summer time= weddings, flowers, and being home

Autumn may be my favorite season of the year, but I have always loved summertime... especially when the sun is shining- it seems to make people smile.  Summer is the season of weddings... I have been to one wedding during my visit, and I now look forward to my younger brother marrying on July 3. As family and friends begin to arrive from near and far, I am thankful for the sunshine and the smiles that we are sharing to make this summer as memorable as the last. The trees are green and shading both the front and the back porch for family dinners and evening visits; mom's flowers are in bloom and her roses are perfectly fragrant. I enjoy being "home". Mom and dad still live in the house we grew up in- 6 people lived in  their modest, two level, 3 bedroom house! Year after year, we made it work, because the size of a house doesn't make a home, the people in it do.... No matter how many days, weeks, or months between visits  mom and dad's house always feels like "home." But I also feel like Prague has become my "home" over the past year. I feel more and more like my "home" is where my heart is and right now, that is in Prague. I am looking forward to no longer being the "newbie" in Prague. I have made dear friends, said good-bye to friends, grown professionally, traveled to various countries, learned a foreign metro/tram system, re-decorated my flat, bought a bicycle, survived Spanish class, found a church I enjoy, and I still have more discoveries to look forward to. It has taken time to transition but I feel like I have finally made myself a "home" in Prague. This summer- I find myself reflecting on the joys and the trials of transitioning into a new place- in the world, in my personal life, and  within my heart. Being "home", in Portland and with my long time friends is a reminder of the life we are to live in Christ...  as we search the world to find our way we can always remember that Christ is our guide... he lives in my heart, and no matter how far I wander, I can always find my way... home. 

verse on my mind... "Jesus said, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.'" John 14:23

Song on my iPod... "I was made for sunny days. I make do with grey, but I didn't stay. I was made for sunny days- and I was made for you!" The Weepies

Transforming your flat via the Grand Bazzar...

Merhaba (Hello). I am fighting a small cold today and thought I would blog again. These beauties pictured above were my biggest purchases in Turkey. Three large floor pillows, one decorative round and of course, jewelery! Standing in the Grand Bazzar you can get lost- literally. The Grand Bazzar is large and home to over 4000 stalls/shops- extending over several kilometers in length. One Lonely Planet writer warns you that "Before you visit, prepare yourself properly. Make sure you are in a good mood and energized, ready to swap friendly banter with the hundreds of shopkeepers who will attempt to lure you into their establishments" (Lonely Planet Turkey, 11th ed., 2009). This is an accurate advice and best state of mind regarding the Grand Bazzar. Vendors will follow you around, tell you they have just fallen in love with you, they will offer you the "best price", and you will "break their hearts" when you walk away from their store. It is a game of give-and-take and you will be both tempted to listen to what rolls off their tongue (who doesn't want to be complimented 20 times in five minutes, right?) and your other reaction will be to run in the opposite direction! It is amusing and fun and it is all part of the Turkish expereince.

I bought my first pillow at the Grand Bazzar- from a nice, funny, flirty, Spanish-speaking Kurdish-Turk. Ok, so did buy two pillows from the same shop- but I just couldn't resist. My glittery, yellow tassle floor pillow and my small, decorative round were well sought out. I spent over 30 minutes with my friend Lynne in this man's shop. We bantered, we flirted, hablamos espanol un poco (for Lynne and I's practice of course), and I ended up with a great price for two beautiful pillows- and so did Lynne. The best part of any Grand Bazzar adventure isn't necessarily wandering around the many, many stalls but rather to sit down and drink the divine apple tea... served to you off a beautiful copper tray. You can just sit, drink your tea, and take in and enjoy the atmosphere of a vendors pillow, throw, or rug display. Taking in a tea is always time well spent!

I cannot go anywhere without buying a new piece of jewelery- and Turkey was no exception. I had seen many nice pieces of silver, precious stones, and intricate designs all over Istanbul. But after spending time at one man's shop in the Grand Bazzar, and feeling like I had seen the same thing at a hundred other stalls- the man behind the counter said, "are you looking for something specific?" To which I replied, "something different." He retaliated with "come with me, I have shop around corner with different." Sounds good to me, let's go. And what do you know it was as he promised- better and different. I purchased a pair of earrings and a spectacular ring. I like intricate stones, not dainty pieces but pieces that stand out usually set in sterling silver. Many of you may know that in November 2008 my roommates I and came home to find our house burglarized. Ripped through from top to bottom- every room was in upheaval! If you know me well, you would assume the saddest thing I lost that day (aside from privacy and security) would have been my iPod- but no, actually, it was all my special gems and stones set in gleaming silver- mostly rings, a few necklaces, and 3 favorite earring sets were taken from me. I had collected those rings form places as far as Moldova and Italy and from my favorite jewelery store, The Golden Whale, in Cannon Beach, Oregon. No one piece was like another nor were they replaceable- so, yes, my heart broke a little that day! When in Turkey I decided it was time to start my collection again... and the above pictured were my finds...The stone was naturally broken with that sparkly shine in the middle of the stone- my kind of intricate!

The two other pillows I purchased are more traditional Turkish artwork. At a small shop along one of the major tourist roads, I found these two Kilims- and I fell in love- with pillows! The design, the colors, the shape (one rectangular- the other a square)- they were meant to be bought and taken home to my flat... stay tuned over the next few weeks as I begin to re-vamp and transform my flat with a bit of Turkish flare! I will post as I re-design and change my living space... gule gule (goodbye... for now)!
- Nikki

A visual taste of Istanbul...

Well, it has been a while since I blogged and I keep hearing it from friends- local and abroad! Here is a little taste of my trip to Turkey during April holiday. Istanbul is full of life, friendship, and magic and Turkey itself is rich in history and lovely carpets!

Photo 1-The Sultan Ahmed Mosque otherwise know to most tourists as the Blue Mosque for it's blue tiles along the inside walls. This is one of the most beautiful buildings- inside and out! It is mesmerizing to stand in the court yard, look up and see the Mosque tower over you...

Photo 2- MMM... Lamb Kepbab- I can still taste this in my dreams sometimes- maybe because we ate generous amounts of this dish or maybe because it was so wonderful! Regardless, the Turkish dishes we enjoyed were a highlight of the journey.

Photo 3 & 4- I traveled to Turkey with 3 friends from school. Lynne, Anne, and Alison. We were quite the foursome! In these photos, we were on the ferry traveling to the Asian side of turkey. Istanbul is divided by the Bosphorus River which also connects the Black sea to the Sea of Marmara.

Photo 5 & 6 - After a four day stay in Istanbul Anne, Lynne and myself rented a car and drove for 4 days around the coast of the Marmara Sea. We started out along the Gallipoli Peninsula (otherwise known to Turks as Gelibolu). We drove to Anzac Cove where many of the British, New Zealand, and Aussie troops landed regarding the Gallipoli Campaign during World War 1. We stopped at a cemetary where many of the fallen troops were buried! There was this one cherry blossom tree that stood out among the white-washed gravestones... the cemetary was well kept with fresh flowers and cut grass. The whole experience was very moving- especially for my two Welsh and Scottish friends! We walked in silence for a bit reading the gravestones and then we drove further to visit the tip of the peninsula where the above photo is taken. It was incredibly beautiful- standing on the cliff looking out at the surrounding water! along the drive, we found a few private coves to park and sit by the water and get some sun... By Saturday we had driven around the Coast of the Marmara and landed back in Istanbul...

The last photos are of the many varieties of tulips. Istanbul itself is a well kept, beautiful city but throw in the cities spring tulip arrangements and you have a stunning atmosphere full of color and life! Upon our arrival back to Istanbul we ended up stranded for another 4 days due to the volcanic eruptions and many flight cancellations. We were only four out of 33 teachers stranded somewhere throughout Europe and the East Coast of the U.S... after the stress of re-booking our flight, finding a hotel for another 3 nights, and emailing sub-plans into work-- we had another mini vacation! All the touristy stuff we couldn't fit into our first round in Istanbul- well, we did that! The weather was pleasantly warm and sunny so of course Lynne and I found ourselves on the roof of our hotel basking for a few hours a day...

Istanbul is marvelous and I fully intend to visit this magical city once a year for the food, to buy more pillows and eventually a carpet! My Lonely Planet Turkey guide will see more days of use for sure...

I think I'm in love...

Old Town Square and the tops of the city- the view through the fence at Letna Beer Garden.

On Friday afternoon- to celebrate the close of two busy weeks and the end of student-led conferences, I joined some friends at Letna Beer Garden. This is my new discovery in Prague. Not only do they serve great beer, which you purchase at a small wooden hut at the entrance to the garden, but it is on a hilltop, surrounded by trees and overlooking the city. With rows of weathered picnic tables this garden, I can tell is a frequented as a favorite Czech past time, to which I have now been properly introduced. My perspective of Prague has been skewed by my tendency to spend my time downtown... it has been a shaped by the continual "concrete" viewing... the masses of buildings, largely concrete and stacked one after the other. Although antique and charming, Prague is beginning to resemble more of a concrete jungle- the tourists are back! But two weekends ago, I took a stroll through Stromovka Park... located only a few kilometers from my flat, this park has more to offer than I initially explored. Duck ponds, playgrounds, large green spaces are all tucked into the park by multiple tree-lined hills- it is an invitation for both community gatherings and reflective strolls alike. I now have two routes I enjoy running- one through the hills near the university and the other through the park. I have as well been trying new restaurants and the more time I spend in Dejvicka, the more I grow fond of my neighborhood... Somewhere between turning 30, presenting at an international education conference, and exploring new things and after experiencing the relaxing splendor of a cold beer and a beautiful view in the sunshine on a brisk Friday afternoon, I think I might be falling in love with Prague.

"Sometimes I forget to love you like I should... but I'd never leave you, no I never would..." - from Sky by Joshua Radin

Oh, to be in school again...

I have been home sick since last Thursday... sinus infection. It was a doozy, too. I have not felt this unhealthy and yucky for a long time. With a round of strong antibiotics under way, I have been doing nothing for 5 days.. literally nothing. And it is beginning to get old. I am looking forward to getting back to school tomorrow and getting back to my normal routines. I haven't blogged in a while because I haven't really had much to blog about. It has been a slow, snowy, cold winter here in Prague- we are all looking forward to Spring. I can feel it just around the corner, teasing us with a little sunshine and warmth here and there but never changing fully. It is true that we hibernate in winter- so much more so here in Praha. As I have been laying around with not much to do these past few days, I have begun redesigning my flat... rearranging furniture and hanging new photos in frames. It feels fresh and ready for spring in my home...

In other news, I met with friends last night to further plan our adventure to Turkey in April. It is going to be an exciting time of travel and relaxation! We will spend time in Istanbul on the first leg of our journey then we will head to the Black Sea Coast for a little relaxation on the water. I am so looking forward to the sunshine, seeing a more exotic country, and shopping... if I can leave Turkey with a beautiful carpet for my living room and a lamp to accent- I will be thrilled! The following images are to give you an idea of what is to be found in Turkey...



Well, it is time for me to go get laundry detergent and start the mountain of laundry that has been piling up! I hope you are all well and enjoying the seasonal changes... talk to you soon! -- Nikki

Looking Ahead...

Well, you all know I turned 30 two weeks ago. All the children in my class came to school on my birthday in t-shirts painted with the number 30 on them... some were simple with the number drawn on the shirt and others were done up like the one above. It was a lovely surprise accompanied by 2 flowers each from my children and my aids- for a grand total of 30 flowers! A special and fun way to spend my birthday!

In other news, I feel like I have really settled into my life in the Czech Republic. To some of my friends this is difficult news- how can I feel settled when I am so far from my home and my loved ones? To other this may be a shock- why did it take so long, right? Well, it is a process to uproot your life and resettle into a new environment. Professionally I dug right in and found my "home" at work... that is why I was hired to work in Prague- I know my job. Socially, I have plenty of friends and places to hang out in Prague- exploring the mountains and skiing. I am even taking Spanish class once a week, and soon I will begin Tennis lessons. Spiritually it has taken time for me to feel settled in Prague. I am not different in my convictions, beliefs, goals, or desires. In fact, moving away from all that I knew has caused me to love and trust Jesus more. After attending Prague Christian Fellowship for a number of weeks in the fall, I tried two other churches upon return from the Christmas holiday. I think I have finally found a home church here in Praha- Faith Community Church. My friend Carrie and I have enjoyed this church the last few times we have attended. The message is readily applicable, from the Word of God, and focused on sharing the gospel and growing in faith. The worship has been fantastic and the congregation is English speaking and younger than the other churches. To be honest- this is where I have felt most comfortable in Prague. In addition to finding a new church, I have also begun to get involved with Youth Ministry again. I was contacted by a mother who knows a mother at my school to ask if I was still interested in helping out with Youth Praha. This is what I have been praying for. Last week, I visited and met the middle school girls discipleship group whom I will co-lead with a teacher from the Christian International School of Prague. Together we will disciple this, funny, hyper, eager-to-learn group of christian girls! We do this after school on Fridays from 4:30-6 and then we join the rest of the youth (from various churches around Prague) for Youth Praha meeting! It is so difficult to get to know new girls, leaders, and attend a new church. It feels awkward to start over- but I am praying for my recently, more reserved self to let loose in these times and begin building relationships with other believers. Pray for me to continue to grow in faith and that the Lord would provide opportunity for me to connect with others and that he would continue to open my eyes to opportunities to share his love with others. As I am writing to you all, I am listening to a song by Charlie Hall called Center. Ron Marrs introduced it to our youth last year. The version I am listening to is a mash-up of Center and Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus... I close with this prayer for us all.
"Oh Christ, be the center of our lives; be the place we fix our eyes... we lift our eyes to heaven; we wrap our lives around your life. We lift our eyes to heaven- to you. --> Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful face and the things of the Earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace." Blessings-- Nikki

More from Austria...

The three amigos... heading home to Praha!
The mountains tower over the center of the town- Ischgl. It is intense!
This is the view of the slopes and lifts as we were skiing from the Swiss Alps back to the Austrian Alps. Truly beautiful...
A picture for my dad- ski fuel- brat and pommes with sweet mustard- so good!
And here I am... in Switzerland- just a chairlift away from Austria!

This whole ski adventure was an incredible getaway from Prague. A few weeks ago, while we were skiing in Spindle in the Czech mountains, a friend asked me, "What do you think about when you are skiing down the mountain?" Good question. Often I think about many trivial things- people's ski outfits/gear, how they good/bad people around me are skiing, how I am skiing, and other silly things. Other times I am talking myself in or out of taking a jump or giving my burning muscles a pep talk to get down the mountain safe and sound! This weekend, I was thinking a lot about how lucky I am to afford the pleasure of a ski weekend in Austria. Looking around, as you can see from the photos above, the scenery was stunning! The skies were mostly clear and bright blue, the wind was minimal, the sun was shining, the slopes were excellent. I was amazed to be skiing in the Alps- something I have only dreamed of doing! This ski weekend was awesome and being in the Alps- the mighty, giant, snow covered Alps reminded me why I love the Lord. He created these towering mountains, with His hands he put them into place and he can move them if need be. The beauty of his creation is always a reminder of how much he loves us... Tonight as I am back in Praha, and as I reflect on my "mountain-top" experience and I am thankful for the love of Christ, and the opportunity to travel to amazing and beautiful places that he created... and this song, which has played in my head throughout my ski days also plays in my heart... "You are reminding me who I really am- I've been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live but he lives in me and the life I live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God... oh who loved me, and who loves me and who gave himself for me... You have resurrected my heart from the grave... and I'm alive." - I'm alive by Shane and Shane, from the album Everything Is Different - Nikki