DSC_0269 (1 photo), by ashraf hanna

I’d like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
Click here to view photos

Juliet! Almost 6 months old!

She is growing and doing great!

So they say, like father like son

Sam and daddy going to watch the vt versus marshall game

Daddy with his favorite Hokie girl

My little hokie ready for Hokie domination!

Juliet is 3 months!!

I thought I would post some updated pics of Juliet, she is 3 months as of a couple of days ago.  She is truly our little miracle and has daddy even more wrapped around her little finger

My world

Its been a while, but life has changed for me and God has grown our family yet again just one year later. Her name is Juliet Mercy and she has changed me for good.  “They” dont come up with with addges like “daddys little girl” out of nowhere! She has made our family so happy and Sam can hardly contain himself around her. I will try and post more pictures.

Where does the time go…..

2 weeks ago, my mentor and former Sunday School teacher (Old Man G as we call him) had us over to his house to enjoy a BBQ, Old Man G style, like we used to have them.  After stuffing our faces and catching up with one another, he took a couple minutes to reflect on how busy things have gotten. I truly do not think that someone livng in Northern Viriginia with at least the minimal aspirations of life could deny this.  Its TRUE, there is no time for important things nowadays and as my priest always says, “Never let something that is important go undone for something that seems urgent”. 

My wife and I have noticed this in our first year of marriage that we have to make deliberate plans to spend quality time with each other and are constatnly staying no to things that seem to be urgent or useless to life in general.  I’d like to echo Old Man G’s comments and remind everyone to be diligent and WISE with your time nowadays, because you never know when that hangout with a friend or conversation you’ve been putting off with a loved one could be the last.  DO important things first so that they don’t become urgent.  Also listen to Father Anthony Messah give a talk about putting big rocks in first.  You’ll love it.  http://orthodoxsermons.org/sermons/amazing-race-part-4

 

Just a thought, not a sermon.

Twittering at Church? (IT-503)

So I just read this article titled “”Twittering” encouraged at Seattle church” by Deborah Feldman at KING 5 News. So many people are trying to really assess how much we really depend on technology these days and I have even heard the question posed several times “Where will it stop?”. I believe this article answers both. First, every industry is realizing how they can reach out and grasp the attention of their audience from the vary convience of their own home. In this case, the pastor fell ill yet needed to deliver the Sunday sermon. All he did was que up his powerpoint presentation and set up online streaming so his congregation can feel like he is actually present. Now, keep in mind, you need to have one very impressive IT staff to make all this happen, however it is not as rare as it used to be. I can personally attest to that by watching my church’s IT staff and initiatives grow over the years. Very impressive (check out www.stmarkdc.org) Secondly, to answer the question of where will it stop? The answer is truly “who knows”. It parishoners can give instant feedback to friends while listening to the sermon about how they are impacted and getting their reaction almost immediatley…I say the possiblities are ENDLESS!

A True Lesson on Diversity

I am now sitting in an office in Lieden, Holland with a Belgium speaking disco funk lovin technician since they do not have any space for visiting auditors. Meanwhile, in the background, my young technican friend is listening to Dr. Dre /Mariah Carey remix of “What’s love”. At the same time, he is speaking Dutch with his Hollandish friend in which they are talking about going to a Spanish Tex Mex Restrauant later this evening in dowtown Rotterdamn. Meanwhile, I am reading a French document that has been translated into English for my audit of my Belgium based company. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, this morning, I met a Bangaledesh Indian man that speaks 6 launguages and an Asian woman who is in charge of the IT Security department who has adopted 4 different nationalities of kids.

Ok, this may seem very hard to believe but it is absolutely true. I couldn’t help but sit here and laugh inside at how sometimes our American stereotypes of what is “normal” is so different from the rest of the world. I just wanted to share this thought. See you when I get back, God willing.

By the way, I’m going to watch a huge soccer (football) match tonight at a “American Sports Bar” that apparently serves Miller Light HAHA……”It wasn’t me” by Shaggy just came on the radio.