All I Want for Christmas is You, Napoleon

Looks like Santa got my letter!!

A friend and I are in charge of our company's regional Christmas party this year.  In the past we have had about 12 or more families.  But, this year it is going to be a much smaller group of 9 nine families.

It has been fun to get to do something detail-oriented again.  I just love organizing a party!

But, the hard part has been trying to find the things to bring it together.  When you are in charge of something, you sort of get this this vision of how it should be.  Bringing that vision to life in an old (ugly) school with limited resources has been tricky!

But, I finally feel like things are coming together.  It should be a really nice party, and I am excited!

I think I'm even more excited that when it finishes on Saturday it will mark the end of my Christmas responsibilities.  I've got all the presents boxed up and ready.  The ones that need to be sent are in the mail. They will probably be a bit late, but I am ok with that.  I have a sweet friend taking the big boxes for our families to the States to mail on Monday.  Pray that they get there on time!

So... I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

And am looking forward to a few days of chilling out with my family!

Sunday Sneak Peek

Traditions

Although there are many hard things about living in a country that is 99.9% Muslim, there are also a few blessings, too.  Christmastime is sort of weird around here, because although it is one of the most special days of the year for us, it is just an ordinary day for everyone around us.  The kids have school, Justin has work, and hardly anyone even knows about the hustle and bustle of celebrations going on around the world.

So, we get to do everything OUR way.  We celebrate just how we want.  The kids get to play hooky from school.  Justin stays home from work and we have one very special day where it is just us- celebrating Jesus and enjoying each other.

Because there are no social cues here to help make Christmas special we have had to get creative.  For about the last 8 years we've celebrated advent.  It has been a nice way to spread out the Christmas celebration and build up to Christmas Day.  This year we are using Ann Voskamp's Jesse Tree Advent Devotional and love it.

I must confess, I couldn't wait until after Thanksgiving to start the Christmas music.  I was in the kitchen so much preparing for Thanksgiving, and I just couldn't resist turing it on.  It has been on non-stop ever since.  You ought to hear Lucy sing Feliz Navidad!  HA!

We sent an extra little something to our precious Compassion Child, Mohammed.

Last Saturday we put up our [piece of junk IKEA] Christmas tree, while watching Mickey's Christmas.

I used yarn to tie up our stockings to the hand rail.  We put out some red candles, our Little People Nativity, and a few other small decorations.  Just a little- enough to make the flat feel special, but not enough to offend our neighbors.

Sunday night after Justin left for London, but the kids and I had a Family Movie Night.  We watched Elf and had Elf-inspired super ooey-gooey caramel popcorn.  To wash it down I made hot chocolate and even dropped in a few marshmallows from my sacred stash.  It was so fun to cuddle up together and laugh!

For the final two Sundays in Advent we are going to peruse through the Compassion Catalog and pick out something to give as a family to those in need.

A friend and I are planning our company's annual Christmas Party.  We are all really looking forward to that.

I am not sure exactly what we will do for Christmas Eve.  Last year we met as a team, but this year our new team is meeting on Christmas Day.

Other ideas I have are:

Christmas movie night every weekend

Christmas Cookie Decorating Extravaganza (with no fuss from me about the mess) -I got this idea from a sweet comment left on my blog

Playing telephone with phrases from the Christmas Story from Luke 2

reading the Christmas Story in each of the versions and languages of the Bible that we have together at night

taking the kids shopping for their dad and each other

surprising the kids with a late night doughnut run in their jammies

a big Christmas breakfast- Justin is in London and I gave him strict orders to bring back cheddar cheese and some type of breakfast pork for our Christmas breakfast!- and I always make Gorilla Bread (which you absolutely must try!)

Skyping with our family



So... those are our traditions.  Any fun or special ideas you can add to our list?

Şikayet

Şikayet= complaint


Yesterday Noah told me that he loved school.  The reason he loved school is because his teacher had made a complaint box.  Noah proudly announced that he had 9 complaints.


We got to talking about the complaints and he told me that they were against a child in his class who smells bad.  My heart brooke!!


Literally, the night before I had watched an Extreme Makeover: Home Edition on the internet.  The family had lost their son.  He was an 11 year old boy who was teased so badly that he eventually hung himself.


Can you imagine?


I told Noah about the little boy- almost his same age- that people were unkind to.  We talked about how to treat others and how God would want us to act.


It was a great conversation.  In the end he took the complaints that he had written out of his backpack and threw them in the trash instead of putting them in the complaint box.


Tonight, he came into my room and said this,


"Mom, you know that complaint box.  I'm going to ask my teacher if I can sit next to whoever gets the most complaints and help them out."


Yall, this Momma's heart is so, so proud of my boy.  I didn't tell him that he should do that.  In fact the thought never even crossed my mind.  My sweet boy wants to stop sitting next to his best friend and deliberately show kindness to someone who will probably be hard to love.


That is faith in action!




"'And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.'  The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”    Mark 12:30-31

Update

Noah did great on the bus by himself.  He did every thing exactly like we told him to and got home just fine.

We were hosting our team meeting that morning, and we always start off with breakfast.  So when he got home he fixed himself a plate of breakfast and a cup of coffee.  (So I'm told.  I was at swimming lessons with the girls.)

So, I guess he's all grown up and ready to go off to college.

Speaking of all grown up.  Now, Lucy doesn't even need a tiny starter push to get going on the swing.  She can do the whole bit completely by herself.  Everyone at the park marvel at the little white girl flying through the air.

So, I guess she's ready to run off and join the circus.

Noah's Got the Christmas Spirit

Noah came into the kitchen this morning and in all sincerity asked,

"Mom, you know my allowance... Do I get a Christmas bonus?"

Listing

1.  I told my friend today that if I had to have a sister wife I'd choose her.  (Maybe you aren't watching that crazy show about the polygamists and so you don't get this.  That's ok, just move on.)  It's a high compliment!

2. Justin leaves Sunday night to go to London for a week.

3. The kids have FINALLY started sports after months of searching and praying.  Noah is playing basketball and the girls are swimming.  The place that Noah plays at is relatively close to us, so tomorrow he is riding the bus (i.e.- public transport in a huge city) home by himself.

4. YIKES!!  My baby is riding the bus home by himself!

5. Even though Justin will be gone, our weekly babysitter is still coming over.  PTL!  Momma's night out!

6. I feel like the older I get the more of a night-owl I become.  It is really inconvenient!

7. We put up our Christmas tree tonight while watching Mickey's Christmas.  We don't decorate very much, but it is still really fun.  We are also doing Ann Voscamp's Jesse Tree Advent Devotional each night.  That has really been a highlight for me.  She has great insight and relates it really well to kids.  I love the anticipation of the Christmas season, and I love doing things that make it feel really special.

8. Lucy has decided that she wants a Barbie house.  The only Barbie house I can find in this country is stinkin' 400 lira!  So, I'm giving that child some cardboard boxes and markers so she can make one.

9. Do you do anything during the Christmas season to help make it special.  I need ideas!

Let's Choose a Topic to Discuss

So I had my tea the other day.  This week we were at Ayşe's flat on the first floor. 


In three hours time, 8 women all talking at once can really cover a lot of topics!!


We talked about how we met our husbands.  If they were relatives.  And, if we were part of an arranged marriage or if we married for love.  (For the record, no, Justin and I are not related!)


We talked about how the beans and grains that Sultan's dad brought back from the village aren't cooking up very well.


We talked about the pots and pans man's prices.  One of the ladies told the funniest story about how she bought a pot set, but didn't tell her husband.  She had agreed to make weekly payments.  Well, the pot man showed up for one of the payments when her husband happened to be home.  That didn't go so well.


We talked about our ailments.


My downstairs neighbor has a sweet new baby.  So, at one point she asked if she changes her baby's diaper, does it ruin her abdest (Purification by washing the hands, arms, feet, and face before prayer).  The other women had all sorts of answers.  But it basically came down to no, it will not ruin her abdest if she just wipes her hands with an alcohol-based hand wipe afterwards.


Then we got on to discussing wether you can pray the namaz if your baby has spit up on you.  The ladies were talking about what kind of spit-up it was.  If it was just a bit of milk, that was fine.  But, if it was from the stomach or had anything else than just milk then she would need to re-do her abdest.  If it was the latter then you must change your clothes before re-doing the abdest.  With the former you just have to wipe the spot three times.


I tried to interject a bit of wisdom, but mostly I sat back and listened to this very difficult set of rules that they have to live by.  It's an impossible standard.  And even then, if you follow each rule to the the tee, there is no true assurance of it being acceptable.  


Much striving to no avail.


No true peace.


No assurance that anything they do is really going to tip the scales in their favor.


I am so sad for this difficult lifestyle for my sisters.  They are groaning under the requirements of their faith.




Come, Lord Jesus, come!!  




Bring your peace.  


Bring your hope.  


Bring your joy.  


Bring your assurance.


Show your mercy.


Pour out your grace on this land!  

...And Learning Fast

After posting the other day about how Lucy is learning so fast, I couldn't help but to share this, too...

The kids needed a few little things for school so Lucy and I went to the little school supply shop around the corner.  I told the guy what we needed, got my stuff, and told Lucy it was time to go.  But she was frozen solid, stock-still staring at some stickers.  We all sort of laughed and I urged her to come on.

No luck.

Finally the guy asked if she liked the stickers.  Even though she hadn't been able to hear or respond to a word I said to her, miraculously she heard the shopkeeper and nodded her head yes.  Just for effect, she also let her jaw drop.

(I see an Academy Award in this girl's future.)

The shopkeeper gave her the stickers and she instantly came back to life.  Amazing!  We thanked the man and went skipping out the door (her not me!).

As we were walking to school she said, "Mom, you know why I was staring at those stickers?"

"No, dear.  Where you frozen?"

"No.  They were just so sparkley and I really wanted them.  I knew if I looked at them long enough that man would give them to me."

Turns out Lucy has also learned how to bargain this week!

She's A Big Girl Now!

In the past week Lucy has learned to do the following things all by herself:

swing on the swingset at the park

snap her fingers

button her jeans


She is amazing!!  Growing up right before our eyes at lightening speed!

Sunday Sneak Peek

Turkey

Ironically, it is a bit difficult to get a turkey here.  A few larger markets sometimes have turkey meat.  But, its pieces like a breast filet, legs, etc. not a whole bird.

I went last week and ordered a whole bird from the butcher.  He said it would be no problem, took my information, and asked what size I wanted.  They tend to get really large turkeys since they cut them into smaller pieces.  I asked for an 8 kilo if possible.

They called me on Monday to let me know that my turkey was in.  I asked them to hold it for me until Friday.  So, yesterday the girls and I went to get our bird.  It was sitting out with all the other meat out in the case.  Thank God they had not sold it!  I would have flipped out!

We got it home and stuck it in the fridge.

The water was cut from about mid-afternoon on.  I kept waiting for the water to come back on, but by 9 o'clock I gave up.  So Justin and I used some of our big reserve jugs of water to wash the bird.  Then we layered three garbage bags, put some salt water in, and dumped the bird in.  We put it in a plastic wash basin and set it on the balcony to brine.

Pretty soon I'll start cooking the thing.  I could only find a smallish roasting pan.  So, it will be a bit like fat turkey in a little pan.  To top it off, our ovens here are quite small.  It is quite possible that the turkey will be touching the oven on all 4 sides!  HA!

Oh the joys of Thanksgiving!

Black Friday

I do not miss Black Friday.

I do not miss all the psychotic behavior around finding the "it" gift.

I do not miss the way that commercialism has ruined the celebration of our precious savior's birth!

Thankful

This year has been such a rollercoaster for us.  But really, what year isn't?  So many things have changed in just a year.  We are finally more settled and happy than ever here.  We have really seen the Lord work on our behalf and provide just what we need.

So this year I am feeling just so thankful.

We have each been so healthy- hardly a sniffle among us!

When Justin was struggling to find a job, HE designed the perfect job and handed it to Justin.

Our friendships have gone deeper and are such a blessing to us.  It is finally so comfortable, even preferable to hang out with our local friends.

The kids are doing so well in school- both socially and with their studies.

We have "creature comforts" that make our life easier- dish washer, washer and dryer, and a car.  (Even after a year, every time I throw something in the dryer or go somewhere in the car I am just full of praise.  Such small things can really make a BIG difference!)

Our new team is such a blessing.  They challenge us and encourage us.  They help us focus and prioritize on the Lord.  Plus, they are fun to be with!

We have precious wonderful families.  Even though it is really hard being so far away, we are so thankful for technology that makes communication easy!  (When Hudson Taylor shipped out to China in the last 1800's they said their goodbyes and took their coffins with them.  They knew that it was probably the last time on earth that they would see their loved ones!)

We have an incredible support base.  Our needs are met and we feel so loved, encouraged, and prayed for.

The Lord has faithfully answered each of our major "HELP!!" prayers.  Like I mentioned before, He gave Justin an amazing job.  He changed our landlord's mind when he wanted to sell our flat.  He got Lucy into a more convenient kindergarten class.  He changed the minds at Samsung when they wanted to drop their contract with Justin's company.  And so many more.  He has tenderly watched over us, and we praise and thank Him!

When I look around me I see my wonderful, loving husband, my beautiful, spirited children, and the life we have created together.  We are living out our long-time dream of serving the Lord overseas.  It's not perfect and more often than not, it's hard, but I am so thankful.

Most of all I am so thankful for the hope of Heaven.  I am thankful that the Lord, in all His power, might, and majesty cares enough about me to number the hairs on my head.  And I am thankful that Jesus would humble himself and walk through life on earth to offer himself up as our sacrifice.  I do not deserve such extreme grace, but, by golly, I am so thankful for it!!!

How to Explain Thanksgiving

Hardly anyone here has any idea what Thanksgiving is.  When I do mention it to someone they are curious what we are actually celebrating, who we are giving thanks to, and what for.

It's a little bit complicated to explain because, as Americans, we have strayed so far from the real meaning of Thanksgiving.  It used to be a holiday to thank the Lord for all that He had done and is doing.  But, nowadays, it is more of an American holiday, and Americans are all sorts of religions.

So... how would you explain Thanksgiving?  And, what are you thankful for?

Blissful Loafing

Yall, we had another great weekend.  This weekend was totally different from the past several ones.

We had quite a bit planned for both days, but at the last minute absolutely everything got cancelled- even though the activities were completely unrelated to each other.  It was a gift from the Lord.

The Gift of REST!

Amen and Hallelujah!

I did not realize how tired I was until I slowed down a bit.  The past month has been a blur and we have been going at a pace that really wears us down.  It was such a blessing to have two full days to relax and play together.  We just holed up and didn't hardly see another sole!

Can I brag just tell you that we all slept in till after 8:30 on Sunday (a miracle in itself).  Justin fed the kids breakfast (while I slept in even more... I know!) because he is a saint.  Then we all managed to roll ourselves to the couch and watch Chicken Little.  Then Justin and I took a nap together until lunchtime!

GASP!


Oh the lethargy!  It is bliss!

(*Disclaimer: I did go to the market on Saturday evening to stock up on food for the week.  So, I'm not a complete lazybones!  Just a partial one.  And, NO, I will not reveal the percentage!)

By Sunday evening we were rested and catching up on a few little projects that had been lingering on our To-Do lists for months.

So, in the end it ended up being the perfect weekend- lots of rest and a bit of productivity, too.  Praise the Lord!!  He knew just what we needed.

Sunday Sneak Peak

We had the best time on our team retreat!!  It was so great to get away from the city.  The adults worshipped and wrote our team contract.  The kids played outside for two full days.  We all hiked, played games, and had a bonfire together.  It was such a great weekend!  

When we got out of the vehicles at the national park to go for a hike, one of the little boys on our team said, "I guess we're not in [country of service] anymore!"

It was a far cry from the big city that we live in!

Here are a few pictures of God's amazing creation:

And, of course, some pictures of my babies:

"Noah won't play with me!"

Callie dueling with our team leader

Dear Swiss Miss,

I think I love you!

Nothing turns a long, cold rainy day into something fantastic like you do.  Thank you for being so yummy!

Yours Truly,
Elizabeth

Sunday Sneak Peek

This weekend we went from this:

PamelaCookPhotography

To this:

 

It was so fun!

So much green.  So little time...

Should I be Concerned?

When I was in America this summer I went to the dermatologist for my acne.  Yes, I am a 34 year old woman struggling with acne.  Life can be so cruel.  It just gives me more to hope for in heaven!

Anyway, my sweet doctor prescribed tetracycline.  It has worked so well.  Praise the Lord!! Hopefully, I can mark acne off the list and get on with worrying about wrinkles, slow metabolism, and why my hair is falling out.

Well, until I read this...

And I thought acne was bad! 

Reconciliation

So many of our friends here struggle with anger, forgiveness, and reconciliation.  Middle-Easterners tend to be a bit hot-headed and are especially talented at holding a grudge.  So, as we walk through life with them, we end up doing lots of peace-making.  Or in reality, encouraging them in baby steps towards peacemaking.

As I always say... it is a slow, s l o w process!

Anyhow, our team leader is a writer.  This year he is working to produce monthly videos addressing hot-button (Kindgom) topics that those around us here face.  This is the english version of his latest work:

Would you pray for it to be a powerful tool for the kingdom?

The Story of the Prophets

Have you ever seen this?



It is an amazing Gospel message that workers like us are translating into the local languages and using to share the good news with Muslims all across the Middle East.


Just for kicks, here it is in our local language so that you can hear how we speak.



Please pray that the Lord would help us to boldly share His amazing truth with those around us.

A Year Ago

Around this time a year ago, two amazing things happened:

1. Justin got a new job.  It has been such an amazing blessing of provision straight from the Lord.

2. Loraine came to live with us!  I LOVE her so much.  Now I can wash sheets whenever I want.  Not just if it's sunny!

Sacrifice Holiday

Today is the first day of the 4 day Sacrifice Holiday.  I wrote all about it here.

It is kind of a dark and weird time.  Especially the first day, when most of the sacrificing is being done.

We had our weekly small group (team) fellowship this morning so we had to get out.  (Usually I like to hide int he flat and not open up the curtains!)  I had to beg the kids not to look every time we passed some family hacking away at an animal.  It is so gruesome!!

We tried to take a shortcut exit, but it turned out to be right where one of the main animal sellers/ sacrifice places was.  So we were stuck in gridlock traffic watching them cart off animals in all different forms.  From trying to force cows into their vans (yes, I'm serious) to wheelbarrows full of entrails being carted away.  Not fun!!!

I felt a bit traumatized!

But by the time our meeting was over and we got home most of that was over.  The weather was nice and we got to spend some time outside playing.  Then the fun part of the Holiday starts- the visiting.  We went to visit one friend yesterday and will try to go to several each day throughout the rest of the Holiday.

The kids are just happy to have a few days off from school.  Well, that and of course, they love being stuffed full of candy at everyone's houses as we visit!

Testify

After leaving that desperate post up for so long, I just have to lighten the mood of this blog a bit!

Our sweet Lord has changed my "UHG" into praises!

Our landlord emailed us to let us know that he had changed his mind about selling our flat!!  Not only that, he said that they don't want to sell it for quite some time and even apologized for causing us so much stress!!!

Thank you, Jesus for this answer to prayer!  He is so good to us!


Do you know that in the past few months we've seen Him move miraculously several times on our behalf?

Just before school started, Lucy was put into morning kindergarten.  We really needed her to be in afternoon kindergarten, so we prayed and we asked those around us to pray.  Would you believe that the principal called the day before school started and an afternoon slot had opened up.  That was a miracle in itself- everyone here wants afternoon kindergarten!  Not only had the slot opened up, he was willing to give it to us (knowing we would not pay him a bribe of thanks like many of the other parents would have).

A month ago, Justin's company's major client decided not to renew their contract.  Justin's company was devastated!  That one contract accounts for about 90% of their business!  So, again, we prayed, and we asked everyone we know to pray.  Again, the Lord heard our prayers and moved on our behalf.  The contract was renewed.  Not only that, but it forced Justin's company to see how dependent they are on that one contract.  So, they have begun to work a little harder on projects that had been on the backburner and develop new new projects to spread their business out a bit.

A few weeks ago I was really on the fence about returning to language school.  We prayed about it and asked others to pray, too.  We started to look into it, but the class I needed was not going to be offered.  So, again He heard and answered my prayers.  This time with a "No," but to be honest, I was just as thankful to have an answer!

Finally, there was our apartment event.  Our landlord just called completely out of the blue to tell us that he wanted to sell the flat!  I was devastated!  This flat is perfect for us, and we have invested 2 years of our lives into these neighbors and this neighborhood.  I was not ready to go anywhere.  So again, we prayed and had those around us pray.  And, again, the Lord answered our prayers.

I know that often times we don't get to see the Lord work this quickly and this favorably (in our opinions).  So I just needed to write it down and tell everyone about it.  He really is good all the time!

"May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen." Eph. 3:19-21

UGH!!!

Our landlord called tonight.  He wants to sell our flat!!

UGH!!!

Now what do we do?!?!?!

PTL!

Praise The Lord!

I just got back from dropping our new babysitter, Esen (peace), off at her flat.  She is so sweet and did such a good job. 

Justin and I came home to a quiet house.  The girls were conked out.  Noah was just awake enough to tell us that he really liked her and wanted her to come back!

The best news is the she wants to come back!

Oh happy day!!  Looks like Tuesday is my new favorite day of the week!

Mary Poppins

We have been looking for a babysitter for months.  Now that Justin works away from home full time and doesn't really have much flexibility during the days we have really needed a regular date night.  But, married couples getting some time away together and babysitters in general are not really a concept here.

So anyway, after months of asking around, putting an ad in the International School newsletter, etc. we FINALLY found a girl whose parents will let her babysit for us.

She is the daughter of a friend of our team-mate.  So, our team-mate asked them personally and they agreed to trust us and let their daughter babysit.

She starts tomorrow!!!

HORRAY!!

Today we were telling the kids that we found a babysitter.  We told them that the babysitter and her family were believers (we never use the "C" word).  Callie asked, " What kind of believer... the ones who believe in Jesus like we do or the ones that believe that you have to look pretty and wear a headscarf to get into heaven?"

The sort that know Jesus is the only way to heaven, sweetheart.

Please pray that everything goes well and this girl will want to come back!  HA!

Justin got home safely from Korea this morning.  We are so glad to have him back!

Feasting

Yall, while Justin is in Korea I had planned to hide out and relax- no cooking, minimal laundry, and no cleaning.

BUT...

All of my sweet friends are honoring (and protecting us) while he is gone with visits.  I just had five women leave.  At least they told me ahead of time they were coming so I could 1) go to the market and buy some food and 2) cook the food.

BUT...

I had a different friend drop by last night and stay until late.  So, I was up until 2:30 this morning making food for today.

Also, yesterday I took my neighbor to the state hospital far away to hear the results from her follow-up tests.  It's been 6 months since her radiation treatment and everything come out clean and clear.

Praise the Lord!

Also, I went to a çay (tea party) in my building yesterday.

So, around 2 a.m. I started to wrap things up in the kitchen.  I left a few things for today, but not much.  It was all well and good until Lucy's teacher told the moms (when we dropped our kids off at 1) that she wanted to have a parent meeting today- at 4:00!!  That threw quite a wrench into my plans!

I zipped Noah back and forth to guitar, and got to work in the kitchen.  Things were so tight that I had to teach Noah how to put things in and take things out of the oven.  So that he could cook the food I made while I was at the parent meeting.  I was sweating bullets and watching out the classroom window for ambulances.

Luckily, we don't know the number to call for an ambulance.

Oh... I kid (not really).  He was just fine, didn't even have a minor burn on him!

So, that was my day... and pretty much my week.  It has been unusually busy.  But at least I've barely had time to think about how much I miss Justin!

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!!

The Zoo

This is a repost of one of my favorite stories ever.  It's really cold and rainy.  Justin is in Korea.  The kids are stir-crazy.  So I need a laugh!

The time has come for me to share with you one of the most interesting cultural experiences that I have ever had.  Make sure you've had your coffee and you're in a comfortable chair.  This could take awhile!

A month ago when I was at the Women's Retreat, Justin and another friend whose wife was at the conference got together and took the kids to the zoo.  Thats 2 dads and 5 kids if you're counting.

When they returned and I returned they had the most amazing and crazy storied about their adventure at the zoo.  Needless to say, it was unlike any zoo trip they've ever experienced!  So, obviously I was dying to experience the zoo, too!

Not a week later we got a paper home saying that the kids' school was sponsoring a field trip and Callie's class was participating.  I sent the teacher a note and asked if I could come, too.  I mean really, who wouldn't want to help chaperone 53 7 and 8 year olds as they ran through a maze of improperly caged wild animals?

WHAT WAS I THINKING?!?!?

The day of the field trip arrived.  Callie and I showed up at school bright and early in the morning excited for the day's events.  Callie was talking so fast smoke was coming out of her jaws!  The mass of unorganized people was my first clue that this field trip was going to be different than ones I'd been on in the past!

**A little note- Have I ever told you about mothers in this country?  WOW!  They are the most overprotective worry warts on the planet!  But not about what we would consider important like safety or discipline.  They just hover without really doing anything but constantly making sure their child is properly bundled up for the weather.  Its a constant battle against being too cold and too hot.  If their child sweats, surely they will get sick!  If their child gets cold, surely they will get sick!

So anyway, the children all lined up in their class lines and the mothers crowded in around the children being nosey and bossy but not really helping anything.  Then they heard that I was going along on the trip.  Mothers started coming up to me and begging me to help take care of their child, help them int he bathroom, make sure they stayed with the group, protect them, etc.

This is when I started to panic.

I was nodding, "of course'" to the moms but on the inside thinking, I couldn't pick their child out in a lineup.  My heart was pounding with the responsibility.  2 adults 50 kids, and one of those adults was pretty inept at the language.  This should be interesting.

The classes piled onto 8 charter busses and off we went.  You would have thought we were setting out on a world tour by the way the moms were standing next to the busses waving, and ultimately following the busses waving for bit.

The entire one hour drive out to the zoo I prayed for the Lord's mercy and helping hand over these kids, and that the parents of whichever child(ren) who was lost or mangled by an animal would forgive me in due time.  I was certain that not all of us would be returning on that bus.

Luckily I was seated next to a odd child who thought that I was interesting and kept rattling on the whole time.  He had great questions like, "can you write in American?" "What do Americans eat?" "What is my favorite animal?" "What animals will we see?"  The list was endless and my head was throbbing.

We arrived at the zoo at 11:00.  Um... zoo doesn't open until 11:30.  I guess nobody thought to check that minor detail!

So the eight charter busses full of excited, unruly, screaming children back (yes, I said back) their way up a VERY steep hill and drop us all off at the park on the top.

Hello people trying to enjoy a nice quiet walk in the park.  A few hundred kids have arrived!!!  Hope you like screaming!!

We were up by the windmill, and the zoo was way down in that valley.  I can't say this enough, we backed up the mountain, in a charter bus,  to this park.  I was thanking God that in His wisdom and great plans we were all going to die so that then I wouldn't have to answer to the parents of the lost and/or mangled children when we returned to the school.

But, we survived.  And after a  few minutes of running around and eating the lunches that they were supposed to eat later we hopped back on the bus and again headed toward the zoo.  This time it was open.

We saw lovely creatures like this:

I was at the back of the group praying to God that no one got left behind when I heard screaming and saw children scattering and running for their lives.  Feathers were flying and sound of wings frantically flapping filled the air.  The kids parted and this is what was coming my way:

Callie's teacher wrestling and ultimately capturing a peacock!  Look at the kids.  They've hopped fences and are fleeing to the hills!

He managed to get the bird in his arms.

After a bit more struggling,

and wing flapping,

and last ditch efforts,

the bird reconciled to his fate.

The teacher explained to the kids all about peacocks, and then released the bird.  As we were walking away, some old lady walked right up to the peacock and snatched one of its fancy feathers out!!  I used to feel sorry for the animals in cages.  I think in this country the animals in the cages are the lucky ones!!

We moved along looking at the animals.  The teacher had told the kids to bring pencil and paper to take notes on each animal.  So the kids were walking around like little detectives writing down who knows what!

We came along to the lions' cage.  The teacher explained to us that this was a mom and 3 babies.  The babies were 8 months old.  You can see him sort of reaching towards the cage.

That's because he was playing Here Kitty, Kitty with the babies.  They would jump up and bat against the cage.  I was waiting for him to lose a finger, or at least his camera!

Then we arrived at the bears' den.  Doesn't this bear look close?

That's because he was!  (Have I ever told you that safety is not really a concern in this country?)

Here he is looking up at the children.  They are furiously searching through their snack-bags for food to toss at the bear.

He liked the food and wanted more!  Hey kids!  Who wants to pet a hungry bear?  

Hello bird!

This post is getting too long.  I will continue the rest tomorrow.  The monkey story will shock you!!!