New Delhi 2015

New Delhi was nice. It was relaxing - as relaxing can be with my children. LOL! 

I was in charge of organizing this trip. So I looked to all the things and attractions that Delhi had to offer. I ended up packing the days up, and even though we didn't do everything we were supposed to do, it was still a victory. It was super hot, and most of the time we had to walk under the sun to go from one place to another. I mean, we took taxis, but walking within the places we visited under this heat and humidity was really tiring for all of us. But the children were troopers. Emerson and I were troopers, as most of the time we ended giving them horsie rides.    

Old Delhi

Naan, Biryani and Kebabs

After eating lunch in Old Delhi, we visited Jama Masjid. It is the biggest mosque in India. I expected it to be packed since it was Ramadan, but it wasn't. I like the mosques. They are peaceful places. And they are beautiful with all the Quranic inscriptions. I was watching a video the other day on the psychology of Islam. It talked about why Americans feel attracted to Islam and become Muslims from a psychological perspective. Heck, I feel like wearing a hijab. I don't know why we Christian women don't wear it. Christian women in India wear it when at church. Not all of them, tough, but there's a Bible verse for that.  

People feel drawn to Islam according to this video. They want to belong. They go to this peaceful places, walk barefoot, they listen to the beautiful call to prayer in Arabic and they join. Americans lack discipline - not everybody anyway - but Islam gives them a sense of discipline. A Get-yourself-together kinda feeling. Anyway, this is just the opinion of the guy in the video. He is an Ex-Muslim. He is not a Christian either, so I don't think he is biased. I think he knows what he is talking about.

Interior

Jama Masjid

On Thursday, we went to the Mexican Embassy, which is the actual reason why we needed to go to Delhi in the first place. We needed to renew our passports. It is hard to believe it's been ten years since Emerson and I were dating and got our first passports together. Wow... this November it will be eleven years since we started dating. We've been together for a third of our lives! 

I couldn't take a photo of the embassy, but it was fun to be there. They guy outside didn't want to let Emerson in as he couldn't believe Emerson was a Mexican citizen in need of passport renewal. He said Emerson looked Korean. In Singapore, people said Emerson looked Singaporean. Even in Mexico they have told him he looks Chinese. LOL! Then my daughter and my son were making noises, and I had to stop them from playing with the flag. I was so relieved when we left there. 

After that, we went to Lotus Temple. I think is some kind of religious temple where people from all faiths can go and pray. It is very peaceful, too. And you have to be quiet all the time, and not making noises so that people can focus and pray. Good luck with that! So we just got in, looked around quickly, and took our munchkins out. That's it.

Lotus Temple   

On Friday we visited another Islamic architecture - Qutab Minar - built by Mughal emperors. It is impressive. Emerson also wanted to visit there because of  The Iron Pillar of Delhi. I guess this 23 ft pillar is amazing because it has never been subjected to corrosion, and it proves how skilled the Indian blacksmiths were. Big deal. I'm not kidding, I think it is a big deal for Emerson. I guess that if you were to take me to the prison where you knew for sure that Paul wrote his last letter to Timothy - weeks before dying - it would also be a big deal for me. 

We also went to a temple called Akshardam, but we couldn't take pictures since it is not allowed. It is beautiful. The architecture is amazing and also marble.  A lot of money goes into that temple. 

Qutab Minar

Family Fun

On Saturday we went to the Taj Mahal. It is amazing. It is so white, it looks as if it were floating - just there. There is nothing behind it, so all you see is the sky. It is truly a very expensive master piece of architecture that you cannot even begin to value. Twenty-two thousand slaves working everyday for twenty-two years. Could you imagine that? Plus all the materials were given to this emperor for free - as gifts. 

I think the Taj is supposed to represent Heaven on Earth. That was the idea. You can google it. It is a sad story, tough, because people focus so much on "LOVE" that they forget the rest of the story. Shah Jahan had three wives, and only one could give him children - or the most children (fourteen children of his sixteen). According to Islam you are allowed to marry up to four women, on the condition that you provide for them equally, and you love them equally. So, for me, that breaks the "love" story. Not because I am judging him for not keeping his religion. Everybody falls short. But the woman he loved the most died during the childbirth of the fourteenth children at the age of 40. Pretty young.

The Gate to the Taj

Then Jahan was put under house arrest by his own son, and could only look at the tomb waiting to be reunited with his beloved wife. The tombs of the other two wives are nothing compared to the Taj - obviously. But if this is the wife he loved the most then why did he make her pregnant again after the physicians warned him about her health condition? Then it is also said he had an affair with the sister of his beloved wife. Plus plenty of concubines. If that is not enough, he might have committed incest with his own daughter. And according to the interpreters of their religious law, this prohibited relationship would have been unjust to condemn because you couldn't deny the king the privilege of gathering fruit from the tree he himself had planted. Well, that's convenient...

I'm not pretending these kind of issues are not in the Bible. You should read the story of David and Bathsheba. How he gets aroused when he sees her bathing, has sex with her, and gets her pregnant. Then David tries to make the husband have sex with her to hide the pregnancy, but the husband refuses to have sex with her because they are at war. So David ends up putting him in front of the battle field so he dies. And then, finally, David marries Batsheba. This is the kind of story that make Muslims believe the Bible is corrupted because of all the "porn" and sin involved. Muslims believe all the Prophets never sinned.  Fine, up to them. But I see beauty in all this sinning. I see broken people in need of a Savior. I see people recognizing their need for God. 

Almost there

David repents from all of this and God forgives him. God calls David a man after His own heart - after all that David has done. And God promises David that the Messiah would come from his blood line. Is that amazing or what!!

So call the Taj Majal a Love Story if you want to - the tour guide had to talk to us about something - but people ponder that the Taj Mahal is actually the effort of this emperor to prove his power, show off his wealth, and cover his guilt. I am in the habit of reading too much of too many things lately. And this proved shameful for me while interacting with my guide.  He was telling us the story about the architect of the Taj Mahal having his hands cut off after he had finished building it. 

It is said this was done in order that he would never build another mausoleum like this. So I asked the guide, "Are you sure that was the only reason? I mean, there were precious stones all over the place... What if he stole some? In some countries, under extreme circumstances, Sharia allows to cut off the hands of thieves". 

Enzito :)

To which the guide answers, "No, you are wrong. It was so he wouldn't build anything more beautiful than the Taj Mahal". Then he looks at me funny, and even tough he didn't open his mouth it, my mind enabled me to hear him saying, "Good for you, lady, for reading your Quran. But don't ask me any more questions". So I didn't.  

But to wrap it up, the Taj Mahal is beautiful. It is something you have to see with your own eyes at least once in your lifetime. Emerson was so happy he was able to see it. He said he had always dreamed of it ever since he was a little boy. That was sweet. It was a first for the four of us :))

Taj Mahal. Agra.
July 4th, 2015

Children slept most of the drive home. And Sunday it was the last day in Delhi. We just relaxed at the hotel, we swam and then we flew back. We had a lot of fun. This trip was different from Singapore. There was not too much for the children to do. It was mostly historical places and such, and I don't think the children were into it, but I really enjoyed it. 

Traveling has become far easier with them. I'm sad that they don't really need me all that much for many things. I'm relieved, but I miss the times when Mommy is all they needed. They still need me - who am I kidding? I cannot sleep at night. I'm done nursing, but they keep waking up in the middle of the night - almost at the same time - and they come camp in our bed. We probably should have refused, they were so well trained to sleep in their own beds before coming to India. 

Emerson complains, but he is the first one telling Libby she can sleep with us when she actually asks, so... we are suckers for them. I'm sure one day they won't want or need to sleep with us anymore. 

Until that day, I will survive on few hours of sleep, and coffee. I love my babies :) 

Family

Tired and sweaty

Agra Fort

At the door

House-arrest. I think it was a good deal

Singapore 2015

I think Singapore is the best country I have ever been to. The cleanest by far. The subway is out of this world - with huge malls within the train stations. If you are a shopaholic, you can get lost there. 

Our trip to Singapore was more fun than our trip to Maldives. Maldives is amazing, but Emerson and I would think twice about going there with children. I love my children, I adore my children, but there is nothing for them to do there, other than beach and the pool. Of course, when you are a child, the pool is all you really care about. 

We had breakfast at one of the train stations. We had some bread and coffee, and the children had some smoothies. All of us were really happy. Also, we ate cupcakes that actually tasted good. The flour here in Chennai has something that just ruins the cupcakes. Either that or I'm buying the wrong flour. Also, the butter flavor is off. And that's why I personally ate three cupcakes in the course of 4 hours while in Singapore.

Getting breakfast

We also visited Sentosa Island, which is a huge place. You have Universal Studios, you have aquariums, water parks - all sorts of activities. We decided to buy a package that included three attractions. So we rode the cable cars, and visited the S.E.A. Aquarium and something else. Although we spent almost the whole day there, we couldn't do the third activity because we just didn't have the time. And the children were very whiny - but that is just a given. They walked a lot, though. They enjoyed the train rides and the bus drives. 

Waiting for the train

Be Good, Enzo

Very tired, but happy :)

Riding the bus

I think I have a sensible, somewhat normal, fear of heights. I have noticed that whenever I see I am way up at a certain place, my legs experience some kind of tingling, like a rush of adrenaline. I can actually feel it. That happens every time I take a flight during lift off. I seriously pray every time we are taking off. The same thing happens when we land :)

So when we were riding the cable cars, I was excited because I had never been inside one of those. Ever. At the same time, I was able to see the cables, how the pulleys were working, and how the towers were able to hold all that weight of cable cars coming one after another. In my mind I was wondering, "What if these people do not give proper maintenance to these cables, and the towers with all that weight... What if these things corrode?" 

Then I looked down, and people were walking. We were riding on top of the water to get to the actual Island. I could see water slides and I was enjoying the ride, but actually wishing we could make it to the final tower to finally get the heck out of there. So yeah, I mean, if one of those cables broke, we were done.  

Enjoying the ride

Posing with the tigers

After that, we got to enjoy the aquarium and it was amazing. It was enormous. The biggest one I've seen is the Columbus Aquarium. The Houston Aquarium kinda sucks. But this one is unbelievable. When you are entering, they give you a show - like a movie - when they sit you down on a 3-D screen and you pretend you are on a boat, and going on some expedition. And then, the boat shakes, and it begins raining (you can actually feel the breeze and the water sprinkling). And there is thunder and you end up crashing on the rocks. So, yes, Enzo cried. LOL!

S.E.A. AQUARIUM

(South East Asia Aquarium)

The boat crashed and sunk

Huge tank

Sharks

Happy with the fish

Marveled

I shall call him Squishy and he shall be mine, and he shall be my Squishy. 

Libby was not very gentle with the star fish, she just lifted one up and then threw it. I think she didn't like the feeling. Thankfully nothing happened to the fish. Enzo also touched them, but it was not his thing. 

Outside the aquarium

We also got to spend time with Chiayin. She is Emerson's friend. Well, I mean, she is our friend now, and Auntie to my children. She was so kind opening her house to us, and introducing us to her family. She took us to have breakfast  because Emerson wanted to eat some pork dumplings that were delicious. She also very graciously spoiled my children to death, and bought them presents. Libby got a stuffed Peppa Pig, a plastic Peppa Pig with a salon set inside, and some legos for a Frozen Castle. Enzo got legos, a robot, and plenty of cars to play with. They also got new clothes. 

Chiayin's mom also gave my children their own money to spend in China Town, and spend it they did. The bought some chickens that make lots of noise. I am so blessed to have met them :))

 CHINA TOWN

Walking

Normal incident for us lately

Waiting for girls shopping

Figuring out what to buy

Enzo using chopstic

New family :)

We also went to the Night Zoo Safari. I wish we had photos, but the ones we probably had were not good enough. Therefore they didn't make it into the pile of photos Emerson edits. It was a really nice experience. There was also a very long line waiting for all the people to get into the little cars, but I think the children were excited to see the animals at night. I really had fun at this trip. Again, it's not that I'm ungrateful and didn't enjoy Maldives, but Singapore was a more active kind of trip. 

The last day in Singapore we visited the Singapore Flyer. We had ice cream for dinner. Emerson was excited to take a photo of the F1 Race Track that can be overseen next to the flyer. The same thing happened to me with my legs once we were at the very top. I mean, once we were getting up, I was nervous. But as we go up, up, up... there came a point when I could actually see the two little cabins next to me at a lower sight level. We were totally at the top. I did not freak out, but those were definitely some of the slowest 30 minutes in my life. 

Singapore Flyer

Singapore Skyline

F1 Race Track

After the flyer, we walked a lot. We wanted to see the Helix Bridge and also the Gardens by the Bay. It was a lot of walking for the children specially. But they are troopers :) Emerson took some nice photos, and there were a lot of people running on the bridge. It almost made me want to run, LOL! 

Seriously, tough, Singapore strikes me as one of those countries where I wouldn't mind living if Emerson's company moves us there. Actually, I think Singapore was an option, but Chennai ended up being cheaper. Uh, DUH! 

It's a very expensive country. Very clean. You pretty much have to be stinking rich to afford a car. Just to be able to get a regular Camry, the cost is around 150 thousand dollars. Singaporean dollars, but still. Then we saw children walking on the streets alone at night. It felt very safe. Chiayin even told us the police cracks the cases so fast mostly because there is not a lot of cases to deal with. Of course, there has to be crime, but my point is it is a very neat place. Looks and feels safe. Plus it is an island, and all those things add up to the cost of living.

We really had fun, lots of fun. And we kept on having fun. Next post will be New Delhi, 2015. Be on the look out for that one ;)

Gardens by the Bay

Sight from Helix Bridge

Helix Bridge

Excited to see all those lights :)

Maldives 2015

Three weeks ago we went to Maldives. I would like to say it was very relaxing, but I don't think it was. I am not saying I am not thankful we went there, I am just saying that a place like that with my two little ones cannot be really relaxing.  But it was freaking awesome!

God bless my parents for taking me to the beach every year from age 8-15 or something like that. My cousins also came with us. So all in all we were five girl cousins from age 2 to 8 when we began going to the beach. The amount of energy, and time listening to your children cry -either on the sand or at the pool - can feel eternal. BUT you will never regret it once you see your children smile, running and jumping in and out of the pool and into the ocean. You can see them enjoying their time, and it might sound cliché, but it is worth it.

I felt loved at the beach. I felt God loved me. One might argue I was in a beautiful place so all that I felt was subjective and bound to the beauty of that place. Yes, the white sand beach is amazing, I had never seen it in my life. But I also felt loved the other day at my terrace, one day before going to the beach. I was crying and panicking for some things that are happening in my personal life regarding my faith journey. And God comforted me. God comforted me while I was looking at a beach that is dirty, full of stray dogs, and in which (while running) I have actually seen men squat and start defecating. So you tell me if God is not able to love me at all times, and in all places, despite my scenery. 

God loves me. He does. I am not a Muslim, but He loves me.

My boy and I enjoying the ocean

I haven't written in here in such a long time because I began writing this other blog regarding my faith journey. I actually thought about separating my personal life from my religious or faith-based life, while documenting almost all that we go through as a family. I think people mostly like to look at the photos. Some friends, however, have told me they are praying for me for all the things that we are going through. So people actually read what I write. I think I was just kidding myself when I said my other blog would be my "religious" blog. I cannot really do that. I would be a hypocrite if I did that. My life - my family life - and all things related to me as a person involve my faith. Even God told the Israelites,

"These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up"

- Deuteronomy 6:6-7

On the way to our island

I am not a Jew, but I follow the God of the Jewish People. So long story short, I have been faithful following His decrees and telling my children about God's hesed and Agape love. Check out the other blog for more info on my thoughts: dissectingjesus.com

But Libby... Oh, Libby. She is such a hard-headed, rebellious little girl. She is such a stiff-necked Israelite at heart (Ex 32:9). All of us are like that from the moment we are born, we really reject God. She is into this phase where she actually tells me she does not want to follow Jesus. She either wants to follow me, and stay with me forever, or follow her friends at preschool, but not God. Not God, not Jesus. Not anybody. 

The other day we were praying that God would heal her Daddy, and she basically said I was wasting my time praying. That I could heal Daddy on my own. I should just give him some of the medicines that I give her when she is sick on her nose. And I explained how God works through doctors and medicines and stuff, right? But she looked at me straight in the eye, and said, even laughing, "No, God doesn't heal. You heal."

Liking the beach already

All I see in Facebook are my Christian friends' children with photos on how they accepted Jesus in their hearts and stuff, and I'm like, Am I doing something wrong? Don't get me wrong. I am so thrilled for my friends. But I am also proud of my little girl, because that is exactly what I want her to do. From the moment she was born and I held her in my arms, I promised God I would teach her to love Him. But I have also told her from Day 1, that following Jesus as Lord and Savior is a choice. He invites you to follow Him, but He will never force you. God reveals to you who He really is when you really want to know who He is. Humbling yourself and making a choice on whether to follow Him or not is up to you. I want both my children to use their God-given brains. I don't want them to follow because I follow. I want them to follow Him (out of conviction), and not ME (out of imitation). 

Enzo is going through a difficult phase also. When I go back and I read what I have written for the past three years... I don't know, I think we have been in this phase all the time - with both children. Nothing is really changing. If anything is getting worse, more and more complicated. Now, they get back at you. Now, they can come and tell you you messed up their cereal, or that they didn't want your help, and it becomes chaos. We are teaching them to be respectful, and to realize how the way you say things can change or avoid an argument. And I wish I had the patience God has with His children, but I don't. So today, I spank Enzo right in the spot without a warning about how disrespectful his behavior was. 

Sand castles

We were running late and Kannandasan was nowhere to be found, so we had to use the stroller to go to school. And they began fighting over some trains. Libby pushed Enzo, so Enzo came back at her, and hit her right on her head. And I spank him, alright? He knows it is unacceptable to hit his sister like that. That's not it, though. So when I tried to put him on the stroller, he ran towards the stairs. I was chasing him and then he was kicking while I was trying to sit him down. He kept on kicking and sliding down... you know, like remaining in a plank position so that I couldn't buckle him. And I just spanked him. No warning. I am sorry. I lost it. I gave him three spanks on his bottom, to get him out of his trance. And it worked.

Enzo has something that I personally don't like. I am terrified by it. I don't know how God imprints personality traits in people. I think one think is genetics, but maybe children inherit some traits from the parents. Is that possible? I have no idea. I know there are things that are taught, like brushing your teeth, but that doesn't make you a control freak. Libby, tough, has a very similar personality to Emerson's. Probably that's why we bump heads on a regular basis. That's exactly why Emerson has been telling me to leave her alone on the Jesus subject. She is rebellious. He is rebellious. People with that kind of personality will reject any kind of faith that you try to impose on them. If I stuff Jesus down her throat in my own effort to make her believe what I believe, she will only reject it, and throw it up even harder. Besides, I cannot really make her believe squat. Only God works in your heart. 

Sand castles

Enzo, tough, is very sweet when it comes to Jesus. He loves singing songs to God - for now. But that is not what terrifies me about my boy. My boy shares with me something that if not learned how to deal with it, it can really get you in trouble. He does not know how to control his anger. We have told him countless time it is wrong to hit, and push and kick when he gets angry. Sometimes he can control himself, but I think he can avoid hitting because he doesn't get angry enough. But once his anger is pushed over the limit, then there is no coming back. His anger blinds him. You can be screaming at him, and he won't listen. You can be hugging him, and he won't listen. He can cry non-stop without you being able to interact with him. Talking, tough, is what calms him down most of the time. 

Are you upset? That's the very first thing we ask. I know the answer is almost always yes. Sometimes he says no. But then little by little he starts calming down, and then you can actually have a conversation with him about the reason he lost it. Most of the time, the reason is so tiny that you couldn't even know it unless you could read his mind. Apologizing is difficult. Sometimes he does it, sometimes he doesn't, even when he knows what he did was wrong. Sometimes we force him to apologize, and he cooperates; other times it is useless to force him, specially when we see that his heart is far, far away from being involved in the I am sorry speech.

I think we were singing...

I was a very angry person. I remember hitting people in my anger. I remember hitting someone so hard one day that his nose began bleeding. And it was hard to learn to control it. I felt like screaming, like hitting the wall, like punching everybody. It's like you just lose it, and then you charge against whatever or whoever provoked you. 

I am not saying it is people's fault. You are accountable for your own wrong choices, but you charge against them. When you lose it - there is no coming back. It is difficult to stop yourself. You have to stop yourself BEFORE, instead of ONCE your blood is boiling with rage. I had been so enraged, that I did not think. I am not lying to you when I say that I clearly understand why Jesus equates this kind of anger to murder. I have felt that feeling so intensely that it becomes you. Or you become it. If I had had a knife in my hands during one of those episodes, I would have used it. Do I sound like a normal person? Of course not. 

Jesus changed my heart. Duh! What did you expect me to say? So when I see my boy, I have no other option but to teach him what I know. I have no choice but to talk to Enzo about the ONE who changed Enzo's potential mother into the mother he has now. And Jesus, the Savior, not the Prophet did that. Jesus, my Lord, changed my heart. Not the Jesus who looks up to God and says, "God, the Christians made me into a god. But it's not my fault. It was not me, it was them" (Quran 5:116) [My paraphrase].

Making MY castle to Libby's dislike

It was Jesus, the Son, who changed me. My friend told me the other day that she was thankful to God that her children were very active, but that she wouldn't want God to bless her with children like mine. She meant well. She acknowledged she couldn't raise children like mine. I agree. My mentor Jeff jokes on a regular basis about how children are God's most wonderful blessing, and at the same times His worse curse.

People often say that God will not give you more than you can handle. But why did God give me children like these? Why did God decide that it would be wise to give Emerson and me a little Emerson and a little Karla to raise? I don't know. But I tell you what. God helps you and equips you with what you DO have when you feel you cannot handle it anymore. I think sometimes God gives you more than you can actually handle so that you would need Him. Otherwise, why would you?

1-minute Maldives 

God is changing me. He is working in me trough those children. He is showing me how awful a person I can be. He is showing me the nasty ideas and nasty thoughts I can have, and how self-righteous I can become. He has showed me how little I have actually loved others. He is changing my heart through my children. He is showing me my own potential. He is showing me the person I could become if only I trust in Him. He is showing me to love others the way He loves them. And it hurts. It hurts to love people like that when you don't really have any leverage. It hurts to love people unconditionally. 

But when you see your child running on the beach, you get on your knees and praise God's name.

Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name.

Psalm 103:1

Peace? Hmm... maybe. 

My sister told me I look so at peace with myself in this photo. It doesn't feel peaceful to be around my children on a regular basis, I'll tell you that. But Allah knows what He is doing. I wouldn't change a thing of the reasons Allah chose me to be the mother of my children. And Allah knows best, does He not? 

Oh goodness... what can I tell you about Maldives? We woke up very early Monday morning, and after two flights, we made it there. Then a boat took us to the main island where our resort was. The bathroom was really nice because it had an open shower, and also a bathtub which the children really liked. They miss having a bathtub. We always had breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the resort because you cannot leave unless you swim to the main island. I don't think the main island is nice. At least that's what the workers told us.

Looking at sea shells

Maldives is a Muslim country and I was impressed - surprised to say the least- that you cannot import Bibles. I wonder if they would actually take away your personal Bible if they saw it in your luggage. Anyway, little did they know they let a walking Bible pass right through customs - me. LOL. Of course, I am just joking. I am not a walking Bible. But I had some spiritual conversations with people which I am glad to say I did not start this time. But these two persons opened up, and asked me questions. So I talked to them about my faith and what I believed. A Muslim man told me I shouldn't eat bacon if I was a Muslim. He saw Libby munching on lots of bacon with her pancakes. We also talked about his family. Other two women asked me about how I lived my faith as a Christian since they were Catholic. 

What? They actually thought I was a Christian, but not them. So we talked about those kind of things that belong to my other blog for now. Otherwise, I will never tell you about Maldives.

Family Photo. Maldives 2015.

The children played a long time in the pool, and at the beach. They really liked the sand, but I think they liked the pool better. I really had a lot of fun playing with them. I became a little child with them. I became who I was when I was young with my cousins. Seriously, I am just waiting for them to be old enough so that I can push them in the water faces down. Libby is a lover of sea food to her dad's dismay. She really liked octopus. And of course, fish and chips. Enzo ate a whole 10 in. pizza on his own one afternoon. They played a lot in the water, and they really liked the hotel room. 

I feel thankful. We got to see a beautiful beach, lots of sharks, and rays, and lots of raining, too. It rained a lot while we were there. One day I slipped when I was walking downstairs, and hurt my knew lightly in hopes that Enzo wouldn't touch the floor. I also rested a lot during the nights, and I felt sad when it was time to come back. But I also felt kinda relieved. I just wanted to come back to our house and rest from all our rest because vacation also takes a toll in your body. The children were cranky, and just traveling with them might be hard at times.

   

Going back to the room

I miss home - Houston. I want to go back. We don't exactly know when that will happen, but I hope it happens soon. Vacation was awesome because we went places, but it was also difficult because we had little to do other than read books, and watch shows. I wish I were better at planning activities for my children. Being a teacher is not my thing, I guess. Libby is reading, tough. Enzo is actually recognizing words, or at least memorizing one book, which is how Libby started to read. But when it comes to activities and stuff, I just suck. Painting and making a mess is not really my cup pf tea, but we can do it outside the balcony - then Libby whines about how hot it is outside. Okay, then let's go ride your bike outside - nope, it's hot. Let's paint inside - nope, it is not our place. LOL!

The weather is challenging to say the least. I want to take a walk in 60 degree weather. I just want to walk without sweating like a pig just for being outside. I want to be home by Thanksgiving. Or by Christmas. I want to see Christmas decorations all around. I want to go to Hobby Lobby, and say Merry Christmas to the cashiers - or Chick-fil-A for that matter. I want to indulge in the season of hope. I want Christmas to be here. I don't know why. I literally want to say Merry Christmas to all people on the streets. Coming back to America, however, I know I will be subjected to political correctness. 

You know what, tough? Screw that. Seriously. 

Washing sand off feet

I am going to fast for Ramadan, at least a day, just to get shoulder to shoulder with my Muslims. Does that mean I actually believe the Quran was revealed in this season? I am not sure. So far, God has not showed me that to be true. If anything, He is showing me other things regarding Islam that I think are more important to think about than whether it is a sin or not for me as a Christian to celebrate Ramadan with my friends. 

You know what I mean? I think it depends on how you approach the subject. The Bible is clear in regards to that. My conscience is strong for that matter (1 Corinthians 8). I want to eat haleem to celebrate Eid al-Fitr (the Festival of Fast-Breaking) when Ramadan is over. I'll tell you what. You would want to celebrate that Ramadan is over too, if you had tasted that dish cooked by your Muslim friend. Whether Islam is true or not, my friend is real, and our friendship is real. Our love for each other is real. 

Why would I object fasting and celebrating with them?

"Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law). To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. To the Muslims* I became like a Muslim. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. " 

- 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

* That's NOT in the Bible, but you get my point :)

My boys getting their feet clean :)