Reminder of all the details to a blog and need for ideas

Don't forget to scan down the side of our blog for different aspects of it. You may be missing out on much info--some funny---some just stuff. Did you know that John--my hubby-- writes on this blog? Well, check it out. Also, I can't center my photo---any ideas? I will try to figure it out, but first, I thought I'd check with my readers. Also, try out some of my friends' blogs...they are super cool. One thing I love about the "mission" field is finding other "normal" missionaries like us!!! Well, normal---we might not be, but you know...people you can identify with is a great thing!!!

Also, do you have any things that you want to see on my blog? Russian recipes? Russian pictures? Let me know if you have suggestions!

Little Jewels--oh death where is thy sting?

Recently, Lena(our Belarussian roomie) had tragedy hit her family. Her father passed away this Wednesday. She received the news about 8:00 at night and we had a team from Tx visiting our home at the time. Everyone pulled together and she boarded a train home at 11:45 at night. My heart breaks every day I think of her and her family. Her father was young and this was very unexpected. We pray for her daily.
I have been reading a series of books by Tamera Alexander---a fictional Christian series. Normally, I do not find quotable things in fiction books so much, but this time I did. It made me think of Lena and her father and all the other people that I have lost over time to death.

Here's the quote:

"Some people we love have a way of workin' themselves into us so much that even after they're gone, they're still here in so many ways...We carry bits and pieces of them inside us....Like precious little jewels."

As we cannot take back what death does to our friends and family, we can keep their character, their memory, their good with us, leaving the bad and the ugly behind in death---like precious little jewels. I carry my grandparents, best friend from the seventh grade, my brother in law and a few others as my little jewels. I am reminded of what God says...Precious in the sight of the Lord, is the death of His saints.

Our current theme song!!!

Before we came to Russia, our theme song was No Sacrifice by Jason Upton, now it's so appropo to be this song!!

Thanks Casey!--Out of the Archives

In honor my friend Ginger, I am putting this oldey but goody on!! Ok, I am pregnant with Mark and Melissa is about 1 and a half(I think). Thanks to Casey for sending it to us from his files!

Praying about next year...

We are doing a lot of this! What to do? What to do? Right now, we are confident and expecting God to reveal His will for our next year. We have decided to return here in August to Russia. We will be going to TEXAS June 20th for a nice needed visit!! We are so looking forward to seeing family and friends! We plan on visiting Dallas/Plano, Houston, Longview and Austin for sure!

Some plans for next year(as in next school year)...we are planning on the girls going to a Christian school, intended for missionary and expatriate kids and diplomats' kids...etc. They are taking their Stanford tests there this week---so far, one day down...they loved it! They are going to bed at 8pm and we are out the door by 7 and there by 8:15---class starts at 8:30! Yep, they loved the test and the time with the other kids. I will keep the boys home next year and begin home schooling Mark. I can't believe he is old enough!!

Other than these plans, we await the Lord's direction!

Update on the home front in our "family home"---Katya is not working outside the home now(she quit her job that she had before b/c they weren't paying her), but is making purses for extra money with a couple other friends. Cristina has been sick for the last week or so and has developed her lungs(aka---screaming) when she doesn't get her way. We are definitely not a quiet house. This situation is improving though---we are grateful for this!! We are praying for Katya in this way---that she would grasp an understanding of God's love for her and truly desire Him. Her belief in Him is minimal, but there. In need of growth, to put it well. As we all are, right?! We want the seed sown in her life to be sown on the good type of soil! Please pray for her to hunger after Him and want His best for her life. She sometimes doesn't see the need for change in her life--and that is frustrating, but it keeps us praying. Good news---she has paid off one of her debts!! She is making baby steps in that area.

More later!

This is our church!!

We Did It!

We have been looking forward to the day when the temperature would reach 40 degrees. It was kind of a mental milestone so that we would know that we have made to Spring and made it through Russian Winter. This is the weather information for yesterday:
Hi 43°F
Lo 30°F

It was the first time we hit 40 this year. WOOHOO!!! We Did It! Smooth sailing from here on out.