Çiğdem

My very poorest friend had her coal stove stolen a few weeks ago. They use them to heat their homes, and in the spring when it finally warms up, the women take the stoves outside and clean them thoroughly. Then they clean their homes like crazy (or even repaint the entire place if they can afford to) because the coal dust makes such a mess all winter long.

So, My friend took hers out, cleaned it, and chained it under the apartment stairs. One night the gypsies came through her neighborhood and stole everything in sight... including her stove. It is a tragedy because my friend is dirt poor. She can't even afford the coal to put in the stove. Usually she burns cardboard and scrap paper from work (she works in our office) and trash in her stove. She works three jobs because her husband refuses to work. He is abusive to her and her two boys, but she cannot divorce him because men have all the rights. He would automatically have custody of the boys, and no doubt make them quit school and work to support his lazy selfish ways. It is a terrible situation.

Slowly we have been reading the Bible with her and trying to make sure that she understands that the reason we act the way we do (loving, helpful, etc.) is because we are Christ followers, not because we are foreigners.

When I first met her, she was seriously trying to figure out a plan to kill her husband! She figured that even though she'd go to jail the boys would be in state custody and all three of them would be out from under the harsh reign of her husband. Now, things are getting better. She has grown in hope and faith. Her smile is genuine, and she is making the best of her situation. God is faithful and we are praying for a breakthrough in faith for her. Would you join us?

Exciting News

Tea club is going to be at my house this week, and you better believe that I am going to take pictures!! You have got to see my friends- including "Crazy Head!"

Callie has had ringworm for so long that we are going to make it our household pet and name it!

Oh the Places You'll Go...

Imagine my surprise and amusement when I found myself stuffed into a small car with five women and three babies. One of the women was about 673 years old, and I could swear that she is Yoda's twin (albeit slightly less green) sister. DELIGHTFUL!!

Rabbit trail alert!! Have I ever told you that the grammar structure of the language we are learning is backwards from English. Now that we are in the thick of language learning, sometimes our English gets a little "interesting!" This usually comes in the form of words we can only think of in the new language or English words in the new language's structure. So, we often end up speaking like Yoda. Get back I think on subject I will.

Anyhow, I think I have told you about my regular Tuesday afternoon date. I am part of a tea club. The same ladies get together each Tuesday afternoon for tea (and lots of food and talking). I am just getting to know some of these women, and I get quite confused when trying to figure out at who's house we will meet at and exactly where that house is.

Today it is rainy, YUCK. The motorists take much personal pleasure in trying to hit the puddles just as pedestrians are passing by. The kids and I totally got nailed on the way to school. FUN! But, I digress... Anyhow, it is rainy. My friend from downstairs said I could go with her to today's flat. I thought that they said it was just in the building next to ours. Lucy takes a nap in the afternoon, so I didn't put her raincoat on, I just had her all wrapped up in her blankie hoping she'd be asleep before we arrived at the lady's house. Imagine my surprise when I found myself standing next to the road, in the rain, waiting for a different friend to pick us up. Hmmm... where are we going?

After a few minutes and cell phone calls Arzu arrives. We pile in, and head up the street a little bit and stop again. That is when Yoda-ette was loaded into the car by her great grandsons. It was no small feat, as in the end, they just sort of picked her up and placed her in the car. Oh my, how I wanted to stroke those adorable little facial wrinkles. But, not exactly proper upon first meeting!! Believe you me, they were awesome- crinkle-ly goodness!

The boys got Granny loaded in and shut the door. Off Arzu goes! She turned up the music full blast- presumably so Yoda-ette can hear it and lays rubber. My favorite part of the short ride, besides the fact that I had no clue where we were going and how long we'd be there, was when Arzu hit a speed bump at full speed and Fatma, Osman, Lucy, Yoda-ette, and I hit the roof of the car. I would bet money that we made sparks on the street and possibly left our bumper there as well.

Once we got there, and it really wasn't very far, I guess they were just protecting us from the rain, I realized that today we'd be visiting with the weirdest member of our tea club. Oh good! I needed some excitement in my life today!! One of my friends called this lady "Crazy Head" (roughly translated) to her face. Well, that caught me off guard and I got to laughing so hard that I cried. This made everyone else laugh. In the end, we (Crazy head included) decided that maybe we'd call her broccoli instead because she has very curly puffy hair. OH. MY. WORD. This was the first time I have laughed that had since I've been here.

This may not quite be it, but it's the closest picture I could find on Google Images. I wish I could fully describe this woman to you. She bursts in and out of the room adding to the conversation. No one really understands her or knows what she is talking about. Her hair is huge and wild. She is hilarious. The best comparison I can make is that she is just like the grandmother character in the movie "There's Something About Mary." Needless to say, she adds much humor to our time together!

It was a good day!

FIRE!!

Fire shot out of my hair dryer yesterday while I was drying my hair. That was fun! I am old enough to remember when Michael Jackson's hair caught on fire while he was shooting the Pepsi commercial. Don't you worry there was not nearly as much drama involved in my little incident!!

This is the second small appliance that has caught on fire. The first was my mixer. Now, I think I have carpal tunnel from trying to mix stuff by hand. Oh, the difficulties of life! Good grief, I used to think that I was tough. NOPE!!

I want to know why the heck everything here breaks or catches on fire! What is the deal? I will be the first to tell you that I hate big government, but a few quality and safety regulations every now and again are beginning to sound like a good idea!!

Here is a list of other ideas that I would like to import from America...

1. Running potatoes through some sort of water before you sell them. I am quite sure that when I buy 1 kilo of potatoes 1/2 of that kilo is dirt. Potato brush nothing... I need a power washer!!

2. Crossing guards, pedestrian right of way, and stopping your automobile for people, especially women and children. I know this is a crazy concept! Who doesn't want to run over some one every now and again (OH... you don't... hmmm). I walk my kids about 2 miles to school each day. We, along with lots of other kids, have to cross 1 very busy road. You'd think they could pay someone to stand out there and help the kids get safely across. It would maybe cost 5 lira a day to hire a worker.

3. Not giving small children hard candy. The people here LOVE children. They are so adoring and kind. They always have candy to give. Now, I guess that a pocket full of chocolates would get a little melty (take it from me, I know about body heat- I'm a sweat-er), so perhaps a sticker or something would be appropriate. Lucy is two now, so we politely thank them for the candy, then I open it and bite off pieces and feed her. Its like a mother bird and her baby. Gross! The benefit is that if it is poisoned, I'll be the first to know! When she was younger, it was really fun because I would let her hold the candy (wrapped) in the person's presence and as soon as we got away, I'd have to take it from her. Can you say scream fest?

Wow... I'm getting into this!

4. Not littering. Women here keep their home immaculate. They clean every day and wash their windows and curtains about once a week!! But as soon as you walk out the door... UGH! People do not think twice about littering. I guess the bright side is that it gives really old city workers something to do. They walk around the city with brooms that are literally made from twigs tied together (think witch's broom) and a plastic container on a stick and sweep up. Unfortunately, they cannot keep up with the littering population. Maybe if people wouldn't litter those guys could be crossing guards!

5. Rating television, and putting things that are not appropriate for children on after certain hours. Mercy, I am afraid to let my kids turn on the tv and use the remote! You would be shocked what comes on during the daytime!!

6. This will never fly here, but eating pork. If only they could taste a sausage biscuit, oh sweet mercy, their taste buds would come alive!!! Hello, ham, it's me, Elizabeth. I miss you, and your friend sausage!!!

On a terrible side note concerning this matter.... I almost fed my friend some pork!!!! When the pastor from our old church in KY came through he brought some packaged bacon bits. I made beans and cornbread (yes... times are tough) the other night, and used some of the bacon bits to season the beans. Today, my friend was over, so I was pulling things out of the fridge for lunch. Callie was begging for the beans. I heated them up and was ready to serve them when I remembered what they contained. GASP!!! It would have been horrible. I am not sure I would have had the courage to tell her about my mistake!!! She absolutely would have gagged. Pork is so repulsive to them!! Thank you LORD for reminding about my secret ingredient!

That's all for now.

Facial Folicle Challenge '08

Overheard at dinner...

M: I sat next to the widow from downstairs on the bus today.
N: OH COOL!!! Did he do magic?!?!?!?!?
M: No, you are thinking about a wizard. I did not sit next to a wizard, I sat next to a widow. A widow is someone whose husband has died.

Liesel

Callie has changed Lucy's name to Liesel. (from Sound of Music)

Callie is Awesome

As promised here is a quick video of Callie doing her part in the Independence Celebration Program at school. Like I said, her class was the first to present, and she was the fist in her class. I know the video isn't great, and you can't really see her while she is speaking, but just know that the first little girl voice you hear is hers, and be really proud of her. I know I am!!!! The entire elementary and middle school, their parents, and lots of locals were there (think of who shows up for a 4th of July parade).




By the way... Noah's class didn't get to present their part because too few of the kids had learned it. So, the teacher would not let them go up front.

Independence

Here are the pictures from the Independence Day Celebration at Noah and Callie's school.


Noah with his class. He is standing next to his teacher. They line up in rows like this every day before school, stand at attention, and say the student's pledge.



Callie standing with her class, and her best friend from school, Dilara.



Students



Kids from Noah's class.



Callie's class during their presentation.



still Callie's class...



Callie and Dilara

Dear Lord,

Please don't let me forget tonight. The sight of my sweet Callie with her head sticking out the window of a taxi cab as the busy city lights wizzed by, and the sound of her singing Yes Lord, Yes Lord, Yes Yes Lord makes my heart melt. These are the days...

Love, Me

Beardy Man

Here's a random piece of information...

Last weekend Justin did not shave, and I loved the scruff so much that now I am forcing him to grow a beard. I LOVE it! We're a week into Follicle Challenge '08, and I must say, it is interesting. It is surprising what a face full of hair can do to change one's appearance! All through high school and college Justin had a goatee, but a real beard is a whole 'nother story. Maybe soon he'll look like" the Prophet" (as our friends would say)!

The weather has taken a beautiful and warm turn. It feels like late spring- all warm and sunny, but not hot. Hooray!!! Thank you Mother Nature, truce (for now)!!

The Fortress

A month ago the kids and I were out of school for 10 days for the holiday that follows Ramadan combined with our city's independence celebration. We checked the weather report for the prettiest day and headed out to this amazing fortress. We were joined by our friends and their three kids. Can I just tell you that this place was amazing! So old and peaceful. The views were stunning, and the neat feeling of adventure that comes when you visit a place with such an interesting story is captivating.

One of the things that I love about this city (and country) is the amazing history, historical sites, and ruins that are everywhere. I have never really been into history, but when you get to see and touch it first hand it comes alive. The stories feel so real, and I imagine myself in them, instead of forcing myself to plow through some boring textbook. So, anyway, here are my pictures from our adventure...

My upstairs neighbor must have a new job or something that requires her to be up and out very early in the morning. How do I know this, you ask. We have been awakened by her alarm clock at 5 am twice this week and by her blow dryer at 4 am once! Combine that with our downstairs neighbors, whose teenagers are playing music or fighting well into midnight, and it makes for one tired me! Oh well, I guess its our payback because we are really loud from 7:30 am until 8:30 pm. I guess its just a factor in apartment living.