Have you ever seen a photograph of a place that instantly captured your desire to travel and visit that location? That is how we came to visit Cappadocia, Turkey. You can probably imagine what the photo captured. The iconic landscape of the Cappadocia valleys, during the sunrise, with countless hot air balloons magically floating above.

While that view alone is a good enough reason to visit this ancient natural landscape, here are 10 reasons you absolutely must visit Cappadocia!

Before we get started, here are some basic facts about Turkey. First off, the capital is Ankara, which is a couple hours flight from Istanbul, and lies on the Asian part of Turkey. The language is Turkish, and they have their own currency known as the Turkish Lira. Currently 1 TRY is equivalent to 0.26 USD, though be sure to check the rates before your trip. It is a predominantly Muslim country, though has a great deal of Christian roots.

Now, unto why the region of Cappadocia is a must-have on your bucket list!

1. The Fairy Houses

The secret to the magic of this area is the unique and incredible rock formations to be seen. The well dubbed Fairy Houses are no exception! Not only is their natural shape fascinating, but the fact that humans actually lived inside some of them just makes them feel like homes straight out of a fairy tale! This romantic and beautiful location makes it a popular place for wedding photos.

2.Underground City

This may be the deepest you ever climb down into the earth! If you take a tour to visit some of the ancient and incredible human settlements that used the natural landscape to their advantage, you will be blown away. The deepest one is known as Derinkuyu, which goes as deep at 8 stories! It even connects with another underground city via an underground tunnel!

3. Cave Boutique Hotels

Ever wanted to sleep in a cave filled with luxurious furniture? Here's your chance! If you go to Cappadocia, please, please, please stay at Canyon Cave Hotel ! Most hotels here are small and personally run by the owner. The owner of our boutique hotel is a very sweet and charming man, Murat. He will make it his personal mission to ensure you enjoy yourself not just in his hotel but while in Cappadocia area. He arranged everything for us in terms of the tours and hot air balloon ride, which made our time in Cappadocia all the more relaxing! Also, sleeping in a cave just might change your life!

4. Open Air Museum

This is not a typical museum. It isn't in a building, it doesn't have walls or displays. Instead it's an open area that is a UNESCO world heritage site. You can visit churches that have been carved into the rock, see ancient fresco paintings, and hike around.

5. Pigeon Valley

Talk about a view! Not sure if I need to say much more. The history of why it's called Pigeon Valley is an interesting one, so be sure to ask your tour guide to tell you!

6. Cheap Food

Turkey isn't a very pricey place to travel in, but the price of food is relatively low compared to most of their commodities. So that's always a bonus! While I'm not absolutely crazy about Turkish food (I blame early pregnancy symptoms that wouldn't let me enjoy food), we did enjoy some Turkish dishes at low costs, which always helps a traveller make their travel money go further! One dish I do recommend is roasted eggplant and fresh yogurt. This is an appetizer that is served hot or cold, I tried it cold and it is quite yummy!

7. Incredible Landscapes

There is more to the region than rocky canyons and caves. Be prepared to take numerous panoramas of landscapes that are so gorgeous and unique! There are hills and hidden valleys with streams. It's a nature-lover's dream! My favourite is probably of this mountain range we took a quick pit stop at during our tour. It looks like something out of a Tolkien novel!

8. Rich Ancient History

If you are even only a minor history buff, you will be very impressed with the interweaving layers of history that Cappadocia carries. I was particularly blown away by the early Christian history that took place in the very caves, hills and valleys we explored.

9. Small Town/Country Feel

This whole area is a cluster of small cities and towns scattered throughout the canyons. It is a nice break from metropolitan traffic of cars and people that you normally encounter on holidays. This is a very different and unique nature experience that will stand out in your memories for years to come!

10. Hot Air Balloon Ride

This is the iconic, bucket list-worthy item of Cappadocia. I hope you are not afraid of heights! This is truly a unique experience. Wake up long before the crack of dawn. Hop on a balloon. Rise up along with the sun. Soar above the breath-taking views. Please check the weather expectations during your stay. I recommend staying at least 3 days so as not to miss your chance to catch a low breeze!



Have you been convinced to buy a ticket to Cappadocia, yet? Have you been there before? Is it still on your bucket list? Let me know in the comments below! I hope your wanderlust is inspired!

What Goes in the Stocking

I hope to keep my thoughts organized as I write this. But honestly I'm writing this in the spur of the moment, so bear with me as I plunge down memory lane and reflect on what I learned in my first year in motherhood. The good, the bad, the ugly, and the beautiful beyond words.

Test Shows Positive

When I first found out I was pregnant, I didn't have a reaction of thrill and bliss. I cried. I screamed. I said "NO, not now!". I had plans, I had a timeline. We were living halfway across the world in Egypt and we had already signed to work another year.

And now all those plans were being altered and thrown out the window. If I'm honest, I'm ashamed of my reaction. Even though it only lasted maybe an hour. After a good cry in our AirBNB in Odessa, Ukraine, I started to think of the life inside of me. My mood started to shift.

By the time my husband came back from the market where he bought a shirt for the Swan Lake ballet we were going to see, I had calmed down. But I was still whirling with emotions and a bit stunned. Wayne's reaction was much better than mine.

As the evening progressed, I grew warmer to the idea of having a baby. After all, it's not like I didn't want children, I always knew I wanted to be a mom. But my schedule went haywire, and I had a hard time coping.

Read More: Letting Go of Control

God allows all kinds of circumstances to happen to teach us one of the greatest lessons He repeatedly drills into us: be humble.

I look back now, and I see someone who was so incredibly selfish and proud. Someone who thought she could control so much more than was in her power, and had kept God out of the loop of what decisions she made.

Accepting This Gift

Once I accepted that this was my new reality, that night at the ballet I started falling in love with this anonymous being who was making us go from couple status to family.

God created marriage, and He created families. And even though there are a lot of broken marriages and families out there, even the secular world still recognizes the amazing beauty in these institutions.

So I suppose the steady progression of love and excitement about my pregnancy came somewhat naturally, since it is part of my female design.

If you follow me on social media, especially if you have been around for a while, you know I really enjoyed my pregnancy. Not all of it, -who can love heartburn or nausea?- but I was constantly filled with amazement and wonder by what my body could do. There were days I was more than happy to give my body up to bring a new life into the world. There were days I cried and cried in pain.

Read More: My First Trimester

That being said, my pregnancy in general was not only relatively normal and healthy, but I grew increasingly more in love with my unborn baby, who I found out was going to be a girl.

We were so overjoyed when we found out we were having a girl, Wayne even cried. I know we would have loved a baby boy as well, but we're human and we have desires. And God chose to grant us this one.

Birth & Labour

I won't go into too much detail since I have a whole post dedicated to my birth and labour experience.

As far as births go, mine went pretty well and I consider myself so incredibly blessed. Baby girl was born healthy, I had a bit of eclampsia during the final stage of labour, but it didn't affect it.

On December 14th at 5:52 pm, we welcomed Laurie Grace to the world, and my heart exploded!

All I remember, after she was out, was looking at her as the doctor held her up and being STUNNED. All I could think was, did this really come out of ME? Something so beautiful, so perfect, came from my body?

She was so ALIVE. She had hair, toenails, the most beautiful nose and quite the set of lungs. Once again, I was so overcome with the miracle of pregnancy and birth. From two tiny cells, a complete unique human being was made, and she was finally in my arms...

Growing as a Mother & a Christian

This will likely sound super cliche, but it doesn't make it untrue. When my parents would say they loved me and how I won't know what that feels like until I have kids of my own, I used to think I probably knew the jist of it. I couldn't have been more wrong.

As I grew in love and motherhood, I learned a great deal of lessons along the way:

It was through Motherhood that I learned how your life completely changes forever.

It was through Motherhood that I understood more how God loves ME.

It was through Motherhood that I learned that happiness really does come from selflessness.

It was through Motherhood that I saw how flawed I am as a human being, in the moments where I lost my patience, wanted to throw in the towel, and generally just failed at being a decent person.

It was through Motherhood that I realized just how amazing and perfect and awesome God is as a Heavenly Father.

It was through Motherhood that I grew a whole new level of appreciation for my mother, and all that my parents sacrificed for me.

It was through Motherhood that I learned that I was wrong to think I knew what my parents were talking about, because the love I have for my baby girl is utterly like nothing I could ever explain or expect.

When in Doubt, Turn to God

Yes, being a mother is hard. Really hard. Like, really, really, really hard. And there isn't much to prepare you for how hard it can be. But I truly started seeing growth in patience and understanding as I spent more time in God's word and I shed more layers of selfishness that always get in the way of a heavenly perspective, and from growing in the gifts of the spirit.

As I look back on my first year as a mother, I see the countless blessings and trials God brought throughout the journey. I grew in so many ways, and I know I still have a long way to go.

My goal and prayer for this next year, and every year to come, is to make sure I never stray away from a Christ-Centered motherhood. So that I may not only grow in patience, kindness and wisdom, but instill Laurie (and any future children) with the life-giving truths of God's Word. So that she may one day become a follower of Christ herself.


This the conclusion of my thoughts of reflection upon this last year that changed the course of my life, my ambitions, my goals and even to some extent, my dreams. It certainly changed my body, whoa boy! But that's a topic for another day...

I hope you enjoyed these ponderings. If you are a new mom, I want to say: welcome to the journey! Now strap in, because you're in for one heck of a wonderful ride! With ups and downs, stress and exhilaration. And it's going to be one of the most beautiful things you will ever witness.

As always, thoughts, comments, musings, are welcome down below.

Oh, my beautiful, dearest Ireland! How I love thee! And you will love Ireland too! It is definitely one of the top most friendly countries I have ever visited, twice, and I desperately want to go back again!

If you have never been to the Emerald island, then here is a bit of an extensive guide to get your planning started. With countless sites, locations, food and places to check out, there is something for everyone whether you are single or a family, shoestring traveller or luxury traveller. Ireland is especially good for nature lovers and hikers, so bring a camera and good shoes. If you are social and like chatting with locals, there is no better place!

Without further ado, here are things to do on your trip to Ireland:

The Basics:

Currency: Ireland is part of the EU and uses the Euro. Prices are neither cheap nor expensive, though Dublin is where you will see the highest prices for accommodation and food.

When to go: Ireland is probably best during the months of March-October, since the winters can be quite chilly, rainy and cloudy. But overall the weather is relatively mild, so if you choose to come in the off season, simply be well dressed with warm socks, good boots, a decent jacket and hat!

What to do in Dublin

This city is full of hustle and bustle, with plenty of things to do, all within walking distance in the city center.

St. Patrick's Cathedral

Not only is this a beautiful example of a medieval church, it is the tallest in Ireland! Named after the most famous Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is reason enough to check it out!

Temple Bar

The most famous bar in Dublin, found in the area known as Temple Bar. Yes, slightly confusing, but it's not difficult to find. It is recognizable by it's bright red walls and busy crowd, likely watching a football match with a pint or two.

St. Stephen Park

A beautiful green space and park that has it's original Victorian layout. Great place to take a rest, maybe have a picnic, or people watch.

Trinity College

A beautiful and impressive establishment, I highly recommend visiting not just the college, but the every famous Book of Kells exhibit. If you love books, these old texts will give your inner bookworm a thrill! Gorgeous pages that have preserved the ancient manuscript skills of monks long passed.

Kilmainham Gaol (Prison)

Want to see where Irish revolutionaries stayed while imprisoned? You can! In fact, you can stand in their very cell. This historic building comes with a very good tour of the building, along with haunting stories to make chills go up your spine...

The Brazen Head

The oldest pub in Dublin still stands today! If you are lucky, there may be some live music, but if not it is still a great cozy place for a good Irish meal!

Guinness Storehouse

If you don't like Guinness before you visit the museum, you will fall in love with it by the time you are done! There is absolutely no comparison to Guinness bought abroad to a pint in the very factory where it is made!

Dublin Writers Museum - I'm a word nerd. So I'm adding this to the list in case anyone else is a fan of literature! Or at least a fan of James Joyce.

Day Trips From Dublin

Wicklow Mountains

To the south of the capital is a huge national park in the County Wicklow. You will need a tour bus to get here, or car rental. It is a perfect place to hike and see the biodiversity of Ireland. The mountains are not that high, so the hiking is not that intense, which is good news for anyone who is not much of a climber. Everything is lush, green and peaceful. There are little streams and waterfalls. You can also visit the Glendalough Monastery ruins.

Howth

Nothing says quaint coastal town like Howth! It is an easy ride on the DART from Dublin. A super lovely town to stroll through, explore little shops, eat amazing fish and chips, and have nature walks by the ocean! You may even see a seal in the marina, really close and personal! It isn't a large town, so there is plenty of time to see both Lighthouses, the Castle and the Abbey. Howth is mostly known for its fish and cliff views, so be sure to enjoy both as well!

What to do on the Coast

West Coast- See Galway and Cliffs of Moher:

Probably the top destination in Ireland besides Dublin. The West coast boasts of incredible sites both of nature and historic. Galway is a young and hip town, thanks to all the students living there. Beautiful shops lining cobbled streets and right along the coast, so you can get a big whiff of that beautiful salty ocean air.

The Cliffs of Moher are the main thing to see on the West Coast. Dauntingly beautiful. Be sure to bring a jacket, as it always seems to be windy! If you are taking a tour bus from Galway to the cliffs, you will likely also stop by to see the Poulnabrone ancient tomb site. For me, this was especially cool, since there is likely some distant relatives of mine buried there.

What to do in Northern Ireland

What to Eat

Food

Irish Beef Stew - a staple of Irish cuisine. It is typically accompanied with soda bread on the side, though you may have the option of Guinness bread as well.

Bangers & Mash - Mashed potatoes and sausages! Very simple but very heart and delicious!

Fish N Chips - fish is common in general, since so much of Ireland is coastal. But I'm pretty sure Howth is where I had the best fish n chips!

Lamb - Whether you have it with potatoes, have it as chops, or in a stew, you're not having the full Irish experience without eating some lamb. During a trip with my friend Jeff, we chose to buy our own lamb chops and cook it ourselves. It was delicious!

Drink

Guinness - starting with the best! Even if you've never really liked dark beers, give Guinness a chance! I definitely didn't like my first taste, but by my third, I found I actually really liked it! It is the most fresh at the Guinness museum of course.

Harp - If you're not too keen on stout and dark beers, than maybe this light lager will suit your fancy. It is lighter and smoother in taste, making it similar to other European beers.

Irish Whiskey - Ireland is not only proud of their beer but also of their whiskey! And they should be. We went to a local pub to listen to traditional music, and I had a terrible headache. Our host suggested a shot of whiskey, and wouldn't you know it, my headache was gone within minutes!



This concludes my basic guide to Ireland. I think everyone should visit this beautiful, friendly and amazing country! If you are planning a trip soon, or have visited the Emerald island before, let us know in the comments below!

Today I'm sharing something a little different, in light of the holiday season that is here!

I want to talk to you about my favourite Christmas song of all time. It's not in the top ten most sung songs, and it probably isn't the one you're thinking of right now. Although if you guessed "O Holy Night", it is a close second!

The song is "Mary, Did You Know?", specifically the Pentatonix rendition. If you haven't heard it yet, please take a listen. I promise it's very beautiful, and even if it isn't your cup of tea, you can come back here where I will tell you why I think it's one of the best Christmas songs of all time.

It's not just the voices and the melody that make a song amazing, but the words. What are the messages in this song that impact me every time I hear it? Or better yet, what are the truths sung in this song that brings so much hope, love and adoration?

Here are the 3 main, yet incredibly powerful truths found in "Mary, Did You Know?"

The Truth of the Humanity & Divinity of Christ

The song is sung to Mary, the mother of Jesus. And throughout the entire song, she is asked all these questions that do two things consistently.

1) Recognize the humanity of Christ
2) Recognize the Divinity of Christ

Repeatedly the song refers to Jesus as Mary's "baby boy", her "little baby", and "sleeping child". When you first hold a baby, one is usually struck with how real and alive this little bundle is. This song repeatedly reminds us that Jesus was very real and very human. So human that he experienced the full life of a human being, starting with conception and birth.

With every mention of Mary's "baby boy", we are introduced to the divinity of Christ. The fact that he can "walk on water", and "give sight to a blind man" or "calm the storms with his hand" all point to the divine power of Christ. These miracles performed by Jesus authenticated his claim to be God, and also demonstrates, in part, the Trinity and unity of Christ and his Heavenly Father.

This crucial part of Jesus's identity has been mocked, ridiculed, questioned and doubted since his birth and till this day. He is both a man and God, just as he claimed, and this song makes a point of it with this line of questioning. It even states it quite poignantly: "Mary, did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?" This is a beautiful and powerful truth.

"And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14

The Truth of the Role of the Saviour

God's plan to save and redeem the lost though Jesus' sacrifice, death and resurrection, was planned even before creation. God knew it was the only thing that could save us from eternal separation from him. This song reminds us why Jesus came. To "save our sons and daughters", to be "Heaven's perfect lamb" of sacrifice who would "delivery you" from the punishment of sin.

Christmas is the most marketed and socially celebrated holiday, even though Christmas is nothing more than the opening scene for Easter. Yes, it was a historical moment when God's son came down in human form, but it is ultimately what happened at the end of his life on earth that changed the world.

I love "Away in a Manger" as much as anyone else, but to have a Christmas song that points to Easter just brings the whole manger scene into perspective. The phrases I quoted above point to the Gospel, the reason Jesus came in the first place. To be the lamb that would take on the sins of the world, to take the punishment we deserve.

But he doesn't just die. He is raised, and he is victorious. "Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?". This points to the second coming. Not just Christ the son of God, not just the sacrificial lamb, but Christ the victorious King who will end the reign of evil and rule the world in everlasting peace.

"...for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11

The Truth of the Sovereignty of God

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.”’ God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘The LORD [that is, Yahweh!], the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.”

John Piper, in his sermon series of "Hallowed be Thy Name", speaks of this passage:


"There aren’t any words more important than these. Any words that you think might be are important only because these words are true. The more you ponder them, the more awesome they become."