Shoot 4 The Moon,: Photos

I'm sorry, but this is what a delicious dish of fish may cost you!

For more details you may visit my wife's blog!

On my way to Beirut, to speak in a public event about Creative Commons and its impact on the Internet Community, I took this few nice photos:

I wish I can just stand on the top of this wing! It would much more interesting to fly this way, ain't it?

What a small meal !!! I know the trip to Beirut is short (1 hour) but this does not mean to cut down the breakfast !? (Royal Jordanian should reconsider this!)

Snowy mountains from the top... don't we miss snow in Jordan these days! :-(

Want to see more of Lebanon? stay tuned here during the upcoming few days!

It is my pleasure to introduce our little son to you:

Name: Mahmoud M. Khawaja
Date of Birth: 21st of Nov. 2008
Martial status: Single!!
Hobbies: sleeping, imagination and discovering the new world around :)
Occupation: jobless ?!
Dreams: Endless....

To know more about his "predicted" character, personality and style, I invite you to read this interesting post. :)

If you missed the first letter written to Jood (before she came to life), you can find it here.

Our little sweetie,

Hard to believe, but true, you have blown out your 1st birthday candle last week :)

A year full adventure and amazing funny moments has passed leaving special memories that will live inside us forever. So be ready to trigger your memory back when you grow up!

The love of a parent is something impossible to understand until you become a parent yourself. You were the naughtiest baby around who attracted the eyes and hearts of everyone and made them all fall in love with your innocence, intelligence, cheerfulness, playfulness, energy, curiosity and cuteness.

During the times we were travelling, you were the most beautiful thing to discover! We still remember how you were making new friends everywhere we go with your charming smile –whatever their language, skin color or age.

If there is one thing that I want you to know even at this young age, it is to know that every moment in life counts - each is beautiful in its own way, whether happy, painful, joyous or awful. Treasure the wonderful moments in life, and learn to grow by living through those that are not.

You are developing in so many ways, sweet baby, and each day I catch another glimpse of something new that makes me say with swelling heart, "This is another aspect of Jood!" we are so privileged to love and care for you. We are so excited to get to know more and more of Jood.

They used to say that everyone inherits the qualities related to his/her particular name. That is very true in your case; especially when you insist on feeding everyone around you before you start eating!

I cannot look upon you without thinking of how Allah gave us the tremendous blessing of being your parents.

Our hope for you is to grow to know, love, and change the world in your own way!

With Love,

Mama & Papa!

Jood ... a four-month-old fetus

one-week-old baby..

3-month-old little lady!

7-month-old naughty girl!

almost 1-year-old swimming in Wild Wadi - Dubai

This photo has been recognized as the best photo for the year 2007. The reward, was announced during the final meeting of Federation of Arab News Agencies (FANA) General Assembly held in Amman, and given to the Syrian Arab News agency (SANA)'s Cameraman Wasem Kheir Beik for his photo taken in one of the streets of Damascus.

The photo shows a 7-year old girl sitting in front of her movable table on which she sells sweets and biscuits, and at the same time carries her books trying to do her school duties.

This photo has stimulated so many ideas and impressions in my mind... I'll list 2 of them here briefly!

First, it shows a high level of persistence we seek for in the younger generations; you need not to have a rich family or be a son or daughter of a tycoon to get educated, if you decide to educate yourself you can do it, no matter what the circumstances are. Jordanian educational system has proving this through many cases for students from less fortunate public schools who were keen to excel in national and supra-national competitions (both curricular and extracurricular) and exceed our expectations. I was a jury member at the National Robotics Competition this year and I was so amazed by the achievements of teams from El-Shoneh and Baq3a.

This photo really shows and interesting example of a multitasking little girl! you can never effectively utilize your time in the 21st century without being multitasking, you might feel stressed and under pressure at the first place, but the more progress you do the more you get addicted to being multitasking. So, Keep you favorite books/magazines with you wherever you go … store you favorite audio books, e-books and podcasts and play them whenever you move around (by car or public transportation) or waiting somewhere (at the clinic, bank, governmental office… etc.). An interesting research published last years says that an average person spend -at least- 2 FULL years of his/her life on the road!

I really have more to say about this pretty nice photo … but since I have so many to do before the end of 2007, I leave the floor for you to express yourself!

Special smiles for a special Eid! :)

Jood and her little cow wish you a Happy Eid this year and every year!

It's a pleasure inviting you to this Iftar...

Last weekend, mE, Hama and little Jood have rushed to Syria for an amazing trip. I consider that was a perfect opportunity for us to refresh and break out the daily routine while visiting an extraordinary destinations in Syria...

Jood was so cute "mashallah"; mE and Hama were about to eat her!, but the delicious food was enough to keep her safe this time ;)

This trip, I didn't use my digital photo camera that much, since I started to use our new video camera which recorded so nice moments we've spent there..

Damascus the capital was not up-to my expectation, I felt like this city has to be more organized and more beautiful. Being an old city doesn't mean it is acceptable to be less clean and messed up.

Summer resorts like Khadra and Fega was disgusting! I've been there 10 years ago while water was flowing around the place making it such a tranquil romantic atmosphere. but now, water are getting shallow and the place is no longer attractive for tourists.

On the other hand, We have spent a wonderful time at Blodan and Beqqan. The municipality of these two districts were keen to organize buildings and the green areas to come up with a wonderful landscape.

We made our own adventures at Hamidieh Shopping "Mall" and the Omayyad Mosque, it was really remarkable moments with pigeons, merchants and the mangonel of Saladin.

On the way back to Jordan, I was annoyed with the behaviors of Jordanian police officers on the borders; unfortunately, they were arrogant and frowning all the time! I hate to say that ... but this is the truth, I wish they would join a training course in customer service!