Team Shirey: Sheep Slayings and Other Summer Fun

Earlier this summer somebody slaughtered a sheep in our parking lot. We were sitting down to dinner when we heard the drumming start outside. Following a bride and groom, a procession of people poured into our apartment complex. With excitement we noted, "Oh, look, kids! A sheep!" A moment later we saw the man next to the sheep stropping his blade. Not sure how our kids would handle watching the slaughter, we scurried them inside until the deed was done.

A few minutes later the father of the groom knocked on our door and invited us downstairs to celebrate his son's wedding. We joined the festivities along with the rest of our neighbors. Our kids handled the dead sheep pretty well (Cem: "Did it yell?"), and it was the first time we attended a wedding in a parking lot.

Since then Jono's been studying Turkish full-time for most of the summer. He is understanding much more these days. And slowly, but surely, Turkish is finding its way out of his mouth. I am meeting with a language helper twice a week. She speaks no English, so it's fortunate that she seems to be a mind reader! We have fun while learning Turkish, and I have the added perk of enjoying the food she cooks for her husband.

One of my summer highlights has been spending time with other moms with small children. We've filled up our summer with swimming, going to playgrounds, meeting at houses, and enjoying getting to know one another. Jono's been able to meet some new folks as well, and we feel blessed by all of the connections we have made so quickly. Friends make life more fun!

Remarkably, we feel simultaneously more at home and more homesick. It takes time to put down roots. Five months in a place is long enough to feel like you know the ropes but too short a time to feel completely at home. Recently some of the excitement and newness has worn off, and we have started reminiscing more about the people and things we miss. Topping the list are our nieces and nephews, Mexican food, and the start of college football season.

Even so, we are glad to put deep roots down here, and we are eager for ourselves and our children to continue feeling more at home in Turkey. Some of these roots are figurative and take the shape of our very own car! Having one feels like a wonderful luxury. We love the freedom to get out and about with our family. There's nothing quite like deprivation to teach you the simple pleasure of having a car again. Other roots are literal. Jono's been undergoing green-thumb therapy. Historically neither of us are very good at growing or keeping plants. In fact, Jono's had a lethal black thumb. But he is determined! All of these plants started out as seeds, and we are enjoying our patio a good bit these days.

Next week we have the pleasure of visiting with some old Wheaton friends and then my mom will be here at the end of September. The fall promises to be busy with lots of visitors, conferences, and some traveling on our end. We hope this is the start of lots of friends and family heading our way! Hint, hint.

Currently we have a couple of things that we need prayer for. The first is what to do with the boys regarding schooling this year. We will continue with our homeschooling curriculum, but are also considering putting them back in Turkish school. Cem went from April to June and Simi joined him there for one month. Both boys struggled with it for different reasons, and we are asking God for wisdom to do what is best for them. Secondly, Jono and I seem to have hit a wall recently. We've been feeling some stress from tiredness, adjusting, decision-making, etc. This is pretty common six months into a move like the one we've made. Pray that we will have patience, grace, and strength for the process.

Other than that our little circus performs daily as usual! These characters keep us on our toes with their antics and unique personalities.