The Johnson's: January 2006

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

I'm going crazy!!!!

This snow is dragging on and on! The city is just not made for it. We live on this huge hill and there is only one way off it, by foot. Things haven't slowed down to a crawl. Today for a while we couldn't get on the internet cause it wasn't working then the electricity was out for a couple of hours. When the electricity goes out we have no heat. Yes yes I'm complaining but I am ready to get out.

We are good and safe but just a little bored. Haha! Thanks for sticking with me through my little rant.

peace peace,

billy

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Monday, January 23, 2006

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

This morning we woke up to snow! So all day we have been lazy...watching tv, surfing the internet, reading email, and well not much else. Billy just ran to the store and said it was really cold outside! I'll take his word for it. The news has also said this week maybe the coldest week in Istanbul's history. And good snowy days are also good for making chili. We will think about our family in Tennessee where it's raining or our family in Louisiana where it's probably warm! We will keep you posted on our weather.

Sunday, January 15, 2006

Istanbul Baby Shower

Our friends in Istanbul were very sweet and gave us a baby shower. We got all kinds of things. At the moment there are four ladies including Elizabeth that are having babies within a seven week period. This way Elizabeth and Andrea had a shower together because our babies are due first in February, the other two ladies, Rebecca and Katie, will have a shower in about another month. Enjoy checking out the pictures and thanks to everyone for our gifts!

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Friday, January 13, 2006

You may be in Turkey when....

Ok everybody you may think these pictures are the exception, but believe me the last picture was taken out of our window. Stuff like this is the norm.

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Why ride in the wheel chair when you can piggy-back?

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The stereo typical sign to no where.

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Why move the branch when you can just drive around it?

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The new Gypsy model!

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Make your car safe with the "Master Lock."

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In Turkey, crooks have to play by the rules when stealing bikes, "No Lifting."

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OSHA approved.

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Why make two trips?

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Carry it up the one set of stairs? No... there has to be an easier way.

Sacrifice Holiday!?!

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This week Turks have celebrated a holiday called Kurban Bayram, which means “Sacrifice Holiday.” During this holiday Muslims everywhere sacrifice an animal to atone for their sins. Or if they don’t sacrifice they give money to the poor. As you can see from the pictures some will buy their lambs from a grocery store put them in a shopping cart and head toward the nearest register. Not your typical day of shopping. I mean we are used to putting meat in our buggy – meat that is already dead, skinned, cleaned and packaged. So for us this is very interesting. But the sacrifices take place in many parts of the city. It’s not uncommon to walk around and see the animal hanging upside down with a slit throat. Again this year our neighbor’s brought us meat from their sacrifice. We are pretty sure it’s beef but it could be lamb. Pray for our neighbor’s and the others who celebrate during this time that they would put their trust in Jesus Christ the true sacrifice, who gave His life so we could have Life.

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Wednesday, January 11, 2006

The Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii)

Check out the little of what we live near. During this "Holiday of Sacrifice," a Muslim holiday, I thought you all might like to take a look at one of their places of worship.

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Hope for being a daddy of a little girl.

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We just spent a two weeks with some friends at a conference. Their two little girls, Kayla (the younger, 6 months) and Ellie (the older, 21 months), were a real blessing to spend some time with. I told them several times with as sweet as their girls were it was easier for me to think about having Bailey. I am not sure if any other dad's have felt this way, but I am a little scared of having to be the daddy of a little girl. With a boy I think discipline wouldn't be hard but with a girl it seems like I am already rapped around her little finger and she isn't even out of the womb yet. Anyway no matter, Kayla and Ellie were a real pleasure to be around!

Friday, January 06, 2006

Not at home!

Sorry to all who have been reading and visiting our site regularly. We are at a conference for all the people we work with in the entire region. There are about 800 of us and another 250 from the states that are helping facilitate this meeting, totaling over 1,000. We got here on Dec. 29th and will not leave until Jan. 10th. Once we get back we will start posting again with lots more pictures and videos from our life. And to all those old friends that have been checking out our blog please write and give us a little update on how things are going for you or tell me about your blog and let me link yours to ours.

peace peace,

billy