The Circus

The circus has come to town and set up in a huge parking lot right near our flat.  You can see the tigers pacing in their cages when you ride past on the minibus.  At night the tents are covered in lights.  All of the local children are busting a gut... not the least of which are my little darlings.

Thanks to some special Christmas money from a dear friend, we are going to the circus tomorrow and taking Noah's and Callie's best friends.  Everyone is extremely excited.

Lucy is sure that the tigers will be scary, but insists that she will be brave!  I am just sure to have my camera ready in hopes that the local circus proves to be as interesting as the local zoo!!

This should be fun!!

Cultural Things That Have Passed Us By

We have not lived in America for three and a half years.  During that time several things have risen to mainstream that I just do not understand.  They are-

Webkinz

Twitter

Glee

Lady GaGa

Jersey Shore

Smart Phones

Zhu Zhu Pets

Barak Obama

Skinny Jeans

Going Green



Wow!  Sounds like I'm really out of it now!!

Hear the WHIRRRRRR

It is 10:46 on Tuesday night.

At school Callie shares a table (think Little House on the Prairie) with another student.  They take turns bringing home the cloth cover for their table.  It must be washed and returned the next day with the student.

Callie brought it home today.  And now I must wash it.

So, here it is, late in the evening, and the washer is spinning away!

I know that our neighbors below us HATE the days nights that we have the tablecloth.  I can only imagine what our washing machine sounds like in their flat!

Sorry Arzu and Ercan!!

Oops! I Did It Again

Today when I went to the little market on our block to buy onions.  I tried to hand the guy my one lira coin to pay for my onions.   Rookie mistake!

The market is right across from our mosque, and I think the market owner/worker also has some sort of position or something at that mosque.  He is very religious.  He wears the clothes that the pious people wear.  He recites from the Koran constantly.  And he is closed during every prayer time.

Anyhow, I forgot that religious (pious) people will not take money from someone's hand.  As I tried to hand the lira to him he tapped the counter.  I thought that he was pointing out an add in the newspaper.  So I started to read it and wondered why he thought I would be interested in the furniture sale.  In the end he had to tell me to place the money on the counter.  He told me that he could not take money from my hand.

Guess he'd catch my pagan cooties!  HA!

I knew that rule, anyway.  I just forgot.  It's hard to keep all the little cultural things straight, and with whom to practice the customs.

Wear this.  Don't wear that.  Say this to sort-of religious people.  Say this to very religious people.  Never  say that to anyone.  Serve the men.  Don't serve the men.  Don't ever make eye contact.  Put the money on the counter.  Put the money in an envelope.  Don't pay money for that.  If you ask the price that way they will think you are asking for "services."  Say it like this and they will know you are also religious.

 The list is 4 miles long!!

Christmas

This Christmas was great.  I think it was one of our best yet.  The kids are old enough to really have fun and get cool toys.  We are finally getting a hang of how to do Christmas here.  The past two Christmases I have been in language school and have had a hard time pulling it all together.  But this year I had plenty of time and I was very prepared.

I let the kids stay home from school on Friday, Christmas Eve.  The girls hung out with me in the kitchen.  Callie made our annual Happy Birthday Jesus cake.  I made lots of food for Christmas day.  I like to have a special meal, but do not want to be in the kitchen all day on Christmas.

We made gorilla bread.  Have you ever tried it?  It is amazing!  My friend made it for Bunco years ago, and my life has never been the same!  Now, its our Christmas morning tradition.  Also, I went to a special one day market for international women about a month ago.  There I was able to get cheddar cheese and bacon.  So we made bacon cheese scrambled eggs in tortillas.  Justin made orange juice for us.  It was so good.  Callie and I also shredded potatoes and made hashbrown casserole, creamed spinach, and glazed carrots.  I put the turkey in the crockpot before I went to bed.

We spent Christmas Eve with our team.  It was such a nice celebration.  But, we got home really late.  The kids were exhausted.  Knowing it was Christmas, no matter their exhaustion level, I knew they'd get up at 5 am.  So I told them they could not get off their beds until 8:00.  Lucy slept in till just about 8, and the others woke up some time around 7 and waited on their beds.  It truly was the Christmas miracle!!

At 8:00 we dragged Daddy out of bed, made his coffee, and popped the gorilla bread in the oven.  Then we opened stockings.  The kids convinced us to let them open just one gift before breakfast.  They had already picked out the gift they wanted to open most.

We had a nice breakfast together.  Then the present opening ensued!  They kids had so much fun, and got some really nice gifts.  We are pretty simple so we just got each of the olders a game, and a new water bottle for school for Lucy.

Justin got me the market-cart that I had been wanting.  Its like one of those old people carts that carry all their stuff.  All of the ladies here use them to go to the market.  Now I have one, too!

The kids were thrilled with their gifts.  When things began to lull a bit we ate lupper (lunch-supper) and had Happy Birthday Jesus cake.

We talked to our families over video Skype, and even went over to see some friends for a bit.  As the night  was winding down, some of our neighbors, knowing it was our holiday, came over to visit.  (That's what they do on holidays here.)  It was fun to have them, and to tell them about our day.  I had all sorts of home-made goodies in my kitchen, so there was plenty to feed them.

It really was a great day.  Low-key, focused on family- both here and in America, and a bit of time with friends.

How was your Christmas?

The Good News Part 4: The BEST Part

But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life.  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Good News Part 3

Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea. This happened while Herod was king of Judea.

After Jesus' birth, Wise Men from the east came to Jerusalem. They asked, "Where is the child who has been born to be king of the Jews? When we were in the east, we saw his star. Now we have come to worship him."

When King Herod heard about it, he was very upset. Everyone in Jerusalem was troubled too. So Herod called together all the chief priests of the people. He also called the teachers of the law. He asked them where the Christ was going to be born.

"In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied. "This is what the prophet has written. He said,

 " 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
      are certainly not the least important among the towns of Judah.
   A ruler will come out of you.
      He will be the shepherd of my people Israel.' " —(Micah 5:2)

Then Herod called for the Wise Men secretly. He found out from them exactly when the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem. He said, "Go! Make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, bring me a report. Then I can go and worship him too."

After the Wise Men had listened to the king, they went on their way. The star they had seen when they were in the east went ahead of them. It finally stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they were filled with joy.

The Wise Men went to the house. There they saw the child with his mother Mary. They bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures. They gave him gold, incense and myrrh.

But God warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod. So they returned to their country on a different road.

The Good News Part 2

There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby. It was night, and they were looking after their sheep. An angel of the Lord appeared to them. And the glory of the Lord shone around them. They were terrified.

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy. It is for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born for all people. He is Christ the Lord. Here is how you will know I am telling you the truth. You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a large group of angels from heaven also appeared. They were praising God. They said,

 "May glory be given to God in the highest heaven!
      And may peace be given to those he is pleased with on earth!"

The angels left and went into heaven. Then the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem. Let's see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby. The baby was lying in the manger. After the shepherds had seen him, they told everyone. They reported what the angel had said about this child. All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

But Mary kept all these things like a secret treasure in her heart. She thought about them over and over.

The shepherds returned. They gave glory and praise to God. Everything they had seen and heard was just as they had been told.

The Good News Part 1

In those days, Caesar Augustus made a law. It required that a list be made of everyone in the whole Roman world. It was the first time a list was made of the people while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be listed.

So Joseph went also. He went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea. That is where Bethlehem, the town of David, was. Joseph went there because he belonged to the family line of David. He went there with Mary to be listed. Mary was engaged to him. She was expecting a baby.

While Joseph and Mary were there, the time came for the child to be born. She gave birth to her first baby. It was a boy. She wrapped him in large strips of cloth. Then she placed him in a manger. There was no room for them in the inn.

The Prophecy

The people who walked in darkness 
   have seen a great light.
For those who lived in a land of deep shadows— 
   light! sunbursts of light!
You repopulated the nation, 
   you expanded its joy.
Oh, they're so glad in your presence! 
   Festival joy!
The joy of a great celebration, 
   sharing rich gifts and warm greetings.
The abuse of oppressors and cruelty of tyrants— 
   all their whips and cudgels and curses—
Is gone, done away with, a deliverance 
   as surprising and sudden as Gideon's old victory over Midian.
The boots of all those invading troops, 
   along with their shirts soaked with innocent blood,
Will be piled in a heap and burned, 
   a fire that will burn for days!
For a child has been born—for us! 
   the gift of a son—for us!
He'll take over 
   the running of the world.
His names will be: Amazing Counselor, 
   Strong God,
Eternal Father, 
   Prince of Wholeness.
His ruling authority will grow, 
   and there'll be no limits to the wholeness he            brings.
He'll rule from the historic David throne 
   over that promised kingdom.
He'll put that kingdom on a firm footing 
   and keep it going
With fair dealing and right living, 
   beginning now and lasting always.
The zeal of God-of-the-Angel-Armies 
   will do all this.

I am Not a Nice Mom

Last night I pulled down the boxes that I had hidden way up high.  More carefully, this time, of course.  And, sorted through the amazing gifts that our family has so generously sent us.  It was so fun to think about how excited my kids are going to be.  Well, really, they already are.

Mercy, I wish I could bottle up a bit of the excited-ness (read: CRAZY) that is flowing through this house.  I'd sell it to the Chinese!

Praise the Lord that I can send them to school!

Anyway, I went ahead and started wrapping gifts.  I got Justin's done.  Instead of putting them away I put them under the tree.  Knowing the kids would wake up this morning,

see the gifts,

go nuts,

examine each tag,

notice there were none for them,

and

FREAK OUT!!

It was so fun!  Like I said, I am not a nice mom!

(Insert evil cackle here)

Today's Conversation

Me: Lucy, did you brush your teeth?

Lucy: Yep!  Faster than a chicken!

Company's Coming

Last night we had three sets of neighbors and their children over for tea.  It was wild, but fun.

Children elementary age and up are supposed to help their parents.  Boys do whatever their fathers do and girls do whatever their mothers do.  Often times boys even go to work with their dads when they don't have school.  Noah is a bit of an exception because I make him help me, too.

I am so proud of my kids.  They are learning so quickly.  Last night they were such a big help.  Our neighbors are very religious, so the men and women have to sit in separate rooms.  That means A LOT of running around serving everyone for me.

Noah and Callie tried their best to take care of the babies, and keep them entertained so their mothers could drink tea.  (Our cultural responsibility as hosts.)  They also helped serve everyone and let me know whenever one of the men's tea-glasses was running low.

In the end, when I finally got to sit down, I asked them to load the dishwasher and clean up the kitchen...

AND THEY DID IT!!

It was such a blessing!  I am so glad that I have stuck with making them do chores- even if it sometimes seems like it would have easier to just do it myself.  Tonight it really paid off!!  My kids know how to do so much around the house!

Amen!

Hallelujah!

I have had a cold for a few days, so after last night I am wiped out!  But it was such a good chance to spend time with the neighbors in our building.  We have been praying and asking the Lord for deeper relationships with our neighbors, and He is answering!

Sunday Sneak Peak

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

All bundled up and ready to walk to school in the snow!!

Silent Monks Singing Hallelujah

Want to do Something Different This Christmas?

It is REALLY hard to teach our children and even ourselves the true meaning of Christmas.  We get so easily wrapped up in the gifts, the decorating, the food... everything BUT the coming of Christ.

It is hard to find ways that help us focus on Him when everything around us is telling us to think about ourselves- what we want, what we deserve, what things we are lacking in life.

NOTHING.  The answer is nothing!

Look around you.  You probably really don't need one thing.  Now, I know that I am preaching to the choir, because more often than not, I am chief whiner.  For that I am embarrassed and sorry.

I probably encounter the desperately poor more often than you do, but still it is hard to feel compassion, or to realize that I could easily forego some of the junk that I want and help someone else.

Well, this Christmas, wouldn't it be great to do just that?

Do you want to change the world?

Do you want to rekindle the fire of Christmas in your heart?

Look at this.

Compassion International has been around for years and years helping children and families escape the vicious cycle of poverty.  They are truly an amazing organization.

Now, you and I know that you are worried about making a commitment, or starting something that you think you probably won't finish.  But, you don't have to start with a commitment- maybe just a special gift.

How great an impact would it make on your children if you all ponied up some cash and then went through this guide together to choose a way to help those in desperate situations.

Don't you think that your heart would just explode from joy if you gave up your daily coffee run a few times and instead choose to help protect someone from deadly disease with a mosquito net, or help provide some educational materials and therefore a much brighter future for someone else.  Its the chance to literally save a life and help provide a future.

One person, one act, can truly make a difference.  And that one person could be you.  That is what Christmas is about.  Christ came into this world as an ultimate act of compassion for our lost and sinful selves.   Shouldn't Christ-followers do the same for those around us?  Shouldn't our hearts be broken for those all around the world who are lost, and desperate, and sick, and fatherless, and hungry?

Can you imagine giving the gift of hope this Christmas?  Talk about something that lasts!



If you want proof, watch this video.  But, prepare to have your heart broken!!

Proud to be an American

This was advertised on our equivalent of Ticketmaster: 

You can bet I was first in line for these tickets!

Wow!  So proud of the things America is exporting!!!

Busted Up

The worst part about having to walk around with a busted face is that I am so worried that Justin's reputation will be ruined.

You see everyone around us notices how wonderful my husband is.  The woman always comment on how great he is with our children.  They are so impressed with how he is interested in them and helps with them.  I always try to use it a s a talking point about our faith.

But, now I have a busted face like so many of them do from time to time.  (Abuse is quite common here.)  For so long we have been able to stand out as different.  Now, I'm worried that people will see my face and just assume that Justin hit me.

Usually when one of my friends has been hit by her husband and her face is busted up, she tries to lay low for a few days until it heals up a bit.  So, I am out and about, trying to tell everyone how it happened, and hoping that the truth will get around before the rumor does!

Free Time

Hello!

Do you happen to have some free time between January 24th and February 23rd?  If so, how about you come over here and spend it with me!

Justin has to got to London to participate in training for his new job.

The kids and I will be here.

By ourselves.

For FOUR weeks.

Two of those weeks they will be on Winter Break.

All day long.

Not even a bit of school to help me out!

Sweet mercy!!  I hope Mary Poppins blows in on the east wind!!

Empty Crib

There is an empty spot in the corner of the bedroom.  I had been keeping Lucy's crib there, ready for any sleeping baby to lay their sweet head.

But yesterday we gave the crib to our friends.  Lucy hasn't slept in it in a long time and we didn't need it anymore.

It has been 10 years since I have lived in a house without a crib.

Pink Bottoms

When Justin took the kids to the zoo a month ago, 

this monkey must have made quite an impression on Lucy.

Because she is still talking about "them ugly monkey-things with the pink bottoms."

Maybe it's momma thinks its purdy, but I sure don't!!

Sunday Sneak Peak

Mosques at Night

The Price of Vanity

As I was sitting at the hairdresser listening to Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get it On" play through the speakers, I had a bad feeling.  

You see, I have quite a lot of gray for a girl my age, and I am NOT willing to go gray gracefully.  So every 4 to 6 months I get highlights.  It's really cheap here, so I treat myself a little.  But, lately this has turned out to be more like torturing myself.

If you saw me over the summer you may have seen my attempt at Barbie.  I asked the guy for a few natural highlights to cover the gray.  Out I came looking like a Miss America contestant.  What do you say?  I'm not sure my language is good enough to to express what I truly wanted to tell him.  That's ok, wedding pictures only last... oh, a lifetime.  Fantastic!

Tomorrow is our Company's regional Christmas party.  It is usually the only time of the year when everyone in our family dressed up and looking their best.  So, naturally, I like to try and get someone to take our picture.  The idea of the picture is what brought me into the hairdresser.  Barbie's roots were glaring!

Again I asked a different hairdresser for light brown- just enough to cover the gray.  And as I sat there waiting for who knows what kind of chemicals to melt and/or fry my hair into a beautiful shade of brown with the help of weird sheets of tin foil I knew that once again, this color was going to be interesting.

When they started taking the foils off to wash my hair, the hair washer lady went over and whispered something to the hairdresser.  He ran over and painted more glop on my head.  There I waited in that crazy uncomfortable neck sink for awhile longer.  Then finally they rinsed, washed, and conditioned my hair.

The hairdresser cut and styled my hair, and then spun me around to show off his masterpiece.  I looked at that mirror, and I swear to you that Abraham Lincoln himself was staring back at me- because mousy-brown I was not.  My hair was exactly the color of a shiny new penny.

Um, thanks!  I love it!  I've always dreamed of looking like a coin!


Today, as I was in the kitchen cooking up some yumminess for tomorrow's Christmas party, our downstairs doorbell rang.  I asked who it was, and excitedly buzzed up the postman.  The only post that comes directly to our door are packages!!  The house was full of excitement.  Two big boxes from Gamma and PawPaw arrived.  Justin put them way up high on top of our wardrobe so that the kids wouldn't get into them.

An hour later, once the kids were all busy playing elsewhere.  I snuck into our bedroom to open up the boxes and make sure that nothing had disappeared in the shipping process.  As I was reaching for the big box, the stool slipped out from under me.  Luckily, I fell back onto our bed.  Un-luckily I must have grabbed a decorative board (sort of like trim) and it broke off the top of the wardrobe and landed smack on my face.  I had a huge gash on my left eyebrow and it was bleeding something fierce!

This was exciting for everyone!  Noah was crying because I was hurt.  I was hollering at him to quit crying.  Justin was trying to call some friends to give me a lift to the hospital.  Lucy wanted to touch it.  And Callie was wondering if this was going to delay lunch!

Our friends arrived and took me to the hospital.  Sweet Justin cleaned up the blood and fed the kids.  They had me stitched up and ready to go in about 15 minutes.  Nice hospital.  Nice people.

A few internal stitches and 10 external stitches later, this is what I look like:

Don't be jealous.  Abe Lincoln has nothing on me.  I am rocking the copper head pistol-whipped look!!

This year's Christmas picture is gonna be awesome!

Unusual Conversation

Last night I was over having tea with Noah's best friend's mom and several of her friend/ relatives.  They asked me,

"Are you and your husband related?"

"Um, er.. pardon?"

"Are you and your husband related?"

"No.  Actually that's illegal where I'm from.  I heard the lack of variation in blood can result in defects in their children."

"I'm married to my aunt's son."

"Oh.  That's nice.  Have your children had any problems?"

"No."

"Well, that's good to know."  Quickly trying to change the topic...

Gift Idea

Do you have a movie lover in your family?

I don't know why, but for some reason I picked up this movie while we were in the States this summer.  It is SO GOOD.  I would recommend it for everyone- even children elementary age and up.

A great and inspirational story!

What is on your Christmas wish list?

What fun, unusual, or just plain good gift ideas do you have to share?

Don't forget this awesome gift idea for all the young girls/women in your life!

Where is God in all This?

So, I'm writing my Christmas cards and it seems like an awful lot of people in my life are going through some really hard things- cancer, loss of child, loss of spouse, divorce, heart surgery, illness.  I am not sure why this year seems particularly full of such sad events.  Maybe its because we were just back in the States and got caught up with everyone.

(People rarely tell you bad news when you live far away.  I used to think no news meant good news.  Now, I've learned the opposite is true.  When Jennie gets the job she has hoped for it goes out on email, Twitter, Facebook, and in the Christmas letter.  But when Bob's wife leaves him no one really says anything people just hear about it through the grapevine.  The grapevine does not stretch over here.  This makes things quite awkward when we write Bob and Cindy a Christmas card only to later learn from Ella that Cindy has been living in Reno with Tommy from the Quicky Mart for 2 months!!)

And.. I digress!

Moving on with the point.

What was the point?

Oh yeah,  it has been hard to write Christmas cards this year.  What do you say?  MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!  I am sure that your day will suck.  It will be full of memories, tears and heartache, BUT maybe next year you'll only cry for half the day.  And Happy New Year!  Love, Elizabeth

That's heartfelt!

I have found myself questioning if God is good.  Wondering if He really is in control of all of this.  And if He is, why is it so hard and so painful, and why are so many people that I love suffering?

In my head I know, I know, I. KNOW. that God is good.  But, to be really honest, sometimes my heart is slow to follow.  As I have been asking the Lord about this, this is the story He revealed to me:

Nothing.  NO-THING comes as a surprise to Him.  He is at work, through the good and the bad.  You can see Him work that way all throughout Scripture.  The story of Joseph is one of my favorites.  How amazing to see how God uses greed, jealousy, and attempted murder to bring about His Kingdom!  As I was praying and asking Him about what I was feeling.  He revealed some truth to me.

Let me share a few with you:

When I was in sixth grade I was in the choir.  We were loading up the bus to go on a mini- choir tour.  The bus was parked on the two lane private road next to our church, and we were all running back and forth excitedly loading the bus and acting like crazy little middle schoolers.

THUMP!!  Boom, boom, boom.

I got hit by a car.  A lady was cutting through the parking lot.  She was running late and was in a hurry.  Everyone was shocked.  I wasn't hurt too badly, mostly my pride was bruised.

Fast forward 20 something years later, and now I live in the big city.  I cannot describe to you the way people drive here.  Take the worst driving that you can imagine and multiply it by 62.  That may come close.  But, ever since that day, way back when I was 11, I have been a very cautious street crosser.

Since we are mostly on foot here this has saved our lives more times than not.  I learned on that day so many years ago that just because one lane is safe, the next one may not be.  Here, as we are crossing 4 lane roads, we cross lane by lane, being careful to look both ways each time.  Sure one car may be nice enough to stop and let you cross, but the impatient scooter behind them will surely whip around and try to speed by.  I cannot tell you how my carefulness has kept us safe.  And, I certainly had no idea that being hit by a car when I was a kid was actually for my own benefit.  God was there.  He was in control.

When Justin and I were just 18 years old and began to talk about marriage my parents freaked out (as did everyone else).  We didn't have much of a plan and we were so young.  I can remember one day sitting down at the table with my mom and dad discussing our plans for education.  Justin had always dreamed of being an engineer.  But, we were both attending Asbury- a liberal arts college.  Justin's plan was to join Asbury's joint 3-2 program with the University of Kentucky.  So three years at Asbury and 2 years at UK.  In the end he would have a degree from both institutions.

My dad had hoped to do a similar program when he was in college at West Georgia.  But it did not go so smoothly and when he transferred to Georgia Tech he lost a lot of credits and it was a big mess.  So, rightly so, he was very concerned about Justin's plan.  Not only that, but, the HOPE Scholarship program had recently started in Georgia.  Justin probably could have attended Georgia Tech for a fraction of the cost of Asbury, if not for free.  However, Justin was unwavering.  He knew that God had called him to take this route.

Fast forward 14 years, and here we are.  We are living in a country that has begun to deny visas to engineers of any type.  If your diploma says "engineer" in any form or fashion you are not allowed to stay in this country.  (The reasons are complicated and don't really add to the story, so I won't go into them.)  But, all those years ago, Justin received a Physics degree from Asbury- a liberal arts college.  Therefore, he can just leave out the UK part of his education in his documents and we can stay here.  God was there.  He was in control.

About this time last year, we began to feel very restless in our situation.  Justin's job was just not working out.  he had been praying for more than a year for the Lord to change his attitude towards his job with our team business.  It wasn't changing.  Then last spring, the prayers began to change.  "Well, Lord, if it's not my attitude that needs changing, please change my situation."  Justin literally uttered that prayer, walked in to meet with a co-worker, and heard the first news of his dream job.  Our co-worker had a contact in Germany with a very successful dental equipment business.  The business was looking to expand into the Middle East and wanted to start right here.  As the information about the job came in we were salivating and reveling in God's awesome provision.

Because this was a full time job it was apart from our team vision of running an economic development business. So, we had to step out of our team- the only thing we really knew here- and start over.  But, to be honest, at that time it didn't hurt too badly because we were running toward an awesome job.

Then, the job fell through.

And it hurt real bad!!!  We felt like we had lost everything- our team, our identity.  It was a big loss for us.

We tried our best to trust the Lord and know that He was doing something.  We prayed.  We asked others to pray.  And Justin searched like a hound dog.  He even completed a certificate to teach English in case that was necessary.

A little over a month ago, a random email came through a newsgroup that we are a part of.  Justin followed up and now here we are.  Justin has a job that is making him very happy.  It meets or exceeds all of the things we were praying for- working with locals, possibility for a work permit, income, good identity, flexible hours.  He is the regional director for a company that works in the cell phone technology industry.

He is setting up the office here.  He got to choose a lovely area and office to work in that is easily accessible to public transportation.  He is also in the process of hiring his first employee.  Each day when he comes home he has a smile on his face and is anxious to tell us about the things that he did throughout the day.

Not only that, but this company is also on the verge of opening an American office.  Guess where they had decided to open the office.  Out of the entire United States... Atlanta!!  The company owners were so thrilled to find out that Justin is from Atlanta.  "Seems like God is doing something here!" they remarked.  So, when we go on furlough, or want more than the standard two weeks off, Justin can work from the Atlanta office.  This is so much more than we hoped for or imagined.

Looking back now, I realize that it took the German job to lure us out of what was comfortable.  Justin's current job came down the pipeline so quietly and it didn't really look like it would be anything he was interested in.  He just pursued it out of desperation.  The Lord used that first job opportunity to pull us out of our comfort zone and prepare us for what He had next for us.  When that "perfect" first job fell through like a boulder God was there.  He was in control.

I have kept every email with every prayer request that I sent out as we were preparing to come and also now that we are here.  Every single one has been answered.  Most were not answered in the way I thought they would be, or even in the way that I had hoped they would be.  But, every one has been answered, even if the answer is "wait" or "we'll get to that later" it has been answered.  Often times the answer is better than I could have imagined.  Sometimes, to be honest, I am left wondering why on earth God chose to answer in a particular way.

And I realized that faith isn't just trusting that God hears our crys and knows our hearts.  It's not just trusting God to do something.  For me, faith is trusting that God, the God of the Universe, the God that placed the stars in the sky one by one, and who knows the number of hairs on my head knows better than me.   It's not just believing that He exists and in interested in me, it's trusting that He can and will finish what He has started.  Faith is trusting that His plans and His timing are better than mine!

Because you know what?  They are!  They ALWAYS are!  Even when I'm bruised and broken He is working- making things new and beautiful.  Preparing the foundation for His Kingdom, and His work, and His glory.

Now, that all sounds well and good, and stories with happy endings are great.  But, everything can't be tied up with a bow and have a happy ending, can it?

I don't know why Justin's sister died of brain cancer.  I can't imagine how the Lord is using that.  I don't know why my friend's wife decided that this isn't really what she wanted.  I can't imagine how the Lord is using that.  I don't know why my friend's baby was born with a problem.  I can't imagine how the Lord is using that.  I don't know why my friends lost their son.  I can't imagine how the Lord is using that.  I don't know why my friend lost her job and can't find another one.  I can't imagine how the Lord is using that.

I guess that's the mystery of faith.  Often times things don't make sense.  And often times, especially when it is nearly impossible, we still just have to trust.  Its so simple but so hard!!

He is working- making things new and beautiful.  Preparing the foundation for His Kingdom, and His work, and His glory.  He is who He says He is.

Our Healer

Our Redeemer

Our Comforter

Our Provider

Our Help

Our Savior

Our Father

He is most merciful and full of grace.

You see, He doesn't promise us freedom from the troubles of this life.  But He does promise to walk with us, guide us, and even carry us, through each and every one.

This Christmas season and always, He has not forgotten YOU.  He hears YOU.  He is working for YOU.

He is here.

And He is in control.

My Friend Wrote a Book

I grew up with the neatest girl, and she has grown up into an amazing woman.  Her name is Annie Downs, and she wrote a book.

Go here and buy a few.  They'd make great Christmas presents for the girls in your life!!

Question

Can you help me?

I am trying to update our Christmas music collection.  Please tell me your favorite Christmas songs, albums, etc.

Thanks!

Prune Hands

Lucy just got out of the bathtub and her hands were all prune-y.

She said, "Look, I have hands like a grandmother!!"

She didn't say anything for a minute.  Then she got really mad and said, "UGH!!  But, I'm not even a grandmother yet, actually!!!"

Sunday Sneak Peak

Feliz Navidad from Lucy!


Feliz Navidad from Elizabeth on Vimeo.

The Zoo part 2

This post is part #2.  If you would like to start from the beginning, click here.

Now we've come along to my favorite event of the day.  You see, this one kid in Callie's class had been toting around a banana the entire time.  He was waiting for the monkeys, and he was so excited that he was sweating!!  When we arrived at the monkeys, the kids tried to figure out how on earth they could get the banana to the monkeys.

First they held up the banana and taunted the monkeys.  They went nuts.  Grunting, clapping, and waving for the teacher to give the banana.

Never fear.  Teacher had a plan!  He tossed the banana over the wall.  The kids cheered.  The monkeys converged on the banana.

Unfortunately, I could not get a good picture of this event because my jaw was on the ground!  I could not believe what I was witnessing!  The last time I went to the zoo in America they wouldn't even let people drink from straws, let alone get near an animal.  And I am pretty sure you'd have been shot if you pulled a stunt like this. 

After the success of the banana the monkeys wanted more.  Unfortunately that was the only banana.  So the kids came up with various snacks from their snack-bags.  The monkeys were not a fan of salty snacks.

So we moved on to sweet snacks.  They were a hit!!

But again, the minimal fencing was making it hard to pass harmful snacks to the animals.  So, what did teacher do?

He tossed a package of cookies over the wall to the monkeys!!  See that blue wrapper in that monkey's had.  Those are tasty treats thanks to our class!!

Next, we moved on to another nightmare involving monkeys.  You may know that I am not a fan of birds.  I hate them and cannot stand to be near them.  Before the trip I was worried that I would have to get close to a bird.  Other than the peacock- which again, my jaw was on the ground and I was too shocked to freak out- the birds didn't bother me.  But, these monkeys have been showing up in my nightmares!!

Check out this inventive cage system.  The monkeys can look down on you.  They have little bowls on chains that they drop down and people are supposed to put food in.  They were throwing those bowls down, screeching like well... psychotic monkeys, and then pulling them back up as fast as they could.  If they didn't like the food placed in the bowl they'd throw it down at the people.  

I was terrified.  If I had been pooped on, or in any way hit with feces, I was going to take a taxi cab home that moment- regardless of the cost!!  

One of the little girls in the class was going ballistic.  She could not pass under the cage.  I had to cover her with myself and drag her body under it, running  like freaks.  That's all great, but no one was there to do that for me.  Mom?  Where were you?  I needed my mommy!!!

This fine animal had managed to peel back the wire on his cage.  So he could stick his arm way out and grab at the children.  Here he is waiting to strike!  Yes, folks, we are taking about monkey nightmares for weeks!!!

This grotesque animal sure didn't help things.  Not even the baby was cute!!

After we survived the monkey nightmare we went into the aquarium and reptile house.  Nothing crazy.  Business as usual for the coldbloods.

Then we came across this cute little dear.  Hope he doesn't bite!  I've seen those things maul people on When Animals Attack.

The camel came out to see us.

He liked this kid!!

After the petting zoo sort of area we arrived here:

Now, I cannot for the life of me understand this goofy sports equipment.  They have it al throughout the city in parks.  But, seriously... at the zoo?  Why on earth did they put exercise equipment at the zoo?  The kid in the foreground with the blue and orange sweat shirt is Gökan.  He is the kid that brought the banana for the monkeys.

Some of the kids did the pony rides.

For most of them it was their first chance to ride a pony.  Some were scared and some were thrilled.

Isn't she adorable?

Giddy- Up!

Next to the exercise equipment and pony rides there was a playground.  The whole class played on this merry-go-round.

They played that fun game:  spin and spin and spin until someone falls down or barfs.

Ever heard of it?  Its fun!

The ponies were in a cute little corral.  Also, in the corral were tons of bunnies.  The pony man was very careful not to let his bunnies escape when opening and closing the gate for the children doing the pony rides.

Callie's teacher reached down in the pen and picked up a bunny to show the kids.  He set it down so everyone could get a closer look and pet the sweet little bunny.

It hopped away!!

We worked our way through the rest of the zoo.  And ended up at back at the big cats.

This panther looks like it want to tear this kid's face off!

That was the end of our zoo adventure!

Throughout the day only two kids got lost- Isa and Ibrahim... that's Jesus and Abraham.  Figures!  Historically they've been quite the leaders!  But we found them fairly quickly. 

We boarded the bus and headed home.  I may have dozed off for a bit and woke up to find all the kids laughing at me.  But, by that point I didn't care, all kids were alive and accounted for.  None of the pleading mothers would be disappointed!  

Praise the Lord!!

The zoo was AWESOME!!!  I can't wait to volunteer for the next field trip!!