Mardin, Turkey

We went to Mardin, Turkey over the Christmas holiday to visit some friends. Dan and Alex went to the Citadel together, and now they live just a few hours apart in the Middle East!

Alex and his wife Jamie and their beautiful girls Abigail and Elisa were such fun. Our time with them was relaxing and refreshing - a wonderful vacation. I didn't know them before this trip, but it was like being with old friends.

Side note: Even though it's only a 3 hour distance, it took 10 hours to get there! Border patrol is pretty rigorous. (Also, they were on lunch break when we got there. Lunch is a serious matter.) The bright side: I caught up on my reading.

Right across the street from Alex and Jamie's apartment, there is an actual coffee shop serving actual coffee. Yes, that's a chocolate spoon!

In the market

At the Sultan Isa Madressi. Breathtaking view!

Overlooking the plains of northern Syria

The top of the mountain

The Deyrul Zafaran Monastery - a Syrian Orthodox Church built in the 5th century AD

Great architecture

Beautiful family!

Elisa and me

A pool of water next to a beautiful courtyard.

This one of Alex and Jamie is adorable.

The view was amazing.

Two Citadel boys and their rings of power

Also, here's a Red Bull commercial shot in Mardin. The spot where the guy does a flip at 2:30 is where we took the pictures at the pool of water. Pretty cool!

Lessons from a teacher

One of my favorite blogs to read is Dr. George Grant's, found here: http://eleventary.blogspot.com/.

I had the privilege of studying under Dr. G for 6 years at FCS, and then hearing him preach for a couple of years at Parish Presbyterian. I always marveled that a man with such an amazing mind would spend so much time teaching head strong high school students. If he accepted all the invitations to write books for other people and speak at conferences that often come his way, he'd probably have more money and more fame. And he does speak at conferences and write books, but he also spends a great deal of time discipling youngsters.

Below was one of his recent posts. As a first-year teacher, I find a lot of inspiration here. I hope to have this perspective in 20 years.

After 20 Years, Why I'm Still Teaching

1. I get to love what I love in front of my students.
2. I inevitably learn more--even more than those I’m teaching.
3. I have a great excuse to buy more books.
4. And then, I have a great excuse to read more books.
5. I am forced to make real-life connections rather than simply pontificate in the theoretical.
6. I am provoked to think about the future and scrutinize the present through the lens of the past.
7. I am able to reacquaint myself with the best of our great legacy of art, music, and ideas.
8. I get the satisfaction of seeing the “lights come on.”
9. I am constantly prodded to hone my communications skills.
10. I get to bear testimony to the grace and mercy of God, in space, in time, and in me.
11. I am privileged to catch early glimpses of the future leaders of our culture in action.

Christmas Spectacular

What do you get when you combine Kurdish dancing, Jingle Bells, Mr. Bean singing opera, karaoke rap music, and heart-shaped balloons? A Christmas program, naturally.

All I can say is, this town's got talent. And I was there to witness it all -- captured in an electrifying 3 1/2 hour event.

Dan the Santa Man leading the 7th graders in a very moving rendition of Jingle Bells.

My sweet 5th graders sang, "I've Got Peace Like a River." It was pretty cute if I do say so myself. But I am biased.

Not to be forgotten

We lost something precious this week. I barely had time to understand just how precious it was. The physical pain of the event hasn’t quite subsided and acts as a constant reminder. The pregnancy, though it was 7 weeks, feels like a distant day – a beautiful dream that came to an end too quickly.

After a couple of days of storms and cold rain, the sun finally returned today – blue sky, light breeze. I finally ventured out into the yard in the sweatpants I’ve been wearing all week. Our roses are still in bloom – amazing. There was one rose that particularly intrigued me. It was so new, so pure – so innocent. It smelled fresh. I had to take a picture of it.

The rose now hangs in our house – sort of as a memorial to our baby. When it dries, I’ll do something special with the rose. Press it into a bookmark or something. It will be a reminder that life is full of beautiful things that are often overlooked. But God is aware of every detail – every small event. And He is perfect in His care. It’s breathtaking to think that God knows His creation so intimately.

And until we’re face to face with Him, we’ll never know why He allowed us to encounter such momentary joy and then, suddenly, such an enduring grief. But until then, what we do know is this:

“He determines the number of the stars;

He gives to them all their names.

Great is our God, and abundant in power,

His understanding is beyond measure.”

-Ps. 147:4-5

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted,

and saves the crushed in spirit.”

-Ps. 34:18

That’s the God we serve. The world may not be right, but God is good.

Faces of the future

This is quite possibly the best group of 5th graders you'll ever meet. Every day, I'm amazed at how uniquely God has created each one of them to be.

Favorite quote of the day:

"Miss, our classroom is Toyland! We make 'hullabaloo'!" (References to the book we're reading, Pinocchio.)

Our Home

I thought it might be time to post a few pictures of the house we're living in. This is where my former teammates, Antonio and Rebekah, lived. So I hung out here quite a bit in 2009. It's also where our current (and currently absent) teammates, the Bishops, lived. (They'll be back in a few months after Baby #2 comes and will hopefully move into a house on our street.) Little did I know I'd one day get married, come back, and live here with my husband.

It's an "older" home, built in the 80s, I believe. So it's seen a lot. And despite the cracks and splinters and seal-less windows, it's been a faithful home so far.

We're thankful for a sprinkler system that keeps the grass nice and green.

Pomegranate tree and rose bushes.

Kitchen table/desk/game table. Yes, that is a fancy latte sitting on the table. (Kind of an afternoon routine for me.)

Our bright and cheery kitchen.

Our air-conditioned room.

Basil! Compliments of our friend, Cathy, the master gardener. Definitely a little piece of home.

From their point of view

"Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again."

- C.S. Lewis

I understand what you mean now, Mr. Lewis. Sometimes it takes a little growing up on our part to see the world through the eyes of a child again. And it's a fascinating world, indeed.

Today I was reading Pinocchio with my students and the following conversation ensued.

Student 1: Miss, Pinocchio didn't mean to kill the cricket.

Me: You don't think he did? The author Collodi says he's not sure whether Pinocchio meant to kill him or not.

Student 2: What?? You mean even the author doesn't know??

Me: That's right. Pinocchio is so hard to figure out, isn't he?

Student 3: He's a bad boy.

Me: He is indeed. I wonder if he'll ever learn...

Student 4: But why was he looking for food? He's made out of wood! Shouldn't he eat wood??

One of our vocabulary words the other day was "bewildered." As I was explaining an assignment to them yesterday, one of my girls raised her hand and told me with a completely straight face, "Miss, I am bewildered." Smile. Restate the assignment.

I love this job.

Our city

We've been in Dohuk for over two weeks, which is almost impossible to believe. Between yard work and getting reacquainted with the city and helping friends move, the time has really flown. Adjusting to a new life anywhere takes a lot of time and energy. But we're really beginning to feel at home in this city called Dohuk.

Here are some pictures from around town. I'll post some pictures of the house and yard next week - when we get everything fixed up and arranged! (The yard is still a bit of a jungle.)

Our neighborhood chicken.

Bet you didn't know Dohuk had quite a night life! Dan, Stacy and I went out on the town with a sweet little friend that I know from the last time I was here. She's grown a few inches and has become even more beautiful since 2009.

Even though it gets to be 105 in the daytime, the weather has been incredible at night. Unlike nights in Nashville when it's still humid and sticky, Dohuk is breezy, cool and dry at night. 8:30 or 9 is a great time to go outside and enjoy ice cream at a park. Or to sit on the roof.

A restaurant on the water! This wasn't here in 2009.

You tend to see the Kurdish flag in a lot of places - waving high and proud.

A view of the city center from one of the main streets.

A secret pathway...

Another Kurdish flag positioned high on a mountain peak, for all to see.

Why I love Spurgeon

The people, when they beheld Him, were greatly amazed, and running to Him saluted Him.

- Mark 9:15

Reader, it may be that just now you are blinded by the dazzling brightness of the law of God. You feel its claims on your conscience, but you cannot keep it in your life. Not that you find fault with the law, on the contrary, it commands your profoundest esteem, still you are in nowise drawn by it to God; you are rather hardened in heart, and are verging towards desperation.

Ah, poor heart! Turn thine eye from Moses, with all his repelling splendour, and look to Jesus, resplendent with milder glories. Behold His flowing wounds and thorn-crowned head! He is the Son of God, and therein He is greater than Moses, but He is the Lord of love, and therein more tender than the lawgiver.

He bore the wrath of God, and in His death revealed more of God's justice than Sinai on a blaze, but that justice is now vindicated, and henceforth it is the guardian of believers in Jesus.

Look, sinner, to the bleeding Saviour, and as thou feelest the attraction of His love, fly to His arms, and thou shalt be saved.

- C.H. Spurgeon

Istanbul to Dohuk

We are so grateful for a somewhat uneventful trip. We were delayed about 20 hours after missing our connection in Toronto, but that's life. And there's always another adventure waiting for us right around the corner.

Saying goodbye to parents.

A friend we met along the way.

And then...

We finally made it to Istanbul!

Doors of the Blue Mosque

The Hagia Sophia

Inside the Hagia Sophia

On our last night in Istanbul, we watched the moon rise over the city and the Marmara Sea. It was an incredible sight.

Now...

...off to Kurdistan!

We took the land route (aka "the cheaper, longer way") - and though it took us all day, we got to see some amazing portraits of creation along the way.

When we go on vacation

We dance

We cook great food right out of Brian's garden

We hang

We float

We laugh

We enjoy Dale Hollow Lake and thank God for its beauty

We cuddle

We wear the same shirt

We read books

We jump on the bed