Casey plus Diana equals LOvE!

March 9th, 2012 is the day when my big brother (and only sibling) got married!  We were able to fly across the ocean to meet his beautiful bride to be, Diana.  While we were in Texas, we celebrated with the couple during many wedding events: a lingerie shower, flower party, rehearsal dinner, and the grand wedding day!  Gabriel had a big job as the ring bearer, and he was a hit!  Below are many beautiful pictures of these celebrations.  We wish you countless blessings and are so honored to have shared these occasions with you both.  We love you, Casey and Diana Cullum!

Happy Mother's Day!

What better way to celebrate mother's day from across the ocean than with a picture dump!  This is for you, Mimi, Yaya, Mamaw and Nana (evidently we don't have any grandmas in our family)!  We send our love from Morocco!

Learning how to write the letter G...

Hats from the school Carnival party!

Super Heros and another trip to Fez!

Celebrating Mimi's 60th Birthday from afar...

Making Valentine's Cookies

Gabriel stirring.. Abraham stirring...pretty much sums up their personalities.

Working hard and waiting patiently in front of the oven...

Mommy's Cookie... Gabriel's Cookie

Let's Eat Already!

Helping Daddy work out... Abraham has rocked this horse so hard that it's done a flip!  He still loves it!

Gabriel is doing a much better job potty training another boy than I ever could have done!

Abraham first used the potty at 18 months!!!  I was shocked, but it's been slow and steady since then.

School Dance Party!!!

We don't have time to learn about the fine arts (piano).  We're too busy lining up cars every day!

Happy Easter! No fancy church outfits this year, but He is risen indeed!

Sidewalk soccer and a sad, sick baby!

Happy Mother's Day to our 4 beautiful grandmas and to all the mothers in the world!

“Through the blur, I wondered if I was alone or if other parents felt the same way I did - that everything involving our children was painful in some way. The emotions, whether they were joy, sorrow, love or pride, were so deep and sharp that in the end they left you raw, exposed and yes, in pain. The human heart was not designed to beat outside the human body and yet, each child represented just that - a parent's heart bared, beating forever outside its chest.” ― Debra Ginsberg

“Being a mother is like trying to hold a wolf by the ears,” Gram said. “If you have three or four –or more – chickabiddies, you’re dancing on a hot griddle all the time. You don’t have time to think about anything else. And if you’ve only got one or two, it’s almost harder. You have room left over – empty spaces that you think you’ve got to fill up.” ― Sharon Creech, Walk Two Moons

“I could not get my fill of looking.  There should be a song for women to sing at this moment or a prayer to recite. But perhaps there is none because there are no words strong enough to name that moment.” ― Anita Diamant, The Red Tent

“The mother memories that are closest to my heart are the small gentle ones that I have carried over from the days of my childhood. They are not profound, but they have stayed with me through life, and when I am very old, they will still be near . . . Memories of mother drying my tears, reading aloud, cutting cookies and singing as she did, listening to prayers I said as I knelt with my forehead pressed against her knee, tucking me in bed and turning down the light. They have carried me through the years and given my life such a firm foundation that it does not rock beneath flood or tempest.” ― Margaret Sanger

I Love You, Mom!

Marathon Des Cedres- Charity Run

A message from Jamil:

Greetings family/friends/colleagues,

This is a solicitation message for a worthwhile cause, so please continue reading.

As most of you are aware, DeDe, the boys, and I have lived in Morocco for approximately 1 year where I am serving as an Olmsted Scholar.  This has been a tremendous opportunity, and we are excited to spend another year deepening our experience.  During our time in Morocco, we have tried to maximize our time by exploring multiple facets of society: daily life, cultural events, travel, academic opportunities, and adventure among other important aspects.  A large part of our success in Morocco has hinged upon the ability to make friends and depend upon our generous hosts.  In this regard, we have been blessed.  Of course, this is not unique to Olmsted Scholars in Morocco, but exchange students everywhere.  When a group of fellow Olmsted Scholars and I decided to run the Marathon des Cedres (21-24 June 2012), we naturally decided that we wanted to try to give something back to our host country by supporting a local charity.

Running the Marathon des Cedres fulfills many purposes.  This being no ordinary marathon, one of the purposes is simply for the challenge.  It is a 56 mile (90KM), 4-day, stage race through the Atlas Mountains.  The trails, summer heat, and high altitude should make for a difficult run.  As a student of Morocco, another purpose for this run is to get an up close look at the Middle Atlas's beautiful landscape and make new Moroccan friends in the process.  Between each stage of the event, runners camp out and share meals in Amizagh (Berber) villages, which should be an experience in itself.  Yet another purpose for partaking in this event is to spend time and swap stories with fellow Olmsted Scholars.  As of now, 4 Olmsted scholars serving in Morocco and 4 additional Olmsted Scholars/spouses from various other countries will be running the event next month.  We have at least one runner from each of the 4 services in our group (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force).  Finally, running in this race presents the opportunity to raise money for charity.

The majority of Americans and expatriates in Morocco live at an exceptional level compared to the average Moroccan citizen.  Although there are many extraordinary sites to see and places to visit, Morocco remains a developing country with the largest disparity amongst rich and poor in the Arab world.  In an effort to do good, we have chosen to raise money for the High Atlas Foundation.  My fellow runners and I researched various organizations, and HAF seemed especially fitting.  HAF is a grassroots organization that works on much needed developmental projects in rural Morocco.  It was founded in 2000 by former Peace Corps volunteers, and it continues to work in collaboration with governmental and nongovernmental organizations.  HAF is a U.S. 501(c)(3) organization and a Moroccan association, and since 2011 has Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.  We have been in contact with the leadership at HAF and are confident in this organization.

If you have made it this far, I thank you for reading.  If you would like to make a donation on my behalf, please click on the Razoo link below.  The U.S. dollar goes a long way in rural Morocco, and your generosity will be much appreciated.  All proceeds go to HAF, as I will be paying for registration, transportation, and any other miscellaneous fees.  Thank you for your time and consideration.

http://www.razoo.com/story/Jamil-Musa-Fundraising-For-Marathon-Des-Cedres-Moroccan-Charity-Run

Sincerely,

Jamil

P.S. Visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/sweatincedars

AIWA

American International Women's Association of Rabat
Mission Statement:
AIWA has a dual mission. The first is to support and encourage intercultural exchange and understanding. The second mission is to provide humanitarian assistance to those in need in the Rabat community. AIWA members are women of several nationalities who are motivated and dedicated to help the needy. Most of AIWA’s funds for humanitarian assistance come from organized fundraising events. The proceeds from these events go towards purchasing medicine, food, clothing, supplies for school children, and educational equipment for people who have no resources, in hospitals, shelters, and orphanages. AIWA also encourages women and girls to seek education and aids in their training in developing income-generating activities.
http://aiwarabat.com/about/mission/

The picture above is of Jamil and me before the annual AIWA gala.

For quite some time, it has been one of my goals to get involved with a program that gives back to the community.  As the boys are getting older, I have found more windows of time available throughout my week.  AIWA offers a wide range of charitable events and opportunities to lend a helping hand.  The organization also has leisurely programs, such as tennis, belly dancing, and book clubs to help build relationships.  Although AIWA was started by American women, there are more Moroccan women members today, which creates great cultural exchange opportunities.  I have only been involved in a few activities but am looking forward to what the next year has in store.

So far, I have had the pleasure of visiting with families and playing with the patients at the local children's hospital.  Most of the families speak Darija, so I try to communicate as best I can.  However, as you can imagine, language barriers come down very quickly in situations such as these.  I have always had a heart for children with special needs and devoted 5 years to teaching struggling preschoolers and teenagers.  However, as I witness the facilities and care provided in a developing country, I have found myself to be much more vulnerable as a mother of two small boys.  Overall, I am certain that I am receiving much more than I am giving through these visits, and I am thankful to Jenny who has run the program at the hospital for over 15 years.

Another program I enjoyed being a part of was a charitable fashion show put on by students of a local college, HEM.  The school sought AIWA's help in promoting their event, and it turned out to be a hit!  The proceeds from the event went towards building a new children's diabetic center in Rabat.  The show highlighted three designers who create both traditional and modern caftan evening dresses.  Nabyla Maan, whose songs are heard on the radio in Rabat, performed at the event along with many other talented groups.  My friend, Nesma, played a huge roll in putting this together, and I am very proud of her!

AIWA is an organization under the FAWCO (The Federation of American Women's Clubs Overseas) umbrella.  Please check out this link to find out more about AIWA or other women's clubs in your country.