Vacation: Part 3 the finale

Ok... I know you are dying to see just a few more pictures of my adorable kids!!!




Here comes a wave...



..RUN!!!




Noah and Callie loved to "surf!"





Um... she thinks she is a tiger about 73% of the time!








Time to bury Daddy! Lucy kept trying to bury his face!!! Poor Daddy!



In typical Noah fashion, he invented a game for he and Daddy to play. It had a court dug out in the sand and everything. He loves sports!!!



We built awesome sandcastles every day.



This is Callie's modeling shot!



Lucy (and Mom and Dad) napped on the beach each day.

Vacation: Part 2

Because we were able to rent the condo for so little money, we splurged and rented a car! I cannot express enough how much fun it is to have a car. It makes us feel so free!

Anyhow the place that we went to was only a few hours from a beautiful, extremely well preserved old Ottoman city. We have been hearing about it since we arrived in the country two years ago. So one morning we loaded up the kids and headed out.

We are officially old now because we really did consider the drive the best part! We took the long way scenic way as often as possible. So, we had to bribe the kids with candy and snacks!

We also learned what a full service convenience store is. It contains a gas station, little store with lots of junk food and drinks, a large restaurant, a playground, restrooms, and a proper place to wash and do prayers! Get all your needs met in one stop!

I like our city and all, but sometimes the concrete jungle makes you forget about places like this...





The Lord is an amazing Creator!






The streets we so narrow with old smooth cobblestones.





The old Ottoman houses were built right into the hillside. They were all so well preserved and beautiful. It felt like walking back in time!




We went into an old house that was turned into a museum that demonstrated what Ottoman life was like.







There is a tiny mosque and village way out up on this mountain. We could not figure out how on earth the people got up there!




"I am the one who made the earth and created people to live on it. With my hands I stretched out the heavens. All the stars are at my command." Isaiah 45:12

Trying to get back on track

I have been a terrible blogger since the beginning of September. I was in language school daily and then Mom came. But this here little bloggy is really good for me. It is therapeutic to write about my experiences and what God is doing in the midst of all of this. Also, it is a great log of how my kiddos are growing and changing. But, one of my major quirks is that I LOVE (have to have) things in order. So, even though it is long past, I want to document our vacation to the big sea up north.

VACATION: Part 1

We stayed in a fellow worker's condo. It was not fancy to say the least, but it was super inexpensive and really close to the beach. Ramadan had just started so the tiny town was practically abandoned and we had the beach to ourselves! It was the beginning of September and the weather was perfect- warm and sunny but not too hot!

The condo had nothing- no TV, internet, etc. So we basically got up late, let the kids watch a movie on the computer while they ate breakfast, and then hit the beach. We usually stayed on the beach all day, just swimming, digging and playing in the sand, and exploring. Forced relaxation is a fantastic thing. The kids were so happy because they had so much freedom and could just run and play. I was happy because my tan was rockin'. Justin was happy because the kids let him bury them up to their necks repeatedly!

After a full day at the beach we'd come home, eat dinner, and then play a game or read until we konked out.

I am a Nice Mom

I am a really nice Mom. I know my kids don't realize it, but I am!! When Noah is 30 he will thank me for today.

While we were walking to school today I noticed that Noah had accidently put on his sister's yellow button down uniform shirt. It has a girly rounded collar. To be honest, when I noticed the first thing I thought was, he won't know until the kids start teasing him and by then I'll be long gone!! HA! But then I had compassion on my sweet baby and I pointed out the mistake even though it meant we would be late for Chess Club. Of course he freaked! We walked back home, changed, and headed out again!

We were only a few minutes late, and I felt good about not throwing my kid out to the wolves. Kids can be so mean. My kids are awesome and they already endure a lot being new AND different. Wearing his sister's clothes would have been over the top!!

Thank You, Lord

It's almost embarassing to admit, but I often forget that God is in charge. I forget that He has it all planned and I can choose to walk with Him in the flow of His plan or be stubborn and choose my own way. It seems ridiculous that I am this far along in my walk with the Lord, yet sometimes I forget to actually just walk with Him!

Can I just tell you how great He is?

Late last spring we were up to our necks in searching for a new flat. There was not one appropriate flat for rent in the area that we hoped to move into. Things fell through, we kept getting sick, and nothing was going right. But God had a plan for us. He opened the door for an amazing flat in perfect time. I could not have picked a more lovely flat! Thank you, Lord!

Justin's parents came. We had an amazing visit with them! We travelled a lot with them- saw new things and had some great experiences together. Throughout their visit everyone was healthy, out travel plans went well, and we all had so much fun together! Thank you, Lord!

The kids started school. Noah and Callie both have teachers that are perfect for their personalities, and are learning so much. We found a sweet little pre-school for Lucy. They adore her there and her teacher is precious! Thank you, Lord!

I started school again. The Lord provided an every day course instead of the 3 day a week course which was my first choice. But the every day course is only a month long and the 3 day course is two months long. After a week of school I got the news that Mom was coming. Since I was in the every day course it turns out that I was going to be finished with my class right before her visit!!! It would have been such a bummer to have to leave her at the house alone and go to school! You really knew what you were doing, Lord! Thank you!!!

A friend of a friend emailed and asked if he could stay with us for several days while he was passing through our city. Of course we said yes. But it turned out that his flight came in the same day Mom's left. At first I thought UGH!!! But it turned out that I was so happy for the distraction of having a guest! It helped me not focus too much on my Mom's leaving. Thank you, Lord!!!

God is good all the time, even when it doesn't seem like it or we don't realize it!

"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

"But as for me, how good it is to be near God!I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter,and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do." Psalm 73:28

"How kind the Lord is! How good he is!So merciful, this God of ours!" Psalm 116:5

MOM

My Mom has come and gone. Why is it that sometimes things that you hope for seem to come and go so quickly that its almost like they didn't even happen? I spent the first week of Mom's visit in shock that she was actually here and the second half dreading her leaving.

She did amazing! It was so fun to have her here and share our lives with her. We put her on all manner of public transportation, dragged her through the outdoor market, and tried to show her some of the really cool places here. Not once did she complain, although I did have to force her to cross the street a few times- the traffic was um... eye-opening! She played with the kids, loved on all of us, and helped out so much! It was GREAT!!!

Dear Mom,

Thank you so much for coming! I know it was a huge step to fly all the way over here by yourself, not to mention expensive and I'm sure difficult in other ways. You cannot imagine how much your visit meant to us! I really did feel like I would die if I didn't see you soon! You are my best friend and I was sick with missing you! When I got your email that said you were coming, I almost fainted flat on the floor. I do not think I have even been so excited for anything!

You were (and are) such a blessing to us. Thank you for loving on the kids, spoiling us all rotten, and for being amazing. As long as I live I will cherish the joy it was to have you here, and not forget the look on your face when you tried to cross the street or while riding the (crammed full) minibus! You are awesome! Thanks for being flexible and fun. Thanks for sitting through visits with my friends who were dying to meet you. Thanks for giving so much of yourself! You make me happy!!!!!

I love you!!

Elizabeth

Rain, Rain GO AWAY

Well, the rainy season has officially started. I can't complain because we had a long unseasonably warm stretch while my mom was here. Thank you, Lord!!

But that is over now! The kids were complaining about the rain and I had to tell them to get used to it because it will rain here for the next two months! It wouldn't be that bad, except we have to walk to and from school. And on Mondays and Tuesdays Noah has Chess Club so we all walk to school to drop him off at 10:30, the girls and I return home, and then I take the girls to school at 12:30. So lots of back and forth in the rain.

On the bright side... the more rain we get, the more beautiful Spring will be AND the fewer water cuts we will have this summer!! I am trying to stay positive!!!

Now That We have That Figured Out

Lucy: Are you a man?

Me: No, I am a woman.

Lucy: NO you're not!

Me: Oh!

Lucy: You're a mom!

I passed with an 80%!!!

Test

Today is another big language exam for me. I kind of have a lax attitude about the whole thing, and will be a little surprised if I pass it. It is 5 parts in 4 hours- including two speaking tests, reading comprehension, listening, and a composition. UGH!! Sometimes its fun being a student again, sometimes its not!

At this very moment in one week I will be seeing my Mom for the first time in over 2 years!!!!! Happiness doesn't begin to describe how I feel!!!!