There's always time for fun

Well I have come to realize that spring time in Turkey is warmer than summertime in Washington...and I'm not complaining! Jordan and I have been busy with work and our graduate classes, but we still manage to find time for fun!! Here are some pictures from our last month of adventures!

One weekend we went on a beautiful hike with some of our friends! We hiked to a waterfall in a beautiful canyon, and then we went to visit the "James Bond Bridge". If you have seen the latest Bond movie, this is the bridge that Bond fell off while fighting with the bad guy on the top of the train. It was a beautiful day for hiking and we had a blast with our friends!

Me and my love and my puppy

My prego friend, Tasja!

Tasja, Lindsay, me and Cheryl at the waterfall!

We even got to see a train go by! How idyllic.



Tasja, Lindsay, me and Cheryl jumping on the bridge! The two on the end are pregnant but you can hardly tell when they are jumping!

Me and my Lindsay!

Another weekend Jordan and I joined the Beer Belly Bike Club for a morning ride. There were 11 of us total that biked about 19 miles off base. The town that we live in is out in farm country and it is really quite beautiful. It was a really tough ride for me, so I maintained the position of caboose for most of the ride. My poor sweet hubby took a spill and got pretty banged up. All a part of the mountain biking experience...right?

  

This was about half way through the ride. We had already biked about 9 miles and then stopped for a break under this tree in the middle of a wheat field! It was so beautiful to hear the wind rustle through the wheat. Ahhh!



Beautiful poppy field!



Jordan's boo-boo on his arm. His whole left side was pretty scraped up!



Jordan and I both had the day off for our one year anniversary, so we headed to Kizkalesi (Castle by the Sea) for the day. The weather was perfect and there was hardly anyone on the beach! We sunbathed for the afternoon. The salt water really stung Jordan's cut up body, so we only went in the water for a little bit. It sure helped heal it up though!

When the sun started to go down a Turkish man came up to us and asked if we wanted a picture. He then decided to pretty much give us a whole photo session, which was really nice of him! After the pictures, he suggested a delicious fish restaurant for dinner. He then told us that there was another couple going to the same restaurant, so we could just follow them. We met the other couple, and they led us to dinner! They were both Turkish, but born and raised in Germany. They were visiting for a wedding. We decided to have dinner together. It was very random, but fun! At the restaurant they took us to a big ice box and we got to pick out which fish we wanted to eat for dinner! It was seriously one of the best meals I've had in Turkey so far! What a perfect first anniversary!!



Waiting for our lunch to come! We thought this was the only picture we would have from our anniversary...but we were wrong!!

The Turkish man told us to look into each others eyes with a serious face. We weren't very good at it.



Enjoying the view and each other!



The Turkish man told us walk out a ways and then back towards him. I was just sure that someone would steal all our stuff while we were walking away...but they didn't!



Me and my love at the Castle by the Sea!



It was so beautiful!! I'm so glad we got these pictures! Yay for nice people!



This is the ice box fully of fishies! Mmmmm 

This was our beautiful dinner view!

Last weekend we headed out to Cappadocia with our friends Lindsay and Jordan! I went there for the women's retreat in March, but Jordan had never been before. This is the same Cappadocia in the Bible that heard the Gospel in their own language from Galileans on the day of Pentecost shortly after Jesus was resurrected (Acts 2).

We stayed at a perfect little hotel. In the morning, we got up early to have breakfast and watch the hot air balloons. We then had a delicious cappuccino and a clever little coffee shop called Coffeedocia. Then we headed out to the Open Air Museum in Goreme. The area has dozens of churches cut out of the rock where early Christians met in the 10th, 11th, and 12th centuries. There are beautiful frescos on many of the walls. It was so crazy to me to be deep in the heart of Muslim country surrounded by rich Christian history.

After the museum we went on a 4 hour ATV ride through the country side. Jordan chose to ride a motorcycle and had the time of his life. I thought this was the best part of the trip. Cappadocia is stunningly beautiful, and this is a great way to see everything! We made a lot of stops for pictures. By the end of the 4 hours we were sweaty and completely covered in dirt. Naturally, the next thing we did was go to a Turkish Bath!

I absolutely LOVED the Turkish Bath! It was my first time...and I would seriously go every day if I could. Obviously I didn't take any pictures...so I'll explain it! There is a separate area for men and women. We first went into the sauna for about 15 minutes. Then you rinse off in a shower. Then you go into the bath area where there are lots of naked people. You lay down, and a Turkish lady pretty much rubs all your dead skin off. Then you get a wonderful soap massage with big huge soap bubbles. Then they rinse you off, and you jump into a cool pool and swim around for awhile. Then you go into a steam room for a bit. Then you dry off and sit and have some tea. And that's it! It was amazing and I felt like royalty! Lindsay and I had a great time. You'll have to ask Jordan about his time. =) Let's just say he wasn't quite as enthusiastic as I was.

We had a delicious dinner together  after we were all squeaky clean! The next day we got up early again to watch the balloons. We then went to a different coffee shop and had the most delicious coffee ever. I got a blended coffee and it was amazing! (yes, we are addicts) Then we went shopping...mostly for others, a bit for ourselves! We had a delicious, lazy lunch and then went wine tasting for a little bit. After that we started the long drive home! Ahhhh perfect weekend with good friends!  Lindsay and Jordan are leaving Turkey next month and we are very sad to have to say goodbye to them! =( This trip was their last Turkey hoorah!



Hot air balloons on our first morning. This picture was taken from the veranda where we were enjoying our breakfast!

I thought this sign was funny at Coffeedocia. Cappadocia is a tourist town, so there are many signs in English, and most people speak English as well.

The Jordans waiting for their cappuccinos!

This was taken at the open air museum. If you look closely you can see the little caves.

Me and Lindsay listening to our audio guide at the museum!

Jordan in captivity at the museum. How can you say no to that face?? I can't.



There was a shovel back in this cave and so I told Jordan to act like he was digging a hole. And he did. Yeah, we are those tourists!

Hanging out at the beautiful museum!



First stop on the ATV ride. Some beautiful valley that I don't remember the name of.



Jordan, myself, and Lindsay being silly. Apparently I forgot to take my ridiculous helmet off. This is Jordan's favorite picture from the weekend.



Another beautiful valley! Enjoying the view with my love!

Lindsay is a gymnast and insists on doing handstands in dangerous places. She did one on the James Bond Bridge too! Her Jordan was right behind that rock ready to catch her if she fell. But she's a professional, so she didn't fall. Also it looks like she is missing her left hand...how strange.  

If you look closely you will see some proof that God has a sense of humor! They are called fairy chimneys and people used to live in them!

Taking a little break from the AVT. Jordan made me do this.

More fairy chimneys! This was a stop that we made where we rested and had some tea. The Turks drink hot tea year round...it's not particularly refreshing in the heat. This little valley was absolutely beautiful and these are all different fruit trees.



This was after our Turkish bath. We were looking for a place to eat dinner...this was not it.




This is the start of day two! I was seriously so excited about the hot air balloons that I couldn't sleep. It was about 5:45am here. I counted 67 balloons! Crazy!

Good morning Cappadocia!!! You're beautiful!

My beautiful friends posing with our yummy coffee!

This is where we tasted some wine. I love that man!

Jordie found this amazing door and thought it would be a good photo opportunity! He was right...as usual.

I love this one so much! My love!

National Day of Prayer

Tomorrow is the National Day of Prayer in the States...even though I'm in Turkey, I am still going to participate! There are some things that have been heavy on my heart, and I ask that you would join me in prayer.

John Golling, a pastor at my home church, was just diagnosed with lymphoma this week. The cancer appears to be localized and he will begin treatment after the results of a couple more tests come in. He is a true man of God and servant to the body of Christ. His whole family is very special to me. I have known them for many years and had the privilege of sharing the Gospel in India with them last year. I ask you to join me in prayer that the cancer remains localized and treatable, that John will have minimal side effects from treatment, and that the faith of his whole family is refined by this trial.

Another dear family friend, Cindy Steedman was also just diagnosed with cancer of the stomach. She is going through intense chemo and radiation three weeks on, one week off for a total of about four months. Ironically I also had the opportunity to go on a mission trip to Mexico with Cindy and her family many years. They have been dear friends for as long as I can remember. Please join me in prayer that Cindy has minimal side effects from her chemo and radiation, that she maintains her appetite and energy through treatment, and also that the faith of her whole family is refined.

There is a family here that delivered 23 week old twins last week, and both of the babies ended up passing away. Please pray for strength and peace for the young parents. I do not know them personally.

It has really been on my heart to pray for our Christian brothers and sisters to be faithful to the Lord and  fight the good fight against the intoxicating temptations of our world. I am praying that we would show integrity in our enticing world and zealously seek the Lord and listen to His voice.

I cannot believe I forgot to add this until now!! My pastor's son and his wife, Brent and Kristin Bauslaugh, are raising twin boys that were born prematurely last fall. We have been praying for these little boys diligently for months now! They are currently both at home, but both boys are still requiring special care. One of the twins, baby Jack, is on a home ventilator and requires 24/7 care. I am asking for your prayer for Brent and Kristen as they go through the challenges of taking care of these very special little boys! I also pray for healing and continued strength and growth for both of them. They face many challenges ahead of them, but they are both little fighters and God is faithful!

If anyone has any other prayer requests, please feel free to share and we will pray together!