Just Turkish

[Mina76 0]

We are doing well. As like you, very busy. And, we're still waiting for the 10 yr card approval. It looks like VSC has about a 10 processing time due to the TSC backlog transfers. Hopefully, we'll have the card next month or early Dec. *Xing fingers*

Sry to hear your feeling a little down. Certainly these current events are effecting everyone in one way or another. Hopefully we will see a turnaround soon.

Our little one is growing up fast. Hard to believe she's almost a year and a half!

I hope these can cheer you up. Enjoy! oh, and, congrats on buying a house! Very exciting!

Ohh my she is the sweetest little thing, I love especially the last pic!!!

I am glad to hear you and hubby are doing well, hope he gets his 10 yr GC sooner, GOD BLess!

[Mina76 0]

Your daughter is beautiful awaterlily!

I always wonder what my and Onur's children are going to look like - will they have brown hair like me, or his jet-black hair? My green eyes or his brown eyes? My little nose or his not-so-little nose? hehe. I am sure they will be beautiful no matter what, but I like to daydream about it. Thanks for sharing your pictures!

Hi Julia,

Of course your future children will be just as adorable, you guys make a cute couple too!

I know I also had daydreamed about my children way before I even thought to have children at the time, I even had names picked out if it was a boy or a girl!

So do you have any thoughts on names for them and will they be Turkish or American names??? I know I know, it's too soon to even think about it, but don't you just love thinking about it?

I will keep you all in my prayers for your AP approvals!

[JULIAFERNO 0]

Your daughter is beautiful awaterlily!

I always wonder what my and Onur's children are going to look like - will they have brown hair like me, or his jet-black hair? My green eyes or his brown eyes? My little nose or his not-so-little nose? hehe. I am sure they will be beautiful no matter what, but I like to daydream about it. Thanks for sharing your pictures!

Hi Julia,

Of course your future children will be just as adorable, you guys make a cute couple too!

I know I also had daydreamed about my children way before I even thought to have children at the time, I even had names picked out if it was a boy or a girl!

So do you have any thoughts on names for them and will they be Turkish or American names??? I know I know, it's too soon to even think about it, but don't you just love thinking about it?

I will keep you all in my prayers for your AP approvals!

Mina - yes I think about it all of the time and we've talked about it too. If we have a son, Onur wants to name him Achilles - I vetoed that and he got upset.

So far, he doesn't like the Turkish names that I like - he says they are all old and outdated...like I love his Mom's name Zehra. I tend to like the Turkish names that have some similarities to American/European names. We will see...but it definitely won't be Achilles

[awaterlily 0]

thanks, ladies. We think she's darn cute, too!

Julia - of course you'll have cute kids! You're a good looking couple!

It was fun guessing what she may look like when I was pregnant. But, you never know. I have blue eyes, DH has hazel. I have light brown hair (wear it blonde, though), DH has brownish black. Our daughter has brown eyes and black hair. However, both of us have family members with brown eyes and black hair.

We had a plan about the name. If it's a girl he picked the first name and I picked the middle. If it's a boy, I picked the first and he picked the middle. Of course we both had to agree to like what the other chooses.

She has a beautiful name - and looks every bit of it. But, sorry , I don't want to post it on this publicly viewable board! KWIM?

Your daughter is beautiful awaterlily!

I always wonder what my and Onur's children are going to look like - will they have brown hair like me, or his jet-black hair? My green eyes or his brown eyes? My little nose or his not-so-little nose? hehe. I am sure they will be beautiful no matter what, but I like to daydream about it. Thanks for sharing your pictures!

Hi Julia,

Of course your future children will be just as adorable, you guys make a cute couple too!

I know I also had daydreamed about my children way before I even thought to have children at the time, I even had names picked out if it was a boy or a girl!

So do you have any thoughts on names for them and will they be Turkish or American names??? I know I know, it's too soon to even think about it, but don't you just love thinking about it?

I will keep you all in my prayers for your AP approvals!

Mina - yes I think about it all of the time and we've talked about it too. If we have a son, Onur wants to name him Achilles - I vetoed that and he got upset.

So far, he doesn't like the Turkish names that I like - he says they are all old and outdated...like I love his Mom's name Zehra. I tend to like the Turkish names that have some similarities to American/European names. We will see...but it definitely won't be Achilles

[ErikaAndHamit 73]

Wowwww I haven't been here for weeks.

Yes Mina, I am back! And lo and behold!.... I see your husband is back today!!! Yay!!!! I am so happy for you. Now I bet we won't be seeing you for weeks (But yes, I had a wonderful time in Istanbul).

It was hot and humid for the first two days and then very rainy, cloudy and sometimes we had thunderstorms-it was soooo nice. It was Ramazan of course and we were good Muslims for like 2-3 days and then we gave up....lol We stayed across from the Blue Mosque and had a view of the park and all the music (which was the same night after night and got to be annoying ). Eating, walking and talking is mainly what we did as we wanted time to go slowwwww. I met his brother who was very nice as all his family is sweet, just like him. We also went to the Princes' Islands Buyukada and took the carriage ride up the small mountain-it was like I was in a fairy tale, albeit for one day.

I thought we would at least be annoyed (normal) once with each other after 2 weeks of non-stop being together, but it never happened. I think I have truly found my soul-mate.

I will try to put new pics for everyone of my trip within the next 2 days.

I see we have 1 more approval (galfeist) CONGRATULATIONS and thanks for sharing your experience with us all-it helps Hello Julia and Tanya...hope all is well for Tanya in school I know it's tough and I pray for an end to your wait. I have to read up on everyone here and get up-to-date on VJ. According to VJ I should be getting that NOA2 in a few weeks, but that seems to good t be true. I will keep you posted!

Erika

[ErikaAndHamit 73]

know it's tough and I pray for an end to your wait.

I meant this part for Julia and not Tanya...oops-although I know firsthand nursing school is a like a "wait" to be endured I meant this for Julia

Oh yes, I know what you mean about imaging your future kids Julia. I can't wait myself. How many are you planning?

[JULIAFERNO 0]

Wowwww I haven't been here for weeks.

Yes Mina, I am back! And lo and behold!.... I see your husband is back today!!! Yay!!!! I am so happy for you. Now I bet we won't be seeing you for weeks (But yes, I had a wonderful time in Istanbul).

It was hot and humid for the first two days and then very rainy, cloudy and sometimes we had thunderstorms-it was soooo nice. It was Ramazan of course and we were good Muslims for like 2-3 days and then we gave up....lol We stayed across from the Blue Mosque and had a view of the park and all the music (which was the same night after night and got to be annoying ). Eating, walking and talking is mainly what we did as we wanted time to go slowwwww. I met his brother who was very nice as all his family is sweet, just like him. We also went to the Princes' Islands Buyukada and took the carriage ride up the small mountain-it was like I was in a fairy tale, albeit for one day.

I thought we would at least be annoyed (normal) once with each other after 2 weeks of non-stop being together, but it never happened. I think I have truly found my soul-mate.

I will try to put new pics for everyone of my trip within the next 2 days.

I see we have 1 more approval (galfeist) CONGRATULATIONS and thanks for sharing your experience with us all-it helps Hello Julia and Tanya...hope all is well for Tanya in school I know it's tough and I pray for an end to your wait. I have to read up on everyone here and get up-to-date on VJ. According to VJ I should be getting that NOA2 in a few weeks, but that seems to good t be true. I will keep you posted!

Erika

Hi Erika! It sounds like you had a wonderful time in Istanbul - thank you for sharing with us, it made me remember all of my time with Onur in Turkey. I know what you mean about spending your time eating, walking, and talking. Most of my memories with Onur include one of these 3 things! We spent so much time talking over breakfast or dinner, walking around his town holding hands, eating sunflower seeds, or sitting at a cafe drinking tea and being love-birds I can't wait until I get to go back! If Onur's visa isn't approved by December, I am planning on spending my winter break there. We want to take a nice trip to Bodrum or someone in Turkey I haven't been yet. Any suggestions? I think I'll want to go somewhere warmer since it will be cold and snowy here in Ohio! I really would like to go to the Black Sea region, but I think we'd better save that for a summer time trip.

Welcome back and insallah you will get your NOA2 any day!

[tanyakaraman 0]

Hehe thanks Erika--I am definitely anxious for nursing clinicals to be OVER... That's not to say I'm not enjoying it and it's not interesting, but definitely tough! I am hanging in there tho...

So glad to hear your trip went well! Makes me miss the times Ozzy and I spent in Turkey...

Julia, if you're looking for a relatively warm place to visit, I recommend Antakya. It's in the south near Syria and used to actually be a part of Syria so the food and customs are a little different (if you go, you have to eat some kunefe!!). There are a lot of very interesting historical things around there to see as well if you're interested in ancient history. One of the most impressive mosaic museums is in Antakya and there is St. Peter's church and Titus Tunel (ancient cave tombs) in nearby Samandag. Not to mention its a quick trip across the border into Syria if you're interested (but I think you have to obtain a visa in the US before you go). That's something I've always wanted to do but haven't done yet. Also, if you travel there by bus, you get to see a lot of the country in passing. Ozzy's sister lives there so we've visited several times and its always very warm.

There's also Side (very touristy) and Antalya...

We're tentatively planning to go back in November but will probably just visit Istanbul and Izmit (where his parents live) and possibly Afyon (I'm hoping!).

Hi to everyone!!

~Tanya

[JULIAFERNO 0]

know it's tough and I pray for an end to your wait.

I meant this part for Julia and not Tanya...oops-although I know firsthand nursing school is a like a "wait" to be endured I meant this for Julia

Oh yes, I know what you mean about imaging your future kids Julia. I can't wait myself. How many are you planning?

Erika - I'd like 2 or 3 children, depending on our financial status What about you?

[wendya 0]

Merhaba Everyone.

Mina, so glad to hear that your hubby is back home!! Wonderful news!! I also want to thank you for always being so kind and caring. You are a wonderful person and you just make everyone feel better!!!

Erika, your trip sounds wonderful. Like the other said, it brings back wonderful memories for me too!! I would love to go to Prince's Island next time I visit. I have seen it from the ferry many times.

awaterlily, Your daughter is so beautiful!!! The do grow fast. I remember when my niece was 7 days old and now she is 17!!! Time flies (unless you are waiting on the visa process!!)

Tanya, So glad to hear your clinical classes are going well. I remember when my friends were going through them. They worked very hard!!

Julia, hope you hear an answer soon!! I too often wondered about children, but my time is running out and I am so afraid if I have them now, there may be health issues. Especially since I work with handicapped children and see what their parents have to go through!

Oh, I finally heard from the Athens office. I had written to them 2 times over the past few months with no answer. Then I wrote to Rome and asked if they knew anything regarding our case. Rome forwarded my e-mail to Athens and low and behold, Athens answered. They said that they wanted to finish adjudicating our case, but were waiting on the fingerprint check Yilmaz did from the embassy in Ankara. They said they had asked several months ago with no answer, but would now follow up! What were they waiting for!!! So, more waiting!!

Well, happiness and hugs to everyone!! Take Care

~Wendy

[wendya 0]

Hi to Debra and John too!!

[tanyakaraman 0]

Merhaba Wendy! Wow, good thing you kept after them! They might have never followed up otherwise!

It really irks me to imagine those piles of papers sitting in an office somewhere..those papers that hold the key to so many peoples hopes, dreams and futures... and the people that are getting paid to process them seem so lackadaisical about it!

(sorry I get a lil worked up sometimes LOL!)

Hopefully now things will get moving for your case!!!

Best Wishes!

Tanya

[wendya 0]

Thanks Tanya. I really appreciate how supportive you (and everyone else too) have been.

I know, I was so mad when they told me they asked several months ago!! And, like I said, they only answered because Rome sent them an e-mail. I had e-mailed them twice before with no response!!

How are you and Ozzy? Still very busy I am sure. At least we have been having beautiful weather!! Last night was so clear and warm and the moon so bright and full. It is nights like those that I miss Yilmaz even more (if that is possible).

Thanks again. Take Care.

Hugs,

Wendy

[JULIAFERNO 0]

Thanks Tanya. I really appreciate how supportive you (and everyone else too) have been.

I know, I was so mad when they told me they asked several months ago!! And, like I said, they only answered because Rome sent them an e-mail. I had e-mailed them twice before with no response!!

How are you and Ozzy? Still very busy I am sure. At least we have been having beautiful weather!! Last night was so clear and warm and the moon so bright and full. It is nights like those that I miss Yilmaz even more (if that is possible).

Thanks again. Take Care.

Hugs,

Wendy

I wonder if he is now going through the same AP/Security Clearance that Onur is now in. Seems like it is often the last phase before issuing the visa.

Let's hope we hear something good soon!

[tanyakaraman 0]

We are both doing well. Ozzy was just elected president of the International Club at college! I am so proud of him The kids and I start humming "Hail to the Cheif" whenever he walks into the room LOL.

My school is going very well too and the kids are doing fine. We have just been so incredibly busy though. Ozzy also just changed jobs, and while he likes his new job a lot more, the hours run later in the evening while I work during the day and leave the house very early in the AM. Also, I am doing my clinicals in the evening, so there are 2 nights a week where I actually get home later than him. So needless to say, there are lots of days where we hardly see each other, and when we do, we are both just completely exhausted! We do communicate by phone a lot during the day and he is so very good at communication, so I am happy (or at least too tired to mind much )

Our 1-year anniversary is coming up next week...I can't believe it has been a year already (and yet sometimes I can't remember a time before he was here). I am sending some wishes your way for you and Yilmaz to be together soon and for the day to come when all this waiting will just be a distant memory.....

More of the same for Julia and Erika too!

~Tanya

Thanks Tanya. I really appreciate how supportive you (and everyone else too) have been.

I know, I was so mad when they told me they asked several months ago!! And, like I said, they only answered because Rome sent them an e-mail. I had e-mailed them twice before with no response!!

How are you and Ozzy? Still very busy I am sure. At least we have been having beautiful weather!! Last night was so clear and warm and the moon so bright and full. It is nights like those that I miss Yilmaz even more (if that is possible).

Thanks again. Take Care.

Hugs,

Wendy