tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137715212024-03-19T10:53:16.894+08:00Red Road ReportA semi-regular blog of our Red Road journeyJess Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00372282510182101716noreply@blogger.comBlogger228125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13771521.post-56344792051611021642010-09-06T02:23:00.007+08:002010-09-06T03:05:02.325+08:00Nana & Papa's Visit: July 2010<div style="text-align: center;">We were so glad Jess's mom and dad got to come in July. We were all just certain Moses would arrive by the end of June, so imagine our surprise when he overshot his due date and waited just about 36 hours after their arrival in Istanbul to make his debut! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So, the first day, as bleary-eyed Nana & Papa got used to our time zone, we enjoyed a picnic at the seaside park:</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ittJV3SyiiZdxn9ULCxZQssF7dBIura8BZlYVPtCOcJ1g_4AsEiOLAC_TWDiHjIOd8rqukvO12ATMeRqIOxMSQY1dbre53TdSFoB4t2ePBAxrlohuUXqmI6FttDsnChw5THoHQ/s1600/IMG_0002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ittJV3SyiiZdxn9ULCxZQssF7dBIura8BZlYVPtCOcJ1g_4AsEiOLAC_TWDiHjIOd8rqukvO12ATMeRqIOxMSQY1dbre53TdSFoB4t2ePBAxrlohuUXqmI6FttDsnChw5THoHQ/s400/IMG_0002.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513505574519400034" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">complete with a soccer game</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZzCdlfofZHJSN9f-TqALp9yoFUGgrjs2u4PB5iK9ZIV3C-ASAQSxww6cgC8CrW31dhV4vn_9Yctsy1YNGtpMzEEegbu4GhMlRQKSbqYXez0-4-TmtNPIzZ0oBwH6q3N5nzYAMfg/s1600/IMG_0004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZzCdlfofZHJSN9f-TqALp9yoFUGgrjs2u4PB5iK9ZIV3C-ASAQSxww6cgC8CrW31dhV4vn_9Yctsy1YNGtpMzEEegbu4GhMlRQKSbqYXez0-4-TmtNPIzZ0oBwH6q3N5nzYAMfg/s400/IMG_0004.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513505563225549218" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">and rock climbing!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7O67Y959k7qSuJCNf8LXGj-QCU9OFVTsgklags8hg4fOFvEDCoW1ZwUROdpGwEry2SblWdbIoeKrBV23EtVsUm0-tRs4htbztovOdYSTgPNqYPGUw8pFcUaoo1HLmeJRHGoASPQ/s1600/IMG_0010.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7O67Y959k7qSuJCNf8LXGj-QCU9OFVTsgklags8hg4fOFvEDCoW1ZwUROdpGwEry2SblWdbIoeKrBV23EtVsUm0-tRs4htbztovOdYSTgPNqYPGUw8pFcUaoo1HLmeJRHGoASPQ/s400/IMG_0010.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513504350135137586" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">That night, labor contractions began, and by the next morning, they were holding their 8th grandchild in their arms-- Moses Henry had arrived!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Nth4Rq0YTl2K26nzCJdNfDwLHOhRzXq7uxYDbD8apYcvSoy4VCyQLclv19ns5_Cv5lsARihppv0HfLJlcWkyRTWRtMA2RTesIXmGv3lhue5gviW1R3XZigC_1mKCw9LMl0yDPQ/s1600/IMG_0114.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Nth4Rq0YTl2K26nzCJdNfDwLHOhRzXq7uxYDbD8apYcvSoy4VCyQLclv19ns5_Cv5lsARihppv0HfLJlcWkyRTWRtMA2RTesIXmGv3lhue5gviW1R3XZigC_1mKCw9LMl0yDPQ/s1600/IMG_0114.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Nth4Rq0YTl2K26nzCJdNfDwLHOhRzXq7uxYDbD8apYcvSoy4VCyQLclv19ns5_Cv5lsARihppv0HfLJlcWkyRTWRtMA2RTesIXmGv3lhue5gviW1R3XZigC_1mKCw9LMl0yDPQ/s1600/IMG_0114.JPG"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbQqXEgQae_q3qAJxDGcH7rb_bQEpKEJrhRKI_Gt3LSz_aBQ4eIRZjGaiXJ1mYXmjHgU_LUOhO4AFIU8GMS-T_YBEaE9g2M7i_h9yuZZHlchrHa2DoPwqqyvBOtg7iuLKTRlhxw/s1600/IMG_0054.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbQqXEgQae_q3qAJxDGcH7rb_bQEpKEJrhRKI_Gt3LSz_aBQ4eIRZjGaiXJ1mYXmjHgU_LUOhO4AFIU8GMS-T_YBEaE9g2M7i_h9yuZZHlchrHa2DoPwqqyvBOtg7iuLKTRlhxw/s400/IMG_0054.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513505552613604114" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Enjoying getting to know him...</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFAbnodC5G5iFJiRoEmOUlvg41Lpu-eLb0xrdZ86MeWc8V_orkDZjlobRA6YFUr6ocyg3TJydWvKQBX2pdhDkXOzibIG6E4Nob0mDbxG-o564xh0dasM1ZxHJzhtCdK5qAPN9VzA/s1600/IMG_0067.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFAbnodC5G5iFJiRoEmOUlvg41Lpu-eLb0xrdZ86MeWc8V_orkDZjlobRA6YFUr6ocyg3TJydWvKQBX2pdhDkXOzibIG6E4Nob0mDbxG-o564xh0dasM1ZxHJzhtCdK5qAPN9VzA/s400/IMG_0067.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513505546302938498" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">...burp him...</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl05Z-MuU08vpGa4o4k33YNGZvvaqB4ZttObT4APVPiYdruB4muGyJAvxj9KKEymmvaxPPb3o667sB-ABm0QjMfad2ucM9E0DPjJCW65OoufIepJR1G6eDQ63uUm5_j1_SQWALKg/s1600/IMG_0139.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl05Z-MuU08vpGa4o4k33YNGZvvaqB4ZttObT4APVPiYdruB4muGyJAvxj9KKEymmvaxPPb3o667sB-ABm0QjMfad2ucM9E0DPjJCW65OoufIepJR1G6eDQ63uUm5_j1_SQWALKg/s400/IMG_0139.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513504334246409058" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">...watch movies while holding him...</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-lZNCB7ilUT1mltk7OYxgv_h0pavJw9HOlkIdHKxvGya03DJyIwgIi7CZKzlR30QDUXTgUCHrLUkji6fLol1LFAI88DgyuzEPpHDgF3GlEG18LNSjdc89nRAmcXgtPUf4EvFHQ/s1600/IMG_0148.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-lZNCB7ilUT1mltk7OYxgv_h0pavJw9HOlkIdHKxvGya03DJyIwgIi7CZKzlR30QDUXTgUCHrLUkji6fLol1LFAI88DgyuzEPpHDgF3GlEG18LNSjdc89nRAmcXgtPUf4EvFHQ/s400/IMG_0148.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513503168725319522" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">We were all so glad Moses had waited until after their arrival! It made it all the more special.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Of course the other kids got lots of Nana & Papa time too!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsy8zaNAql_vLvY_yeAo_QN5tx_8J5oHkTiaE80tLAXx4bx0eenMWP8gd0hdYf5eTjVLcVVOz9J40f_xmFrtl13WWXjZfd6XdlPrguMPYaALaMAVIx8eG9lIj7U4NureLEPK7sA/s1600/IMG_0167.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsy8zaNAql_vLvY_yeAo_QN5tx_8J5oHkTiaE80tLAXx4bx0eenMWP8gd0hdYf5eTjVLcVVOz9J40f_xmFrtl13WWXjZfd6XdlPrguMPYaALaMAVIx8eG9lIj7U4NureLEPK7sA/s400/IMG_0167.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513503158869540882" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtl9l09DDCjz-g8yXVCOlHCuV1r3aSSSLfW0-eZ2KwV2K2rkp1ki2O9hRwFrDsXt3AUKrIfFTlv2emkEWCXPmxtPw9BtSkJv5xZCeZ1a4vvGSaOiqW9I4Nix5U2xq12TPMr1_igA/s1600/IMG_0188.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtl9l09DDCjz-g8yXVCOlHCuV1r3aSSSLfW0-eZ2KwV2K2rkp1ki2O9hRwFrDsXt3AUKrIfFTlv2emkEWCXPmxtPw9BtSkJv5xZCeZ1a4vvGSaOiqW9I4Nix5U2xq12TPMr1_igA/s400/IMG_0188.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513502714462958354" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQdRAYWJSPCtVtifILx7k1q7F0YQGzsoZb0y1EuY_2ehYdDj44ScUY37g0OB24JxgetacTnNaqsWyxTLpHiUhtxEqkOiyzGig6fRcBu87P8D1YsAuo70YMjSoKbXvA2kNUUQ_M2w/s1600/IMG_0219.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQdRAYWJSPCtVtifILx7k1q7F0YQGzsoZb0y1EuY_2ehYdDj44ScUY37g0OB24JxgetacTnNaqsWyxTLpHiUhtxEqkOiyzGig6fRcBu87P8D1YsAuo70YMjSoKbXvA2kNUUQ_M2w/s400/IMG_0219.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513502700358723410" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5I1cZDQmEDkmm8wrC5qT40U4b1am3LuE422uS1Yt6-5zJ1eldWli07yygsm1-FESMWKnw500xmHrqwVn2RbDQtGLniR8R_Y0MtXQuYhBsQ_XK1XiypA2hEO8xdJ1bx_AQRN9Fyw/s1600/IMG_0254.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5I1cZDQmEDkmm8wrC5qT40U4b1am3LuE422uS1Yt6-5zJ1eldWli07yygsm1-FESMWKnw500xmHrqwVn2RbDQtGLniR8R_Y0MtXQuYhBsQ_XK1XiypA2hEO8xdJ1bx_AQRN9Fyw/s400/IMG_0254.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513498301874934722" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQbeTCTvdcHIpvegV7kSCUMORgetFOPtDCypY6BPUEkiu6WVGPv7VgSojD_BwQ68J-NamWne8srcj9bWtn7bIS1eH55tkaTWL4mEvXTZd-5D83XgmBNyR6ml1sWlo-R1NTUuVTA/s1600/IMG_0258.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQbeTCTvdcHIpvegV7kSCUMORgetFOPtDCypY6BPUEkiu6WVGPv7VgSojD_BwQ68J-NamWne8srcj9bWtn7bIS1eH55tkaTWL4mEvXTZd-5D83XgmBNyR6ml1sWlo-R1NTUuVTA/s1600/IMG_0258.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQbeTCTvdcHIpvegV7kSCUMORgetFOPtDCypY6BPUEkiu6WVGPv7VgSojD_BwQ68J-NamWne8srcj9bWtn7bIS1eH55tkaTWL4mEvXTZd-5D83XgmBNyR6ml1sWlo-R1NTUuVTA/s1600/IMG_0258.JPG"></a></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI6T37VgM8LMjUK8cW9K9-xDRGaztUrCQKgVaPAK6dGBMZw5OeR7CsJXHlM_LNZJ5Uf2OBUiR2aV_f4O9c6dLPMDCen-hMsIflM6g43LT9Vy40M6w0VoatngFpC8W-68z3lvvQfg/s1600/IMG_0226.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI6T37VgM8LMjUK8cW9K9-xDRGaztUrCQKgVaPAK6dGBMZw5OeR7CsJXHlM_LNZJ5Uf2OBUiR2aV_f4O9c6dLPMDCen-hMsIflM6g43LT9Vy40M6w0VoatngFpC8W-68z3lvvQfg/s400/IMG_0226.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513498322913942418" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVEdphsBC1uGDGFJ0iBtIXyYT-cu1y61foE0A7iZ1vvFxYu32VByIeGj7Roxi7iNmN9O8Bq35IMX7dz8xuiP7tZyAixrjgPZP_Ys6Fgw_kjxXREf5ThYgmwYrcT1TxCc5q4uB6SQ/s1600/IMG_0243.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVEdphsBC1uGDGFJ0iBtIXyYT-cu1y61foE0A7iZ1vvFxYu32VByIeGj7Roxi7iNmN9O8Bq35IMX7dz8xuiP7tZyAixrjgPZP_Ys6Fgw_kjxXREf5ThYgmwYrcT1TxCc5q4uB6SQ/s400/IMG_0243.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513498313358863474" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">It was such a special visit, and we're all so thankful for the week we had together!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjacuDYJzbZZZSWvGTFSMQZSSspVkcqRFaGVbjehrKCAdLHaYpuIGiAYKoOUkvYoCxlGENPkDX20LBFKwt-xSH9WssXm5ILTgux5MlDshpkhyu1omn_SgwNReiL8y6fFPrqUACsQ/s1600/IMG_0247.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjacuDYJzbZZZSWvGTFSMQZSSspVkcqRFaGVbjehrKCAdLHaYpuIGiAYKoOUkvYoCxlGENPkDX20LBFKwt-xSH9WssXm5ILTgux5MlDshpkhyu1omn_SgwNReiL8y6fFPrqUACsQ/s400/IMG_0247.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513498310876766738" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Doug & Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675944006638947619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13771521.post-81950077199652683812010-09-05T23:13:00.004+08:002010-09-05T23:52:48.065+08:00Moses Henry's Birth<div style="text-align: center;">Our sweet little man arrived July 12th. I just realized I've shared pictures via e-mail and Facebook, but never posted them here... so here he is, in all his preciousness:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKwZkuWT7MApzVTAJwY7QnDXEsDXiMJzTS3s0Dxp_x7mqy4irTsbML8vjDc3mFnbOrbadBdIv_9k2rA7PfNY0gqxOaTVFeXTu4OBdMRSsePJiX3w6uIgf92zzS0K5ilo0Ngm-9A/s1600/IMG_0069.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKwZkuWT7MApzVTAJwY7QnDXEsDXiMJzTS3s0Dxp_x7mqy4irTsbML8vjDc3mFnbOrbadBdIv_9k2rA7PfNY0gqxOaTVFeXTu4OBdMRSsePJiX3w6uIgf92zzS0K5ilo0Ngm-9A/s1600/IMG_0069.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKwZkuWT7MApzVTAJwY7QnDXEsDXiMJzTS3s0Dxp_x7mqy4irTsbML8vjDc3mFnbOrbadBdIv_9k2rA7PfNY0gqxOaTVFeXTu4OBdMRSsePJiX3w6uIgf92zzS0K5ilo0Ngm-9A/s1600/IMG_0069.JPG"></a><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXC_rLPVnYvVf3UHjKFyyIFBuExbBvJ0Cd7XRZqw8Hub-wqkCZWg4AlyunacJWoCJyeobyJAL9flhY5xUhI2S7NKa6aI8hzmZY-wIqv0OKiWANCjk6PBAbZ2RcEkS6nQwiV0yfIw/s400/IMG_0027.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513457077431617154" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-JOwouVzl4n1J3nIaDsvpsMs6Aj7fYXkY06YLEAz095X1rZD-lqCgLBAvpL8PXG7u2SSCyBf6pzMHr2HeNJwPlDas8xPZHw2vmqtljiYy08RdlO6882Pj03jDFZ7RV2oQlmSKQ/s400/IMG_0085.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513457069314931714" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_iqg4IQ0NU4KkTkEfdm4ttxi1MYWgG2Sq7TdCZW-aHt3jJln9zA54lFwKuJxCU1dPSUs1FViOfWiUUcIpE2_WKcSKLlYQAsf7NHY9MsEoWElHv-LJDyIaLEtg4PU8Vredvi7lg/s400/IMG_0036.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513455863150252210" /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwjc0CezsPkjlHSdho2n-dLmByZJQ7LcaX2mMFwh9rl8I_SJI3KqvQAxw3XlgH4-LLGoyu9UsRtdZjQGNBP6zyZyCR3YjI3y_9Nnmqp5-JOpIthezeHNfbpSLpQXdr0DZwUpJ9Q/s1600/IMG_0054.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwjc0CezsPkjlHSdho2n-dLmByZJQ7LcaX2mMFwh9rl8I_SJI3KqvQAxw3XlgH4-LLGoyu9UsRtdZjQGNBP6zyZyCR3YjI3y_9Nnmqp5-JOpIthezeHNfbpSLpQXdr0DZwUpJ9Q/s400/IMG_0054.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513455888720705970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyAeYQQv4N7HNJjKYyoya-rD-ueh9NNl8QXkIIKgb2u9mRnaySVR6oec6xWRtQQuIS5ebouCgIWom1ZfLkEdjAHFRgEmI237rb8iqdaWP5o75qaDu8Gtrr161QqWU10FgJ92V79Q/s1600/IMG_0049.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyAeYQQv4N7HNJjKYyoya-rD-ueh9NNl8QXkIIKgb2u9mRnaySVR6oec6xWRtQQuIS5ebouCgIWom1ZfLkEdjAHFRgEmI237rb8iqdaWP5o75qaDu8Gtrr161QqWU10FgJ92V79Q/s400/IMG_0049.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513455880476832866" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVg7ePAVXt96WB_UnDa44ShGECDso02nOk9RLyB7Ec9MmtjcYGWzTHqdN9GXBqRwIqFEjv1D62dQOLSOV08G57Hk3UaVqttd0_MBJbhLl1-6sRCQHUbI_VoXWgloJKlT6QXmnHrw/s1600/IMG_0038.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVg7ePAVXt96WB_UnDa44ShGECDso02nOk9RLyB7Ec9MmtjcYGWzTHqdN9GXBqRwIqFEjv1D62dQOLSOV08G57Hk3UaVqttd0_MBJbhLl1-6sRCQHUbI_VoXWgloJKlT6QXmnHrw/s400/IMG_0038.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513455871015675314" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-JOwouVzl4n1J3nIaDsvpsMs6Aj7fYXkY06YLEAz095X1rZD-lqCgLBAvpL8PXG7u2SSCyBf6pzMHr2HeNJwPlDas8xPZHw2vmqtljiYy08RdlO6882Pj03jDFZ7RV2oQlmSKQ/s1600/IMG_0085.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKwZkuWT7MApzVTAJwY7QnDXEsDXiMJzTS3s0Dxp_x7mqy4irTsbML8vjDc3mFnbOrbadBdIv_9k2rA7PfNY0gqxOaTVFeXTu4OBdMRSsePJiX3w6uIgf92zzS0K5ilo0Ngm-9A/s1600/IMG_0069.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKwZkuWT7MApzVTAJwY7QnDXEsDXiMJzTS3s0Dxp_x7mqy4irTsbML8vjDc3mFnbOrbadBdIv_9k2rA7PfNY0gqxOaTVFeXTu4OBdMRSsePJiX3w6uIgf92zzS0K5ilo0Ngm-9A/s400/IMG_0069.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513457066785828626" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdT4WwqbdEUN_kUAlbcq5N2LYcZfnGwVwrhGXvuoZgKSq0aSzmZcX18euYgxYhaHucCngszK1XCghuVwA4xmF5EjoYNP6ZmDJAauUpn9nd1pvtEn41sjqJ0O1D2jzJ0Gg9ErnBqQ/s400/IMG_0061.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513457054670946194" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_lnRQ7m7NdG_WeAs9zc2j5aOvIsVmUEv8HmUTpx3MLhMDIdRZWBWdZ_OtxEweEs6p_gIwMWqlZ5ruz0GNvGKGH_ci_dIQ_lOlAn5Up1C5NdVO77KdDJmm7SVxelKOjhx2ArqL5Q/s1600/IMG_0065.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_lnRQ7m7NdG_WeAs9zc2j5aOvIsVmUEv8HmUTpx3MLhMDIdRZWBWdZ_OtxEweEs6p_gIwMWqlZ5ruz0GNvGKGH_ci_dIQ_lOlAn5Up1C5NdVO77KdDJmm7SVxelKOjhx2ArqL5Q/s400/IMG_0065.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513457060451814370" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Our new family of 7, ready for action! :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div> </div>Doug & Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675944006638947619noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13771521.post-19987657426965531482010-05-27T14:45:00.013+08:002010-05-27T16:10:29.212+08:00Bodrum Beach Vacation - 2010!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrc_wFmj5XTtsL8IxCCTs_tBUQ1J_QzqmDawVWhjli5rw1WRGzxm2_p9IamPu20_TxvJZXqqIfjMY9HYU4BUOHT9HbpuDYnexEI93eeyiXYkEFcL7WrZhnmDW0r9o3u4cJfraYcA/s1600/DE+sandcastle%231.JPG"><br /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv747fItlzlbhrl1AcQFBCjuUO1vGpMhUE4kcgfC3XHb5m5Xy_NVrvvvqGFvVTW3-ux77vk__Uzl_rSouedpiMANl7-MfXQ9cnWiECD6PdnyyXYUuedQGtegDbmwgcnVYqcdhhpw/s1600/S+snuggletime.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv747fItlzlbhrl1AcQFBCjuUO1vGpMhUE4kcgfC3XHb5m5Xy_NVrvvvqGFvVTW3-ux77vk__Uzl_rSouedpiMANl7-MfXQ9cnWiECD6PdnyyXYUuedQGtegDbmwgcnVYqcdhhpw/s400/S+snuggletime.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475843741899090354" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">...snuggling with Silas in the shade...</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />This year, for vacation we were fortunate to find a home to rent near a beach in southwest Turkey. We all enjoyed every bit of it!<br /><br /><br />The kids enjoyed having grass to play in... a yard all their own for this one week!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6bVleTLjoij5NK9CvRg4iZy1I_RQ7_d_YhUq4EYNeGSm4meHQ8Z2nE4oXYNkT4TR6-LxAf1NqRWy5_F_ozhy8IR8x5e9A9yKkScPIXWG9Zn93E7A-NKSUgdOpuQotZnXi8ugbA/s1600/EB+yard+ping+pong.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6bVleTLjoij5NK9CvRg4iZy1I_RQ7_d_YhUq4EYNeGSm4meHQ8Z2nE4oXYNkT4TR6-LxAf1NqRWy5_F_ozhy8IR8x5e9A9yKkScPIXWG9Zn93E7A-NKSUgdOpuQotZnXi8ugbA/s400/EB+yard+ping+pong.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475842329573042594" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And while we all got in the pool to swim throughout the week, Baxter, Maranatha, and Silas had the most fun just sitting on the side and dumping water from bucket to bucket (and splashing Ethan and Daddy occasionally!).<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCf9_oHsj34BI59oF2AYC9UXmJYYeRYNkjideqqT1pUoGlzYL4Np81aaCdGZNxitADTLXYPaZq6aBXxwooB0hWJiinYWL3Q_AdE5Y0oKUfeJg4VoTGZAnQGRMnBttrqgKZMEgqw/s1600/B+pool+%26+bucket+time.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCf9_oHsj34BI59oF2AYC9UXmJYYeRYNkjideqqT1pUoGlzYL4Np81aaCdGZNxitADTLXYPaZq6aBXxwooB0hWJiinYWL3Q_AdE5Y0oKUfeJg4VoTGZAnQGRMnBttrqgKZMEgqw/s400/B+pool+%26+bucket+time.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475841345974139362" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The house had beautiful flowers around it... which Silas enjoyed "watering" with his water gun :)<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTHgYVFQB_36Jd5CqImdatziPakVbLaNaAWIfLsohpPdQuG4gq-MclKITeiZdj-tsBa7m5qO08RkDB3LYS2PJLn4J_zk5EjvrHghzqk94X2OYOTQZeVB1HiWQCFWIy6nvUX7MgQ/s1600/S+watergunning+the+plants.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTHgYVFQB_36Jd5CqImdatziPakVbLaNaAWIfLsohpPdQuG4gq-MclKITeiZdj-tsBa7m5qO08RkDB3LYS2PJLn4J_zk5EjvrHghzqk94X2OYOTQZeVB1HiWQCFWIy6nvUX7MgQ/s400/S+watergunning+the+plants.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475846724681448658" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">(randomly, here's a pic of me in the garden @ 35 weeks pregnant, for anyone who's curious) :<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_C-n3OXd4r8RlQ8Us2BAWK1syzWFAbgmtrzvZidKu_JOhx-_ZNeTd76Uka4NjqDkywAMxOrUCtt56_o8sIIyazSZM64hlyp6czF53z0ra2KDFgNukboYEs1Vk4NuG4YAEx4y5zg/s1600/J+35+wks+pregnant.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_C-n3OXd4r8RlQ8Us2BAWK1syzWFAbgmtrzvZidKu_JOhx-_ZNeTd76Uka4NjqDkywAMxOrUCtt56_o8sIIyazSZM64hlyp6czF53z0ra2KDFgNukboYEs1Vk4NuG4YAEx4y5zg/s400/J+35+wks+pregnant.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475843721729531298" border="0" /></a><br />While we all loved it, Ethan enjoyed the pool most of all and spent a good portion of every day paddling around in the water:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZIgRCAsArZrRwLT2CQ0BouO6F1oUeujlsJdBa4BSnOgVIFCtvpQvwlUONUsQXBJmDxs7BEwmhZEA3AocbQVdKLVHxFIwNO0VcZQrtkm_OlidNGapYwvY7GQNP-FwgYLYEB7RFg/s1600/E+pooltime.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZIgRCAsArZrRwLT2CQ0BouO6F1oUeujlsJdBa4BSnOgVIFCtvpQvwlUONUsQXBJmDxs7BEwmhZEA3AocbQVdKLVHxFIwNO0VcZQrtkm_OlidNGapYwvY7GQNP-FwgYLYEB7RFg/s400/E+pooltime.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475842334089000850" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And we ALL enjoyed the beach-- our first time as a family!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_Zi4SjhObVMotNep537WzmZiNchXnw6ppBqDm5_1CflKcWWTX4_iWOHmuIQR9CBh5HM9LzudkDbKhISldCTVd1RqrP9biifVn5ZOrxUiOaL7ug5SPV5bdPrhTz1tuscT492nhg/s1600/EBMS+%40+beach.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_Zi4SjhObVMotNep537WzmZiNchXnw6ppBqDm5_1CflKcWWTX4_iWOHmuIQR9CBh5HM9LzudkDbKhISldCTVd1RqrP9biifVn5ZOrxUiOaL7ug5SPV5bdPrhTz1tuscT492nhg/s400/EBMS+%40+beach.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475842323836448514" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5DoJEXuDZTapdHi-PdulUwn3NgYg6Revl2qC-ri-xMwoGbB98fHEc2L3DUtYrNoTk5CfH16K1kmKj5O-hJ-Xa5ERZQ3GuHFyjqPaWHYERb2coWqYVYdDm3SgvQgzajrZJOtA3cQ/s1600/DEBMS+enjoying+beach2.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5DoJEXuDZTapdHi-PdulUwn3NgYg6Revl2qC-ri-xMwoGbB98fHEc2L3DUtYrNoTk5CfH16K1kmKj5O-hJ-Xa5ERZQ3GuHFyjqPaWHYERb2coWqYVYdDm3SgvQgzajrZJOtA3cQ/s400/DEBMS+enjoying+beach2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475841369829692914" border="0" /></a><br />Silas thought Doug's sea monster impersonation was hilarious! He couldn't stop laughing at Doug snorkeling around the bay:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt14-AF9llxgBwZtIW9xlRnWwvAaOsaPxa4PwDUfTc0E5pHlYeEIIATEUIYGVoE0ATDZq0ehVtKy3U6e2vfZFWAu87D46uwi6bQTeWfjYJhyN7P0nEd-TK9ZEUHiQeP9gudr74GQ/s1600/DS+sea+monster.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt14-AF9llxgBwZtIW9xlRnWwvAaOsaPxa4PwDUfTc0E5pHlYeEIIATEUIYGVoE0ATDZq0ehVtKy3U6e2vfZFWAu87D46uwi6bQTeWfjYJhyN7P0nEd-TK9ZEUHiQeP9gudr74GQ/s400/DS+sea+monster.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475842316155586226" border="0" /></a><br />A nearby island with ruins was attached to the beach by a rocky sandbar, so we trekked out through the water to the island to have a look, only to see a sign prohibiting us from actually entering the ruins site once we got there (bummer!):<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjJt8g4nc7z4IusKHYIFngy1tM3PvjhGM4nUBAzt2BaSkwbCWeT-hNSV5XRffA12rIBUa6QJU5k5Nxo-USDLThwD11dsXNVMfAGX9un8i2Jy0_q3wUzRJC9SLY0y0SmbORPHuKcA/s1600/DEBS+Rabbit+Island+wading+out.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjJt8g4nc7z4IusKHYIFngy1tM3PvjhGM4nUBAzt2BaSkwbCWeT-hNSV5XRffA12rIBUa6QJU5k5Nxo-USDLThwD11dsXNVMfAGX9un8i2Jy0_q3wUzRJC9SLY0y0SmbORPHuKcA/s400/DEBS+Rabbit+Island+wading+out.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475841372178718562" border="0" /></a><br />But still, we made it out to the island and had a good time!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoD9QKxhJv-fl6qV5S6pAQwEOdGS83rlUrKTkVh9bVPu2Py0hXjGbWyHcKsNmGskX-SRPbnXcq9CnQRSnEk6QhkOdrW2paTsb79xGaPNz4HVVzfmsLx8l5C71t2E9a91nwrsT0Wg/s1600/DMS+on+the+island%21.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoD9QKxhJv-fl6qV5S6pAQwEOdGS83rlUrKTkVh9bVPu2Py0hXjGbWyHcKsNmGskX-SRPbnXcq9CnQRSnEk6QhkOdrW2paTsb79xGaPNz4HVVzfmsLx8l5C71t2E9a91nwrsT0Wg/s400/DMS+on+the+island%21.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475842308303541618" border="0" /></a><br />Sandcastling was a big part of the fun for Doug, Ethan, and Baxter:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCAeD30Z2I-0E_YbHvQnleX-yDIihWWZIWjpbNwKTXnnbDfJl_ZjRmO7tHl1C502NUAy-McT3SDtLZ-6c9W2NJzqwzZFDZSqvX_7GfIKC4zZb8aUSE7ZNv7tM6JzdNhBGWjRGwww/s1600/DEBMS+sandcastles2.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCAeD30Z2I-0E_YbHvQnleX-yDIihWWZIWjpbNwKTXnnbDfJl_ZjRmO7tHl1C502NUAy-McT3SDtLZ-6c9W2NJzqwzZFDZSqvX_7GfIKC4zZb8aUSE7ZNv7tM6JzdNhBGWjRGwww/s400/DEBMS+sandcastles2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475850528169305410" border="0" /></a><br />Well, mainly Doug... :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1xRzEAfn1jaTCtVgfhnTi3omN3r4qlaztKTkUlLedu1gCZP1Wy7q0ZSHJIqzC0TJopAtCUkotfLsYkXkuSn0iZlFFuYxsWiUzkwww_TEmUC_uqpixQULi4zhL3V9ipsa3mukphg/s1600/Doug+sandcastling+again.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1xRzEAfn1jaTCtVgfhnTi3omN3r4qlaztKTkUlLedu1gCZP1Wy7q0ZSHJIqzC0TJopAtCUkotfLsYkXkuSn0iZlFFuYxsWiUzkwww_TEmUC_uqpixQULi4zhL3V9ipsa3mukphg/s400/Doug+sandcastling+again.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475850536023133810" border="0" /></a><br />The various finished products of three days' work:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrc_wFmj5XTtsL8IxCCTs_tBUQ1J_QzqmDawVWhjli5rw1WRGzxm2_p9IamPu20_TxvJZXqqIfjMY9HYU4BUOHT9HbpuDYnexEI93eeyiXYkEFcL7WrZhnmDW0r9o3u4cJfraYcA/s1600/DE+sandcastle%231.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrc_wFmj5XTtsL8IxCCTs_tBUQ1J_QzqmDawVWhjli5rw1WRGzxm2_p9IamPu20_TxvJZXqqIfjMY9HYU4BUOHT9HbpuDYnexEI93eeyiXYkEFcL7WrZhnmDW0r9o3u4cJfraYcA/s400/DE+sandcastle%231.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475858940628842418" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSeae_QZKkeT2Wcedp-v0wTrmedD-0ve3a6jr01Z-Tbn7vsym3jsoo6DhJdaSGv-CqotPD4iSOC8G6IK3GCnQBtXJ90ZNg0B7SXH7SDLOskRv5YhLZhtlmW5W5CTqL_BbkIQSkQ/s1600/sandcastle%232.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSeae_QZKkeT2Wcedp-v0wTrmedD-0ve3a6jr01Z-Tbn7vsym3jsoo6DhJdaSGv-CqotPD4iSOC8G6IK3GCnQBtXJ90ZNg0B7SXH7SDLOskRv5YhLZhtlmW5W5CTqL_BbkIQSkQ/s400/sandcastle%232.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475858933064325186" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qpJJmu8Ph_gHemHfh9WnogAbQZ_HJ-C8nrmVvYMBX7fhO3hbVxuOhnFVBFCS0vu2M5HSfJdc8oLXggkug9CyFpP8JI9AObI7bquEIEFzicKrqVz-p3gityKyPL1ljTnUoBP06Q/s1600/Sandcastle%233.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qpJJmu8Ph_gHemHfh9WnogAbQZ_HJ-C8nrmVvYMBX7fhO3hbVxuOhnFVBFCS0vu2M5HSfJdc8oLXggkug9CyFpP8JI9AObI7bquEIEFzicKrqVz-p3gityKyPL1ljTnUoBP06Q/s400/Sandcastle%233.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475850544508448930" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ethan and Jess enjoyed swimming out to a buoy and back!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapLiKsweIzVyUMvC01HZr8YWBj98enP3eEr1wjf3-I4bRVle9mh7A6slfSPBPVr-lvhCZIW83-PGP77zLJDqUzhVybBLdOb9oojztUCWk1VIVrI5dqeKE-H0N4bSy5GUlUFHE3w/s1600/JE+made+it+to+the+buoy%21.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapLiKsweIzVyUMvC01HZr8YWBj98enP3eEr1wjf3-I4bRVle9mh7A6slfSPBPVr-lvhCZIW83-PGP77zLJDqUzhVybBLdOb9oojztUCWk1VIVrI5dqeKE-H0N4bSy5GUlUFHE3w/s400/JE+made+it+to+the+buoy%21.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475843728460414402" border="0" /></a><br />One day while we were at the beach, Doug found a crab in the shallow water and scooped it up for the kids to observe. That crab scooted around the bucket so quick, and Maranatha offered pretzels while Silas tried to feed him seaweed (he liked neither). <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge1o9MqSv6T1a3UjoI5idpjK63tGpS2E8WmsJXp6jBMiw70KjpqxH-LmT9v9yHeeCX-UBBwiclrG9NFqZ5e29B7QQLKO7SZE3Y-s8nNpgox6PLPrfvKjEl1fsn_4fIWRrAhTF3Tw/s1600/Sandy+Claws.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge1o9MqSv6T1a3UjoI5idpjK63tGpS2E8WmsJXp6jBMiw70KjpqxH-LmT9v9yHeeCX-UBBwiclrG9NFqZ5e29B7QQLKO7SZE3Y-s8nNpgox6PLPrfvKjEl1fsn_4fIWRrAhTF3Tw/s400/Sandy+Claws.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475850566112871634" border="0" /></a>We named him "Sandy Claws" (though Baxter was still a bit partial to the name "Mr. Crab").<br /><br /><br />Maranatha loved playing in the sand:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNQsFYP5PB1PJZ4toK_vyfZdonu3HzMBug78rlbd9NPwq358mEgDvX3pYpG0aasVvOgqzbJUTc9Rshq7ZIaIsip5FQvxwGr5rPmb_VhvG11I0s90crbKt7nKpUtDYScj8nNcQxw/s1600/M+digger+extraordinaire.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNQsFYP5PB1PJZ4toK_vyfZdonu3HzMBug78rlbd9NPwq358mEgDvX3pYpG0aasVvOgqzbJUTc9Rshq7ZIaIsip5FQvxwGr5rPmb_VhvG11I0s90crbKt7nKpUtDYScj8nNcQxw/s400/M+digger+extraordinaire.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475843733630653506" border="0" /></a><br />On the last full day, we took turns, each of us taking one of the older boys for a kayak ride around the bay:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9QdqZXp0qa-kX7B4_ntNc11YviP6GUc46j3KGsHtEq-8tteqStUfqhT-FsfzoCXwM37n-4MGQCYOqHnZ-9Em_ew8F5M2w-JWpVVSxJay-F6beOf5VSndW9X-lRqnisNh1RVSfOQ/s1600/JE+on+the+kayak.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9QdqZXp0qa-kX7B4_ntNc11YviP6GUc46j3KGsHtEq-8tteqStUfqhT-FsfzoCXwM37n-4MGQCYOqHnZ-9Em_ew8F5M2w-JWpVVSxJay-F6beOf5VSndW9X-lRqnisNh1RVSfOQ/s400/JE+on+the+kayak.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475841355760744674" border="0" /></a>Ethan burst with excitement and joy for the entire ride, and declared that it made him feel like a grown-up man to go on such an adventure.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1BHwPYHy-akx6gQcSK5uHX843sO4SsDJz62Nm2h6B0wom7hOifIykHQ5ynAM3o6CA6zHRiv7cMzelNZgzv4oDKO_ab5IcXZUVE-nm_6nTXrQlb6c1OyqtdwIVzfsKzdXf3Y1bw/s1600/E+-I+feel+like+such+a+man-.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1BHwPYHy-akx6gQcSK5uHX843sO4SsDJz62Nm2h6B0wom7hOifIykHQ5ynAM3o6CA6zHRiv7cMzelNZgzv4oDKO_ab5IcXZUVE-nm_6nTXrQlb6c1OyqtdwIVzfsKzdXf3Y1bw/s400/E+-I+feel+like+such+a+man-.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475843713559120642" border="0" /></a><br />Doug took Baxter out for his ride (with Ethan running out to see them off), and they had a great time too!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SwXg51XD-S3Tv0X7fB5zfJZD9CUQWJD-EzpF7yaYzxCc6GcvPHVb-JbqtHPMtXSCGuVlcKPlqVv0tTmYj6LFQWHHwbdTT4IcRXC6rtyhXv4QEujwHwHwTN_5Ry1zxdOARX-7pQ/s1600/DB+kayak+E+seeing+them+off.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SwXg51XD-S3Tv0X7fB5zfJZD9CUQWJD-EzpF7yaYzxCc6GcvPHVb-JbqtHPMtXSCGuVlcKPlqVv0tTmYj6LFQWHHwbdTT4IcRXC6rtyhXv4QEujwHwHwTN_5Ry1zxdOARX-7pQ/s400/DB+kayak+E+seeing+them+off.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475841364292334178" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvPPY7fr0MifVwm6m3Vxqcyk0WiRMg0AYHOA8aDsAb5zk7A5C1JtbjYWeoAPZpQLs6bMb6ja6Jd87iVDjZWzJfQ4YBi0_8F10Sglo3625uH1wJUh-fI8N40VXRKBOX6qxNFXK2Q/s1600/S+and+watergun,+so+cute.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvPPY7fr0MifVwm6m3Vxqcyk0WiRMg0AYHOA8aDsAb5zk7A5C1JtbjYWeoAPZpQLs6bMb6ja6Jd87iVDjZWzJfQ4YBi0_8F10Sglo3625uH1wJUh-fI8N40VXRKBOX6qxNFXK2Q/s400/S+and+watergun,+so+cute.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475855217170497458" border="0" /></a>We're so thankful to have enjoyed this week as a family of six... cause it won't be long now until Moses makes his debut. :)<br /></div>Doug & Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675944006638947619noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13771521.post-19042612084913214642010-05-27T13:50:00.008+08:002010-05-27T14:53:31.411+08:00There and Back Again... tales from the roadWe had some adventures going to and from our vacation house ... on the way there, we got flagged down and the policeman said the road was closed ahead (yes, a "major highway" that's just two lanes wide... one each way) for the next hour, hour and a half. So we turned around and backtracked 5 minutes to see the gorgeous lake we'd just passed.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The landscape was a bit, well, like what you might think of as the wild west... dusty, jagged rocks, spiders, short scruffy trees... but for some reason it never crossed our minds that in just a few minutes Ethan would come tearing up back towards the car screaming "snake! snake! THERE'S A BIG SNAKE DOWN THERE!!!" Sure enough, Doug went to have a look and a nice long snake was there... 3-4 feet long, but about as thick as his forearm.<br /><br />We hastily returned to the van and snapped this nice picture. :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTzFLXYy65rIzDcrr53hzCCagGrqkRVA2K4Zheaq6nNciW88odq_6I_NjoFUTJZYGElwAmQUyCnZFuoLmhcRs-7JcqJVmv-3WDdi2b4qMTetnKfJ0es-8FHXTtRLlkqaf35VnuA/s1600/Inhospitable+Bafa+lake2.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTzFLXYy65rIzDcrr53hzCCagGrqkRVA2K4Zheaq6nNciW88odq_6I_NjoFUTJZYGElwAmQUyCnZFuoLmhcRs-7JcqJVmv-3WDdi2b4qMTetnKfJ0es-8FHXTtRLlkqaf35VnuA/s400/Inhospitable+Bafa+lake2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475831382067810114" border="0" /></a>The wildflowers reminded us of home... though they're different varieties than what we'd see in North Texas, the roadsides were covered in them and made for such a beautiful drive.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Qw6J1wIhyphenhyphenu9V7iDgTC1PgFr6yimv0Kcjuxy-k9HoQn1rqNqu8QYqytLg4gqybR65iN0hDD7JHj6qWxPXBvXQjLqZF5LBdW8bQKRnlOVbCQhbezCRfrjZgyZ51pa8qcHSSFD-4A/s1600/delicate+red+roadside+flowers.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Qw6J1wIhyphenhyphenu9V7iDgTC1PgFr6yimv0Kcjuxy-k9HoQn1rqNqu8QYqytLg4gqybR65iN0hDD7JHj6qWxPXBvXQjLqZF5LBdW8bQKRnlOVbCQhbezCRfrjZgyZ51pa8qcHSSFD-4A/s400/delicate+red+roadside+flowers.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475831369525571234" border="0" /></a><br />On the return trip, we passed through some of the mountains in western Turkey and enjoyed amazing views of canyons, bluffs, train trusses, quarries, lumber yards, mining sites, and more... all kind of out-of-the-ordinary experiences for our kids who are growing up in a concrete city.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgrVMzu30HEN1fEeZiQVveTKZ16mkJpDLGimGTr4BGBKsOG1kaMDVN2XTXjAdnnZa3BX129X6shyIBG2ZtiY4QBa4lH94utWAVWYem_Q7Cqu3N4r_8eF2ARPbRL8LysXHos_Cng/s1600/Canyon.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgrVMzu30HEN1fEeZiQVveTKZ16mkJpDLGimGTr4BGBKsOG1kaMDVN2XTXjAdnnZa3BX129X6shyIBG2ZtiY4QBa4lH94utWAVWYem_Q7Cqu3N4r_8eF2ARPbRL8LysXHos_Cng/s400/Canyon.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475831360701067810" border="0" /></a>And our gracious Father, Who delights in giving good gifts to His children, showered our kids with opportunities to interact with all kinds of interesting animals during this week's getaway... including the peacocks in the museum, the owl that flew into the side of the villa and hopped around on the patio while Ethan and Baxter looked on, the crab we caught and observed one whole day at the beach, dragonflies buzzing around the poolside... AND in addition to all the donkeys, cows, chickens, turkeys, and horses they saw on the farms in our driving, there was one more little gift God gave us...<br /><br />Doug saw a turtle slowly plodding along in the middle of the two-lane highway when we were returning. After he carefully drove around it, we looked at each other and knew we had to go back and get that turtle out of the road. So we did, but not before Doug took the opportunity to show it off to all the kids. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eNx_kNR-XRWTO7FJY1sWjaTAeB1G9PFb51RoUTBkjOywrpWvGjXlixwAfN1eVBx_4RXrHCh8cJIFCdfSZWNo1WUOt2G-SyZmwpf0Ex0ydy7bVkN3LHJ8PbQESfPP0D6NBTRjxA/s1600/IMG_4409.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eNx_kNR-XRWTO7FJY1sWjaTAeB1G9PFb51RoUTBkjOywrpWvGjXlixwAfN1eVBx_4RXrHCh8cJIFCdfSZWNo1WUOt2G-SyZmwpf0Ex0ydy7bVkN3LHJ8PbQESfPP0D6NBTRjxA/s400/IMG_4409.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475838530970577506" border="0" /></a>Maranatha (as evidenced by her bedhead) even roused from her nap to have a gander. And "Mr. Turtle" popped his head and legs out several times during his short exhibition, to the great thrill of our kiddos.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqIu61VNWZUwWTd-CgKn-qe041fKIjpF6XJALncyyDO5olPedbQ0Hb_DRZn0vhd1W7rYS8-TtWbImtunPCCvsEXmKLRGLSadYUufgHmpv84xp8mePxiwUuLsMALnxzLwx-tNMyg/s1600/DEM+turtle.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqIu61VNWZUwWTd-CgKn-qe041fKIjpF6XJALncyyDO5olPedbQ0Hb_DRZn0vhd1W7rYS8-TtWbImtunPCCvsEXmKLRGLSadYUufgHmpv84xp8mePxiwUuLsMALnxzLwx-tNMyg/s400/DEM+turtle.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475831379010940130" border="0" /></a> And then we were on our way. We got home late last night and absolutely enjoyed our vacation-- even the all-day drives both ways. God provided us with so many interesting things to see and a few funny stories along the way. He is so good to us.<br /></div>Doug & Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675944006638947619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13771521.post-6632770290340972332010-02-14T13:48:00.006+08:002010-02-14T16:25:17.534+08:00Two conversations I don't want to forget.Haven't written in a while, but that's OK. Does anybody but me even read this? :)<br /><br />Anyway, I had two conversations yesterday that I don't want to forget, so I thought I'd record them here. If, by chance, anyone is reading, please don't think that this sort of conversation is representative of every day here or that we're something akin to the Walton's, always having heart-lifting moments at every turn. If it was that way, I wouldn't be recording them here as something unique and special. Anyway, here's the first:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7m1AISdxS-fPJwCbywZV0ZojDHSMoQmKHaJoe18tzrQQiS-v4yCG2VWNpVc8xJJt064akzlPADRZuYN6AEFHuf-8C2ppFd_4DfVjitgivNvRIqcN4uXIhKHfa2AjwRKBTQORR2g/s1600-h/IMG_3581.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7m1AISdxS-fPJwCbywZV0ZojDHSMoQmKHaJoe18tzrQQiS-v4yCG2VWNpVc8xJJt064akzlPADRZuYN6AEFHuf-8C2ppFd_4DfVjitgivNvRIqcN4uXIhKHfa2AjwRKBTQORR2g/s320/IMG_3581.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437977934981473410" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">MARANATHA: "the best thing in the whole wide world"</span><br />I was combing Maranatha's hair after a bath: <blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">She said:"Mom, </span><span style="font-style: italic;">you are doing the best thing in the whole wide world, you know dat?"</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />Me: "What do you mean?"</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />Her: "Like, you take care of us, you brush my hair, you play with us, you read to me, you teach us so many tings, you love us, .... like that."</span></blockquote><br /><br />(Yes, she said tings, not things... I want to be able to remember just how she talked.)<br /><br />I have no idea if she grasped the blessing she was speaking into my heart and life. But she's absolutely right. Though it's devalued by our culture as something meaningless, mindless, or something anyone can do, there's nothing I could be doing right now that would be as eternally or personally meaningful to so many people as "just" being mom and wife to these five, going on six, people. :) And on days when I forget that, I wanted to have this special minute of life recorded here to re-read.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd9mWo_t-ziTCZOBz-rrw5GuSEeTRWuUAVfllf8WdNuo71StPiQRu7raXxe4yRJDxX-W5h9n8Ku_KsAGbcT4McFPBIPPdTTup-OhoRFj-PVgy3wOeyEyb0CYrX9pvzVAb-gjqGFA/s1600-h/IMG_3561.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd9mWo_t-ziTCZOBz-rrw5GuSEeTRWuUAVfllf8WdNuo71StPiQRu7raXxe4yRJDxX-W5h9n8Ku_KsAGbcT4McFPBIPPdTTup-OhoRFj-PVgy3wOeyEyb0CYrX9pvzVAb-gjqGFA/s320/IMG_3561.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437977927880809026" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">BAXTER: About that bright sun</span><br />We were driving home from a mall after buying a birthday present for a young Turkish friend:<br /><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">Him: "The sun is so bright!" </span> [note: it really was-- it's been hiding for days after snow and rain... so it was particularly bright and shining right in our faces, bouncing off the wet road]<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Me: "Yup, it is very bright today."</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />Him: "I'm so glad that in the next world, there won't be a sun."</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />Me: "God Himself will be our light and we won't need it anymore."</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />Him: "Yeah. </span>[pause] <span style="font-style: italic;">Will He stop shining at night time when we sleep?"</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />Me: </span>[slight chuckle] <span style="font-style: italic;">"I don't know. The Bible doesn't say anything about nighttime or darkness in Heaven. It only talks about days being divided up on earth. It does say that God is light and in Him is no darkness. Maybe we won't sleep in Heaven, but I'm not sure."</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />Him: "But then we will get so tired at the end of the day!"</span> <span style="font-size:78%;"> [keep in mind, this is our nearly 6 year old who still on his own opts for a nap every now and then... the kid likes his sleep. :) ]</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />Me: "Maybe not. It says He'll give us new bodies; maybe our new bodies won't get tired. Or maybe we'll be able to peacefully sleep even in God's light."</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />Him: "Yeah. Well, anyway, it sure is a bright day today!"</span><br /></blockquote><br />I loved that... the way natural life just flows right together with Scripture and anticipating Heaven in his heart and mind. I only remember this subject (about <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2021:22-26&version=ESV">Heaven not needing a sun, because God Himself will be our light</a>) coming up a time or two, and not recently, but his little five-year-old brain has stored away this important piece of information and faith, and I'm so glad.<br /><br />And it WAS a bright day yesterday. :) In many ways.Doug & Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675944006638947619noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13771521.post-85009468468454784232009-10-12T18:26:00.004+08:002009-10-12T20:29:46.093+08:00A budding scientist?This past weekend, my (Jessica's) language teacher invited me to go to a nearby village with hot springs for a small trip, just the two of us. She told me that we would need to leave early in the morning to catch the right ferryboat and so I stayed the night at her house the night before our trip.<br /><br />I hadn't worn my favorite shoes (pink converse low-tops) in a while, and so I decided to use them for the trip. As is the custom here, when I arrived there, I took off my shoes and left them on the porch. We had a great evening with dinner and meeting lots of her relatives. The next morning, we woke up early, packed up our bags, and headed out to catch our bus. I looked down and saw many shoes on the porch, but could only find one of my pink shoes; the other was missing. She and her mother looked all over for the other one while I sat on the porch hoping they'd be able to find it. They were unable to find it, and so her mom offered me a pair of wooden sandals to use for the trip, as I'd packed no other shoes.<br /><br />They explained that about 2 years ago, a couple of dogs had come around for a few nights barking and waking them up, and they figured that it must've been the same dog that came and got my shoe and dragged it away.<br /><br />Last night, as I was relating this story to my captivated audience (Doug & the children), I got to this part of the story and Ethan scrunched up his face and said, "THAT's not a very scientific theory. A dog came around and barked two years ago, and so he must've come back and eaten your SHOE???" We laughed and laughed. Maybe we have a budding scientist on our hands. At the very least, he's developing his logic skills. :)<br /><br />We still have no idea what happened to my shoe.Doug & Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675944006638947619noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13771521.post-3716233539744921562009-09-01T01:07:00.005+08:002009-09-01T01:43:53.103+08:00Little Tomb Raiders :)<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvTYhCCE_uMzAoKseLU94Rfnl8Sy7VhKZUe9IJil4vFAvzjuoGYRg1ERyfpCL0Xkb32d1pNEG-Kb4XjjAsvLQ8TWv1ZMfFcpbjLeOXjzlW5deiJbCRSlMNa5Y28W8tyxCJNyFKhw/s400/IMG_2292.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376180533303090258" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /><div style="text-align: center;">We visited Saqqara & Dashur today and were able to go into three different tombs-- an overseer's, the King's butcher's tomb (this is us with statues of 5 of his 10 sons), and then a third one that we had to go underground through some tiny shafts to get into!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOAfsWx_PZzrx2E5aLfbP6ihyphenhyphenr3EGCwlReU6ZovM172gRqPmOVh5i5YJNKy-V-qasUz-W2dl7BavpCl1f4lG6_jfZNkTdJ8ytXPNxiyl_Gtu-BywtoLwqbaU_C-PQ5LGNmHuHQgQ/s1600-h/IMG_2360.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOAfsWx_PZzrx2E5aLfbP6ihyphenhyphenr3EGCwlReU6ZovM172gRqPmOVh5i5YJNKy-V-qasUz-W2dl7BavpCl1f4lG6_jfZNkTdJ8ytXPNxiyl_Gtu-BywtoLwqbaU_C-PQ5LGNmHuHQgQ/s400/IMG_2360.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376180558576714242" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmahd1ALUJGoiTQwHdNaVM_oL7-A3ATV-I0SyV85dZPomipxQvAWglOKQEbWXmye1wWRb-3uiHYV0Sn_FifKpImS50K2XaJefM8-cVfW4i6lMOKzsBsHTtEELSSdHS_B4rtYCSrA/s1600-h/IMG_2364.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmahd1ALUJGoiTQwHdNaVM_oL7-A3ATV-I0SyV85dZPomipxQvAWglOKQEbWXmye1wWRb-3uiHYV0Sn_FifKpImS50K2XaJefM8-cVfW4i6lMOKzsBsHTtEELSSdHS_B4rtYCSrA/s400/IMG_2364.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376180546601173058" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The kids all had a great time exploring and checking out this awesome site. Saqqara is pretty much the center for information/archaeology for Egypt's Old Kingdom (the dynasties of Egypt that ruled roughly 5,000 years old).</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VlCq7Y_LyUrXE64ojCcO7qTgJyitRNiQp0nectQ3UZaCzL0NkTOpo_xcElO3aJn4mzFYN7gtgbbPhW8xk3A8o32S0_9w1G4mM5AeQZDo9W9_bk3PXTOWPr1AKA2x8_ooEYtmdA/s1600-h/IMG_2308.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VlCq7Y_LyUrXE64ojCcO7qTgJyitRNiQp0nectQ3UZaCzL0NkTOpo_xcElO3aJn4mzFYN7gtgbbPhW8xk3A8o32S0_9w1G4mM5AeQZDo9W9_bk3PXTOWPr1AKA2x8_ooEYtmdA/s400/IMG_2308.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376180545219242578" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">There were other sites, near the ones we went down into, that had not yet been dug out-- literally, hieroglyphic-covered stones sticking up right out of the sand:</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUb7fYgbEyAY_ISX6VLx7UOY4F_NyeO9W4TDVgmKFsML9zXCp4fhvuv0tEzy1xRh78kftsnblrToaWXnGMeCI9thPmgOt7MA9ulAqnah6R1pa5i4SF4Rudqh8t_Dv-4Uh_evv0Q/s1600-h/IMG_2301.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUb7fYgbEyAY_ISX6VLx7UOY4F_NyeO9W4TDVgmKFsML9zXCp4fhvuv0tEzy1xRh78kftsnblrToaWXnGMeCI9thPmgOt7MA9ulAqnah6R1pa5i4SF4Rudqh8t_Dv-4Uh_evv0Q/s400/IMG_2301.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376180536722604562" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">They had fun playing in the dirt too. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrs73XtTKJKfDdHy4qjuITsq6I9Fv609FfEtMlTb_5KvV82GSfXQ7p8ZTqbfMSNIpdCEjvT3arTppGUR117x5oFdOscBDhu1vc3PY_dTD2VE-DH3HwcJeV_MkB_xi42rOrrvS0A/s400/IMG_2342.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376182867097444290" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /><div style="text-align: center;">Inside of one tomb (The Tomb of "Ti" for anyone who's interested), the walls were COVERED with "daily life" sort of hieroglyphics... truly breathtaking.</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozRvaoixlop4NV8-vp_FSLtAmW-iTHZ3SQJzSdEovRXAMi8XBoRZ9YmOF9AtnfALqacEKyHt9AQb3YFTvE2f0xhWu-sqRJnvYUYknjWzia4vXgArIBuDVbdqJdgpmR1D4ntn-tw/s400/IMG_2367.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376182871993090866" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIAdmwU7GSIbBkAJ9459xCTuH81fl5ptPUu80gTtDVIAMaLPP8jiHcOyX3CtpUyBKa9AmTvDuJ6iLXZnU1fJE-wRC4azt6fOUESChOlMgK1yxZUjUlOBWPIDhQxg856VqEEqmQKw/s1600-h/IMG_2337.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIAdmwU7GSIbBkAJ9459xCTuH81fl5ptPUu80gTtDVIAMaLPP8jiHcOyX3CtpUyBKa9AmTvDuJ6iLXZnU1fJE-wRC4azt6fOUESChOlMgK1yxZUjUlOBWPIDhQxg856VqEEqmQKw/s400/IMG_2337.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376182859849711506" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></div>Doug & Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675944006638947619noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13771521.post-53936597572790611732009-08-22T03:54:00.005+08:002009-08-22T04:11:01.316+08:00Walking Like Egyptians #1<div style="text-align: center;">Well, we're here, on vacation in Cairo... and it is HOT! And full of amazing sights!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here we are at the base of the Great Pyramid of Giza, which seems to infinitely stretch upward:</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqWpkPmT8VJKdM2uk8kzdtZKNK6IQbjj7MlZJeVZTYmSKqnkLWi7KAGeLd9wNdu2D1CckNGJ4ruqTenRSsfGpU0CZu0TTdK5Szkx5roPDarcLkk3USrs1HnyTuLq4IKerNNtgWA/s1600-h/IMG_1338.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqWpkPmT8VJKdM2uk8kzdtZKNK6IQbjj7MlZJeVZTYmSKqnkLWi7KAGeLd9wNdu2D1CckNGJ4ruqTenRSsfGpU0CZu0TTdK5Szkx5roPDarcLkk3USrs1HnyTuLq4IKerNNtgWA/s400/IMG_1338.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372509179919269986" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Here's the view of Cairo from the Pyramids:</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUrPZqZMS_j5ChVVsEhEZU8tpKislZEDpxc-TBfAQJkwi1SfP_AQBmW6KTsE8yn978GogHwKGrF-jDD9er_0JhCBKFkUWQfDRbyXBlZjmf_zGhaYPYGvtkA8AFYW9wpPI2Gk0JhA/s1600-h/IMG_1308.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUrPZqZMS_j5ChVVsEhEZU8tpKislZEDpxc-TBfAQJkwi1SfP_AQBmW6KTsE8yn978GogHwKGrF-jDD9er_0JhCBKFkUWQfDRbyXBlZjmf_zGhaYPYGvtkA8AFYW9wpPI2Gk0JhA/s400/IMG_1308.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372509173533647570" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Doug, Ethan & Maranatha enjoyed a camel ride...</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOZUe6RhHdiPmDN8P2mgvXVLdoJPK8xcwhrM96tNz4X90lW2b8n74zwCcxJ9InV9oFThJ8ToiMY5OXlu8ryl2lTEdx3Zv0TnsJUnqAefnWYb6Xel90XpV17iUEYubxxjk3VFVOKA/s1600-h/IMG_1301.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOZUe6RhHdiPmDN8P2mgvXVLdoJPK8xcwhrM96tNz4X90lW2b8n74zwCcxJ9InV9oFThJ8ToiMY5OXlu8ryl2lTEdx3Zv0TnsJUnqAefnWYb6Xel90XpV17iUEYubxxjk3VFVOKA/s400/IMG_1301.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372509161445307602" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">... and we all got to see the famously noseless Sphinx:</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_CpwWXvGRWXJ9jSlvt1a8F0LUiuzpueLS8q8WihoYUh2RibcVKAPqSBCxm22OpQ-u7aAczeA6yAoBjaPoff8RNEnJlwFh-C7J2OtZHHEGHYFn9qIpUpix5mZeNhfT9ST4NieNA/s1600-h/IMG_1255.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_CpwWXvGRWXJ9jSlvt1a8F0LUiuzpueLS8q8WihoYUh2RibcVKAPqSBCxm22OpQ-u7aAczeA6yAoBjaPoff8RNEnJlwFh-C7J2OtZHHEGHYFn9qIpUpix5mZeNhfT9ST4NieNA/s400/IMG_1255.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372509157261476210" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">It's quite an incredible thing to be walking around in Giza and glance up to see the only remaining wonder of the ancient world:</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjrM0ByylzYya00-1H4EccCqGNcBe24gY0BMeFPFNE35eWk7iZ6_j5sTZloD4Ufe0cfEcC1WXH-7pXvA9Xp3C4NXairDj3m6Z4rNM-KE3z8yu-XshR-0lhmAweDe8DhOqq2ELcA/s1600-h/IMG_1218.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjrM0ByylzYya00-1H4EccCqGNcBe24gY0BMeFPFNE35eWk7iZ6_j5sTZloD4Ufe0cfEcC1WXH-7pXvA9Xp3C4NXairDj3m6Z4rNM-KE3z8yu-XshR-0lhmAweDe8DhOqq2ELcA/s400/IMG_1218.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372509152162377058" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The boys actually climbed up into the Great Pyramid with Doug (climbing up a shaft to the Gallery & Burial Chamber for King Cheops):</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXis0H7nEmQAont6naLbDgDylcG_33CT3yqhQBu7I2088cSsBpNhg7Eon3cYsMEwMtUgtAPfMzn5dNtiWTaIo2OAl7U6AIDpYkdKHGaNT__gxeGLK58uCQoIVz4pDf3auSWxQVdQ/s1600-h/IMG_1313.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXis0H7nEmQAont6naLbDgDylcG_33CT3yqhQBu7I2088cSsBpNhg7Eon3cYsMEwMtUgtAPfMzn5dNtiWTaIo2OAl7U6AIDpYkdKHGaNT__gxeGLK58uCQoIVz4pDf3auSWxQVdQ/s400/IMG_1313.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372510355187512370" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a>Here's the view from our balcony (not too shabby!):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiVGgqCLqBIeaculz7ABUR371aEHiNFb9COrTYvOcdm4Mvoujwmn8dwsKDD8qgdVbw_wEtrQaTq1gFym7zig1Qhf-HTfp5kxRepajNWJUt4SPXuzM6xBjyRdDIXP_6sD0l2ent/s1600-h/IMG_1412.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiVGgqCLqBIeaculz7ABUR371aEHiNFb9COrTYvOcdm4Mvoujwmn8dwsKDD8qgdVbw_wEtrQaTq1gFym7zig1Qhf-HTfp5kxRepajNWJUt4SPXuzM6xBjyRdDIXP_6sD0l2ent/s400/IMG_1412.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372510345734382370" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a>We all enjoyed watching the sun set for the first night of Ramadan:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6SJFv1Z1tSXngymN1Hq9Pcxg8iMlwmfbSQszRe02DP_ciRj87krXZEhoPzotRHm1SeSy6y5qlK_GKmCI0MVYapVJWZPcLndMMK6RCUVGmuSlYDJe_-7c3fjhSxkPpTSN9VWq/s1600-h/IMG_1386.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6SJFv1Z1tSXngymN1Hq9Pcxg8iMlwmfbSQszRe02DP_ciRj87krXZEhoPzotRHm1SeSy6y5qlK_GKmCI0MVYapVJWZPcLndMMK6RCUVGmuSlYDJe_-7c3fjhSxkPpTSN9VWq/s400/IMG_1386.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372510335779413906" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpE8aEzUUUmFjPosjlqeBoHTcCqJ_YhfI92E5vaG5ynvA1HalZO86UquygpQuq0oN_6kWNQfz1dtauti564tBbC1ts1tKnE40TmdcNrqFxgDGrO_G4GEwuKmJnfwJ9LhUYYbaqg/s1600-h/IMG_1375.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"> </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcovHofzQzLSSmI22OQ56cKpgMNua7atW1fbKnNaLTWxDp_1vCj6thpoYesUxdFFL4wGIN23BVIJb19epgoSTw_BAJSfVB2Mj_p3V7WiiNQAdEowF-dImNErrv7yCZq4Fv8whQw/s1600-h/IMG_1382.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcovHofzQzLSSmI22OQ56cKpgMNua7atW1fbKnNaLTWxDp_1vCj6thpoYesUxdFFL4wGIN23BVIJb19epgoSTw_BAJSfVB2Mj_p3V7WiiNQAdEowF-dImNErrv7yCZq4Fv8whQw/s400/IMG_1382.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372511818441008242" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /><br /></a></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC2FWeGrfeVWQ6NMrsviptIZxXCyq-ZMsFezNsBulIB04N1a4775FweXTv8An9Fsh35nJwOEc9AjFAmaFS13wmJTrgkgkspl00eL1UOXhlW2MaCKhAkcVkiM4u3vQRqYwYAunzrw/s1600-h/IMG_1358.JPG"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC2FWeGrfeVWQ6NMrsviptIZxXCyq-ZMsFezNsBulIB04N1a4775FweXTv8An9Fsh35nJwOEc9AjFAmaFS13wmJTrgkgkspl00eL1UOXhlW2MaCKhAkcVkiM4u3vQRqYwYAunzrw/s1600-h/IMG_1358.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC2FWeGrfeVWQ6NMrsviptIZxXCyq-ZMsFezNsBulIB04N1a4775FweXTv8An9Fsh35nJwOEc9AjFAmaFS13wmJTrgkgkspl00eL1UOXhlW2MaCKhAkcVkiM4u3vQRqYwYAunzrw/s400/IMG_1358.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372510323749398274" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /></div>Doug & Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675944006638947619noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13771521.post-78803926611738218302009-05-14T17:32:00.007+08:002009-05-14T19:16:45.147+08:00It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfiLEVb9knxpzn6-7Avc6xpXsluLk50ZOjPEqMItcRSwjKvmGfOe5bmt4S32HRWmZCvx1GnZDYX6oY-9_aIdfYSmQC0EUvXz2GvT3XMJPynnhiWCm5AVTnIkbYxoUlvxBseBqY8Q/s1600-h/ES+doing+slide.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfiLEVb9knxpzn6-7Avc6xpXsluLk50ZOjPEqMItcRSwjKvmGfOe5bmt4S32HRWmZCvx1GnZDYX6oY-9_aIdfYSmQC0EUvXz2GvT3XMJPynnhiWCm5AVTnIkbYxoUlvxBseBqY8Q/s400/ES+doing+slide.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335631758474694658" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzEsGwTWmmFJZ12sfRSGdVENuB2B6HanKLS48kByYL8YT-EuBeauuW-gcB_z7aKQzDXGntG66wjoceil8A3VHgg7Jj3Pu7wRVjfby4Rg9SPaci44ToND-IrpFFi4P4yA0g0o_Lw/s1600-h/EBM+racing+by+the+walls.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzEsGwTWmmFJZ12sfRSGdVENuB2B6HanKLS48kByYL8YT-EuBeauuW-gcB_z7aKQzDXGntG66wjoceil8A3VHgg7Jj3Pu7wRVjfby4Rg9SPaci44ToND-IrpFFi4P4yA0g0o_Lw/s400/EBM+racing+by+the+walls.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335631752923606178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgveADOybXaM9cxu50Okx5r0ac7fUzDPFzaPmvXm13o9wilyMjOniH2hx3b-TvvZjT_7Qd6aHxVHQW7373iyTSpT7IWcsTrLUb7Z14n9sl6LZKErziUB9TE_-LSbdpZOoXFDeMLVw/s1600-h/EBM+Baris,Esra.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgveADOybXaM9cxu50Okx5r0ac7fUzDPFzaPmvXm13o9wilyMjOniH2hx3b-TvvZjT_7Qd6aHxVHQW7373iyTSpT7IWcsTrLUb7Z14n9sl6LZKErziUB9TE_-LSbdpZOoXFDeMLVw/s400/EBM+Baris,Esra.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335631299135150354" border="0" /></a><br />Thought I'd share some pics of the kids & a few funny things about <span style="font-weight: bold;">our new neighborhood</span>:<br /><br />(1) A popular star of a Turkish reality show lives just a street or two over from our new place. Though we have yet to see him, he's reportedly always surrounded by a crowd.<br /><br />(2) There's a car that often drives down the major road in our neighborhood (it's the one our apartment faces)... and it has a horn that plays the theme song from "The Godfather". They honk it far too often, but it still cracks us up.<br /><br />(3) This new neighborhood is full of people from all around the world, so it's fun to walk around and see the variety of people God has made. In contrast with America, Turkey (like China) is a nation full of mostly one kind of people, so it's unusual to have a place where there are so many different nationalities in one neighborhood.<br /><br />(4) We live just around the corner from a place that serves<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3356/1224/1600/Jess%20logmahn.jpg"> one kind of food we LOVED from our old overseas home... loghman</a>! (Click that link to see a large picture.) YUM!<br /><br />(5) Though it's an older, more working class, neighborhood, it's right by the Sea of Marmara, so it's a great place to live-- fairly cheap housing, right near the water-- very rare in Istanbul!<br /><br /><br />We're enjoying the new place. Just thought I'd share some fun trivia about it!Doug & Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675944006638947619noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13771521.post-24692426704497243632009-05-07T13:33:00.007+08:002009-05-07T13:50:16.319+08:00And I say to myself, "What a Wonderful World!"<div style="text-align: center;">Most of the time, living in another country, it's just "home". Once you get past culture shock, even if it's strikingly different from what you've always known, it becomes your daily norm.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />But sometimes there are moments you look around and think, "my kids get to ride bikes by the sea, with cargo ships and very, very old history all around them?"<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrUX2W6BKFNV9vFiDCcwXkrCACHH7StGI55JvypxFVJVcrShw-q5OQM1KyEyIHorF5lMbnq9bJ2B_2Sxw0xp6nE3dq926IZTYoYAt6j1_NficOkeB1E4ynmxt6WGwoyMI60bVYkQ/s1600-h/B+seaside+biking.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrUX2W6BKFNV9vFiDCcwXkrCACHH7StGI55JvypxFVJVcrShw-q5OQM1KyEyIHorF5lMbnq9bJ2B_2Sxw0xp6nE3dq926IZTYoYAt6j1_NficOkeB1E4ynmxt6WGwoyMI60bVYkQ/s400/B+seaside+biking.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332951538013222946" border="0" /></a><br />Or, "I get to make dumplings from scratch with local friends?"<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WHTfQHxute69BT4iCk2tWLLLnWEPTxJ2wLm4C_gCvpe5MNzNfScAe5VAO5KHQgCImclN_WdTV67EzOrm2ycCiNa1OqhlwfRXKmC8cz7g2K_IcFlXWsj3oRT5_fsIFx0xcs3fQw/s1600-h/IMG_0503.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WHTfQHxute69BT4iCk2tWLLLnWEPTxJ2wLm4C_gCvpe5MNzNfScAe5VAO5KHQgCImclN_WdTV67EzOrm2ycCiNa1OqhlwfRXKmC8cz7g2K_IcFlXWsj3oRT5_fsIFx0xcs3fQw/s400/IMG_0503.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332951530570323650" border="0" /></a><br />Covered women admire my children while we're out for walks?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgflio9JsA5qzExSOSc9OzXlXmsER03C0e5uxXTqx7mZykb4liLZE_Ojr6d2bMjUxoVWLhTDdUwCqGBynB1uwjSOiJYom-1YhcczwY91Ay21YbcTtub_0wKgw-zRcAvFOV4-nvRQ/s1600-h/burqa+lady+w.+kids.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgflio9JsA5qzExSOSc9OzXlXmsER03C0e5uxXTqx7mZykb4liLZE_Ojr6d2bMjUxoVWLhTDdUwCqGBynB1uwjSOiJYom-1YhcczwY91Ay21YbcTtub_0wKgw-zRcAvFOV4-nvRQ/s400/burqa+lady+w.+kids.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332951535001713298" border="0" /></a><br />I shop at a local outdoor market where vegetables are <span style="font-weight: bold;">this</span> beautiful & fresh?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhla03juPbRWj_rQnb6vaa91ILygEpbPFBY9gChQeybz0C671E9-M2Iw-87BdNISnqMY13MeTM__9giUBUpcFcoWklxOUhXZRGUY7FGs9gVi_6dtras04fVo64DGhuEDvC_i40eIg/s1600-h/Pazar+veggies.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhla03juPbRWj_rQnb6vaa91ILygEpbPFBY9gChQeybz0C671E9-M2Iw-87BdNISnqMY13MeTM__9giUBUpcFcoWklxOUhXZRGUY7FGs9gVi_6dtras04fVo64DGhuEDvC_i40eIg/s400/Pazar+veggies.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332953979079483554" border="0" /></a><br />And in my Sunday shopping, I walk past shoe displays like <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">this</span>?</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Od1Lw428gYQBBsvEvHyezCQnztFpHMAs3R_GMtZOod4RuLw1lvdHENbI-KN4XeA9z6Gmppw_TtSIi2OGh5NcpDB2NXwwTvbUpoEhtXcHPPuJrxfUQbg_tRrhkoQ-IE_AWl73WA/s1600-h/pazar+shoes.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Od1Lw428gYQBBsvEvHyezCQnztFpHMAs3R_GMtZOod4RuLw1lvdHENbI-KN4XeA9z6Gmppw_TtSIi2OGh5NcpDB2NXwwTvbUpoEhtXcHPPuJrxfUQbg_tRrhkoQ-IE_AWl73WA/s400/pazar+shoes.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332951541023527122" border="0" /></a><br />Our children have a perspective on the world that is unique among their peers...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAeZf7K3iLhznFKMpetuhG3d2BX_pm5MWepVpMQEFhT3ouFMm8fJRtz_TYejs-EhpJU84aJTKM8-FJIn1dJWupe4H3oUtWzssSXsn0PeCKJ0ylcNR1tp7Q-RsxrS2w55jXeVBYw/s1600-h/Ethan+Asli+lesson.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAeZf7K3iLhznFKMpetuhG3d2BX_pm5MWepVpMQEFhT3ouFMm8fJRtz_TYejs-EhpJU84aJTKM8-FJIn1dJWupe4H3oUtWzssSXsn0PeCKJ0ylcNR1tp7Q-RsxrS2w55jXeVBYw/s400/Ethan+Asli+lesson.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332953989695074690" border="0" /></a><br />... and we are blessed to be able to spend downtime as a family at parks with tulips and water all around.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvNpBTHwJ228fH4I8wVeC9bLD0dlXNZbHCq8HBkmaTJWD7KaAUe784IM3cyF5Evb1snmTt95O-jJEmmH1Fmo-RCNtoMlgXQVihH70C3I8fZyWbGfgNVnvbm2LaZcEqSlJggPQjQ/s1600-h/DEBMS+tulips2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvNpBTHwJ228fH4I8wVeC9bLD0dlXNZbHCq8HBkmaTJWD7KaAUe784IM3cyF5Evb1snmTt95O-jJEmmH1Fmo-RCNtoMlgXQVihH70C3I8fZyWbGfgNVnvbm2LaZcEqSlJggPQjQ/s400/DEBMS+tulips2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332953980041237826" border="0" /></a><br />And I say to myself, "<span style="font-style: italic;">What a wonderful world designed by an incredible God!</span>"<br /></div>Doug & Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675944006638947619noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13771521.post-87851791126620802252009-04-12T02:35:00.008+08:002009-04-12T03:06:41.116+08:00A Kazakh Engagement Party!<div style="text-align: center;">We were invited by some of our new friends to go to the engagement party (really, it's the time when the groom technically goes to "get the girl" from her family) of his cousin today. Doug and Ethan ended up going along, as Ethan is growing to be good buds with the 9 year old son of our friends. Because our friends' family lived in Brooklyn (yes, in NY) for the past decade, the son speaks both great English and great Turkish, which is excellent for Ethan. They've been inseparable the past few weekends.<br /><br />You can see Ethan & his friend Barish here, as the groom's family went to "get" the girl. <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">(Click on any of the pictures to see them larger.)</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjpH3cmhjOCIMaZpqKCC3QStEQ6cPS6zqwHdxd_bdouz5kxADC3efp5Da3sUMSWqZsxS-JK1dj58X3WakPFkoUVnVlbSPVM2MKvK6tE7stxKudXTV23NAUIYadSL7mxZF92owAw/s1600-h/IMG_0069.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjpH3cmhjOCIMaZpqKCC3QStEQ6cPS6zqwHdxd_bdouz5kxADC3efp5Da3sUMSWqZsxS-JK1dj58X3WakPFkoUVnVlbSPVM2MKvK6tE7stxKudXTV23NAUIYadSL7mxZF92owAw/s400/IMG_0069.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323506305788160962" border="0" /></a>As the groom's party walked down the street, they met an old patriarch from his side of the family and stopped for a chat. This Kazakh elder was probably giving words of wisdom before the couple came together.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XZshAXj9LlhyphenhyphenYqslo7XshYPlfKovKh-bo3LsX2z-UT2GtbTdk8aGvNBbo2ISji_0vq5LSslYvlHyQcZ95E4l5gkD0DC-7QHWkSk74MrgtxJ8yM-j6LEdwJKQoYtA6Bt5j5ycUg/s1600-h/IMG_0074.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XZshAXj9LlhyphenhyphenYqslo7XshYPlfKovKh-bo3LsX2z-UT2GtbTdk8aGvNBbo2ISji_0vq5LSslYvlHyQcZ95E4l5gkD0DC-7QHWkSk74MrgtxJ8yM-j6LEdwJKQoYtA6Bt5j5ycUg/s400/IMG_0074.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323508000051865058" border="0" /></a><br />Here's the happy couple, meeting their guests together:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1b4j17fgUPWGG7A1xl8hN-HFnvTQaBN08DInBMT6cFM3b1x4FPW2SpxBjilc32RPLjaSovstXrco72uj-aPoMDa2OyfVZFY9Aqsh_83bC3EkKrt82fYKH8Wsmowj1BZyIWJnjw/s1600-h/The+happy+couple.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1b4j17fgUPWGG7A1xl8hN-HFnvTQaBN08DInBMT6cFM3b1x4FPW2SpxBjilc32RPLjaSovstXrco72uj-aPoMDa2OyfVZFY9Aqsh_83bC3EkKrt82fYKH8Wsmowj1BZyIWJnjw/s400/The+happy+couple.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323506299463309682" border="0" /></a><br />They served tasty fried breads, cookies, cakes, and muffins, and plenty of milk tea. It was the first time Doug had tasted milk tea since we lived in our previous home in Central Asia several years ago, and spent regular time drinking milk tea with Kazakh friends there. Milk tea is made with a special type of tea and milk is added, seasoned with salt and drunk from a bowl.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsWE-AJKEqaOBn3zfFihw6-GkjQUcl66sz2bBDFBc5dtnYp5WLaAfK1Jg615ok9jZQROvDdMXQKG3PA1U-14SWmyoD6MTMrxODymSt1Mjy8zTq6GGvlnJYatRH_CjEPQNo9Jz5Kw/s1600-h/fried+bread.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsWE-AJKEqaOBn3zfFihw6-GkjQUcl66sz2bBDFBc5dtnYp5WLaAfK1Jg615ok9jZQROvDdMXQKG3PA1U-14SWmyoD6MTMrxODymSt1Mjy8zTq6GGvlnJYatRH_CjEPQNo9Jz5Kw/s400/fried+bread.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323505328908685698" border="0" /></a><br />The couple and the party guests left the one house to go into the bride's family home for a ring ceremony and exchanging of gifts.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTKivp47Niilg3ndiLHzcQbJLPyizWRomryjzENEfj2mCnR3_4beSMGfQxhszkq11LWZWd1Ie_cz591fDevEboZ2UQSKWmtUri2ZjFvudKdxVTf065Ad5B-Ub9bSjLbB52PSr3w/s1600-h/The+couple+emerges.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTKivp47Niilg3ndiLHzcQbJLPyizWRomryjzENEfj2mCnR3_4beSMGfQxhszkq11LWZWd1Ie_cz591fDevEboZ2UQSKWmtUri2ZjFvudKdxVTf065Ad5B-Ub9bSjLbB52PSr3w/s400/The+couple+emerges.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323506297283117986" border="0" /></a><br />The house was packed; Doug said at one point there were nearly 100 people in the one apartment.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgA1vA6CE512A1Q3OzHeNudo5u687kT7QVe0oB9Y-XSnL94K2rht0BUj-rSMVFi4dlwGvqkNXNapnvVM4tYKIVnNIFv2ZMgENq2vQ7ZqRFesp9u1ocl-BIFeU0oYmBWaDYFAon5w/s1600-h/Roomfull.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgA1vA6CE512A1Q3OzHeNudo5u687kT7QVe0oB9Y-XSnL94K2rht0BUj-rSMVFi4dlwGvqkNXNapnvVM4tYKIVnNIFv2ZMgENq2vQ7ZqRFesp9u1ocl-BIFeU0oYmBWaDYFAon5w/s400/Roomfull.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323506290723244338" border="0" /></a><br />Their rings were connected with a ribbon, and they placed them on their fingers and the bride's brother cut the ribbon. We still aren't sure of the meaning of this tradition, but we'll keep asking questions and learning as we go.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimr3FiYYCDao2HMiJCxU_chgtchtYDmCjO1v_j6oU_AJdsCpHA7c98EkPgNxYbzSBxBzzpGBJ67sWzstY24DfkLVVjMd062N80cFU5Bym4v9yy6Um9S3YaAulu856Ei76RNpW8ZQ/s1600-h/Ring+ceremony.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimr3FiYYCDao2HMiJCxU_chgtchtYDmCjO1v_j6oU_AJdsCpHA7c98EkPgNxYbzSBxBzzpGBJ67sWzstY24DfkLVVjMd062N80cFU5Bym4v9yy6Um9S3YaAulu856Ei76RNpW8ZQ/s400/Ring+ceremony.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323505345168538706" border="0" /></a><br />Here you can see the lamb boiling to be ready for dinner. You can also see, up on the far left, what Ethan's friend Barish looks like from the front. :) <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcP3zklpuVaMwFVtLQzJLuTCpqQ_6iUzqkrcuAW8lasEVF2s3MsEyHSOY-XiHYetQQJK3NtX8j_rSW5h0fT7xlHCRfRNrbB6gRWCoMeHnWTA5VcgrnzztapfHZqs-FyQsBDqfkMA/s1600-h/Lambs.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcP3zklpuVaMwFVtLQzJLuTCpqQ_6iUzqkrcuAW8lasEVF2s3MsEyHSOY-XiHYetQQJK3NtX8j_rSW5h0fT7xlHCRfRNrbB6gRWCoMeHnWTA5VcgrnzztapfHZqs-FyQsBDqfkMA/s400/Lambs.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323505337155332226" border="0" /></a><br />Yummy palao. <a href="http://redroadreport.blogspot.com/2006/10/fasting-feasting.html">It's been a while since we've eaten it</a>, and it really is delicious!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_YIekuhKiWyFbxJRs_JRYqHFkDV3YAilZkKFVNRxMHdrWLYiH5-mX4phnwX8gkkS98G6ccO013WMETLNPzhjkdD8hP-PyFNf1SG9Cw6nWY5digG-RP93l_JVkrpcn0B4VoGC7-A/s1600-h/Lamb+Palao.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_YIekuhKiWyFbxJRs_JRYqHFkDV3YAilZkKFVNRxMHdrWLYiH5-mX4phnwX8gkkS98G6ccO013WMETLNPzhjkdD8hP-PyFNf1SG9Cw6nWY5digG-RP93l_JVkrpcn0B4VoGC7-A/s400/Lamb+Palao.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323505333020972194" border="0" /></a><br />It's very fun to begin becoming a part of the community here... Doug's brain is fried after hearing & speaking Turkish (& small bits of Kazakh) for nearly 10 hours today, but our hearts are full of joy to have friends and be able to share in the celebrations of their joyful moments.<br /><br /> One more note: we were excited to learn that the bride & groom will be moving to our neighborhood once they are married, so we hope to get to know them better as time progresses.<br /></div>Doug & Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675944006638947619noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13771521.post-13243141073167892032009-03-25T01:14:00.005+08:002009-03-25T01:31:11.349+08:00Amazing Ephesus<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4VR6k-GHRgazX2S7kxLeoWEVjUPKyjV0r8BoHdcX59LQUUFe99DGb2eRLhTRl0bCHyOnjrTjQWLeS13Z8fn3dxpyvTMp5sQueMAU9Yi4bPJU7w5dvUAo2sVqY0_PDuMYKSHm5Q/s1600-h/DEBMS+Nana+Papa+posed+ampitheatre.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4VR6k-GHRgazX2S7kxLeoWEVjUPKyjV0r8BoHdcX59LQUUFe99DGb2eRLhTRl0bCHyOnjrTjQWLeS13Z8fn3dxpyvTMp5sQueMAU9Yi4bPJU7w5dvUAo2sVqY0_PDuMYKSHm5Q/s400/DEBMS+Nana+Papa+posed+ampitheatre.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316806321246663810" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUkT70Lo9xlQjLV2oeRXgUOyJpEjnlAUNhMrm7hlxCrWXXVygmerFuMLvcRoxdCQIw5fHL5vvnSVgJK-Mvyzi7WH7J-P1HwC3AjGOaKfou8sLlDccQKl3dKMJZRKvbMW5gnfO_DQ/s1600-h/carving+flower.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUkT70Lo9xlQjLV2oeRXgUOyJpEjnlAUNhMrm7hlxCrWXXVygmerFuMLvcRoxdCQIw5fHL5vvnSVgJK-Mvyzi7WH7J-P1HwC3AjGOaKfou8sLlDccQKl3dKMJZRKvbMW5gnfO_DQ/s400/carving+flower.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316806305516242786" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIh6LN-bhZ_WXgp5FFUssklwKZr460zbL18w0SMH-sLuqPWqV9QGtxeDdOSlmuONqlhVt2qe1bOhBECcI1vMCA-kIUvei1HKiujvVv49k0BokI2YtbdiDrSBy0XhXRBfUWXwTCw/s1600-h/B+Papa+Exploring+Ephesus.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIh6LN-bhZ_WXgp5FFUssklwKZr460zbL18w0SMH-sLuqPWqV9QGtxeDdOSlmuONqlhVt2qe1bOhBECcI1vMCA-kIUvei1HKiujvVv49k0BokI2YtbdiDrSBy0XhXRBfUWXwTCw/s400/B+Papa+Exploring+Ephesus.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316806299293180322" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvb4Ubk-0bDurptMnmRplBdnfe_BXU0_IFrXrri-N4ucayzTvHIgz3qTXPx5zHQQ0r-nxZYAtbRKlGxgO3jtmrCkz3-AJudya37tcV3Ad9yP3ls2jYFv-gHzqyneBzRk_FeBFZUQ/s1600-h/columns+aplenty.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvb4Ubk-0bDurptMnmRplBdnfe_BXU0_IFrXrri-N4ucayzTvHIgz3qTXPx5zHQQ0r-nxZYAtbRKlGxgO3jtmrCkz3-AJudya37tcV3Ad9yP3ls2jYFv-gHzqyneBzRk_FeBFZUQ/s400/columns+aplenty.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316806312224087554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAgzRETlktsAQBy2Qb2Eyn15QltCHkGeJd7PXZQy1WTAELy1_PGUbSOv6AVdVpg40OJiclBmuvN0bNihMe23_5g1mqUdjChYdDs6PmPTjMnzNINvGf9mnIIvbhsuFqsMXVLWi_-Q/s1600-h/ampitheater+road+view+down+sea.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAgzRETlktsAQBy2Qb2Eyn15QltCHkGeJd7PXZQy1WTAELy1_PGUbSOv6AVdVpg40OJiclBmuvN0bNihMe23_5g1mqUdjChYdDs6PmPTjMnzNINvGf9mnIIvbhsuFqsMXVLWi_-Q/s400/ampitheater+road+view+down+sea.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316806294687230114" border="0" /></a><br />I have no idea how I overlooked sharing these, but here are some of the pictures from our visit to Ephesus. It was a trip of a lifetime, to be able to walk where the Apostle Paul walked, see where Aquila & Priscila may have sold their tents, and sit on the benches in the ampitheater where <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2019;&version=47;">the riot in Acts 19</a> happened. The boys had a blast exploring the ruins, and we all marveled at seeing history come alive. As one of the best preserved cities of that period, it is in amazing condition, and it was a real wonder to walk through the city and see the biblical setting in front of our eyes.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5k5yRvM7Oz7unfiVstBQnbYkk3YtJmBithM4o6NN5bAg6g8QZdCAv0_piverbXEU4fFNz-5KrypcD8-tAIdaO55DdVw41G4XlGCLDrLJCn_P759XyTmBUW5WwZw2aABMTpeHrFA/s1600-h/library+with+arch+to+agora.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5k5yRvM7Oz7unfiVstBQnbYkk3YtJmBithM4o6NN5bAg6g8QZdCAv0_piverbXEU4fFNz-5KrypcD8-tAIdaO55DdVw41G4XlGCLDrLJCn_P759XyTmBUW5WwZw2aABMTpeHrFA/s400/library+with+arch+to+agora.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316807144357705682" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQl44_cglxmB6xXYbzV1nxkf1Q9UFXUKJaC85Ee3-MGnzIO4HeqbHI9keEWCrUp-OgPIoMsskQcFLJe0RGQfIOeRZ-flAd2LH7_Rm0g0c9vUJtRj-KPnkaGLcwGd4UwE1MB0Xhmg/s1600-h/JEBM+Papa+%40+Ephesian+library.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQl44_cglxmB6xXYbzV1nxkf1Q9UFXUKJaC85Ee3-MGnzIO4HeqbHI9keEWCrUp-OgPIoMsskQcFLJe0RGQfIOeRZ-flAd2LH7_Rm0g0c9vUJtRj-KPnkaGLcwGd4UwE1MB0Xhmg/s400/JEBM+Papa+%40+Ephesian+library.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316807143908672690" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRYEWh3djsEQLfGTa79I5LQchKCh_tOpyk3F_H0h2EGRXTpUFiUIn8QxJwdXmaTpouBiNn80YB7ZvqD9IVptREo-f9k2OGYS6KwmSqtlx6daXDI58xLbGlpxajY1kvH5HEilKCrw/s1600-h/Ephesian+benches.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRYEWh3djsEQLfGTa79I5LQchKCh_tOpyk3F_H0h2EGRXTpUFiUIn8QxJwdXmaTpouBiNn80YB7ZvqD9IVptREo-f9k2OGYS6KwmSqtlx6daXDI58xLbGlpxajY1kvH5HEilKCrw/s400/Ephesian+benches.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316807139313752354" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVNKbahOGbsGlEkvn1w6hX9iwoojlAFnsHu-tSOg9jLClVJpcnLB3vjYUgFv0DBZHJ3Vz9yrKYkQQigsyTJM9-QI_vpp5r6PTthHczVI8PiA__1PDRDrthDVHQ0_Ak1S1eqENx0w/s1600-h/EB+exploring+ampitheater.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVNKbahOGbsGlEkvn1w6hX9iwoojlAFnsHu-tSOg9jLClVJpcnLB3vjYUgFv0DBZHJ3Vz9yrKYkQQigsyTJM9-QI_vpp5r6PTthHczVI8PiA__1PDRDrthDVHQ0_Ak1S1eqENx0w/s400/EB+exploring+ampitheater.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316807135034137458" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6YmrvcvehcuKGGqc29pQWCO-Ug0QI5ZVBPl9fmGwNYlikDL49bwCMRbaTFJSytUjTln8N4GUv0oKgdOeLZMKlI3CHLSA9EDgtsnmVtRgLMzXDheLF_WEcX1R8iT5nMNmoTy38A/s1600-h/EB+column+writing.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6YmrvcvehcuKGGqc29pQWCO-Ug0QI5ZVBPl9fmGwNYlikDL49bwCMRbaTFJSytUjTln8N4GUv0oKgdOeLZMKlI3CHLSA9EDgtsnmVtRgLMzXDheLF_WEcX1R8iT5nMNmoTy38A/s400/EB+column+writing.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316807127128908050" border="0" /></a>Doug & Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675944006638947619noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13771521.post-24569662778398316532009-02-10T02:21:00.003+08:002009-02-10T02:43:52.034+08:00Everyday Things<div style="text-align: center;">Here are some pictures taken around Istanbul, to give you the flavor of daily life here. <br /><br />This first picture shows a classic outfit style worn by conservative women here-- black underclothing (fully length pants or skirt) with shoes, long overcoat, and headscarf:<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytxS8cpL3mnrinw4lchFaZqVhM0S01qbdFlocNHmYpbYrARus2WwRtbLZmwal1TzBU-DokntavYeo8BYnvwylG20HrhOmtpeF6EslRwxyJJ0vuFjmQRXaD0g7sn9qdWjb0L3NKA/s1600-h/classic+Mslm+women+dress.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 367px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytxS8cpL3mnrinw4lchFaZqVhM0S01qbdFlocNHmYpbYrARus2WwRtbLZmwal1TzBU-DokntavYeo8BYnvwylG20HrhOmtpeF6EslRwxyJJ0vuFjmQRXaD0g7sn9qdWjb0L3NKA/s400/classic+Mslm+women+dress.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300867809254453346" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here's one of what must be hundreds of these little food shops found around Istanbul. <br />They sell simple sandwiches, drinks, and chips (and ice cream in the summer!).<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-LPkmIek0q-idZKZnyIdRKmHMbwUJt3-hk41efhEeYCKLkCI4nXaeJBFo4i3pFLldokwH0CoDYKkLOnvmQ0mClKsjBlPTBQvDCd5jlUYc-dY9u2yiNAPwnQ1O7HwrXU0HdDL1zA/s1600-h/roadside+restaurant.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-LPkmIek0q-idZKZnyIdRKmHMbwUJt3-hk41efhEeYCKLkCI4nXaeJBFo4i3pFLldokwH0CoDYKkLOnvmQ0mClKsjBlPTBQvDCd5jlUYc-dY9u2yiNAPwnQ1O7HwrXU0HdDL1zA/s400/roadside+restaurant.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300867808082472786" border="0" /></a><br />A classic grandma type here in Istanbul<br />(in front of a Starbucks, which are also fairly plentiful here):<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQHWjWUT_tzEeiFrtGvgVO57lVYoBYOCMywKnG2gV4CgRBIAMWmY5pUc78cRCiEi6AnoBSklB1g69Ucxtdf5NMgrlqM_lcI_SVNx4SQlu5t4Zu_HFyc669S3x6Nut3bmRgrzV-w/s1600-h/Starbucks+woman.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 367px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQHWjWUT_tzEeiFrtGvgVO57lVYoBYOCMywKnG2gV4CgRBIAMWmY5pUc78cRCiEi6AnoBSklB1g69Ucxtdf5NMgrlqM_lcI_SVNx4SQlu5t4Zu_HFyc669S3x6Nut3bmRgrzV-w/s400/Starbucks+woman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300867109255556162" border="0" /></a>She's less conservative (see the pants? and the hair showing?).<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Fishermen are plentiful here:<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikukv26SyOnsPD6DBUjJaUDOjCZbVltX0981auhG4QQoQJ3lwbWXYdiuPE-gtu48YF80wZOTkESecCmeBPI0MIdhGwBTzV8kWPoRAEFHM259ZclpnqXFGhEcboC_wdaQCfCDIx9Q/s1600-h/Fisherman+Marmara.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikukv26SyOnsPD6DBUjJaUDOjCZbVltX0981auhG4QQoQJ3lwbWXYdiuPE-gtu48YF80wZOTkESecCmeBPI0MIdhGwBTzV8kWPoRAEFHM259ZclpnqXFGhEcboC_wdaQCfCDIx9Q/s400/Fisherman+Marmara.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300867104633850578" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I may have mentioned this before, but cats are everywhere here. And I mean everywhere. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE8hScZ2czIA24FoCHtEe7inj2vopQcaj66nbuFI6hlZGDPNXzn3g4gEmPMWwhl1vUyyxItwFYq-Bry0B0ch2al964nj08-V-jiGQhdCtWm0sR7aD01MagEZ2DphkHuwzX4MY4_w/s1600-h/cats.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE8hScZ2czIA24FoCHtEe7inj2vopQcaj66nbuFI6hlZGDPNXzn3g4gEmPMWwhl1vUyyxItwFYq-Bry0B0ch2al964nj08-V-jiGQhdCtWm0sR7aD01MagEZ2DphkHuwzX4MY4_w/s400/cats.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300867098149093266" border="0" /></a> To people who are new to the city, it takes some getting used to... but I can tell you-- I'd much rather have cats than rats. And though I've seen plenty of the former, I've never even seen <span style="font-style: italic;">one </span>of the latter. :) So give me cats <span style="font-style: italic;">anyday! </span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqM3khGo-SFsFLtTjX2SW_MD5IYZd-fgMyfFNovsvskUHMrn-F580eVRyzwGtjx6Ts4BnUDARMqoEtOvt-GBHBTPmd729wDQLVW17bB3go_pxFen-Ont47tDk7o_uoBm9QNcjhbg/s1600-h/IMG_9319.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqM3khGo-SFsFLtTjX2SW_MD5IYZd-fgMyfFNovsvskUHMrn-F580eVRyzwGtjx6Ts4BnUDARMqoEtOvt-GBHBTPmd729wDQLVW17bB3go_pxFen-Ont47tDk7o_uoBm9QNcjhbg/s400/IMG_9319.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300867096957331314" border="0" /></a>And this last picture is of the gypsy class here... they often carry around these big trash bags (you really can't get the scale of it from this picture- it's very large when full) and dig through the smaller dumpsters in each neighborhood/alley to find recyclables. We sort our recyclables separately so they won't have to dig for ours. So virtually nothing goes to waste in this city that can in any way be reused or recycled!Doug & Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675944006638947619noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13771521.post-45270303012600022782009-01-25T01:53:00.005+08:002009-01-25T02:16:45.104+08:00Baxter on future plans, money, & work<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3SRhlBumvIt4hC6Brt4ILPajly-NEbBWjE-T2xrN3GlSlyXHRt4xr2JWIt8uKuCXMcshd-m5ePqISJKLmwdi1_cptRc_b-kCjtzvxde1CJaxGNTwtWiEzruYcZfCsoDpa3qWAQg/s1600-h/Baxter+bundled.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3SRhlBumvIt4hC6Brt4ILPajly-NEbBWjE-T2xrN3GlSlyXHRt4xr2JWIt8uKuCXMcshd-m5ePqISJKLmwdi1_cptRc_b-kCjtzvxde1CJaxGNTwtWiEzruYcZfCsoDpa3qWAQg/s320/Baxter+bundled.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294923693641284162" border="0" /></a>So I (Jessica) was in the kitchen talking with Baxter (our 4 & 1/2 year old) the other day, and asked him, "Do you think you might be a daddy one day?"<br /><br />B: "Yeeesss..."<br />Me: "How many kids do you think you'll have?"<br />B: "Sixty-seven or ninety-four"<br />Me: (raised eyebrows) "Hmm... how will you make money to feed all those children?"<br />B: (confused look on his face) "I don't know."<br />Me: "Well, it takes money to buy food, and that would be a lot of kids to buy food for. What will you do to have enough money to buy food for your family?"<br />B: "I will ...(pause)... just walk around ... (pause)... and look and find it on the ground."<br />Me: "Hmm. That sounds neat, but pretty unlikely. What will you do for a job?"<br />B: "Like find treasure... gold coins... and dollars, stuff like that."<br />Me: "That'd be cool... But what kind of <span style="font-style: italic;">job</span> do you think you might like to do?"<br />B: (another confused look, and a long pause)<br />Me: " How will you make money? What kind of work will you do?"<br />B: "I don't know what you're talking about, 'work'."<br /><br /><br />Hmmm... we have a lot of training in reality ahead of us. :)Doug & Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675944006638947619noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13771521.post-76646236509278729192009-01-10T18:09:00.004+08:002009-01-10T18:28:07.825+08:00Evidence<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvAdI267kpbD0W71KRr0O3C9l4SDNFt3sz0Tk8CZzqP8gdmgDuddTD6HhZU5ETBHKgxzQcXGwi1MbQRm6KkNGVR81ck0lGIEOF7vO-k6KbmpQEMm8zPI0DmJ7wIZQajGZxp0MO3A/s1600-h/DSCN0698.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvAdI267kpbD0W71KRr0O3C9l4SDNFt3sz0Tk8CZzqP8gdmgDuddTD6HhZU5ETBHKgxzQcXGwi1MbQRm6KkNGVR81ck0lGIEOF7vO-k6KbmpQEMm8zPI0DmJ7wIZQajGZxp0MO3A/s400/DSCN0698.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289609081887936210" border="0" /></a>Sometimes when people leave your house, you'll find evidences of their visit: a toothpaste tube left behind, a note left on the table, or mussed sheets asking to be changed.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-x8YjBUms_JqZTRAttIyX6a2U6LqrjteLz1BnW8rutFq9mSccz0FMl611KcWAI_3yIcRj958phB8-2cqZu9-1VYVvobGJzLP9zV5J_yfV-ixJpbRZU6ocKj95twKwuEHGCQBVQw/s1600-h/S+laughing+game+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-x8YjBUms_JqZTRAttIyX6a2U6LqrjteLz1BnW8rutFq9mSccz0FMl611KcWAI_3yIcRj958phB8-2cqZu9-1VYVvobGJzLP9zV5J_yfV-ixJpbRZU6ocKj95twKwuEHGCQBVQw/s400/S+laughing+game+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289609087858891858" border="0" /></a>But here's the evidence Nana & Papa left behind:<br /><ul><li>a freshly cleaned kitchen, from Nana as a blessing to Jessica</li><li>a little girl who, while coloring, pauses every few minutes to mention Nana & Papa because they took time to stop and color with her so many times while they were here.</li><li>a baby who probably wonders where that man who flew him around like an airplane a bajillion times got off to.</li><li>a full coffee cup, that Papa meant to drink but left behind because he was busy doling out hugs and loading up bags</li><li>tears in the eyes of this daughter who is so overwhelmed by her parents' love for her children.</li><li>coloring pages on the fridge for the children, colored expressly for them by loving grandparents.</li><li>hearts more full than they were three weeks ago, made full by lots of love and lots of memories of special times together.</li></ul><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI4ZvJvAmmQ2d_Kyjng6M8lF3-uC0pRgljHd74sqNEjfBra_UdP4lNljYnZ80TexegqcOvSjg_uKIMuL9nzWO9vuYgsRGxW1niZwHUjJGnuN7wFpCxD6jmDts6ZF5bSb-V-OVhfg/s1600-h/IMG_9136.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI4ZvJvAmmQ2d_Kyjng6M8lF3-uC0pRgljHd74sqNEjfBra_UdP4lNljYnZ80TexegqcOvSjg_uKIMuL9nzWO9vuYgsRGxW1niZwHUjJGnuN7wFpCxD6jmDts6ZF5bSb-V-OVhfg/s400/IMG_9136.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289609091690723762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPetB5A6K4eINQDdXe58UwEJhaltyodSXVa3i0D_ONossIuRj6hnP344W34qyz2ZWmsAU2Pgb3pnruFdnZqJX2Tjse3CKLvt1GR_55djUvCh2AHmdEZT_avpeBsI57_fW_dihMwA/s1600-h/DSCN0728.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPetB5A6K4eINQDdXe58UwEJhaltyodSXVa3i0D_ONossIuRj6hnP344W34qyz2ZWmsAU2Pgb3pnruFdnZqJX2Tjse3CKLvt1GR_55djUvCh2AHmdEZT_avpeBsI57_fW_dihMwA/s400/DSCN0728.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289609083702168642" border="0" /></a><br />THANK YOU, NANA & PAPA, for coming to visit us. We LOVED getting to have you in our home for the past three weeks. We love you!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJy0Emkx00lfh3tDTpf6lX6CHndEsgvgSqx1uvfbyxYWYnthBo8oXQA0ZdmGCJpyWmyofpa7QtriPfleY9HiH7Trvr-wul0e5CQHwVRNFulEjOb7t7_Hhl9uGj8yKh1ghDI25KmQ/s1600-h/IMG_9299.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJy0Emkx00lfh3tDTpf6lX6CHndEsgvgSqx1uvfbyxYWYnthBo8oXQA0ZdmGCJpyWmyofpa7QtriPfleY9HiH7Trvr-wul0e5CQHwVRNFulEjOb7t7_Hhl9uGj8yKh1ghDI25KmQ/s400/IMG_9299.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289607626716051234" border="0" /></a>Doug & Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675944006638947619noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13771521.post-75478266495735027342008-12-30T17:46:00.008+08:002008-12-30T19:12:28.918+08:00Ephesus: Road Trip<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwxR4cNvCHBFOtaJxjnbO_fnXiWKNMMO9IZ3Lm3OLBoZX8-qlLkk-UgPLRqRvlF99W7kOatN9xR57vY_99T6tDckB6HJL-StzEFORyScHRUAuvnZgYEEDTA92PINtOAgmYaq1MQ/s1600-h/Turkic+shepherd+cropped.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwxR4cNvCHBFOtaJxjnbO_fnXiWKNMMO9IZ3Lm3OLBoZX8-qlLkk-UgPLRqRvlF99W7kOatN9xR57vY_99T6tDckB6HJL-StzEFORyScHRUAuvnZgYEEDTA92PINtOAgmYaq1MQ/s400/Turkic+shepherd+cropped.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285523610418473090" border="0" /></a><br />We drove down to Ephesus for our family's first major road trip here in Turkey on the three days following Christmas, and WOW! It was GORGIOUS!!! We passed many shepherds and sheep...<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivdrKqdx9SJQ6555rpbcYIErIA9b2SS6TiWZNPiBAB9c43M3Obm6gnW-uaIeXoTc4vh-TkWKceo10bKTHJutqennBpkIBBLlJ9o9mUPnkvhwcf2pJtKJBS2yqPWfWOYhyphenhyphen6m9sSnw/s1600-h/sheep+in+Turkey.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivdrKqdx9SJQ6555rpbcYIErIA9b2SS6TiWZNPiBAB9c43M3Obm6gnW-uaIeXoTc4vh-TkWKceo10bKTHJutqennBpkIBBLlJ9o9mUPnkvhwcf2pJtKJBS2yqPWfWOYhyphenhyphen6m9sSnw/s400/sheep+in+Turkey.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285523482832339522" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVpLyYe_ElppvEL5Kzt1bDuV-9kc7Qac-WocANNS5M3GrEc_GAjRDcKTTYiJx1PXrplOd1IOooT9Nzp5IWQhUhB8QSmhEMktRzjxG-dWsSgBOMcpVKKPoeNzLH9nHhIwYTbRVU_Q/s1600-h/E+Nana+Papa+shepherds.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVpLyYe_ElppvEL5Kzt1bDuV-9kc7Qac-WocANNS5M3GrEc_GAjRDcKTTYiJx1PXrplOd1IOooT9Nzp5IWQhUhB8QSmhEMktRzjxG-dWsSgBOMcpVKKPoeNzLH9nHhIwYTbRVU_Q/s400/E+Nana+Papa+shepherds.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285520963193271266" border="0" /></a><br />... and so many fields of olive groves, grape vineyards, and mandalina orange orchards on the way.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAA1vn-dstge6ZjhMOTgi5qte98zNiI3mfM8wcEnEwz7fU0CE8sgTMwPWbTPUIP046zzTeteV5ux7OSSYk8T7Trm_WW0A9RSXdM-8Q31MLzn-v8P93evVGngI_GHBZUd4YuAeQQ/s1600-h/olive+grove+mountain.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAA1vn-dstge6ZjhMOTgi5qte98zNiI3mfM8wcEnEwz7fU0CE8sgTMwPWbTPUIP046zzTeteV5ux7OSSYk8T7Trm_WW0A9RSXdM-8Q31MLzn-v8P93evVGngI_GHBZUd4YuAeQQ/s400/olive+grove+mountain.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285523478073422962" border="0" /></a><br />The kids had fun and plenty of distractions with Nana & Papa on the trip!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6AOfaCcMWVh23_-JavCjoc2f4DCH2lqN2XnMsGd0oputpzyZW6aR6uHYcKglj7SDfs10yazEtZ9skWyH6JEnfmuv32rcOvqcv60eRmzsLjr-Qjsl_ZSLTAZqDTiIrNt0u3YBfg/s1600-h/E+%26+Nana+scorpion+stingers.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6AOfaCcMWVh23_-JavCjoc2f4DCH2lqN2XnMsGd0oputpzyZW6aR6uHYcKglj7SDfs10yazEtZ9skWyH6JEnfmuv32rcOvqcv60eRmzsLjr-Qjsl_ZSLTAZqDTiIrNt0u3YBfg/s400/E+%26+Nana+scorpion+stingers.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285520957586577010" border="0" /></a><br />And some people slept, since the trip both there and back was long:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUuC027kcuTul7HTuHODW22h-kGIcdSsH0dazjBmEWFWZ9zkWhAiZRDc3iUcljQCZSY83kX3fnTGrGs-ok7hw7iyD6MD5giEMK453Cku-vGROmIN1qMw8bIhPQ7nTwIJ8r8s4sGw/s1600-h/BM+asleep.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUuC027kcuTul7HTuHODW22h-kGIcdSsH0dazjBmEWFWZ9zkWhAiZRDc3iUcljQCZSY83kX3fnTGrGs-ok7hw7iyD6MD5giEMK453Cku-vGROmIN1qMw8bIhPQ7nTwIJ8r8s4sGw/s400/BM+asleep.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285519961950409922" border="0" /></a><br />We saw many beautiful country homes and pastoral scenes...<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhZf9MnrPLAWSpJcXwOoc-cwRZleYn2bVK8DfLTvxapbd6iMSu5B66vWeQHbLmI-bVVJ2aB33Ksw0gniXL4_hrgUIkzHATiRllV8ioKejaWHcV7KniURlqEIpCGWTpx65cSfOAw/s1600-h/hillside+home.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhZf9MnrPLAWSpJcXwOoc-cwRZleYn2bVK8DfLTvxapbd6iMSu5B66vWeQHbLmI-bVVJ2aB33Ksw0gniXL4_hrgUIkzHATiRllV8ioKejaWHcV7KniURlqEIpCGWTpx65cSfOAw/s400/hillside+home.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285523472288880770" border="0" /></a>... and stopped at an outlet mall to grab some coffee at Starbucks! :)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkk8PwWFEYgODpBnmDiCeBVkuawNsSFD3LPpH7_9O12QU-sUh3eeqosq0GXCt2wke6lgxUhAkbtdxul5tmH0gmKnG-Cc35tF2NfGbaBCsJNY1414v6bPZRsP_PTVLUVEfLBD1PVw/s1600-h/EBM+Nana+Starbucks.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkk8PwWFEYgODpBnmDiCeBVkuawNsSFD3LPpH7_9O12QU-sUh3eeqosq0GXCt2wke6lgxUhAkbtdxul5tmH0gmKnG-Cc35tF2NfGbaBCsJNY1414v6bPZRsP_PTVLUVEfLBD1PVw/s400/EBM+Nana+Starbucks.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285523464369115762" border="0" /></a><br />On the way home, we came up the coast, passing Smyrna & Pergamum and going through the mountains south of Troy, which had lots of snow.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdS7scJBZIWmeg6Ga2W_oQ_IqzNR5j6AEBqABbcTdIRX9AMSphzzyDcx7Ma1vxAyp0-zWRaIQvBAex9hkAaADI2dT3NawNIWdnl-xXoDfTMVbywxXw0tD0gbV9YIZuw8I9eZhcw/s1600-h/EBM+snowy+mountain+vista.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdS7scJBZIWmeg6Ga2W_oQ_IqzNR5j6AEBqABbcTdIRX9AMSphzzyDcx7Ma1vxAyp0-zWRaIQvBAex9hkAaADI2dT3NawNIWdnl-xXoDfTMVbywxXw0tD0gbV9YIZuw8I9eZhcw/s400/EBM+snowy+mountain+vista.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285520970027432834" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And the Aegean coastline is absolutely awe-inspiring. Even in the dead of winter, it takes your breath away with its beauty. It was incredible to imagine the Apostle Paul's ships sailing along these coasts.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbd1VRatwVZj-rch-uQGCQJx7zcPEVv5jy83-PLRk48O0-hIAxFhPUHl1o-3PlD0IHDxy7F3I6IiIz3tPy2ox9jGJAb6fdApsuNYp_Wb3N6dUPaTDh9TUr39OJ69thLei-9jcmYw/s1600-h/E+Nana+Papa+Aegean+Sea.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbd1VRatwVZj-rch-uQGCQJx7zcPEVv5jy83-PLRk48O0-hIAxFhPUHl1o-3PlD0IHDxy7F3I6IiIz3tPy2ox9jGJAb6fdApsuNYp_Wb3N6dUPaTDh9TUr39OJ69thLei-9jcmYw/s400/E+Nana+Papa+Aegean+Sea.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285520951534624290" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddWwj38vPl3WDZhteTn3R93SweEDf0HDj10Qm02kGUIxOtr7T72Hj6hxfkwmrULL0XdoSBq8bWxMXuAtepd5Ojp691b8m6SLYQvAsG7HNu1BwyXlOaPdCdYSyKaNf-a_qpLymbg/s1600-h/coastal+road+to+Ephesus.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddWwj38vPl3WDZhteTn3R93SweEDf0HDj10Qm02kGUIxOtr7T72Hj6hxfkwmrULL0XdoSBq8bWxMXuAtepd5Ojp691b8m6SLYQvAsG7HNu1BwyXlOaPdCdYSyKaNf-a_qpLymbg/s400/coastal+road+to+Ephesus.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285519964315356114" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiud22ZN6yYujwcNsYRiYVz0VvmezS1_ityPtoHqzZP2gv0-KoNXRerHIQpgN0O4KRxU4ab9013aUeg1lYekk6tJmRsapj-DHi42S_6l7Qp5F_4BFVXO6u-uzzA-JzlILHvShCyyQ/s1600-h/Aegean+coast.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiud22ZN6yYujwcNsYRiYVz0VvmezS1_ityPtoHqzZP2gv0-KoNXRerHIQpgN0O4KRxU4ab9013aUeg1lYekk6tJmRsapj-DHi42S_6l7Qp5F_4BFVXO6u-uzzA-JzlILHvShCyyQ/s400/Aegean+coast.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285519949200022562" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And we even saw a Mount-Rushmore-in-the-making. Ataturk (his name means "Father of the Turks") is the founder of modern Turkey, and is honored throughout the country in pictures, monuments, and more. But this mountainside homage of Ataturk in Izmir was by far the largest tribute we've ever seen: <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHxGX4A8O6P-wmb_dCRxjiPX5zDoKx99sYvUGRUbmkj-_6rECO84qaYTajhWUXUSp6tfkYPxy-NWYO5mQEU_WZCjM7n_krfn9snTykcPZ3VDdo3ioTx4abrXMat7dQnaMf-sTrA/s1600-h/Ataturk+face+facade.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHxGX4A8O6P-wmb_dCRxjiPX5zDoKx99sYvUGRUbmkj-_6rECO84qaYTajhWUXUSp6tfkYPxy-NWYO5mQEU_WZCjM7n_krfn9snTykcPZ3VDdo3ioTx4abrXMat7dQnaMf-sTrA/s400/Ataturk+face+facade.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285519957364143138" border="0" /></a><br />Next up, I'll share pictures of the ruins in Ephesus-- it was AMAZING!!!<br /></div>Doug & Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675944006638947619noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13771521.post-6029179404114186672008-12-30T05:37:00.000+08:002008-12-30T16:14:58.853+08:00Christmas Gifts<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmw_CkxEPtc0eTiMITUmJRdHJNXWpX2En8euRL9Cpt2q6anWQ-7MAt7c3VmQLVi-mGuKwIXJYetgJ8FGHxKcI93EHbouVtL79UEDJpnI1oBMrXkcpDBC2fH9SxVmbHEAH29y3hPQ/s1600-h/J+swarovsky+ornament+from+mom.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmw_CkxEPtc0eTiMITUmJRdHJNXWpX2En8euRL9Cpt2q6anWQ-7MAt7c3VmQLVi-mGuKwIXJYetgJ8FGHxKcI93EHbouVtL79UEDJpnI1oBMrXkcpDBC2fH9SxVmbHEAH29y3hPQ/s400/J+swarovsky+ornament+from+mom.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285488507946464626" border="0" /></a>Jess's Mom made this Swarovsky ornament for our Christmas tree!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxT8LoguUSdfTWaR5t6bJIZOS-OMTpnW5cCLsZgt-grFdb_OgmymNoZdRKLHM9EEGnskHj84rq2Q0rQoItbRnpqeecLJCCA_Jq8DzPZqS_E23mwQwx4kLM_O0VRSMTHFwcQZuQA/s1600-h/S+balls+from+papa.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxT8LoguUSdfTWaR5t6bJIZOS-OMTpnW5cCLsZgt-grFdb_OgmymNoZdRKLHM9EEGnskHj84rq2Q0rQoItbRnpqeecLJCCA_Jq8DzPZqS_E23mwQwx4kLM_O0VRSMTHFwcQZuQA/s400/S+balls+from+papa.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285489763668138594" border="0" /></a>These soft chewy balls from Papa are PERFECT for our little teething boy.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJB4lScYUbq8dafI30eUrs4lKupzm6X8J262G5KV-u13HNe7FOqoCIs79mZOJROeKpvFlN-clN2GdOEKBFOYMPxSOCWGc5JccDcDWD7E3gUyzI9AS761x4Zd0NklKgFInVQ0m1HQ/s1600-h/Doug+cowboys+shirt.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJB4lScYUbq8dafI30eUrs4lKupzm6X8J262G5KV-u13HNe7FOqoCIs79mZOJROeKpvFlN-clN2GdOEKBFOYMPxSOCWGc5JccDcDWD7E3gUyzI9AS761x4Zd0NklKgFInVQ0m1HQ/s400/Doug+cowboys+shirt.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285489769058288626" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFe141nm827Ej4wia-sna2rIYIFCS_xN3h4wuBMiI_H3HDFzs28sjXzivbPHcb1tBRkyDBZf244o3zuVB9cAGipTmKXPlX5AcuEePFihBvBX1C1uqVQp1DQPDtWp13-eVPrcSUA/s1600-h/Nana+Papa+ES+card.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFe141nm827Ej4wia-sna2rIYIFCS_xN3h4wuBMiI_H3HDFzs28sjXzivbPHcb1tBRkyDBZf244o3zuVB9cAGipTmKXPlX5AcuEePFihBvBX1C1uqVQp1DQPDtWp13-eVPrcSUA/s400/Nana+Papa+ES+card.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285489753425465762" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImhXsPIajCuUAirje0IM5UljHgGbJuVQm1MqqgqzcKBceJNuNBA6S9SHFxlBFwXn4yHjC2UATX3gwj1VC1wPk0CapQHUFzf9We0xJ6MrIAd5iIVM7YPkd91xv-P478C1-E1vWqQ/s1600-h/M+necklaces+from+nana.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImhXsPIajCuUAirje0IM5UljHgGbJuVQm1MqqgqzcKBceJNuNBA6S9SHFxlBFwXn4yHjC2UATX3gwj1VC1wPk0CapQHUFzf9We0xJ6MrIAd5iIVM7YPkd91xv-P478C1-E1vWqQ/s400/M+necklaces+from+nana.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285489747881554018" border="0" /></a>Maranatha enjoyed checking out her jewelry made by Nana...<br /><br /><br />...and immediately loved a doll from GranBren & GranPere.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDl7vRRgVqBlorBUVXrYkaHQzTYvEPbG_3Bsmw5y6HRluQ1fQjLNa5UIPjMh_zD3Hp8UeTW0AZ5tFOIXyBAKAsxRRSXdchXdsS2YCybsy_ZX2IH6KW9D3oA0N1fTfVQmNV7O0kjw/s1600-h/M+granbren+doll2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDl7vRRgVqBlorBUVXrYkaHQzTYvEPbG_3Bsmw5y6HRluQ1fQjLNa5UIPjMh_zD3Hp8UeTW0AZ5tFOIXyBAKAsxRRSXdchXdsS2YCybsy_ZX2IH6KW9D3oA0N1fTfVQmNV7O0kjw/s400/M+granbren+doll2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285489745524545874" border="0" /></a><br />Jenner & Fanny sent the perfect gift... we had a Christmas cross that we brought with us to China and it cracked in our move there... so this one is PERFECT! I love it! Thank you!!!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HRVgylIwf7XrbHkmGgcJBmU6K8FQkxsZpvzL-VtLdCqeszPTL2w-M2-53tXZnsW7CMKDA7uPmOPke58s4UyjmgD7RhNH1oVY5Lcfj7tCVfOXWjxpUyJrbWQ4-yLThRx84SqxtA/s1600-h/J+loving+the+Christmas+cross.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HRVgylIwf7XrbHkmGgcJBmU6K8FQkxsZpvzL-VtLdCqeszPTL2w-M2-53tXZnsW7CMKDA7uPmOPke58s4UyjmgD7RhNH1oVY5Lcfj7tCVfOXWjxpUyJrbWQ4-yLThRx84SqxtA/s400/J+loving+the+Christmas+cross.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285490054123093762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9eZf2WqgpUcqWz8eNOkVkKmfrqk-qXGGmpYdlL4cIUjFMwAsQPQzF2eSvvxn4_30buZao6AH0FyeQbSR8ul0Gp1roXKmuSfeACqWRMhxoTTmx32ruEzf6NMyc52sArJOxhwaVKg/s1600-h/MS+playing+intelligicube.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 390px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9eZf2WqgpUcqWz8eNOkVkKmfrqk-qXGGmpYdlL4cIUjFMwAsQPQzF2eSvvxn4_30buZao6AH0FyeQbSR8ul0Gp1roXKmuSfeACqWRMhxoTTmx32ruEzf6NMyc52sArJOxhwaVKg/s400/MS+playing+intelligicube.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285488523367142482" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">LSU hats from Nana & Papa were a big hit with the boys:<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7f00uZw-nnCNT_OIawRj_1Q-gbTMIiBEzwqbdvEgQqqMLrzI23u_9vTfTGdkP37fsNWWt0wNakUdlXshI4irXsCTvjVmcpTkljIk0N9zOkeB7O67a_pCEl-KjD4NTcDlTS_JESg/s1600-h/EB+LSU+hats.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7f00uZw-nnCNT_OIawRj_1Q-gbTMIiBEzwqbdvEgQqqMLrzI23u_9vTfTGdkP37fsNWWt0wNakUdlXshI4irXsCTvjVmcpTkljIk0N9zOkeB7O67a_pCEl-KjD4NTcDlTS_JESg/s400/EB+LSU+hats.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285488503506505330" border="0" /></a><br />And they each got a watch from a sweet Sunday School class back in Texas... obviously, Ethan LOVED his. :) (Baxter did too... but this jump was over the top, so I had to share this picture!)<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ZQQ7sENkOMOoBarRY8unbL82AqcALz9D5na-9Hzjhn_b8PLV8ClX4N1P1zrQJoFuKmUbxnFk01nbrmx1OLZkIM5maTRcxhZOLllhdtV4AlhSxhhKZcoXHfoK0GQLFzK2BthfGQ/s1600-h/E+jumping+for+watch.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ZQQ7sENkOMOoBarRY8unbL82AqcALz9D5na-9Hzjhn_b8PLV8ClX4N1P1zrQJoFuKmUbxnFk01nbrmx1OLZkIM5maTRcxhZOLllhdtV4AlhSxhhKZcoXHfoK0GQLFzK2BthfGQ/s400/E+jumping+for+watch.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285488501263756610" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJB4lScYUbq8dafI30eUrs4lKupzm6X8J262G5KV-u13HNe7FOqoCIs79mZOJROeKpvFlN-clN2GdOEKBFOYMPxSOCWGc5JccDcDWD7E3gUyzI9AS761x4Zd0NklKgFInVQ0m1HQ/s1600-h/Doug+cowboys+shirt.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJB4lScYUbq8dafI30eUrs4lKupzm6X8J262G5KV-u13HNe7FOqoCIs79mZOJROeKpvFlN-clN2GdOEKBFOYMPxSOCWGc5JccDcDWD7E3gUyzI9AS761x4Zd0NklKgFInVQ0m1HQ/s400/Doug+cowboys+shirt.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285489769058288626" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And the kids enjoyed our Christmas tradition (borrowed from Aunt Jill) of unwrapping various members of the Nativity set as Christmas approaches, and hearing their stories as it draws closer to Christmas day:<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJyGlkFhhY9b_Mgdnk01S9gZf0dd41VoMgKA3oojypHpMJzXChj9os9UTfKUTU-Ea7rg82as9Rw6AUeFkSWqGvil63E-MhC88vTcgkRMdDZ7qUIbtiwBJpK2E-8mfRjx3g_KKtHA/s1600-h/IMG_8490.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJyGlkFhhY9b_Mgdnk01S9gZf0dd41VoMgKA3oojypHpMJzXChj9os9UTfKUTU-Ea7rg82as9Rw6AUeFkSWqGvil63E-MhC88vTcgkRMdDZ7qUIbtiwBJpK2E-8mfRjx3g_KKtHA/s400/IMG_8490.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285493064861377074" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlyWmCVFQ9KdCqjk8CPws3dl8RKeArCsG3xTu3C8Zob2lyg9RjgBtRbquFtE9pzT_JTkE394KdCnS1bbn5QNYz-LcY9OenYFcbAQCeqZMEE3Q3jl43i3BJFQXsGOiP6-eYFP0mQ/s1600-h/DJEBMS+%232+Christmas+08.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlyWmCVFQ9KdCqjk8CPws3dl8RKeArCsG3xTu3C8Zob2lyg9RjgBtRbquFtE9pzT_JTkE394KdCnS1bbn5QNYz-LcY9OenYFcbAQCeqZMEE3Q3jl43i3BJFQXsGOiP6-eYFP0mQ/s400/DJEBMS+%232+Christmas+08.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285490830959816354" border="0" /></a>Merry Christmas from our family to yours!<br /></div>Doug & Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675944006638947619noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13771521.post-3313034028051292022008-12-30T05:18:00.006+08:002008-12-30T05:59:06.903+08:00European Day Trip<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlOMyW1bWsNNWLX26pTvbUVS3l3U_ISqXsJ5YaaUP5uBEuw8PopwAhR9qAIkbAWnxiM7k1d4EjGHiCBbsoup_RBTY15ttVYOIpTwsTPtQJYQBT5jX0EArPY1zkbetiK4i4GJn7g/s1600-h/EBM+nanapapa+on+boat.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlOMyW1bWsNNWLX26pTvbUVS3l3U_ISqXsJ5YaaUP5uBEuw8PopwAhR9qAIkbAWnxiM7k1d4EjGHiCBbsoup_RBTY15ttVYOIpTwsTPtQJYQBT5jX0EArPY1zkbetiK4i4GJn7g/s400/EBM+nanapapa+on+boat.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285325730461182242" border="0" /></a>Living in Istanbul makes trans-continental trips a breeze. Just hop a ferry or cross a bridge, and you've gone to another continent. We live on the Asian side, so last week, we took Jessica's parents to the European side for some sightseeing.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQi-BmaJIHVAQAlnMTfO40ac398CVUI61dw_k6uycwJD3PL1QumobSmAlnG1XQsc29gnpk-en8Krxl4t01tON_hictTDTjHr2TucDdVIyUQgFcKTCdTGZ73_w8bFZAihsn7e-qkA/s1600-h/EBM+nana+papa+Blue+Mosque.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQi-BmaJIHVAQAlnMTfO40ac398CVUI61dw_k6uycwJD3PL1QumobSmAlnG1XQsc29gnpk-en8Krxl4t01tON_hictTDTjHr2TucDdVIyUQgFcKTCdTGZ73_w8bFZAihsn7e-qkA/s400/EBM+nana+papa+Blue+Mosque.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285325722517082194" border="0" /></a>In front of the Blue Mosque with the grandkids<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6KeAuTUqbasScUXqYXdTqu3LNPOM1HEPauJVXfIdLZ0fq43DhCfNVn_DksK9JFORN5dNJqSUdjDqRm9lUOUsRxOY8s2fRrxa2zfkSM-mTypZ17WeWevcnqtiDOfDZNEf_eDRsQ/s1600-h/NanaPapa+inside+blue+mosque.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6KeAuTUqbasScUXqYXdTqu3LNPOM1HEPauJVXfIdLZ0fq43DhCfNVn_DksK9JFORN5dNJqSUdjDqRm9lUOUsRxOY8s2fRrxa2zfkSM-mTypZ17WeWevcnqtiDOfDZNEf_eDRsQ/s400/NanaPapa+inside+blue+mosque.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285325738217009922" border="0" /></a>Inside the Blue Mosque<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtEPfz2JoZDBc47aKmnWycUfnllt1VdV3Igs-cgV58JcoaeAiNyywXkr_Qzqcw-6VgwPMTGpi2BCSO3era_NavPyCeJVf97xv28awgt2FGz3M1saYd_tIx09lfXQBFDs9ivzuQw/s1600-h/DE+Nanapapa+chestnuts.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtEPfz2JoZDBc47aKmnWycUfnllt1VdV3Igs-cgV58JcoaeAiNyywXkr_Qzqcw-6VgwPMTGpi2BCSO3era_NavPyCeJVf97xv28awgt2FGz3M1saYd_tIx09lfXQBFDs9ivzuQw/s400/DE+Nanapapa+chestnuts.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285325704557960626" border="0" /></a>Nana & Ethan love the roasted chestnuts sold here in Istanbul <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(and then of course they sing, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" ... "chestnuts roasting on an open fire...")</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQTGD_AQHvLhwtnWjdVqSX1SpCbmjuxqoXjPy1odLLWmzdb4b-_5mXChv37m2NeuURyKgrSOmlylARwdiLgmBQkwvjSwwhtmZ6fegpW_IuVMwZZqXOD4VAoNgoYcsWZotSPbZpoQ/s1600-h/DJEBMS+in+front+of+Hagia+Sophia.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQTGD_AQHvLhwtnWjdVqSX1SpCbmjuxqoXjPy1odLLWmzdb4b-_5mXChv37m2NeuURyKgrSOmlylARwdiLgmBQkwvjSwwhtmZ6fegpW_IuVMwZZqXOD4VAoNgoYcsWZotSPbZpoQ/s400/DJEBMS+in+front+of+Hagia+Sophia.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285325713138029506" border="0" /></a>Our family in front of the Hagia Sophia through a gate in the courtyard of the Blue Mosque<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Doug & Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675944006638947619noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13771521.post-91686050296888157322008-12-22T17:16:00.004+08:002008-12-22T17:22:36.920+08:00Visitors From Afar!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUfDbvU83X7bLy8RXb9-gZ7hhDNEqWA65A9_vlX_R6npGEA4eE04AApAMPfaF7TFUYvkiFnIz0MpyLUh1EJmO7LHa4JxBfMv5uINrlUs5w_YIx6JAtLUqMVX-4-A4GVSX3ZqpAg/s1600-h/Nana+Papa+EB.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUfDbvU83X7bLy8RXb9-gZ7hhDNEqWA65A9_vlX_R6npGEA4eE04AApAMPfaF7TFUYvkiFnIz0MpyLUh1EJmO7LHa4JxBfMv5uINrlUs5w_YIx6JAtLUqMVX-4-A4GVSX3ZqpAg/s400/Nana+Papa+EB.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282541410055240834" border="0" /></a>NANA & PAPA HAVE ARRIVED IN ISTANBUL!!!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_SgToYlOkr4GAdJutjt-wVTdtFnBzaoAfzdeZizAFEiEZpJei_Ryq-SGmWscO8BC7w-1friD2NT3tFmi8yCfdG8tUhPK7lSPVX2vKazeyKrFA-8i6WeLYPiDukv1n_JS2eMYQgw/s1600-h/Papa+loves+EBMS.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_SgToYlOkr4GAdJutjt-wVTdtFnBzaoAfzdeZizAFEiEZpJei_Ryq-SGmWscO8BC7w-1friD2NT3tFmi8yCfdG8tUhPK7lSPVX2vKazeyKrFA-8i6WeLYPiDukv1n_JS2eMYQgw/s400/Papa+loves+EBMS.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282541405451948386" border="0" /></a><br />We're so glad to have them here... for Christmas, New Years, and a quick trip down to Ephesus. Three weeks will afford us a nice long visit with much-missed family!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHzQZ4_E54-C3eAyfvIkdDBb1_tBskdU1T6U8BOum9CboArbizJNpWbXRkdnubi2K6YL51ms-0I8V87j9eSISs4PPkrDuM0RMYKxPBbO7YHPaJm9CPqxCrmz0SVUej4WTMKrdVw/s1600-h/Nana+Papa+EBMS.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHzQZ4_E54-C3eAyfvIkdDBb1_tBskdU1T6U8BOum9CboArbizJNpWbXRkdnubi2K6YL51ms-0I8V87j9eSISs4PPkrDuM0RMYKxPBbO7YHPaJm9CPqxCrmz0SVUej4WTMKrdVw/s400/Nana+Papa+EBMS.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282541413630010930" border="0" /></a>Everyone's so glad to have them here!<br /></div>Doug & Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675944006638947619noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13771521.post-15958491035843588182008-10-09T16:49:00.000+08:002008-10-09T15:02:20.025+08:00Texas #2: "And Friends are Friends Forever..."<div style="text-align: center;">... no, I won't actually quote the cheesy <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdXT-v2hPUA&feature=related">Michael W. Smith song</a>. Though surely those of us who lived through the 80's/early 90's and went to any church camp during those times could never forget it, huh? :) Well, here are a few highlights from our trip to Texas and the time we spent with friends there:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQg_tzmLxszq6A3OIUFM0kd9cQixBz1UDK5IRZIJpVP5IlwBnVcC3Dl2JKdofoELunh0ocL4a2WfGxUwngcfO5rK5nuqerQhMNmExCuP4EAT-jSwLfg2EEsYtL8ZnTNa7C0SlhRQ/s1600-h/IMG_7137.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQg_tzmLxszq6A3OIUFM0kd9cQixBz1UDK5IRZIJpVP5IlwBnVcC3Dl2JKdofoELunh0ocL4a2WfGxUwngcfO5rK5nuqerQhMNmExCuP4EAT-jSwLfg2EEsYtL8ZnTNa7C0SlhRQ/s400/IMG_7137.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255045099351765714" border="0" /></a>We enjoyed one really wonderful day with Christi & Courtney!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wZAmblk-2MV9BASfyu8ynjg4lD13rwqyAgJJbGuxJpffpXRYPYxS5cH3DpZZ28v_71rFjsRg7gcHFployWmpayofB1HgnZWsUKLNy9MKOeuo3smnSYU8ElKW0DiGBNzlDJBvpQ/s1600-h/M+Christi%27s+house.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wZAmblk-2MV9BASfyu8ynjg4lD13rwqyAgJJbGuxJpffpXRYPYxS5cH3DpZZ28v_71rFjsRg7gcHFployWmpayofB1HgnZWsUKLNy9MKOeuo3smnSYU8ElKW0DiGBNzlDJBvpQ/s400/M+Christi%27s+house.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255033698789399906" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And we were able to enjoy a few visits with the Bainters:<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpo6p1BvB-xLvL9Xs41sn2uvtKbHuztyuZ7Try3hyHITUBNRiddo9ggtyZrSNhwL5RCh506yXXaEU9PPsjcga_kS9dcMmaBQuIKvhDBFKRaTJllX1fM77WcnhjgBvrNx9jgqYWA/s1600-h/S+Tamara.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpo6p1BvB-xLvL9Xs41sn2uvtKbHuztyuZ7Try3hyHITUBNRiddo9ggtyZrSNhwL5RCh506yXXaEU9PPsjcga_kS9dcMmaBQuIKvhDBFKRaTJllX1fM77WcnhjgBvrNx9jgqYWA/s400/S+Tamara.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255045095677481602" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Chana & Maranatha camped out on the couch with books:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjARo6QRiSEik8Rg0agVi2c_cYUPWPGeRbcfuNHGFjRtOvWSOqNzmcShku9_pL9jrf76kAN58mHabnpyI8SsqATp7qxGKPTxwOxhNSqUP3m8jLun_EEsZzm8_GyXsb3LD0ra-wl6g/s1600-h/M+Chana+reading.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjARo6QRiSEik8Rg0agVi2c_cYUPWPGeRbcfuNHGFjRtOvWSOqNzmcShku9_pL9jrf76kAN58mHabnpyI8SsqATp7qxGKPTxwOxhNSqUP3m8jLun_EEsZzm8_GyXsb3LD0ra-wl6g/s400/M+Chana+reading.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255033696517360114" border="0" /></a>Tylan & Silas:<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWnnVJoKMWtm41BllQ9TmKI5EDk_qr9_a5Od8fTRh0SamrupCgl5HfuzCecn1hyeqK-jbwXGhPY1c_n4CzJK9lQhN_lsO1uK_Fp1xgxnwdHCNPeCAQ2hKazpie5W-eOga900yWA/s1600-h/S+Tylan.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWnnVJoKMWtm41BllQ9TmKI5EDk_qr9_a5Od8fTRh0SamrupCgl5HfuzCecn1hyeqK-jbwXGhPY1c_n4CzJK9lQhN_lsO1uK_Fp1xgxnwdHCNPeCAQ2hKazpie5W-eOga900yWA/s400/S+Tylan.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255033705514038610" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And Caedin enjoyed holding him too!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwjafcJS6OU2A_w5tCdUQ9SoWVhL8ITCLZ-IHqP4FK2x2o-M81594ahzWRWCwBF11R5BxShq1T7POixQxdI5v7QNEIiO-Bsi-7sPn_pj6-Hdg2hdc_Qn7DPUMPGoPORIAgyGQ4A/s1600-h/MS+Caedin.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwjafcJS6OU2A_w5tCdUQ9SoWVhL8ITCLZ-IHqP4FK2x2o-M81594ahzWRWCwBF11R5BxShq1T7POixQxdI5v7QNEIiO-Bsi-7sPn_pj6-Hdg2hdc_Qn7DPUMPGoPORIAgyGQ4A/s400/MS+Caedin.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255033703014928642" border="0" /></a><br />We were thankful to have this time with sweet friends.<br /></div>Doug & Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675944006638947619noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13771521.post-32305227872418519222008-09-28T16:26:00.007+08:002008-09-28T16:48:06.447+08:00Texas #1: Thank God for Family!In case you hadn't heard, Jessica, Maranatha, and Silas were able to travel back to Texas for a 15-day visit. We had a great time... and though the food was great and it was so nice to be under that wide open sky, the sweetness of spending time with family trumped every other part of our trip! Here are some highlights:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Maranatha and Nana shopping together:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsk3ekSwuutuTWF2FzSs3v-rVaG5bOyctno-nrO-LGkqiysyv6k27mbYjP1cICprmZpsabtXe-qp1-eOZMxAFe_0EAbLYJQiedl5LYw623IR28Lk_wQnng8F2LpJP8gVPeIe05VA/s1600-h/M+shopping+with+Nana.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsk3ekSwuutuTWF2FzSs3v-rVaG5bOyctno-nrO-LGkqiysyv6k27mbYjP1cICprmZpsabtXe-qp1-eOZMxAFe_0EAbLYJQiedl5LYw623IR28Lk_wQnng8F2LpJP8gVPeIe05VA/s400/M+shopping+with+Nana.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250987508117153522" border="0" /></a>Dance party with Papa (watching an ELO video-- talk about old school!)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-X9BGQoqoyDFHsTEoKj3UpqVgIKVao_UBVecx4GERp2CkRySv3DdZ4qosFA7_V8ApUGue9VnpYJ0OXViq0Pk9GJ5aiKCl1t5T0BqN9vDrW9_mRl-La4CQ031B0HZv4Qd4FSaFQ/s1600-h/MS+ELOdanceparty+w.+papa.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-X9BGQoqoyDFHsTEoKj3UpqVgIKVao_UBVecx4GERp2CkRySv3DdZ4qosFA7_V8ApUGue9VnpYJ0OXViq0Pk9GJ5aiKCl1t5T0BqN9vDrW9_mRl-La4CQ031B0HZv4Qd4FSaFQ/s400/MS+ELOdanceparty+w.+papa.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250987512511773698" border="0" /></a>Silas and Maranatha after dinner with Uncle Mike & Jennifer:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNEIkC_l1XKAkTMCthK8My2w83wlbRNYVqrOr8w5z9_KTjSRSmru2HNCLMKh3J1GuBUalRqfuDa5FxBaXI8kgI9LXMdspwwn1gWNrKd8TRJAqOGb3LZHZNIZVrNRO592Hl1GRs_g/s1600-h/MS+UncleMikeJenn.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNEIkC_l1XKAkTMCthK8My2w83wlbRNYVqrOr8w5z9_KTjSRSmru2HNCLMKh3J1GuBUalRqfuDa5FxBaXI8kgI9LXMdspwwn1gWNrKd8TRJAqOGb3LZHZNIZVrNRO592Hl1GRs_g/s400/MS+UncleMikeJenn.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250987510993649538" border="0" /></a>Maranatha and Silas with cousins Max, Beaux, and Jaxon<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHPbkaYbVTkRb1nGzn_PFpAnAyCWVeed2QqmBkbow1H7Hp6TUNtmsZ0I0JeD2O9xsgRMNj-iJJybKAEIKOT5Z3V5ZmA9aL1snrMKj2XHNQT5lXcHHYr5YTbjRWdvIO5h5s56SCg/s1600-h/MS+Max+Beaux+Jaxon.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHPbkaYbVTkRb1nGzn_PFpAnAyCWVeed2QqmBkbow1H7Hp6TUNtmsZ0I0JeD2O9xsgRMNj-iJJybKAEIKOT5Z3V5ZmA9aL1snrMKj2XHNQT5lXcHHYr5YTbjRWdvIO5h5s56SCg/s400/MS+Max+Beaux+Jaxon.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250987519552432482" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Beaux was so very enamored with Silas-- it was so cute to see!)</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrtKBIFq7u9whMfLECFN-IrGMGPIJgCWaA9wUaQDFrrAxdOytHUWV9NJMgh8XEsadL7f8HG8NRcdoAThNgXeMTYWpe2FkX99AuT-sREpc0MeRuSasP-TD0k9ceGGkh-UIUBW6S9w/s1600-h/S+Beaux+snuggletime.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrtKBIFq7u9whMfLECFN-IrGMGPIJgCWaA9wUaQDFrrAxdOytHUWV9NJMgh8XEsadL7f8HG8NRcdoAThNgXeMTYWpe2FkX99AuT-sREpc0MeRuSasP-TD0k9ceGGkh-UIUBW6S9w/s400/S+Beaux+snuggletime.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250989660131757026" border="0" /></a><br />Maranatha and I got to go out to see the horses with Granpere:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61hk2_y01iyhALgJPvQ3BUVEFdktYyFAwwYsPvQfpT2-rXlp3EnckrfMVecdfswPRMWj7HXvRvmfJVxLRgINTbYoP2NmefPhQ_sI0j8BJ3XotZ7Ao-jPl92I9ks_kDTlh16aaBQ/s1600-h/ranch+M+Granpere+Fannie.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61hk2_y01iyhALgJPvQ3BUVEFdktYyFAwwYsPvQfpT2-rXlp3EnckrfMVecdfswPRMWj7HXvRvmfJVxLRgINTbYoP2NmefPhQ_sI0j8BJ3XotZ7Ao-jPl92I9ks_kDTlh16aaBQ/s400/ranch+M+Granpere+Fannie.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250987521368951954" border="0" /></a><br />Silas was so fascinated by the waterfall in Nana & Papa's pool:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJaSlJu59lRrksZjjLWaJaDUmeRkxHZQ0BxcRGkOjwPuk2_bjTEwFnnRnImKCKOgZ3wJU2wdbimTP4LvWAdhJp8QN6JtG7aHdnXI7SKYx4EIIUvw3kPJxoXe7ypBw53C2NAoe9yg/s1600-h/S+Papa+waterfall2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJaSlJu59lRrksZjjLWaJaDUmeRkxHZQ0BxcRGkOjwPuk2_bjTEwFnnRnImKCKOgZ3wJU2wdbimTP4LvWAdhJp8QN6JtG7aHdnXI7SKYx4EIIUvw3kPJxoXe7ypBw53C2NAoe9yg/s400/S+Papa+waterfall2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250986583397944626" border="0" /></a><br />And Silas is the first of our kids to not crack up at Papa Taylor... he just stared, trying to figure out this funny man making all kinds of silly faces:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG1DmhxFVyn67UjLa-HBO-LMRxuAuQxoQDQUTYVLEO8VSPgvd5xza0YYFCev_Dqid7GX8uf6SWsU5iE3QmQKdzgTaE1Hx88GGCjyY5bCir7FOfmnQbbGZm-Lh3BrJK25cVHU3Aww/s1600-h/S+trying+to+figure+out+GrannyPapa.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG1DmhxFVyn67UjLa-HBO-LMRxuAuQxoQDQUTYVLEO8VSPgvd5xza0YYFCev_Dqid7GX8uf6SWsU5iE3QmQKdzgTaE1Hx88GGCjyY5bCir7FOfmnQbbGZm-Lh3BrJK25cVHU3Aww/s400/S+trying+to+figure+out+GrannyPapa.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250986586746461938" border="0" /></a>We had a good time at out GrandBren & GranPere's "Flying Hat" Ranch:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijryZl5hbtxAT4KzA4NBz5A-D1IoJQ6ZVyjCy-PGs3g13ieTkoygum7qsfJk9Ijo18GtH4KT8O-Hl_t7ReR_4VwVUqjtm7xkg8TQ5dpTAIW3WhRs28BtxckzHHnbPfFvApvkkwHA/s1600-h/MS+Granbren+Granpere.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijryZl5hbtxAT4KzA4NBz5A-D1IoJQ6ZVyjCy-PGs3g13ieTkoygum7qsfJk9Ijo18GtH4KT8O-Hl_t7ReR_4VwVUqjtm7xkg8TQ5dpTAIW3WhRs28BtxckzHHnbPfFvApvkkwHA/s400/MS+Granbren+Granpere.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250986594135233554" border="0" /></a>Aunt Doc taught Maranatha how to do a Jack-in-the-Box:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGczVvDYUrlc1iDlJZS0fwkxZ_dNRA1EJ0pcHxfTO_f9GIV4_OEUHj0FdhPG4F5BTk23nLIWMmWIUkxbQk_Pt1hTGyDGpCCsjE5LlPTajIja8vPoYFDJ98PA3_ASmHuAK8ioSTA/s1600-h/M+AuntDoc.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGczVvDYUrlc1iDlJZS0fwkxZ_dNRA1EJ0pcHxfTO_f9GIV4_OEUHj0FdhPG4F5BTk23nLIWMmWIUkxbQk_Pt1hTGyDGpCCsjE5LlPTajIja8vPoYFDJ98PA3_ASmHuAK8ioSTA/s400/M+AuntDoc.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250986595573950562" border="0" /></a>Dad & I at dinner at Razzoo's (our favorite!)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtuSmzkr0cmgtLjTOixpqFBLKjFbxmwPREucV_lIxU325pVstP4GDQaFS_jHOA5r9tTgm6YRYJtyOycitzJmgp3hhxez2D3UighVV6FlTBB_r8cjaD0X_zcU90ONrkRtFPjDkaog/s1600-h/J+Dad+Razzoo%27s.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtuSmzkr0cmgtLjTOixpqFBLKjFbxmwPREucV_lIxU325pVstP4GDQaFS_jHOA5r9tTgm6YRYJtyOycitzJmgp3hhxez2D3UighVV6FlTBB_r8cjaD0X_zcU90ONrkRtFPjDkaog/s400/J+Dad+Razzoo%27s.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250989666427066882" border="0" /></a>Dinner with Aaron, Jill, Max, Beaux, Jaxon, Nana, Papa, and Grandpa Sweeney:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7FlqSeEY2_fgBVShWV1f14cJw7R9FWRVKGwO2WzNS7XaOO5Qym1YSpg10eDip4y61GjIvvB1Rt9JfmSXBA2m3PxbJ3t1XdPCry2VJHu9dHVUTrou1D_q78JJidirNRXjmMhHaxw/s1600-h/M+UncleAaron+GrandpaSweeney.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7FlqSeEY2_fgBVShWV1f14cJw7R9FWRVKGwO2WzNS7XaOO5Qym1YSpg10eDip4y61GjIvvB1Rt9JfmSXBA2m3PxbJ3t1XdPCry2VJHu9dHVUTrou1D_q78JJidirNRXjmMhHaxw/s400/M+UncleAaron+GrandpaSweeney.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250989668577110610" border="0" /></a>Silas learned pretty quick to clutch Nana's necklace to help him feel better!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhka7pe04eYEz4mJNyMdA-w85bJ1Q8Q17VTtbhKbK4Pz2TXjXr6lqm6jXDRIWR3HHF7NpW4Dm6VvtrwkYKcWtQHUGYCJtz6FDaEsqGs8cPi305Pw6ievcaA4Uwy0TMkhjx6YlGUDQ/s1600-h/S+clutchin+nana%27s+necklace.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhka7pe04eYEz4mJNyMdA-w85bJ1Q8Q17VTtbhKbK4Pz2TXjXr6lqm6jXDRIWR3HHF7NpW4Dm6VvtrwkYKcWtQHUGYCJtz6FDaEsqGs8cPi305Pw6ievcaA4Uwy0TMkhjx6YlGUDQ/s400/S+clutchin+nana%27s+necklace.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250989655403360114" border="0" /></a>We all had a great time with family and are glad we were able to make the trip!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzekb4g2sbPB4Rnwc98FD855d9_6Z1yazkkMSFujcpFxxnBUseCmOHZ741s7KtcnrHndpSogXEsatT5-fSdYOKY6BNG71jflDPOx0RTp2hfojmfplZ7ClRPzhQ9hENVnRCpbcxA/s1600-h/MS+Nana+Razzoo%27s.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzekb4g2sbPB4Rnwc98FD855d9_6Z1yazkkMSFujcpFxxnBUseCmOHZ741s7KtcnrHndpSogXEsatT5-fSdYOKY6BNG71jflDPOx0RTp2hfojmfplZ7ClRPzhQ9hENVnRCpbcxA/s400/MS+Nana+Razzoo%27s.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250989661763763682" border="0" /></a></div>Doug & Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675944006638947619noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13771521.post-41642822753566777002008-09-02T17:29:00.006+08:002008-09-02T17:34:53.416+08:00Kid Logic<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDyQIkT5vV1nmdj56FqvnY4gXNnbYDqzTEeA4qxACrT8UO5q76wxN2ZWY_P3B3G1V9Mq6cy_lTr0yFIcwHZvKtNPDzMHeDugeKbzHgPkAw7N5RzdPDSRzQ1hN3RNyBwhezejIdqA/s1600-h/E+stonehenge+playdoh.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDyQIkT5vV1nmdj56FqvnY4gXNnbYDqzTEeA4qxACrT8UO5q76wxN2ZWY_P3B3G1V9Mq6cy_lTr0yFIcwHZvKtNPDzMHeDugeKbzHgPkAw7N5RzdPDSRzQ1hN3RNyBwhezejIdqA/s320/E+stonehenge+playdoh.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241354279669059730" border="0" /></a>Ethan: "Mom, is this our oldest Bible book?"<br /><br />Me: "No, someone gave that to us this year."<br /><br />Ethan: "Then why does it say, '<span style="font-style: italic;">My <span style="font-weight: bold;">First</span> Book of Bible Stories</span>'?"<br /><br /><br />:) Now that he's reading well, we're getting lots of questions like this. And yes, that <span style="font-style: italic;">is </span>a red play-doh Stonehenge in the background.<br /><br /><br />To see more recent kid pics, you can<a href="http://www.facebook.com/photos.php?id=672920000&ref=pb"> check out my Facebook photo albums.</a>Doug & Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675944006638947619noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13771521.post-56598428313682921342008-08-16T14:08:00.004+08:002008-08-16T14:13:48.909+08:00This is NUTS.<div style="text-align: center;">Seriously. NUTS! This little guy is not even five months old yet. (He will be next week.)<br /><br />Silas totally blew us away this week by starting to crawl. <br />Within days, he's up on his knees:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HqWDfQK8VSla_cAav3DZGsCFw6K6YmNb_-Yxgcxllnb2evLXdL49P-UNcp3Wej21ioxkTggarOFJNAZInjoDGyikr1eZYVTMPQREFs-nTDcV1C_Q7siXR2OqQS5ay6QL_1PaoQ/s1600-h/S+crawl.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HqWDfQK8VSla_cAav3DZGsCFw6K6YmNb_-Yxgcxllnb2evLXdL49P-UNcp3Wej21ioxkTggarOFJNAZInjoDGyikr1eZYVTMPQREFs-nTDcV1C_Q7siXR2OqQS5ay6QL_1PaoQ/s400/S+crawl.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234994470424477074" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzda_Njn2E60EsxJ0HKvU-YXu67f9OVSGAkdT_7UXQ5pHI5RcttZKwMqEdT0G4tuad5WqlQ5m6RlL8Jw4UJJClcGWRm5PkTA1FTFsgBYn3P4BqDcvKsC8Wd-rBLAPG_WgT5LRyBQ/s1600-h/S+crawl2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzda_Njn2E60EsxJ0HKvU-YXu67f9OVSGAkdT_7UXQ5pHI5RcttZKwMqEdT0G4tuad5WqlQ5m6RlL8Jw4UJJClcGWRm5PkTA1FTFsgBYn3P4BqDcvKsC8Wd-rBLAPG_WgT5LRyBQ/s400/S+crawl2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234994478416791938" border="0" /></a><br />Wonders never cease. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzda_Njn2E60EsxJ0HKvU-YXu67f9OVSGAkdT_7UXQ5pHI5RcttZKwMqEdT0G4tuad5WqlQ5m6RlL8Jw4UJJClcGWRm5PkTA1FTFsgBYn3P4BqDcvKsC8Wd-rBLAPG_WgT5LRyBQ/s1600-h/S+crawl2.JPG"><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class="down" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_JustifyCenter" title="Align Center" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 11);ButtonMouseDown(this);"></span></span></a></div>Doug & Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675944006638947619noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13771521.post-12415033278946939532008-08-15T14:49:00.000+08:002008-08-16T14:59:04.257+08:00City Sights<div style="text-align: center;">Here's what it looks like to walk in our city... <span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYsdyqIvPKn4BYsBG0JsL2J6Cov0pDpdz4BYSkHu0L3q7uP45ftsa08VT0bNE2QssSHMvcMkKz7lz6nQCXtURCbi3RYd_s6Jc2t_BKabxY1THfPyPwTixpiL-zhV07J1QrUZkwA/s1600-h/IMG_6319.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYsdyqIvPKn4BYsBG0JsL2J6Cov0pDpdz4BYSkHu0L3q7uP45ftsa08VT0bNE2QssSHMvcMkKz7lz6nQCXtURCbi3RYd_s6Jc2t_BKabxY1THfPyPwTixpiL-zhV07J1QrUZkwA/s400/IMG_6319.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235005289204010354" border="0" /></a>A street ice cream vendor:<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7Il1-bu-2AqWlo5vbbRG1G2hDw7W83Ynt7pXEljNuDx_gk0QajzmOdXGqaoKQdjnQQEcFue5GQ7qkkXVM74F4-GLwnijz0BCKZRssQBCBRUl3m1ht0iHrPEodmTIvOopui77hA/s1600-h/IMG_6316.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7Il1-bu-2AqWlo5vbbRG1G2hDw7W83Ynt7pXEljNuDx_gk0QajzmOdXGqaoKQdjnQQEcFue5GQ7qkkXVM74F4-GLwnijz0BCKZRssQBCBRUl3m1ht0iHrPEodmTIvOopui77hA/s400/IMG_6316.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235005299684472818" border="0" /></a><br />Dried peppers and vegetables colorfully decorate various booths:<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxO_FTnJe_r9IVaBVUmzCfWP24gXQUfLweFjRddLB8IoWhz9oNRyuH7zNLYP5CB98qDv63eRqAzqA-kbGwWQCngQdw_JXMi9-FhDCqLC8c9RT9BZnDdecz-V_LrrtaGAuqey4sUA/s1600-h/IMG_6314.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxO_FTnJe_r9IVaBVUmzCfWP24gXQUfLweFjRddLB8IoWhz9oNRyuH7zNLYP5CB98qDv63eRqAzqA-kbGwWQCngQdw_JXMi9-FhDCqLC8c9RT9BZnDdecz-V_LrrtaGAuqey4sUA/s400/IMG_6314.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235005302290639858" border="0" /></a>Doug & Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675944006638947619noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13771521.post-17958558784473639112008-08-05T16:40:00.010+08:002008-08-16T14:14:25.897+08:00Kids & the Thrills of Summer<div style="text-align: center;">Here's Silas-- my new Mr. Blue Eyes-- handsome as can be:<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPQWCP4TfGkk4lZL0PVUmxQcGvJ-nK2KfJDXwt3oSakYwQ5RITjn4kP-jFj_PEByeo_Pw0QnuBrVVcdk0_0Jv3wO-yCnOBEGaEHAagAh47QfXGG-8CHCbtWswITsp3-GU5LVrsg/s1600-h/Silas+blue+eyes.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPQWCP4TfGkk4lZL0PVUmxQcGvJ-nK2KfJDXwt3oSakYwQ5RITjn4kP-jFj_PEByeo_Pw0QnuBrVVcdk0_0Jv3wO-yCnOBEGaEHAagAh47QfXGG-8CHCbtWswITsp3-GU5LVrsg/s400/Silas+blue+eyes.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230982768283961794" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwTzqqXG9QkwikAUUD4Ioz7odtUgPjVwnwArVaU_OHfWe09rlf1kjDht2EcnINLY5TKdOIjWD5tMDiFSYSGqt62HxjIREj2hfuElYKms2ZA9ibDOEwEYHzyY5CgOI6ROAAxvpLA/s1600-h/E+S+snuggle.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwTzqqXG9QkwikAUUD4Ioz7odtUgPjVwnwArVaU_OHfWe09rlf1kjDht2EcnINLY5TKdOIjWD5tMDiFSYSGqt62HxjIREj2hfuElYKms2ZA9ibDOEwEYHzyY5CgOI6ROAAxvpLA/s400/E+S+snuggle.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230982761869112482" border="0" /></a>Ethan and Silas hanging out<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMYhbAJmNcO-8DduhOxXt3PSpPsd7ZIRm5G3nEDbBd6EqEIEd1_Zsb4ak7qmNK4Onxy-nBLsDWqkCK1BsCccgnUZcOz-YFWUMwOVgpA437lu122J7DiTYsOQMeV4DMgYb0PxcqA/s1600-h/Silas+shackled+feet.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMYhbAJmNcO-8DduhOxXt3PSpPsd7ZIRm5G3nEDbBd6EqEIEd1_Zsb4ak7qmNK4Onxy-nBLsDWqkCK1BsCccgnUZcOz-YFWUMwOVgpA437lu122J7DiTYsOQMeV4DMgYb0PxcqA/s400/Silas+shackled+feet.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230982772083254194" border="0" /></a>The other day, we looked down and realized that Silas had shackled himself with his baby rings. Poor little jailbird!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8eAHE9U6tbxm_d470lBV_Wnx3TJsWF79rkElUOwXiLBpRy12h9oNcmL_IqxiYlkNEO2SyryKHjjAgukXZbcc5mNWrCgMpla6RnmQBQ7bW-ElcqyxmejX6Cb7ZO2U-CmiFQrhT0Q/s1600-h/M+new+skirt+sandals.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8eAHE9U6tbxm_d470lBV_Wnx3TJsWF79rkElUOwXiLBpRy12h9oNcmL_IqxiYlkNEO2SyryKHjjAgukXZbcc5mNWrCgMpla6RnmQBQ7bW-ElcqyxmejX6Cb7ZO2U-CmiFQrhT0Q/s400/M+new+skirt+sandals.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230982251045881298" border="0" /></a>Maranatha absolutely loves her new summery skirt & sandals (Thanks, Meos!).<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISrcfXzSRMnIOulWX2uQ-SUv1KWXxT5Ne1ddwPNR7t2Mc6zGVIGLFjFR65mTbX9XsWfW5qGlBhkxOiD6V7NWlY7urthnKHPSUZ_wLazPJ00HykucgTElLK7dixg2r_w9dhFCrTw/s1600-h/Ethan+no+training+wheels.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISrcfXzSRMnIOulWX2uQ-SUv1KWXxT5Ne1ddwPNR7t2Mc6zGVIGLFjFR65mTbX9XsWfW5qGlBhkxOiD6V7NWlY7urthnKHPSUZ_wLazPJ00HykucgTElLK7dixg2r_w9dhFCrTw/s400/Ethan+no+training+wheels.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230984353171970562" border="0" /></a>Ethan's riding without training wheels now!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhyphenhyphen8MxSDVnX0vuAKqAe_bt5RDsRmaU_G3mgQKyqcQHlmzd2zSeBfrex6ViilL3-XzBvWcLlHUn0Mz55nyTTRjRrn6YXKSyd5_KPu1czoJyrYfjq9W6ua39y5m5CMhyphenhypheno2AKSUVnA/s1600-h/B+showing+off+on+bike.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhyphenhyphen8MxSDVnX0vuAKqAe_bt5RDsRmaU_G3mgQKyqcQHlmzd2zSeBfrex6ViilL3-XzBvWcLlHUn0Mz55nyTTRjRrn6YXKSyd5_KPu1czoJyrYfjq9W6ua39y5m5CMhyphenhypheno2AKSUVnA/s400/B+showing+off+on+bike.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230982229065490402" border="0" /></a>So, in light of Ethan's new skills, Baxter came up with his own new way of riding bikes. :) Ever the little comedian!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFvBsLl8SsSlsHaMm7Vjtp_wtIvCmh_tS4EFTGYdGrc2nW9CRqkXmoY94rlE_cFUr6LR1yrF8BpbGowdRfQrWmrAjNqppDnL7l83X7NTlo3dfqpf3tX93sGxoFCnR5GtqDpNk3w/s1600-h/Here's+your+gun,+Ethan+%7EB.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFvBsLl8SsSlsHaMm7Vjtp_wtIvCmh_tS4EFTGYdGrc2nW9CRqkXmoY94rlE_cFUr6LR1yrF8BpbGowdRfQrWmrAjNqppDnL7l83X7NTlo3dfqpf3tX93sGxoFCnR5GtqDpNk3w/s400/Here's+your+gun,+Ethan+%7EB.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230982239574973490" border="0" /></a>I (Jessica) took the kids out for a picnic last night while Doug had a language lesson, and Ethan climbed a tree for the first time all by himself. Baxter was a great "partner", keeping him well-armed with stick "rifles" and such.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqRVkQ7rew3WEphh5CA5SgYJiz-EC_KgDa4qaXjJ71UIT8G9RLub_g5n8j6adslp-oLKtz0Wf2v1FUbbd5x4KrWL09zUlllAwM2eGWx7HrLF1d6ML36KINWJMB87Bs2SqBHylKw/s1600-h/B+exploring3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqRVkQ7rew3WEphh5CA5SgYJiz-EC_KgDa4qaXjJ71UIT8G9RLub_g5n8j6adslp-oLKtz0Wf2v1FUbbd5x4KrWL09zUlllAwM2eGWx7HrLF1d6ML36KINWJMB87Bs2SqBHylKw/s400/B+exploring3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230982224579094594" border="0" /></a>They had a blast exploring and running around. We're so grateful for a large scale forest/park near here, since we're without a backyard!<br /><br />And Maranatha LOVED finding green berries...<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULuvuuU4Wh3Xt3IwaOxa4yD-roDDREnjyHCijkW7syP8VbyiYnrHmpoo4RAVqS68Boxv54ZWCAGFSckv5WU5TYpWrl4QkehsHkf8KzS6tJBha7GP0enUF8ccyboa0pazZmsXsqA/s1600-h/M+berries+%26+pigtails.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULuvuuU4Wh3Xt3IwaOxa4yD-roDDREnjyHCijkW7syP8VbyiYnrHmpoo4RAVqS68Boxv54ZWCAGFSckv5WU5TYpWrl4QkehsHkf8KzS6tJBha7GP0enUF8ccyboa0pazZmsXsqA/s400/M+berries+%26+pigtails.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230982246489440994" border="0" /></a>The kids are all growing like weeds, enjoying the thrills of summer!<br /></div>Doug & Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675944006638947619noreply@blogger.com2