ONE.

today marks exactly one year since i arrived in istanbul. one year. crazy. sometimes it feels like "where did the past year go?" and sometimes it feels like "only a year, seriously?"... but alas, a year has passed. i have lived overseas for one year. i have lived in istanbul for one year. i have lived in a city with 12-20 million other people for one YEAR.

living here...has been interesting. if you ask me if i like it, i'll say i love it. if you ask me if it's been easy to adjust here, i'll tell you that adjusting here was much easier (for me) than i expected. but for other people it is quite challenging. and it can be challenging. when people don't show up when you make plans. when buses don't come on time. when they don't come on time and they are so full you feel like you have to suck in to fit in the door. when all of that happens on a rainy day and the windows on the bus all fog up. consider that along with the fact that most turkish men find it manly not to use deoderant. when people ask you questions you would be uncomfortable discussing with even close friends...such as how much do you weigh? you've gained kilos, haven't you? (note that ONE kilo is 2.2 pounds, slightly more offensive than gaining pounds).... when you just get tired of hearing another language, and like my roommate, want everyone to just start speaking english.... those things can be challenging.

but, i love it here. i have learned a lot. i have grown a lot. i have had my whole perspective on a lot of things changed....a lot. i've seen God work a lot. in a lot of people's lives. i've learned to find a LOT of joy in the seemingly tiny things that God does in people's lives (both here and in the states). i've lost some friends. i've gained many friends. i've been used by God when i was ready and willing. i've been used by God when i never expected it and was not very willing. i have met some incredibly loving people. i have been loved much. i've taught. i've learned. i've been taught and not learned.

i've taken 13,388 pictures. and those are the ones that i have not deleted. and actually, my computer crashed in october or november and i lost all of them before that, so in reality the number is much closer to 14,000. i know. i know.

i've become an aunt to an amazing little boy, jackson avery. i've been to ephesus, cappadocia, uludağ/bursa, antalya, adana, taurus mountains, an island called paşalimanı, atioch (all in turkey). i've also been to macedonia, america, london, paris, & through bulgaria.

i've learned a lot about depending on God in ways i have never had to before. i've failed a lot. i've fallen a lot. but i've gotten back up, moved on, and found grace along the way... much more than i expected. i've found healing and love too. and i've been reminded over and over how amazing of a God we as Christians worship. He is our redeemer. and i have been able to share it with several people who have never heard it before.

all in all, i would say it has been quite an amazing year. and i am excited to see what the next year holds...

[[next week i am going to lisbon, portugal to see some friends and i'll make sure to update about my trip to america, too!]]