Europe, I think I love you

Here we are! in Paris! I spent the last week with two of my precious best friends who have also lived overseas for the past year. We had so much fun being together, laughing, catching up, encouraging each other, and just sharing in what we've been through and what it's done in us over the past year. It was such a fabulous week. Thankfully, Mindy met us at the train station (yes, the train station from the Bourne movies...aren't I cultured now, eh?) so we didn't have to blindly drag our bags around Paris! We had so much fun seeing the sights, but just being together was just as fun as the incredible city we were in. We again mastered the metro until I had one incident... So, maybe I live in another country and maybe I can semi-speak another language, and maybe I am more cultured than I used to be a year ago, but nonetheless...we do not have a metro where I live. I accidentally slowed our travel one night when I tried to put my metro ticket into a slot that it did not belong. No, I do not think it was clearly marked. There was a small look of panic on my friends' faces when the Paris resident sighed and shared that the particular place where I had tried to make my ticket fit, was not the marked slot to put my ticket into. Merely stuck it into a crack in the ticket machine, yes I did. Who does that? I do. It was hardly late, but later than normal business hours, so we had to hunt down someone to help us open the machine (which was no easy feat) so that I could get my ticket out! Apparently, I am not the first to lose a ticket to the machine! The week was fabulous. I can't begin to share in words all that we did, so I'll share some pictures of our trip. I felt like I was in the twilight zone as far as language was concerned for the whole week! I took French in high school, so I can recognize bits and pieces--but not nearly enough to help me on the vacation! Mindy did all the talking! But I do know the French national anthem, I have been forced to sing it on occasion in America like it's a weird human trick or something, but other than that, I felt so helpless the first moment we ordered something. I can't remember the last time I actually couldn't say anything and didn't understand anything. Funny how quickly I've forgotten where I was a year ago. Its discouraging alot of times to see how far I've still to go to be where I want to be, but it was encouraging to be reminded where I've come from in the past year. Then, there were three Turkish men riding home on the plane behind me speaking Turkish and there's English, and French, and it's all running together!
I ended up missing my flight in Istanbul due to fog in London and spent a long, expensive night alone in the Istanbul airport which made for a tired, emotional re-entry back to my world. I was glad to see my bed yesterday when I got back. I needed this trip, I needed time to be with some of the people I started this journey with to reflect and vent and laugh and cry and share. I have lived in a state of some sort of newness for the past year that is somewhat starting to settle now. I have to be honest and say that coming back wasn't the easiest thing to do in the world. Since my parents left this month, in spite of incredible things happening here, I miss home and I've had a hard time dealing with it, it's just the truth right now. But, I am encouraged by how faithful He has been and was reminded this week while looking from the outside in back at the year I've had, of all that I have been privileged to be a part of. I've been blessed beyond what I could have asked for or could imagine and He's not done in me or in this place that I'm at as I was reminded before I left by my new sister. So, I cling to Him as I return and desire to finish out my next 9 months here joyfully. It will not always be easy, but it will be worth it.

View of the Eiffel Tower from a roof in Paris
Rainy day view from the Champs Elysee of The Arc de Triumph
In all her glory, lit up at the top of the hour, The Eiffel Tower
View from the top of the cathedral Notre Dame and of one of the many gargoyles
View of the Eiffel Tower from the cathedral Notre Dame
Notre DameLook how stylish we are! These are the shoes we did Europe in!... and unfortunately they are also the shoes we marched up the over 400 steps to the birds eye view from Notre Dame, fitting in is tough!

Just about around every corner, in subways, in the actual metro trains, there were street performers
Our favorite Parisian restaurant...Breakfast in Paris
How happy do we look to be eating lunch at Breakfast in America in Paris
This is just totally how I picture Paris in my mind...men with pony tails walking pretty dogs in sweaters, too bad the dogs weren't poodles, but we did see poodles around...to clarify stereotypes (yours and mine), not everyone looked like this...
Paris night in front of the Eiffel Tower

the Moulin Rouge, we were tempted but refrained from doing the can can in front of the famous windmill
yummy, crepes...
Sacre Couer, (the Sacred Heart) church on top of Monmartre

Rainy London Getaway

Here are a few pictures while I have a few minutes and some internet of our few days in London. It was so much fun! London proved to be just as rainy as I imagined, but just as fabulous as I had hoped! And, I am going to be in such good shape when I get home! We started out ready for some western food and were determined to head on to Hard Rock from the airport, a feat that we didn't realize what lengths would be necessary to attain. We were such a sight! We had to lug our suitcases and our carry on bags--I personally was travelling in style and didn't pack very lightly, which I regretted every time I had to go up and then down another set of steps wearing my pointy boots that I thought were such a necessity to 'fit in'-- up and down more than a few sets of Metro stairs and across town from London Heathrow to get there and we got more than quite a few stairs in addition to working a few new muscles! Who are these crazy people who drag their bags across London to get to some Western food! I would not have made it if my 50 pound bag had not had rollers!
After Hard Rock, we went to a Hillsong church service the first night and it was so great. There was a 'Welcome Home' sign above the stage, and it was home! To be surrounded by people we'd never met before and feel at home worshipping with other brothers and sisters. Home is definitely being redefined the longer I am over here.
We stayed with a friend of a friend in Wimbledon and it was such a great part of the city. We learned in our few days there to commute on the metro like pros! I loved it! English people are so stylish! The Metro was definitely full of all kinds of people. We learned to ride it like big city girls all over town! We saw Big Ben, the London Tower, went to a service at Westminster Abby, saw the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace--but to my and my mom's disappointment did not see William--sigh, and saw a showing of 'Wicked' at the Apollo Theatre. It's a new musical that has won a few Tony's. It was so great. A spin off of the Wizard of Oz, the Wicked Witch of the West's story, see it if you have the chance, her story is worth hearing... It was phenomenal. I love a musical. So, we saw the sights, took in a show, and went on a wild goose chase for the Outback that I was sure was in London. I could just smell the steak and I'd already stalked their website and printed out the address! We took a metro, a bus, and still ended up walking for 15 minutes! As soon as we rounded a corner and received word from one of the 'several' people we asked for directions gave us the word that we were close, I sighed and told my friend, 'I can smell it now, can't you smell it? That fabulous smell?'...too bad, we turned the corner to find McDonalds and stop to ask for one more set of directions to find out that they had closed down! Maybe my nose is failing me...I might need to go to the doctor when I get back. There was no steak, but it was still such a great few days of r&r and some sightseeing with one of my favorite friends. Here are a few pictures...


Fun view of Big Ben and the Thames river

The London Eye, the largest observation wheel in the world

Our rainy day view of Big Ben from the London Eye

The bird I shared my lunch with...
while sitting with a view of The London Tower Bridge...

...and an abstract interpretation of the London Tower BridgeWestminster Abby
Changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace
The Horse Guards while changing at Buckingham Palace... That's all for now. I'll post some pictures of Paris when I get home!

Matters of the Heart

I rode the bus today to the mall to finish up a few last minute errands I needed to run before I leave tomorrow for London and Paris. That's right. This is my big European vacation that I've been planning for over a year now. I'm meeting up with some friends who live abroad like me and spending a few days in London and then a few days in Paris. I'm incredibly excited. I don't know if I'm more excited about seeing my friends, seeing new sights, or the possibility of eating at an Outback in London! It's been awhile and this Turkish girl is craving a good steak and a some service in English! I do love a British accent, too. Don't worry, I'll post lots of pictures of the sights. I may not have Internet while I'm gone, but I'll be back next week.
But, back to the bus ride. I always have lots of time to think on the bus ride, I take in the sights that I've grown to love of the older more traditional Turkey that my bus winds through to get where I'm going. I drink in the sights deeply and let my mind wander to all that He takes it to. Today I was thinking about matters of the heart--in several ways. My grandpa had a heart attack this week. He is slowly recovering and we would appreciate your prayers. I was thinking about what an incredible life sustaining organ our heart is. An incredible muscle actually. Our heart is a muscle. It constantly flexes it's power as it distributes blood throughout our body taking oxygen and nutrients with and carrying away waste. That's how God created it. I started to think about the condition of my own heart right now--my spiritual heart. I feel like the Lord has been flexing my heart in new ways this past year. Sometimes it just feels stretched. I was thinking about all the new emotions, burdens, praises, desires, love, appreciation, and joy that fill my heart at any given moment because of what I have felt and experienced here in Turkey this past year. To be in a place like this is changing. I found out this week that I have a new spiritual sister. Incredible joy, praise, and love to say the least fill my heart over this. I also talked with a different new sister who is struggling with her family over new changes in her life and is an incredibly hard position. There is the burden, the requests, the pain that fill my heart at the same time. I'm riding on the bus thinking about all that happened this week--the joy and the pain, physically for my grandpa and spiritually for others and am just overwhelmed. I can't help but deeply appreciate the way the Jesus says, 'in this world, you will have trouble, but take heart for I have overcome the world.' He knows that our hearts will be filled with conflicting emotions because there is both trouble and joy in this world. He knows the power of a little muscle, not only physically, but spiritually when He says, 'take heart'.

Knitted Love

So, if this picture means nothing to you; it means something to me. You cannot live in the village and know you're loved if you haven't received a knitted something. It's official, I'm loved, if not by my friend, then at least by her mother. Melissa and I have had everyone in a frenzy around here since Christmas. No one wants to be shown up and I can't say that I blame them, but our Christmas gifts really were just a gesture of love. We gave gifts to all our friends with fun gift tags on them with the Christmas story in Turkish, in an effort to be able to share why we give gifts and what the greatest gift for us is. Our friends and neighbors just could not handle receiving a gift with nothing to give us in return. So, upon my return to the little city (I lovingly refer to my city of 2 million as that, after returning from Istanbul), we have been showered with gifts. Everything from key rings, to crocheted bath cloths, to tea glasses, to yes the gift I'm displaying here. The very red scarf and hat set. My friend wanted it to be so special that she didn't even trust herself to knit it, she made her mother knit it for me! And I will admit, it is a fine piece of handiwork. People in the village love a knitted something. They love to wear homemade scarfs or use homemade bath cloths or snuggle a little baby child up in something knitted. I love a baby wearing something knitted by a teyze (an older lady--this is a term of endearment, not a criticism). Something sweet about it. So, you are definitely loved if you get a knitted gift. I think it just clinches the deal. Deal sealed. First, we received the bath cloths and then I received the scarf set. I feel totally loved. But poor Melissa--I have to admit it was kind of funny. My friend didn't know that I was bringing my roommate with me, so she got a bit stressed and at the last minute decided she needed to give her a gift, too. It would've been a great idea, if after Melissa opened the mixed c.d., it hadn't had: 'with love to Jessica' written on it in Turkish. But, she made it up today and made sure to send me home with two gifts for Melissa. Melissa got something knitted, also. She, too is loved. So, the other day, we're leaving and I'm wearing my gift, of course. My friend has not had a very good day, she was kind of sad, which gave me an opportunity to pray for her, which I hadn't had before now in her presence. So, she's enjoyed our company and we're leaving and we are wearing our coats at the door, actually opening the door to step outside and my friend gets all flustered and says she has to go to the bathroom, can we wait on her. We are a little confused. I have almost stepped my foot onto the pavement and we are done saying goodbye, but she says, no, no, she'll just be 5 minutes. She's very uncomfortable and needs to relieve herself. She's grabbing the toilet paper as she says all this. Sit down, I'll be right back. I just need to use the restroom. So, we come back inside, sit back down, and wait for her trying not to listen through the wall as she goes to the restroom and then comes back out, washes her hands and we in the same manner as we had done before, say goodbye again. I have fabulous friends, but sometimes it's more than the language that I just don't quite understand...

Happy New Year

As if seeing my parents was not a huge enough gift this year...Turkey gave me snow for New Year's...and lots of it. So, I'll return the favor and share it with those of you who won't get to see any snow this winter.

Theres something refreshing about snow to start a new year and a new morning to remind you of the new life we have in Christ, and how fresh God's mercy is every morning. It's like a clean blanket of snow on a winter morning-- which I appreciated this year in new ways after a long year of learning/stretching/growing and being reminded constantly in completely new ways of how I need new mercies every day, always will, and how He's made provision for that daily. In all the changes around me over the past year up to now, I praise a God who stays the same yesterday, today, and forever, but who places us in a world that changes with seasons around us to remind us that it pleases Him to change us into His likeness. When I feel like giving up on myself at times, He doesn't... What an awesome God I serve. He is able to change me because He is unchanging. And as I see His hand of change upon my life and heart, I see His hand in the change of seasons that brought snow to me this winter and will take it away in spring. He is gently reminding me through the snow that He is more than capable of changing my heart into something that gives Him glory. The snow was a neat reminder that every day, I have the choice to see the new mercy and forgiveness He's provided for me that makes me white as snow and walk in it. Here's to snow, being reminded that I am a new creation in Him--washed white through His sacrifice in spite of my righteousness being filthy rags before Him, and to continuing to walk in new mercies today and this year.

My Family Vacation Picture Diary

So, today I came home from a week in Istanbul and 2 weeks with my parents. Yes, I know, if you read my blog at all, you thought your mouse was broken because I have never been this long without updating. I've been a busy girl, and a happy girl. I have lived in Turkey for one year officially yesterday and it was a perfect way to finish the year and start a new one, with family. My parents came bringing smiles, hugs, much love from folks back home (If you sent love and happies this way...THANKYOU! it was WONderful!), and tons of gifts! This year has already been one of transition as I said goodbye to two different kinds of family in the same week. My parents went back to America yesterday along with Jayme and Jared a week before. After a year of living here, they'll be missed just like family and so many things will be different, but I know God will use this as He has everything over the past year to keep refining me. But, it was a great 2 weeks in spite of the goodbyes that I have just learned are inevitable in life, and mean what you allow them to mean, and I have been quickly embraced back here in the village that I call home. Melissa and I have decided to start judging how much Turkish time we have each day by how many glasses of cay (tea) we drink each day and today I've had seven since I got home from the airport, yep, that's 7. I'm not proud, I just can't help it when you have neighbors like mine! They love to cook for us and serve us tea! But we do know that we are loved! It was a nice way to be welcomed back after saying goodbye to my parents in Istanbul. Here are a few pictures from our time together! Enjoy...

Momma and Daddy are showing their pride for Turkey! They fell in love even quicker than I did with my new home!

Momma got used to all the tea real quick! Her and daddy got invited to an impromptu tea party their first night that lasted until almost midnight!

Chris helped us make it to Tarsus and Mersin for their first day in Turkey. Too bad their luggage didn't make it until day 2...and momma had to wear mine and daddy's clothes the first day! She was a good sport!

We spent Christmas day with sweet friends and we're displaying our gifts. Everybody got hats and headbands. Good minds think alike.

I know Daddy felt like he was back in high school helping me drive! But him and momma were very complimentary of my newly acquired stick shift driving skills! They did say that I drove like a Turk though. I'm just adjusting to my culture here...and maybe I was a bit of an aggressive driver in America, maybe.

The night before we left Adana, the neighbors thought they hadn't tried quite enough Turkish food...so they invited themselves over at about 11:00 the night we're packing for Istanbul and promptly began cooking in our kitchen! I'm so glad they did, I think it was the best Turkish midnight snack they had all week!

Here we are in Kapadokya the land of fairy chimneys. It was so incredible. I think this is one of the coolest places I've been in Turkey.

One of my sweetest friends came with us to see Kapadokya for the first time with us. It was so much fun having her with us and she loved getting to meet my parents. Everybody loved meeting my parents. The neighbors called them 'sugar' when telling other neighbors about them. 'They were just like sugar'...

I got to spin my hands at making a bit of pottery while we were there. It didn't end up making anything but a stain on my shirt and something he threw away after I finished the masterpiece, but it was fun!

So...we did actually enjoy some of the history while we were at the Archaeological Museum, but the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, I guess you could say...

We made lots of friends at the Grand Bazaar every stop we made...Maybe it helped that we needed some trinkets to remember the trip by and we paid handsomely for them, but we did have a friend help us wheel and deal.

The perfect end to our winter holiday, it snowed the last 3 days of my trip up until the minute my plane got held on the runway for an hour! But we loved seeing the snow. It was magical.