Turkish Resident: Yes, that would me!!!

Yes.. it's official for the next year I am an official resident of Turkey. Really grateful to Murat Bey for helping get everything in order as he is pro at this and this is his job at my school. Thanks to Anne and Hank V. who took me back to the Emniyet to pick up official ikamet- resident permit. Not too much more to post about this- except for PTL!!!

Just a little story...

"Good to see you today," I greeted one of my students as he walked through the door huffing and puffing as he always runs (more or less) from his first floor classroom to my sixth floor classroom.

"Time to take your open-book quiz," I say a few seconds after he takes his seat.

"Can I go to the bathroom first, I am pooped..."?

"Oh no," I say as I always do because I remind him each day he comes to take his time and not rush up those stairs and again his eagerness to get to my classroom has gotten the best of him.

This dear little one assumed that I thought that his "I am pooped" meant well.. you get my point...

because he quickly replied to my "Oh no" with an emphatic, "I AM NOT THAT KIND OF POOPED!!!!"

Quickly, before I could permit myself any room to giggle, I said, "I understand... you are worn out, now please go use the restroom and when you get back your quiz will be waiting for you."

As he walked out the door, I could not help but let a smile make it's way across my face :)

Birthday Brunch, Blossoms, Big Snail, Bosphorus and Beautiful Music

This B-day will not be one I will soon forget. I awoke to a phone call from my beloved. He stayed on the phone with me until it was time to leave for brunch with Anne. Anne and spent the first part of our morning eating brunch. Food was everywhere- fruits, nuts, grains, breads, eggs, sausages, potatoes, vegetables, sweet dishes in abundance. Tea, water, coffee or orange juice to quench your thirst was also provided. The setting was most stunning as spring blossoms surrounded the perimeter in brilliant color- tulip bulbs of red, yellow, pale pink, purple, golden orange, yellow with red veins, brighter pink as well as pansies, posies and a few multi-colored flowers that are of an unknown (to me) name. The pine tree boughs swayed in the breeze gently and the whole park was surrounded by views of the stunning (I never get tired of looking at it) Bosphorus. On our way to catch a bus to catch a taxi (taksi) we came across quite a BIG snail.

The day wore on and I took a short nap before heading out for an evening of Turkish praise and worship, an Easter message in Turkish and a beautifully boisterous German Gospel concert. Anne knowing the choir leaders took me backstage where she asked them to sing Happy Birthday to me. We then all went to break bread together and enjoyed good food, fun, and fellowship : ) Got home so very late, but Mom and Kairos Easter Dinner Friends, found time to call me from Allyson's and I was so glad to see and chat for a few precious minutes on Skype with a few of them and say hi to all of them briefly.

What a great day it was and l am still basking in the glow of how blessed I was this 33rd birthday celebration that I shared with the Family of God as we celebrated the truth that Christ the Lord is Risen and He Lives Forevermore!