208 Days

Until this girl is getting married!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sunday Sneak Peek: The Saddest Sight in the World

Our peanut butter stash is gone!! :-(((((((

Pastapalooza!

As I was drifting off to sleep last night I thought to myself, "Is there any reason on earth that Callie and I shouldn't figure out how to make homemade pasta tomorrow?"  This is totally normal, right?!

Anyhow, I lay there thinking that if those kids on Master Chef Junior can do it, so can Callie and I.  Well, one thing led to another, and before morning I had hatched a plan for PASTAPALOOZA!!

I figured, if we were going to learn how to to make pasta, we might as well learn to make the pasta that will be served in heaven... gnocchi!   With the gnocchi and the regular pasta we decided make pesto and creamy parmesan alfredo sauces.  Hello YUM!

After an internet search (Dear Internet, what on earth would I do without you, my beloved?!), and a grocery run we were ready to get cooking.

Whole potatoes boiling, pine nuts roasting, and fresh basil washed and dried.

 Sadly, I don't have any other pictures of the pesto or alfredo sauce making procedures.  We've made them before.  The pasta was today's challenge, so that's why we focused on that.

The potatoes had to be boiled whole and then peeled when hot.

Callie beat the egg while I started to grate the potatoes.

Callie drizzled the egg over the shredded potato and then we began to gently fold the flour in.

After our beautiful dough came together, we let it rest a bit, and then began to form our pillows of yumminess sent from heaven.

I cut the dough and Callie formed them in beautiful ridged C's.

Sweet mercy, them's lookin' deee-licious!!!

The finished product tossed in a bit of pesto.
Not too bad for our first attempt at a difficult pasta!  They tasted yummy but they didn't hold their shape too well.

Next we got to work on making some regular 'ole pasta.

Dough ball resting.

If you ever find yourself needing someone to roll something out, please call my Callie.
That girl is a master with the rolling pin!
She got this dough perfectly thin and even!

Then I started cutting thin strips.

The finished product.

Our pastapalooza!
Gnocchi with pesto sauce and fettuccine alfredo.

Our Italian feast was soooo good!  I'd say The Olive Garden don't have anything on my Callie and me... except that amazing salad... and those breadsticks!  Oh mercy, now I'm drooling again!

You Understand the Ways of the World, Young Jedi

Conversation with Noah as we are driving down the highway behind a Porsche Cayenne and next to a Ferrari.

Me: Noah, wich one of those would you rather have?

Noah: Well, I guess it depends on if I have kids or not.

Me: That's very practical of you.

Noah:  Well, really, if I have kids, I probably wouldn't be allowed to have either.

Me: Too true, too true!

I'll Have #4 and #18

Super YUM!!

But never #12.  That is just gross!

Well, There's Bad News...

Justin's company has decided to close the office in this region.  So, Justin had to fire his two beloved employees and he will be out of a job by the end of the month.  We are seeking the Lord about the next step and asking for a job that will provide for our needs as well as be a source of joy for Justin.

And there's good news...

Since he had nothing to lose, Justin was able to share with his employees at a new level.  He shared his testimony and boldly told of the goodness of the Lord.  He gave them a copy of the Word and challenged them to read it.

They received his words well and had tears in their eyes as they shared how they knew he was different and they both promised to read the Word.

Would you join us in praying for them?  Pray that they (and all of those around us) would experience the Lord in undeniable ways- in dreams, visions, and miracles.  Pray that the Holy Spirit would move in power among the people here.  And, please pray for the Lord to provide Justin with the right job soon!

Am I Not Able?

Justin and I feel like we have been receiving a new vision from the Lord.  With something new comes fear, and I struggle with the lack of faith.  We don't have the luxury of naivety and unrealistic expectations.  This time around we know full well what we are getting in to!

Often as I ponder this next step I have found myself thinking,  If that is going to happen, the Lord is going to have to put a lot of things in place.

This weekend the Lord clearly said to me, "Am I not able?"

My heart just welled up, and I suddenly felt so peaceful and excited about what is ahead!  He is able!  And, if He is calling us, He will enable us!

One the way home from the weekend, the Lord gave me a rainbow.  It was the weirdest thing, and was straight from the Lord.  It was perfectly sunny and hadn't even rained in days.  But, it wasn't like a regular rainbow.  It was just a big piece of a rainbow sitting right out in the sky reminding me that the Lord is faithful to keep His promises.  (I showed it to my friends in the car and they saw it too, so I'm not crazy!  Ha!)

"Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever!"  Ephesians 3: 20-21

Minority Report

I had the opportunity to get away overnight with some of the other ladies in our company.  It was such a refreshing time of worship and hearing from the Lord.  We stayed up way too late on Saturday night telling our craziest stories.  Sometimes you just can't help by laugh at the things that we experience here.  I had tears rolling down my face I was laughing so hard!

I realized that one of the reasons that I love to go to conferences now isn't the teaching.  It's not even the fellowship or worship- although they are both tied for a very close second. I like to go to conferences because I love to feel like I am in the majority- or in a like-minded community.  In my life I am so totally a minority, and when you are a minority, your voice seldom is heard.  You have to adapt to the majority.  You are the odd man out, and your customs are the ones that are odd.

But... when I join in with my people, I feel at home.  I feel like I can speak and be heard.  Basically I feel comfortable.  Although, it's a short time, it is very refreshing!

I am so thankful for the opportunity to get away.  And, I am especially thankful for a sweet, sweet husband who allows me the opportunity.  He cares about my well-being and does everything he can to help me.  He is amazing!  I came home to a clean house, laundry hanging out to dry, and kids who had already done all their homework!  Thank you , Jesus, for my Justin!!!

Really?!

Yall, I feel like so many times in conversations here, I am just left speechless.  (Is that even possible?! Ha!)

This morning when I dropped Lucy off at chess club (I know), one of the moms asked me, "Does anyone in America have dark skin like us or are they all like Melek (Lucy)?"

Are you kidding me?!  I had to explain the whole melting pot thing and that hardly anyone in America looks like Lucy- her parents included, oddly enough!  We have folks of every color, and I'd venture to say that light skinned folks are by far the minority these days.

Anyhow, it just goes to show you how little folks here know about America outside of the politics!

This is Why I Love this Place

It Was Bound to Happen

I got my first ticket (here) today! 

 I am actually a little bit relieved, because I have always dreaded it a bit.  Turns out it's not too big a deal.  I did not get interrogated or hauled off to the slammer.  Instead a very nice officer waved me to the side of the road, along with everyone else who was making the illegal left turn.  He was very nice and professional.  Unfortunately, he didn't fall for the innocent, sweet, lost foreigner bit.  Boo-hoo, my charm is fading!   And, I've got a 77 lira ticket to prove it!

Değişmişiz- We've Changed

You may remember back in the Spring when Lucy was asked to be in a music video.  It has finally been finished and is starting to make the rounds on local pop music channels!  Since I doubt you spend much time on KralTV here's the link so you can watch it!

Sunday Sneak Peek: Rapunzel Lucy

We don't do Halloween here.  But that doesn't stop Lucy from wearing her new Rapunzel costume day and night!  Thank you so much, Grandpa and Grandma!!

Laugh to Keep from Crying!

Today at Kelly's Korner, she is doing an advice for new moms link-up.  Kelly has put some great advice up- the main one being, basically, ignore the advice you get, and go with your gut!  I really do agree with each of the four bits of advice that she gives.

But, the very best advice that I can give is just relax and try really hard to enjoy it.  Everyone says that it just goes by so fast, and it's true.  I know it feels like time has stopped, and you are never going to get to be in the bathroom by yourself or sleep through the night again.  But, I promise you will.  In the blink of an eye, you'll be on to the next stage and looking wistfully back at that stage that you thought was so terrible!  Life is full of stages, each one with it's blessings and challenges.  Try to focus on the blessings!!

In no time, your babies will be grown, and you'll be longing for those early days again!

Go slow, make good memories, don't take everything so seriously, laugh a lot, enjoy the good things, and forget the bad!

Pretty soon, you'll wake up and your babies won't be babies anymore!

The Whole She-Bang!!

So, I've had my hiney in gear, and have finished writing all about our big trip out east along the Black Sea coast.  But, because I am super picky, I can't just throw the posts up here willy-nilly!  I've backdated them to the actual dates when they took place.  However, I didn't want you to miss them, because this trip was super amazing, the highlight of our fall, and some of my favorite days of my life.  (Not to be over dramatic, or anything!  Ha!)  So, here is the list of links...

(Please be warned that the posts may contain a photo or fifty jillion!)


Samsun

Ordu, Giresun, and Trabzon

Sumela Monastery- one of the coolest things I've ever seen!!

Laz Böreği

Ayder

Rize- almost at the border with Georgia, and I don't mean my home state!

Sinop

Sinop Jail and Fortress

Ince Burun- the northernmost point in Turkey

The Home Stretch


I challenge you to read my posts and count the number of times I write beautiful, awesome, and amazing!  I need to widen my vocabulary!  What I don't need to do is take more pictures!!  Thank the Lord for digital cameras!!!