Decorating for Christmas

Hey everyone! Can you believe it is already time to throw away the Thanksgiving left overs? Time passes so quickly. It seems like Elizabeth and I just returned to Turkey. We are now realizing this will be our last Christmas as a couple without kids. FUN STUFF! I can't say that I haven't enjoyed our two Christmas as just us, but it is something to look forward to when thinking about having a kid or two wanting to get up and check out the presents before the sun rises. Ha! Ha!

However, our focus is still on the real reason for Christmas. Not the coming of our child, but the coming of the CHILD. With the putting up of a tree, hanging of lights and the taking out of the dusty Christmas CD's a certain excitement can be felt. It is such a special time of year. Make sure that you do take time this year to enjoy the moment and to remember the blessing of the CHILD. We can definitely feel a whole new reality of what it is to await the Christ as we await our Bailey.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was great. We had all of the best foods, especially HAM!!! Thanks to Callie, we had a beautiful ham from America.

All joking aside we are so blessed by God to have so many good friends, the chance to live among a wonderful people, our wonderful home, so much good food beyond our needs, a new baby on the way. May we not be thankful only on one day of the year.

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Today we celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary! It is hard to believe we have been married two years already. We have enjoyed every minute. We celebrated by going to the Ritz Carlton Hotel for breakfast. I know breakfast doesn't sound that exciting but it is when you don't always get bacon! We enjoyed eating pancakes, french toast, omlettes, pastries, fresh fruit, freshly squeezed orange juice and yes BACON!!! Bacon is a luxury here because Muslims don't eat it. So when you find it - it is very expensive about $50 for one pound. Anyway we really enjoyed it. We had a lovely view of the Bosphorus Strait. I wish we could show you but we forgot to take the camera with us. So the picture was taken at our house today. We spent the rest of the day working. And then I made tortillas and we ate soft tacos for dinner. Sounds like an old married couple, right?

These two years have been wonderful. I am blessed to have such a loving husband. I can't wait to spend many many more with him!

Love,
Elizabeth

You're #1!!!

Bailey already has it right. As you can see in the picture she is saying her daddy is #1! For some reason Elizabeth doesn't seem to agree with me. Haha! Hope you enjoy this new pic of our growing baby.

The doctor said this past time that Bailey is so big now that it is hard to get a good ultrasound because you can't see all of Bailey at one time. I really don't care if it is this picture or any other picture, they are all nice to have. Please continue to pray for the health of Elizabeth and Bailey.

Bailey's First Movie

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Hey Everyone!

Just figured out how to post Bailey's First Movie to our blog. Hope you enjoy!

peace peace,

billy

Baby Shower for Turkish Friends

We have three American friends other than Elizabeth that are pregnant and it was fun to see all the pregnant ladies standing together, all in different stages of pregnancy.

However, the night was really about our Turkish friends and their little boy, Mustafa IV, that is on the way. Mustafa III is our Turkish Teacher for our company. He has been a long time friend and help to many of our friends here in Turkey. We were able to bless them with many different gifts and suprise them some fun American style deserts that they never had. The baby shower went really well and our friendships were solidified in a way they never have been. Hopefully we will be able to have more times where we can get together. Maybe the next picture will be of all five babies laying next to each other.

One person asked what Mustafa Bey was teaching in the class because nearly everyone of his students got pregnant. I don't know maybe it is just something in the water at the office.

Please remember these friends and all the babies that are on the way.

peace peace,


billy and elizabeth

3-D Picture of Bailey

 

Baby Bailey

Hey here is our picture. As you can see Bailey is growing all the time. It is fun because Elizabeth's belly just gets bigger and bigger. Bailey is kicking all the time. Just the other night I put my ear to Elizbeth's stomach and Bailey kicked me in the ear. I guess she enjoys her privacy.

We are preparing all the more. Just this week we will be going to buy some of the things that we need for Bailey, her rocker, dresser/changing table, etc. It seems like everything is falling into place. We are having lots of fun. God is really blessing us through this time. Elizabeth also had a little class this week at the house with a few ladies that our on our team that have had several babies and the other first time moms. It sounds like they had a lot of fun, but some things they are learning I just prefer not learning until I have to learn them.

Other than these few things you all can just remember to continue to pray for us.

• Pray that Elizabeth and Bailey continue to be healthy.
• Pray that we continue to be prepared to be good parents.
• Pray that we are prepared to have this new addition to our family.