Must Be Doing Something Right

The Peanuts graduated from KG last week. I've always been a bit cynical about kindergarten graduations. I mean, what have they really accomplished in one year? Granted, a lot, but still. Graduation ceremony with cap and gown? Come on!

Well, I have to say that I loved this one. They had displays from the kids' around the playground courtyard and it looked great. The kids marched onto stage and stood so politely. They took their seats after singing the national anthem and the school song and were very well behaved.

The teachers didn't just call the student's name. She said something personal about each child, something she'll remember about them. Then they went to have their picture taken with the principal and the head of section.

In the picture above you can see one of the displays. They were asked to draw a picture and write something about what they want to be when they grow up. The Little Prince said he wants to be a cook. For ages now he's been obsessed with policemen and wants to be one when he grows up. He said that it was already taken so he had to pick something else. But he loves to help in the kitchen so I could see him going in that direction as well. The Diva said she wants to be a mommy. She'll be a fantastic one too! (I guess I can't be messing them up too badly, huh?)

It's home!

My laptop is home where it belongs! The fan needed to be replaced and I had to wait for the part to come in. I took it in this morning to be replaced and picked it up this afternoon. Actually the laptop has been here the whole time but I wasn't using it so as not to risk it overheating. I wanted it here instead of in the shop in case I had an emergency that the iPod couldn't handle. But now, after a couple of weeks, I can type on a real keyboard and not push half a dozen wrong keys in the course of typing one word! Whoohoo!

Baba is here for a few days. He's here to spend time with Aunt while he can. He didn't want to wait until after his trip to the States and risk not getting to see her again. SIL arrived late Sunday night and will stay until the end. It's going to be hard to picture the place without her and her old Renault. It's hard to believe that car will outlive her! Even with the would-be thief falling from a balcony (where he was trying to break in) and smashing the dashboard. Lots of good memories in that car. I'm going to miss it. Wouldn't ever want to drive it myself, but I'll miss it and the errands and visits Aunt took me on in it. We used to laugh and exhaust ourselves trying to understand what the other was saying.

She'll never hear me learn to speak Arabic but at least we got to drink coffee together.

Getting There!

The packing has begun. I have all summer clothing packed minus sleepwear, underwear, and what's in the laundry. Winter clothes are piled up to see what will fit where.
Baba arrives tomorrow to see his aunt. I'm glad to have some help too with some of the decision-making. We have 6 suitcases and can take 8. That will be 10 if we decide to make up the difference from the cousins only taking 1 each.
Well, I'm off to bed. 'Night!

Rough Going

Aunt isn't doing well. The chemo mixed with heat and humidity have her miserable. SIL got permission from the captain to head home a month early. Aunt will remain at her sister's though since it's closer to her hospital and there's a/c there as well.
Baba is trying to get here for a couple of days. I hope he can. If not, then I hope he can after he returns from the States. I hope she makes it that long.
Today I has the Boss get the luggage out of the attic. I also know where the Ride On Carry On seats are. I'm leaving them where they are for now. I just need to get them down Sunday I'd Monday and clean off the mildew with bleach. I swear, nothing is safe in this house!
Well, I'd better head to bed so I can get the Boss to his exams tomorrow. I plan to be a horrible mother and let the tv/DVD player babysit while I start packing. I'll make up for it after we're home by making, I mean, letting them play outside for hours on end.

The Peanuts

Tonight the Peanuts graduated from KG. They wore green and yellow cap and gowns. They sang the national anthem and the school song. Then the diplomas were handed out with the teacher saying a few words about each child.
There were several sets of twins in KG2 this year. One set was in the Little Prince's class and the rest were divided.
The Little Prince was remembered as a helper to keep the room neat and things where they belong and the Diva was remembered for not wanting to leave her teacher. Her teacher is leaving too after 15 years at the school. Thank goodness for FB.
After receiving their diplomas they sang 3 songs...one in French, one in Arabic, and one in English. Except for the first verse they just sang along on the chorus. I was wondering why the Peanuts were singing "Those were the Days" for the last couple of weeks.
The Little Prince and his friends discovered that they could lean in closer to the mic near them and be heard loud and clear. Then he discovered that if you use your rolled up diploma as a bullhorn, it was really effective.
After it was over I collected their things to take to the car. I asked the Little Prince for his and he said that Ms L, the Arabic teacher, had it. I asked her if I could have it if I promised not to let him have it back.
I couldn't help but wonder though if I should read something into the processional being The Hallelujah Chorus.

Not So Good

The plan for today was to pick up Aunt and bring her to stay a few days. Then yesterday, L, a friend of SIL, called to say she'd heard from her and she was going into the hospital. Since it was too late to visit before picking up the kids from school I decided to visit today after my walk.

Last night I got a call from a cousin that Aunt was in the hospital. She said she was in ICU. Not 5 minutes after hanging up, Baba called from q8 and said he'd heard she'd had a heart attack. I decided to skip the walk and go after dropping off the kids.

I got there about 8:30 but visiting hours are 12-1 and 5-6. I found her cousin whose a doctor there and he called to check on her. Nothing wrong with her heart. Turns out she'd had a reaction to the blood they gave her.

I'm at her sister's now to wait. In a little bit I'll take her over to the hospital and bring her home before heading back up the mountain.

It's good to know she's fine. Hopefully I can persuade her to stay with us a few days.

The Magic is Gone

It's bad enough we pay for water and then get it only every other day, and even less in summer.
It's bad enough we spend half a day on generator and it's illegal to choose to use solar power or windmills if you don't want to be forced to pay the outrageous cost if a generator.
NOW we are no longer allowed to use Magic Jack, thanks to the telecommunications company here. The phone company owns the Internet here. We don't get ours through them. We use a private company but ours gets it from them. And they've blocked Magic Jack.
I don't know if Skype users have the same problem or not, but since we're leaving in TWO AND A HALF WEEKS, it doesn't matter anyway. But it sure makes those necessary overseas calls much more expensive.

Andrea Bocelli tells a "little story" about abortion.

A Good Day

Today was the 2nd chemo treatment for Aunt. Last time you might remember we had to wait for two hours in the lobby and another half an hour or so upstairs waiting for them to get a room ready. Today she was upstairs in a private room in under an hour. Yeah!

The doctor was pleased with the results of the last one. Usually there's not much difference after the first treatment. She ended up having to spend the night so she can get a transfusion, but other than the really lousy hospital food, she was doing well when I left.

Last Saturday the Boss had invited friends over for an early birthday party. His birthday is in July so he never gets to have friends from school over for a party or have one at school. Only 2 friends said they'd come and then one ended up being sick. But he had a good time with the one who came, who happens to be his best friend.

Well, today I got a call from the secretary for the Boss's Head of Section. She said the H of S wanted to speak to me and right as she was going to hand me to her she hurriedly explained that the Boss was find and nothing was wrong. Good to know now that you have me worried.

The H of S got on the phone and said that some of the students wanted to have a surprise party for the Boss during the break and she was calling to invite me. I was so thrilled! I explained where I was and that I couldn't make it (and from the look on his face later when I apologized for not coming, I wasn't missed). When I picked up the kids today he was a few feet off the ground.

Turns out it was his friend who was sick on Saturday who planned it for him. She's such a sweetheart! And I'm so glad that it's her family that will be providing the new home for Elektra after we move. Our girl will be in good hands.

So, it's been a really good day after all.

Yum...yogurt!

One of the staples of Lebanese cuisine is laban, or, as we say in English, yogurt. In fact, both the word Lubnan (Lebanon) and laban come from the word for 'white'. Many dishes we enjoy have yogurt as an ingredient. With the price of both fresh and powdered milk being so high, and with laban being such a major part of the Lebanese kitchen, it's much cheaper and easier to buy all the yogurt we need. In fact, the kids love to drink laban, made by combining equal parts yogurt and water in a blender and turning it on. So it's even cheaper to drink yogurt than milk.

Once we're back in the States I'll be back to making our yogurt. We love our yogurt and labneh and the cost of yogurt in the States isn't the same as here.

Here is an easy recipe for yogurt. It's time-consuming, but doesn't keep you busy. Most of the time is wait time. Easy to find other stuff to do as long as you don't get wrapped up in it and forget to watch the temperature.

Yogurt (Laban)

2 quarts whole milk (can use low-fat or skim just as easily)
2 Tbsp. yogurt starter

Place milk in a heavy saucepan (not aluminum) over medium heat. Bring to boil, being careful not to let milk scorch (no need to stir).

Remove from heat and let cool until lukewarm. Milk is ready if you can count to ten comfortably when you immerse your little finger into the milk. (Please make sure you wash your hands first.)

If milk is too cool return to heat and warm slightly, if too hot leave aside for a while longer to cool down. Place yogurt starter in a cup and add approximately 4 Tbsp. of warm milk. Blend together and add to the rest of the warm milk. Stir well. (Note: You may either use yogurt from the store or from your last homemade batch. If it's from your yogurt, take out the starter right after you make it and are ready to put it in the frig. If you wait until you're about out the yogurt left will be too runny and you won't have yogurt that sets properly. Voice of experience here...trust me!)

Yogurt mixture may be left in the same pot to set. Cover with a lid and wrap up in a heavy blanket. Place in a spot where mixture will not be disturbed for 5-6 hours or overnight. (I usually make it in the evening, wrap, and leave until morning. Otherwise I end up wishing I could move it because it's in my way.)

Put in whatever container you choose and store in the refrigerator.

Labneh (Yogurt Spread)

1 yogurt recipe
1 tsp. salt

Pour the cold yogurt into a cloth or cheese cloth bag doubled in thickness and tied. Hang and let drain for 1 day. (You can hang over night from your kitchen faucet.)

Remove yogurt from the bag and place in a mixing bowl. Add salt and mix well. Refrigerate in suitable covered container.

Spread on half a round of pita bread with olive oil drizzled on top. Roll up and enjoy. Or, put labneh in small bowl, drizzle with olive oil, and dip pieces of pita bread.

Yogurt Cucumber Salad

1 clove garlic
1 tsp. salt
2 cups yogurt
1 long English cucumber
1 Tbsp. mint leaves (chopped) or 1/2 Tbsp. dry mint

Crush garlic with salt in a salad bowl. Blend in yogurt. Slice through the length of the cucumber, then chop into thin slices. Add to yogurt mixture. Mix gently. Sprinkle the mint over top to garnish.

Sahtayn!

The Visitation

Mary’s Song of Praise: The Magnificat

⁴⁶And Mary said,

^CA)">(CA) "My^CB)">(CB) soul^CC)">(CC) magnifies the Lord,
⁴⁷^CD)">(CD) and my^CE)">(CE) spirit rejoices in^CF)">(CF) God my Savior,
⁴⁸for^CG)">(CG) he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations^CH)">(CH) will call me blessed;
⁴⁹for^CI)">(CI) he who is mighty^CJ)">(CJ) has done great things for me,
and^CK)">(CK) holy is his name.
⁵⁰And^CL)">(CL) his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
⁵¹^CM)">(CM) He has shown strength with his arm;
^CN)">(CN) he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
⁵²^CO)">(CO) he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
^CP)">(CP) and exalted those of humble estate;
⁵³he has filled^CQ)">(CQ) the hungry with good things,
and the rich^CR)">(CR) he has sent away empty.
⁵⁴He has^CS)">(CS) helped^CT)">(CT) his servant Israel,
^CU)">(CU) in remembrance of his mercy,
⁵⁵^CV)">(CV) as he spoke to our fathers,
^CW)">(CW) to Abraham and to his offspring forever."

From Treasury of Daily Prayer:

John the Baptizer and Jesus, the two great figures of salvation history, now come together in the visit to Elizabeth by the Virgin Mary (Luke 1: 39-45), both of whom conceived their children under miraculous circumstances. Thus John is brought into the presence of Jesus while they are still in their mothers' wombs. This presence of the Lord causes a response by the child John as he leaps in Elizabeth's womb. John's response to the presence of Jesus, the Messiah, foreshadows John's own role as forerunner. Already now, a new creation is beginning, and a baby still in the womb hails the new creation's inception. Foreshadowed in John's leap are the miracles of Jesus, who will cause all creation to leap at His presence: "The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them" (Luke 7:22). The incarnate presence of the Messiah also evokes a response from Elizabeth, who proclaims Mary's blessedness. Mary's Magnificat (Luke 1: 45-55) provides the theological significance of this meeting as Mary sums up her place in salvation history. Mary's song is a hymn to God for His gracious gifts to the least in this world, whom He has lifted up out of lowliness solely because of His grace and mercy.

When I read this during my morning devotions today I knew I just had to share it. Whenever I've read/heard this story of the visitation, the emphasis always seems to be on the encounter between the two women with the mention of John's reaction. But it's more than that. It's Jesus and John meeting for the first time. It's John's excitement that his work is about to begin. (And from the look of Elizabeth in that picture up there, none too soon!) John hears (as many babies still in the womb do) the voice of his relative, Mary. He knows already that she bears his Messiah. He can't contain himself and just lets loose with a whoop and a holler! (OK, we have to imagine that one, but if he was jumping, wouldn't he probably have gotten a mouthful of amniotic fluid as well?)

This story also shows the importance of mothers in making sure their children hear the Word of God from early on. Even in the womb.