So I know its been a while. Many things have happened in the last month or is it 2 since I've posted?
I'm typing this without checking so just go along with it!
So first of all, at the end of March, we moved from a 2 bedroom apartment into a 4 bedroom villa. Its super nice to have the extra space, and for Zalen to have more room to run around and play, but its a hassle to keep clean. Scratch that, I've gotten down a schedule on cleaning so now its not as hard but moving in and starting to clean was a challenge. Now its ok, I'm ok!!
Its a 2 story, and most of our walls are concrete. We did have concrete walls in the apt. but I could still hear our neighbors when they were loud, plus we had someone living above us and that was an anxiety holder for me. But then again that is a whole 'nother story I don't want to get into right now. Needless to say after a while our upstairs neighbor was nice enough to stop moving his furniture at 2am. And now that we are in a villa, I'm happy that I don't have to worry about upstairs noises. I haven't gone to see who my neighbors are yet, and we have been here almost 3 weeks.
I did get a new DSLR Nikon D3200 camera! Its amazing! To me its an advanced camera because I'm coming from my camera phone/ small digital cool pix camera. Its definitely an Upgrade, and I'm still learning how to use it! I'll have to post some pics I've taken with it!
I'm typing this blog from my new computer my husband bought me as an anniversary present. I really didn't need it but he wanted me to have a good desktop computer to play WOW with him. I was able to watch my team DUKE win the 2015 NCAA Championship title!!! It was nerve-wrecking to watch being here in Saudi because the internet would have to buffer the live feed every couple of minutes and most of the time it would start to buffer right as someone was shooting a basket and the ball was in the air.
Zalen and I haven't really been off the compound much these last couple of weeks. On Resurrection day (aka Easter) we went to the beach, first time after a month of not going. It was so nice. We were in the company of some wonderful friends, the Lomedico family! It was my friend Jo, her husband Mike, and their 2 girls, Rebecca and Angelina. Zalen and I both adore this family in general, they are fun people who helped me out when I was moving into the villa by entertaining Zalen for me!! It took us 4 hours to move from one side of the compound to the other. So it was nice to not have to worry about Zal needing me.
I was worried coming to another country and not being able to have a babysitter if I needed. It is hard to find people you can trust to watch your kid. I've been very blessed with the wonderful ladies I've met being in Saudi. Its nice to have at least 2 people here I fully trust to be alone with Zalen!!
There have been a few sandstorms here, and it looks all yellow outside. The weather has been hot and humid (always around 85* and I'm not sure on the humidity) all I know is I walk outside; from a 66* house and step outside and immediately my glasses fog up and its getting to the point to where its a little hard for me to catch my breath outside. I'm really dreading the summer here because I hear it gets waaaaay worse. I guess I'll let y'all know how it goes as far as weather!!
I've been drawing a blank on what to make for dinner and lunch for that matter! Back in Jan. I was trying to get my son out of the eating habit of just the basic: bread, pasta, and cereal diet. Well I tried for weeks to serve him healthier foods and to get him to eat whatever I was making dad and I. But now.........after doing that for 2 1/2 months, I'm back to the basics of bread, pasta, and cereal. I do feel like I've failed, but I'm not a short order cook anymore. Zalen now knows whatever I give him, if he doesn't eat it, he won't eat until the next meal. I'm worried because next month we will be taking a vacation to Dublin, Ireland. I won't be cooking for a whole week, so I'm praying the first couple of days won't be horrible because I know he won't want to eat whatever they have there if he doesn't think it looks appetizing. My son will NOT taste new food, he just looks at it. Even if he has had it before, like rice or shredded chicken, he just looks at it and pushes it away. But any little thing he finds on the floor: dirt, hair, paper, etc. he will pick up and put in his mouth. Its a bit frustrating but like I said I'm not a short order cook anymore.
I'm more cautious about what I do give him, and I do try healthier versions of things to see if he will eat it but that's always a challenge. He still isn't talking either. But I do know that God has my back, and I just have to keep my faith up that he will grow out of this phase soon!!!
Well I must go make some lunch now......until next time!!
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Don't sweat the small stuff
If you ever get a chance to live in another country, I say go for it!
Its a great chance to grow, be thankful and count your blessings!!
Being outside of your comfort zone really gives you opportunities that you wouldn't think are possible! I used to live my life in a box. I would wake up, go to school/work, come home go to sleep and do it all over again the next day! It was the same routine day in and day out. I was content, to some extent but didn't think I would ever have an opportunity to explore life outside of El Paso,TX! I would joke with my mom, when I was younger, that I would get married and move in with her. Or that if that didn't happen, when I turned 25, I was going to join a convent and be a nun. I was raised Christian, but when I was a kid I would go to church with my grandpa who was Catholic, so I thought that would count for something!!
When I met my husband, I still believed I would stay in El Paso and not be blessed enough to travel. When I was dating my husband, after about 2 years we took a trip to Seattle. I fell in love with that city! Not only did it have mountains (which I love) but it was on the coast, so ocean was near (which I love more). I had made a goal in my head that I would eventually end up in Washington state in one way or another. Not only did God give me my husband but He blessed us with him being in the military. (Which at the time, I didn't think was a blessing, but I will cover that later) After we got married (2 months to be exact) I was moving to OK, and experiencing life outside of my comfort zone of EP (and my mom). Yes I was terrified, and leaving home was so hard! But God opened a door, and I walked right in and said "oh....uh...hi" world!
While Jon was in the military I was able to live in 2 different cities. I was away from my box, and man was that an eye opener!! Now that I'm blessed to live in another country, that's even more of an experience/eye opener. If God is teaching me a lesson right now by granting us this opportunity to live in Saudi, I believe it would be "Don't sweat the small stuff". I've learned to not take anything for granted.
I've also learned that things aren't always going to be consistent!! Saudi likes change and is changing things all the time.
I remember from my first post about my first impression of Saudi, and how I thought it looked run-down. I've realized now its more like, they are improving things/buildings/areas. Something is always under construction. Saudi doesn't want to live in a box, they want change, they want to grow and be something better!
While many people see the bad side to living here, I can't help but be grateful and try to remain positive about this whole opportunity! Yes some things stink, like me not having much freedom, but if that is what it takes for me to realize and experience a whole new culture/way of life, that there is something out there other than the routine day to day activities........my eyes and ears are now open God!!!
I do find myself complaining sometimes about my blessing, which is normal because I'm human. This last month the grocery store I shop at stopped selling my blue bonnett butter. That made me sad! They also change up the types of foods they sell....for example, we tried a new brand of fish sticks. We go back a week later and they don't have that brand. Change, change, change. No consistency!!! That gets on my nerves sometimes, but I'm learning, even more so now, to just go with the flow! And it could just be that I go to late and that brand is already sold, but man I don't want to have to go to 3 different grocery stores to get everything on my list like I know a bunch of families do here.
Being in Saudi has also brought out my inner chef! I've had to make things from scratch because being in my box back home in EP was too easy, lol. So far I've made: tortillas (which I make at least once a week), empanadas (pineapple and apple), red velvet cupcakes, and tomorrow it will be Brownies! Its so great to hear my friends ask me to make something for them from scratch. It makes me feel wanted and loved! I got a request from my husband's co-worker to make brownies so I'll be making some tomorrow!
Anyway, I'll be posting soon about my son's 2nd birthday. 2 years old, and the apple of my eye (when I'm not pulling my hair out, hahaha). Until next time.....................
Its a great chance to grow, be thankful and count your blessings!!
Being outside of your comfort zone really gives you opportunities that you wouldn't think are possible! I used to live my life in a box. I would wake up, go to school/work, come home go to sleep and do it all over again the next day! It was the same routine day in and day out. I was content, to some extent but didn't think I would ever have an opportunity to explore life outside of El Paso,TX! I would joke with my mom, when I was younger, that I would get married and move in with her. Or that if that didn't happen, when I turned 25, I was going to join a convent and be a nun. I was raised Christian, but when I was a kid I would go to church with my grandpa who was Catholic, so I thought that would count for something!!
When I met my husband, I still believed I would stay in El Paso and not be blessed enough to travel. When I was dating my husband, after about 2 years we took a trip to Seattle. I fell in love with that city! Not only did it have mountains (which I love) but it was on the coast, so ocean was near (which I love more). I had made a goal in my head that I would eventually end up in Washington state in one way or another. Not only did God give me my husband but He blessed us with him being in the military. (Which at the time, I didn't think was a blessing, but I will cover that later) After we got married (2 months to be exact) I was moving to OK, and experiencing life outside of my comfort zone of EP (and my mom). Yes I was terrified, and leaving home was so hard! But God opened a door, and I walked right in and said "oh....uh...hi" world!
While Jon was in the military I was able to live in 2 different cities. I was away from my box, and man was that an eye opener!! Now that I'm blessed to live in another country, that's even more of an experience/eye opener. If God is teaching me a lesson right now by granting us this opportunity to live in Saudi, I believe it would be "Don't sweat the small stuff". I've learned to not take anything for granted.
I've also learned that things aren't always going to be consistent!! Saudi likes change and is changing things all the time.
I remember from my first post about my first impression of Saudi, and how I thought it looked run-down. I've realized now its more like, they are improving things/buildings/areas. Something is always under construction. Saudi doesn't want to live in a box, they want change, they want to grow and be something better!
While many people see the bad side to living here, I can't help but be grateful and try to remain positive about this whole opportunity! Yes some things stink, like me not having much freedom, but if that is what it takes for me to realize and experience a whole new culture/way of life, that there is something out there other than the routine day to day activities........my eyes and ears are now open God!!!
I do find myself complaining sometimes about my blessing, which is normal because I'm human. This last month the grocery store I shop at stopped selling my blue bonnett butter. That made me sad! They also change up the types of foods they sell....for example, we tried a new brand of fish sticks. We go back a week later and they don't have that brand. Change, change, change. No consistency!!! That gets on my nerves sometimes, but I'm learning, even more so now, to just go with the flow! And it could just be that I go to late and that brand is already sold, but man I don't want to have to go to 3 different grocery stores to get everything on my list like I know a bunch of families do here.
Being in Saudi has also brought out my inner chef! I've had to make things from scratch because being in my box back home in EP was too easy, lol. So far I've made: tortillas (which I make at least once a week), empanadas (pineapple and apple), red velvet cupcakes, and tomorrow it will be Brownies! Its so great to hear my friends ask me to make something for them from scratch. It makes me feel wanted and loved! I got a request from my husband's co-worker to make brownies so I'll be making some tomorrow!
Anyway, I'll be posting soon about my son's 2nd birthday. 2 years old, and the apple of my eye (when I'm not pulling my hair out, hahaha). Until next time.....................
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Happy New Year!!
Its a New year!! New Adventures, New beginnings, new start for some!!
I don't have resolutions this year because I never keep to them, so instead I have things I'm just going to do! My bff and I are going to read through the Bible this year (which is great because I've always wanted to do that but would always get distracted and forget). Since I'm in Saudi and its hot, I have more motivation now to get a better "beach body" so I have a work out partner that I'm waiting to get to Saudi. But I have already started exercising so Good job me! To also get me more motivated I've taken some pics so I can have before and after's!
I guess that's it for the most part, I mean there are other things, more that are personal that I need to work through that I'm hoping with Prayer and more Bible studies, they will work themselves out!
I haven't been off the compound much, since I last posted. I've been to a new restaurant, a TexMex type of place which was really good. Been to the beach more. My legs are a nice light caramel color I can't wait to see how dark I get before i go back to the states! I'm lying, I have been to 2 different places on the bus! They have a bus that takes us wives places during the week so we aren't stuck on the compound all day bored. I've been to a "$2.50" store (kinda like the dollar store, which was nice, I could have spent more than what I had easily). I've been to what was called "Space Mall" which wasn't a mall at all, its just like a giant Dillards type store. 85% clothes, shoes, kitchen stuff. I did get Zal some shoes, 2 pairs of sandals, which was an adventure in itself because the units of measurement are European so I'm getting used to that. I did learn my shoe size is a 40, sounds big and here (at least at that store) it was hard to find my size in a nice shoe that I liked. I am super picky about shoes though so that's not surprising! Now in clothes I have no idea and I don't even plan to start looking until 6 months from now when I know I've lost weight. Even though everyone here is pretty thin but we will cross that road at another time!
My husband took Zal and I to the beach just the family. It was super crowded on the weekend and it took us about 30min once we got to the right area to figure out what entrance to take. Mostly everywhere here is blocked by high walls. So most of the roads look like alleys, best way I can describe it. Houses have huge walls and gates, so you can't see what the front of them look like. The beach 'resorts' are the same way. You have to pay attention or know where your going because there are hardly any signs. Thankfully I was paying attention the first time I went on the bus to the beach we went to, so I kinda knew where we were going. I'm so glad my son is a fish like me, he loves water!!!
I mailed my parents a card and a friend of mine a card, and stamps here are expensive. It was 2 SAR, which in American terms meant about $0.52 each. Hahahah I know that's not expensive I was just complaining for no reason! I do feel bad when it comes to tipping here like when we order food and have it delivered. In dollars we usually tip about $0.52 or 0.78. I've been told they don't even expect tips here when delivering food but I like to because to me its like a thanks.
I'll be getting Arabic lessons soon from a very nice lady who grew up in Jordan. I'm excited. If anyone reading this prays, can you please keep a friend of mine in your prayers. Its classified to the topic but her name is Mindy! And thanks in advance!
Over the next 6 months I'm going to try my hardest and lose 50 lbs. that is my short term goal! Perfectly achievable since my son is so active and loves being outside! He gets to the point that he will come get my hand and lead me to the door because he wants to go outside. Its cute but he does it when I'm mostly cleaning.
Well today was a short entry. I need to go exercise now! Until next time.....
I don't have resolutions this year because I never keep to them, so instead I have things I'm just going to do! My bff and I are going to read through the Bible this year (which is great because I've always wanted to do that but would always get distracted and forget). Since I'm in Saudi and its hot, I have more motivation now to get a better "beach body" so I have a work out partner that I'm waiting to get to Saudi. But I have already started exercising so Good job me! To also get me more motivated I've taken some pics so I can have before and after's!
I guess that's it for the most part, I mean there are other things, more that are personal that I need to work through that I'm hoping with Prayer and more Bible studies, they will work themselves out!
I haven't been off the compound much, since I last posted. I've been to a new restaurant, a TexMex type of place which was really good. Been to the beach more. My legs are a nice light caramel color I can't wait to see how dark I get before i go back to the states! I'm lying, I have been to 2 different places on the bus! They have a bus that takes us wives places during the week so we aren't stuck on the compound all day bored. I've been to a "$2.50" store (kinda like the dollar store, which was nice, I could have spent more than what I had easily). I've been to what was called "Space Mall" which wasn't a mall at all, its just like a giant Dillards type store. 85% clothes, shoes, kitchen stuff. I did get Zal some shoes, 2 pairs of sandals, which was an adventure in itself because the units of measurement are European so I'm getting used to that. I did learn my shoe size is a 40, sounds big and here (at least at that store) it was hard to find my size in a nice shoe that I liked. I am super picky about shoes though so that's not surprising! Now in clothes I have no idea and I don't even plan to start looking until 6 months from now when I know I've lost weight. Even though everyone here is pretty thin but we will cross that road at another time!
My husband took Zal and I to the beach just the family. It was super crowded on the weekend and it took us about 30min once we got to the right area to figure out what entrance to take. Mostly everywhere here is blocked by high walls. So most of the roads look like alleys, best way I can describe it. Houses have huge walls and gates, so you can't see what the front of them look like. The beach 'resorts' are the same way. You have to pay attention or know where your going because there are hardly any signs. Thankfully I was paying attention the first time I went on the bus to the beach we went to, so I kinda knew where we were going. I'm so glad my son is a fish like me, he loves water!!!
I mailed my parents a card and a friend of mine a card, and stamps here are expensive. It was 2 SAR, which in American terms meant about $0.52 each. Hahahah I know that's not expensive I was just complaining for no reason! I do feel bad when it comes to tipping here like when we order food and have it delivered. In dollars we usually tip about $0.52 or 0.78. I've been told they don't even expect tips here when delivering food but I like to because to me its like a thanks.
I'll be getting Arabic lessons soon from a very nice lady who grew up in Jordan. I'm excited. If anyone reading this prays, can you please keep a friend of mine in your prayers. Its classified to the topic but her name is Mindy! And thanks in advance!
Over the next 6 months I'm going to try my hardest and lose 50 lbs. that is my short term goal! Perfectly achievable since my son is so active and loves being outside! He gets to the point that he will come get my hand and lead me to the door because he wants to go outside. Its cute but he does it when I'm mostly cleaning.
Well today was a short entry. I need to go exercise now! Until next time.....
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