I don't really know what a meme is ... maybe it's this questionnaire thingie I got tagged in by Dorcas Smucker and will attempt to answer.

1. How long have you been blogging, and how often do you post?

I don't know how long I've been blogging. Maybe 5 years?

2. Have you had anything published, and if so, what and when?

Since the time I was about 17, I've had various articles, stories, and poems published in various periodicals like Companions. I also wrote a book that was published about four years ago.

3. Who is the author who best speaks your language and who you would most like to be like, in style and message?

I am not sure. I love L.M. Montgomery, George MacDonald, Christmas Carol Kaufman, and other writers.

4. What do you see as the unique message God has given you to share with the world ?

Perhaps evangelism. Reaching out to the lost and even discipling/ encouraging fellow believers. Being a missionary wherever you are.

5. Who or what has made you believe in yourself as a writer?

My Dad always believed in me. When I was eight and I wrote my first story with all its misspellings and outrageous imagining, he wanted to send it to a publisher!

6. Who or what has done the opposite?

rejections, writer's block

7. Besides blogging, what types of writing have you done? (journaling, poetry, news articles, letters, short stories, etc.)

journalling, poetry, short stories, self-help articles ...

8. Where would you like to be, writing-wise, in five years?

I would like to have written another book.

9. What would need to happen to move you from here to there?

I need a ton of inspiration and encouragement and probably some determination and self-discipline.

10. Any advice for beginning bloggers/writers?

Don't let the rejections get you down, keep writing, keep practicing, keep trying to get your things published!

11. Just for fun: what's a skill you have that almost no one knows about? (example: I know how to develop black and white film in a darkroom.)

I think lots of people already know this, but I am an artist. I've painted an oil painting. I love drawing people. And I'd like to be an artist at a publishing house someday.


Currently:
~warm and cozy and a little sleepy
~excited that I'll probably be employed by April!
~having fun helping out at school a little

mosques







they used stones from the temple of Diana when they tore it down to build the city below.



reading the Bible story that goes along with the Ephesian ruins we were viewing







examining the intricately-woven Turkish rugs





the food there was amazing--here is my personal favorite--baklava--though I loved the Turkish coffee too



Abbreviated Team Journal
Turkey Trip

November 23, 2011

We left the bus station around 9:00 and began our long bus ride. We remembered everything but the harmonica! Most of us did a lot of sleeping, which made the trip go faster. They didn’t stop for lunch until about 2:30 which made for a few hungry individuals, but we staved off our hunger in the meantime. On the way to the airport, we observed a lot of flooding, including ruined planes in the old airport. After we got there, we had to wait a while till we could check in our luggage. We hung out at Black Canyon for hours of deep discussion. After we checked in our bags, we still had another hour till boarding. The next flight went well, especially for those of us who slept the whole way.

November 24, 2011

We had a very nice flight; some of us slept the entire time. After we reached the airport we slept a lot too. The food was free with our flight vouchers. We enjoyed a Thanksgiving feast of chicken fingers and french fries. Then we boarded our next flight and enjoyed stimulating conversation. After we arrived in Istanbul, we were met by four individuals from America. We went to a hostel and enjoyed a long night of sound slumber.

November 25, 2011

We girls overslept, but awoke very refreshed. We walked outside into the biting cold and toured some mosques. The architecture was beautiful! The first mosque was the biggest one in the world until the 1600’s. It had been a Catholic church, then was converted into the mosque. After Justinian built it, he cried, “Oh Solomon, I have outdone thee!” It was built in six yeas by a team of 1,000 skilled workers and 10,000 unskilled workers. We had lunch at a ritzy restaurant. The food was out-of-this-world. First we had lentil soup and puffy pita bread, followed by salad. Then we were served a giant platter with pizza, cheesy bread, and kebobs with lamb, tomato, chicken, with rice and lettuce. We stopped by the hostel again and donned a few more layers. The out-of-doors suddenly became more inviting. Then we hiked to the Grand Bazaar, whereupon we began with one accord to get lost but always were found again. We enjoyed our shopping a lot. One of the guys bought a lovely tea set and I bought knives for my brothers. It was fun just looking at their wares. Then we went into a little tea shop where they were smoking water pipes. We had our own little room where the waiter came waltzing in with a tray full of apple tea without upsetting it despite his apparently haphazard moves. We enjoyed our tea with more Turkish delight. Then we headed back to the hostel. N_ talked about buying himself some cheesecake for his birthday, but he just passed it by. J_ went out afterwards and bought a delectable chocolate cake, funny ice cream with dried fruit in it, and pop. We waited till the boss was gone, then the receptionist let us have our party in the cafeteria. Afterwards we had a time of prayer, then went to our places of rest.

November 26, 2011

After team worship, our leader sent us out in groups of three to shop, get lunch, and talk to people. Two of our groups went to buy cell phones. While they were shopping, some of us chilled at a tea shop. P_ obtained a nice coffee spot on his nose when finishing off my sludgy coffee. After they’d joined us and had their tea, we split into our groups. My group went inside a mosque and watched people do ceremonial washing and pray. On the streets, lots of people wanted to talk to us, and we had a nice conversation with one friendly Turk. We got lunch at a fast-food place along the street, then stopped at an elite tea shop for baklava. All the groups met at three, after which we went with a friend to the Sapphire Building, a tall skyscraper. We went to the top and looked down over the city of Istanbul. It was very high and extremely frigid. Then we got to our friend's house after having walked for hours and had dinner with his wife. It was a lovely feast and they were very hospitable. We didn’t get back till after midnight and were mighty tired.

November 27, 2011

Sunday in Turkey and time to go to church! They were so friendly and welcoming. The service was very spontaneous and informal. We had corporate worship with singing and a lot of praying. Then we as a team sang a few songs, and our team members shared a testimony and a devotional. There was more worship, then they asked us to sing “There is beyond the azure blue” again. When the service was over we had pasta and pasta and more pasta. After we got back to the hostel, some of them decided to remain behind while the rest of us accompanied our leader to meet one of his friends on the Asian side of Istanbul. (We’d been staying on the European side.) The Asian side was far more modern--not so much old, ornate architecture. We crossed on a boat. We went to a shopping mall and had dinner with our leader's friend in the food court. It was loud and crowded, but we had a good time. The Turkish pizza is delectable. After we got back we had to leave almost right away. The clothes from the laundromat were still rather wet, but we packed the damp stuff in our suitcases and headed out the door after more apple tea. Our bus ride was very uncomfortable, but we slept all right considering it all.

November 28, 2011

When we arrived in Ephesus, we headed for our hotel. It had an antique look, was tiny, cute, and cold. Since we felt rather trashed and dirty, we freshened up as best we could in the tiny bathroom. We couldn’t check into our rooms till evening--the other people had not checked out yet. We spent the day sightseeing in Ephesus with a tour group. First we went to the ruins of the temple of Diana of the Ephesians. Only one tall pillar was left; the rest had been burned by the Crusaders. Then we went to a bunch of old ruins--the old Ephesian “parliament,” Turkish baths, houses, palaces, and finally, the theater. This was the amphitheater where they shouted “Great is Diana of the Ephesians” for hours. I could just picture Paul there, wanting to preach even though he would’ve been torn in pieces by the mob. Most of our group went down and sang.The acoustics were amazing. We stopped for lunch, then headed for place where they hand-wove Turkish rugs. The intricate patterns and the amount of time spent on one work of art were intriguing! The prices were created for the wealthy--defies imagination to consider so much time and money spent on something to walk on. We also went to a leather shop. They had a fashion show and then some of us tried on leather jackets. Lastly, we went to the Virgin Mary’s last abode according to a vision Catherine had. One wall was hung almost solid with a thick layer of notes--prayers to the Virgin Mary. They also had some “holy water” which was beneficial to help in economics, health, and finances. After we got back to the hotel, most of us went out to eat. Then we had praise and prayer in the lobby before retiring. We slept in icy, unheated rooms. I got up at 6:00 but I am not sure if they others froze in their beds or what, for they still have not appeared and it’s nearly 9:00.

November 29, 2011

We took a train to Izmir today. After we got there, it took a while till we found our hotel. It was very lovely compared to the other one, and we were grateful we’d have heat. Then we split into groups and roamed the streets and found people to talk to. Justin started talking to some men. Soon he had a whole circle of Turks surrounding him. Megan and I wandered over and found a lady to talk to. Then we went down to the pier and as found Nevin, Pat, and Jean talking to two old men. The men were delighted to talk to Americans and they took us out for tea. They thought we were the best thing since sliced bread! Justin, Megan and I went to the mall and looked around. We had supper together and a brief group wrap-up after that.

November 30, 2011

We took it easy until it was time to leave for the hot springs around noon. We wanted to arrive at the in time to see the sunset. However, our journey took longer than anticipated. We were tired and grumpy and the man at the hotel did all he could to get us to stay. He was very helpful, though, and took us to a restaurant they owned for supper. We walked around the hot springs a bit, disappointed not to have more time to see them. Then we bussed to Burdor and got a lovely hotel there. The day was slightly less than stellar.

December 1, 2011

Our last day in Turkey! We met with our leader's friend, the soft-spoken man with a lovely voice like “smooth dark chocolate." We went to see a cave, which was a lot of fun. We explored and took pictures and just enjoyed the day together. We girls had a splendid time going out for one last binge on baklava and turkish coffee/ tea. We were treated royally to free chocolates there. We girls shopped to our heart’s content, then met the rest of the team for supper. After supper we said good-bye to our friends and boarded the bus for our trip home! And a long, wearisome trip it was, though not really dreadful. What a wonderful experience--a trip to treasure always in our memories!