I don't usually offer my journal for public viewing, but as we are preparing to finish out this year in Iraq (when we return it will be 2010) I have been doing a lot of looking back and processing about our time here so far – the good, the bad, and the ugly. One of the reasons I have kept a journal for the last 10 years is for times like these – when I need to remember and get an accurate look back over the last several months. It has been a pretty rough year, but I think we’ve learned a lot and grown a lot in ways that I hope will make us more successful in the coming years that we spend overseas. Below are some excerpts from my journal since we’ve been here because I want to give a real (well somewhat, I've been fairly selective in my sharing) glimpse of some of what the last 7 months have been like.
January
1/22: I can’t believe today really came – we are on the plane on our way to the Rock. It was sad saying good-bye – I still feel sad right now, but I also feel eager excitement and anticipation of all that is ahead for us.
Lord, I bring to you now all of my tears, all of my sorrow, all of my fear and tell you that you are the only one who fills me and that following you, even to the ends of the earth, is better Lord. It is better than home, better than comfort, better than family, friends and money. Jesus you are better than all of these things. Please rise up inside me, inside of these vacant places, I need you more than I can begin to imagine.
1/23: There is nothing to fear, but God alone and he is for us! God is my home – when I don’t feel at home anywhere else He is trustworthy. Lord, you will establish peace for us, since you have also performed for us all our works. Isaiah26; 12
1/25: What a great first day we had, Praise the Lord! I’m still feeling so excited about life here and getting settled and learning language. It was great with the team and I’m so encouraged by their confidence and ability here.
February
2/2: Well, we made it through our first really bad day here – thank you Jesus! I was reminded last night about keeping the first things first. It seems that here (as anywhere I suppose) there are so many ways to divide your affection and attention. There are dying children that need surgery, there are families needing updates from us on their child’s status, there is Kurdish to learn and study and practice... and everything seems so urgent. The only way to have any strength, energy, life, light and power to draw from is to be seeking first the Kingdom. Satan wants to distract us and keep us so busy that we miss it completely.
2/9: My first trip out to the villages was a success. The families we met with were wonderful and it was great to get to be involved actively with what is happening now in the life of PLC. It seems unreal that 2 weeks ago we were trying to figure out how and if we could send kids this quarter and here we are 6 days out from sending the first batch of kids. God really does laugh at the impossible, and it must be so that no man can boast… As hard as it is to see families who are hurting, I would rather be a part of this and deal with all of the hurt than to not be here reaching out, providing support, praying, hoping, and loving these kids and their families.
2/10: So, the water is back… but the tanks will only fill ¼ of the way full without a pump and we didn’t get any national electricity today – I guess it is always something. It will be really interesting to see what it is like living in America after this.
2/12: The water is gone again – and the $400 washing machine doesn’t work. I cried for about 2 hours tonight. I think I needed to be really broken and let myself feel sad (even though I still struggle with feeling guilty about my sadness)… It has been much harder than I expected to have a home that I can’t make work right. It would be easier to live with someone else than to have this be our problem every time something else breaks…In the midst of feeling guilty over my frustration and sadness I realized something – although the bible talks about rejoicing in suffering that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t hurt. If I didn’t have to choose joy and there wasn’t anything to push my limits – then there wouldn’t be anything remarkable about joy would there? It isn’t as though my oldest child needed a heart surgery he might not be able to survive…but it is still my suffering this week. I’m humbled tonight by my own weakness. It will not be by my own willpower or ability that we will stay in Iraq.
“What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? 1Corinthians 4:7”
2/15: Thank you Lord for the good reports on the children and their families. I pray that you will continue to comfort and strengthen them.
2/22: It has been 1 month since we left and today was a pretty bad day here. I feel kind of homesick tonight. I just miss my family and friends. I miss the comfortable things of America. I had my first recognizable moment of culture shock today – Lord, please help me to draw from your strength, I feel pretty weary tonight.
2/24: We made it through month 1, we have even made some pretty significant accomplishments, praise the Lord! Lord, let month 2 be twice as purpose filled, joyful, submitted. By your grace Jesus, only by your grace.
2/28: Thank you Jesus for the hope and encouragement I feel tonight. God please continue to speak to me about how I can pray for Jeff. I’m reminded tonight that you are ‘Not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; no evil dwells with you.” Ps 5:4. You are only holy and righteous and whether you heal and save these children or not, that truth will not change.
March
3/2: Baby Honyar died yesterday morning. I’m not sure how to process it all other than to choose Hope. Hope has meant something special to me these days.
3/11: So, today is the day I found out that our whole life was going to change. That’s right, I’m pregnant! I still can’t quite believe it. I’ve said it enough times today that I thought it would sink in – but it still seems so unreal. I can’t believe we are going to have a baby!
3/14: Lord, thank you for your mercy and continued goodness in my life. I pray that you could continue to give me grace and wisdom to know how to take care of this baby growing inside me.
3/18: I can’t believe it is ending when it feels like it just begun. I’ve only been knowingly pregnant for 8 days and I’ve started to miscarry. One week ago our whole life changed – and we were so happy about that. I can’t believe how quickly I grew attached to this pregnancy, this future, this baby… and now it is all ending, just like that. There are no words to the grief that I feel about everything that could have been…
3/26: Lord, I don’t know how to feel – I’m hopeful and fearful. God you alone hold the power of life and death. The life of this baby belongs to you. God, let your will be done.
April
4/1: Well, it’s a miracle, we saw our little baby and it’s heart beat! Thank you Jesus, I’ve had so many feelings about all of this – of which you are well aware. Help me to rest and take it all one-step at a time.
4/6: Lord, help me! This has been so much harder for me than I ever imagined – the constant nausea and pains. Father, please give me the grace to be able to receive this joyfully and to know how to take care of myself.
May
5/4: Father, thank you for your Word and the life that it brings. Thank you for truth that sets us free. I pray for wisdom as I seek to be a better wife and teammate.
5/8: Oh Lord, it was another hard day where my circumstances just threatened to relentlessly crush my spirit. I wish I felt like I had fought for joy harder but I’m not sure that I really tried. At the end of this day I don’t want to feel hopeless or wonder how many more terrible days await me – I just need you.
“Cast your burden upon the Lord and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” Ps 55: 23
5/11 Thank you Jesus for letting us see a healthy, squirming baby today with a good heartbeat. I just confess that you are in control and you are trustworthy.
June
6/4: God, I pray for Shad tonight, please give his body the strength to heal and let him recover from these procedures. God I pray for peace and comfort for his family and for Jeremy and our team. God we trust you and we are asking you to heal Shad, to give him life again.
6/16: “ From the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been a refuge for me, a tower of strength against the enemy. Let me dwell in your tent forever, let me take refuge in the shelter of your wings.” Ps 61: 2-4
July
7/19: I think I’m finally ready to admit that the closeness I wanted with you (Jesus) that I thought was alluding me as a result of location isn’t any easier half way around the world. I don’t feel any closer, the light doesn’t seem any clearer and being obedient in big things doesn’t change all of the every day things that I am still disobedient in. Nearness to you and closeness to the Spirit doesn’t happen with out me…I know I can’t keep asking you to help me and expect that to produce results without my waiting on you.
We were out of Kurdistan on vacation for most of August and are getting ready to go home now so I don’t have a lot of entries relevant to this post for August so I’ll just end it here. It has been a really trying and meaningful 7 months so far and we are looking forward to coming back in January and doing this again with a baby! We’ll see if I can still find time to journal then… I’m not getting my hopes up.
8.30.2009
8.25.2009
Things I am looking forward to in the states.
-All the electricity I want
-Skeet shooting with friends
-Fishing with my dad and Allen
-Having a little boy =) who I get to teach the above mentioned and probably below mentioned things to
-Smoking briskets with the above mentioned people
-Hunting if I have a place to hunt
-Grilling steaks, fajitas, pork chops and chicken
-Making guacamole with Erin
-Eating lots of great food
-BACON!!!!
-Hanging out with friends who love me, you know who you are!!
-Talking stocks with John
-Restaurants I want to eat at
Jaliscos and Adriana & Jennets both breakfast
Waterstreet and a nice steak house like Ruth Chris for dinner
Joe Cottons, Rudy’s, Ninfas, Kitox, Jaspers, Whataburger, Papa Rollo’s, Chick-fil-a, Lee’s, Bush’s Chicken and SWEET TEA
I would love for Erin to come shoot skeet with me but after we saw GI Joe I don’t think Haydn will like the noise. I would also like for her to get to go fishing with me, my dad and Allen cause she is better than a good luck charm! I would also love for her to be able to smoke briskets but the smoke might be too much so she and Haydn will get the joy of eating all the great food that is grilled. I will try to remember that most people other than myself like more than just meat for dinner so maybe we will have some rabbit food also.
Friends, did I forget any good places?
-Skeet shooting with friends
-Fishing with my dad and Allen
-Having a little boy =) who I get to teach the above mentioned and probably below mentioned things to
-Smoking briskets with the above mentioned people
-Hunting if I have a place to hunt
-Grilling steaks, fajitas, pork chops and chicken
-Making guacamole with Erin
-Eating lots of great food
-BACON!!!!
-Hanging out with friends who love me, you know who you are!!
-Talking stocks with John
-Restaurants I want to eat at
Jaliscos and Adriana & Jennets both breakfast
Waterstreet and a nice steak house like Ruth Chris for dinner
Joe Cottons, Rudy’s, Ninfas, Kitox, Jaspers, Whataburger, Papa Rollo’s, Chick-fil-a, Lee’s, Bush’s Chicken and SWEET TEA
I would love for Erin to come shoot skeet with me but after we saw GI Joe I don’t think Haydn will like the noise. I would also like for her to get to go fishing with me, my dad and Allen cause she is better than a good luck charm! I would also love for her to be able to smoke briskets but the smoke might be too much so she and Haydn will get the joy of eating all the great food that is grilled. I will try to remember that most people other than myself like more than just meat for dinner so maybe we will have some rabbit food also.
Friends, did I forget any good places?
8.23.2009
Randomness in the mind of Jeff Pt. 3
Right now we are out of Iraq for a couple for a couple of week. I finally have time to sit down and write a blog post or maybe two. So here goes:
-The other day Erin and I were going to pick some packages up and she noticed a monkey on a leash tied to a light pole One doesn’t see monkeys everyday tied to a light pole especially ones eating carrots!
- I have grown accustomed to visiting the bazaar (large primarily outside market where one can go to find almost anything you need. I typically take a taxi into the less crowded part of the bazaar and then walk out of it when I am ready to leave cause there is lots of traffic in the bazaar. As I was on my usual route walking out of the bazaar I noticed an old man sitting in a chair sleeping waiting for someone to hire him. Since then I have seen him sleeping in his chair in the morning, at lunch time and in the afternoon. Personally I think it is bad business because I wouldn’t wake someone from sleeping I would simply move onto the next person. But then someone who thinks differently than myself might think I will hire the sleeping man he should be well rested. Any thoughts?
- A month or so ago every time I sat down to type something I kept hitting the comma key and it really annoyed me so I am happy to say that since I started typing this post I have not hit the comma key once on accident.
- Being here in Turkey has been great. I have had some amazing chicken (something I don’t eat much of in Iraq). And I had a McFlurry and a chocolate dipped ice cream cone. I really miss great ice cream. We are staying in a friends house that is located pretty stinking close to the water so it has been great to hear and smell the water. It reminds me of home and then I get to thinking that I’m going fishing in about a month with my dad and Allen. Having lived in Corpus most of my life I am accustomed to seeing seagulls, some that are big and other that are small but the seagulls in Turkey are extra large. I took a picture of one cause I figured people wouldn’t believe me.
- Back to Iraq. I with the help of a couple of our interns finished painting the upstairs of our house. That is a huge relief!
- We also bought new curtains that are thicker, heavier, and darker for our living room so now that room is a little cooler and much more tolerable. I am still going to get a larger split (a/c) someday, hopefully!
- Thanks to one of our interns, Josh, I have started to get into photography. Part of the benefit to living overseas is that you get the opportunity to see amazingly beautiful places. Now I am just trying to learn how to take a little bit better pictures.
- Hopefully I will take some great ones in Thailand and you will get to see them.
That’s about all I have for this post. I hope you leave comments cause that is my favorite part about blogging, getting to read comments people left.
-The other day Erin and I were going to pick some packages up and she noticed a monkey on a leash tied to a light pole One doesn’t see monkeys everyday tied to a light pole especially ones eating carrots!
- I have grown accustomed to visiting the bazaar (large primarily outside market where one can go to find almost anything you need. I typically take a taxi into the less crowded part of the bazaar and then walk out of it when I am ready to leave cause there is lots of traffic in the bazaar. As I was on my usual route walking out of the bazaar I noticed an old man sitting in a chair sleeping waiting for someone to hire him. Since then I have seen him sleeping in his chair in the morning, at lunch time and in the afternoon. Personally I think it is bad business because I wouldn’t wake someone from sleeping I would simply move onto the next person. But then someone who thinks differently than myself might think I will hire the sleeping man he should be well rested. Any thoughts?
- A month or so ago every time I sat down to type something I kept hitting the comma key and it really annoyed me so I am happy to say that since I started typing this post I have not hit the comma key once on accident.
- Being here in Turkey has been great. I have had some amazing chicken (something I don’t eat much of in Iraq). And I had a McFlurry and a chocolate dipped ice cream cone. I really miss great ice cream. We are staying in a friends house that is located pretty stinking close to the water so it has been great to hear and smell the water. It reminds me of home and then I get to thinking that I’m going fishing in about a month with my dad and Allen. Having lived in Corpus most of my life I am accustomed to seeing seagulls, some that are big and other that are small but the seagulls in Turkey are extra large. I took a picture of one cause I figured people wouldn’t believe me.
- Back to Iraq. I with the help of a couple of our interns finished painting the upstairs of our house. That is a huge relief!
- We also bought new curtains that are thicker, heavier, and darker for our living room so now that room is a little cooler and much more tolerable. I am still going to get a larger split (a/c) someday, hopefully!
- Thanks to one of our interns, Josh, I have started to get into photography. Part of the benefit to living overseas is that you get the opportunity to see amazingly beautiful places. Now I am just trying to learn how to take a little bit better pictures.
- Hopefully I will take some great ones in Thailand and you will get to see them.
That’s about all I have for this post. I hope you leave comments cause that is my favorite part about blogging, getting to read comments people left.
8.22.2009
back in Iraq
Just a note to say that we made it safely back to the country! I will try and post some more pictures of our time in Bangkok this week. It was quite a trek to get back here and in the future I will try to not travel internationally in my third trimester, but in just 3 weeks and 4 plane rides we will finally be home!
We returned just in time for Ramadan so that will be interesting, we've never been in a Muslim country during this time of fasting. It already seems so different. None of the restaurants are open during the daylight hours and lots of shops are closed for the 30 days of fasting. I'm glad we get to be here to experience a little of it and will hopefully get to break the fast with some of our friends and neighbors before we leave.
I was awake extra early this morning, half jet lag, half our electricity going off and as I was grumbling over the heat and lack of electricity I was reminded of something important that came out of our time at the conference....be thankful! The last 7 months in Iraq have been varying degrees of hard and harder and I let myself get so bogged down in it that I forgot to be thankful for anything! So, I spent time this morning being thankful that I had extra time to pray and read and remember the things God has done for us.
We returned just in time for Ramadan so that will be interesting, we've never been in a Muslim country during this time of fasting. It already seems so different. None of the restaurants are open during the daylight hours and lots of shops are closed for the 30 days of fasting. I'm glad we get to be here to experience a little of it and will hopefully get to break the fast with some of our friends and neighbors before we leave.
I was awake extra early this morning, half jet lag, half our electricity going off and as I was grumbling over the heat and lack of electricity I was reminded of something important that came out of our time at the conference....be thankful! The last 7 months in Iraq have been varying degrees of hard and harder and I let myself get so bogged down in it that I forgot to be thankful for anything! So, I spent time this morning being thankful that I had extra time to pray and read and remember the things God has done for us.
8.13.2009
Picture attempt 2
We'll see if the internet will be a little more cooperative tonight so we can show you some more pictures of our time here so far.
Here's Jeff in his hardcore ATV gear. He was the only one who went on the tour this day and since he had some experience the guide really took him off the beaten path. He had a great time!
Would you let this man take you up a mountain by yourself? I'm not so sure I would...
This is Jeff outside a temple that was on the side of the mountain
This is my elephant hug... it was a baby elephant.... it seemed harmless at first... until this...
He started putting me in a headlock and pulling me into his mouth...it was kind of gross.
Jeff's elephant kept trying to push him over so that the kids who were feeding the elephants could get closer.
Isn't this amazing?! This elephant is painting a picture of a panda bear! I gotta say, these elephants have some mad painting skills, I was totally impressed.
We went to an orchid and butterfly farm. The flowers were SO beautiful!
Enjoying the local public transportation. I can't get used to the cars driving on the other side of the road!
We went on a dinner cruise last night on the river. It was really nice and the food was great!
We have another day left of our conference and then we will head to Bangkok for a few days. We've had a really good time - I think we both just needed a chance to get out of Iraq and breathe for a while. It has also been pretty fabulous having pizza hut and eating bacon every morning for breakfast! I'll try and post some more pictures from the end of our trip before we head back to Iraq. In one month we'll be back in the states! I can't believe it! We are both looking forward to seeing everyone and having some time with our families.
Here's Jeff in his hardcore ATV gear. He was the only one who went on the tour this day and since he had some experience the guide really took him off the beaten path. He had a great time!
Would you let this man take you up a mountain by yourself? I'm not so sure I would...
This is Jeff outside a temple that was on the side of the mountain
This is my elephant hug... it was a baby elephant.... it seemed harmless at first... until this...
He started putting me in a headlock and pulling me into his mouth...it was kind of gross.
Jeff's elephant kept trying to push him over so that the kids who were feeding the elephants could get closer.
Isn't this amazing?! This elephant is painting a picture of a panda bear! I gotta say, these elephants have some mad painting skills, I was totally impressed.
We went to an orchid and butterfly farm. The flowers were SO beautiful!
Enjoying the local public transportation. I can't get used to the cars driving on the other side of the road!
We went on a dinner cruise last night on the river. It was really nice and the food was great!
We have another day left of our conference and then we will head to Bangkok for a few days. We've had a really good time - I think we both just needed a chance to get out of Iraq and breathe for a while. It has also been pretty fabulous having pizza hut and eating bacon every morning for breakfast! I'll try and post some more pictures from the end of our trip before we head back to Iraq. In one month we'll be back in the states! I can't believe it! We are both looking forward to seeing everyone and having some time with our families.
8.12.2009
Adventures in Thailand
We've been having a great time so far! Thought I'd post some pictures of what we've been up to.
This is from Jeff's trip up the side of a mountain on a 4 wheeler
Today we went to an elephant camp and saw a show and got to ride an elephant.
The elephants even played soccer!
Here we are on our elephant ride!
Unfortunately, the internet is not cooperating with me right now so I can't post any more pictures! But, I'll try again soon....there's some great ones of me getting put in a headlock by an elephant and Jeff looking really hardcore in his ATV gear.
This is from Jeff's trip up the side of a mountain on a 4 wheeler
Today we went to an elephant camp and saw a show and got to ride an elephant.
The elephants even played soccer!
Here we are on our elephant ride!
Unfortunately, the internet is not cooperating with me right now so I can't post any more pictures! But, I'll try again soon....there's some great ones of me getting put in a headlock by an elephant and Jeff looking really hardcore in his ATV gear.
8.10.2009
we're here!
Since we can't use our phones anymore just wanted to let everyone know we made it safely to Thailand. We are enjoying our time here so far and are looking forward to the rest of the week.
Unfortunately, I don't have my camera on me to post any pictures because Jeff has it and is 4-wheeling through the jungle right now. But we'll post pictures soon.
I got to see the doctor here (tidbit for you Dad) and so I'm taking antibiotics and hope to kick the 3 infections I have right now very soon! I'm feeling better already, so that is a good sign.
There is even more American food here than in Istanbul! I'm a little bit excited about it all. Yesterday I ate donuts, and Auntie Anne's pretzels, and then I had my second dinner at Subway and drank root beer! It was so fabulous. I have actually been dreaming about Subway and root beer for maybe the last 3 months - it was even better than I dreamed.
I'm going to Starbucks in a few minutes with some friends and plan to enjoy every sip! We have also been eating Thai food too, but right now nothing compares to good ol' American food. We are going to ride elephants in a couple days and we are going on a dinner cruise. I'm pretty excited. It has been a breath of fresh air and it has been really refreshing to gather with so many people from around the globe who are serving the Lord. It has been kind of overwhelming to worship with hundreds of people again, but it has been so renewing! Well, gotta go, don't want to be late for my Starbucks date!
Unfortunately, I don't have my camera on me to post any pictures because Jeff has it and is 4-wheeling through the jungle right now. But we'll post pictures soon.
I got to see the doctor here (tidbit for you Dad) and so I'm taking antibiotics and hope to kick the 3 infections I have right now very soon! I'm feeling better already, so that is a good sign.
There is even more American food here than in Istanbul! I'm a little bit excited about it all. Yesterday I ate donuts, and Auntie Anne's pretzels, and then I had my second dinner at Subway and drank root beer! It was so fabulous. I have actually been dreaming about Subway and root beer for maybe the last 3 months - it was even better than I dreamed.
I'm going to Starbucks in a few minutes with some friends and plan to enjoy every sip! We have also been eating Thai food too, but right now nothing compares to good ol' American food. We are going to ride elephants in a couple days and we are going on a dinner cruise. I'm pretty excited. It has been a breath of fresh air and it has been really refreshing to gather with so many people from around the globe who are serving the Lord. It has been kind of overwhelming to worship with hundreds of people again, but it has been so renewing! Well, gotta go, don't want to be late for my Starbucks date!
8.06.2009
Time in Turkey
We've had a really good time in Turkey so far, we've also had some unexpected time here, but more on that later.
We got to Istanbul on Tuesday and ate some delicious Burger King before we even left the airport. It was some kind of wonderful.
Haydn and I got to enjoy Burger King twice! We were supposed to fly to Bangkok last night but the airline canceled our tickets without notifying us so we were at the airport until 1 AM trying to get that sorted out. Now we are flying to Bangkok tonight instead. Kind of a bummer, but today has been relaxing and I did get some more BK.
On Wednesday we got to go to the hospital to see some of our kids who are still there after heart surgery. We got to go to cardiac ICU and see baby Daryan. They are hoping to be able to extubate soon but he is still in pretty critical condition, please keep praying. Here's Jeff next to the model of the hospital, I couldn't believe how nice this hospital was!
We had a great time taking Daryan's mom out for lunch and then for some time in the city away from the hospital. It was also pretty wonderful getting to go to McDonald's twice and get some ice cream! I'm not one to usually take pictures of my food...but I was just so excited to eat some American food. We even got some Starbucks last night while we waited at the airport.
Here are some pics of us from the roof of the house we were staying at. I almost forgot how beautiful Turkey is, we've really enjoyed our time here.
We had a good time on the roof playing with Emma & Micah.
And this is Jeff's new traveling shirt. One of his good friends bought this for him right before we left Iraq because he said that Jeff needed a new shirt for his trip. Isn't it something? =)
We've had a great time in Istanbul but are ready to move on to phase 2 of our trip. Inshallah, we will get on a plane tonight and then arrive at our final destination in Thailand tomorrow night just in time for all of the big events to kick off for the week. Please be praying for our health. Jeff is at the pharmacy right now trying to find some cold medicine for us. I just got rid of a parasite last week, then got an infection from the antibiotics, and now it seems we are both getting colds. I'm really ready to feel better - especially on vacation!
We got to Istanbul on Tuesday and ate some delicious Burger King before we even left the airport. It was some kind of wonderful.
Haydn and I got to enjoy Burger King twice! We were supposed to fly to Bangkok last night but the airline canceled our tickets without notifying us so we were at the airport until 1 AM trying to get that sorted out. Now we are flying to Bangkok tonight instead. Kind of a bummer, but today has been relaxing and I did get some more BK.
On Wednesday we got to go to the hospital to see some of our kids who are still there after heart surgery. We got to go to cardiac ICU and see baby Daryan. They are hoping to be able to extubate soon but he is still in pretty critical condition, please keep praying. Here's Jeff next to the model of the hospital, I couldn't believe how nice this hospital was!
We had a great time taking Daryan's mom out for lunch and then for some time in the city away from the hospital. It was also pretty wonderful getting to go to McDonald's twice and get some ice cream! I'm not one to usually take pictures of my food...but I was just so excited to eat some American food. We even got some Starbucks last night while we waited at the airport.
Here are some pics of us from the roof of the house we were staying at. I almost forgot how beautiful Turkey is, we've really enjoyed our time here.
We had a good time on the roof playing with Emma & Micah.
And this is Jeff's new traveling shirt. One of his good friends bought this for him right before we left Iraq because he said that Jeff needed a new shirt for his trip. Isn't it something? =)
We've had a great time in Istanbul but are ready to move on to phase 2 of our trip. Inshallah, we will get on a plane tonight and then arrive at our final destination in Thailand tomorrow night just in time for all of the big events to kick off for the week. Please be praying for our health. Jeff is at the pharmacy right now trying to find some cold medicine for us. I just got rid of a parasite last week, then got an infection from the antibiotics, and now it seems we are both getting colds. I'm really ready to feel better - especially on vacation!
Paintings for Haydn
couple weeks. Here is the finished product. His room will be done in
primary colors. Hopefully when we get back to Iraq we'll be able to
get the nursery more set up!
8.03.2009
Vacation!
We're so excited, it is the long awaited eve before our departure tomorrow! We are heading to Istanbul tomorrow afternoon and will spend a couple days there before heading to Thailand for two weeks. After saying farewell to our neighbors tonight we are ready and excited to spend some time out of the country. I think I'm most looking forward to cooler temperatures, non-Kurdish cuisine, and hopefully even some Burger King and Starbucks thrown in there. It's amazing what being out of America for 6 months will make you crave (pregnancy probably doesn't help with this either). While in Thailand we are planning to see/ride some elephants, go on a dinner cruise, and Jeff is going 4 wheeling in the jungle, so it should be pretty awesome. I'll try to post some pics while we are gone, so keep checking back. I'm kind of nervous about the long flights so please pray for me and baby to have a safe and uneventful trip. As they say here "Xwat Legal' - that means go with God.
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