Well, I Guess it's Dinner with the King Tonight

I am realizing how spoiled rotten I was in the big city!  In just the 7 years that we've been there we saw the Western Restaurants expand from just McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Burger King, Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts and Domino's to Sbarro, KFC, Popeye's, Subway, Schlotzky's, Krispy Kreme, Papa John's, Carl's Jr. (The only place in town besides IKEA where you can get free refills), Arby's, and probably a lot more that I'm forgetting. In fact, in the last year we even got Jamie Oliver's Italian Bistro, Shake Shack, Cold Stone Creamery (I miss you, my love!!), and there's rumor of Taco Bell coming soon!

Here we have Burger King and Domino's!  Not too tempting!  Ha!

Meat Eaters

While we were up on the plateaus in the little town on Monday we decided to grab a quick bite to eat.  For such a small town, there is a disproportionate amount of butchers.  (After dinner we found out why when we drove through the countryside and realized that it is a great place to raise animals.)  Each of the butchershops was also a little restaurant.  So we ducked into one to taste the local specialties.

Yall, this place was for real.  It was a no thrills place where you could hear the butcher processing the meat and even cutting it down to the servings that arrived at our table shortly after!  If we had sat downstairs we could have watched the whole process- the circle of life!  Ha!

We had lambchops, little beef patties, and water... and that was it!  NO sides, no Cokes, nothing.  This was a very focused business!  Ha!

Carnivore selfie!

Weighing the meat

Justin and Noah were talking with the old man at the cash register about the different currencies he had under the glass.
That huge tree stump was where the chopping and pounding were done.

They had decorated with all sorts of cowbells (which folks still use here to find their cow).
To the far right is the huge wood-fire grill where they cooked the meat.  YUM!

Çambaşı

Yesterday after we finished homeschool and had sufficiently chilled out for awhile we started getting antsy.  It is way too hot and humid to do much so finally we decided to drive up into the mountains to see what we could discover.

We drove inland a bit and as we gained altitude it was like passing through different climates.  We passed the hazelnut trees planted methodically along the steep mountains.  Then up through the forest areas into piney woods.  Finally we came out on top of the world!  The mountains level off into amazing grassy plateaus of indescribable beauty!  It was at least 30 degrees cooler.

We found a little town- the same town that we tried to explore back in the winter but it was too covered in snow!

Driving into the little town way up in the mountains.

Luckily, I am broke or I could have spent a fortune buying the fresh local homemade cheeses, butter, honey, molasses, and handmade crafts like baskets and textiles.

Justin with his girls!

After we ate a quick dinner and explored the town a bit we decided to drive out in another direction to see what was around the next bend... and the next bend... and the next bend.  We couldn't force ourselves to stop.  It was all so beautiful and so intriguing!  I've never really spent much time up on plateaus.

Looking back at the little town as we headed out.

The mountains were amazing at sunset!

This land is perfect for livestock.  We saw shepherds and sheep dotting the plains.

Me and my girl!

We were always so curious to find out what was around the next bend in the road.

Of course, we had to stop to run through the grass!

That crazy little speck is Noah!

As the sun set we finally had to turn around and come home.  Justin wasn't sure what condition the roads ahead would be in and driving them at night didn't seem like a good plan.

We are hoping to find just the right picnic spot and spend many hours with local friends up on these hills!

First Day of Bayram

Today is the first day of Şeker Bayramı, Sugar Holiday.  Praise the Lord we survived another Ramadan!!  I can finally sit out on my lovely balcony with a big ole glass of lemonade and watch the world go by!!

Even though it's a holiday for everyone else, we decided that it was the first day of real life for us.  We started homeschool this morning.  It went really well.  I met with some educational consultants at our conference last month and they really helped me streamline and focus what we need to do to supplement our kids' local education.  We are all excited for the changes!!

The holiday that follows Ramadan is 3 days.  Holidays here usually involve new clothes, lots of visiting, eating, and even little gifts for children.  The first day is saved for visiting older relatives.  The second day consists of more relatives, and maybe by the third day folks get around to visiting friends and neighbors.  Although we've found in recent years folks are worn out and just do the necessary visits to their older relatives.

We used to get all geared up and head out visiting as well.  But, we haven't found the time very fruitful or even fun.  Folks are just worn out.  So we've given ourselves a break and decided to save our visits for times when people can actually form a sentence and want to hang out!

Since the holiday started on a Monday, we noticed that folks started clearing out on Saturday.  Since we really don't know anyone, we don't know exactly where they are going.  The few folks we've talked to were headed inland to their villages to have a day or two of holiday and then start the hazelnut harvest.  Slowly it's become like a ghost town around here and we don't know if things will pick back up after the holiday or after the harvest in several weeks.  There is so much to learn here!

Sunday Sneak Peek

Time to meet the neighbors!  We can't go empty handed, so I've been baking up a storm!

Banana Nut Muffins, Coffee Cake, and Peach Cobbler

Fresh Peach Cobbler in Pearl's dish ready to be returned!

Luna Park

They have set up a luna park, carnival, down on the beachfront in the main part of town for Ramadan.  The kids have been dying to go, but frankly we've been too tired or busy in the evenings.  Since tomorrow is the last day of Ramadan we figured we better hurry up and get over there.

All the kids have been talking about the carnival and comparing the rides.  So, our kids already knew exactly what rides they wanted to go on.  They were sort of expensive and also most of them were only for ages 13 and up- limiting their options.

We arrived right after iftar and it was sort of drizzling so it wasn't very busy yet. We walked all around to see the different rides.  After hearing from the other kids, out kids were dying to go on the ballerina.  But it was 13 and up.  They were bummed.  We headed over to the bumper cars instead.

Bumper cars NEVER disappoint!!

Then Lucy chose this bouncy kangaroo ride.  It was sort of lame, but she liked it.

Noah was so excited when he spotted this pirate ship.  He loves this type of ride!  (It takes me back to my childhood riding the Flying Dutchman at Six Flags!)

That's Noah at the very top in the orange shirt.

Finally, Callie decided that she was going on the ballerina no matter what.  This time when she got in line no one asked her age and she got right on without a problem.  She was sort of bummed that they sat her next to another kid.  Afterwards she said her arms were sore from gripping the side so tightly because she didn't want to get smooshed against the other kid.

Yall, this ride was CRAZY!!  Not only did it spin around at lightening speed, the skirt raised up and rotated around like a whirling dervish.  Then a strobe light started.  We were laughing so hard because the kids next to Callie was screaming for the guy to turn it off.  Callie was loving it!

After each kid spent their two tokens we walked along the boardwalk.  The rain had stopped and it  turned into a very pleasant evening.  Everyone was out and about enjoying the evening.  It was so fun!

Team Time

We have been chomping at the bit to see our co-workers who live in another city down the coast.  Since Thursday was the last day we were expecting any type of workman or delivery we set a date for Friday.  They suggested a beautiful place just up into the mountains from their city.  So we met close to their home and headed out!

They did not exaggerate!  The place they took us to was beautiful... the perfect escape from the heat, Ramadan, and moving madness!

We started out with a picnic feast!

The bread out here is HUGE!  This is half of the small loaf!

 Then after we ate and chatted for awhile we hiked up to an abandoned monastery.  You may remember that we visited a monastery built into the mountainside like this in the fall.  That one has been carefully protected and refurbished, but this one has not.

We hiked about 2km up a mountain road to a trail.  The trail was a little steep, but it wasn't too long.  We sort or came alongside the rockface and hiked up to the monastery entrance.  Noah was completely fearless and didn't hesitate to climb all around.  After we saw that he had survived the rest of us followed!  Ha!

Looking out from a second story window.

Now it's Callie's turn

My adventurous son!

These arches were amazing!  They have been around since the 1400's and support so much weight!

After awhile, the fog rolled in and it started to rain lightly.
Our friends say it rains almost every day up in these mountains.

The opposite view from earlier.  I was looking out the second story window down at Noah.
He was standing outside the chapel.  You could still see some of the chapel frescos although most of them had been vandalized.

We hiked back down to our picnic site in the drizzle.  Our friends brought tea in a thermos.  So we had perfect hot tea and cookies!

We had dinner together at the mall food court before we headed out of town.  While we were at the mall we had to find a place that sells coffee beans so that we wouldn't wither up and die.  Ha!  I had to fight the urge to get, like, 2 kilos, since we haven't found a coffee source in our town yet.  In the end we bought a two weeks supply in hopes that we find a little shop that sells coffee beans before that runs out!

This adventure was such a change of pace.  It was just what we needed to recharge and refresh.  It was such a blessing to be together as believers enjoying the Lord's great creation and fun fellowship!

Beach Break

The kids were begging to go to the beach, but we've been sort of stuck at home waiting for different folks to come hook up utilities, deliver furniture, etc. and running errands constantly.  

Finally today, the kids and I left Justin at home to wait for the electrician and we escaped to the beach!

The beach is about three blocks away.  It wasn't very crowded because it's still Ramadan.  The kids had a great time exploring the rocks and swimming all around.  I just mostly sat and read my book and thought about how thankful I am for how the Lord has blessed us.

Answered Prayers

As we were searching for a new home our constant prayer request was for a comfortable space with plenty of outdoor space for the kids to play.  The Lord answered our prayers!

The kids have been outside all day and late into the evening playing their hearts out!!  This neighborhood is so quiet, has tons of area for the kids to play, and is chock full of kids!  We've been loving it so far!

Thank you, Lord, for your goodness to us!!

Sunday Sneak Peek: Sweet Neighbor with Sweets

Our sweet neighbor, Pearl brought up a few plates of sweets tonight.  The one on the left is a type of baklava and the one on the right tastes about the same but is made with lots and lots of tiny strips of dough.

Praise the Lord for Pearl!

Moving Day

The day that I have looked forward to and dreaded at the same time has finally arrived!  After all this time in limbo, I'm just ready to dig in and get our home set up again!!

Let it begin!

Oh my word, this makes me want to cry!

After a ridiculously long day we got pretty much everything unpacked and found new homes for most of our stuff.  Our new apartment is smaller, but it has a really good layout and spaces.  I'll post pictures of our entire apartment some time soon!

So, I Live Close to the Beach Now!

Well... live might be a bit of an overstatement since all I really have are the keys to an empty apartment that is in my husband's name.  Technically, I guess I live at the little hotel we are staying in!  Ha!  Justin and Noah arrived in the car safely tonight (with all my house plants!) and all of our stuff is going to be stuffed into the apartment tomorrow!  I cannot wait to set up house again.

While the girls and I were at the apartment today waiting for the guy from the gas company we met three girls.  They came up and asked my girls to come out to play.  They showed them all around, introduced them to the guy who works at the corner market, and even showed us which doorbell was ours.  They were so sweet and excited to have us there.

As we were leaving the building a boy walked in.  He started to get on the elevator and then turned around to ask if we were the new neighbors.  He introduced himself and was happy to hear that I have a son the same age!  He was the most polite child I have ever met!

This neighborhood is off the beaten path, a two minute walk to the beach, and chock full of kids!  PTL!!  Not only that, but we have our own mailbox, a decent size kitchen sink (I haven't had one larger than a dinner plate in either of the other apartments we've lived in), bathroom storage, and more than one outlet in each room!!  It may not sound like much, but all those little things really add up!!

My heart is singing for joy!  

Our first meal in our new home!

The beach is a 2 minute walk from our home!

Dipping our toes in the Sea!

"The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy."

Psalm 126:3

Off We Go...

Into the wild blue yonder!

It's moving day and the girls are taking the easy way out!  Thanks, Jus, for taking one for the team.  You're awesome, Babe!!

One Last Meal

This family has been our family for 5 years.  The very first day we moved to this neighborhood from across town they called us over for tea.  And we've been together non-stop since!  

Saying goodbye is brutal!!

Half of the family is in other places, but our hearts are knit together.

Our iftar meal.
My dear friend made some of my favorites!

It is Bulent's birthday.  It's nice to have something to celebrate among the sadness.

One of the Lord's best gifts to me here!

Our 5 years in this apartment have been full of joy and tears, laughter and bickering, food and fun.  This is the longest I've lived in any place since my family moved at the end of my eighth grade year.  No one is more surprised than me to realize how comfortable we are here.  In those early years, I could never imagine that we'd ever achieve comfort or be able to just relax and be ourselves.  

That's happened here.

And now we are ready for new things.  Uncomfortable things.  Adventures.  Challenges.  New highs and new lows.  The Lord is good and He is drawing us out.  We're excited for this next step!

Ouch!

We are selling a bunch of stuff since we are downsizing.  It is surprising how much we've accumulated!  We arrived 7 years ago with our suitcases and nothing else.  We set up house and after two years moved into a larger apartment.  It was practically empty for quite some time.  But slowly we have filled it, too.  Although it is painful to weed through stuff, I am happy about downsizing.  When you have a large space it just seems to control you!  Keeping it up is exhausting!

Anyhow, slowly but surely people are coming out of the woodwork to buy our things.  Two guys came with a truck today to take a table to one family and a couch to another.  We haven't been able to sell our oven (my precious!).  Of all the stuff I've had to sell, this is probably the thing I least want to get rid of.  I just bought it a year ago after saving for over a year and then searching and waiting until just the right deal popped up.  Unfortunately it won't fit into the space at the new apartment so it has to go!

Tears!

Anyhow, since it hasn't sold our friend offered to store it at his office.  He has a friend that will most likely buy it when he returns next month.  So the guys that were taking the stuff today agreed to also that the oven up to the office.  Well, I just heard them drop it!!

Yep, they dropped it!!

They were trying to load it into their truck and crash!  Triple UGH!!

Justin assured me that they got it all put back together and it's not really damaged.  I'm not sure I believe that's possible!

I really needed the money from the sale of that oven so that I could buy a new one.  Oh well, I guess we're eating salads for a year!  Ha!

Sunday Sneak Peek

I guess this is really happening...