good & bad list

Excuse that horrible title. I couldn't think of anything else.

What I want to say [before I go on with my 'list' thing] is Thank-you. Wow, my friends. I got 15 comments and my sister and Mom telling me, "No! Don't stop blogging!".  You know what? I will still keep this blog open. Not because of your comments though, or anybody's. I thought and prayed about it last night, and I will still keep the blog goin'.  I won't post as much though, since I do want to spend my time on better things.

Oh, and I want to make something clear. When I said I might stop the blog, I did not say that because all I think blogging is about having followers, and comments, and that I wouldn't be as "popular" because I wasn't living in a different country sharing pictures. Most of the reason I wanted to stop was because my Grandparents, Uncles, Aunts, my parent's friends, and my friends won't need to know how we're doing and want pictures of Egypt. I did the blog so I wouldn't have to keep emailing tons of people about how we're doing, I can just write it here.

Understand? All those people won't need to know how we're doing. [my parents would give their friends my link so they could see pictures, by the way] We'll be back home in the US.

Hopefully I made that clear . . . .

                                               _________________________


You are wondering what the title is about, right? O.K. I was going to list the good & bad things about being a missionary kid [in Egypt, for me at least].

'Bad' list:

• You miss all your friends and family
• There aren't chocolate chips *tears*
• There isn't much green grass
• You get sick a lot [truth]
• You get sick of people yelling "What is your name?" because that's the only thing they know how to say in English
• The internet and electricity is bad
• People lie and say they'll do something, just to please you but they never do it
• There aren't any traffic lights or signs, people drive wherever they please

'Good' list:

• You get to bring people to Christ [not in our case, we've been too busy trying to get other things done, which is partly why we're going back. See below post for more info]
• Arabs have the most tastiest foul beans; SO yummy!
• The people are very nice and generous
• You get off on school when others don't. *grin*
• It's fun riding on planes
• There is good weather almost year round! 
• You have interesting things to blog about *wink*

I can't think of anything else now . . . later maybe. Sorry for this long post, but I made it long since we're leaving tomorrow for America and I won't post for awhile.  I think I'll do a scheduled post for New Year's.

You know what would be really cool? If I when I go to check blogger after we've moved and settled I had 100 followers and a ton of comments. *hint, hint* 

It's not a big deal though. I was just mentioning it. [HAHA!] Alright, alright, I need to stop. This post is long enough.

When I update again, guess where I'll probably be? In the snowy land of Kentucky.... 

I might like it for a bit, but we'll see! I do like the weather here in Egypt. One of the things I'll miss, thought I won't miss much since I've been in bed for almost the entire time! 

Some surprises are coming when I get back . . . a new blog design since I'm not going to be in Egypt anymore, and a giveaway. Thanks a ton to Andrea, Mrs. Marlow, Kaela, Olivia, and Hannah P. [Not Pevensie, Hannah Ours] for agreeing to sponsor my giveaway with prizes! 

So long, farewell! [The hills are alive with the sound of music!] 

*winks* 

Your sister in Christ,

Moving

i bet that title caught your eye. That is, if you are one of my ninety-seven followers [or just a shy person who likes to visit].

You see, Dad feels as if he's done too much. Moving to a different country as missionaries a few years ago wasn't a big deal. Now it is [well we're working with Christian Egyptians. Or trying to.] Okay, I'm not making much since. Here is how my Dad explains it:

The year was 1993 and my Athletes In Action teammates were laughing at
me.  We were playing basketball and sharing the gospel in New Zealand,
but that day we were visiting a Cadbury chocolate factory.  I had
promised the guys that I would eat no less than 15 candy bars by the
time I left the factory.  I walked away from the factory with a
stomach ache and maybe 8 wrappers in my pocket.  Such has been the
story of the life of [Not telling for just to be safe] ..... always biting off more than I
can chew.

Now I have done it again by moving our family to Egypt.... and it's
time to come home.  Yes, Kendra's sickness is a factor, but she has
begun to feel better.  Mainly it comes down to the fact that I already
have an online ministry with regular visits to the Middle East.  I
should not have tried to add another ministry along with the demands
of living cross-culturally with a large family.  We need the support
and community that Louisville, Kentucky affords.  I wish I would have wrestled
with this decision before we moved here as much as we have wrestled
with it over the past couple of months.  I wish I would have prayed as
earnestly then as I have now.  This has been the most difficult
decision of my life.

[Mom] embraced our life here and has been joyful and supportive
through all of this.  We both agree.... it's best if we settle back
home at least until our children are grown.  She will continue to
teach and love our children at home, wherever that will be in Greater
Louisville.  If any of you know of a home for rent, we are open to all
options right now.

I will need to find healthy outlets from staring at the computer
screen for hours each day.  Lord willing, I will be able to continue
my online ministry accompanied with regular, face to face visits to
the Middle East.  If I can be in the Middle East for 3 months out of
the year, I believe that a lot of focused ministry can take place, if
God wills.  While I am away, ______ [Mom] will be near to family and friends.
 Who knows.... maybe after 10-15 years of raising our children well,
the Lord  will open a door for [Mom] and I to return to
this region.

We look forward to seeing many of you when we return to the 'ville.  :-)

I just wanted to let you online friends that keep up with me that I'm not going to be a missionary's daughter anymore. I'm sure most of you guys will stop commenting, and reading my blog. But that's okay.  I think I might even stop blogging, because I'll be close to all the people that read this blog anyways.

But I do have many people that read this, and I don't want to stop this blog if you don't want me to, so leave a note please if you think I should stop. I might set up a poll too . . . 

So, if you still want me to keep blogging, I'll probably just post regular stuff, we're going back to the farm. I'll also keep this like a journal so later I can look back on it. If I stop blogging. I won't delete the blog though. *winks* And I'll write snail mail letters again! 

Another post coming soon,

Photography [wordless post]

[ignore that there are two watermarks! :P]

Announcement

Note: If you are following me, and this is in your dashboard, you will probably want to see this post

 94 Followers

Today I logged into blogger and found that I *cough* have 94 followers. Wow people, wow.  That's almost 100 humans who have my blog posts coming up in their email, or in their blogspot dashboard.  I had no idea when I started a blog about a year ago I'd have this many people interested in my life.  I hope that Jesus, my role model shines through me, and when you read here on my blog I honor Him. I started a blog mostly because I thought it would be cool [which it is] and so my family in the US can see pictures and news about what we've been up to.

You see, most of you "followers" I don't know. Some of you are friends from Sudan, some of you I "met" online, but I  don't know the others. So, I want to say thanks, and one more thing [the whole point of this post]:

I have been sick. For a long time.  Like four months. So I've been reading, blogging, and reading blogs a lot. Now, which I'm getting better, I won't have 15-40 minutes a day to read other's blogs.  I'm going to be "unfollowing" a ton of you. Now some people make a huge deal if they loose a follower, post a post about how mean people are, get so sad, and bla bla. I don't want any of you to think you are a bad blogger. Blogging is NOT about what others think. Blogging is NOT about having 240506568 followers, or friends. Blogging is about  serving Jesus, and doing what He wants you to do, honoring Him. Well, unless you aren't a Christian. But I won't go into that right now.

Don't cry if you have one less "follower" on your blog tomorrow. *winks* I'm not sure if any of you would cry but yeah.

I gotta go 'unfollow' some blogs! :P A better post with pictures coming soon, grandparents. Hope ya'll had a great Christmas!

merry Christmas

May you have a blessed day remembering what Jesus did for us! 

[more pictures coming soon. our camera isn't working...ahhh! and I wanted to get some bokeh of the christmas lights at our friends' house. oh well, there will be more christmas days. ;]

PS: Some hard work went into this picture. It was growing dark and we did it fast. And Anna took it, I added her in. So I tried to make it look real....*cough*
But Papa, Grammy, and Gran-Pat and Pa [if you are looking at this!] We want to say we love you  and wish you a Merry Christmas!

PPS: Sorry about Mom's head. :P

Dust Storm

To start off, I want to say sorry for not posting for . . . wait it's only been like three days. 

There. I crossed that out, but I didn't press backspace. Crossing out looks nicer....[?]

ANYWAYS,  a week or so ago we had a dust-storm. The above picture ^^^^^ is how it looked.  Well not exactly.  It looked way "oranger".  Somehow the camera didn't capture it correct. But that's how cameras are. 

This post is a short post, only with two pictures, because I have math to do.  Samuel is on lesson 117 in his math (he's a level behind), but since I've been sick I'm on lesson 31 in mine. (AND he's been doing like 100 lessons a day....well four lessons a day.) He'll be in my book before I know it, he has three lessons to finish before going into mine. And Samuel says he's going to 'beat' me.  Hmm, wonder what that means. I shalln't wait to find out. I'm going to do more math right after this last picture of the dust storm . . .  

That's of our yard. 

Time for math,

PS: How is everybody's Christmas time going? It still doesn't seem like Christmas here but I'm still glad Jesus came down to die for us! 

Beach & Alexandria

Hullo there! [going to use a 'British accent' for this post; and giving you some pictures of Egypt -- do they go together? Not really. *cough*]

Anyhow, yesterday we went to Church [in the city] and stopped by the beach on the way home. We didn't swim, it's too cold, but I snapped a few shots!

Here is one of the high buildings in Alexandria! This is huge and it was sorta freaky to look up at. [for me, at least]

This is how most of the city looks. Sorry this one is a bit small, but I made it that way so it wouldn't take up the internet space or whatever. Alexandria is so large, and Cairo is ten times  bigger. Wow! I can't really even picture that. 

I like this one, and all the clothes hanging up on the buildings [they add such bright colours]! Goodness, how do these people stand living cramped in like that? I'm defiantly a country person! What about you? Do you love the fresh country air or the excitement of the city?

Then when went to the beach! It was getting dark so they aren't as good as I wanted them to be, but they shall do! 

I like this picture most I think. Which photo was your favourite? 

Blessings in Jesus's name, 

Christmas . . .

[picture credit]

I'm sure everyone is excited about Christmas. Who wouldn't be? It seems as if this year I'm not as excited as I was the last year. Maybe it's because I'm getting older? I mean, Christmas is just one of the 365 days of the year. But it's special. Jesus came down to us, as a tiny little baby. Maybe not on December 25th [we don't know the exact date], but that is the day we celebrate Christmas. 

A few of the other reasons why I'm not as excited about Christmas are these: I'm not going to be seeing my extended family. There won't be any snow. We probably won't get any presents [we didn't have enough room to pack much].  We don't have Christmas decorations. There really aren't any other people in Egypt that celebrate Christmas. 

You may be feeling sorry for me right now. Don't. Because what is Christmas really about? 

C H R I S T. 

It's not about seeing your family, it's not about snow, it's not about getting more earthly stuff, it's not about Christmas trees, and candles, and mistletoes. [ *cough* Hannah Ours. :)] 

So when you're sitting around the fire drinking hot chocolate, laughing with family, and opening presents, remember that's about Jesus, coming into the world as a baby and dying for you. 

But -- don't get me wrong! It's not like you can't have fun on Christmas! *wink* Don't get too caught up in all the jolly fun though. 

What is your favorite part of Christmas? 

PS: I'm doing a guest post over at Rachel's Blog. Make sure to stop on over!  

PPS: Like the new blog look? Or the other one more? 

Book Review & Award

Andrea Carter & The Price Of Truth 

[Book review by Kendra Lynne K.]

It’s 1881, and Andi Carter wants to buy the perfect birthday gift for her Mother (and keep it a surprise).  She tries picking peaches for money, but gets caught by her older brother, Chad.  Andi finds a job at the local general store, and works after school.  Everything seems to be going fine until one day after her job at the store Andi decides to take a shortcut through a dark alley, with her friend Rosa, on her way home.  Andi sees an injured puppy, and follows him deeper into the dark alley. Suddenly hears two men shouting, and witnesses a murder.  Andi realizes that the killer is her brother’s best friend, Peter, and Andi is torn from telling the truth or putting him in danger of going to jail or court.  Knowing what is right though, Andi tells her other older brother, Justin (who is a lawyer) about the scene, and the whole town is in an uproar when they learn that Peter Wilson commented such a crime. Most don’t believe the thirteen year old girl, and when Andi’s horse, Taffy, disappears, Andi is faced with a decision. Is telling the truth in front of the whole town and judge worth losing her beloved horse?  

I really recommend this book! It’s one of my favorites; all the books in the series are actually.  For more information go here: circlecadventures.blogspot.com

Mrs. Marlow (the author of this book) is going to sponsor a giveaway, so be looking forward to that!

+++++++++++

Oh, and real fast; time for a fun award and a tag thing! Bleah Briann awarded “The Versatile Blogger” [what does "versatile" mean anyways? I'm not so great at vocabulary]  award to me:

The Rules

1. Thank and link back to who gave you the award.

Thanks awesome Bleah for the award! I’m glad you chose me out of the seven people. *grin*

2. Share 7 things about yourself.

Hmm . . . I wish I could watch the Voyage of the Dawn Treader, but they don’t have it in Egypt. *tears* 

I have seven great younger siblings. *yay!* 

It doesn’t seem like Christmas here in Egypt. We didn’t have enough room to really bring presents and we won’t have a Christmas tree, it’s not snowing or really cold. But I suppose that stuff doesn’t matter, it’s Jesus’s birthday, right? It still doesn’t seem like Christmas. *shrugs*  Oh well.

I hope to explore the world one day. *raises eyebrows* 

I don’t like the color pink. Sorry gals. * grimace* 

I sleep with a stuffed animal. [honestly. I know, I’m weird.] *sheepish grin*

I love Jesus Christ and try to be like Him more everyday. *jumps in the air* 
[do you like all the "emotions"?] :D 

3. Pass it along to 7 blogs you've recently discovered and enjoy.

3.Pass it along to 7 bloggers who have recently commented on your blog and do it pretty often

[I’m going to do what Bleah did and change that rule. I don’t have seven recent blogs that I have discovered and enjoy lately.]

Bethany (Joyful Girl Creations)

Amanda (From J.O.Y)

Rachel B.

Betsy J.

Erin Elisabeth

Abby (the one that puts “:D” in her signature) :)

Hannah Ours

4. Leave the recipients a comment, telling them about the award.

Okay. A little time consuming, but oh well. *sigh* I don't know if I can do it though, the internet has been ssllooww. It won't load blogs sometimes, so you might have to come over here yourself. Speaking of blogs, I'm going to stop 'following' some. So if you loose a follower, don't worry, your blog isn't bad, but I just have too many blogs to read and not enough time. :P 


Bleah also made one of these things for me:

K-knowledgable

E-eerily awesome. *wink*

N-nice

D-daring

R-ravishing

A-awesome *wink* *wink*

So I made a few. (no offence if your name isn't in here:

H-honorable

A-admiring

N-noble

N-nice [that was all I could think of. :P]

A-amazing

H-helpful

E-earnest

R-romantic :P

I-intelligent

N-nerd [sorry I can’t think of any N words.]

B-beautiful

E-‘enspiring’

T-teacher

H-humble

A-adventurous

N-[more N words! AHHH!] nice

Y-youthful 

Oh and I'm going to the doctor today. Pray all goes well! 


Got to go! 


In Christ,

Picnic

Yesterday we went for a walk, and we had a picnic! I took tons of pictures, but the internet has been really slow lately, and Dad thinks uploading pictures to the internet might use out limited internet up.  So I can only upload three pictures a week.  :( Do any of you all have experience with this kind of stuff, and would leave a comment telling me if downloading or uploading images takes up internet gigabites? (Or whatever they're called!) 

Anyhow, we drove down the road to the little "wood" spot, and had a picnic.  The wood spot is like the only place in Egypt with trees. (almost) Then we walked along the lake, as you can see in the above picture. 

I had to post this picture, even if I can only post three. This guy is just too cute. Siblings are such a blessing, right? I'm glad I have seven! :)

This is one of the lake. I wanted to post another photo, but Samuel thought I should do this one so I did. I was like lying on my face. Thank goodness nobody saw me. *whew*

By the way, Mrs. Marlow is going to give me a book to giveaway to my readers! And I have three others that will sponsor a photo from their shop. If you'd like to give something just comment. 

I'm going to be doing that book review next, so be looking for it! (The book is the one that Mrs. Marlow is giving to me!) 

I have a bunch of emails to respond to. (ugh!)  Then I'm going to read some more. *grin* I've read  a lot over the past few days. 

Well, I'd better go! 

Computer Break

*The Christmas tree from last year*

I'm going to be taking a computer break for a while! I know I've been sick, but I'm going to see how it is just doing devotions and reading books, not blogs. 

We'll see how this goes. ;) "I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me". Philippians 4:13"

When I come back, be watching for a book review, how celebrating Christmas is in a foreign country is like, and perhaps a giveaway! 

A computer break shouldn't be too bad, but since I'm sick it might be extra harder because I will have not much to do. But I will spend my time reading and studying. 

Wish me luck! :D 

The Playground . . .

Who needs a 'playground' when you have seven siblings and dirt? 

See Mr. Sad-face? He isn't "allowed" to play, he might mess up the hard work. 

I didn't get anyone's face in this one, did I not? I think everybody was too intent on their creations to worry about getting a picture taken. 

Wow. He's cute even when he's grumpy. Well, sometimes he isn't cute. Do you have a younger baby brother or sister that isn't always cute? I do. I think I already told you that though. Like just in the past couple of sentences. *sigh*

The other night there was a great sunset. Isn't God just amazing and awesome or what? This picture doesn't really explain the beauty though . . . ever had something you took a picture of, and it didn't turn out as nice as it was in real life? Do tell in a comment! :)

Also some of you have been wondering about my health. We now think (and have good reason to think so) that it hasn't been worms that were causing pain all along. I did have worms in my stomach (gross!) but you can have worms in your body for years and not know it. Uh huh. The worms are gone. That medicine had to kill them. But the pain isn't gone, so we know it's something else. What is this ''something else''? We don't know. God does. Prayers would be wonderful. Thanks. :D 

Have a great day! 

Kendra