Jordan and I are visiting Lebanon and we are hanging out with some friends while we are here. They have two adorable girls and one CUTE baby boy! The girls can't stop asking me about my family and why they are so far away. They love hearing about my sister!! They really want her to visit Lebanon, so we made a video! This isn't on the video, but the girls told me that if I miss my sister that I should just have some children so I'm not alone. I asked them what should I do if I had a boy and they told me I would need to try again for a girl:)!!!! SO CUTE!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Welcome to Petra
Jordan and I got to visit Petra! The villages in Petra date back to 2200 years ago. It was discovered again in 1812. What a discovery! It is such a cool place for anyone who loves nature, or rocks like my Dad the geologist! There are highlights such as the Treasurey from the Indiana Jones movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark and lots of shops, camels, and horse rides. Jordan and I also got to climb the top of the mountain range which was no easy task, but worth the view and the journey up. We spent a while at the top of the mountain just listening to the silence. It was amazing! View video to check it out yourself! :)
Saturday, September 5, 2009
This week's highlights
1. Painted the entire apartment minus the guest room. (We ran out of money)
2. Made homemade banana bread TWICE (First one burned :(....)
3. Stayed in my pj's all day (Twice. Had a headache. Jordan did it. *fill in excuses here_________)
4. I figured out that string and tape can fix any leak. (Then it broke, but we fixed it with string and tape again. I'm not holding my breath.)
5. Found some pretty cool stores in the mall! (The mall is the largest mall in Africa and has 700 stores so it wasn't hard to find something that did it for me)
6. Got on babycenter.com and watched all the videos! (This scared Jordan, but he gave in and we ended up watching the videos as our date night with popcorn and cuddle time. Babies rock!)
7. This is Jordan's highlight, but it is pretty awesome: We got to watch the OSU game live on the computer that is hooked up directly to his brother's tv in Oklahoma while in Egypt! Crazy. (I also got my HGTV fix)
8. I got a sweet note from my hubby in our journal. Such a nice suprise! (He earned brownies)
9. Talked to my mom and dad this week. (We have a local number through Vonage. Makes Egypt seem much closer to home! I tend to forget the 7 hours difference and accidently call too early...oops!)
10. A little Egyptian girl approached me and in the sweetest voice asked if she could tell me about the Bible! In Egypt. (That pretty much left me speechless)
Hope you all have a blessed week!
2. Made homemade banana bread TWICE (First one burned :(....)
3. Stayed in my pj's all day (Twice. Had a headache. Jordan did it. *fill in excuses here_________)
4. I figured out that string and tape can fix any leak. (Then it broke, but we fixed it with string and tape again. I'm not holding my breath.)
5. Found some pretty cool stores in the mall! (The mall is the largest mall in Africa and has 700 stores so it wasn't hard to find something that did it for me)
6. Got on babycenter.com and watched all the videos! (This scared Jordan, but he gave in and we ended up watching the videos as our date night with popcorn and cuddle time. Babies rock!)
7. This is Jordan's highlight, but it is pretty awesome: We got to watch the OSU game live on the computer that is hooked up directly to his brother's tv in Oklahoma while in Egypt! Crazy. (I also got my HGTV fix)
8. I got a sweet note from my hubby in our journal. Such a nice suprise! (He earned brownies)
9. Talked to my mom and dad this week. (We have a local number through Vonage. Makes Egypt seem much closer to home! I tend to forget the 7 hours difference and accidently call too early...oops!)
10. A little Egyptian girl approached me and in the sweetest voice asked if she could tell me about the Bible! In Egypt. (That pretty much left me speechless)
Hope you all have a blessed week!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Sports Club in Egypt
Location: Sports club in Egypt
Me: Wow this club looks amazing.
Jordan: Yeah, let's go check it out.
Location- Inside the club
Jordan: Excuse me miss, we were interested in the sports club. Where is the gym?
Miss: I don't know.
Jordan: Well do you know where I can find a brochure? (again in arabic)
Miss: No
Jordan: OK, thanks.
Kristina: That's weird...Isn't the gym kind of a big deal in a sports club?
Jordan: Excuse me sir, do you know where the gym is? (again in arabic)
Sir: It is closed for men, only open for women. If you walk this way you will find it. (in arabic)
Jordan: OK, Thanks.
Sir: Hey, where are you going?
Jordan: To the gym.
Sir: Only she can walk to the gym.
Jordan: Where do I go?
Sir: You stay here on this side of the sidewalk
Kristina: OK, I guess I will walk to the entrance by myself.
Location-gym
Kristina: Excuse me miss, the door to the gym is locked. Do I need a key? (Again in horrible attempt at arabic)
Miss: I don't know (in arabic)
Kristina: OK, thanks
Location-on the other side of the sidewalk
Kristina: The gym is locked. Let's go see if we can find someone who can tell us about the club and hours.
Jordan: Sir, can you tells us about the club and hours?
Sir: Go to gate 1
Location-gate 1
Jordan: Sir, can you tells us about the club and hours?
Sir: Go to gate 5
Jordan and Kristina: We give up!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Birthday @ 26
Yay 26! I'm not typical when it comes to getting older. I say "bring it on!" What would possibly make me say this? Well, with each year tacked on to my impressive 26 years, there seems to be more opportunities, experiences, more sense of what really matters in life (a perspective you might say), more days to be spent with my husband, my family, and my friends, and most importantly, a better understanding of who Christ is.
In regards to my family, each year adds a depth to our relationship...one with more of a bond and respect. Life as an adult is hard at times and I can look at my parents and appreciate the fact that they can stand up to anything that comes their way. Time with them isn't wasted and feels more bittersweet the more I realize how uncommon it is for my parents to still be happily married in these times and the more I realize I've come full circle in applying things that I have learned from their marriage to my own.
Time with my sister is well spent! I have always been amazed by her. I can learn a lot about loving people from J. Her heart is so big that if you stand too close, she will suck you in like a sponge. She still thinks of me as 16. It's kind of funny when she is shocked every year on my birthday. This birthday, my card from her said "Happy 4th Birthday!"
My in-laws are the perfect example of living gracefully. Time has blessed them with knowledge of Christ, endless love, and an unexplainable gift to comfort. Maybe to Jordan, time with his parents is different, but for me, time with them is like comfort food (mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, etc.) Ok, I'm sure Jordan's perspective is very different. Their comfort stems from contentment and that is a product of the grace they have been given.
With friends, time seems to slip too quickly away in all our encounters together. Maybe it is because time flies when you are having fun, but I think it's because we see ourselves in each other and it makes us focus so deeply on the matters on our hearts that we pay no attention to how much time we spend sharing our lives together. That time is never cataloged, only later dearly missed.
Jordan, time spent with you is a gift from God! I love that I know things, random things, about you that no one else will ever know and time with you gives me more insight to who you are. Sharing my life with you will never mean watching the clock tick by. We learn so much about each other everyday. It's precious time with you added with past memories of us that make each day seem like not enough. I get to grow old with you. How cool is that!!
I am truly blessed. These hours, days, and years are time that God has given me! Thanks and glory be given to him in all the time that he has willed.
Happy Birthday to me!
In regards to my family, each year adds a depth to our relationship...one with more of a bond and respect. Life as an adult is hard at times and I can look at my parents and appreciate the fact that they can stand up to anything that comes their way. Time with them isn't wasted and feels more bittersweet the more I realize how uncommon it is for my parents to still be happily married in these times and the more I realize I've come full circle in applying things that I have learned from their marriage to my own.
Time with my sister is well spent! I have always been amazed by her. I can learn a lot about loving people from J. Her heart is so big that if you stand too close, she will suck you in like a sponge. She still thinks of me as 16. It's kind of funny when she is shocked every year on my birthday. This birthday, my card from her said "Happy 4th Birthday!"
My in-laws are the perfect example of living gracefully. Time has blessed them with knowledge of Christ, endless love, and an unexplainable gift to comfort. Maybe to Jordan, time with his parents is different, but for me, time with them is like comfort food (mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, etc.) Ok, I'm sure Jordan's perspective is very different. Their comfort stems from contentment and that is a product of the grace they have been given.
With friends, time seems to slip too quickly away in all our encounters together. Maybe it is because time flies when you are having fun, but I think it's because we see ourselves in each other and it makes us focus so deeply on the matters on our hearts that we pay no attention to how much time we spend sharing our lives together. That time is never cataloged, only later dearly missed.
Jordan, time spent with you is a gift from God! I love that I know things, random things, about you that no one else will ever know and time with you gives me more insight to who you are. Sharing my life with you will never mean watching the clock tick by. We learn so much about each other everyday. It's precious time with you added with past memories of us that make each day seem like not enough. I get to grow old with you. How cool is that!!
I am truly blessed. These hours, days, and years are time that God has given me! Thanks and glory be given to him in all the time that he has willed.
Happy Birthday to me!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Summer
It is officially summer! I have been blessed to travel with Jordan as early as April, so for me it has felt like summer for some time now. Currently, Jordan is finishing some work in Beirut and then he is heading back to Cairo before joining me in the states.
We did find an apartment in Cairo. We had to completely furnish the place including the lights and all the appliances. I still don't have kitchen cabinets yet or any decoration that makes it look like a home that is lived in, but it will soon! The place has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a big open living room, and 4 balconies!! The white walls and floor tile make it feel a little like a hospital, but when we get back in July, Jordan and I will attempt to put a splash of color on the walls!
We look forward to a summer full of visiting friends and family back and forth between Tulsa and Dallas. This will be my first 4th of July in Tulsa with Jordan's HUGE family and I can't wait. It is my favorite holiday and this one will be special (first one married). Speaking of marriage, it will soon be our one year anniversary on July 26~I would do it all again in a heartbeat! I also have lots of friends getting married this summer and feel overwhelmingly blessed to attend. Anna and Mark Gronotte and Christina and Travis Hyde just to name a few!
Cheers to summer!
~Kristina
We did find an apartment in Cairo. We had to completely furnish the place including the lights and all the appliances. I still don't have kitchen cabinets yet or any decoration that makes it look like a home that is lived in, but it will soon! The place has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a big open living room, and 4 balconies!! The white walls and floor tile make it feel a little like a hospital, but when we get back in July, Jordan and I will attempt to put a splash of color on the walls!
We look forward to a summer full of visiting friends and family back and forth between Tulsa and Dallas. This will be my first 4th of July in Tulsa with Jordan's HUGE family and I can't wait. It is my favorite holiday and this one will be special (first one married). Speaking of marriage, it will soon be our one year anniversary on July 26~I would do it all again in a heartbeat! I also have lots of friends getting married this summer and feel overwhelmingly blessed to attend. Anna and Mark Gronotte and Christina and Travis Hyde just to name a few!
Cheers to summer!
~Kristina
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Far away
Jordan and I are enjoying our time in Egypt. It is a beautiful city full of history and interesting people. I love that it is so different from anywhere I have been. Sometimes it reminds me of a mix of Peru and China, but much more international and 22 million people more than the cities I have been to in other countries. There are more people that speak English here (except for the Taxi drivers)
The first thing an American woman will notice when traveling in Cairo is that the dress code for women is fairly strict and international women really do need to be careful how they dress. The women wear skirts down to their ankles or pants and they wear long sleeve shirts even in the hottest times of the year. I felt akward just wearing a fitted t-shirt that would be considered modest in the states. I immediately went shopping for scarves to use to cover my arms and my neck. The women cover their heads, but it is understood that I wouldn't because foreigners in Egypt just don't cover their heads. It would actually be offensive if I did because then I would be expected to follow their customs of praying during the call to prayer.
Let me just say, the call to prayer is beautiful to hear, but at 4:30am it is no fun to wake up to arabic singing through the loudest speakers EVER!
I am taking advantage of being a tourist. I have plans to take a cruise on the nile, visit the pyramids and muesums, and take pictures in the tower in Garden City. There is a lot to do here and a suprisingly vast amount of modern restaurants and cafes. Jordan and I enjoy Maadi because of it's international feel and comforts. It has some amazing restaurants, shops, spas, and neighborhoods. We drove by the ambassador of Mexico's villa in Maadi. It is the only suburb in Cairo that has trees.
I will update and post pics soon. Ma-salaama!
The first thing an American woman will notice when traveling in Cairo is that the dress code for women is fairly strict and international women really do need to be careful how they dress. The women wear skirts down to their ankles or pants and they wear long sleeve shirts even in the hottest times of the year. I felt akward just wearing a fitted t-shirt that would be considered modest in the states. I immediately went shopping for scarves to use to cover my arms and my neck. The women cover their heads, but it is understood that I wouldn't because foreigners in Egypt just don't cover their heads. It would actually be offensive if I did because then I would be expected to follow their customs of praying during the call to prayer.
Let me just say, the call to prayer is beautiful to hear, but at 4:30am it is no fun to wake up to arabic singing through the loudest speakers EVER!
I am taking advantage of being a tourist. I have plans to take a cruise on the nile, visit the pyramids and muesums, and take pictures in the tower in Garden City. There is a lot to do here and a suprisingly vast amount of modern restaurants and cafes. Jordan and I enjoy Maadi because of it's international feel and comforts. It has some amazing restaurants, shops, spas, and neighborhoods. We drove by the ambassador of Mexico's villa in Maadi. It is the only suburb in Cairo that has trees.
I will update and post pics soon. Ma-salaama!
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