Ups and Downs

Up: Just a few more days until I am stateside once again.  I am excited, but super anxious about the trip alone with W.

Big Up: Ryan and I won the weekly cash giveaway at the club (called "Moolah").  We couldn't believe our ears when our names were called!

Down: Our tiny base is reeling over a drowning accident involving one of the clinic's nurse practitioners over the weekend.  She is currently on life support at the local Turkish hospital.  Although I do not know her personally (we have met once I think), many of my friends do and are understandably in a state of shock and disbelief.  When you live in a small town, the ripple affect of things always touches you, even if you are not directly affected.  You see the same faces day in and day out, and to think that one is suddenly missing is quite upsetting to think about.  Please remember this community in your prayers, particularly the Medical Clinic, as we come to terms with this in the coming days-whatever the outcome.

That's all, folks.

Golf with Daddy

Finally, W is at an age where Ryan can begin to introduce him to his hobby (more like obsesssion)-golf.  We ordered a set of toddler clubs for him and the two of them have been taking frequent outings to the base course.  It is a neat time of bonding that Ryan has been looking forward to for a long time.  This past weekend, the base photographer was there getting some shots for The Happenings magazine (a monthly publication highlighting all that is offered here at Incirlik).  He got some sweet shots of my two favorite guys.  Enjoy!

Happy Father's Day!

As I get older, I become more and more aware of the importance of having a great dad.  Ryan has told me before that one of reasons he knew I was a good "catch" was in observing my relationship with my father.  Like me, W is so blessed to have a good dad.  Sending love to all you fathers out there-thank you for all you do!!

Turnover

Imagine a small town.  Everyone knows everyone else.  You see the same people day in and day out.  There is a comfort that comes from that-kind of a security blanket.  And then imagine that within 2 months, 67% of that small town moves away and new people take their places.  Can you picture it?

That is precisely what is happening at Incirlik right now.  The summer is the most popular time to PCS (military slang for moving to a new base) and our tiny base is undergoing quite the transformation.  There are new faces everywhere you look. 

The good thing is that these new people will no doubt inject a fresh energy here.  Many, if not most, of the people I have met have small children-so it also means new friends for my son.  The hard thing is the goodbyes.  So many good friends are leaving.  People I have grown accustomed to seeing and interacting with on a regular basis.  It is almost as if I am new here again too.  I have to learn new names and faces.  I don't see the familiar faces when I am out.  It is a new base to me again.

And as I am about to be home in the States for a long stretch, it will be even more different when I return.  Another strange fact of life in this crazy season that the Lord has placed us in.  You just have to roll with the punches......

The Power of a Blog

I took W to the Community Center for jumpy castle playtime today and was able to meet several moms who just arrived on base.  It is so nice to see all of these new faces and be able to answer some of their questions about life in Turkey.  One sweet lady told me that her small group in Illinois had been praying for a lady here at Incirlik.  Apparently, one of the other women in the small group stumbled upon this girl's blog and saw that she and her husband were trying to start a family but were finding it difficult.  After a little discussion, we quickly determined that this girl is one of my dearest friends here.  The lady I met said that she couldn't believe it when her husband told her they were moving here-the same place as the girl she had been praying for lives.

Imagine-a group of ladies praying for someone they have never met and have no connection to that lives on the other side of the world....all because of a blog. Blogs are powerful.  They connect the writer to people they never would have met otherwise.  They give the writer a creative outlet and a unique support system.  Most of my friends here blog.  Some more than others.  But here is a sampling of other "Turkey blogs" if you are interested in checking them out:

Life in the.....-Wendi
Turkey Nuggets-The Beaudoin Family
Keeping Up with the Joneses-Shane and Linda

Hope you enjoy!!

Gimme a Break! (from Turkey)

I live my entire life in roughly 1 square mile.  My ENTIRE life.  My neighborhood, all of our friends and W's friends, our church, grocery store, BX, post office, gas station, swimming pool, library, Ryan's work, a putt putt course, and even a bowling alley-in 1 square mile.  Contrast that to living in San Antonio-everything is super spread out.  I don't think anything was 1 mile away.  My world has been shrunk considerably living here.  There are days I feel almost claustrophobic-I want to get in the car and just drive.  But within a mile, I would run into a big security gate where the base and my little "world" ends and Turkey begins.

Sigh.

Right now, our base is going through a huge transition-just like every summer.  Roughly half of the population is moving away or just arriving, and the rest of us are halfway through our time.  I have talked to several folks like us with one year left and we seem to all feel the same way right now.  Worn down.  Tired of this tiny place.  Ready for a break.  Even though we have one year behind us, the prospect of one more year here seems daunting to say the least.

The good news is that I am about to get a much-needed respite from Turkey.  I am going home (insert cheesy Michael Buble' song here).  W and I are leaving together at the end of the month and won't be back until September!  There isn't enough space on this page to list all the things I am looking forward to doing and people I am looking forward to seeing.  And getting in my car and just driving..........ah, bliss.  I am hoping to return in the fall renewed and ready to tackle the last phase of our time here.

But in the meantime, as the song says, "Sweet home, Alabama-Lord, I'm coming home to you!".

Wednesday Quote

"Life begins at the end of our comfort zone."