finally... christmas pics

it's only a little over month after christmas. so, here are our christmas pics!


the anticipation is killing her!!!


hello kitty sticker "earrings" are awesome!


who knew a new sippee cup could make her so happy?


so happy!


coloring a snowman picture from their stockings.


noah loves star wars!!

finally... christmas pics

the bride, trying out her new bike in our flat

luke skywalker

testing out the new bikes

chi chi and nalice

ok... this should be one of callie's quotes but it is too long. first off, you need some background information. chi chi and nalice are callie's imaginary friends. but, they are very real to her, and she talks about them all the time!! so, here is the story:

c: chi chi's mom is dead.
e: oh, that is terrible!! didn't she just have twin boys last month!? what happened?!
c: it's ok, because her dad is fine. but he can't make piggy-tails.
e: what happened to chi chi's mom? and since she and nalice are twins, didn't nalice's mom die too?
c: yes, mom. she died from not eating.
e: she should have eaten her vegetables.
c: that just goes to show ya!
e: yes it does!

preschool helper

today was veli oyun günü (parent game day) at callie's preschool. each çarşamba (wednesday) a different parent comes in to read a story, lead a game, or craft. today was my day! when i got the schedule at the beginning of the month dread rolled over me! what the heck am i going to do with these kids? no to mention that it is only after today that i finally realize that the parent is supposed to read a book, lead a game or craft. when i got the schedule i pointed out to callie's teacher that i was on it. figuring that it must be some mistake as i have been spared thus far and figured i was black-listed from this activity due to incompetence! she assured me there was no error! yikes!!

starting last week i began asking her what she wanted me to do. since i didn't fully understand, i wrote my questions down in my little notebook and had her write the responses. then i came home and translated them. it really is the pits not being able to understand your kids' teachers!

so, callie and i showed up today with books in hand. of course i brought the 3 books that we have that are t-ish and english. i told them i'd read the english, and callie's teacher could read the t-ish. that is what we did- for the entire school, teachers included! a little intimidating!! next they told me to sing a song! don't they know that i don't sing in public? a "twinkle twinkle little star" solo for me!! at least afterward the kids sang a few songs for me. that was so cute. then they played musical chairs. i swear that my daughter will be a linebacker in the nfl some day. she can take care of folks!!

after i did my part, they wanted me to speak with the school psychologist. why does a preschool need a school psychologist? if they'd fire her, maybe the tuition would go down and my family could eat meat at the end of the month!! i digress... anyhow, they say she is doing wonderfully. they analyzed her family drawing. i was thankful that it was one of the more normal ones that she does. sometimes callie can draw some whacked out stuff! thankfully, she jumped though the correct hoop on this one, and they did not deem her crazy (as we have). they said that early on all the moms would ask who callie was when they picked up their kids because their kids couldn't stop talking about her. they all love her. (which is true, i have witnessed said affections for my daughter). anyhow, it was a good meeting in which they had wonderful things to say about callie. my favorite is that she told them she was a princess. this is true!

i remembered how much i love helping with little kids when i am not in charge and have no responsibility. it is fun to just show up and love on them! so, another sigh of relief. i passed that test!

extension cord

our kids have a few cds that they like to listen to, but have not been able to since we've been here, due to lack of a cd player. so, we finally bought them a cd player. we thought that the hunt and purchase of said item would be the end of that story. but ohhh nooo.... it was just the beginning. you see, each room has one electric socket and it only has one plug. so, plugging the thing in became a week long adventure. in the kids' room the socket is right by the door directly behind lucy's crib (which looks a little too much like a cage). unlucky for us, the desk, which is the perfect place for the cd player, is on the other side of the room. what to do? for several days justin hunted for extension cords only to find out after many difficult conversations and much frustration that they do not exist here. you have to make your own! so justin bought the parts that he thought he needed. once he began the actual running of the wire around the room- trying to hide it under the edge of the carpet- he needed more parts. one more quick trip to a local store and the project was done. so after a week of work the kids can plug in their cd player. they are currently jamming to the jungle book soundtrack. it is quite cute and worth the effort. justin and i laughed as we figured that our week long project would have maybe taken 15 minutes in the states! so... you ask what we do all day. that's it- simple tasks that are far more difficult and frustrating than they should be!!!

clara

a year ago yesterday justin's precious sister, clara, passed away after a long and courageous battle with brain cancer. i can say the pat things like we were so glad to have the time that we did with her, or we are so thankful that she is in heaven now. those things are true but even more so i am left asking why. why did that end up the way it did? we begged the lord for his mercy and healing- many people did. it is so very true that knowing clara loved jesus and is in heaven is a comfort. but, why didn't he heal her in the time and way we asked?

funeral

after the girls and i dropped noah off at school, we headed over to drop callie off at preschool. when we turned the corner, there was a dead person out in the street! let me explain... when someone here dies they alert the people in the neighborhood, after the call to prayer, on the loudspeaker of the mosque. they quickly prepare the body and lay it out for viewing. that is why this particular body was out in the street. there is a mosque right behind noah's school. so, the body was laid out for people to mourn and view on a table in the street. who knows what they do if a car comes! it was shrouded and maybe even in a basic coffin. i didn't get a good look. they bury the dead very quickly. it is supposed to be within 24 hours. anyhow, as the girls and i approached, and i figured out what was going on, i turned around, and we went the long way to callie's school.

first off, i make it a practice to never look at dead people. that is not the image i want in my head when i remember anyone. so, i did not want my first sighting of a dead person to be a stranger- i do not know why, as i wouldn't have any memories that would be scared by seeing this particular person. another reason that i turned around was because i did not know what to do! the laws and social rules here are so [shall we say... different] concerning women. there were only men around the body. so, i just decided to avoid the situation rather than commit a faux paus. plus i was not in the mood to begin answering callie's questions about it.

just another example of how you never know what is just around the corner!

lucy the theologian

on friday i decided to forgo bundling lucy up like an eskimo, hauling her and the stroller down four flights of stairs, then loading her into the stroller for our walk up to get callie from preschool. the weather is unseasonably nice (thank you so much, lord) so i thought it was time to put lucy into training, so i let her walk. some of the time i carried her, especially around the busiest streets. she has to get used to walking around the city. she loved it!
she's only 15 months old, but she is quite the theologian. as we were walking, everything was perfectly fine when we were holding hands and we walked in the direction she wanted to. but, so often she would get distracted and drop my hand. then, she'd toddle over to something and put it in her mouth or fall or put herself in harms way. then i'd have to scoop her up and put her on the right path hand in hand again. i never really let go of her, even when she thought that she was on her own, going where she wanted to go and doing what she wanted to do. i was right there... waiting to walk with her. the lord revealed that this is what my walk with him looks like. he is waiting to take me farther than i have ever been before- farther than i could ever go on my own, but so often i drop his hand and go my own way. i choose what is petty and self destructive over his best for me. and, he waits, like a gentleman, for me to walk with him. i am so thankful that the lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.

dwight

do you watch the office? it is the funniest show on the planet! the funniest part is that noah (our son) calls justin (his dad) dwight. this makes me laugh.

first family trip

we were absolutely desperate for a little time away. after a little research and much hunting around we finally found a nice hotel with openings during the bayram (read earlier posts for more info on that). although it was not far away, getting there was quite an adventure. we packed all of our stuff in three backpacks. we looked like preps trying to be hippies! then we got on the city bus down to the water. we rode on the ferry over to the other side. walked up into the touristy part of the city, and caught the tram. we took the tram out to the train, and then the train out to the bus station. finally, we took another bus. we were dropped off just down the (busy) road from our hotel. we had to walk across the pedestrian bridge which had stairs that were scarier than the road itself. just a short trot down the road and we were there! on the way home we added a taxi ride to that mix when callie and i got car sick on the bus.

the hotel was wonderful! it had a fun indoor pool, which is all we really wanted, anyway! we all got the chance to burn off some of our pent up energy. also, the weather cooperated so we got to walk on the beach and collect shells. we were on the northern side of the sea that separates our city. the kids loved collecting shells. i loved not having to cook for 3 days! oh... i think that the best part was the disney channel. we were all glued to it! i know its sad, but we have been deprived!! it was so nice to know exactly what was being said, and to understand without thinking! here are a few pics...


ready for a swim!


the kids and i out on the pier


the beautiful coast


noah was our king shell finder!


looking out at the sea from the pier


lucy by the sea


so many shells, so little time


i had to take a picture of this sign. it is so funny. i the lists of those not allowed in the pool it says "no pregnants". still makes me laugh. what is a pregnant going to do besides displace a little too much water?


that's my girl!

tv shows

here is a list of the american tv shows that air here:

the sopranos (garbage)
desperate housewives (trash)
the simpsons (a old favorite that we can never watch now because we don't let our kids watch it)
family guy (repulsive)
24 (the trrorst is always tish)
ghost whisperer (strange but ok)
one tree hill (teeny bopper soap opera- yes, i love it!!)
gone without a trace (not interesting)
buffy the vampire slayer (ridiculous)
battlestar galactica (even more ridiculous if possible)
the victoria's secret fashion show (disgusting! i thought that fashion was supposed to include clothes)

do you think that any one of these shows fairly represents you, a normal american? i sure hope not! no wonder people on this side of the world have mixed or bad feelings about americans!

exercise

at some of the parks there are these exercise stations. they have all sorts of basic equipment (like that gazelle trainer advertised on tv) and stationary bikes. it is sort of fun to watch people exercise. they are always fully dressed- no workout clothes here!! i have seen women in their burkas or headscarves and coats and men in their suits exercising. truthfully, just like in the states, the equipment is usually unused.

city gate

this is part of the old city wall on the other side.

who knew...

who knew nintendo ds was so interesting?

bayram

i took the kids up to see the animals- sort of like a sad petting zoo since they'll all be slaughtered soon. the animals are brought in for kurban bayram. bayram is the word for holiday. the kurban bayram is the sacrifice holiday. the sacrifice is more of a practical thing rather than an act of worship or atonement. it is a way to give to others. the rule is that 1/3 of the meat goes to the poor, 1/3 of the meat goes to neighbors, and you keep 1/3 of it. also, most people donate the animal skin to a charitable organization which tans it and provides warm clothing and necessities for the poor. these few sets of pictures are of the bayram from beginning to end! watch out for the last few!!
during the first two days of the bayram, you can see people sacrificing the animals everywhere- especially in any empty lot. i was so thankful that no one did their sacrifice in our park or the tiny green space in our complex!! i have heard there are now laws against that sort of thing. but, here, laws are not meant to be followed!! most of our neighbors went to their parents or relatives houses. one family may sacrifice a sheep, but several families can go in together and sacrifice a cow. i guess that is the more economical choice because most people did cows. which, by the way, is quite messy!! the whole family participates. the head of the family (oldest male) cuts the throat. then they drain the blood. once the blood is drained the meat is clean, and the butchering starts!
in higher class areas you can just pay for an animal and have someone do the whole thing- you don't even have to watch or get your hands dirty, so to speak! in middle class areas you can hire a butcher to help you cut the meat once the sacrifice has been done. we are in a low area, so people do things for themselves. it was quite disturbing to see people chopping away at the cows with axes!! the women begin sorting and cutting the meat as well.
we ended up with a roast size hunk from our neighbor. we had been warned that kurban meat was quite chewy, and that was an understatement. i've had chewing gum that was less chewy!! they cut it into small pieces and pan fry it with spices. i tried to cook it like a pot roast for a very long time. as usual, they know best!
just before the bayram, there was the annual discussion in our company on whether to accept the meat at all. the bible speaks very specifically about partaking of meat sacrificed to idols. but, since the reason they do the sacrifice is quite different than the biblical sacrifices we felt that it was ok. also, to refuse the meat would have been an insult and put barriers between us and those that we love.
all in all, our first bayram was interesting. it was gross, and strange, but mostly it was a confirmation for us. we know about another sacrifice that is far more than a way to give to the poor. it is everlasting and brings life! what other sacrifice does that?

bayram

noah and callie posing in front of the knives! not something that you see at your local petting zoo! right out front of the animal market, the knife salesmen and sharpeners are set up. you can buy all sorts of knives and/or axes, or get yours sharpened!


this lot is empty through much of the year- with the occasional piece of heavy equipment for sale or hire. the lot is specifically for this time. about a month before the holiday they began building these stalls. then they brought the animals in. it is sort of like a farmers market. each stall must be rented by the farmers and then they try to sell their animals.





i love the contrast between this beautiful stark white lamb and the old man holding it.

bayram

his days are numbered!


this is the best picture we could get of the actual sacrifice. we didn't want to profane someone else's religious ceremony. every empty lot had families in it doing the sacrifice. they also did it in their parking areas. i was happy that no one sacrificed in our complex. most of our neighbors went to their parents' houses. although a friend called and said that two cows were tied up downstairs in the parking lot of her complex. and, the families already had the grill going!!!


these are cow bones out on my neighbor's balcony. i have no idea what she plans to do with them!


my neighbor gave us this meat.

lucy and her friend in our flat.

my turn

the day after christmas my neighbors rang my bell. two came up to see if i was free for tea- here! it was my first time to get to host tea! when i said i was free they went to get two more friends. luckily, i had sweets and snack food in the house since yesterday was christmas! there was plenty to serve. (as a side note, i went to the market the next day and stocked up on packaged sweets and snacks to hide in the back of cabinet for next time!)

these women are my first friends here. they are really sweet and patient with me! they invite me to tea and to their friends' houses for tea. of course, there is so little that we can really communicate, yet. but, it is a blessing to have a few friends!

now that it is winter, it seems like the women are getting together all the time for tea. i have had a lot of time to practice my language, but a little time to learn more! it has been a tricky balance. they usually get together in the afternoon while the kids are at school. i have lucy with me, which everyone loves! she is amazing! she can skip her nap and be happy as a clam. she just toddles around from person to person snuggling and mooching food! she really knows how to work the room!

i laugh and say i am on the book tour. for a while it seemed like there was no social activity in this complex- especially during ramazan. but now, it is cold, and the women are cramped up in their houses. so, they get their knitting and hang out together! i am so thankful that my friend, sue, taught me to knit. maybe i'll post some pictures on the things i've made recently. anyhow, about the book tour.... lately, it seems that i could have a different tea date for each day! people are interested in me. it is so good to get out and spend time with other women. but, i have to be careful. i don't want lucy to drop her afternoon nap, and i need to study on my own sometimes too. so, i am trying to spread out my social commitments! ha! it makes me laugh- with too much or too little- where is the balance? some day....

10 people in a tiny car

the other day a neighbor invited us to her parents' house for brunch. it was sort of weird, but of course we said yes! her brother is studying english and wants to attend university in the u.s. so maybe he wanted to practice with us or he needed help- who knows! probably they are just really nice.
anyhow, at 11 o'clock on saturday 10 of us piled into a car a little smaller than an old model toyota corolla. luckily it was not too far! brunch turned into dinner as well! we got home at 6 o'clock! we were exhausted from trying to control the kids in a flat and from trying to communicate for 7 hours!

if i sent out a picture card...

this is my favorite christmas picture of the kids!

no professional christmas pictures this year! but these are almost as cute. i found new jammies at our outdoor bazaar on thursday. i couldn't resist giving them to the kids, even thought christmas was only a few days away. the kids are so proud of our little tree. it was thier idea to pose with it!

a friend gave us an ornament kit. we did not bring our christmas stuff, so this is just what we needed. the kids were thrilled to make ornaments for our little tree. they used beads and pipe cleaners to make icicles. they were so proud of their creations. i also managed to find "new years" stockings. we just did a few little decorations in our family room. it was fun! i think that keeping things simple helped us to focus on the truth of christmas.