2007: Year-end Blog Wrap-up
We did something like this last year, just as a way to wrap up the year in blog posts and pictures... so I wanted to do it for 2007 as well- I'll highlight a favorite story or picture from each month, so we can get a "big picture" look at this last year of our lives.
JANUARY 2007- IN TEXAS :)
...here's a photo we had made of Maranatha!
It totally captures the stage she's at right now--
beautiful smiles all the time & crawling all over the place!
FEBRUARY 2007- TEXAS
Last week, Jessica's brother and sister-in-law came for a visit with their 3 little boys. Here's a picture of our 2 oldest and their 2 oldest (Max-5, Ethan-4, Beaux-3, and Baxter-2)
APRIL 2007- TEXAS
Sadly, this was the best picture we got of the three of them, as the digital camera battery died just at the wrong moment. I wonder, could there BE a worse bluebonnet picture? :)
MAY 2007- TEXAS
Didn't post anything in May- but we were still with family.
So here are a few precious pictures from that time together.
Maranatha enjoyed the visit with Doug's family
(here, she's with his Great Aunt, who we call "Aunt Doc" because she's an MD)
We were glad to see Doug's youngest brother, Michael, who was in town for Spring Break
We signed Ethan up for a teeball league for however much longer we're here. He is loving it, and is by far the most alert kid on the field. No dirt digging by him- he is totally into baseball!
JUNE 2007- TEXAS
We had Maranatha's first birthday party in early June. It was such a fun day... the kids played, we ate pink cake and pink cookies, and admired our precious little one-year-old!
JULY 2007- TEXAS to ISTANBUL
HOME, SWEET HOME
Two weeks ago this morning, we arrived here. Last week, after just one day (!) of looking, we located and signed a lease on a great apartment. This place is just right for us! While most apartments here have a street right in front of them, the street in front of our apartment has been closed off, so we won't have as much traffic noise.
Additionally, it's on the "first floor" (which, here , means the second floor- the first floor is for shops and stores), which is great for the kids (no walking up flights of stairs or squeezing into the tiny elevators they have here). It has a bathtub, which is above and beyond what we expected, and it has a lot of great windows. We'll be very close to three great parks, and one big grocery store. Plus there's a Sunday vegetable market one street away, so I'll have my beloved fresh veggies easily accessible every week!
AUGUST 2007- ISTANBUL
Jess & the kiddos in the entrance to the famous Istanbul Spice Bazaar
*** we also learned that we were expecting another sweet baby during August***
SEPTEMBER 2007- ISTANBUL (and Doug & Ethan went to China to pack up our old apmt)
FAMILY GOODBYES
OCTOBER 2007- ISTANBUL
DADDY GOES TO CLASS
This is what our entryway looks like when we have groups in our home. We've had times when the floor was completely covered in shoes, with more than 35 people in our home. Last night was just about 20 people. Much less than "normal"... but still, a lot of shoes! :)
DECEMBER 2007- ISTANBUL
Here are the kids, all bundled up to go out to play:
2007: What a year! (Didn't I say that about 2006?) :) We started out this year jet-lagged after unexpectedly returning to the US for medical testing. At nearly the half-way point of 2007, we learned that we weren't going to be able to return to China, so through God's leading, we ended up in Istanbul. Moving across Central Asia, learning yet another language, and adjusting to another culture have all been challenges, but we finally feel like we're adjusted to living here. We've been blessed with friends and language teachers that give us inroads and insights into this culture and place.
Though many things have changed over this last year, God has not changed. He is faithful as He has always been, and He has gently and graciously helped us through so many changes. And there are more to come- for us (baby Silas, and whatever else God has for us in the months and years to come)... and for you too. May HE be proven gracious and faithful in your life, through whatever changes come your way, as you wrap up 2007 and go into 2008- Happy New Year!
...here's a photo we had made of Maranatha!
It totally captures the stage she's at right now--
beautiful smiles all the time & crawling all over the place!
FEBRUARY 2007- TEXAS
Last week, Jessica's brother and sister-in-law came for a visit with their 3 little boys. Here's a picture of our 2 oldest and their 2 oldest (Max-5, Ethan-4, Beaux-3, and Baxter-2)MARCH 2007- TEXAS
We've been blessed to be back near family during this time of waiting. The kids have had a wonderful time with our parents, and here's a picture of some snuggle time with Papa:
APRIL 2007- TEXAS
Sadly, this was the best picture we got of the three of them, as the digital camera battery died just at the wrong moment. I wonder, could there BE a worse bluebonnet picture? :)MAY 2007- TEXAS
Didn't post anything in May- but we were still with family.
So here are a few precious pictures from that time together.
Maranatha enjoyed the visit with Doug's family(here, she's with his Great Aunt, who we call "Aunt Doc" because she's an MD)
We were glad to see Doug's youngest brother, Michael, who was in town for Spring Break
We signed Ethan up for a teeball league for however much longer we're here. He is loving it, and is by far the most alert kid on the field. No dirt digging by him- he is totally into baseball!
JUNE 2007- TEXAS
We had Maranatha's first birthday party in early June. It was such a fun day... the kids played, we ate pink cake and pink cookies, and admired our precious little one-year-old!JULY 2007- TEXAS to ISTANBUL
HOME, SWEET HOME
Two weeks ago this morning, we arrived here. Last week, after just one day (!) of looking, we located and signed a lease on a great apartment. This place is just right for us! While most apartments here have a street right in front of them, the street in front of our apartment has been closed off, so we won't have as much traffic noise.
Additionally, it's on the "first floor" (which, here , means the second floor- the first floor is for shops and stores), which is great for the kids (no walking up flights of stairs or squeezing into the tiny elevators they have here). It has a bathtub, which is above and beyond what we expected, and it has a lot of great windows. We'll be very close to three great parks, and one big grocery store. Plus there's a Sunday vegetable market one street away, so I'll have my beloved fresh veggies easily accessible every week!
AUGUST 2007- ISTANBUL
Jess & the kiddos in the entrance to the famous Istanbul Spice Bazaar*** we also learned that we were expecting another sweet baby during August***
SEPTEMBER 2007- ISTANBUL (and Doug & Ethan went to China to pack up our old apmt)
FAMILY GOODBYES
OCTOBER 2007- ISTANBUL
DADDY GOES TO CLASS
Doug started language classes (in Turkish this go round, Doug's third language to begin studying in the last 18 months!) last week. So now on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, the kids have a big sending-off ceremony, full of waves, kisses, hugs, "BYE"s, and blown kisses!
This is what our entryway looks like when we have groups in our home. We've had times when the floor was completely covered in shoes, with more than 35 people in our home. Last night was just about 20 people. Much less than "normal"... but still, a lot of shoes! :)
DECEMBER 2007- ISTANBUL
Here are the kids, all bundled up to go out to play:
2007: What a year! (Didn't I say that about 2006?) :) We started out this year jet-lagged after unexpectedly returning to the US for medical testing. At nearly the half-way point of 2007, we learned that we weren't going to be able to return to China, so through God's leading, we ended up in Istanbul. Moving across Central Asia, learning yet another language, and adjusting to another culture have all been challenges, but we finally feel like we're adjusted to living here. We've been blessed with friends and language teachers that give us inroads and insights into this culture and place.
Though many things have changed over this last year, God has not changed. He is faithful as He has always been, and He has gently and graciously helped us through so many changes. And there are more to come- for us (baby Silas, and whatever else God has for us in the months and years to come)... and for you too. May HE be proven gracious and faithful in your life, through whatever changes come your way, as you wrap up 2007 and go into 2008- Happy New Year!
2 comments:
What a creative post idea!
That is the funniest, craziest, "can't stop laughing" bluebonnet picture I've ever seen! Nana
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