Our journey

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Happy Easter

Happy Easter

Pretty Flowers

I found one!

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Our crazy life

Not that our crazy life is that interesting, but it has prevented me from updating for almost 2 weeks. We apologize. Ryan's parents came last Friday and we had a wonderful week watching them beam with pride as they played with and watched Selah. She has changed a lot over the past few months. She says "da-da" and tries to say many other things that she hears us say. When the phone rings or someone knocks on the door, she gasps with excitement and runs in the direction of the sound. She has learned to dance quite a jive and do a sweet little turn in the midst of it. It was so difficult to let Ryan's parents leave...or was it more difficult to stay here while they left. Either way, I am reminded that the hardest part of living here for me is not being able to see family on a regular basis. We are so blessed with supportive and loving family and I want Selah to have the rich relationships with family that Ryan and I were blessed to have as we grew up. As I pour those painful feelings out to God, He reminds me that I should delight in Him and my desires will become His desires and He will give me the desires of my heart. I know God will bless Selah with relationships with family but I so wish that we could be near our dear family and friends right now! You are welcome here anytime!

We are probably going to be slow to post pics and, possibly, updates for a while because our computers were stolen last week when our thieves decided to enter our home while we were out sightseeing with Ryan's parents. Fortunately, they didn't take a lot and they didn't ransack our house. I am also thankful that Ryan's mom was here to feed, bathe and put Selah to bed while Ryan and I talked to neighbors, police and friends. We're hoping that my parent's arrival in a few weeks will also mark the arrival of our replacement computers....I don't know how long I can put up with this non-MacBook. :)

We spent a fabulous day outside today. My friend took us out to the countryside today where we grilled our lunch, relaxed in hammocks, and Selah and daddy rode a horse. Selah wasn't too sure what to think of the horse, but it was fun none the less. Tonight we dyed eggs for the Easter Egg Hunt at church tomorrow. Hopefully I can get some pics up soon...as soon as I figure out how to do it on this computer....

May we all soberly remember Christ's sacrifice so that we might be cleansed of our sin and able to approach the throne of grace with confidence as we celebrate our Risen Savior and Lord tomorrow. Happy Easter.

Monday, March 10, 2008

Mug Shot

I'm amazed that I'm about to do this....but I know a blog update is necessary and I have an update, so I'll do it. What am I doing? I'm putting a great mug shot photo of myself on the blog. I took this today immediately after I got home from having my hair cut and styled. It cost me as much as Ryan's haircuts cost him....but I wasn't 100% thrilled with the outcome, though I know it could be MUCH MUCH worse! I like it.


(Notice that the layers on the right side became very Rachel'esque from Friends. Fortunately, the stylist decided not to do the same thing on the other side so I think I can minimize the dramatic layer that it is with a bit of styling.)




Selah is quite an entertainer! She always likes to play with things that are not toys--like daddy's goggles or pens or electric cables or glasses or...

Monday, March 03, 2008

Mondays

On Mondays, Ryan and I both go study language. I have to leave the house by 8:15 AM to get to the bus and to my teacher's house by 9 AM. Ryan stays here until 9:00 when Selah's best friend (babysitter) comes. I leave my lesson at 9 AM and go to a cute little area of the town where I practice with a young lady that is a secretary at an art studio. I was introduced to her when I first arrived because she was my first language teacher. I grab a sandwich on the way (or Hot Shots at KFC if I'm splurging) and chat with her for about an hour or so. Then I head home...but stop at the outdoor market (pazar) that comes to our park every Monday. Lots of vendors set up shop on a street that borders the park. Even though I go to the market almost every Monday, I still get anxious...not because I won't understand language but because I don't want to be charged high prices because of my language inefficiencies or I don't want them to find out I'm an American--because a few people have a bone to pick with the President and think I can give him the message. Really, its not a bad experience at all. Then I head home, hope Selah is still sleeping, and chat with our babysitter for a while. By this time it is 3 PM and Selah is ready to play.

Selah has made a lot of friends at the park. Every time we take her, we get the same questions: Who are you?(they know Selah and the babysitter, but not us) Where are you from? Is your husband a national of this country? As we approach the playground we usually hear several people saying, "Selah!" Last Thursday I took her to the park with her little ball. As she was kicking it/fetching after she threw it, a stray dog (rest easy....he's tagged so the authorities know he is there and he's supposedly been vaccinated) came and took it....almost as she picked it up. He ran away with it and popped it. I was mad at the dog and Selah was mad at me because I wouldn't let her chase the dog to get her ball back. Unfortunately the tag doesn't make me rest so easy. :) Memories of being bit by a dog as a child came back to my mind and I was really scared that my child, who seemingly fears nothing, was going to try to get her ball back from this mutt.

Selah is definitely getting to the age where she is letting her will be known. Pray for wisdom for us in how we respond to her. Recently, she has been testing out screaming to see if it accomplishes anything for her. Fun stuff.

This picture is from the window of our apartment looking down at the crazy intersection off of our street on Mondays. Driving in our neighborhood is a terrible experience on Mondays....don't do it.

I also attached some pictures of us playing a game with American friends last night. We were basically playing charades at this point in the game. Look at Ryan and think...great female vocalist and Titanic. Can you see it? As for me, it is so obvious that I won't even give you a clue. :) Any guesses?