GIrls Night Out-Turkey Style

I Love Hatice!!

It is hard to believe that this will be my 136th post since arriving in Turkey.  I've had a lot to say, I guess.  But I honestly can't believe that it has taken me 136 posts before I mentioned maybe the most important relationship I have formed since arriving, and maybe the single greatest thing about living here.  Her name is Hatice (pronounced Ha-tee-jah) and she is our housekeeper.  She comes every Monday and cleans my house top to bottom for 3 hours.  And it costs me a whopping $25. 

At first, I was bound and determined not to get a housekeeper.  I can manage to keep my house in order, after all.  It was just an expense we didn't need if we were going to be serious about saving money while living here.  However, after seeing and hearing all my friends gush about it, I decided to give it a try.  I only hired Hatice for half a day, which means she doesn't have time to cook or do laundry (which she occasionally does anyway).  She is fabulous.  The house is sparkling clean and smells oh so fresh.  I haven't had to deep clean a bathroom or kitchen in over a year-and I gotta say, it feels good.  I also feel good about helping this sweet lady.  Hatice has a huge heart and is one of the kindest people I have met here.  As with many Turks who work on base, money is always tight for her.  She is a hard worker that just wants to do her part to provide for her family.  It is a pleasure to have her in my home on Mondays and I consider her a friend that I will miss when we leave.  And my husband?  I think he would marry her if something happened to me.  She irons his uniforms-he was blown away!

So, there you have it.  A big "pro" to living in Turkey.  I wonder what kind of cleaning I could get for $25 in the States?

Life

Today is one of those strange days where I have no doubt that God has lined up certain events to teach me more about Him.  Let me explain.  Today:

• A friend on base went into labor, and is having her second child any minute.
• Another friend, back in the States, will also have her baby today.  This little one, however, has some serious health issues and is not expected to live.
• Yet another friend is going to a fertility clinic to have her embryos transferred to her uterus in the hopes that she will get pregnant. 

Three different stories. Three different friends.  But one God who is in control of it all.  In each case, He has ordained and created a life-from the most microscopic embryo to the healthiest baby.  He also has a plan for each.  Gracen, the little one who has health issues, has touched more lives before her birth than I have probably touched in my 34 years of living.  It is truly amazing how her story and her parents faith have strengthened and inspired so many, including me.

So today, I am thankful to a God-the only Creator of life, who has a plan and a purpose for each of us and holds us all, even the tiniest among us, in the palm of His hand.

**To read more about Gracen's story, please visit this blog.

**UPDATE: My friend here in Turkey had her baby.  A little boy named...wait for it.....Grayson.  How cool is that?

Yeah Ryan!!

The following was a news release from Incirlik's website:

Ryan Stebbins, 39th Force Support Squadron, misses a putt during the Club Championship Sept. 24, 2011, at the Hodja Lakes Golf Course, Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. Thirty-one people competed in the championship. Stebbins won with a score of 154. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Clayton Lenhardt/Released) Digitaltion

The Luck of the.......Turkish?

I know, I know.  That statement should end with the word Irish.  But, based on our experience here, Turkey puts Ireland to shame in the luck department, even with no clovers in sight. 

I think I already posted about the first time we won the Club's weekly money drawing. Notice I sad the first  time.  It happened again a few weeks later. Unbelievable.  Last night we were at the golf course for dinner following the Base Championship (Ryan WON!) and our ticket was the first pulled for a raffle.  We-or rather Ryan-won a new set of irons.  As our number was called, Ryan showed me the ticket as we both looked rather embarrassed and sheepish.  It really is getting ridiculous.  And it will probably be ending.  We have taken ourselves out of contention for the money drawing.  I don't foresee many more opportunities for prizes in the near future.

But it was such fun while it lasted.

Something Magical

Ever get bogged down in the mundane details of daily living?  We all get into our routines and schedules and it feels as though we move like robots sometimes.  There is so much bad news out there.  So much negativity and cynicism.  I think we can all use a little magic injected into our lives now and then.  To be in awe of something.  To believe in something even though it is proposterous.

I give you my niece.  A little girl fully into the "princess phase"of her childhood.  Her parents took her to Disney World last week.  Here she is meeting the princesses for the first time. Can't you just see the twinkle in her eye?  Doesn't her excitement and wonder just ooze from these pictures?  This absolutely made my day.  Made me smile and remember what it was like to suspend all disbelief and cynicism for a moment and embrace something magical.  I hope it does the same for you.

AF Gala 2011

When you live on a VERY small base smack dab in the center of Turkey, there just isn't alot going on.  We make our own fun usually.  But once a year, the base throws a formal Gala to commemorate the founding of the Air Force.  Practically the whole base turns out, and it is a lot of fun.  Ryan got into the spirit of things by rocking some "party sleeves" this year.  We had never seen them before the Gala last year, and Ryan really liked them.  They are basically a way to individualize a mess dress uniform while still keeping the uniform code of the Air Force.  I must say, he wore it well!

The debut of the party sleeves

Showing off the back of the shirt with our friend Jordan, who chose a Texas theme for his shirt. 

With my good friend Sarah, who I meant on the way over to Turkey a year ago.  She was my first Turkey friend and continues to be one of my best friends here one year later. 

Great neighborhood friends-Casey, Molly, Katie, and Logan.  Katie just returned from 6 months in Afghanistan.  We are so glad she is back safe and sound!

Sarah, Angelica, and me.  What great friends I have been blessed with here!