Kaya's first Volleyball game

Kaya had her first Volleyball game on Thursday at Fultondale. It was humid and raining hard sot the gym was so ughhhhhhh. Anyway, Kaya did great! She was shy at first but once she started warming up, I could see her smiling and she was having a good time. I took pictures, of course, and you can see them on Facebook. They didn't win but she had fun! One of the things she stated she wanted to do was to overcome her shyness. Kaya is really working hard on that. I have seen her not want to do something because she was shy or scared, but do it anyway. And everytime, it was a good experince for her. Everytime she has told me, "It was fun!" I was so proud of her for not only joining the volleyball team but getting out there and playing even though she was scared. Her team will have to work hard to get used to playing with each other. I could definitely see that at the game. But they practice everyday and they will get better. All the girls on the team have been good to her too and Kaya has stated many times how much she likes her team. Maybe she will invite them over soon. But until then, I hope she keeps making friendships that will last in her memories forever!

Tannehill and Trade days!

It has been a while since I posted but we have been so busy!!! My first blog will be about Tannehill. I have been selling at Trade Days for about 3 years now. Once a month, we set out on the 3rd weekend to sell items at Tannehill. I usually just take my tent and me and the kids just camp out the old fashion way. I do have an airmatress though. I am too old and too big for the hard ground. The 30's have not been good to me:) Anyway, we decided to take the camper for this Trade Days weekend. Kaya had never seen a camper. I will say the slide amused her the most. She was like, "man it gets big". We have a 5th wheel with a bunk house. It is our second home, just on wheels. And it has all modern amenties. The satellite wouldn't pick up that weekend but we had plenty of videos.

We loaded up the family (Kaya is family now, so she is included in our phrase "family") on Thursday evening to take the camper and set up. Kaya and the kids just watched and walked around some while David and I set up the camper. When the camper was set up she took the tour. It was something completely different for her. Once we set up, it was dark so we were on our way home till tomorrow. Friday, Kaya had volleyball practice but after that, we headed up to Tannehill. My brother was already there camping with his fiancee' and family. Alexia also decided to bring some extra kids too. So it was a camper full! We had dinner. It was hotdogs since it was late. Deer were out everywhere. So much nature everywhere. Just so relaxing. I want to say Kaya enjoyed the different scenery. After a little while of hanging out outside, we all went to bed.

Saturday morning I was up bright and early to set up my booth. I left everyone else at the camper to sleep in and would come back for them later. Well, within and hour or so, I was on my way to get them from the camper. The natives were restless and driving Kaya crazy! I had to rescue her and quick. My kids plus 2 extra kids can be a lot for one Kaya...hehe. I dropped them off at the train station in the park so they could ride the train to Trade Days. It was fun for them. When Kaya got there, she was in heaven. See, I sell purses and jewelry and lots of girlie things. Needless to say, Kaya got 2 new cool purses, a wallet, a lunchbox, a dufflebag and some jewelry. It was the least I could do since she is always helping me with Alexia and Zach. She seemed to enjoy watching all the different people. And yes everyone, she knows what a redneck is now! She even has some fans of her own. The one boy just loved to come talk to her. It was too funny. She was like, ewww. She tried boiled peanuts and kettlecorn too. Lots of firsts for her this weekend.

Day one of Trade days was over and back to the camper. I grilled out some yummy chicken and we had my famous macaroni and cheese, broccoli and some rice. There was 10 of us eating so I had to have lots of different things. Kaya seems to like my cooking so that makes it fun to cook. I have cooked so much more since she arrived. It was like a new love for cooking started. David loves it too! He said someone could come stay with us all them time if he got dinner like this from now on. Too funny! My mom and sister came up too for the evening and we all hung out. We took Kaya down to the springs to play in the water. It was cold!!! But they had a good time. Finally it was dark so we had to go back to the camper. Oh, I took lots of pictures of them too before dark. Check out Facebook for all those pictures. Anyway, we were back at the camper ready for shower time. We all went to the bathhouse since there were so many of us. We had a blast playing in there and cutting up while we got ready. Kaya really opened up this weekend and was such a cutup. It was fun! A deer walked back with us to the camper. Yes, these deer would just come up to you. It was crazy! We settled in for bed after that to get ready for a new day!

Sunday morning came and I headed to my booth alone again. This time my mom was there so she could handle the natives! My mom cooked them an awesome breakfast of eggs, biscuits and bacon. Alexia and Kaya both share a love of bacon. They both ate one pack of bacon by themselves! Boy was I glad I brought 2. They rode the train somemore and by 1pm we were ready to call it a day. We packed up the camper and headed home to a family reunion. On the way to leave, the battery in my car started dying. We had to stop off in Gardendale for a new battery before we went home. Ugh. The kids were great though and I know the guys at Advance Auto were giggling. I had 4 kids, Kaya and my mom with me. They gave the kids drinks and I spent $20.00 on snacks. They all sat in the floor by the window inside till time to go. The guy that worked there couldn't believe how good they were. I think the kids knew better:)

We finally got home and David whisked Kaya and the kids to the family reunion by golf cart. He just wanted everyone to see his kids. The family reunion was at his parents house. We swam and had some yummy food. We were the last to leave. Trent, David's baby brother, decided to be funny and start wrestling with me. Well, Kaya has the funny pictures of me layed out on the ground from the wrestling match! Boy am I out of shape!!! We went home after my defeat (hehe) and got ready for bed. Monday would be here soon.....

A normal night at the Turner's

Well, normal is a far stretch, but for everyone who knows me, they know that I love to keep busy. Last night was no different than any other night. David is cutting grass, the kids are running around on the golf cart and I am attempting to get chores done. So much for those chores. Both of my brothers came over and Pat, Misty and Anna Kate from church came over too. The house is messy right now, but come on in. Life is fast in the Turner household. You just have to sit down, buckle up and get ready for a ride! I believe Kaya sees what a close family I have. She sees at least one of them everyday. I am blessed with a wonderful family, friends and church family. Of course the house has been an little bit extra busy due to everyone wanting to meet Kaya. Everyone is so excited for her to be here!

Last night we asked her if Alabama was a place she wanted to be placed for her stay and she was like, no. She chuckled. But she did say she is glad now she is here and she really likes it. She said that she comes from a very populate area. We are definitely not that and that is why we live here. You have to be able to slow down and look at the stars, smell the fresh air, enjoy the breezes that pass. I sit here this morning before everyone else gets up enjoying the beautiful view. It reminds me of the smokies for whatever reason. The trees as far as my eye can see. God's beauty all around me. I complain about living here sometimes because it is far to drive everyone, but the are many positives to that too. City life is just not for us:)

My brother, Branden, has started becoming pretty good friends with Kaya too. He is 17 and a senior at Mortimer Jordan (my alma mater). I am glad that he has been here to have a person her age around. Alexia thinks she is Kaya's age but she is not. He tells her about high school and stuff teenagers do here. I am sure what I did as a teenager is different than today. Yesterday, Kaya, Branden, Alexia and Zach rode the golf cart over to Grandmama's to go swimming. Kaya has enjoyed going swimming everyday. Grandmama feed them all while there were there. She had meatloaf and macaroni and cheese. She loved it. She had never had macaroni and cheese! That is a staple in our house. She still hasn't had my homemade mac n cheese yet.

After everyone left, we decided to watch the new Disney movie, Return to Witch Mountain. Man, that was good. David cooked us Chips and Cheese in the oven while we watched. Kaya liked those too. I am glad she did because we cook them all the time. After the movie we called it a night.

Well, today and tomorrow we are having a yard sale at my mom's house in Gardendale. For those of you who asked me had I told Kaya what a Redneck was. I will be able to show her today I bet...hehehe. I love yard sales!

A gift from Kaya

Last night after all our guests were gone, Kaya came down with a bag and told me she had presents for David and I. It was so cute because she was excited about the gifts. So, finally David came in and she gave us our gifts. First she gave us a lei with the colors of her country. Very cute! Next, she gave us 2 gifts to unwrap. The one I opened was a 2010 calendar of Munster, Germany, her home. The pictures in the calendar were so beautiful! The gift that David opened was a book on Munster, Germany. Now we can read up on her home town. At first we saw it only in German, but it has an English side. Yea! She brought us German Gummy Bears and German Chocolate Bars. The gummy bears were like ours but much bigger. Alexia loved them! I personally loved the chocolate. It was so good! It was so creamy and smooth. Yum!!!

Kaya also has been teaching us words in German. Did you know that ich is I in english? She was showing us her German Facebook and we were guessing the words. It was fun. Some of the words were alot like ours but one letter changed in the word. She was also teaching us about the vowel sounds. They have 3 different sounds per vowel which is the different dots and stuff over the vowels. I will learn some German by the time she leaves. Kaya seems to like to teach us as much as she is enjoying learning our words and culture. We are going to have to set up our "German" night for her to teach us. Maybe some of our friends will want to learn too. I would love to be able to speak a foreign language!

Settlers of Catan...a nerd game???

David has guys over from church every Wednesday night at our house for food and game night. It is his Bible study class from Sunday night and sometimes a few other guys from the Church. Last night our preacher, Joey and and his teacher, John were at the house. They play Settlers of Catan pretty much every time. If you have never heard of this game, I am not surprised. A few years ago we went to Utah to stay with a good friend. She had this game and David and his family loved it. Personally, I hate strategy games. They are boring to me. Anyway, Settlers is a somewhat German game. David and Joey were asking Kaya if she knew the game and played it. In a funny response from her she told them she did when she was younger but not now because it was a nerd game. I just died laughing!!! She didn't want to tell them that but they kept asking her. It was so funny.

Shopping with Ashley

Good morning all. Kaya had a fun yesterday with Aunt Ashley. It is funny to say Aunt Ashley because she is only 22. Ashley is the newest member of our family and is married to David's brother Trent. She reminds me so much of myself at that age and I guess that is why we get along so well:) Kaya and Ashley have hit it off from the start. Ashley and Trent were the first ones to get to spend time with Kaya when she came to Alabama. We were in Miami Beach when Kaya's flight came in. Since Ashley is close to Kaya's age they have instantly became friends. With that said, Ashley came and got Kaya yesterday and took her shopping and to tour Corner High School.

Ashley is a graduate of Corner so it was easy for her to take Kaya and show her around. I have personally never been in the High School. My daughter is in Elementary school and I am a graduate of Mortimer Jordan (a rival school of Corner). I was so glad Ashley took her. It was a quiet atmosphere where Kaya could see where she would be going and Ashley got to remember when she was there. I am glad that Ashley is spending extra time with Kaya. She is a wonderful Christian woman whom has been successful so far in her young adult life. She has finished college and is a nurse at Children's Hospital ER. A very good role model in my book:) Anyway, now that we have gotten to know Ashley on with the story.

After the school visit, Ashley took her to the Family Christian Book store to get Kaya a Bible. Ashley did ask her if she wanted a Bible and she did. Coming to the South, you are in the "Bible Belt" as people say. Our family is very big believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and we hope to share that experience with anyone we can. God is Great! That sums in up in a short sentence. Anyway, Kaya got the cutest Bible I have seen. It has pink paisleys with a blue grayish color on it. It is for a young woman with devotions in it. That was so sweet of Ashley to give Kaya such a wonderful and powerful gift. Kaya was very proud to show us her new Bible last night. It even had her name on it!

Next, they headed over to the Galleria Mall in Hoover. They went to Plato's closet to look at clothes too. Nothing like a great deal on some consignment clothes. Kaya got her a few things there too since she didn't bring a lot of clothes with her. She also went and picked out her bedding for her new room. That was important to me for her to do. I want her to feel like she is family while she is away from her own. I also want her parents to feel comfortable with us. I have had the pleasure of emailing with Kaya's mother, Doris. Such a sweet lady. It made me feel so good to know she was happy with us and that I could talk with her and learn more about Kaya. We are also Facebook friends. Her parents can look at our pictures and get to know us and also see pictures we take of Kaya. I want them to communicate as much as they can with Kaya and us. Technology is great! Kaya's brother is helping her mom communicate with us since she said her English is rusty. At least she knows English. I hear and see German and know nothing. But I hope to learn. Today though, I will head back to the mall to pick up her bedding so her room can start being complete:)

Ashley also bought Kaya the all important Auburn Football shirt. Yes, that is right, WAR EAGLE baby! Football is king in the South, especially the SEC College league. In the state of Alabama, you are either for Alabama or Auburn. We did tell Kaya about this of course. You have to pick a team:) Anyway, she picked our wonderful Auburn football team. Yea!!! I cannot wait to see what she thinks of football season. I am really into football and I am very competitive. More than David is. I hope that we can take her to a football game. Shoot, I have never been to a college game. Only watch it on TV. That will be a blog to come.....

They ate some Chinese at the Mancho Wok in the mall. I think she liked it except for the eggrolls and wontons. You cannot like everything:) They also went to the Cookie Company. David is known for his love of Peanut Butter double doozies. Kaya was excited to hand him a bag with his cookie that she got him. Her sweet face lit up as she handed him the bag with his favorite cookie. She is such a giving young lady. I guess she was happy to be giving him a gift:) Of course, she did bring us a cookie too which was very sweet. Another good day...

Doctors, more food and softball

Today started out the way it has been everyday. Kaya and Alexia are at home hanging out and going swimming. Alexia is making a constant mess and I come home and clean it up. I am trying to keep my cool with Alexia, but she is making it hard. I know Alexia is only 8, but she is wise beyond her years at times. She shows Kaya stuff around the house, talks to her about things in the house (like how to set the house alarm) and going riding around in the golf cart. To set the scene, we live in the country and it is beautiful. You can go outside and watch the trees blow in the wind. You can just get lost in yourself and relax. I feel like Kaya has enjoyed just riding around looking at the pastures with cows and all the trees and scenery. I had noticed the pictures that she took. One was a picture of a pasture. I had never seen the beauty in that pasture I passed by daily but today, I saw it. So beautiful, so magestic. The picture through a different set of eyes. I have a feeling that I will notice a lot more things.

Alexia had a doctors appointment for her 8 year check up today. Kaya is such a good sport and went with us. We were hoping to go shopping but that didn't work out today. Alexia ran off on the golf cart when it was time to leave for the doctors office and we were late. Kaya had to hear Alexia get punished today. I hated that but Alexia will try to run over me if she can. She is too smart in some ways. We have to get Kaya's blue card for school and will go tomorrow or Thursday. We cannot really go school supply shopping yet because the teachers tell them their supplies the first day of school. Also, the school told us if Kaya wanted to try out for the volleyball team she could. I hope she wants too. I want her to experience everything school here has to offer. I am sure it will be interesting getting all my kids where they have to be, but I always work it out. I am a working mom and just have to do whatever it takes. I am also very blessed to have wonderful friends that help me get Alexia where she is suppose to be.

After the doctors office we all decided we were hungry. We went to Logan's today. 2 meals for $13.99. That is a good deal. She took pictures of all the peanuts in the floor. I am sure that was funny or redneck. Who knows? I do know she loved those rolls. Between Kaya and Alexia, 2 baskets were gone quick. I am glad she liked them. She had Chicken Fingers, but tried my porkchops. She thought it was good. I think that was her first time to try it. When I asked her about porkchops she wanted to know what that was. I also asked her about a few other foods like fried okra and squash. Needless to say, she will try them at our house for the first time. I am making a list. She wants to try everything and I love it! While we were there we talked about holidays and family. She pulled out this small journal that had important notes for her and recipes! Everyone that knows me knows how much I love to cook. I am the Pampered Chef queen with all my gadgets. I asked her to translate them for me and we could make them. She is opening up to us more and more everyday and I feel honored that she is. And I look forward to some yummy food that I have never tried too.

After Logan's, we headed to the dance studio. We had to sign up Alexia for the new year. Alexia has already tried out and made all the teams. This is just the money part of the deal. Kaya go to meet some very close friends of mine. Dance is Alexia's life for anyone that doesn't know. Alexia has been dancing since before she was two and is now in her 4th year of competition. She is a very talented young lady. Anyway, we spend a lot of time with these people and there were all so excited about meeting Kaya. They were the people I got to tell first that Kaya was coming and showing everyone her picture. I am very happy and excited that Kaya is our exchange student. So Kaya met everyone and I promised her there was not a quiz at the end. It is going to take her a while to learn everyone that I am friends with. I feel very blessed to say that I have lots of wonderful friends!

From the dance studion we went to Hibbett's for backpack shopping. It was cut short when Zach, my 3 year old, decided to use the bathroom in his pants! Ugh. Kaya is either going to really love kids or hate kids when she leaves here. My kids can dish it out for me. But Kaya is always there to open the door for them or buckle up Zach or get him out. She is so loving and caring to my children. The love her too. I couldn't have imagined anyone any better for my family!

Last on the list was David's(my husbands) softball game for our Church at Gardendale First Baptist's fields. David loves to have his family there rooting him on. Granted, our team never wins other than by forfiet, but they love to play as a team with each other. Kaya got to see the rowdy side of me. I love to scream and get into the game. I love sports and love to interact and get the crowd into the game. She was laughing at me, but that was ok. I am a kid in a 32 year old body. It was so hot and humid. I could tell that she really wasn't use to it but she never complains! How great is that? I have to read her face to see if she is in discomfort or doesn't understand my southern english. Bless anyone's heart that has to understand a southern accent. And I have a bad one. My mother n law and father n law joined us too. Ashley, my sister n law, came late too. Our family is a close one and you will see that throughout my blog. We had fun cutting up and laughing in the stands. Kaya also got to meet some of our friends from Church. We are regular church goers so she will see these kids and adults if she goes. We have an awesome youth department that I think she will love. The do lots of activities together and it could give her some good friends.

Now we sit at home typing across the table from each other. Kaya in German and me in English but in one common place, a shared space. Think about that for a while. Deep thoughts by Shannon Turner. That is scary....

I am sure I will think of more to write but for now, I am tired and need a bath. I too sat outside in the hot, humid weather. I am also ready for bed. Sweet dreams to my bloggers until we meet again.

A visit to Wal-Mart & so much more

Yesterday when I got home the girls were swimming. Alexia took Kaya to Grandmama's house on the golf cart for a dip in the pool. It is so nice to be that close to a pool. Kaya also took pictures for her Facebook. It is funny to see on her facebook a title "Alabama" to show her friends and family and it is our house, pastures and my daughter on a golf cart. I wonder what they think in Germany. Hopefully she will tell me.

I had the sweetest email from Kaya's mom yesterday. It felt so nice to be able to talk to her even if by email and very settling to know that Kaya told her mom she was happy at our house. Kaya's mom, Doris, was writing and telling me her English was rusty. Well her rusty English is better than my German. I do not know any! That is something I hope to learn from this experience. It is making me realize how important learning other languages are. Kaya has been telling us words and phrases in German. Alexia is very interested. It is cute to watch Alexia dressing like Kaya and wanting to be just like her. She loves having a big sister. Zach also loves Kaya and always wants to know where she is at. He is still asking me if she is spending the night. I guess it is harder for him to figure out.

Our first stop last night was dinner. We took Kaya to Stix in Fultondale. Needless to say, there is nowhere at home in Germany like Stix. She enjoyed the entertainment and the food. We had a great cook and he put on a show for her. She was the only one there that had never seen it before so it was more fun for the cook to cut up. He did miss his hat throwing the egg and hit the other cook. That was funny. Next stop was Walmart.....

Last night we went grocery shopping at Walmart in Gardendale. Kaya has never been to Walmart or any other store like it. I was funny when she pulled out her camera to take pictures to send home. She said they only have small stores and you would have to go to several places to get all the things in one Walmart. It amazes me how stopping to slow down, you see so much. We walked all over Walmart just for her to see all the things that are there. I have never just went in there to "look" around. I am always in a hurry. I am realizing that I am missing so much because I rush through life. Maybe God sent Kaya to teach me to slow down. You know God has his ways:) We ran into several friends in Walmart and chatted. I would notice Kaya watching. I guess because I probably spoke faster and with more "slang" that I have been at home. I have tried to be careful about making sure I spoke so Kaya understood me. Man, is that tough for me. Anyway, Kaya meet some more of our friends and more teenagers. She will have no problem fitting in.

We finally got home after 11pm and the kids were super tired. Kaya got on Facebook for a few minutes and they slept on the couch again last night. Everyone loves to sleep on the couch. So crazy! We will go to get physicals for school today and then go shopping!! Kaya is looking forward to the American malls. She loves American Eagle, Abercrombie & Hollister just like the other kids here. I just think our clothes are cheaper, believe it or not. We will also go to David's church league softball game tonight. She is definitely getting to see plenty of American life. We are always doing something. We will have a yard sale this weekend too. That will be fun. I will update again tomorrow with our adventures.

Until my next blog....God Bless

Cereal?????

Over our experience with Kaya, we will find many things that she has never had or seen before coming to America or to Alabama. Somethings will be for her they way it is for Zachary, our 3 yr old, as he learns new things. My daughter, Alexia (8), called this morning to tell me that Kaya had her first bowl of cereal! I was like, oh my gosh. I had no idea she wouldn't know cereal. Something I have taken for granted my whole life. She has never seen Disney Channel or Nickolodean. Who is Taylor Swift she asked me? What is a Camper? You ride in boats? What is tubing? These are some of the questions she already has for me that are part of my life almost daily or weekly. I think about how excited she was to be able to come to America. They have so much respect for our country. We could learn a little from her or any student for that matter. And I do look forward to her also teaching me about Germany. What a great learning experience for my kids as well as David and I. I just pray that we do everything right and for the glory of God. That Kaya receives the love she needs in the absence of her own family. That Kaya learns and grows in the way of the world that she is looking for. Please pray for our family daily and I look forward to our many adventures with Kaya as she grows with us in our home in Corner, AL. I will try to update daily to share our experience with everyone. Hopefully this will answer questions for those who always wondered about having a new person in their home. Turning a stranger into family and then having to let them fly when the time comes. I hope to share lots of great memories throughout our blog because I know there will be many. I cannot wait to show Kaya America through the eyes of the Turner's.

God Bless,

Kaya is here!

Welcome Kaya, our newest addition to our family!!! No, we didn't have a new baby but we are hosting an exchange student from Germany for the school year!

To start our experience, we first found about this opportunity to host a student from our Church in Corner, High Point Community Church. They told us some students were coming and needed a place to stay. Well, after a week, Kaya feel into our lives. She stated she was allergic to indoor animals and so am I. I guess we are the only people in the world that are:) The EF (Education Foundation) sent us her paperwork and it was love at first sight. She is a petite, innocent looking brunette with a sweet smile. We knew she was the one for our house. We immediately started the paperwork and we were on our way. We started cleaning out the 4th bedroom for our room for Kaya. Needless to say, we are having a yard sale this weekend. Anyway, all we knew was that she was flying in on Saturday. I wanted everything to be perfect. I made her a sign for at the airport and a scrapbook for her memories here. But only one problem, David and I were going to be at Miami Beach for a Katy Perry Concert. After all the worrying, David's brother Trent and his wife, Ashley picked up Kaya from the airport and hung out with her in our absence. I was so sad that I wouldn't be there.

Saturday comes and Trent and Ashley pick her up from the Birmingham airport. They give her the gifts I made and begin their busy day. First was a birthday party for Darby (3) and Bodie (1) at the SplashPad in Gardendale, a shower and then Sunday was a birthday party for Katelyn(2). All these people to meet in such a short time. If she only knew that all those people were just the beginning. But she did great and participated just like she had always been there.

Finally on Sunday night, David and I made it home from Miami. The weather was horrible and it took so long to get home. As we approached the baggage claim, there was my babies, Alexia (8) and Zachary(3) waiting on mommy. Right behind them was Kaya and her sweet smiling face. I had seen her pictures and chatted online with her, but I finally got to meet her. I was so excited. And the irony in her picking me up instead of vice versa. Anyway, we all got our luggage and went home like a happy family. It was so nice.

When we got home from the airport, we gave Kaya the tour of the house. She also told us about her and her family. They sound very nice. I am sure they are too since their daughter is so sweet. We checked out her German Macbook which was neat. And we talked a while. I cannot wait to see what the next day will bring.....