Volcanic Ash Cloud

Remember when I thought that that crazy volcanic ash cloud was funny and weird? (I may not have mentioned it.)

Well... turns out that crazy thing has the last laugh now because it has trapped Justin in Germany.

Thanks a lot, volcano!!! [JERK!]

Give Me Back My Babies

We have been going through all sorts of old pictures trying to get some presentations put together. I cannot help but linger over the photos of the time just before we moved here. Right before Lucy was born we bought a digital camera. I so wish that they had been invented about 10 years earlier!!!

I want to see my wedding pictures again, and the pictures of Noah and Callie as babies, and the pictures from the trips we've taken. We did not have room for that kind of stuff when we moved here with just our luggage. You better believe that I am going to fill a suitcase full of them when we return here in September!!

But for now, here are a few of my favorites from spring 2007. Noah was 5 1/2, Callie was 4 and Lucy was just a few months old.













Sweet mercy... truly some of the best days of my life!!

My husband and my children are the Lord's very best gift to me!! They are more than precious!! I just wish my babies had been little for awhile longer! For pete's sake, tomorrow I'll be dropping them off at college!

Hodge-Podge

I did well on my language evaluation. Thank you so much for your prayers. Our team members have regular language evaluations as part of our contract with the team. It helps to make sure that everyone is progressing on the task of language learning! I rocked it!

Noah and Callie came home last night with the news that there is no school today. The school was being used for a practice exam for the middle schoolers. Grades 6-8 take huge exams at the beginning of the summer each year. After all three tests have been completed, the scores are averaged and each child is placed into a high school. It basically determines their entire life track. If you don't test well, you may not even place in a high school. It is such a difficult system and so far from the American mentality of "you can be anything you dream of!"

Justin flies to Germany in about 6 hours. He has a huge interview tomorrow afternoon in front of a panel of people! The thought makes me go weak in the knees. I know he will do great! His suit is pressed and he looks incredibly handsome in it! I hope they get a glimpse of what a great man he is. But just a glimpse!!! I want them to hire him but not kidnap him!!! Please pray for him- confidence, peace, wisdom, and that he lands the job.

We will be in America this time next month. I cannot even imagine what it will be like. I am so excited, but scared, too. How on earth do you make up for three years in three months? Am I going to survive saying goodbye again? Will I get enough time with the people I love? Will I be able to convince Justin to buy me a little dog? Will my bridesmaid dress fit? WIll my kids behave in their uncle's wedding? How will I be able to relax but not turn into a lazy butt? Will I gain 100 pounds from eating all the food we have missed? Will we be what people want us to be? Will anyone understand us? Will our kids be too different from the other kids? Will I forget all the language that I have worked my butt off to learn? Will our kids be ok? Will I be able to leave? Will I be able trust God to provide for all of our needs? Will everything be too different? Will America feel weird, too, so that we don't really feel at home anywhere anymore? Will people think we are nuts? Will I be myself, and who is that anyway these days? Will my kids love or hate America? Will we watch so much television that our eyes fall out and brains turn to mush? Will we want to buy everything in sight since we have gone without for so long? Will we be overwhelmed? Will people think we are failures?

Um... so, yeah. I didn't know I was going to tell you all that. But, there it is- nice and raw. The emotions behind this trip are unlike any I have ever experienced. When Justin called me with the news that he bought the tickets many months back I cried, and they were not happy tears. I cannot even explain it.

So, anyway... I washed my lettuce three times when I brought it home from the bazar. I opened my lettuce container to make salad last night and it was still crawling with bugs! GAG!! Who says organic is better? Give me some pestacides, please! I had to dump the whole thing in the trash.

The weather is beautiful right now. Warm, but not hot. I know it will only last for a few more days so we are trying to enjoy the heck out of it!!! Callie has put about 200 miles on her bike lately! She is so cute on that thing.

What is the deal with that crazy oil spill out in the Gulf?

IN EXACTLY ONE MONTH FROM RIGHT NOW WE WILL BE IN AMERICA!!!

Forgive Me, Father For I Have Sinned

I totally lost it yesterday and I did something I am not proud of, but honestly, think is sort-of funny. Here's the dealy-O.

Because I am tall and fair skinned with light hair some locals automatically think I am Russian. Because they think I am Russian, if I am not with my husband or kids and although I dress extremely modestly some automatically think I am a prostitute. (Nothing against Russians, they just have a long history in general work in this country.) Upon seeing me, some men either hit on me or hate me.

Yesterday a particularly pious man- with the whole "I am so spiritual it hurts" pious man garb on (special hat, long beard with no mustache, long tunic, long vest, baggy pants, and special shoes) was giving me the most judgemental looks I have ever in my life experienced. I was extremely modestly dressed and not doing anything culturally inappropriate- just walking to the bus stop.

I was an innocent woman. Not just that, an innocent, God-fearing woman being harshly judged.

So, I snapped!

I looked right at him (not acceptable here) and blew him a kiss!!

I still can't believe I did it. It was three years of taking it without defending myself- turning the other cheek- that caused me to boil over. UGH!!! Perfect I am not!

At least it was very far away so that it will not affect my reputation!

Hey! I have a language evaluation Monday at 1:00 my time, Monday 6 am your time. Before you go to bed will you pray for calmness and the ability to speak well for my evaluation. I really need to do well.

Sunday Sneak Peak

Justin took the camera with him to work the other day. He had to go across tot he other side and buy products (beads, stones, thread) for the women to use when making our jewelry. Here are a few of his pictures.


The inside of the bus. Don't you worry, this is the very beginning of the line... it NEVER ends up being this empty! They pack people in until the doors don't shut!



This is where the boat is going.



This is a view from where the boat docks.



The boat.



A picture from inside the boat.



The square near the boat dock.



The market area.



More of the market area.



Crowded shopping area.



The cheese market.



The spice market.



The nut market.



The square near the market area from a different angle.



The HUGE mosque in the square.



Inside the mosque courtyard. The old fountain for ceremonial cleansing before prayers.



The minaret.

Today

The kids spent the night with some friends after small group last night. So Justin and I slept in... way in!! It was glorious. Our flat was so quite that it felt weird!

Then Justin and I went to a restaurant and ate a lovely lunch out on the terrace. Again, bliss!

We picked up the kids, came home, and Lucy and I took a nap together. I guess it turns out that I was tired!

I woke up feeling great. I did 2 loads of laundry, cleaned out the fridge, baked cookie bars and muffins, and started talking on the phone.

I talked to 2 of my dearest friends and my sis-in-law and nephew. My mouth and ears are sore, but my heart is full!!

It was a good day!!!

23 Nisan

April 23rd is a huge children's holiday here. It is such a fun day. The children usually begin preparing special performances early on in the year. They put a lot of time and practice into the big day. My favorite part is always the costumes. Each class does something different- a song, dance, poem, etc, and they usually wear traditional costumes. Even Lucy's little preschool held a performance. Although Lucy's class wasn't so traditional it was still majorly cute!

Noah's class did not do anything. He was happy, but I was a little disappointed.

It is fun to have a special day to honor children. This country really loves and values children. They recognize them as the future of the country.

Here are some pictures from the day.


The middle-schoolers decorated the school. Each window had decorations, and then, of course, there are the beautiful flags.


Callie- far right. She looked so beautiful in this costume, and she danced beautifully too! She knew all the moves! She is so shy, but she loves dancing in front of a crowd!

Filiz'in 23 Nisan Töreni from Elizabeth on Vimeo.

Filiz 2 from Elizabeth on Vimeo.

Here is another example of the beautiful costumes. These kids are from another class.


Same class. These boys did an amazing dance where they kept falling onto their knees. I am sure they had to have knee pads on!! It was Noah's favorite. I like their hats!! The rockettes better watch out!


Lucy's performance was later in the day. It was just in her preschool courtyard. So, it wasn't crowded or hard to see! Plus there were little stools for everyone to sit on!! Lucy was too cute!


This is the 5 year old class reciting a poem.


This is the 4 year old class singing a song.


And this is cutie-pie and the 3 year old class dancing to music.






Um... yeah, she does stand out. Just a bit!! HA!

Meleğin 23 Nisan Töreni from Elizabeth on Vimeo.

'Stache

Did I ever tell you about the time Justin grew a beard? When he got tired of it I convinced him to give himself a handlebar mustache. It was pretty awesome!!

Try not to kiss your screen!

It's Been a Long Time Coming

So, hi, my name is Elizabeth, and I have abandoned my blog.

Sorry and nice to meet you!

UGH!!! Why do I do this? I want to write- to share about our lives here, but sometimes I can't make myself do it. No matter how much I enjoy it, it feels like a chore sometimes! So in an attempt to get back on track, I have composed a list for you...


1. My least favorite names here are FatmaNur for a girl. Pronounced like fat manure. And Tuna for a boy. Pronounced just like the fish!

2. Friday was the huge children's holiday here. Callie and Lucy each got to wear special costumes and be in programs for their schools. Lets hope that I can convince myself to post the videos. Serious cuteness!!

3. Callie's school P.E. uniform pants flew off of the drying rack on our balcony. After much searching, Justin found them in a construction site at the end of our block. They were quite dirty, but otherwise no problems! I am so happy!!

4. We are up to our eyeballs trying to plan for our first furlough this summer. It's only a month away. First time in 3 years we've set foot on American soil!

5. Justin may have a job change on the horizon. We would appreciate your prayers for wisdom as he gathers information and considers what to do. This is a HUGE decision for us!

6. Last week I had a "tea party" for all the ladies in my building- 14 of us in all! My head still hurts from cooking for 3 days, drinking 683 glasses of tea, and listening to so many women talk at one time. But it was fun... no really it was.

7. I haven't bought diapers in 4 months. My womb aches!!

8. "For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair."

2 Corinthians 4:6-8

9. Laundry mountain is my biggest enemy! Followed closely by rapidly reproducing dust bunny colonies! Could this be the work of Satan?

10. Sometimes I feel like I have so many friends that I can't keep up with them, other times I feel like the loneliest person in the world. The worst time is picking up the kids at school and everyone in the schoolyard is talking about me instead of to me!

11. Do you know what Bakugan is? It is some kids' craze akin to Pokemon. Noah is obsessed with wasting his allowance on the goofy little toys. I think its weird!



That's all I can come up with right now!

Funny Questions

I was telling my friends about often being asked if I dye Lucy's hair. And they shared some funny questions they had been asked:


How long by bus does it take you to get to America?

My (Chinese) friend was asked by a neighbor if I was her sister!

Is America next to Yugoslavia?

Sunday Sneak Peak

This is how we get our water:


The city does not treat the water for drinking standards so we have to order these large bottles. When they run out we just call the man and he hops on his scooter with a few bottles and brings them right over.

We use our tap water for pretty much everything but drinking and cooking. Sometimes the water runs a little muddy (I hope thats why its off color) or even worse, does not run at all. But most of the time it is fairly decent!

Miss Clairol # 10

I am often asked if I dye Lucy's hair!

She is 3 1/2.

Um... NO!

Mars and Venus

I think that the real difference between men and women is this:

I am seriously longing, hoping, and waiting for the day- with full belief that it will happen- when every single stitch of laundry in this flat is DONE!!

Justin is seriously longing, hoping, and waiting for the day- with full belief that it will happen- when the Minnesota Twins realize his talent and invite him to spring training.

Maybe next year!!