Bittersweet

So this post may be more for me to keep memories. As our time winds down here in Turkey I am beginning to have mixed emotions. This has been an incredible experience- the time has flown by and I want to make sure to remember our time here forever. This is Ryan's first year playing overseas and we hope that there will be many more years to come which makes me think that the years may start to jumble together. I never want to forget about our first year here in Turkey. Although I am having mixed feelings about leaving, it doesn't mean that I am not SO excited to get back home. There comes a time when you can't stop thinking about how much you miss family and friends. I have made so many great friends here in Turkey that I know I most likely will never see again. The people have been so welcoming and kind. There are so many women that have taken on the role of being my "mother in Turkey" or sweet friends that I have made at the gym. I am going to list some random memories for myself so that I can look back at this and always remember.

Remember these RANDOM things...

-When mom and Danielle brought you here to Turkey you never thought 9 months would pass.

-The water was delivered to us in big bottles

-The Vanilla, Baking Soda and Baking Powder are in individual packets

-Danielle "found" you a yellow spatula! (inside joke)

-You had to hang dry your clothes- which you ended up loving better then a dryer.

-All the fun games and the amazing Karsiyaka fans!

-Teaching spinning classes at Sports International

-Your favorite wrap place "Saray Donerci Kebapci"

-When Mom, dad, Cody and Alycia came at Christmas! Ephesus, Antalya and Istanbul

-Doing Humanitarian work with the missionaries

-When you almost threw up eating really strong cheese and had to choke it down cause the lady was watching you eat her food

-When you were able to help give people new wheelchairs

-Remember your friends Emily, Deniz, Bengu, Beliz, Elif (both of them), Pinar, Jerina, Pinar, Hasan, Hanife, Damla and Gonga.

-When the Toolson's came! Pamukkale, rug shopping and wraps everyday!

-The sweet members of the Branch and how much they have influenced you. Don't forget how much they have helped you realize what is important in life and how much you can influence others if you're looking for opportunities to serve.

-The sweet flower lady on the way to the gym. We have never been able to even speak to each other because of the language barrier but she gives you a hug every single day!

-The funny guys that work at the Snack shop and always learn new English words to say to you

-All the American teammate parties. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Ryan's Birthday and Jerina made us all empanadas

-When Ryan had to run home and back to the grocery store in 5 seconds cause we didn't have enough cash!

-Buying Delhi! Our cute little silver dollar turtle

-Going to the bazarre every Wednesday!

-Taking the ferry across the water to Alsincak

These are just a few of the many memories or things I want to remember! I know that Ryan and I have learned so much living here in Turkey. I would not have traded these last 9 moths for anything. I know that Heavenly Father wanted us here and that we have definitely been in the right place. Both of our testimonies have been strengthened through the Missionary work we have been able to do and seeing the growth of so many sweet people. I am so proud of Ryan being a great example of Living the Gospel even in a tough industry of work. I will miss you Turkey! Thanks for being such a great 1st year overseas! You will always have a special little place in our hearts!

EaStEr

Easter was a fun filled day! We started off the day by decorating some sugar cookies to take to church. Ryan was so patient and articulate with decorating the butterflies. You will see below. Then we went to church and had some yummy treats to celebrate!

Doesn't he look so handsome?

The sugar cookies we decorated! Ryan did the butterflies. Awesome huh?

It was so cute and funny! It was a bunch of the new members first time celebrating Easter because they all were previously muslim. They looked up on the internet traditions of Easter. They saw tons of pictures of dyed eggs but they had no idea how it was done. They took eggs without boiling them and painted them with fingernail polish! I thought it was so creative and they turned out so cute!

The Branch members with a bunch of investigators! Growing quickly! The sweetest people you would ever meet.

After church Ryan and I took a fabulous afternoon nap then began more festivities! I made a yummy quiche and carrot cake so we ate and ate til our tummies hurt. Then we dyed eggs!

Ryan's egg on the far left began as me then he turned it into a kid that ate too many "peeps." In other words the egg wasn't turning out like he had planned. I had forgotten how much fun it is to dye eggs! I think we should do it year round.

I hope you all enjoyed your Easter and ate a bunch of American Candy for me!

Can we figure out a way?

So I am really wishing at the moment that we could figure out a way be two places at once. I am so happy here in Turkey and seriously there is nothing to complain about BUT I wish I could also be in St. George, UT with my family to celebrate Easter. I have decided Holidays aren't quite the same when the country you're in doesn't even celebrate the same Holidays you do! There are no Cadbury eggs, plastic eggs for Easter Egg Hunts, kits to dye eggs, Easter outfits to buy and the Easter bunny definitely doesn't come all the way to Turkey. More then anything I just miss hanging out with family on Holidays and missing out on random traditions like always making everyone wear random homemade hats or costumes with my sister Kim. I miss my sister Danielle always coming up with the most creative crafts or yummy festive treats or my mom and dad always surprising us with fun festive surprises like the BEST Easter Egg hunts! I will be home in about a month and off we go to HAWAII! Like I said before...there is nothing to complain about. Ryan said he will dye eggs with me and he will set up an easter egg hunt for me! I am just missing all the family that I am used to spending Holidays with.

Just a few pics of some of the people I will be missing on Easter! Love you family!

I am lucky...

Today I had a life changing experience. I will remember this day forever. I was able to go with the Humanitarian Missionaries to deliver about 50 of 250 wheelchairs that LDS Charities sent to Turkey. The people that received the wheelchairs all have some sort of handicap that you will see in the pictures below. These pictures don't even do these amazing people justice. They are so happy, outgoing, energetic and such sweet people. They act as though they have nothing to complain about. They get around in different ways and have just learned to adapt to their handicaps and make the best of them. Not only are the people with the handicap amazing but also their families which help to take care of them and practice constant patience.

These are the wheelchairs being unloaded off the truck.

These are some of the people that are members of the wheelchair Basketball team. They were here to support the charity and were so excited for the people receiving the wheelchairs. If you notice the man down on his knees his feet have been amputated. He makes the best of this by walking around on knee pads that he hand built for himself. He plays on the wheelchair Basketball team and is married to one of the woman that got a wheelchair today!

This sweet man scoots himself around on his hands and bum. He doesn't ask anyone for help and gets around as if there is nothing wrong with him. He even lifted himself up onto this bench.

Some of the family and friends of the people receiving wheelchairs today.

She is the head of one of the charities that arranges activities for people with handicaps. She is an amazing lady and you would never even guess there is anything wrong with her by the way she manages to get around and take care of everyone else.

She would call me "sister" today because we both have blonde hair! She is so sweet and is my same age!

She is still in a wheelchair from when she was a young child. It is way too small for her and it hurts her back to sit in such a small chair so she was ecstatic to be receiving a new wheelchair that will actually fit her!

HE GOT HIS WHEELCHAIR!! He was so cute and grateful. He was raising his hands up in the air and clapping when they lifted him up into the chair.

One of the guys from the wheelchair Basketball team putting together a new wheelchair for someone to receive.

This dad has carried around his son for 18 years everywhere they go because he hasn't had a wheelchair. The whole family was so excited and grateful to get this wheelchair so that it will be easier to take him out places!

The girl in the wheelchair is married to the guy on the left that wears the kneepads to get around. They are the cutest and happiest couple. They take such great care of each other.

I am so happy that I was able to go with the Humanitarian Missionaries today. I have realized through experiences like this that Ryan and I haven't been sent to Turkey just for Basketball. I am learning everyday that I have so much to be thankful for! I feel like the people that we are able to help end up changing and inspiring me more then we change/help them!

Who is 25!? RYAN

Ryan had a Birthday! Yesterday was the big guys Birthday and it was a great day! Well, the party started the night before when the team had a great win and Ryan had 24 points with a sweet dunk! After the game we went to Paprika an italian restaurant for dinner and then hung out with team mates til the "wee" hours of the night. We haven't done that in a long time! Then the actual "Day of Birth" began...

with German Pancakes for breakfast. It's always Ryan's breakfast request!

My sister Kim made us this adorable banner. WE LOVE IT!! Thanks Kim!

I know I look scary but this is the

only picture of us on his Birthday. For dinner Ryan wanted Chicken and Salsa Verde Enchiladas. I had brought some salsa verde from home so he was lucky! Then after dinner we had a party with Ryan's American team mates and a couple

of his Turkish team mates. We had tons of desserts and played games. It was definitely a success!

All of the desserts were requested by Ryan. Vanilla cupcakes with Raspberry frosting,

Powdered Sugar Donut Holes, Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars, Lemon Bars and Fruit Pizza (thanks to Emily for the fruit pizza!)

Happy Birthday Ryan! I hope it was a good one!

Entertaining game

The last home game was against a team called Fenerbahce. They are tied for #1 in the league right now. Karsiyaka played them at home last week and it was VERY entertaining. The first time they played them at Fenerbahce they actually won! Yes, we ended up losing this time but not without a fight. I literally mean a fight. I of course only got the after drama recorded but I can give you a good little description. We were running back for offense when one of the Fenerbahce players wrapped his arms through Andre's and help him behind his back. Andre of course flung him off and the fight began. Swings and all! It was a full out brawl. This is when it gets crazy! The fans started throwing everything you can think of out onto the court. Water bottles, keys, coins, cell phones, pens and plenty of random objects. It was insane! LOYAL KSK FANS! We were ducking for cover! The Fener players were getting pelted with everything! The KSK players ran out of the gym and into the locker room to avoid getting hurt. The glass protecting shield that is behind the opponents bench got shattered and there was stuff everywhere! It took a good half hour for everything to be picked up and cleaned up. Ryan came out and started picking stuff up off the floor himself because he was sick of waiting. You are probably wondering if I was scared. Nope! There were plenty of police around us and honestly if you are in the KSK arena FOR KSK you are perfectly safe!

Here is a picture of Ryan and Andre cleaning up the floor.

If you look close you can see all the police with their helmets on and all the KSK fans trying to rush them in order to get to the Fenerbahce fans. It was intense!

Emily and I were completely entertained through the whole thing. We actually thought it was pretty funny except for the fact that she obviously didn't want Andre to get hurt. The video below isn't anything too exciting it's pretty much after all the drama. It was a fun game even with a loss! Of course, it would have been even better with a win.

A Day Off

FINALLY!! Ryan had a day off and we were able to go do something outside of Karsiyaka. We went across the water to Alsancak to walk around and go to the Kemeralti Bazarre. It was such a fun day and it was getting to the point that both of us NEEDED to get out and do something. I can go do whatever I want because I have so much free time but it isn't at all the same without Ryan.

I saw this cute little pastry that was pink and so we decided to give it a try! It was a major disappointment!! It looked so cute and yummy but it definitely put on a good disguise. It was just a dry white cake that gave you cotton mouth. We had one bite and threw it away. At least it was only 1 lira!

On the ferry riding across the water. Ryan won't ever let me take pictures of him so I have to make due with a lot of "back of the head" pictures! I still love this picture and he does a very good pose from the back!

At the end of the day we were trying to decide where to eat. There are a lot of really nice restaurants on the other side of the water but we weren't sure which one to choose. Then we came across a KFC! Yes, we chose KFC over any other restaurant. I'll tell you what folks, sometimes some greasy, fried, American food just sounds amazing! And amazing it was!! Also, when Ryan does let me take pictures of him he gives me this face. It's like trying to get a little kid to smile! "SAY CHEESE!"

I couldn't help myself...I had to take a picture of this! Look at all that fabric! My goodness. It looks like a 3 tiered cake! Sorry if your wedding dress looked like this...I am sure you made this dress look good!