43, 118, and Mother’s Day

A couple of weeks ago I took my 43rd revolution around the sun, and my mom took her 75th. This was our 118th birthday! I love that my mom and I share a birthday, it is a special gift. That morning I woke up to hugs and cards from the kids and Nathan, then we all went our separate ways to work and school.

At work my co-workers decorated my desk, and we ordered lunch and had cake, and they gave me this personalized Turkish plate.

I had these pretty flowers waiting for me at home from Nathan, and he got me a new watch.

We ordered dinner, had cake, boys had piano lessons, and we relaxed for the evening. It was a good day! My mom and dad spent the day celebrating in Ft. Lauderdale with a water taxi ride and they went out to lunch and dinner. I guess we both ate our way through our birthdays this year!

A little over a week after my birthday is Mother’s Day. I am so thankful for each of our children and for the best gift ever, to be called mom. I am thankful for my mom and mother-in-law, and for the wonderful example they have set as mothers for me, for Nathan for making it possible for me to be a mom and being right there beside me through it all. I am thankful for all my friends and family that are moms, and for the love and support we share with one another. Being a mom is such a rewarding gift. It’s not always easy and pretty, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. We celebrated a day early because we had plans on Sunday. We went to Turkish breakfast at my favorite restaurant near our house and spent the day relaxing around the neighborhood. On Mother’s Day the kids made me this sweet card, Nathan gave me flowers, and gifted me a massage that I look forward to using soon.

The boys and Nathan went to a birthday party, and Eliza and I enjoyed playing at nearby park and an ice cream date. That evening we ordered food and played some games. 

And after a rainy afternoon, we were left with this beautiful double rainbow. 

Lots of happy spring celebrations!

Visit with friends from Jordan

Our friends Cassandra (her husband had to stay behind) and her twins Sean and Ava from Jordan, who now live in Moldova, came to visit us a couple of weeks ago. They arrived in Jordan a year after us and left just a few weeks before we did. We decided to surprise the boys with their visit, and they were surprised. The kids talk periodically online, but when they saw each other in person, they picked up right where they left off a couple years ago, as if no time had passed. The first night we met them at their hotel and walked to dinner and to a nearby park.

The next day, we went to the old city to roam and see the castle. 

Great views of the city from the top and the weather was perfect.

Cassandra and I. She is a very sweet friend and it was nice to see each other and catch up.

We wandered the old city and looked at shops, then ate lunch at a nice outdoor restaurant, that I didn’t get any pictures of.

That afternoon, we went back to our house to let the kids play outside. Everything is in bloom, it’s so pretty!

The next day, the kids came over and we took them to play laser tag. Even Eliza got in on the fun, but she came out early because she said she didn’t know what to do, haha.

The weekend they were visiting was National Children’s Day, which is a big holiday in Turkey. They love children and celebrate them big, especially on this day. Throughout town there were large Turkish flags, pictures of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of Turkey, and celebrations in various parts of the city.

Our neighborhood had festivities during the day and a performance at night. Downtown, they had a big ceremony for the children to perform songs and dances, that the President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends. We didn’t attend any festivities, but everyone enjoyed the strong Turkish nationalism on display everywhere we went.

The last time Cassandra saw Eliza, she was about 18 months old, and she has gotten quite big since then :). Eliza enjoyed lots of cuddles with Cassandra and playing with the big kids.

They were staying at the hotel we stayed in this past December for the plumbing renovation, so the kids were happy to go back to the hotel and enjoyed showing their friends the nearby parks.

 It was a quick but fun visit, a nice reunion for the kids, and fun to spend time with Cassandra. We are thankful they were able to come visit and for these types of friendships when living abroad.