When Pigs Fly: A News Update

Check the sky because today the pigs are flying!!!  And I am a happy girl.

Today started like any other day.  But then about 9:30 the washing machine repair guys called and arranged to bring my machine back.

After I regained consciousness from the shock I knew today was going to be a good  GREAT day.

The guys brought my beloved machine back all cleaned up and fixed.  They even replaced a broken knob that I had super glued back on the thing- no charge!

For the knob not the newly replaced electrical system.  That cost big bucks!

When the machine broke I considered that God was giving me a sign that I should run out and buy a new washing machine.  And as long as I had made the trip to the store I should celebrate the fact that dryers are finally coming into the country by buying one of those, too.  A fantastic plan, no?  He assured me that this was not the case.  So did Justin.

I will survive.  But after doing laundry all evening, there is not a spare nook or cranny of the flat that does not have some sort of wet fabric hanging from it!  My racks can't hold it all!

In other great news, I spent the afternoon eating cheesecake.

HELLO!!

We don't really have that here.  But, there is one little shop in the most lovely little village nearby that is owned by a foreign lady.  She sells some of our products, so my friend asked my to ride along with her to check the stock.

What kind of friend would I be to allow her to ride alone, or eat cheesecake alone, for that matter?  Mine was chocolate.  It was divine!

The final straw to the loveliness of today was as I was cooking dinner the school shirt store called.  They got the shirts in that I needed.

Can I get an Amen and a Hallelujah?

I fainted again!  Oh, the shock is to great for my weak ticker!!!

My neighbor and I went up there and got the shirts.  They are in my house right now!!

In total I went up to that store no less than 6 times.  The last few they would laugh when I walked in.  That's why they finally had mercy on me and took my number down.  Tonight the call came!  I felt like Ed McMahon was at my door handing me a big 'ole check!!

It was a great day.  Great indeed!!!

So, check you local forecast.  Look to the sky.  Pigs are flying somewhere right now!!!


****Shocking Update*****
(that may be an exaggeration)

Justin's shoes were stolen the same night mine were!!  We just didn't notice as quickly.  I talked to my neighbor today.  Shoes were stolen from her building, too!

I thought that all the shoes they sell in the bazar looked used.  Now I know they are!!  I cannot stop myself from staring at everyone's feet as they pass.  Who knows how I'll react when I see someone walk by with mine on!!

Good Conversation

This morning's conversation with Lucy:

Me: Did you have enough for breakfast?

Lucy: I did not eat Some Jellibons (our version of gummy bears).

Me: Ok.

Lucy: Do not look in the trash can.

Me: Why don't you want me to look in the trash?

Lucy: Absolutely do not look in there.  There's nothing in the trash can.

Me: It seems like you don't want me to look in the trash can.  Is there an empty Jellibon wrapper in there?

Lucy: What?

Me: Did you eat Jellibons this morning?

Lucy: I'm not sure.  Do you want to play ponies?

She's not as innocent as she looks!!

Who Stole my Shoes?

If you know me well, you know that although I try very hard to act laid back, I am not!  I am very intentional and methodical.  I love details, and I want things done right the first time.  Lovely, right?  I bet Justin would disagree.  Life with me can be very hard!

That little preface is important background information for what I am about to tell you.


MY SHOES WERE STOLEN!!!

In most Middle Eastern cultures homes are kept absolutely spotless.  Since everyone walks everywhere through who knows what nastiness on the streets, shoes are ALWAYS removed at the door.  They are never worn inside.

So we have a cute little shoe shelf right outside our door.  Last night when the kids and I came up to to our flat from playing outside I removed my shoes and put them on the shelf just like always.  (Read first paragraph about being methodical!)

Yet when we were trying to leave today to walk to school they were gone!!  We searched the house and the building stairs (seven flights) to see if they'd been misplaced or dropped down.

NO SHOES!!!

But I already knew that.  I NEVER lose anything because I am so methodical about putting things away.

Who on earth would have taken my shoes?!  Certainly they are awesome, but come on!


In other news, our washing machine is broken.  The guys came today to look at it and had to take it away and (I think) replace the electrical system.  When I asked them how long it would be gone they said, "a little while."

Um... 2 days or 2 weeks?  What's a little while?

They promised me no more than 4 days!!

Remember this (still) ongoing battle?

I should have kissed that washing machine bye while they were carrying it out the door because chances are that I will never see it again!

I guess a washing machine AND tennis shoes are on my Christmas list and its not even October yet!

First Day of School

The first day of school was last Monday.  Ironically, my kids' first week of school was my niece and nephew's fall break from school!  Anyhow, it went ok.  It is so hard to get back into the routine.  But I was so relieved when both Noah and Callie came running out at the end of the day with huge smiles talking about how great this year is going to be!

They are both so smart and do really well in school.  I cannot say enough how very proud of them I am.  They read and write two languages as well as speak the local language so perfectly that (without looking at them) you wouldn't think they were foreign.  They make very good grades, adapt well to new situations, and make friends quickly.  They are really doing such a great job at thriving here.  It makes my heart burst with joy and pride!

Here's their annual first day of school picture:

First Day of School 2010

Callie was mad about something so this is the best I could get!



P.S.- Happy Birthday to my dear sweet friend, Ramona!!  You are such a blessings to us!  Hope that your day is great!

Sunday Sneak Peak

Oh yes ma'am I did get to spend the afternoon taking pictures like this!  Sweet mercy the cuteness made my womb scream!  I tried to put the little(er) one in my purse, but their parents were watching me too closely.  Next time I'll get one!!

12 Drummers Drumming

Someone very important or someone who likes to party on my block must be getting married because they have been banging the drums and dancing in the streets for two days!  I want to dress up like a man and go up there and spy on them.  All I can see when I hang my head out our window is a tiny snippet of the man dancing.  It looks so fun.  And I know that the women must be somewhere (hopefully) having fun, too!

These aren't the best pictures in the world but maybe if you look closely you can get an idea of what they are doing.  The blurs in the middle are the men dancing.  It is so fun to watch!

TMI

My stomach is still having a really hard time re-adjusting from my summer diet of pork, Cheetos, and Dr. Pepper to my regular diet of tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, and rice.

Medical Advice

Here's a post for all you mothers of baby girls out there....

I learned from my neighbor that if you put teacups on your little girl's chest she will end up with nice big boobs!  She didn't give any other information, but I am sure you could ask you child's pediatrician as this is surely very true and good medical advice.


***Disclaimer- I am not responsible for the size of your child's body parts in any way, shape or form.  Consult a physician before practicing crazy village traditions!

School's In Session

We are definitely back.  Its hotter than I prefer.  The sweat is rolling.  And, we have already had our fair share of interesting adventures!

Boy had I forgotten how hard it is to accomplish anything here!!  Forget the days of lists with mutliple things on them.  I'm lucky to get one thing done each day!

This past week I have been trying to get the kids ready for school.  It started today.  (Thank you Lord for your good and perfect gifts!!!)

One of the major components is uniforms.  I try to buy their clothes REALLY big so that they can wear them for at least two years.  So they didn't need too much.  Noah needed new pants because he grew too much.  They both needed new polo style school shirts as well.  One store in our area sells the polo style shirts.

Remember that we live in a HUGE city.  One store!  So along with a least a million other mothers and children I found myself smashed into an un-airconditioned store last week searching for the correct shirts.  A few elbows may have been thrown- but, that's neither here nor there!

Found!

Hallelujah!!

But... (there's always a but) they did not have the long sleeve shirts.  I was told they would be in on Friday.  Ok, whatever.

We give the clothes to the people.  They have this weird triple tagging system.  So they hand me one set of the tags and I go up three floors to pay for the uniforms.

Have a I mentioned that I have all three kids with me?

And we wait in line with half of the city.  It takes awhile.

After I pay, we go to yet another location and pick up the clothes.  I promise the kids we will be back on Friday to get their long sleeve shirts.    Last year I didn't know that they could wear long sleeve polo style shirts so I only bought the long sleeve button down ones.  When they wear those to school they have to also wear their ties- even Callie.  So they were dying for long sleeve polo style shirts!

Oddly enough they only sell uniform items at the beginning of the school year.  You cannot get them after about the first month of school.  So you have to make sure you have exactly what you need.  So, I was feeling the pressure to get everything we possibly could need for the year.

Anyway we went back up to the store on Friday.  Its a minibus ride and then a long walk.  We arrive at the store with now even more of the population since school is about to start.  I would estimate that 4 million people were in that store, but that may not be exact!

Oh yes, they have the shirts, but they are upstairs and will be brought down in about two hours.  At this point lovely Christian blessings may not have been what was going across my mind.  I'll just confess it now.

The kids freak!

I promise them that as soon as I drop them off at school on Monday I will walk back up to the store and get their shirts.

It's Monday.  I just got back from there.  Guess how many shirts I bought?

NONE!!!

They never mentioned that they only got in ONE SIZE of the shirts.  The size is neither of the ones I want.

The guy told me that they would be getting more in sometime this week.  I'll be sure to hurry on up there every afternoon until I die or the shirts come in!

Anyways, the kids look extra cute in their button down shirts with ties!

The real clincher to the whole story is that I have also been playing the same game with the tailor.  Everyone takes things to the tailor here.  They are (usually) inexpensive and super quick.  People don't much have their own sewing machines at home.

So, I've had a few pairs of pants that need to be hemmed and some shirts that need the sleeves shortened.  I dropped them off a week ago.  I have been back 3 times!!!  Every time he gives me a new day to come back and like some crazy person I do it.

Today I was like, look, I know you are really busy because school is starting.  I am not is a hurry, I just don't want to keep coming up here all the time.  Just give me a real date of when the things will be done, please!

Wednesday.

Fat chance!!!

Sunday Sneak Peak

Justin and I at Paul and Melissa's Wedding

Eggs

Eggs here are not sold in a dozen or evan any multiple of six at all.

GASP!! I KNOW!

Usually they are sold in tens. Or however many you need at the moment and send your kid to get at the market. It is so weird.

I learned that the idea or a dozen is completely western. Who would have thought?

Another thing about eggs here is that they are not refrigerated. They are sold fresh and therefore (in theory) don't need to be. None of us has gotten salmonella poisoning yet, so I guess its not a big deal.

Oh... and the egg yolks here are really really orange. Like scrambled eggs are a totally different color here kind of orange. Strange!

Finally, another thing I must tell you about eggs... if you can handle all of this heart-stopping information is this. They do not clean the eggs. I am no fan of birds of any type. But even if I was, handling an egg that has the stray bit of poop and feathers is enough to make anyone wan to lose their lunch (or breakfast in this case). YUCK!

Just wash the dern eggs people!! Is that too much to ask?

Oh gosh.. don't hate me but I just remembered one last thing. I promise this is the last thing. One time Justin was making breakfast for the girls and when he cracked the egg a tiny dead chicken embryo came out. Thank you God and all the angels in heaven that that did not happen to me because this family would never see another egg again!!

That's you local egg-ucation for the day.

That's a funny one, right? Egg-ucation! Hello? Hello? Is this thing on?

Lying

One of the questions people asked us a lot while we were in the States was what makes living here difficult. One of the hardest things about living here is that is seems to be perfectly fine to lie. Everyone does it- those who claim utmost piety right down to those who don't know any better.

It is really hard to teach the kids not to lie (and keep ourselves honest) when they are surrounded by it. Here are some examples:

Callie's teacher told the class that they put rat's blood in cola. He was trying to convince the kids not to drink things that are not good for them. But there is a better way.

Our friend is the head of the Islamic Studies department at a local university. He and his family are very committed followers of Islam. We used to live very close to each other but our boys went to different schools. Early on we asked them how their son got into the good school. They told us how to get a fake rental contract to get our kids into whichever school we desire.

Our friend Murat always tells Lucy that if she'll come give him a kiss on the cheek (normal behavior here) he will give her a sugar cube. He never gives her the sugar.

Yesterday, Noah was playing and accidently hit our neighbor's car with a stick. It made a mark. A few ladies from our building saw the incident and told Noah that the owner was coming and he should run and hide.

He came upstairs worried. He told me what happened. I took him down to show him how to handle the situation.

First we asked the ladies where the owner was (that they said was coming). Turns out- no surprise- they were lying! They asked how I found out what happened, talking about Noah denting the car. I said that he told me about it and we want to make things right. This is how we believe that God wants us to treat others.

So, I asked them who the real owner was. They told me, but emphasized over and over that it was no big deal and I shouldn't say anything. Because shame and honor are the biggest guides to personal conduct here, I said that harming someone else or their property and not taking responsibility for it would not honor my name or God's name. They were shocked at my stance.

Then I took Noah up to our neighbors house and explained what happened and apologized. I offered to show her (or more likely have my husband show her husband) the damage and pay for it. She was very gracious and did not want any part of my offer. It really wasn't a big deal. But for all of us, Noah, the neighbor ladies, and myself it was a lesson in honesty.

Some of the examples that I've used may not seem like any big deal. But, as a person who, quite honestly (no pun intended), has struggled with lying, I can tell you that integrity is built by one tiny truth at a time!

I think that this post also answers another common question that we got while in the States. People often asked us how do we share our faith since we cannot hold any type of formal Bible studies or anything of that sort. Well, the story about the car is an example of how we do it. We just live out our faith. And frankly, although we are in a land of very religious people, our behavior stands out.

This is NOT to say that we are special or perfect in any way. Far from it!! It is just to say that the Lord uses even tiny actions to highlight Himself. We pray that the things we do here bring him glory.

Let's Praise Him Today

"Soak me in your laundry and I'll come out clean, scrub me and I'll have a snow-white life. Tune me in to foot-tapping songs, set these once-broken bones to dancing. Don't look too close for blemishes, give me a clean bill of health. God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life. Don't throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me. Bring me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails! Give me a job teaching rebels your ways so the lost can find their way home. Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God, and I'll sing anthems to your life-giving ways. Unbutton my lips, dear God; I'll let loose with your praise."
Psalm 51:6-8

Jack Hammers

I have had the lovely sound of jack hammers ringing in my ears for a while now. The beautiful new asphalt that was laid (poured? done?) just a week ago is already being removed in places. I think they were in such a hurry to get it done before the holiday that they did a sloppy job. Now they are having to go back and redo a lot of things!

That's how that goes!


Also, to the person that I told that its not all that loud here,

I LIED!

It is so stinkin' loud here! There is constant city noise flowing up into my window.

I am so sorry! I didn't mean to lie. It turns out that when I crossed the border going to the States this summer I got some sort of amnesia. It's like that pregnancy amnesia that you get.

You forget all of the bad stuff and can only remember it as a glorious experience. Then the next time you go into labor, its like, "Oh Crap!! I remember this. It's gonna hurt!!!"

When we got back here We were sort of like, "Oh, its not like we remembered it." Maybe more realistically like, "Oh Crap!! I remember this. It's gonna hurt!!!"

Don't get me wrong, its nice here. But perhaps not quite like the glowing report I gave it this summer. I wasn't trying to be dishonest, I just forgot. My, my, how the memories are slapping me in the face now.

This truly is a different land!!

Sunday Sneak Peak

Summer Highlights

Today is the last day of the holiday. Every house we visited they served us baklava.

I never want to taste baklava again.

Tomorrow is a big election here. So, a week ago the current party put sidewalks in and paved our street. Its the way they buy votes here without doing anything wrong. The uneducated only see the simple things that make their lives a bit nicer and think, "wow that person really is working to make my life better" and vote for them. Tricky!

Justin had a Moroccan born German citizen in town for a few days. This man owns a business and may be interested in hiring Justin to expand the business into this country. Anyway, he stayed with us for a few nights.

He speaks several languages. His English is good but every now and again he asks the famous, "how do you say...?". He asked what a word for something that goes up and down irregularly is. When someone asks you this kind of question you usually cannot think of just the right word on the spot. So, we were guessing...

unbalanced

unstable

I then tried to convince him that the correct word was "catywompus."

I enjoyed hearing him try to say that one!!!

By the way, the word we were looking for was "fluctuating." We did finally figure it out. When he asked how to spell it Justin said, "I know theres an X in there somewhere."



I don't know if Justin will get the job.

Today is the first day of the BIG three day holiday here. It's like Christmas. Everyone is out, dressed in their best clothes, visiting relatives and friends. Talking, laughing, eating.

I am hanging up laundry on my balcony and watching them.

A Day in the Life

One of the most common questions that I got while back in the States was, "What do you do all day?"

This was a very hard question for me to answer because most of the time I feel like I have no clue. All I know is that I am usually fairly busy and whatever I do it takes all day to do it.

Here's what today looked like:

Justin left this morning at 4:50 am with a potential business partner to travel to another city.

9:45- Wake-up (I know. I know! I KNOW!!!) The Jet-lag and the Ramadan drummer are killin' me!

Hear the kids fighting. Break up the fight and discover that they made themselves breakfast. Lovely!

Clean-up their breakfast mess.

Shower and get ready for the day. Preform small self surgery involving sterilized fingernail clippers, a magnifying mirror, and some unwanted skin on face.

Make everyone else get ready for the day.

Fix girls' hair.

11:00- Start a load of laundry. Bring in laundry off of the racks on the balcony. Fold. Put away.

11:45- Hang out clean laundry.

12:00- Fix lunch. Eat lunch.

12:45- Leave the flat with the goals of dropping my cell phone off to be fixed and going to the outdoor market. Just 2 goals!

Minibus to phone store. Phone can't be fixed there, and must be taken to the service department. They provide address.

Minibus to highway. Squeeze ourselves out of the minibus. Several people have to get off just to let us out- its that packed!

1:30- Get in taxi. Give kids the look of death that says if you don't behave in this taxi I'll open the door while we're moving and release the offender into traffic.

I give the taxi driver the address of the service department. Yes! He knows exactly where that is located.

Famous last words.

2:30- After 20 Lira, several wrong turns, and stopping to ask directions a few times we arrive at service department.

Pull number 104. They are on number 89.

Put on fake smile and holler at children through clinched teeth every so often. Give the stink eye. Forbid getting any more water from the water cooler.

3:30- Number called. Approach desk, start sweating, try to explain problem with cell phone.

Learn that this service center does not service Samsung phones. Fantastic!! Get address of Samsung service center.

Contemplate who to strangle. Leave instead.

Walk up two blocks. Stop at bakery so the girls can use the restroom (because they drank all of the water in the water cooler.). Walk another block. Take the pedestrian walkway over the highway. Look at passing cars below from holes in bridge. Buy little bread snacks and juice boxes for kids. Wait at bus stop.

4:15- Get on the bus towards the area with the Samsung service center. Key fob doesn't have any more credit on it. Seat the kids walk back up the the front of the bus and fish around in my purse for change. Pay the fare.

Sit with kids who are still eating their snacks while everyone gives us the stink eye because it is Ramadan and they are fasting.

Contemplate the fact that by the time we arrive at the correct location it may be closed.

5:20- Get off bus. Ask for directions to Samsung service center.

5:25- Find correct place and draw a number. Remember to thank Jesus because the place is actually open until 6!!

5:30- Number called. Approach desk, start sweating, try to explain problem with cell phone. Girl takes it to the back. Comes back and says they can fix it while I wait. Another "Thank you to Jesus!"

Lucy tips over funky modern looking chair and everyone who was not already staring at us begins to stare at us. I want to die. No, I want to run far, far away to a land where children have nannys and women get free massages on Tuesdays.

5:50- Man returns with fixed phone. No charge. It actually works! Yet another "Thank you Jesus!"

Everything was erased off of it. I'll live.

5:55- Enter local McDonalds tired and defeated. Kicking myself that we have only been back in country for 5 days and we are already in a McDonalds. Eat. Kids are happy. I am happy.

Scratch going to outdoor market off of my list.

6:25- Arrive at bus stop. Check schedule. Just missed bus. Next one comes at 6:50. Refill key fob.

Try to keep kids from being hit by passing buses. Contemplate jumping in front of said buses.

6:45- Bus arrives. Drives leaves and locks door. Line forms.

7:00- Driver returns. Apparently angry with passengers for wanting to get on bus. Find seats.

Traffic is bad because every human in this city is trying to get home before the fast break meal at 7:35. Fasting people are grumpy!

Kids fall asleep. Lucy is on my lap. Callie is doubled over next to me. Noah is on my other side with his head flailing around every time the bus makes a turn. His mouth is wide open. I try holding his head while holding Lucy with my other arm. Blood ceases to flow all the way to hands. Sweating is profuse. People are staring.

8:30- Arrive at our stop. Wake children. Carry Lucy 2 blocks home. Try not to die.

8:45- Bathe kids. Read Chapter 2 of "Ramona Quimby Age 8."

9:30- Tuck kids in bed.

Think to myself, "Now, what the heck did I do all day? Really? Really! 1 thing!!! UGH!!!"

Eat a Snickers bar.

That makes 2 things!

Numbers

Pounds we've gained: 35

Bags we brought back: 5 Carry-on, 12 checked, 2 handheld

Time it took from our door in America to our door here: 25 hours

Security checkpoints we passed through: 5

Days till school starts: 14

How much we miss our families and friends already: a zillon

Sunday Sneak Peak

I LOVE THESE GIRLS!!

Things I'd Forgotten

*The Ramadan drummer walks the streets beating his drum to wake everyone up for their last meal before sunrise (at 4 am). UGH!!

*It smells different here. Not better or worse, just different.

*My kitchen is narrow.

*Living in a flat means trying to live as quietly as possible.

*It feels good to walk places.

*The bus is crowded.

*Fresh hot Ramadan Pide is fantastic!

*Our friends and neighbors here are really kind.

*Our elevator is tiny.

*The Call to Prayer blaring over the loudspeaker from the mosques always reminds me that we are in a foreign land.

*All of the rules are different here.

*No matter how much it feels like you are about to die is the taxi, you never really do.

*The suitcases cannot unpack themselves.

We're Home

We are home.

The trip was long and we are worn out. But everything went fine- the kids were as good as can be expected and all of our luggage arrived with no problem.

Jet lag and culture re-shock are setting in!

So much I had forgotten!

Pray for Us

In 30 minutes everyone will be here to help load up our stuff and take us to the airport. Our flight leaves around 9 pm. We have an 8 hour layover in London, and then another 4 hour flight to our final destination.

Would you pray for peaceful goodbyes, safety, all of our stuff to arrive, and sanity, please?