Today we went to one of my favorite stores in all of Kuwait. It is under a large grocery store and has many things for very inexpensive. We call it the 100 fils store. KD (Kuwaiti Dinars) are broken down this way. KD 1/500 would be a price tag you would see on an item at a store. That item would cost 1 KD and 500 fils. 1 KD equals 1000 fils. 1 KD also equals about $ 3.65. Is that as clear as mud?

Back to the 100 fils store. This has been my best find in Kuwait as of now. We can go and get many cheap toys for 100, 250 or 500 fils. I used to enjoy taking my kids to the good dollar stores in the U.S. I miss dollar stores in Kuwait. So many things in Kuwait are extremely expensive. This is a great place to get birthday decorations, balloons and cheap Chinese toys.

I have started to become more aware of purchasing things here that we would NEVER find in the U.S. One example being a "Barbie" doll called Fulla. I found her in a store locally all decked out in her Abaya. I knew I needed a photo of that! On my shopping trip today I found two items that stand out as items not regularly available on U.S. shelves. First, is the man riding a camel and playing his guitar. I had to buy a few of these to send to friends back home. The camel is battery powered, it walks and the man strums his guitar and sings. The camels eyes also glow red. I don't know why a camel would have glowing red eyes. maybe his eyes are red because, he can't sleep while the man is singing? Maybe he is a robotic camel like "Kit" from "Knight Rider"
only the Arabic version of the show "Knight Racer".

My other favorite find for the day is a "Fulla" coloring book. The book contains many images of Fulla posing with her Abaya or Hijab. Now I know there are many different ways for women to cover themselves in Islam and frankly at times it does get confusing. Here in Kuwait, many women wear the full black Abayas. So what color are little girls supposed to color, Fulla? It makes for an interesting thought. Have a good weekend! I am off to Oman and Qatar next week. I have heard Oman is amazingly beautiful. I will try to get you many photos in Oman and share them as soon as I can~

My mother in law, Vera, is truly a "Knitting Queen". She has amazed me since we had our children with beautifully created newborn sweaters, blankets and even a poncho type sweater for me. She is currently working on an afghan for Faith that has "Hello Kitty" knitted into the beautiful squares.

Before she left to come to Kuwait. I asked her to teach me to knit. She said she would even though she had never taught anyone to knit before. She graciously got a knitting kit for beginners, the right yarn and knitting needles for making cotton washcloths.

I am proud to show you my first knitting project! I don't know what it is. Right now it is practice. It may end up to be a baby doll or stuffed animal blanket. I am now dreaming of knitting for my grandchildren. I have to tell my self not to jump ahead, so for now I am finishing my current project. Next up is a washcloth to send to my mom back in Michigan. After that I have a nephew or niece due in September. This is so much fun, I could go on and on and on knitting!!!!! Thanks to Vera, she is the best Mother in Law and a great teacher : ) Love you~

Living in Kuwait has been very eye opening for me. There is a great divide in this country. A divide between the very wealthy Kuwaitis and the extremely poor workers. I have read of there stories in The Arab Times one of the newspapers in Kuwait. Often these workers survive on a pittance and send most or even all the money they do make back home to India, Bangladesh or the Philippines. Over these past months the street cleaners have come to my attention. I have heard from several housekeepers and nannies that they are the lowest of this culture. Similar to the "untouchables" of India. I have decided I have to act.

I have started by packing a lunch each day for my local street cleaner. I began noticing him each morning when I would be out waving goodbye to Grace and Faith as they get on the bus each morning for school. He would watch our family scene of many goodbye hugs and kisses shared between me, Kelly and the girls. Our goodbye each morning is so sweet, but you would think the girls were going off to fight in a war. Many hugs are exchanged and equally as many kisses. As our morning farewells are given the street cleaner watches with a large smile on his face. I knew immediately in my heart that I needed to begin bringing him lunch and fresh water.

I have been doing this each morning I see him for awhile now. I started giving it too him before I went to Egypt. He has become my friend and I look forward to seeing him each morning. It has now become "my mission" to bring food and water to people in need. I prepare little lunches and water bottles each day that I will be out driving. When I stop at a light and see a street cleaner or gardener out in the hot Kuwait sunshine, I wave them over and give them my care package. I am so blessed to have this opportunity! It has filled my heart with joy and love for all his creation. I know God loves each one of these special people as much as he loves a "rich" person like me. Honestly sometimes I am embarrassed because I give out of excess and have much more food at home for my family. Jesus shares about those giving out of their poverty, that is my example. I strive to give more and more.

As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." Luke 21:1-4


Honestly I am not "rich" per American standards. In fact we took a pay cut to choose this amazing life for our family. Compared to the rest of the world we are wealthy, we have two cars, excess food, clean water, clothing, books to read, money to save and spend, and time and money to go away on vacation with. I know that God alone through his grace has provided all this and I am determined to use it all to his glory and pleasure. Do I fail? YES! At times I WANT this and that, that I don't need. I make selfish choices. I share all this with you to encourage you. That if God can change a person like me there is indeed hope for everyone.

I feel such joy after giving even the smallest thing in God's name. I pray for the recipients and thank God for this opportunity to give out of my abundance. I amazed at how he has blessed me by being able to see the world through the people he created. I am shocked at how others look down these people. I know that through this God is changing me and he has given me my mission. It may not be the most glamorous, but it is what I have been given a heart for. The other day I was at stoplight and I noticed a gardener working in the HOT sun. I waved him over and gave him the contents of my special care package. He smiled a huge smile and said"thank you, M'am." He even squeezed my hand I knew in that touch, even if I never saw him again , he knew I cared for him. I am overjoyed as I type this! I am already thinking of an excuse to drive the crazy Kuwait streets to share love, joy, and some food and water with my new friends. Thank you God for bringing me to Kuwait, showing me your heart for the people and "my mission".

I don't even know where to begin in sharing about our trip to Egypt. Kelly and I were blessed to be able to go to Cairo and Luxor for six days with Kelly's sister, Kenna. Kelly's parents watched our bunch with our housekeeper's help. Thank you very much to Ken and Vera for doing this for us!! We haven't had time away like that ever in our married life. A night here and there, but never six days. I was of course shocked to have finished all my meals in peace without any crying child on my lap. For me it was a time to refresh, but I sure missed my "Bunch".



The first part of our trip we spent in Cairo. We of course saw all the major sights. Giza with all the pyramids and the Sphinx. Kenna was able to fulfill a dream of riding a camel at Giza. We all rode them and had a big laugh while the camel was getting up to standing and sitting back down for us to dismount. If you ever do it LEAN BACK or you could end up flying forward to land on your head.



We were able to see the light show in the evening at Giza. It was a great thing to see. Kelly was thrilled to see the light show that his Mother had attended some fifty years before. Kelly said he talked to an older Egyptian man and he was still mourning the loss of a mysterious tall redheaded American he let slip through his fingers decades ago. Imagine our surprise when he asked if we knew Vera Little. It is indeed a small world : ) I am only joking for my mother in law's sake.

At Mohammad Ali's temple in Cairo I had some friends who wanted a photo with a white woman wearing a veil. Thy were all so sweet and I got a photo of them. I tried to tell them they were beautiful which our tour guide translated into Arabic. One asked me my name and held my hand. I wish I could remember her name or pronounce it in Arabic. I have thought of them many times since leaving Egypt and how are lives are so different. It is so nice when people reach out in kindness even if we don't speak the same language.

After two nights in Cairo we went flew to Luxor a smaller city south of Cairo on the Nile River. This was my favorite spot! We were able to see many temples including Queen Hatshepsut's Motuary temple, The temple of Karnak and Luxor temple. I was amazed by the details in the hieroglyphics. The ancient Egyptians must have really had much patience to carve the beautifully deatailed hieroglyphics on all the surfaces. In some areas that have been protected from the elements over the years, you can see the rich colors they painted as well.

My favorite temple was Queen Hatshepsut's Mortuary Temple. It was built as a monument to her and her achievements for people to view after her death. Hatshepsut was the only Egyptian women to insert herself in a male dominated royal role. She campaigned after her husband died to become Pharaoh and she pulled it off. She was obviously a strong women and she ruled for 21 years. Kenna and I couldn't resist a strong pose near her temple.

The view from our hotel roof in Luxor was absolutely heavenly! We could see Hatshepsut's temple across the Nile. It was amazing to watch the cruise ships going up and down the Nile loaded with tourist and gourmet food. Inspired by the view I had to scour Luxor to find Agatha Christie's murder mystery, "Death on the Nile" to read. I have read it before. When I first read it I was a young women never thinking I would be vacationing in Upper Egypt. I was astounded by how much this area of Egypt was the same as Dame Christie painted in the novel. How fun to be living the beautiful aspects of an Agatha Christie mystery, minus the murder!

The kids did great while we were away. Grandma and Granddad survivied and they have eternal thanks!!! Kenna you are a great traveling buddy, we had a great time with you and we are already looking forward to our next trip together.