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Around the World and Back.

These are two of the biggest reasons why last month, I flew across several countries, one ocean, and more than one time zone to return to my sweet home away from home. Turkey, sigh. I can't even begin to say what a precious gift this trip was.

The time that I got to spend with sweet friends, neighbors, and old teammates was just absolutely blissful. There were good conversations, lots of laughs, and more than enough hugs to go around.


My Turkish was by no means fantastic...I was a bit less intelligent than I was 2 years ago because my communication skills were lacking. BUT, I could communicate...and that's all that mattered. I did get my feelings hurt one time from my precious DVD/Perfume lady when she told the man working at the convenient store that I didn't speak Turkish over a tiny miscommunication over a band-aid. Come one now... a year and a half and I'm speaking Turkish daily for a week from 10 o'clock in the morning until 11 o'clock at night and we're splitting hairs because I forgot the word for band-aid. Of course we are (smile)... Welcome home.

Despite the many words I'd forgotten during the many months of transitioning back to America, it was so sweet to hear my friends say things like... "it's like a dream that you're here"... "I've never even been to Istanbul and you came all the way here to see us, it's so wonderful"... "we've missed you"..."we love you"..."i thought I wouldn't even be able to understand you, but we can talk", and understand every one of them. They threw parties, they took off work, they rearranged their schedules, they cooked food and didn't leave their houses all week to see me. I was so unworthy of the attention they all showered on me for the week, but I cherish the sweetness of a few relationships that picked up right where we left off months ago. God gave me sweet open wide doors to talk about life that's transpired in the past year or so in their lives and in mine, opportunities to encourage and be encouraged, and just time to be a girl with girls and women that became sweet friends in a sweet place.

My How Time Flies...

Dear Blog,

I am so sorry that I have not written you in so long. The past year has been a blur.



Well, if you are reading this then that means I actually sent out the newsletter that I am currently only in the planning stages of sending out to let you know about my upcoming trip to Turkey and you might have seen this link on the newsletter. I'll make sure and post some pictures and stories on here after I return in March from Turkey.

My sweet Turkey. I can hardly believe that it has been over a year since I returned to America. 2 years doesn't seem like that significant of a portion of life, but I have spent a few minutes just now going back through pictures and stories on here of all I experienced...and I have spent a year being home trying to wrap my mind around my journey and let it take root into the place He desired for it to dwell in my heart and I have to correct myself. 2 years can be a pretty significant piece of life if you let it. I know I'm an emotional girl at times, but sitting here reflecting, I am of course teary eyed. Turkey , you are forever a special place to me. I cannot wait to return to you for a week, my sweet city and the people who live in you that I have continued to love from afar and miss greatly...