Thanksgiving 2010

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration this year. Funny, it didn't look like any "American Thanksgiving" I have ever had, but I confess it was one of the best. We felt this year like the "Pilgrims" trying to make it in a new land. The "Indians" helped us through our first tough year and then rejoiced with us at all that God has given us! "Indians" meaning our national friends from our first city in country came to visit us. They didn't want us to be alone on our "thankful day". We feel truly honored that they would spend their time and money to help us make the day special. We have learn so much from this family...not just cultural things like customs, food & language, but more importantly, what it looks like to truly love people unconditionally. Why they want to be our friends is a mystery to us...except that we believe that God is going to do an amazing work through this friendship. HIS ways are amazing, and we can't wait to see what He wants to do. I fixed mostly traditional local dishes for the day. I was able to squeeze in stuffed eggs and pecan pie. They were dishes not too far off from their own. We were blessed to have two MBB (Muslim Background Believers) families over for dessert and our traditional time of giving thanks. It was very moving to hear what was on everyone's hearts. Please join us in prayer for the work that we know the Father wants to do! Because of Him, AT

Do I smell?

The ability to smell is an amazing thing....isn't it! Sometimes....like when they added the seafood section to our local market last week....I really wish I was lacking in the ability to get a good whiff. On other occasions, our sense of smell plays tricks on us.....like when we first moved overseas, I really thought that my new hand wash dish soap smelled like the toilet bowl cleaner I used in the States. I confess I carefully read/translated the label several times to make sure I wasn't washing my dishes with the wrong thing! There are many times when our ability to smell helps us detect a problem. Last week, I put a chicken on the stove to boil, and...yep, I forgot about it...that is until I smelled the smoke that was billowing from the kitchen. Of course, that little incident had to happen just after I had washed the curtains in the entire apartment...everything WAS smelling so clean! I do appreciate that I have a heightened sense of smell on the days when I have a child that is coming down with something. I know it is strange, but I can smell a person's body chemistry changing because of illness. On the bright side, there are many more times when our sense of smell brings us good memories and special feelings. A few weeks ago, while I was fixing Grace's hair, she told me that our new jel smells like grandpa. Now, she lovely refers to the jel as her "grandpa's perfume". (My dad is known for smelling good - he loves cologne!) William thinks that our new hand soap smells like jello. He is pretty sure that it is made from "the wiggly stuff" he had in the US. There is also nothing like the smell of fresh banana bread and a newly opened Dr. Pepper! It is finally the allotted time in our city to start burning the coal furnaces that will heat the buildings over the next 5-6 months. The air is filled with the smell of "campfire". It reminds me of special fall evenings spent in the backyard of our dear friends the Birds. I guess I am writing about smells today because I am missing precious friends and family, and I am also trying to think about the importance of my fragrance as a follower of Christ. Tomorrow begins the biggest holiday in the Islamic religion. Kurban Bayramı is the "Feast of Sacrifice". You can (Click Here) for more information. I am not looking forward to the smell of blood and death in our city, but I am hopeful for opportunities to fellowship with my neighbors. Please pray for us this week as you feel led. Our desire is to be a fragrant aroma for Him. "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ and manifest through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. " 2 Corinthians 2:14-15 I hope I smell good!! AT

So Am I Just Going to Rot?

Shel Silverstein's book, Where the Sidewalk Ends, was one of my favorites growing up. Recently, we obtained the book from a family that was returning to the States. My kids have read it through twice now! It's great to watch them laugh, giggle and try to figure out the meaning of each prose. Here is one that really struck with something God has been trying to teach me lately. "I Won't Hatch!" Oh I am a chickie who lives in an egg, But I will not hatch, I will not hatch. The hens they all cackle, the roosters all beg, But I will not hatch, I will not hatch. For I hear all the talk of pollution and war, As the people all shout and the airplanes roar, So I'm staying in here where it's safe and it's warm, And I WILL NOT HATCH! It sounds silly, doesn't it? However, I do find myself quite often snuggling down in a warm comfy spot telling God how He really could use me right where I am. C.S. Lewis said, "It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs as present. And you canot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad." In my opinion, it's not that being a bird is all that bad of a gig; it's the process of getting out of the egg that takes work. Why is it so difficult to get to the place you know you are suppose to be? I have heard it said that a chick gains the strength it needs to be a bird through the struggle it sustains exiting the egg. I don't really know anything about poultry, but I do know it has been my experience so far in my walk with God that I usually have to go through a really hard place to learn what He is wanting me to use on my next phase in my journey. Just like chicks in a shell, I believe that the Father feeds us and allows us to grow until one day we are to the place he wants us to work and stretch out what He has taught us. In faith, we have to crack through the shell. It is tiring, painful and scary, but in the end we are able to bloom into the new creature He wants. I don't think that we go through this just once in life. I think that He uses this process often in our sanctification. "At a certain point in the spiritual journey God will draw a person from one stage to a more advanced stage. At this stage the person will begin to engage in religious exercises and grow deeper in the spiritual life. Such souls will likely experience what is called 'the dark night of the soul'. The 'dark night' is when those persons lose all the pleasure that they once experienced in their devotional life. This happens because God wants to purify them and move them on to greater heights." (John of the Cross "Dark Night of the Soul") I think sometimes we often get confused when as Believers we seem to be going through struggles whether spiritual or physical. We think that we must have sinned, not obeyed or done something wrong. This can be the case, but it can also just be that the Father desires to teach us something new. He wants us to trust Him in order to get us ready for a new stage in our journey with Him. Yes, it is going to be a rough process; it is going to challenge us; and likely we are going to question. However, to stay where we are is to rot. To break through the shell is to fly with Him. Yes, I am in one of those shells right now. I feel like I am pecking away at it, but not able to get it cracked enough to even see light. My shell is learning a foreign language. I know that it is necessary, and it is for His glory. However, in all honesty my beak is hurting and my body is heavy from the weight of the shell. I know each of you are likely in process of breaking through a shell or have just come through. Here is another poem from Shel Silverstein that will hopefully encourage you today: "Listen to the MUSTN'TS" Listen to the MUSTN'TS, child, Listen to the DON'TS, Listen to the SHOULDN'TS The IMPOSSIBLES, the WON'TS, Listen to the NEVER HAVES, Then listen to me - ANYTHING can happen child, ANYTHING can be.

Pecking Away and Trusting each day! AT

All Hallows Eve

I am so sorry that the pictures are a little rough. They were taken with Matt's phone. Our camera has totally "given up the ghost". We had a wonderful time of remembrance on Halloween Sunday. We would like to send a special thank you Lollie (Aunt Jan) for the "Super Costumes". We had a super party and talked about super things all day. We played "Find Green Lantern's Ring". There were 12 of them, and they represented the 12 disciples. Then we played "Follow the Flash". This, of course, led to conversations about whom are we following and whom is following us. Our last game was "Don't get stuck with the Kryptonite" (hot potato). This naturally led to conversations about how real super heroes don't keep their power all to themselves. They share it with others. We are FILLED with power, but with whom are we sharing it? For dinner we had Incredible Hulk Soup, Spiderman Sandwiches and Mr. Freeze Drinks. We topped it off with homemade Super Sugar Cookies. I posted this article last year, but I thought I would share it again. It gives a good and I feel accurate account of the history of his holiday. You can (Click Here) for the article. I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful holiday, and I hope you find someone today with whom you can share "the Super Good News"! Because of Him! AT

He's 9 - Where did the time go...

We had a wonderful time celebrating William's birthday this year. This summer we were able to find (& hide even through the move) an archery set that is just right for beginners. William is thrilled with it! We had company in town visiting, so we celebrated on Friday evening which also made it possible to use the archery set for the first time on Saturday. On his actual birthday, we cancelled homeschool and just did "whatever William wanted" games and activities all day. At home group in the evening, the fellowship surprised him with a cake and singing. They also prayed for him and his new year. I am still in awe at God's wonderful blessing of a son. He is a treasure and a joy. AT

Don't Quote Me....

...but I think I am becoming a cat person. I NEVER thought I would say that, and yet the words are out. I know it is still a bit early...we'll see when the "new" wears off, but for now we are very happy with the newest member of the Travis Family. For those of you that did not read it on Facebook, yes, we rescued a street kitty again. (You might remember we did this last year with very sad results. Click Here for the story.) I know cats have their issues, and we will have to address jumping on furniture, scratching and hair balls, etc. when it occurs in the future, but for now this kitten seems like a wonderful (& super easy) pet for a 7 year old. Truth be told the whole family (even Matt!) is enjoying the new addition. Matt says it is because she acts like a dog. She follows us around the house. She always wants to be in the same room as the family. She is the source of constant laughs as she pounces the fringes of the carpet, climbs in and out of her box and attacks her own tail. However, she has also scared us to death by jumping up onto the balcony railing. We are on the 8th floor! I don't think she would ever consider jumping, but she has a lame back leg. She could fall off....any suggestions?? Today is the first day of fall and our first day of rain in her lifetime. (4 months we think) She was very confused. She likes to nap on the balcony rug, but this morning she would go out and run back in and look at us as if we were doing something mean to her. I confess it was pitiful and comical at the same time. Grace has named her Ginger, but since she does not speak English we mostly call her "Zencefil". She is helping us with transitioning to an ease in communication in a foreign language!! A live in tutor...constant practice!! She has decided to sleep at the foot of Grace's bed. The other night I heard Grace speaking to her in her sleep. I am so glad that Grace has moved to dreaming in a foreign language!! Now, if the rest of us can transition to that level, we'll be doing good! Okay, so I may be turning into a cat lover, but in order to avoid being a "crazy cat lady" I promise to not constantly write about the cat. AT

Candy, Kids, Candy, Kids, Candy & More Kids

The last several days have been a holiday time in our country. It is the celebration known as "Seker Bayrami". I wrote about it last year, you can click here for a few more details. We are living in an area that has a ton of children, so we were quite busy this year compared to last year. Basically, the children are allowed to "trick-or-treat" for 3 days from early in the morning until night. They kiss your hand, wish you a happy holiday and then hold up their bag. It is really cute to see the tiny ones at your door. Some of them were a little afraid of us at first, but since you can go back to the same home each day, they warmed up. They mostly receive wrapped candy, but they also get money (mostly from family) chocolates, cakes, baklava, cookies - anything sweet. We allowed William and Grace go to a few buildings with their friends. They were so excited to participate as children as well as act like big kids and get their hands kissed and pass out candy to others. The holiday is also a time to visit family and friends. We are new so I think that people in our building are still a little unsure of us, but we were blessed to make a few visits, and we invited Matt's new language teacher and his family over for a meal. We are learning so much about this culture and beautiful people. We are honored to have the privilege to be in this place. "Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man." Proverbs 3: 3-4 Singing His Sweet Praises!! AT