and we're back....

Drew and i had Lasik this past week. really random. i know. long story short...really inexpensive here. world-reknown doctor. the surgeries will save us lots of money in the long haul.

and it's about quality of life, people.

these are the glasses that i had to wear whenever i played with bear. and when i was sleeping.

on other fronts...we started school this week. mare and the bear.

no drew. =(

School is so awesome this semester. i have bible studies, reading acts in arabic, watching movies in arabic and lots and lots of speaking. it is really exciting and rewarding and challenging and going to be such a boom boom pow semester.

and i am going to let you guess why this picture is sooooo amazing.....

1) the window is open. in the morning. letting in cool air. we are not shuttered in...not in bunker-mode. i can read and pray and spend time with the Lord in the morning and take in the city. sigh.

2) drinking coffee. that's right, folks. a hot drink which i have not consumed for a couple months in this home of mine. this coffee is the most amazing flavored coffee i have ever tasted. Frangelica creme from Java Daves.

...the bear is still not wearing clothes around the house, and i thought this was really cute of her watching a movie. she hates the bouncer, it is too constraining. but if i make a palat for her then she is in heaven.

...and we had a girl's night with Rebecca and Leigh Anne...amazing women who have lived here for 11/7 years respectively, have 4 kids each, and are thriving. they speak arabic like freaks and dance arab-style well enough to cause a stir in the room. (like grace kelly) they shared with us and talked through the balance of life/family/reaching out...and how to immerse ourselves in this culture with joy. let me just say that if i can look like them in 10 years, i will be very very happy.

this was my little kitchen helper. making cookies with me for the girl's hang out.

we had a hilarious-typical experience at Ruby Tuesdays here. long story short, we went there for a treat and everything we ordered was cold, bad, flat, stale. Rebecca and i were exchanging glances and kind of trying to weigh...should we jump ship before the entrees came out or stick it out...finally when the guacamole came out and looked like a chopped salad and kelly was spitting it out of her mouth...we pulled the plug. Rebecca pulled the waiter aside and explained that we would pay for the appetizers and drinks and cut our losses. in arabic. it was a sight to behold.

this was what i call the after-math of a visit with sarah. we love her so much and love going on visits with her. why? because she is so funny and i love processing all that went on during a visit with her!

random photo of claire's custom-made-jordanian towel.

so, yeah, we are on the up swing. things are looking good. one of my closest and dearest friends calley is here for a week and we are going to take amman by storm.