Battling Dust

For everyone keeping a home clean, dusting is a required chore.  Some places in the world are more dusty than others.  My mother-in-law winters in Arizona, a desert region, and she claims she dusts more than in Kansas.  Well, I don't know where Istanbul ranks for amount of dust, but it is pretty bad.  I can dry mop our laminate floors every other day and get a visible pile of dust bunnies.  Nearly every visit with neighbor women here includes at least a two-minute conversation blurb on how the home cleaning chores are endless.  A large part of that is due to dust. 

This morning I saw my across the kitchen window neighbor lady battling dust.  She first shook her bedspread out the window,  then her pillows, her towel and lastly, her pajamas.  I don't know how much dust settles on pajamas but she must have thought it was worth it because she vigorously shook them out the window. 

Last week while having tea with some neighbor women, my friend lamented at the amount of dust kids kick up when they are playing inside.  I wonder if that is part of the problem.  Our children bounce around on the couches for a few hours every day.  What can you do but let them kick up the dust--there is no where to play outside in the winter rain. 

So, I keep sweeping and mopping (probably more than I ever dreamed I would do in my life) and try to think of all the positives that come from it like. . . . helping Aaron's allergies, being able to relate to my neighbors and add to that redundant two minute cleaning conversation blurb, having something to keep my hands busy and yet my mind is free to think, the opportunity to shake things out the window (it's kind-of fun--something we don't do in the States).  This morning I was shaking the hall rug out the window and the strong wind nearly ripped it from my hands.  I have always thought what a bummer that would be to drop a rug out the window and have to go and retrieve it.  Just a side thought.

Fall/Thanksgiving

Malachi's class on a Fall hike

A picturesque scene from the Belgrade Forest

Malachi's 2nd grade Class

Sonora making name tags for our Thanksgiving meal (thanks Aunt Phyllis)

Preparing the Turkey

Our Thanksgiving meal with our friends.

Istanbul In Pictures

A few weeks ago I had the chance to meet up with my two good friends for a girls get together.  Usually in the Fall a Women's conference is organized for those needing some time of worship, teaching and fellowship.  It didn't happen this year so we decided to get together for fellowship anyway and we met half way (more or less), on the European side of Istanbul.  It was fun to hang out and catch up, be a tourist in my own city, and to lift each other up in prayer.  The time went by too quickly.

I wanted to post these pictures because I think they capture just a sampling of the wonderful art and culture of this old city that one would see as a tourist.  We strolled through the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar just taking our time and we had a few experiences that we've never really taken the time for--like allowing a rug seller to give us his best sales pitch.  It entailed some tea, some time and a very educational experience in the history of rug making here in Turkey. The store owner was good in sales and I see how some people not intending to buy a rug walk out with one--they are beautiful.

Happy Birthday Aaron!!

Thirty-eight years!  Aaron, you have been a gift to your parents for thirty eight years.  You have been a gift to me for the last16 years (I think we met when you were 22).  And you have been a gift as a father both to Malachi and Sonora for their short seven and five years of life.  So, though we gave you small gifts of breakfast in bed and crafts made by the kids on your birthday, in truth, we all receive a much bigger gift from the Lord by having you in our lives.  May He bless this coming year with continued joy and life.  Happy Birthday Aaron!

Bringing Back Memories

Just wanted to record this little dialogue between Malachi and Sonora.  There is a new building going up just outside our living room window.  The kids have been watching them dig a hole and haul off dirt and on this particularly imaginative day the construction crew outside turned into something much more exciting.  It reminded me of when I was little and had a big sister with a great imagination.  
 
Mal:  Wait!  The truck's moving!  They're leaving!  Run to the other window!
Sonora:  OK!
Mal:  (From the other window) He's leaving the neighborhood!  I think he must be making a giant mud pie somewhere else!
Sonora:  Yeah!  Come back here.  A man is getting out of the truck!
Mal:  He must be the main thief.  He's the dirt thief.  Where is he going?
Sonora: I don't know.  Maybe he's going to the other truck.  Which one do you think is his?
Mal:  We'll watch from here.  No one can see us spying from here.
Sonora:  Those guys have so many plans.
Mal:  Yeah.  They are going to make giant mud houses too.  And even cover people with mud and turn them into mud people.  Who do you think they'll cover with mud first?
Sonora:  Maybe those girls down there.  Because they are so wimpy.
Mal:  That's not the right word.  Not wimpy, not greedy. . . they don't care about anything except what they look like. I'll call that word. . . introlooks.  Come on!!  Dirt stealer!!!!!!
Sonora (running to the window):  Count them!!!
Mal:  One, two, three, four, five. . . there's got to be at least ten of them.  Sonora, do you know how many there are?
Sonora:  No.
Mal:  There are ten.  Remember the two that drove off in the Mercedes?
Sonora:  Oh yeah! Ten!
Mal:  Hey Sonora!  Hurry!  Another dirt stealer truck!!!!!  See? (pointing out the window)
Sonora:  Oh yeah!
Mal:  (counting again) And there's eleven dirt stealers!

Their pretending that the construction crew is a group of criminals started a few weeks ago and I still sometimes here them call one another to run to the window because a new truck has arrived and the strange plot continues to build in interesting ways.  It really brings back memories of when we were kids and were building our new house.  Michaela and John and I used to spy on the builders, snoop through their things and gather "clues" that helped support our outlandish story.  

Family History and Life Skills?

Yesterday morning the kids were busy playing.  As I was in the kitchen cleaning up they were going in and out of the kitchen with their stuffed animals, hiding them in the kitchen cabinets and taking them out again.  As I looked around the house there were stuffed animals everywhere and the kids were very actively playing something.  I was curious what this game was about so the next time Malachi came into the kitchen I asked.

Me:  So Malachi, what's your game about?
Malachi:  It's mostly about family history and life skills.  Things that are important you know.
Me:  (smiling to myself) Life skills huh?  Like. . . . ?
Malachi:  Like getting away from bad guys.

Off he ran to play and I had a chance to laugh out loud.  Family history and life skills?  Where does he get this stuff from?  Fun times!!!

Iznik