The Meldrum Fam: Exploring

I am not a huge fan of scenery shots. I much prefer faces. But Kurdistan in the spring is so stunning. Maybe you have to appreciate the bleakness of winter and the utter dryness and BROWN of summer, not to mention the scorching heat. So spring just feels so amazing. This is LUSH to us. Which we laughed about compared to our Kentucky days or Georgia or pretty much anywhere else in the States, people might say this was a drought. But this spring we have had such great rain that everything has green on.

We headed to a little town called Dukan...a tourist town...right on the river in a little valley between huge mountain ranges.

I can't help myself with these shots...I have to post them so I remember that it really is beautiful here. That's why I journal too and blog...to remind myself when I'm feeling bleak or BROWN that there are green times and perfect weather days.

We went to the river with the Houghs and the Mewmaws. One word: FUN! Who doesn't like to throw rocks in a river? However, I wish I counted how many times I warned against falling in the river.

Annie and Vera are becoming good buddies.

LOVE this adventurous girl!

cutest little nut scavenger

These greedy musicians played for us and as soon as I took a picture demanded money and then took off after they got it. BOO!!!!

Annie and Liv. Annie wants a little sister so bad. So thankful she gets to love on these little girls.

So many cool, climbing boys in one tree. LOVE it.

The poppies are especially big and bright this year.

So I have seen this old fort for 3 years up on this mountain and we finally decided to climb up and see it.

Totally worth the somewhat steep hike up....although I didn't have a baby strapped to me like the other two moms. My hikers were way ahead of me.

Vera playing with pretty poppies...I wish I could have gotten her profile just a little more...love all the sweet baby skin!

Sadly so much history is lost around here, so no one seems to know how old this was and what it was used for. So we had to make up our own stories. Toby was a little disappointed to not find any armor from the dark ages here.

yeah...we climb on ledges...that's how we roll!

I made it into a couple of pictures!

I love this picture because it's how I feel about me. I sometimes feel I got planted in the wrong place, like a flower growing straight out of a wall. Where's the lush field? How did I end up in a crack in some old wall? But I love that these flowers are thriving and blooming where they are planted. I am determined to be that person.