one down, one to go...

I finally got a job! I’m the business development specialist for ENPI Group, one of the Middle East’s largest manufacturers of paper and plastic products. They make everything from plastic grocery bags to visa credit cards and have a contract with all of the McDonalds in the Middle East to make their paper cups (along with other fast food restaurants).  My office is pretty close to our house which is really convenient and it’s a 5 day work week whereas most jobs here are 6 days a week (having only Friday off).  Steven and I are really grateful that God provided this job.  Although this company has been around for about 15 years, the corporate office where I work just opened about a month ago. It’s a little unorganized and there’s a slight lack of communication, but it’s a job none the less. My first week I was able to go on a tour of the factory where they make plastic bags, adhesive films, and shrink wrap, to get a better knowledge of the product.  Steven’s previous job back in the states had him going into factories all the time so he knew exactly what I would see.  It was interesting to see all the machines and conveyer belts producing all these bags from start to finish. I almost felt like I was in an episode of How Its Made.

With this job we have kind of gotten into a more normal schedule and life, although Steven is still looking for work (keep praying for that). We get up by 7 at the latest, Steven makes me a lunch while I get ready and we enjoy breakfast together before he drops me off at work.  Steven then takes on the duties of House Husband: cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, until I’m off work. Last week was Halloween and I was a little bummed that we were not going to be able to do anything as Halloween isn’t celebrated that much. But I came home from work and was surprised by 2 small pumpkins Steven brought home for us to carve! Pumpkins here are crazy expensive. We were at the grocery store and saw an average sized pumpkin for well over $45.00 so I had figured that it was totally out of the question. But Steven was able to find small ones for less than $3.00! It was a nice surprise-pumpkin-carving date night.

We have also been trying to make it a habit to go to the farm (the kids dads house) and hang out with the kids at least once a week (as they are usually at the house while I am at work). The first night we went over there the kids had their servants put up “the small slide” so we could all play on it. The small slide is a blow up/moon bounce style slide that is about the size and height of a bouncy house. We had a lot of fun playing on it and throwing each other down the slide, taking turns climbing back up… all of us trying to pull Steven down. The next week we went over and the kids told us they pulled out “the big slide”. The big slide… this thing is HUGE! At least 2 stories tall, stomach dropping steep, and I’m pretty sure I got a nose bleed making my way to the top. (ok not really, but you get the idea) I was scared out of my mind to go down this thing and here, Stevens siblings and their cousin all younger than 9 are jumping down it without a care in the world. It took some major convincing on Missy’s part (Stevens sister) and maybe some hand holding, but I eventually went down (and stayed there).  We really enjoy the time we get to spend playing with the kids and taking them to park, even though the park has nothing on their back yard. Here are some pictures of the set up of the big slide (sorry they are not the best):

 

This past weekend was the Eid al-Adha Holiday. According to Wikipedia: The Festival of Sacrifice celebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God, before God intervened to provide him with a sheep— to sacrifice instead. I’m not too sure how you celebrate Eid or what exactly you’re supposed to do, but the holiday gave me a 4 day weekend and Steven and I enjoyed it at the beach! I know back home its crazy cold and raining and snowing, so I’ll post some pictures for your enjoyment and hopefully to warm you up:

Did it work? J

So the other night we went to meet some church friends to play volleyball and on our way there we came across an awesome china cabinet that would fit perfect in our dining room! We had previously checked out Ikea for something similar to buy once we had an income as we need more storage space in our closet-less home. Just another way the Lord provides. And now Steven is excited that he has a project to work on while he continues to look for work. If only I could decide what color I want to paint it….

Also on a side note, we started making a list of things we never thought we’d do, see, or hear until we moved to Dubai:

1.       Wearing jeans and a jacket in 90+ degree weather

2.       Listening to the radio to hear the traffic we are in is caused by a camel crossing

3.       Being too hot to be at the beach, where even the water is too hot to enjoy

4.       Trucks transporting camel on the highway

5.       Stepping outside into 80 degree weather and thinking it’s a bit cold

6.       Saying “a bit cold” instead of “a little cold”

Please keep us in your prayers and that Steven would find work. We love and miss you all and hope you're all enjoying the winter weather.