Breakfast a Success

Well, the Pancake Breakfast was a success, but I'm glad it's over! ;) Our church had to have an inspection by the health dept. to get a temporary food license, which was nerve-wracking because we have never had one before, and so didn't know what to expect! After loads of hard work (by mostly my amazing family and Peggy), the inspector said that we had far exceeded his expectations and were given the permit. The breakfast didn't bring as many outsiders in as we had hoped, but it was a great turnout and people were very generous and supportive.

I have found this website to make online scrapbooks (scrapblog) and have had so much fun playing with it! I have started one, and only have the first page done. I will play with it more as soon as Leyla and I leave and start taking pictures. Here's the first page of my scrapblog:
Kinda lame, I know, but I think it's cute. :)

Moo Cards!

Yesterday my Moo cards arrived! It was so exciting to finally go to the mail box and see what I've been waiting for inside. If anybody wants one (or more) they need to let me know what one(s) they want me to send them. Here's what the packaging looks like... and the back of the cards.
















Here's what they look like... there's three that are of me, and the rest are pics that I took last time I was in Turkey. And then on the back is my contact info (and link to the blog so they can stay updated). I'm so excited to start giving them away! :)

One of the most annoying things is waiting for something to come in the mail! I ordered some prayer card type of things from moo and I am getting sooo anxious for them to come! They are going to be so cute... :)

AC Adapter

Today was a good day. It rained! Things outside are trying to look green again, although they aren't quite where they should be. Also, my AC Adapter for my computer came in the mail today! My heart is rejoicing as I am on my OWN computer right now.. I didn't think I would miss my beautiful little 12-inch ibook as much as I have. And... I cut up some strawberries for strawberry shortcake that I'm going to make the cake for in the morning. Oh and I get to go see the new Harry Potter movie tomorrow with my sister and my cousin. Fun times!
I keep trying to think of things I really want to do before I go so that I don't say, "man I wish I would have done 'that' before I left for a whole year...." Camping is one (though I'm fairly sure that I won't get to do seeing as though I don't own a tent...sad), and another is going to a Tigers game. That one will work out if I can find people who want to go with me...
I finished my book "An Island in Istanbul..." and it was so great. It's getting me ever so psyched to get to Turkey! What great kismet that my mom found it at work...
I so appreciate the Lord's faithfulness...

Plane tickets

Well, the plane tickets are all set to go, Leyla and I leave from Minneapolis on August 14th. Today I bought my ticket to Minneapolis for the day before, where I hope to see Julie and have a fun time going out to dinner or something before I leave (hopefully at Loring Pasta Bar). This summer is going by so fast! It has been sneaking up on me...

My mother works for a book publishing company as a book planner, and occasionally she comes across books lying around that she thinks I might have an interest in and grabs them for me. Last week she brought home a book called "An Island in Istanbul: At home on Heybeliada". I was really excited because Heybeli is an island in Istanbul that we visited last time we were there and I loved it there. The book is about a couple that decided to retire and buy some property on that island. It has been such a great thing to read before I leave because it kind of is re-immersing me into the culture before hand, getting me super excited for it.

I just pray that the Lord prepares me for this journey I'm about to embark on. I'm taking the steps I feel Him leading me to take, and I definitely feel that going to teach in Turkey this year is one of them. I don't feel ready for this, but as I have learned so far, you cannot really be prepared for any new stage in your life, and that is what makes it so life-changing, challenging, and ultimately worthwhile. I look forward so much to the new places I will go and the new things I will learn this year. :)