Ode to Dubai

Dubai or not Dubai?

That is the question...

This week you almost won -

You reeked havoc on my digestion.


Not like "that" all your who are reading...

Digestion in the sense of breathing.

The dust here can be a beast -

Feels like your voice is leaving.


Sorry no pictures

As this week was just normal life.

Some weeks there isn't much going on

Even with all the Middle East's strife.


Speaking of....

All is ok for now here in the U.A.E.

It's odd being around it all though -

News updates are all you see.


They say unrest here is as common as peace is in the U.S.

Can you imagine this?

What people live with here is unbelievable

You just want to give them all a hug and kiss.


I don't want to be anywhere else

God is doing too much here.

I miss home and the comfort

But hakuna matata (no worries), I'll get to visit this year.


Time is becoming like a diamond

With so many facets and faces.

Sometimes is is clear and pristine,

Other times you can't see its traces.


All this to say, life carries on

Moment by moment, day by day

Coffe...I mean teas, meetings, paperwork, sleep

But most importantly the One to whom I pray.


He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

He never wavers, tires, or sleeps.

He watches over me and is my God -

His peace over my mind and heart, He keeps.


He is my strength, my salvation

My song and my king.

Even when the days beat me silent

His love causes me to sing.


Guess this ended up being an "Ode to my Lord"

Yeah, Dubai is just His tool.

Here I understand clearly His sovereignty,

Might, power, love, goodness, and ultimate rule.


So I bid goodnight

And wish everyone well.

Next week I'll post pictures

As they have so much more to tell.

Incog-NEAT-O

Happy Sunday everyone!

It's been a happy one here for sure. It's 8:30pm and I am still in my pajamas.

I am not ashamed of this.

I woke up at noon too.

Not ashamed of that either.

You see, Sunday is my day off and by golly, I took the whole dang day off. You know when your body tells you to shut er' down or it will do it for you?

You best listen.

So! After 2 cups of lemon ginger tea with honey and one more steeping on the counter, I blog...

ON TO THE FAIRY TALE! (Que music: "A Whole New World" from Aladdin)


Once upon a time there lived an ARAByrdie...

She traveled incognito (hence the title) to a birthday celebration of the Prophet Muhammed at the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Do you think they recognized her??

On her journey she had an equation revelation:

Bible belt + Christmas pageant + parents taking pictures of kids in costumes + people taking the politest opportunity to leave in between sets = Arabian peninsula + Prophet birthday celebration + parents taking pictures of kids in costumes + people taking the politest opportunity to leave in between sets






She tried ever so desperately to play it cool and not pinch herself to where people would question who this girl was and why was she pinching herself so much. *She noted to herself: you fail when under excitement, Byrd!*



At this grand occasion, the "Joel Osteen" of Islamic T.V. was there. The white turban w/ beard on the right. He wrote the book, "Your Best Life Later."


Peeking around corners and tip-toeing through secure-no trespassing areas (woops), what marvelous sights she beheld...


She realized they spared NO expense. Brought in the bestest of the bestest better than your bestest times a billion artists and suppliers from all over the world. Marble. Gold. Tile. Paint. Caligraphists (?). You name it.

And there existed the largest Persian rug in the entire world. This could buy your house. Plus the neighborhood. Plus the city. Plus the county itself.


ARAByrdie was glad her Aggie ring was with her. It gets out there.

So after the grand tour and Byrdie being soar from whelps (the pinches you remember), her lovely hostess took her guests to the Emirates Palace.

Of course there was the only ATM machine made of pure gold there...naturally.

And iced tea served like this...naturally.
And 24 carat gold cappuccino...naturally.
And two proposals by the sheikhs...NOT naturally.
All in all, what a night...ARAByrdie lived a fairy tale.

And all she could really think of was this:

"Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:23-24.

So temporal what is seen.

So eternal what is not.

And she lived happily ever after...

The End.

Not.

Learning.

Appetizer:
The above picture is taken from the 43rd floor of a meeting I recently attended. It is the Palm. You know, the man-made island that looks like a palm tree off the coast of Dubai? Unbelievable what man is capable of.

Main Course:
Well, this week has been a good one. Ups. Downs. All arounds. The norm. Yourself?

I titled this blog "Learning" because:

Number 1 - I hope to be learning until the day I die (and you too)

Number 2 - Shoot, that's ALL I'm doing these days. Homegirl here don't know nothin' like she naively thought she did...so cute.

So, here's a cliffs-note overview...

The word "Dodgy" = odd, shady, weird, not right
(Ex: The way my 1999 Nokia phone holds charge is dodgy. OR What is that dodgy smell coming from that camel's backside?)

Beet root salad = the fat-free yogurt refrigerator staple of the 20 something U.K. gal. Who knew? This vinegar, blood red, root mixes apparently with anything! From topping your baked potato to mixing with oranges and raisins.

Yopleit is out, ladies. Beet root salad is in!

Juice = I'm talkin' fresh squeezed, expires in 2 days, NOT from concentrate kinda juice. WAY better than Diet Dr. Pepper and even other "juices" from grapes. Pink lemonade (pictured below) with lemons, rose syrup, and mint. Yes please. Who knew fruit served the way God intended is one of the best tasting things on this earth? Just give me one of these babies and a friend and heaven ain't too far off.

Sorry Doc.

Melanie. My sister and best friend. Sit down. Right now. As the picture below shows something of most surprise. Ok, are you sitting down? Mom and I found something. Go ahead and look.

Yes, WILD MOUSE is here in Dubai!

*Explanation to everyone: You see Wild Mouse has a special place in my sister and I's heart of hearts. When we were growing up, she and I would visit our mama and papa in Lubbock. They would most awesomely take us to the west Texas version of Six Flags...Joyland. And at this land of sheer joy, existed the Wild Mouse. We would ride, squeal, laugh, repeat. AND! This Fall at the State Fair of Texas to our utter amazement Wild Mouse was there!! (Picture below)


Do you see the sheer bliss on our faces? Oh nostalgia, we love you.

So, to continue with how Mom and I found this, we went to the $3 (10 dirham) entrance-fee-Global Village on mom's last night. (If you remember from a previous blog that mom has been traveling for business and ended here in Dubai. We spent 5 wonderful days together. She got to meet my new family and friends. The picture below is us with Alanda, my boss' wife. It was such a special and memorable time. Stating the obvious! I love you mama!)


Now, Global Village is basically the State Fair of Texas but Arabia style. You walk the park with different areas of the word represented. Native food, dancing, clothes, etc. Best way to travel if you don't like traveling :)






But the best part was this baby...I am now the proud owner of a Turkish lamp. A dream fulfilled.

Now to the sad part...

Good-byes are from the devil. I hate them. I will never get to used to them. We are not meant for them. They are a part of the fall. There is no "good" with a "bye" (ok, unless there is a dodgy person drinking juice that steps off of your elevator made of beet root salad). Tantrum over. That being said...here's my mama. Suitcases packed. Airport awaiting. My love inside that little bag she's holding.

Mama, I can't thank you enough for coming to see me and being apart of my new life. Tell everyone how great it is so they will come too!! :)

Ok, putting the tissue away again and apologizing to myself for reliving that sad, sad night...

Back to work....

And here is our new church administrator! Anita! She's from Scotland which automatically ='s cool.
This is my office these days...
But when I haven't been working, I've been trying to get out there and visit the local sights.

Dessert:
This week I went to the traveling zoo that came to town...as did thousands of others.
There were zebras...
And port-O-mosques...
And concessions...
And Tanner Vick! What, no that's not right. Just another baller in red pants swingin' lights out.
And, there was a Tiger.
Tiger Woods, ladies and gentlemen.

The Dubai Desert Classic was here this week, so Byrdie ventured out for her daddy (that amazing Christmas light guy, remember?) Well, I love him. What can I say? I'll say I go out to golf tournaments by myself from 10-4 just so I can tell him about something he loves so much...because I love him so much. It was fun! It was a "chamber of commerce" day (as he would say)...meaning it was absolutely gorgeous!

And ok, ok...yes, I was a Tiger groupie. The poor guy that teed off at 10am had about 3 followers and I could have followed him...but come on. You would have chosen the 12pm tee time and 300 person crowd too! Right?

So, here's warming up.

Headin' out to dominate...
Amy waiting in the 18th grandstand to await the victory...
Being announced...
Que theme song to "Rocky"....NOW.
This is for 1st!

Err...ok...11th or 16th or something like that.
Or defeat.
But hey! What a cool experience! Come back and see us, Tiger.

Oh and real quick, Fraulein Maria made it out as well!
Peace. Love. And learning...

Tomorrow...

"Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya tomorrow..." -Annie

Updating tomorrow folks. Trying to keep it consistent on Sundays, but this week it's gotta be Monday. Hopefully the paparazzi-worthy-photos will explain why :)

Until then!

Week of Firsts

First time since 2003, I've had to make brand new friends.

First time since 1993, I've had to listen to CDs in the car. (Evita soundtrack right now)

First time since I was picked up from the first day of kindergarten, I've relished seeing mom so much.

First time (since never), I'm not craving Chipotle (GASP!). What?...the local food here rocks.

First time I've ever drinken...drank...drunk?...HOT tea every single day. *Nose scrunch 1/2 smile* (Hey Texas, send me some of your ice, would ya?)

First time I've stared Dubai in the face and said, "Move over buster. I live here now too."

First time I've enjoyed crying because of how much I know God's love for me.

First time for Texan humor to fall flat in a crowd.

First time my feet have told me, "Heels and sand may not go hand in hand." (Jury is still out on this one)

First time since coming to Dubai, Fridays are sweeter than ice cream deep fried in sugar and sprinkled with sugar served alongside sugar. Time with Believers is priceless.

First time I've stood in front of a group of students and said, "Hello. I'm your new youth minister." Yikes.

First time encouragement cards (from you) have meant more for my soul than...a hot stone massage after seeing Wicked followed by some Chipotle with my sister before going to meet up with best friends for game night and Cretia's knowing the next day I'm going to the ranch for my GranGran's roast with mom and dad leaving for Stephenville and coming home to Daisy. Yep...

First time, I haven't posted pictures. Sorry.

First time I've lived under the same roof with people from Burma...a country I could never enter.

First time (in a long time) to remember I was not made for society, culture, family or myself. I was simply made for Him.

There's a first time for everything :)