Trial and Error

On a chilly, grey day a few years ago, I ventured out to the front yard to help (aka watch) my dad put up the Christmas lights. As I made my way through the strategically laid out candy canes, made out pvc pipes and crimson ribbon, strands of circled twinkle lights, I couldn't help but notice the well oiled machine that my dad had running. Everything had a place. There was even a "medical station" of tape, extra bulbs, replacement ribbon, etc. for the wear and tear from the previous year. I couldn't believe it. All these years in banking, my dad was a bonafide-certified-Christmas-lighter-engineer-extraordinaire. I finally get to the edge of the yard where he is beginning to hammer in the first candy cane. With a puzzled look on my face, I asked, "Dad, how did you learn to do all this?" He stops hammering, glances up and simply says, "Trial and error."

Trail and error indeed, daddy-o. This week has been just that. There is a saying here in Dubai. If you start your day wanting to accomplish 3 things and you get 1 of them accomplished, it is a great day. 2 things, throw a party. 3 things, make sure a group of disciples isn't behind you because you have achieved the impossible.

Like starting anywhere new, you gotta learn the ropes. Like my dad, at one point, had to go to the store and start purchasing Christmas lights and PVC pipe. Amy here, at one point, had to jump in and start meeting people and building relationships.

Woops... the internet stops working. I don't have the right papers for my visa process. This kid thinks I'm an idiot. That store closed one hour ago. The highway exit was 2 miles back and now you must go through the Indian Ocean to u-turn. Told an irrelevant, Texas joke...again. They told me their name 3 times already. Was there something in my teeth that whole time? Your blog underlines your sentences and you have no clue as to why.

A little tape here. A bulb replacement there. A worship song here. The Lord's reassurance there.

He is everywhere. Absolutely everywhere. In all my frustrations, tears, defeats, victories, Dubai doesn't win, He does. He wins.

So bring on the lights, baby!


Saturday, enjoying a nice baseball game...should have worn sandals to show off the pedicure...dangit.
Here's a glimpse of driving...(a very non-trafficky, non-getting lost glimpse). I never know how to end these things, so apologies for the video awkwardness.




Peace and lots of love, ya'll!