State-side

We are back in the states...so, no hope for many posts!!! We want to optimize our time with family and friends and thus...staying off the computer is inevitable! Maybe we will get to post some pics, but I don't even know about that.

We have spent a week with both sides of our family and now we are in our home town(well, our Bull Herd hometown). We are loving every minute of seeing our friends here. Time with the Lord always needs to be intentional, but now even more!! It's like being on a 7+ week vacation. But, as our pastor always told us, you can't vacate from the Lord on your vacation---if you do, you feel like you need a vacation after your vacation! We don't want that--we want time with Him and refreshment from His presence! Please pray that we are able to stay focused on Him and visit friends and family too!!!

Love to all of you! We will be going to Russia sometime in the middle of August...working with a new organization and waiting for that promised "open door" from the Lord!!

Russian and the kids!

Last night, our friends came over and were asking Katie some questions in Russian. I was telling them that she could understand and answer in Russian...but the amount that she was able to answer made me smile!! When people ask how are the kids doing in Russian...I think I am underestimating them!

So, a few minutes ago, my boys were eating Popsicles and Cristina wants one. More details..in Russia, there is a belief that when you eat or drink cold things, you will(might) get sick. It's so prevalent that one time Cristina ate a Popsicle and a week plus later she happened to get a cold...her father and mother thought that it was from the popsicle Wow...anyways, back to the story...my boys are explaining in Russian that she can't have it because her mom said no and she doesn't want her to have it because she thinks she will get sick from it. It might not have been all grammatically correct, but it was fun listening to Matthew(almost 4) and Mark(5) speaking a bit in Russian!!

Fun stuff! We are now packing and so ready for our time in Texas!! 3 more days!! Please pray for safe and pleasant travels.

Our church families---most of them.

We went to an island here in the city-- and let me just say, it was BEAUTIFUL!!! So green!! It was a breath of fresh air to be on this side of the city. It was amazing to me that it even existed!!! We plan to return here another time in the fall or next spring too!

Last trip to IKEA skating rink at Mega Mall

So, we are 6 days away from heading out of Russia across the pond! Wow!!!! Someone asked me today---Are you excited? YES!!!! I want to enjoy every minute with my family and friends and soak it up!!! Not focus on how much I will miss them when we return here in August, but focus on the today!!!

Postal Service here in Russia

I was thinking yesterday that I have never shared some differences with the postal service here and the services provided by the post office. I wrote this a week ago and then my friend wrote on Postal services too...I am finally publishing this one...great minds think alike, eh Elizabeth?

Russian gov't keeps cost at a minimum by...not using envelopes. You see, all our bills--such as, electricity, apt. bill, water, phone...etc, come on single rectangular pieces of paper...no envelope...just paper! It's about as thick as normal printer paper too...hmm....no privacy, but it saves in cost!! What a cocept!!!

It seems that here...everything---well many things---are paid at post offices. For example, to pay my water and phone bill, we walk downstairs to the post office to pay these....amazing that the gov't is everywhere and in charge of EVERYTHING and aware of you everywhere!! Oh, and you can pay your electric bill at the grocery store! Hmmm...another way that the gov't is in everything. You can pay these bills at a bank too, I believe, and the gov't has it set up that---I think---you can pay it at any bank or any post office---it feels a bit like "big brother" is watching. Wild!! I must say that this does make it easier to do things when you are a foreigner at least.

It's about that time...it's tickin' away!

So, now, we have less than two weeks before heading to Texas! We are packing things that stay here while we are away...and things that go with us! We are making lists of things to buy when we are in America---things here are sooooooooooooooooooooo expensive...like clothes, shoes, and such. Food is not so bad, but the other stuff is pretty high. It's amazing! And things like coffee---where I can read the label and other little things we just can't buy here. We have had requests for items to be brought back such as scoops for cookie making, those sponge things that hold soap, coffee...

We are praying about our purpose and are trusting Him to reveal what He has for us in His time! A main idea that keeps popping up in our prayer/church/conversation...Don't worry about your life---you know...food, clothing...and such! So, hmmm...we shall choose to not worry and to trust. In these times, it is a must!!

How do you pose in Pictures????

I've seen it all! People tilting their head, tilting their hips, putting hands on their hips, tucking double chins...but this I hadn't seen yet!!! Go Matthew!!!

13 years June 1st!!!

We went out to Mama Roma's and enjoyed a nice Italian meal! John surprised me with these beautiful flowers and a lovely Russian card---with nothing less than a bull flying across the sky! How appropriate! Marriage is only getting better with age!

Turn my Heart, O Lord...which ever way you want!

The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes.

~Proverbs 21:1 (NAS)

I was reading a friend's blog...over on a different site...and I found a new prayer that I started praying! I am applying the word King...to anyone...and thus myself.

Lord, turn my heart wherever you wish!! Isn't that the most perfect cry out to God. In the end, we want to follow Him or not. I want to follow HIM. So, who can control my heart? He can! and I so want and invite Him to. I have been thinking a lot on forgiveness lately and this is also my prayer with forgiving...Lord, help me forgive! He knows I am weak and my anger and selfishness can get in the way...so why not ask for help where I am weak and He is strong.

Will you pray this for your life??? It's straight scripture!

How much Russian do I know???

Well, many people ask...are you learning Russian? Well, John is in school and I am not...but I know enough to:
Go to the store and buy food and give correct change.
Buy metro tokens,
Buy pantyhose and give size and choose color and strength---strong or normal!!
Buy socks on the street---yes, they do sell this on the side of the road!
Ride on a bus and tell the conductor my hubby has the money! and YES, these are all my kids!!!
Ask where is the bathroom,
studder!!! ha! uh, uh, uh, ....

Who knows, maybe in the fall, I will take a course???

picture post:)

Mom and Matthew
The girls and their great new friend Elena!
This is one of the dorm groups that we work with!
Matthew working on his skills

I hate to share such a picture of myself...don't I look thrilled? I wasn't upset, but I guess you just go into metro mode sometimes? Boy, I must have! But the fun part was Mark sleeping on the stranger---she did offer her arm though.
On the metro, sometimes the wind is blowing!! Proof! Our beautiful girls!
This was one of our first dates here in St. Petersburg -- sometime in Jan/Feb 2009 We had to have a record of Papa Johns!! One of our favs!
Every Wednesday, we go to IKEA and Ice Skate! I don't know who the girl was in the picture, but Mark is so adventurous! The fun thing to ask at the end...is ...how many times did you fall? It was up in the 20's, but I think it gets lower and lower each time. Mark loves to try new things and he can turn around and do all kinds of fun boy tricks on ice!

A day at the zoo!!!

We went to the Russian Zoo...first I will tell you...Russians do not value animal rights...so the animals needed a bit of care, but they were still very amazing!The albino peacock!
The petting zoo!!!
Look at that bird! God is amazing!! Melissa had a blast!
Some sort of animal that really needed a brushing!
Bull Kids before the zoo...so excited! Nope, I didn't have them pose! No need!