It’s hard to believe that we arrived on this side of the world over a year ago (January 19, 2011 to be exact!) What a year it has been- we have seen, tasted, smelled, met, learned and experienced so many new things. We have had some of the best times in our marriage and some of the hardest times. We have met many great new people and said goodbye (or wait good-later) to so many people we love both here & in the states. We have moved twice. We have been humbled and made to feel like toddlers again (and continue to be) as we are learning Arabic, experiencing new cultures, making friends with locals, purchasing things at the store, and much more.

We are thankful for our first year out here. We are thankful for the people we have met, for the community we have had, for the language school we are attending, for the help we have had getting settled in, for the locals we have met, for the places we have been and for the things we have seen. The Lord has been faithful and has provided for us and  has shown us His grace and mercy in so many situations.

Five of my favorite things about living out here after a year:

• the ability to buy inexpensive produce on the side of the road in wheelbarrows (cilantro, mint, lettuce…)
• the hospitality of the people and neighbors
• cheap gas & that they pump it for you
• living an hour from the beach
• learning Arabic- the hardest, but most rewarding thing about being out here right now

Five of my least favorite things:

• living across the ocean from my family and friends
• no dryer or dishwasher (I know I am spoiled…)
• that it is not normal for woman to walk around or go anywhere by themselves in our town
• the heat (in the summer anyway- right now the weather is gorgeous- so thankful)
• the roundabouts and impatient drivers

We are thankful for all of you who have followed us and kept up with us since before we even moved out here. We look forward to starting our 3rd semester of Arabic and entering into our second year overseas with lots of exciting adventures ahead!

our first day in the desert in 2011

Muscat January 2012