I prepared a new post and published it...on an old blog. Apparently I still have one from about 6 years ago that I forgot about. Now I'm too tired to reload it, but I thought I needed to at least acknowledge my efforts - so here is my 3 sentence nod.

 Hudson at the kuafor (barber). The stripes on the side where his idea.

 At a friend's house for fish and borek. Yummy dinner on the balcony.

 Alsancak walking street after the protests. Subway and Starbucks were destroyed. They've since been rebuilt, and the graffiti on the street is fading. Still, the events from this summer are concerning to many people in this country.

 Hudson's kindergarten graduation with his teacher Tulin presenting his diploma. A night of food, fun and performances by the children.

Reflections

Sweetness. Allyson with Carter.

Kyle and Carter. Wonderful family!

 The Robinson family is so special to us - they housed us for about 8 months before we moved overseas. Baba used them and their family to introduce us to new aspects of His character and love. Their family has now grown to four and they are starting a new chapter in their lives. We love them and are proud of what Baba is doing in their lives.

Uncle Joe's grave-side service with precious family.

Aunt Lois and family at Uncle Joe's service.

 Shortly after arriving in the US last spring, we learned that my great Uncle Joe had passed from this life to his eternal home in glory. These are some pictures of dear family that were able to come to his grave-side service in Oklahoma.My dad was asked to do the service and he did a wonderful job. It was a true celebration of Uncle Joe's life.

This picture makes me laugh. My friend Maria next to Heidi. 

 Two years ago Heidi came to our fellowship to speak. In the evening service we were all praying and ministering to each other. It was a memoriable time for me. "Let us drink from the cup of suffering and joy."

Some special ladies who meet for a monthly book club. We discuss a book, but also eat, pray and encourage one another.  I love them.

Matt and Elyse came in the spring of 2012 to encourage and serve us. Just after their visit we headed back to the States - a sort of turning the page.

My language class from last winter. Such a unique blend of peeps from all over the world!

These last few pictures might seem a bit random, but they mark milestones in our lives. Times of encouragement, and the beginning of difficult times as well. There were about 5 people in my language class that got sick with the virus that eventually attacked my heart and body.  Jesus has made me more than an overcomer and He continues to make me well. :)

Starting up again

 JonPa with boys doing science experiment...Dry Ice!

Hula hoop games with JonPa.

It's been a while since I posted, so I will attempt to briefly chronicle the last year or so in the next few posts. Last year we spent 7 months in the US and were able to spend some much needed time with family and friends. Here are some snapshots of the boys with their JonPa.

Efes adventure



The kids are eager to see what lies ahead...

Bravely going where no man has gone before...or for at least an hour.

Efes library



Be careful. You might get electrocuted, get a new hair-do, and start dancing. Or is it falling?



Kids posing in front of some plumbing. It's like 2,000 years old.



Friends that came for a visit sitting in the stands.

Kids curious to see what is behind the bars.



I believe Hercules gate.



Ah, the famous Efes amphitheater. Many a riots, beatings, and eatings took place in this stadium that sits around 50,000. They kept the lions below to the left. Paul visited this amphitheater. 

The boys were disappointed the toilets were no longer in use.



Enjoyed the Efes outing with dear friends.





Two love birds.



Exploring "Mary's Church". You can see it off in the distance to the left.

As the sun began to set, the sky started to dance with wispy clouds (cirrus).

Caleb and Brent baptism...something is missing.

Another shot down the road at Efes.




More dancing cirrus clouds.

A yummy dinner with our friends not too far from modern Efes.

A peek at the last few months...

Sweetness.

I'm having flashbacks to some of Caleb's childhood pictures.

Looking good...

And the final step - a wash (with cologne, of course).

Spike!

Chatting with the owner's wife.

Silas is excited about his new haircut!

Our Christmas tree.

Bev's birthday cookie...I made it in the shape of a "B"...

Singing at our life group.

This is our back porch! Everyone came out to enjoy the snow. Apparently it's been almost 10 years since they've seen any in our city.

I think he won the snow-ball fight.

Silas's snow angel.

A snowman hanging...errr...a scarf being placed around it's neck.

A corncob pipe and a carrot nose, and two eyes made out of bottle caps...All the snow melted that night.

A week later we met some friends at the top of a mountain to discover a LOT of snow, and only about an hour from our city.

People from our life group having fun together!

Our neighbor's boy and our boys out to lunch before we went to fellowship.

Our new friends at their house for dinner.

Hudson and Silas playing with their daughter.

Me and Moonlight.

Caleb's birthday card time.

Silas and Hudson drawing with a friend.

Sultan Caleb.

Listening to some music online (the woman on the left's sister is the musician)

A reminder every time that He loves this city, this land, these people. He's with us, He'll never leave us or forsake us, He has a plan, and it is good!

Saying goodbye to Cutie, Silas's first pet (a little red slider turtle). This was Cutie's burial service.

I'm all for developing children's intelligence.

Silas at his school with classmates playing(posing) before class.