few songs and I could just picture Dave up there in his goofy Nigerian outfit moving like a white guy. Dave was loved and I think his family has clearly understood that. Tim is rising to the occasion of being the man of his household and has been a major support to his mother. The girls each in their own way are coping and encouraging, all three of them have turned into amazing young people. Dave and Brenda have much to be proud of! People ask again and again how Brenda is doing a question that is hard to answer in a sentence or two. She allows the tears to flow freely but able to express herself and radiate God's goodness in the midst of this trial. After the funeral today I saw glimpses of the Brenda I know and love and a reminder that she will go on.. as will we all.

Some real highlights to this old youth pastor's heart was seeing Jared Lebel (coming from Saudi Arabia), Phil Rizk (coming from Gaza), and Josh and Kristen Dolson (coming from the US)appearing to support Tim and Janelle and Michelle. Sometimes being part of the family of God is annoying but at times like this it is good to be in the fam!

I will add a few more photos later if I can

2006-08-30T23:40:00.000-07:00

2006-08-30T23:22:00.000-07:00

Bathing water buffaloes and Caleb helping in sorting the dates for market.

2006-08-30T20:53:00.000-07:00

Mokkatam Cave Church

It has been a while since I last posted and so I have some catching up to do. I have been something of a tourist again with having Nancy and Caleb here and enjoy sharing some of the unique sights of this ancient land. The traditional sights such as the Pyramids I have "allowed" them to experience solo but the wandering around the backstreets and countryside I love.
I took them to the garbage city on the outskirts of town where as the name indicates all the garbage is taken and is sorted for recycling. You can imagine the sights and smells of garbage sitting in 100 degree heat! Yet in the midst of this stench operates one of the most active and vibrant churches in this land. The Mokkatam Cave Church is what we call it although it is really an amphitheater (the original church which sat 5000 was in a cave near by).

2006-08-20T14:18:00.000-07:00

The Never Ending Birthday Celebration

I have just returned from yet another birthday celebration dinner! I must be honest I am enjoying it! I have had all you can eat sushi, amazing Chinese and tonight it was Japanese Tepanyaki and I still have a few more outstanding dinner invites to go! For some reason this years birthday came with a bit more ease than last years, maybe because I was mistaken about my age for most of last year and hence relieved to learn that I was turning 42 not 43. Either way I am OK with this growing older thing, well that is until someone asks if Caleb is my grandson then I am a bit bitter. I decided I don't feel 42 so I'm not! I must say it is weird though to be with my peers whose kids are in college whilst mine is turning 2 :)

Travis,my old intern who is now the youth pastor for the year, took me out along with his 2 new interns and it felt like old times again as they hissed and gasped as we drove through downtown traffic and stared in amazement at the sheep in the road and the overflowing minivans. I always loved seeing Cairo through the eyes of a new intern!

August in Cairo is first of all HOT, secondly it is hopping morning,noon and night especially night! All the Egyptians flock to the Med. coast and the Saudi's move in for the month. They come here and do everything they can't do there... and the money absolutely oozes through the town. September is around the corner and school will begin for everyone (although the big American school has started already) and life will return to normal for a short time until Ramadan begins in mid Sept. Which is like summer holiday all over again for a month. Yet another reason I am loving living outside of town and not so affected by the noise and traffic.

I have begun tutoring a bit but won't return to my regular schedule until Sept. as well. I seem to have plenty to do to keep me busy and lots of visitors to fill my social calendar so no complaining for my corner of the world.

2006-08-16T02:40:00.000-07:00

Dahab Revisited

This last week I traveled back to Dahab with a Cairo friend as well as Nancy and Caleb who are visiting and my Caleb. The town seemed to have recovered fairly well since the bombing that took place on my last visit. It was a bit eerie though. Caleb loved the water and the rush of the tide. He is turning into quite the independent little boy! He is happy to head off on his own and makes friends with everyone he meets. He spent an entire morning hanging out with these little Bedouin girls who make bracelets to sell to the tourists, and waiters at every restaurant were eager to feed him banana's and candy and take him on tours of the kitchen. Quite the charmer he is!

We did a bit of snorkeling, hiking and 4 wheeling which I love. Between the beauty of the undersea life and the mountains that hug the shoreline, I am always in amazement of God's creativity and goodness.

I have the rest of August off to finish organizing my life and house. I am loving the quality of time with Caleb and get a bit sad thinking about going back to the daily grind. Not sure how much effort to put into settling here in my plush accomodations as it seems unlikely that we will be here beyond Dec. I am going to look around in the area for something similar although not so palatial. I am hoping to find something small with a yard. In Maadi, flats with a garden are a prized commodity and usually priced out of my range. In the meantime I am going to soak up the luxury!

2006-08-15T12:08:00.001-07:00

Under the table trying to love (or from their perspective terrorize) the cats.

2006-08-15T12:08:00.000-07:00

Under the table trying to love (or from their perspective terrorize) the cats.

2006-08-15T12:02:00.000-07:00

Caleb's independent spirit on display at a bedouin camp

2006-08-15T11:40:00.000-07:00

Hangin with the bedouin girls

2006-08-15T11:00:00.000-07:00

Shouting taunts to Saudia Arabia across the bay.

2006-08-06T23:09:00.000-07:00

Visiting a friends Shetland Pony. He, normally, is quite comfortable around animals but he wasn't budging on this one.

2006-08-06T22:54:00.000-07:00

Behind the wheel is where he wants
to be

2006-08-06T22:48:00.000-07:00

Nancy and her Caleb dining on Kosheri.

2006-08-06T16:32:00.000-07:00

2006-08-06T15:33:00.000-07:00

I have had a fun walk down memory lane tonight as one of my old youth group kids is here visiting for a few weeks with her husband. We spent the evening looking through old pixs and reminiscing about
times I yelled at her, or all her attempts at pulling one over on me on a retreat or the very funny conversations we used to have (which I suspect she deeply regrets now :) ). In search of pictures from her era I found tons of pictures from many era's. Hideous hairdo's, the ridiculoulsy huge red glasses ala Sally Jessy Raphael, and a way chubbier face! Man, not missing those days! But regretful fashion aside what a great life I have lived!!! I have had amazing jobs and gotten to work with amazing kids and how cool is it that so many of these people are still a part of my life. It sounds so cheesy to say that I am "blessed" but what other word describes it? To love what you do and to love the people who have worked and walked along side of you all the way isn't by any means a guarantee but rather an added benefit from God ...a blessing! So to all of you (high school buds, mentors, youth group kids, interns and friends of all ages) a reminder that I count myself privileged to have had each of you to have walked with me at some point in my journey.

OK enough sentimentality... yeah Nancy is here with her husband Caleb (whoo hoo!) and we have been doing the semi tourist thing, a little looking around and a lot of layin around...by the pool of course. Enjoying lots of great conversation and catching a glimpse of the person she has become. I always looked forward to the time that kids would no longer be "my kids" and would be just my friends. It is satisfying.

Like I said I have been blessed!

2006-07-30T11:58:00.000-07:00

Enjoyed another great day today! We hung out poolside most of the day and a bunch of friends dropped by. We ate hommus and I learned to play cribbage. Then Jeanette Rizk came over and we cooked low carb Morrocan Chicken and steamed clams! It is only 10 p.m. and I am ready for bed...this is a good life!

2006-07-29T10:46:00.000-07:00

First Day of Vacation!

Heaven...I 'm in Heaven... Seriously, today was awesome, We did nothing, zip, zilch, nada! Well unless laying by the pool playing scrabble counts as something or sleeping in until 9 a.m. It is a tough life but as you know someone has to live it. Paris Hilton has her course in life and this is my lot in life.

Summer School was no joy but it makes vacation feel well deserved. I will think twice next summer before I sign up to do it again!

Yesterday I went to bed with Caleb at 9 p.m. exhausted after two nights of minimal sleep. Wednesday night was spent at the emergency room learning the meaning of "croup". We had eaten popcorn not long before he had gone to bed and so when he woke up making this bizarre noise (barking like a seal) and having difficulty breathing, it seemed as if something had gotten caught in his passage way, besides the fact that he had no fever or any other clue to indicate sickness. I tried to act calm and not worry but finally broke down at midnight and called a nurse friend for advice. She said "better safe than sorry" and that was all I needed to hop in the car and go.

In the end it was croup.

So we are having some snotty days but all in all its not too bad.

So yeah it is vacation and I am pumped. I have a old friend (actually an old youth group kid) from Denver and her husband coming to visit on Tuesday for a couple of weeks. Hopefully we will make it out of town to somewhere. If not I am happy to hang around here and just catch up on her life. Getting around is a bit of a hassle as I have still not yet bought a car. For the last few months I have been able to borrow different friends cars while they traveled. Now I am in discussion either to buy a affordable piece of junk or to hire a taxi on a fulltime basis with my neighbors.

My neighbors are a family I have known for years from church. They are in their mid 30's with 3 daughters. Juleen is a teacher at CAC and Roger is a househusband. The property we live on has twin villa's side by side. We share the pool and yard and are really looking for ways to live more in community. It is a great arrangement for us as we are similar in lifestyle and have many of the same friends.

2006-07-22T13:23:00.000-07:00

"Monkey see Monkey do" Caleb doing his part to help Alia out as she snaps the beans. He is quite pleased with himself.

Caleb had a great day playing in the water.

2006-07-22T13:01:00.000-07:00

I think this could be a great Colgate ad!

We live with 7 dogs (not by my choice!) and finding a safe place to sit and eat your meal is no easy task.

2006-07-13T10:29:00.000-07:00

July 4th in Cairo

Domestic Bliss

Once I upon a time...I used the term "domestic bliss" in a rather perjorative fashion. I assumed that household chores were a form of bondage, something only to be endured never enjoyed. The fact that I was single, had a full time maid, and worked a chaotic, non stop schedule all contributed to my misunderstanding of the meaning of "domestic bliss". My life is so different now in my post ministry days, a bit slower in a sense. I still work long days and it is still a very hectic schedule but my mind isn't as busy as it once was and so life seems slower to me. It allows me to ponder other issues or to actually be quiet and ponder nothing. Somehow moving at this quieter slower pace has freed something up in me. Tonight as I cooked dinner for Caleb and I, I had a type of "ah ha!" moment. I was chopping veggies, washing dishes, soaking stains out of his clothes, (and feeding chicken heads and feet to the dogs I am caring for, but that is aside from my point) and I was experiencing a form of well...bliss! I was enjoying caring for my home and feeding my child not because it was a chore that had to be done but because it was my joy. Weird! Maybe I am finally growing up.

For you more recent ex Maadi ites: Travis Black is BACK! He is here to fill the interim youth pastor position while a year long search takes place. I am happy to have him back, but I doubt that I will see him much with his new title and schedule.

2006-07-09T12:48:00.000-07:00

Man I have been online for hours!!!! Trying to catch up takes serious time. Fortunately Caleb was in a mellow mood happy to sit on the floor next to me and play with his cars and let me write away. This is not a normal thing!!! I had this brilliant idea to post the Christmas letter that never got sent with teh pic that I had 50 copies made of and never sent (hmmm a reoccuring theme I also have 50 copies of the previous years photo never sent!) I never know who knows what so sorry if this is old news. I know I e-mailed this letter out so those who I didn't have a hard address for but for the rest of year Merry Christmas!

New Years Resolution 2006…send in my 2003 and 2004 tax forms that have been sitting on my desk for the last year AND write my Christmas 2004 and 2005 letter.

OK, so the taxes are still on my desk waiting for the right size envelope to appear but here goes with the Christmas letter!

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words but I will include a few of my own to explain the cute little face if you have not already heard. Caleb Christopher Widener is his name and bringing me much joy and laughter is his game. As most of you know I rarely do things the normal way and Caleb is no exception. Lets just say that he was nothing short of a miracle from God. Someone asked me not long after Macon had died whether or not I would be open to getting another child like I had gotten Macon. As much as I cherished the gift that Macon was in my life, I wasn’t all that enthused about walking that journey again in the same fashion (i.e. no papers nor legal security). I told this friend rather emphatically “No! God would have to drop a child off on my doorsteps for me to know I was supposed to do that again.”…yeah… so I am a Mom again. He was delivered to me at about 4 hours old and just over 4 pounds to hold. Amazing huh?

It is hard to describe the radical change my life has taken over the last 2 years. After 10 years as the Youth Pastor at Maadi Community Church I stepped out into the unknown in June of 2004. Still grieving the loss of Macon I was unsure of what I wanted to do or where I wanted to go, and even more clueless as to God’s plans for my life, but I knew that I wanted to stay put for a time here in Egypt and figure things out at a slower pace. I really was at peace and yet anxious to see what God had in store for me. The summer of 2004 I went back to the U.S. for a short visit and then returned back to Cairo and had to move out of church provided housing and begin fending for myself. I found a cute little apartment reasonably priced and with the help of some youth group kids painted it up funky and made myself a new home. In late August I got a call from a friend of a friend asking if I could help with her teenage son who was doing a home schooling program. I said “yes” and one thing led to another and I found myself employed part –time at a small school for kids who, for either academic reasons or behavioral reasons, were not accepted at the American school here. I teach writing and grammar as well as history to a couple of kids with mild learning disabilities. I also began to get a number of calls asking for after school tutoring in various subjects. None of this was really what I was looking for nor expecting but what an amazing gift it has turned out to be! No sooner had I gotten this job then Caleb came into my life. What a perfect set up! I had an income that covered my needs, I had a versatile and flexible schedule that allowed me to handle caring for a newborn, and I had great friends who shared the early months with me! Like a red carpet rolled out at the Oscars I walked the path with no doubt that God was in control and leading.

So here we are 1-½ years later, Caleb is 17 months old and full of life and raw energy. He has the most beautiful eyes you can imagine with his lashes curling up to touch his brow. He has a mop of curly brown hair that I can’t bring myself to cut, and these big white teeth that look like Chiclets planted right in the center of his smile. Everyday I look at him and my heart swells with delight at how good God has been to both of us. Over and over again I think of Job’s words “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away blessed be the name of the Lord!” and the Lord gives again!

Besides work and mothering I am also enjoying being back in ministry again as I lead a small youth group at another expatriate church downtown. It is a church filled mostly with Christian workers so most of the youth have been here long term. Neat kids and very appreciative of anything I offer. Unfortunately time and transportation issues keep me from spending the individual time with them that I would like but I think good stuff is happening anyhow. After sitting all week and talking simplistic grammar and study skills with kids it is good to be in a role that is familiar and challenging.

I continue to enjoy being a part of the community here and the chance to still interact with my old youth group kids is such a privilege. I even have an old youth grouper living with me for the year, which is cool!

In many ways life is very full and busy but I must say compared to the life of a full time youth pastor this pace is way slower and more relaxing. It took me a whole year to get over guilt pangs when I laid on the couch to read a book, or took an after church nap but I think I am cured now.

Forgive me for my poor correspondence but believe me when I say that I do cherish the friendships that I have around the world and that out of sight DOES NOT mean out of mind!

Enshallah, (Lord willing) I will write again before the New Year, until then peace and good tidings,

Love,
Amy and Caleb

2006-07-09T08:29:00.000-07:00

2006-07-09T07:33:00.000-07:00

I keep waiting to send out the address to this sight until I can figure out exactly what I am doing but at the rate I am going it will become as outdated as my Christmas letter which never got sent. Hmmm maybe I could post that letter and finally be done with that task as well!
So pardon the pathetic blog format.I can't figure out how to get my pic into the profile box any help out there?

It is Sunday, and as many of you are enjoying your weekend and looking forward to the big game tonight, we here in Egypt are already back at work. I started my second week of summer school today and lets just say the weekend wasn't long enough! I teach a mere 4 classes but ,with kids who all have either dyslexia, ADD or ADHD plus a variety of other small learning struggles, it can make for a very long arduous day. ( imagine an emoticom of a person pulling their hair out right here)! I enjoy the kids but dislike the pressure of trying to actually accomplish something. Today we had to turn in our goals and our strategies to achieve them, the use of duck tape was one of my strategies, my supervisor wasn't impressed.

Even though it seems like a forever long day, in reality I am done at about 3 p.m. which makes for a 4 hour shorter day than usual. So I am home enjoying daylight, a cool breeze and the company of Caleb who is working out 2 more of his final four teeth.Life is good!

For those of you who know Kerry McGuigan she got married on July 3rd and just sent a few pixs which I will post. She was a bit (understatement) bummed as she had an outdoor wedding and reception and it evidently rained a bit...OK alot. But as you can tell by the photo's she was beautiful as was the scenery. She and Marcus will honeymoon in Spain on their way back to Cairo where she will resume her teaching and he will start a job with the church in the finance department.

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Anyone want to come vacation in Egypt? I have plenty of room and am open and available year round.

Caleb dancing up a storm at the baby disco

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OK ...OK I will admit it. I am looking for an "easy out" of letter writing. I am so far behind that I can't see even a glimpse of light at the end of my e-mail tunnel. Is it because I don't care about my family and friends? Is it because I am a recluse who desires to hide what I am doing? Is it because my life is boring and I think I have nothing to report? Nay! Again I say "Nay" to all three of the options...well there is some truth to to the third one. Truth be known I want to write and keep up, but getting the right combination of time, concentration, and working internet is very difficult.
Although I am a bit intimidated by the many bloggers who have gone before as well as the technology of it all, I am going to join the world of blogging. Now lets set the ground rules right from the start. First off,I am making no commitment as to how often I will update this blog. Secondly don't come here looking for deep intellectual fodder, my reading as of late goes no deeper than "How Terrible Are the Terrible Two's?" and the occassional Suduko puzzlebook. Finally, lets all keep in mind that a blog really isn't a substitute for a real letter nor does posting a comment count as a real letter. So although I hope to relieve a bit of pressure I am not excusing myself from the occassional personal form of communication...nor you.

Ok with that all said on to posting pixs! and sending out the address.