HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY EZRA!!!

ADDICTED TO SPIDERMAN..IS IT JUST OUR 4 YEAR OLD??

WELL, I CAN'T POST PICS RIGHT NOW..SO YOU WILL JUST HAVE TO IMAGINE A 4 YEAR OLD BOY WITH A SPIDERMAN OUTFIT, A SPIDERMAN MASK, AND IN "THE POSE".

Where in the world are the Clarks????

It is a question that we are constantly asking ourselves too! It seems like we can't stay put and that we have a lot in common with our North African nomadic friends. It seems that the world is a big place and we intend to experience a lot of it! We are now into week #2 here in the Middle East. It is FUN to be back and we are excited about this new place we are calling home. We have yet to be settled into our own house, with our own stuff, but we know that will come in time. After a few days that were a blur of catching up on sleep, finding somewhere to eat, and attempting to keep two little kids entertained with 10 matchbox cars, 2 spiderman figurines and a few books, we are now in the "let's catch up with everyone" phase.

It has been awhile since we have had a schedule or a "normal" day. Our last few weeks in North Africa were made up of packing, selling, organizing projects, organizing our house, emailing to find a place to live here, saying goodbyes. We found our days going by quickly and by nightfall, we would slump in the chairs and look at each other with exhaustion (those were the few nights we were actually together in the evening, most nights Jeremy was off doing other "to do" things).

We are appreciating the green that is abundant here in the Middle East. We took a drive about 30 minutes outside of the city, and found a beautiful pine forest-it was quiet and peaceful. We heard birds chirping, we watched the clouds seemingly dance in the bright blue sky, we played with the kids amid rose bushes and a variety of wild plants. It was amazing, there was an overwhelming sense of beauty (remember, we just came from the Sahara desert!) and peace. After living in the desert, you begin to adapt to the harshness of the wind & sand in one of two ways: 1)you forget how much you miss green and begin to think it isn't that important to your senses or 2)you begin to think about the beauty that you are experiencing in the desert and begin to think that it is the same as that far away pine forest-in other words, you become semi-delusional! We realized after being in that pine forest that we had done both #1 and #2!

In the past two weeks we have only experienced the superficial things of the Middle East. We hope to soon become acquainted with our neighbors, find friends for the kids, become involved in an Arab church, start our schooling, and pursue other things. We intend to keep you as up to date as possible into the various aspects of our lives here. Thanks for praying for us and for joining us in our journey!

Announcing....

We just wanted to let you all know that there will be an addition to the family sometime this fall....



Really, did I getcha'???



No, really, April Fools.

Wheaton College Trip

We had a great time with the Wheaton College Football Team. They spent 10 days here in North Africa and were able to experience pretty much everything we experience here. Here are a few pictures of their time, although the pictures certainly don't tell the whole story. For example, there is no picture of anyone jumping on the dead, bloated camel (yeah, you read that correctly)...or drinking a liter of fresh, warm camel's milk...or being served half (and I mean, literally, half) of a goat. We enjoyed each one that came and know they did make a difference here in the desert.

Happy Easter!

The Phenomenon of Henna

About a month ago (yeah, I know, I said a month ago), I had henna done to celebrate Jeremy's return from Lebanon. It is very customary for a wife to do henna when her husband returns from traveling. It is considered beautiful, even...sexy. So, since we are adapted (or still adapting) to North African culture, I thought it would be fun to do henna with my friends. I decided to pay the extra $4 to have the professional henna ladies come to my house. To get it done in the marketplace I am sure is a very cultural experience, but I am not brave enough. As you can see from the above picture you must twist & turn in various positions. A white woman getting henna done can be a very interesting and exciting event in the life of the marketplace (so I am told from my foreign friends). One can draw a significant crowd, therefore, I opted for a more low-key henna experience from the comfort of my own home. It takes about 4 hours from start to finish, so you must block off some time. Joy decided to join me at times, making it even more interesting to keep all of it from smearing while it was drying. The patience & time pays off because you are left with some very pretty designs on your hands & feet. Henna stays on for about 3 weeks.

Yesterday!!

Do you ever have those moments when you really feel like you have made a difference?? Sometimes it feels few and far between, EVEN when you live in Africa! A lot of times here, I struggle, much like you, to make moments count, take time to notice little things, not get caught up in daily life activities, and not ALWAYS feel like I need a nap! I get discouraged over the millionth time of "saying it the wrong way" in Arabic, I get mad when I see poverty that could be averted, and, I admit, look forward to the kids going to bed for some "peace & quiet".

However, yesterday, I was encouraged. Yesterday, I made a difference. Yesterday, you made a difference. Yesterday, the Lord was glorified. Yesterday, me and the 4 ladies who work with me at Little Stars handicapp center, headed over to the handicapp school to gather 10 students to come for 2 hours and play at our center. We do this 2 times a week, and they always send one of their teachers with the kids. We try to love the kids, show them grace when they mess up, and tell the teachers that we don't hit or yell at the kids to obey us. We also spend time doing games, crafts and activities with the kids-to show the teachers that these kids CAN succeed, CAN have fun, and DON'T just have to sit in a room staring at the wall all day.

Like I said, we walked into the school and there was a group of the kids sitting outside playing-first of all, that was unique. They are hardly ever outside in a group playing, especially the more difficult ones. As we watched them, we realized they were playing "Duck, Duck, Goose"-a game we had taught them at the center!! Of course, they call it "CAT, CAT, Bird" One of the teachers had remembered the game and was doing it with the kids.

Now, you may think, wow, big deal. But, to us, it is. We are seeing our work, our dedication, our love for these kids coming back around to them from their own teachers. We are seeing something we have never seen there before!!! To us, Yesterday, was a great day. Yesterday was a day to be excited about. Never, ever did I think that the game, "Cat, Cat, Bird" would take one so much meaning for me.

Sayings of a 3 year old...Viewer Discretion Advised

What I hear from Ezra's bedroom where he is playing:
"Horn Horn...Horn Horn!" (Ezra's interpretation of the usual sound, "beep beep")

Then,
Ezra: "Mommy, hurry, come here!"
Me: "What is wrong, Ezra?"
Ezra: "Hurry, mommy, come look at Percy & Thomas (his toy trains)...they are horny!"
Me: "They are horny!!?"
Ezra: "Yes, all the trains and cars are horny!"
Me: "Well, I have never seen horny trains and cars! (leading him on-terrible mother)
Ezra: "Yes, mommy, we always see horny cars when we go to the store!"


It was too funny to resist posting-sorry for those of you who are offended...

How to carry your babydoll...

Like Habsa..
Or like Mama!

Attempt at a Family Christmas Picture

What does it say about our family that the only decent family picture is in front of FOOD!!