5 Years!

On this day five years ago, our family landed in this country!!!  

To be honest it's all pretty much a daze, and when I think about it I cannot imagine how we survived.  It's like a dream... or nightmare.  I must have looked like a wide-eyed crazy lady when I stepped off that plane into the Middle Eastern heat with a 10 month old, a 4 year old, a 6 year old, and 12 suitcases.

Anyhow, after 5 years of living life on a steep learning curve, we feel like we're getting it.  Well, at least like we're getting most of it!   Well... maybe more like we're getting more than we're missing.

Anyhow, the moments where we feel comfortable and like we understand what is being done and said far outweigh the ones where we are just lost and confused.  Although, I must admit that I think Justin and I still suffer from a bit of culture stress.  It feels like there is always this underlying tension of not being able to be completely at ease or feel like you really belong.  

I am just so thankful to the Lord for His gracious provision throughout this adventure.  He has really grown and stretched us in so many ways.  But though it all He has been faithful.  

We have a lot to celebrate after 5 years.  Not the least of which being that we're still alive, and we're still here.  Even more-so, we can celebrate the fact that we want to be here.  This hasn't been a sentence that we are living out, but rather an opportunity that the Lord has given us!  We have had to opportunity to share Truth with all sorts of people in all sorts of ways.  We are sowing spiritual seeds and praying for a time of harvest.

I thought it might be fun to repost some things from the early days.  I went back one day last week to read a bit and was just so thankful to the Lord at how far we had come!  I have written 1,023 posts!  At the risk of putting up a super-long post, here is my very fist post.  It was from October 24th, 2007:

You know how in romantic comedies, which I love, everything ends up great in the end?  The plot is always the same no matter how different the setting is.  The girl shows up to something new, she doesn't look or act her best, and she can't function appropriately.  But, by the end of the movie everything is perfect.  She's figured it all out, and got the great looking guy to boot!  All of this is just two hours!  

Well, I've been in this new place a lot more than two hours, and I've got relatively nothing figured out!!  I can say, "ekmek var mı?"  Notice that the ı does not have a dot!  The question, "ekmek var mı?" means is there bread?  It is the first thing our curriculum teaches us.

So, anyhow, I can say it, and a few other things.  My point is that in the movie that is my life (and as Donald Miller says, yes, you are in my movie, you play a wonderful supporting role, thank you!) two hours have passed and I haven't gotten things all figured out!  But, you know how in the movie, they show quick little glimpses of the process the girl goes through to get it all together.  In my movie, I had my first few glimpses last week.  I thought of and spoke my very first sentence!!  Not, the sentences and phrases that I've been taught.  But, my very own!  It had the subject and verb of my choosing and was conjugated correctly.  Not only that, but the person I was speaking to understood me and answered!!  Also, last week, we got our first piece of mail!  I cannot tell you how wonderful it was.  It was a birthday card for Lucy from my mom, but our entire family devoured it!!  You have to remember that we have not seen or spoken to a real live American (other than our team leaders) in two months, so we are easily excitable.

So... it's a start- a glimpse at the possibility.  I'll get there, it will just take a lot longer than two stinkin hours!!!

Funeral

I have to say that having a neighbor pass away has been such a learning experience.  Things certainly have not gone as I thought they would.  And to see some of the things that I knew in my head actually play out has been interesting.

As I was asking around last night, everyone sort of agreed that the funeral would be just after the Friday Prayers (think Sunday morning church service).  So, I was surprised this morning when I woke up to what sounded like a funeral being broadcast from our local mosque.  As a woman, I can't just run on up there and see what's going on.  So, I still don't know what that was.

I had asked my across the hall neighbor to come get me when she was going down.  I explained that I really don't know what goes on, so please not to forget me!  Again, I was too chicken to just show up and start mingling with the approximately 200 people that were lingering around outside.

When the Call to Prayer sounded at around 12:30 I ran to get my conservative clothes, including headscarf, on.  I knocked on the door across the hall.  My sweet neighbor came out and explained that the truck carrying the body would come and all the men would go to the mosque.  They would do their Friday prayers and then go bury the body.  She told me not to go down yet.  Trusting her, I went back inside, just as the kids came hollering that the truck had arrived.

With the sight of the truck carrying the body, a huge wave of weeping and wailing began.  Again, several men and women passed out.

It was only in front of the building for a few minutes and then drove up to the mosque.  Several woman ran screaming after it.

Now, I know things about Islam, but sometimes once you see them in practice it really hits home.  An example of this was that the women didn't get to go up to the mosque or to the burial.  I cannot imagine not being able to participate in these steps toward closure.  That being said, there isn't a true funeral, like we think of funerals.  And really, having to bury the person within 24 hours means things have to be quite quick and simple!

The practicality of the men leaving meant that about a hundred women were mingling around all afternoon.  The building that the woman who passed away lived in is a family building.  That means that her husband's family owned the land on which it was constructed and mostly family members live in the apartments.  So, the building was full of women sitting around trying to comfort each other.

Around 3:30 the men starting coming back.  The younger guys set up tables and chairs (who knows where they came from), and then they served some simple food to the mass of people.   After an hour or so, everyone had eaten a bit and the crowd started to die down.

The kids and I were going crazy stuck up in our apartment (it's hot again!), so I told them that we could go outside now that the crowd was dying down a bit.  All the while I was wondering if I had misunderstood my neighbors.  Had they gone over without me?

After about 30 minutes outside- me sitting on a bench facing the crowded street, the kids playing in our building's parking lot- my neighbor finally came out to get me.  Her husband is our building manager and they had ordered food to take over on behalf of our building.  So, I quickly ran up to get my long-sleeved cardigan and headscarf (out of respect), and we waited together for the food to arrive.  Once it arrived we took it over.

Once we were there, we went to 4 different apartments full of women.  We went around and kissed each ones' cheeks, said I am so sorry for your loss, and sat for a few minutes talking.  It was pretty intense and super sad.

Once the visit was done, I felt totally drained and sad.  We were supposed to go out as a family to celebrate our 5th anniversary of moving here, but I just couldn't do it.  Even the kids are sad.  They have been really off both yesterday and today.  And they have been stuck to my hip.  When I make a movement they ask if I'm ok or where I'm going, etc.  Maybe some other time we'll go celebrate.  Right now is a time to mourn.

"Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted."

Matthew 5:4 

Sad Day

Today when I pulled into our building's parking lot after taking the kids to guitar, I noticed that there were tons of people on the street next to our building.  I had no idea what was going on and certainly wasn't confident enough to enter the crowd and try to figure it out.

As we entered our building, the first floor neighbor's door was open.  I asked her what was happening, and she told me that the woman across the street, who had been battling breast cancer, had been sent home from the hospital.  The doctors had given up hope.

I couldn't believe my ears!  This neighbor and I were casual friends.  She had been up to my place and I had been to her's, too.  She had been ill for about a year and a half.  And had 2 different surgeries.  But I thought that she was doing ok.  So, I didn't trust that I understood correctly.

We came up to our apartment and immediately went out on the balcony to see what was going on.  When we spotted our across the hall neighbor coming in from the crowd, we went to wait for her at our door.

As she got out of the elevator, another neighbor also came up to ask what was going on.  Sure enough, the doctors had sent her home to die.  But, she needed oxygen, which the public health system doesn't provide.  So, the ambulance had been sitting at the top of our hill for over an hour while the family went to purchase an oxygen tank.

It turns out that she had been doing well, but took a turn for the worse during Ramadan.  Since no one is really out, the news had not really spread that she was so ill.  This news was such a shock to me!

Once they got her in her building the crowd dispersed a bit.  But there were still about 15 people (probably family) just sort of hanging around outside on the building stoop.  I am sure there were at least that many people inside, too.

I just sort of kept watch all afternoon.

Then about 7:30 someone motioned out the window for the people to hurry inside.  About a minute later I heard screaming and weeping.  Of course, I knew that she had passed away.  In a matter of minutes people were pouring into the flat from all directions.  I realized how stoically we Americans grieve, because these people were weeping and wailing.  It was so sad, but a bit startling as well.  Several people fainted throughout the evening.  The older son just sat on the stoop for about 30 minutes screaming until he eventually passed out.

It was pretty intense!

I felt this strong urge to go down and help, or do something.  But, really, there was absolutely nothing I could do.  So I just sat and watched all evening long.  I talked with several different neighbors, and they all said slightly different things about how the arrangements would be handled.  But everyone agreed that she would be buried quickly.  It is custom here to bury people as quickly as possible.  I don't know if that is a religious custom or just practical.

They came around 10 o'clock to take the body.  I heard that tomorrow they will have a quick service at our mosque and then the men will go to the cemetery to bury her.  I am just watching and praying.  I don't know what to do other than that.  Will you join me in praying for this family?  She left 3 children behind- Çiğdem age 20, Hüssein age 18, and Mehmet age 9.

Rapunzel

Lucy is 100% convinced that she is Rapunzel.  Today she said, "Mom, I can just swing by throwin' my hair over a branch!  Isn't that great?!"

Also, she wears a crown about 50% of her waking hours.  The other 50% of the time she pretends that she is a dog named Sniffy!

She has such an imagination!  It is so fun to listen to her play!

Further Consumption

Today it was:

2 Chocolate biscuits- That was my fault!  Ever since I saw this recipe, it has been haunting me!
2 Pieces of börek- super thin dough layered with feta-style cheese
1 Unidentifiable piece of cake- NOT my favorite!
1 Unidentifiable square of flaky pastry- Meh!
4 Pieces of baklava
1 Scoop of ice cream
7 Glasses of çay/ tea

UGH!! The carbs are KILLING me!  I loved visiting with our friends, but I am so glad the holiday is over.  I need to do some major fasting!  Too bad Ramadan is over... not really!

Consumed

In the last 5 hours of visiting 2 different families, I have consumed...

1 Turkish Coffee
1 Stuffed Pepper
3 İçli Köfte- meat and spices inside cornmeal batter
2 Homemade Breadsticks
4 Pieces of Baklava
8 glasses of tea
1 Small Bowl of Sunflower Seeds
Too many chocolates to count
And a large amount of secondhand smoke!

Lord help me!

You absolutely cannot say no to the locals, especially on holidays!  They just sort of laugh, and still serve you whatever they want!  Mercy!  I am FULL!!

I cannot even begin to count the number of pieces of candy that my children have been given.  Even when I ask them to stop giving my kids candy, they wait about 5 minutes and then give them another piece!  Can you say sugar overload for all of us!  This really is the Sugar Holiday!

And, of course, it's 1:30 in the morning and I am wide awake!!

Sunday Sneak Peek

The Sugar Holiday!

The Final İftar!!

Praise the Lord, Amen, and Hallelujah!!!  We have survived another Ramadan!!!

I am so glad to see the month of fasting end!  It is such a weird time, as I have mentioned a time or twenty!

Goodbye drummer!  Goodbye long hot waterless and foodless days.  Goodbye people who have no energy to do anything!

I am so proud of Justin.  This year he felt led to keep the fast and pray, pray, pray for our friends, neighbors, and the country as a whole.  You cannot imagine how hard it is to keep the fast!  The Lord certainly does honor the man who earnestly seeks Him and humbly sacrifices to Him.  I am expecting the Lord to answer Justin's prayers in exciting ways!

Now... on to the 3 days of feasting on baklava and other sweets!

The Hardest Part of Parenthood...

Is remembering to put the dern quarter under the kids' pillows when the lose a tooth!

Our tooth fairy is THE WORST!!

Recycle Day

Recycle programs have finally been popping up around the the city.  Our area's program started in May.

(Political side note: I am shocked that this country is so late to the recycle game.  I suspect that most countries are this way.  While Americans are being browbeaten that they are not doing enough, the rest of the world is blissfully eating from styrofoam plates and throwing their trash into the sea!)

Anyhow, figuring the system out has been an adventure- isn't everything here?!  A bright blue garbage truck goes up and down each street playing a special recycling jingle and beckoning everyone to bring out their recyclables.  The tricky thing is that they never come at the same time.  So you are left hanging around all day waiting for the recycle truck to pass.

I've thought about just leaving our bag of recyclables on the corner, but then others would just dig through it and ultimately spread our trash all over the street.  Also, they give you these special blue bags  in exchange for your full bags.  For some reason, I really like the bags they give.  (I know, I'm a freak!)

So, I'm left to play this recycling game and cherish my nice big blue trash bags!

Beautiful Days

I have been so quick to complain about the HOT weather (Lord forgive me!).  So, I wanted to PRAISE the Lord for the beautiful weather we are experiencing!

We had a storm roll through on Sunday and it rained on and off all day.  Then the temperatures dropped right down!  Again, PRAISE the Lord!!  We have had the most pleasant temperatures!  I just cannot believe it!

I don't think I've had an embarrassing sweat attack in 3 days!  We've all been able to sleep through the night without waking up several times in a pool of sweat or to get a drink.  We've slept so well that I haven't even heard the Ramadan drummer!!

YAY, Lord, thank you so much for this wonderful relief!

And YAY for our precious church in Nicholasville who prayed for good weather for us on Sunday!  The Lord heard your prayers and has answered them!

Sugar Cookies

It seems like it is feast of famine with life here.  I'll either have a killer packed schedule with several things each day for days on end, or absolutely nothing.  Both are good, but in an ideal world, I'd love it if life could be a bit more even keel!  HA!  I think it's impossible.  I guess that's the hope of heaven for me!

Anyhow, while Max and Isaiah were here (yes, I know I promised that I was done posting about their trip, but this isn't exactly about them so I've kept my promise!) my name came up in the parent rotation in Lucy's kindergarten class.  Luckily for me, my name came on on the Friday that they were exploring Ephesus.  (The same day I got to meet Stori!)

Each week a parent was to come in and do something with the students.  There weren't really any guidelines, and it was fun to see what creative things the parents came up with.  One mom played the flute for the kids.  Another mom helped the kids make grass men (think Chia Pet).   I decided it would be fun to have the kids decorate sugar cookies.  

Boy was it an adventure!

First off, I had been so busy with guests, life and other stuff, that I didn't have time to even make the cookies until late Thursday night.  I totally skitzed about how many to make because I couldn't remember exactly how many kids were in Lucy's class.  So I was up rolling out dough and using little boy and girl shaped cookie cutters way into the a.m.  Then I made a huge batch of icing, put a few spoonfuls into little baggies, and used food coloring to dye each one a different color.  I bought bits of chocolate and scoured my cabinets for sprinkles and other edible decorations.

I was so nervous walking into school.  I always feel like everyone is paying extra attention to me because I'm the foreign lady.  It's especially bad when I bring in such crazy things for the kids to do!

I got everything set up and ready.  As I was prepping everything on the table outside the class each person that walked by stopped and asked me a million questions about what on earth I was doing! 

The kids were really excited, but I realized that they didn't really understand what we were doing at first.  The whole deal was such a foreign concept to them!  I showed them some already decorated cookies.  Then I showed them how to decorate the cookies.  I had them all sit down.  Then I put several icing bags and other supplies down the middle of each table.  I gave the boys little boy sugar cookies and the girls little girl sugar cookies.

Once I told them to go to work, it took most of them quite a while to get into it.  It was funny to watch them slowly realize that you really could eat the stuff.  I think they were a bit afraid that it would be gross or something.

The funniest thing was one little boy named Gökan.  He held up his hand showing me a big smear of blue icing on his finger and asked me for a wet wipe.  I told him to lick it off and he looked at me like I was crazy.  I told him again and mimed licking it off in case he hadn't understood me.  Slowly he sort of licked it off.  I went on to help some of the other kids.  But, the next time I looked over at him, he had the icing baggie in his mouth sucking all the icing out!  I guess he decided he liked it!  HA!

In the end I had enough cookies for the kids to each do a couple.  They were so proud of their creations.  The teacher gave the kids permission to eat one at snack time and we had to put the rest in baggies for the kids to take home.  I am so curious what the parents thought!

Sunday Sneak Peek

This is why I don't buy imported food:

I cannot imagine who on earth actually buys this junk!  The products were dusty, though!  Ha!

Of course, this sort of stuff isn't common.  I snapped these pictures when I was at a huge grocery store that even has a bit of a foreign foods section.  

Late Night

It's 2:30 in the morning and I am still wide awake! 

Noah's best friend's sweet family had us over for iftar, the fast-break meal, tonight.  The sun set at 8:19 here today, so that is when we ate.  My friend, Aysun, put out a huge spread!  It was so much food!

Of course, after the meal, there is baklava and tea.  Then more tea.  Then lots more tea. 

We didn't even get home until after 1 in the morning!!  Lucy was dead asleep and Callie was a zombie!  I, on the other hand, thanks to a zillion cups of tea, am wide awake!  The good news is that the drummer didn't wake me up because I was already awake!

Actually, I'm not complaining.  (I know, shock!)  Like I've said before, I am such a night owl.  So this is my ideal schedule.  If we could just put everyone else on it.  Unfortunately, we have to get up and out of the flat in just a few hours for our team fellowship!

Other than it being a late night, we had such a good time with this family.  We got the opportunity to share some tidbits of truth.  As per usual, we covered all sorts of other religious topics and about every other topic under the sun, too.  I couldn't believe it when I looked at my watch and it was 1 in the morning!

We love being with this family and hope that our friendship will grow even though Noah is going to a different school next year!

More Attitude Adjustment

YALL!!  You must be praying for me!  After the great beach day yesterday, we had another good day.

First off, the has humidity dropped a bit.  So, there was a breeze and it felt a bit cooler!  Praise the Lord!

We started off the day by getting all sorts of errands and things around the house done.  Marking things off of my to-do list ALWAYS makes me happy!  We have an invitation for iftar dinner, the fast break meal, this evening, but our afternoon was wide open.  So, like the old fogies that we are, we decided to go for a drive!

When we first got out car a year ago, we drove up to where the Straight meets the Sea.  We came down the coast stopping at all of the interesting places along the way.  One place we stopped, a big fortress on the hill over-looking the area, was closed for an archeological dig.  Ever since, I have been wanting to go back.

Today was the day!

A large portion of the fort was still roped off, and archeology students were doing excavations.  But you could get the jist of the fort.  Besides, the view was what it's all about!

My little explorers!
Callie loves to look at maps, plot the courses, figure out where we have gone and where we are going.
Lucy loves to find whatever animals are around and make a fuss over them.

This is where the Straight meets the Sea.

The excavation continues...

Uncle Alan and Uncle Paul would be proud of Noah.  He is such a climber!

My precious family at the old entrance to the fort.
It is closed because it has caved in a bit.

I am so thankful for the beautiful weather.  It was so windy up here that the girls were saying they were cold!  It was fun to get out as a family and explore.  We've done a lot this summer, but actually, we hardly gotten to do anything with all 5 of us together.  So this was a treat.

Well... until I decided to push my luck and drop by the market on the way home.  That pushed the kids past their tolerance level, which had disastrous results!  HA!!