From Asia to Europe in 4 Minutes

After 10 years, the Marmaray project has finally been completed.  It is a subway that goes under the Bosphorus, linking the European and Asian sides of the city.  It opened with much fanfare on Cumhuriyet Bayramı, Tuesday.

So, for date night tonight, Justin and I decided to try it out.  I have to tell you I was equal parts terrified and curious.  But in the end, the novelty of breezing through the continents won out.

The map shows you going under the Bosphorus

Selfie under the Sea

I said it was completed, but I guess it's more accurate to say that's it has opened.  Currently it only has 4 stops.  They are working to expand this metro system and many of the other public transport systems in the city.  One day, they should all link up and make travel throughout the city effortless and quick.  I'm pretty sure I'll be dead by then!

You can learn more about the tunnel here and here.

Cumhuriyet Bayramı

Today was the 90th anniversary of the founding of this republic.  The it is a big deal here (think 4th of July).  Everyone has the day off of work and school.  There is an amazing fireworks display all down the big straight.  And, there is a general feeling of national pride.

The kids have the day off of school, but typically they end up having to go to school to be in various ceremonies and celebrations.  Noah was playing the drum for his school band and Callie's class sang a song.  Their bus picked them up and dropped them back off when it was over.

Lucy was asked by the English teacher to read a translation of the country's founding father's quotes.  Her ceremony was supposed to start at 9:30 and Noah and Callie's was to start at 10:00.  So we were hoping that we could make both.

It didn't happen.

It took them forever to get organized and start the ceremony at Lucy's school.  Then, her group went towards the end.  I was sad to miss Noah and Callie's performance.  Especially because I wanted to see Noah play the drums.  Hopefully there will be another chance soon!

Practicing before the ceremony

Little Lucy standing up in front of everyone saying her part!
We were so proud of how brave she was and what a great job she did!

Sunday Sneak Peek: Lucy's Farm

***I promise that I love Justin, Noah, and Callie just as much as I love Lucy.  It just happens that Lucy and I are home together all morning, and she loves to have her picture taken!***

Cooking Rut

Yall, I am in a cooking rut!  Does anyone have some simple, yummy recipes... that they will come to my house and make?  So, I guess it doesn't have to be simple!

Exciting Update!

Well, I know ever since you read this post you have been on your knees for us in intercessory prayer.  The difficult trials that we face on a daily basis are sometimes overwhelming!

But, through the power of the internet, I learned that devil birds crows hate movement.  One website suggested that I put out some pinwheels.  You can bet I was out the door and headed to the toy store in nothing flat!  I bought one normal pinwheel and a large pinwheel, came home, and stuck them in the pots on my balconies.

Praise the Lord, I have not seen a crow on my balcony in two days!!!  TWO DAYS!!!

Yall, I am pretty sure that I'm not overstating this when I tell you we are experiencing the MIRACLE CURE FOR CROWS!!!!!!  Finally something good came form the internet!

Amen and hellelujah!!  Thank you Lord!

Dreams Come True

We had the hardest time thinking of a birthday gift for Lucy this year!  She just didn't need or want anything!  But, several months ago, a new gymnastics place opened in town.  So, I got the bright idea that gymnastics would be the perfect gift from us and my parents.

The Tuesday before Lucy's birthday Justin and I went to sign her up for classes.  Although the place had tons of promise, it still wasn't doing well.  So, there weren't a lot of class times and the open gym times were all at times that Lucy was in school.  We left disappointed and at a complete loss as to what to get Lucy- not just from us, but my parents were also wanting to pitch in.

Luckily it was date night, so Justin and I went to Starbucks to brainstorm.  What on earth could we get Lucy?!

It occurred to me to check on the cost of horseback riding lessons.  Anyone who knows Lucy knows that she is crazy about animals, especially dogs and horses!  So we got on the internet and starting searching.  We were so excited to find that horseback riding lessons were less expensive than the gymnastics, so she could take an extra month!  Justin went out to the place the next morning to check it out and get the details.

Sure enough, Justin found a great stable with good prices!  Who would have imagined there would be a  lovely horse stable smack-dab in the middle of this giant city?!  We were so excited to tell Lucy.  We knew that she would totally flip out with excitement.  We waited until after her party to tell her, so that she would enjoy her party without focusing on horseback riding.  When we told her she screamed and screamed and screamed!  She was so excited, and she has not stopped talking about it since her birthday last Saturday.

Today was the big day!!  Lucy was up before the sun!  We were at the stable 20 minutes before her lesson was supposed to start!  That was fine, it gave her plenty of time to pet all of the dogs and admire the horses.

Doesn't she look adorable?

Here she is meeting Karamel, her pony.

Getting her stirrups adjusted.

You couldn't wipe the smile off of her face!

Sit up straight, heals down, chin up!

The instructor in the middle of the ring led her through all sorts of balancing exercises while the other instructor led her around the ring.

She even got to trot and post.

Saying goodbye to Karamel until next week.

The happiest girl in the world!!

More of Lucy's 7th Birthday Party

After the games the girls decided that they couldn't wait one second longer to give Lucy their gifts.  This was pretty much chaos, as they all packed in around Lucy shoving gifts in her face.  I tried to reign things back in, but was not successful.  

If I could have changed one thing about Lucy's party it would have been this time.  I should have sat them all in a nice circle and had them go up one at a time so Lucy could open the gift and thank her friend, and I could get a picture of the two of them.  Oh well, hindsight is 20/20!

Lucy got some sweet gifts.  Folks here like to give clothes as gifts, so she got some adorable shirts and leggings.  Also, they had just read a story in class about a little boy whose family only gave him books for his birthdays.  So, she got a few books.  Lucy's teacher said that, as the teacher, she could only give a book!  Also, she got a couple of Barbies.  Her favorite gift was a Barbie mermaid complete with a tail that lights up!  All the little girls gasped when they saw it!  It was adorable!

The Last bit of Lucy's 7th Birthday

 While the girls were suffocating Lucy with gifts, I got the food all set out and snapped a few pictures.

I had sent Justin and Callie to pick up the cake earlier in the morning.  I think he and I were both dreading it.  As a foreigner, you think you make yourself clear, but always second guess yourself.  I was worried sick that the cake wouldn't be ready or that it would be horrible.  Praise the Lord it was adorable and yummy!  RELIEF!!

Lucy wanted Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
It says Happy Birthday Melek (Lucy's local name).

I was very proud of my sarma- stuffed grape leaves.  All the ladies loved them and complemented me on doing a great job making local foods.

Starting behind the cake:
stuffed grape leaves, bulgur salad, savory cookies, sweet cookies, and savory layered spinach and cheese pastry.

Starting in the corner:
Lemonade and fruit juice, chocolate chip cookies, and mini banana nut muffins.

Before we lit the candles, I read a blessing over Lucy.  Basically I pieced Scripture together to share what we believe and what we hope for Lucy in the future.

Then we lit the 7 candles and 1 sparkler.  My hand was shaking so badly from nervousness that I could hardly light the sparkler!

Here is Lucy hugging her beloved Barbie Mermaid!

I laid out blankets and let the girls watch a local version of Little Mermaid.  This gave me a chance to get all the moms' plates made and served and then start making the rounds with tea.  I was running around like a crazy woman refilling everyone's tea glasses, plates, and cups.

The girls got tired of the movie a little too quickly and ended up pulling out all of Lucy and Callie's toys.  I was trying to avoid it, but I guess it was inevitable!  Their room was a disaster site!

At the last minute it occurred to me to round up the girls for a picture.
Unfortunately, by that time a few of them had already left.

Our last guest left at 5:30, just as Justin and Noah were walking in the door.  When Justin asked what time he should come home, I told him to come around 5:00 because if the party wasn't over by then, the ladies would scram as soon as my husband showed up!  HA!

Sweet Justin had spent the afternoon entertaining Noah, and then he came home and cleaned up the house for me!  He did all the dishes, vacuumed the floors and picked up Lucy and Callie's room.  What a sweetheart!!

Lucy had a great 7th birthday!

Lucy's 7th Birthday Party

As I have written on here a time or twenty, I decided this was the year to throw Lucy a big 'ole birthday bash for her seventh birthday.  I have been seeking the Lord about sowing widely, and I felt like this would be a good start to some deeper friendships for Lucy and me!

Of course, I took a bajillion pictures, so I'll break this post up into a few parts.  Today's post:

Game time!

We asked everyone to come around 1:00.  By 1:30 the majority of the girls had arrived and so our sweet babysitter and Callie started the games.  Callie and I had a list of games that we had prepared.  We had a couple of balloon relays that didn't really work out.  But Pin the Crown on the Princess (Prensesine Tacı Tak), Doggy Doggy, Where's your Bone? (Köpek Köpek Mamanı Nerede), and Statues (Heykeller) were big hits.  And the piñata was as crazy as can be expected!

Here Esin is introducing herself to the girls.

They each went around and said their names.
Lucy didn't even know everyone's name!

Then it was time to line up and get ready for Pin the Crown on the Princess.

Lucy went first and Callie made sure she couldn't see a thing!

Justin drew the most adorable Snow White for the girls to use.

Everyone lined up ready to play.

By the end, Snow White had A LOT of crowns!

The girls loved playing Statues- where you play music and when you stoop it everyone freezes.  Whoever moves is out.  They play this game here, so it wasn't a new one.  Noah and Lucy worked together to make a special party mix.

The highlight of the party for me was watching little Fatma, in the white dress, who is about a foot smaller than everyone else dance around to Gangnam Style.  It was hysterical!

After a few rounds of statues, there was a mutiny, and the girls just ended up having a dance party.
They were so cute!

All the moms were curious about the piñata, so I decided to do that in the living room so everyone could see.  We used wooden spoons because I thought it might be a bit safer.

There wasn't quite enough room for the kids to form a decent line.  Shockingly, no one got hit with a spoon, even though they were crowding in to watch the action.  

I held the piñata while the kids tried to hit it.  Esin ended up just covering the kids eyes because we couldn't get them blindfolded fast enough.

After all the girls and their siblings had taken several whacks at it, I let Callie give it a big hit.  That broke it open but the candy didn't come out.  So I tore it in half and the candy went flying.

It was bedlam and a few kids were in tears.  (Not because they were hurt, just because they didn't get the particular candy they wanted.)  But, hey, that's what a birthday party is all about, right?

We had extra candy on hand to give out to the crybabies and everyone ended up happy.

It was fun but challenging to teach Lucy's friends new games.  Some things just don't cross cultures.  The piñata was fun, but I think I'll save that for the next outdoor picnic.  As always, Pin the Tail on the Donkey was a hit.  It has become my faithful go-to game, and it always goes over really well!