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!

Picture Post

Eggplant Rolls....yummy ---yes, I actually made this!!
Actual Parrallel Parking in Russia...yes, the car is in the middle of the street!

Easter Egg pictures. We made these at the orphanage and at home! So awesome!!

The National Day of Prayer

Today is the National Day of Prayer. In Proverbs 1, God talks about wisdom and the results of not following wisdom. In verse 32 it states "For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them." I believe God is calling us as believers to not be complacent and think whatever will happen will happen. Our President has said that we are not a Christian nation and the actions of our leaders and our nation reflect a turning away from God. Let us not be complacent today but let us do what 2 Chronicles 7:14 says "if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." Let us humble ourselves today and repent for our country.

Please pray with us for America as a nation. If you are not from America, pray for your nation!
These are two scriptures that I have found over this past week that I will be using in my prayer for my nation.
Jeremiah 3:22 Return, O faithless sons; I will heal your faithlessness. Behold, we come to you, for you are the LORD our God.

Jeremiah 5:11 Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, look and take note! Search her squares to see if you can find a man,one who does justice and seeks truth, that I may pardon her.

I will pray for Godly decisions to be made, repentant hearts, forgiveness for ungodly choices...etc. If you don't see the need for this day of prayer, then perhaps, you might need to check out the news. Any area... We really need to repent in the area of tolerance--of homosexuality or different religious beliefs. Do you really believe what the Bible says---because if you do, then we do not believe there are many ways to God. If the Lord speaks quietness to your heart that is one thing, but if you are not sharing your belief in Jesus Christ because your fear to offend or you do not know what to say if someone attacks your faith, then you need to pray for boldness with kindness. Another area that needs prayer is abortion. Such a sad allowance of our country...I've always been told, if you don't stand for something...you will fall for anything. If we do not stand for Christ, we will fall.

Praise and Worship Time

Just a note to check out the two new songs on our blog. Do it when you have time to really listen. The Revelation Song is one that we first heard at my parent's church ...I know I "felt" like I was in His presence when hearing it and still feel this now when I hear it.

The second song I heard first at our home church in Texas when our friend Todd sang it. Same thing with this song too about being His presence.

Try it...you 'll like it:).

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!!