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