Ablam geliyor

Yes that means my sister is coming. I am going to pick her up at the airport in a few hours. I can't wait. It is going to be so much fun to have her here. YEAH!!!!!!!

Taste and See that the Lord is Good!!!!

These past few days, well week I guess have been a lot of learning for me. I have been reminded of Christ, and joy in Him. He is my fullness, every day, no matter what the day or time of year, or who I’m with. He is God, and I get to know Him. Through His Word, and His Spirit. He is good. “You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” Psalm 16:11
"But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge,
That I may tell of all Your works." Psalm 73:28

If Only In My Dreams

“I’ll Be Home For Christmas.” My first Christmas away from home is this year. It hasn’t been fun. I have been missing my family more than I could ever describe. I keep dreaming of a place I love, even more than I usually do. Family, friends, church, Beaumont, “white Christmas”, acting, caroling, ham, tribal council, silver boxes, fireplace, there is so much that comes up in my mind. I do have beautiful pictures in my dreams. My family is amazing and Christmas together is always wonderful, our traditions are amazing, so much fun so, I’ll be home for Christmas you can count on me… if only in my dreams.

Profiterol

Yes, Elif and I made Profiterol, and it was amazing.

Bailey and I at a Christmas party. I love this girl. She is so much fun. I love being Aunt Ally.

Thanksgiving

We had Thanksgiving at my house this year. My aunt came to town for the day. We had a huge feast and played games. I had a blast and it was a blessing to be with my aunt, and my "family" here. I am thankful that the Lord has given me people to share life with here. We had a great time.

Soccer Girls!!!

These are my wonderful girls. I am coaching soccer at an International school here and it has been wonderful. We had our first game last week. They did amazing. I was so proud of them. It was a blessing for me to be able to do this. I loved being on the field again, even if I wasn't playing. It did make me miss those days, playing and coaching. It's amazing what little things can be huge blessings. So, here they are. Aren't they cute!

Consistently Confused

So today I had language class. It was one of those days that I was completely lost the whole time. I still don't understand what we did in class today. I was talking to a friend about how I think I have been consistently confused for 7 months. It was a discouraging day in language, but it wasn't all bad. I am realizing I have more pride than I know. Every time I think I can't be humbled more yet again I see I need more humbling. I am thankful that I have a Father that is above language. Maybe someday I will only be confused sometimes not consistently. haha

Somewhere in the Sahara

I had the wonderful opportunity to go visit some friends in North Africa. We went on a camel excursion, and stayed in a Berber tent over night. As we were riding out into the desert it was getting dark, but it was a full moon. I cannot tell you how much I loved being out in creation. It was absolutely beautiful, and quiet. It was so nice to get out of the city, and to be in the middle of nowhere. When I say nowhere, I mean the address for the hotel where we got on the camels was the GPS coordinates. There was not an actual address. After sleeping in the tent I woke up as the sun was coming up over the dunes, and had a wonderful time reading my Bible and talking to the Father. I went two days without hearing the sounds of a city it was wonderful. As we drove back through the desert on the “road” (which was really just tire tracks) we came up to a sign. No buildings, tents, animals, roads… for miles but there was an arrow, pointing where, I still don’t. It made me laugh. As we drove through this land verses about God bringing rain on a land without a man in it, and dry and weary lands, became more real to me. All in all it was a wonderful trip and I loved spending time with my wonderful friends. Thank you Tim, Amber, and Levi. It was a blessing to be with you, and refreshment to my spirit.

“If I covet any place on earth but the dust at the foot of the cross, then I know nothing of Calvary love.” Amy Carmichael

I have been missing home a lot lately. Wanting to be there and be a part of the things happening in my family. My sister, Hannah, was a homecoming princess!!!!!!! Anyway, I read this tonight. I know it isn’t wrong to miss home, but it was a good challenging reminder. My home is in Christ. Where ever I am in the world I should long to be at the foot of the cross more than I long to be at home. The kinds of things that challenge me lately are, “Besides You I desire nothing on earth.” “All things I thought gain, I count as loss for the sake of knowing Christ Jesus.” I want to know Calvary love.

Yay for friends that come to visit!!!!!

I have been incredibly blessed the past couple of weeks. I have had a few good friends come to see me. God is definitely good to me. It was so wonderful to spend time with Lindsey, Brooke, and Jason. I cannot begin to describe the blessing it was to my heart to have them here in my world again for awhile. Thank you guys for coming!! I love you so much, and already miss you.
First Lindsey came for a week, then a week after Brooke and Jason made a stop in Istanbul.

We're not in So. Cali anymore...

So, I’m sitting here in my apartment, just talking to my roommate. I have been wanting to blog about quite a bit of things in the last couple weeks so I am posting a bunch of new things tonight. First thing, it is stinkin cold in this city. The past week I have been freezing!! I am told that it isn’t even cold here yet. The temps have been what the dead of winter is where I am from. Oh how I love Southern California!!! There is a part of me that is very excited about living in a place where it snows, I’ve never had that before. But… all of the rest of me just says thank you Jesus for allowing me to grow up in Cali. I read a friends blog today about sitting in a tank top, and flip flops this week, I have been laughed at multiple times this week because of how much clothes I have on. These people just don’t understand its cold. Where I’m from the term “white Christmas” doesn’t involve snow. Today, I’m missing the sunshine.
The picture is Jason and I freezing in front of the Haghia Sophia.

Yes, that is an amazing sight. I drank Dr. Pepper. Our friends that work at the consulate brought us these beautiful presents for our Sunday evening meal. Living in the states you don't realize how much you love these drinks until you can't get them. I was just so excited I had to take a picture.

Mama and Daddy came to visit

My parents just left yesterday. I miss them already. I can’t even describe how wonderful it was to have them here. It was definitely the Lord’s perfect timing. There is something wonderfully comforting about having your family, around. It was really good for my heart. We saw a lot of sites in the city, I was very proud they were champs traveling around. We also got to spend a day in Ephesus. The Lord is good to my heart.
One of the pictures is us reading the Scripture in Ephesus, actually where the passage took place. Crazy!!! Another picture is us in the ancient bathroom.

YEAH!!!!

I'm leaving to go pick up my parents in a few minutes. Praise Jesus!!! I can't wait. They are coming to see me. :)

I have joined the blogging world.

Well,
I am becoming a blogger. Who knew even what that was a few months ago, but apparently this is a great way to communicate with people, or show people my life. Lindsey, this is for you. I know my family will enjoy it too. I hope that this will bring some little glimpses into my life here, and you all will be a little more a part of it. I miss you all and love you. More will come right now its late, and I'm still trying to figure this out.