Monday, September 29, 2008

Wanna cry?

Every time we go back to the States we stock up on DVDs. This summer one of our buys was "We are marshall". We watched it Friday night and can I just tell you what a tear jerker this movie was. It is a true story and very clean with only 3 bad words all coming out of the mouth of Matthew McConaughey. I also loved the cinematography. I don't ever remember hearing about this movie but I took a chance and bought it because the description on the back sounded good and I am so glad we bought it.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Fridays and Saturdays

Fridays and Saturdays are the days that people get married here. Most Russians do not get married in a church and a marriage is only recognized in the courthouse which only performs weddings on Fridays and Saturdays. So on most Fridays and Saturdays you see cars all decked out in their ribbons and bows honking all over town as they caravan from one monumental site in the city of Samara to another. Yes, the couples go around taking pictures by statues, in the squares, and whatever other site there is to pose by.

After the courthouse and pictures they usually will have a reception followed by a firework salute. Christians will do the same thing also but they do have an additional wedding ceremony in their local church. Two weekends in a row there were weddings going on in our neighborhood. Everyone gathers at the grooms home and then they take off to get the bride.


For some reason every time I see this I smile and then cry. Something about weddings!!

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Birthday Party # 2

In the month of August there are 5 people in my family with Birthdays! We usually all get together the weekend before we return to Russia to celebrate. This time I made a sorry excuse for a cake but I made it up by also making chocolate dipped strawberries and key lime pie. Josiah got a lot of fun presents.

August Birthday People

The cake I made!


Yay, presents!

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Lil' Birthday Party # 1


Lil' cake for a lil' party.



Jojo and Caillou



Naynay and "Uncle" Mike




Since "Uncle" Mike and Caillou were coming over for dinner one night during our time with Grandma Judy, we decided to give Josiah a mini party. Josiah just loves cake so any excuse for a cake and not just any cake but a Thomas Birthday cake. I have actually never given Josiah a proper birthday party........what a bad mom but in a little over a week I plan on giving him a little bash here in Russia. There will be a total of 11 kids in attendance thanks to our two team families.....the Klassens and the Moorheads. It should be fun and loud.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Pioneer Day

Sometimes finding things to do when we visit Iowa are hard to come by but my friend Tanya told me about the Nature Center in South Dakota having a pioneer day. So, we headed out over the border into S.D. and went to the Nature Center. Normally Josiah isn't big on stuff like this but I bought him a disposable camera so that he could take pix. The camera trick worked. He didn't complain even though the day was super hot and super sticky. It was actually kind of fun since the Nature Center is also located on a former working farm. Josiah got to make a candle, a necklace, and a rope. We got to go on a tractor ride. We also got to taste test some food items that the pioneers would have prepared. And we got to see some pretty cool old farming equipment. Nathan enjoyed the ride and he got a real kick out of the chickens. Nathan just adores animals. He gets the biggest smile when he sees them.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Brothers


No, this isn't a picture of Josiah and Nathan. It is a picture of Jon and his brother Jay. It is one of my favorite pictures.

Who taught Josiah how to lie?

Lately Josiah has picked up lying. Jon and I hate it of course. The way he lies is quite creative but maybe most parents can relate. For example, I tell him to go eat his lunch and he then says "Daddy say I don't eat lunch now!". HMMMMM, that is pretty funny because daddy isn't home. The other day I told him to do something and he then said "Grandma say no". Wow, I didn't know he could hear grandma all the way from the States. The best one was when I asked him to do something the other day and he said "Naynay (Nathan) say I don't do it". That one was a classic because Nathan can only say momma, daddy, hi, and up. Some people say that children are not born with sinful natures but we are witnesses every day that they are. I was thinking the other day when I was walking home from the store that in reality I can do the same thing also, except that I put a different name on it ....... I make up excuses for things I don't feel like doing. For example "I'm too tired", or "I'm too busy", etc. I like to think that I am not leading by example when it comes to the lying thing but after examining my own heart I may just be.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Visiting With Friends

One of the best parts about traveling is spending time with friends. Diane is a special lady at Morningside Baptist, Jon's home church, in Iowa. From the first time I met Diane we really clicked. I always say how at every church there is that Titus 2 older woman that you just want to spend hours and hours talking with. This day, Diane invited me and the boys over to hang out with her two grandchildren. I don't think we could ever finish a thought though because we were running around like crazy either chasing Nathan, or refereeing between the older ones. Anyway, it was still fun and I enjoyed every moment I got to spend with her.



Monday, September 8, 2008

Time Change

One of the worst things about traveling back and forth so much through 12 time zones is getting acclimated to the time change. Thankfully the boys can adjust a lot quicker than I can. It takes me a good 2 weeks to get fully acclimated. This day Josiah had taken a nap in the morning but the challenge is not letting him sleep too long, otherwise at night he won't go down and then will get up too early. It took me 1 whole hour to rouse him from his sleep. I had to carry him into the living room just to get any reaction from him and even after moving him he just kept sleeping.


Sunday, September 7, 2008

Grandma Maria and the Grandkids

I can't believe how big my nephew and nieces are getting. Because I wasn't married until the ripe old age of 26, I had a ton of opportunities to babysitt for my sisters. It was just the other day that Anthony was born. I remember I was in high school and had a real high fever so I couldn't go visit him in the hospital room. He is way taller than I am now and learning to drive..........SCARY!



Sweet Home Alabama




Well it isn't necessarily our home but everyone at Grace Community Church at Huntsville sure made us feel like it was. We really had a great time in Alabama. Josiah especially enjoyed hanging out with Johnny and Wil! He is still asking to see them again.

Monday, September 1, 2008

Glad To Be Back In Samara

Ten Reasons Why I Am Thankful To Be Back In Samara

10. The bargain bins at our Kopeaka grocery store every Thursday.
9. Long walks.
8. Text messaging with Heather (depending on whether or not her husband gets her another phone this semester.)
7. Riding on Josiah's favorite public transport..........the tram.
6. Looking forward to meeting the new "Seminary Wives".
5. Excited about teaching the little tots at church in Russian and English(so Josiah and Nathan can partake).
4. Can't wait for the Moorheads to arrive. They will be our upstairs neighbors! I can't believe it and Josiah will have 5 play mates and I will have a friend right upstairs..........it is almost too good to be true.
3. Excited about doing small group again this year.
2. Studying Russian again...........I think I am thankful about this.
1. And lastly I am just so happy not to be traveling for a while and having it be just our family!