Phillip and Rebecca Mefford

Stores in Turkey are marketing New Years as a time to buy presents. While we are a little befuddled at the prevelant misconception that Christmas and New Years are the same thing, paired with our own hesitations about commercialism, the season has at least shown us the ever generous nature of our Turkish friends. This photo shows a tricycle one friend gave to our children-- much to their enjoyment-- as a yeni yıllar hediyesi , New Year's Present. We never cease to feel grateful for the kind people that surround us here.  May your New Year be filled with kindness, friendship, and joy.  - Phillip and Rebecca, Lincoln Umut, and Hudson Kerem Mefford

Wishing you another wonderful season of celebrating the birth of Jesus, the Messiah.  Kutlu Noeller .  Merry Christmas. 

We often attend church in Antalya, one and a half to two hours from where we live. Being with other believers on the advent of Christmas is such a good thing. And so is the Starbucks we indulged in before heading home. Totally worth the drive. 

We knocked on the door simply to share a dessert Rebecca had made with the neighbors who live below us, the apartment maintainence man and his family. They invited us in, food and conversation, watching a video of their wedding which took place in their home village ten years ago, and four hours later we found our way back upstairs to put our children to bed. Always a good evening when we develop new friendships and learn more about the culture we live in!

The whole time we lived in İstanbul we never found a library. Leave it up to a college town to have an easily accessible public library. And the kids section is great-- although the librarians are strict about silence!! Hopefully Lincoln will warm up to Turkish by reading some fun, colorful kids books. 

Lincoln hammig it up as we walk home from the pazar.  Snow is in the Isparta air, and despite the lack of commercial Christmas in Turkey, a holiday atmosphere is in our home. We love this time of year!

Today we were invited to enjoy some aşure pudding with our neighbors, a colorful soup/dessert commemorating Noah's journey aboard the ark. It was interesting to compare the stories we each have had a lifetime of hearing-- did Noah's wife board the boat along with her husband and all the animals? We looked to our respective Holy Books to see what similarities and differences there are between our understanding of this religious forefather.