Back to ballet class...

February activities...

dinner at the Moghbelpours (standing fr. L-R: Saba, Saba's uncle, Cllyv & Jonathan, Arnold, Sieni & Leily, Canan & Odelya. sitting fr. L-R: Sheehan, EM, Elfida & Tara...not in the photo are Menchie & Maarten)

the girls having desserts

Visit to Bahji on daddy Maarten's birthday

Enna-Marie & the celebrant at the Mansion of Baha'u'llah

Maarten's officemates who came at home just few minutes after arriving from Bahji to surprise & greet him (from L-R: Riyad, Peter, Peyman, Maarten & Lena)

blowing the candle together

our delicious cake that we shared with the friends

our family plus the baby in the tummy :-)...

then afterwards we went for dinner at the Laroyas

dinner at home with Lilia Foroozan who was visiting the Holy Land as pilgrim

EM's artworks from home & school that were submitted as entries to the recent Arts & Craft Show

Baha'i school children's visit to the House of the Master

children listening carefully to the story about their Holy Place visit

wedding reception of Indira & Isis Aquino

beautiful couple who recently got married in Nepal

best sisters Elfida & EM

ladies at the party: Menchie, Jocelyn, Canan & Remigia (Jocelyn is the new staff from the Philippines)

dinner hosted by Mr. & Mrs. Barnes in honor of Harika Sezgin who was visiting the World Centre, she shared with us some news about her pioneering post in Albania

dinner hosted by Lena & Gerardo who recently got married in Chile

brunch with the Filipino friends & spouses to hear some news from visiting consultant Holly Grace Miranda, and also hear Leila Ehsani & Anis Ragland's activities with the junior youth in the Philippines

25 Things I LOVE...

Twenty-five things I love about Menchie:
I love that you are trying to get your Israeli drivers license
I love that you take care of your family in the Philippines
I love that you have such wonderful parents who are so active in the Faith
I love how you encourage Enna-Marie’s creative and artistic abilities
I love the way you dress
I love your new veggie dish and your cooking in general
I love that you’ve become such a competent driver
I love watching movies with you, even if I sometimes fall asleep
I love that you are happy to watch horror movies without me
I love that you don’t complain when I play my football games
I love that you occasionally throw in some Dutch words into your sentences
I love that you are patiently carrying Enna-Marie’s little brother around
I love that you enjoy motherhood so much
I love that you arrange for meals for new parents here at the World Centre
I love that you know where to go to buy cheap but good things, such as clothes for Enna-Marie
I love that you encourage my baking activities
I love that you love my favourite Dutch dishes
I love having lunch with you in the lunchroom every day
I love how you teach Enna-Marie songs and prayers
I love that you get along well with my family
I love that you have Baha’u’llah’s love in your heart
I love the way you dance and wish I could do the same
I love that you are an orderly person
I love it when you unexpectedly give me a hug and a kiss
I love that you decided seven years ago to spend the rest of your life with me!

Twenty-five things I love about Maarten:
I love that you are friendly…you say hello to most people you meet
I love that you are generous
I love that you are helpful…when I ask you to cook dinner, make breakfast or clean dishes
I love that you are hands on to Enna-Marie from age 0 up until now (evening routine: bathing, changing clothes, brushing, reading)
I love it when you give massages
I love when you play or dances with Enna-Marie, having a daddy-daughter play
I love when you play guitar and sings some songs
I love when you are actively involved in a committee or organizing a big event
I love when you make surprises either on my birthday or our anniversary
I love when you cook my favorite dish
I love when you make a new dish
I love when you talk Dutch to Enna-Marie, I love to hear it!
I love when I asked you to do something and you didn’t forget!
I love your simplicity, you have a simple taste in general
I love your sensitivity
I love your compassion
I love when you share something that you learned from a talk/gathering you just attended
I love and admire your driving skill
I love your hospitality that you show to our guests at home
I love when you fix something at home (broken chair, toy, light bulb, etc.)
I love that you love baking & gardening
I love that you care for your mom and brother
I love that you care for your family
I love that you love your work
I love your devotion of service.

7th Year Anniversary!

We recently celebrated our 7th year anniversary in one of our favorite restaurants in Haifa. For this special occasion, we decided to write 25 things that we love about each other. At the dinner, we brought our lists and read them to each other and to Enna-Marie. It was a very good exercise to look for the good things in the other person, and as such we can recommend it to everyone :-). We will post our lists in the next posting, in the meantime enjoy some of the photos...

Lunch with the Hatamis

Enna-Marie & Carmel enjoying their cake



beautiful 5 months old baby Carina, Carmel's sister

our group photo with Jalal's parents Barbara & Parviz Hatami who are currently visiting the Holy Land.