Sunday, June 9, 2024

Gifts 24401-25000


24401. Lisa and Sage putting my new table together for me. 

24402. And rearranging my living room for me. 

24403. Roozbeh agreeing to let me interview him. 

24404. Again Yasemin Hoca giving a good reaction for my research

            topic. 

24405. Watching Scrubs with dad. 

24406. Cleaning. And puzzle breaks in between transcribing. 

24407. A second dose of encouragement from Özkal and Roozbeh as I

            transcribed their interviews. 

24408. Özkal letting love be his guiding principle. 

24409. Roozbeh saying that poverty and persecution can be a gift 

            stripping us of everything so we turn to God and limiting 

            ourselves in the face of materialism and abundance is another

            valuable aspect to the kingdom. 

24410. Sleeping until 10. 

24411. Reliving 2019 journals and the power of those things has faded

            like a nightmare. They have left their mark but they no longer

            rule me. 

24412. Laura pointing out that I’m now in a mundane season and boy

            am I grateful. My problems are normal problems. 

24413. Lisa: “Hey just wanted to let you know it’s Taco Tuesday and

            you’re invited. Of course you’re invited tomorrow and the next 

            day and most days anyway, so…”

24414. Delicious tacos with the Suiters. 

24415. Chatting with Crystal about credit cards and single woes. 

24416. Brenda’s generosity towards her for this trip being a picture of 

            God's love for her. 

24417. The triad of assignments finished and submitted. 

24418. Abby reaching out and asking if I wanted to ride down with her

            and Sara. 

24419. Having time to shower and make granola bars. 

24420. Hot chocolate feeling good on my scratchy throat. 

24421. Yalova hillsides reminding me of Granny and Pap-pas place on

            the hill. 

24422. A chance to read in the sunshine before the chaos of the night. 

24423. So many colorful and beautiful roses at Yeditepe. 

24424. Getting to know Abby and Sara. 

24425. Getting to see Caley, A Rose and River for a few minutes. 

24426. Greg Ellis's funny and real teaching. 

24427. 'God is good and so is his grace' painting by the Doty boy. 

24428. Meeting Steph, maybe a kindred spirit. 

24429. Her saying talking with Sage and I was maybe the most 

            meaningful conversation she has had in years. 

24430. “O persistent God, deliver me from assuming your mercy is 

            gentle…” meditations. Gentle’s antonyms: Fierce, Brutal, 

            Harsh, Violent, Wild mercy. Like striking Paul blind on the 

            road to Damascus. Like God hanging his beloved son on a 

            cross so he can make a multitude of others beloved sons and 

            daughters. 

24431. Reading again in sunshine. 

24432. Time built in the weekend schedule to rest, read, ponder, be 

            with Jesus, have conversations of depth, have conversations  

            filled with of laughter. 

24433. Getting to know Aslin better. 

24434. Her boyfriend making big decisions like getting dunked. 

24435. People like Sara and Amber bragging on my Turkish. 

24436. Louann and Fred recognizing that to stay for 9 years as a single

            in a hard place is an accomplishment. 

24437. A meaningful conversation with Fred about what it means to 

            stay the course for a Turk. 

24438. Broken yet glorious. 

24439. The art corner during worship. 

24440. A bungalow to myself so I could get good rest. 

24441. Seeing 6 dunkings. 

24442. The guys dream about a room with 120 people, a guy named

            Peter, stars in the sky and sand on the seashore, something 

            pushing them out to tell people about Jesus. 

24443. Privilege that I know the Suiters and looking back at all we’ve

            walked through together. 

24444. Puzzle, Qwixx, poke bowl and Crystal. 

24445. Final lecture finished for ANT 526. 

24446. Perfect weather, such a gift. 

24447. Tuesday rest day. Disengaging from the work. 

24448. Being in a mundane season! 

24449. Getting to catch up with Caley. 

24450. A Rose showing me the furniture and taking me on a wild

            video tour of her room. 

24451. Buket, over eight years of friendship with her. 

24452. Peaceful seaside sounds and sights and çay by the water. 

24453. Cros and Cups chocolate cream and strawberry croissant. 

24454. Tacos with Buket. 

24455. Hupalupa fun, knocking down clowns and skeeball. 

24456. Some time to myself. 

24457. Gizem Hoca saying I’m accidentally becoming a great

            anthropologist. 

24458. A few hours at home alone to rest and talk with my family. 

24459. Getting to rest while Buket went to the Blue Mosque. 

24460. Seeing the cisterns with her. 

24461. Delicious spinach and cheese gozleme. 

24462. Resting and reading in sunshine while she went to Topkapı

            Palace. 

24463. Laying down staring at huge old trees in Gülhane Park. 

24464. Sharing Koreköy with Buket. 

24465. Her face lighting up at every new K-pop song. 

24466. Calling my mom at a good time, being a sounding board when

            she needed it. 

24467. Praying for her. 

24468. Buket willing to go to Büyükada without me, letting my feet

            rest. 

24469. Getting a nap after a busy week. 

24470. Playing games with Jude. 

24471. Balloons on my phone screen with Aubrey Rose. 

24472. A bath to help with sore muscles. 

24473. Buket going with me to church. 

24474. This week being different at church, running into 5-6 people I 

            had met. 

24475. Being able to convince the taxi driver to drop us off at the 

            church. 

24476. A seat on all 3 forms of transportation. 

24477. Chilling and reading at a book store while Buket shopped. 

24478. Seeing Istanbul from Galata at night. 

24479. My museum card still valid for our museum visits. 

24480. Galata Tower opening back up the day we visited. 

24481. Visitor sent on her way. 

24482. Psalm 147:14 Peace across this nation and the US. 

24483. Psalm 147:14 Satisfied with the finest of food. 

24484. Psalm 147:19 His Word has been revealed to me. 

24485. A long nap after a long week. 

24486. Cool weather through the end of May. 

24487. A few hours with Emma Bugnar. 

24488. Getting mammogram and ultrasound easily. 

24489. Doctor forwarding me to an internal medicine doctor for blood

            work. 

24490. Catching up with Lisa. 

24491. Being able to joke and laugh in Turkish. 

24492. An enjoyable evening with Gizem Hoca, Selma, Burçin and 

            Olçay. 

24493. Getting taxis to Hilltown. 

24494. Bus 10 coming right away. 

24495. Mükaddes speaking strong words to Berçin in her floundering. 

24496. Elif doing this as well. 

24497. Choosing to attempt a nap even though I didn’t feel sleepy and

            conking out for two hours. 

24498. Easy blood work, enough urine. 

24499. Good news from my mammogram. 

24500. Health insurance that covers 100% of these expenses. 

No comments:

Post a Comment