Razom

Time is a funny thing.  Last year after Kolya and I were engaged, January 12 seemed like forever! (Though it was well worth the wait!) But this past month has just flown by! Maybe it was a week stateside (though it felt longer then a week… maybe that’s what no sleep does mumsie… we lived ‘two’ weeks in one, heh).

It was a good trip but for a sad reason. There are still times that I tear up when I’m telling Kolya about all those crazy people stateside that he’ll get to meet one day (sooner rather then later, I hope!) and realize that Uncle Doug (Ducky, Mr.Wonderful, Policeman, boat driver, story teller, knower of all little facts no one should know, knower of everything all should know, always had a comment (sometimes good, sometimes bad… most of the time funny) will not be there   I’m glad I got two full summers with him on the Cape just down the road (even when I was running to Grandma’s and back to Aunt Janet and Uncle David’s and him trying to feed me ice cream when all I wanted was a quick glass of water and place to stretch).  I pray that he did come to realize this past year who his Maker and Savior was!  This world passes by so quickly…

We’re down to 1 1/2 months of the place we are staying now.  As of this moment, we don’t know where we’ll be moving   It’s all in God’s hands, but that doesn’t mean that we aren’t activly looking for a place!  We know that He in His timing will open and close doors.  Thankfully Mumsie (and I hope Pops agreed) to let us move some of our things to store in a high up place in their apartment!  Things like a letter written on my birthday by my dad’s mom (who died when I was just 2), my baby blanket (thanks Aunt Biz!) and other things that we want to keep, but don’t really use.

All I can say is, life is interesting

For Michelle:  I know that you at least watched EuroVision   I didn’t have the chance to ‘live’ blog, so I just wrote a few comments down after each country.  I’m going to your blog next to see what your thoughts were

In order of apperence:

Romania – stupid – guy and girl off key

UK – disco lives – not too bad

(coffee break for #3)

Germany – awful

Armenia – entergetic

B&H – entertaining

Isreal – good vocals

Finland – bad hair

Croatia – not bad

Poland – white baby grand (it stole my heart!)

Iceland – brother/sister act?

Turkey – mmm… no

Portugal – beacuse of Wednesday – no (Wed. was the Champions League final and a guy who missed his PK at the end got player of the game… undeserved, I thought… he was from Portugal)

Latvia – pirates – heh

Sweeden – flat

Denmark – My favorite so far… pirates in second!

Georgia – reminds me of ‘Karen’ on Will & Grace

Ukraine – no comment due to the fact it’s ‘my’ country

France – stupid

Azer – not boy soprano…. man soprano… yikes!

Greece – I couldn’t feel it… but I bet Europe did :-/

Spain – no comment

Serbia – no comment (I think I was getting too lazy at this point in the show)

Russia – Dima Bilan & is that Victor Plushenko?!?! 

Norway – no comment

My favorites were of course Ukraine (even if it wasn’t the best song), Denmark, Latvia and Russia.  I knew Greece would have a good chance… very much the style of the he/she that won two years ago for Greece!  We’ll see what happens next year   Ukraine, two years in a row as #2… not too shabby!

Sorry for not posting this past week.  I found out last Thursday evening, Ukraine time, that my Uncle Doug had died.  The next evening I found out I was on my way to the states for the funeral and leaving from Kyiv Saturday morning.  Needless to say, it’s been a hectic week…  I’ll write more when I am back in Ukraine on Saturday morning.  I’m looking forward to a hug from my husband

First, I must say, that I really love my husband.  He is so dear to me! Words cannot describe him!  Over the last (almost) 4 months of married life, we really haven’t had a “normal” week.  Life is always throwing it’s curve balls.  Heat going off, unexpected and expected house guests (for 1 month!), sickness, dentist trips, Easter holiday, etc…  I wouldn’t have traded any of it for the world, except maybe the sickness part, and through it all, Kolya is always ready and waiting with his arms wide open and a time of prayer.  I love that it’s not just me that says, hey, we haven’t prayed yet today or read our Bible together… I am thankful for a godly man that takes his responsibilities to our little family seriously in all aspects

This week, we’ve tackeled the yard.  The wead wacker was able to be borrowed and we went at it   It’s amazing how just a little rain can make grass and weeds spring up!  It’s pollan season and no matter that I sweep the walk way once or twice a day, it still looks like I didn’t do anything just an hour later.  Oh well.  It’s the little pleasures in life that count and one is seeing a freshly swept walk way for me, and the smell of freshly cut grass lingering in the air.

I started ‘Biblical Foundations for Manhood and Womanhood.  I am loving it!  It’s challenging of course, but takes you back to scripture in how God defines us. It’s nice to see a biblical view of things, and explained clearly, when some things I would fight and say, but that’s not fair, or I don’t want to.  It’s just a good book. A quicker read then I thought it would be for being a more textbookish type. I’m also learning some Greek, heh. 

I think we’ve gotten rid of the ants! w00t!  But now, it’s that Spring and, gulp, bug season until next winter.  Urgh.  I think that may be one of the reason I love winter, besides the cold air, snow piled on the ground, getting cozy on the couch with a good book and hot tea/cofee/hot chocolate, is… no bugs!

After some time off (because of a houseguest, heh, lame excuse) and getting back from the holidays, I’ve started ‘running’ again on my running machine!  5k’s a day, plus some other exercises.  It’s been nice giving my heart a workout again.  Boy, have my legs felt it… but they keep pressing on!  It’s nice to be able to watch a dvd or listen to a sermon since not being outside, the wall is not very fun to look at, even if it does have a painting of Kolya’s on it. (If only I could remember which box I through the series, Aressted Development into… sigh).

I guess that’s all for now.  Time to do the breakfast dishes (in other words… coffee mugs) and get on with the day

Well, We are now back in Rzhishchev, today is the third full day since the Easter holiday. Sorry, no pictures for now BUT soon

We worked in the yard last evening, cutting grass, sweeping, pulling weeds, etc…  When it rains ALL the time and sunny days you are away and then gone for 2 weeks, it was time for the first cutting of the lawn (with a weed-wacker!)  I must say, Kolya did a good job   Tomorrow I think we’ll finish up as tonight I have the girl’s bible study.

I need to figure out how to get the books read/reading thing like my mom   Some wonderful people from Lifeline Children’s Service brought me new books (that are HEAVY) in their suitcases… THANKS Jana, Jim and Donna!!!  Heaven by Randy Alcorn, a book recommended and looking forward to challenging me! and Why We’re Not Emergent (by two guys who should be) by Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck, a book that I really want to read.  I know ‘emering’ ‘emergent’ and other such words are being thrown around these days.  I wanted to know what ‘it’ is!  Of all the books I found and reviews read and endorsments by those I trust theologically, this I hope is when I’ll be able to know what ‘it’ is, FINALLY!  Another book that I borrowed (that will be read first) is Biblical Foundations for Manhood and Womanhood. 7 authors have gotten together and have written about the different aspects and what is truely biblical!  That will be started today   The last book, that is borrowed from Mumsie and Pops is Susan Hunt’s Heirs of the Covenant.  Never too early to start thinking/learning how to share biblical truths with my future kids (Lord willing). “How we communicate God’s truth and teach His Word must be built upon a strong biblical and theological base if our teaching and discipling are to have any lasting results.”  I am so glad that I was brought up as a child of the Covenant.

I’m sure I’ll write about some of these books as I read

Until next time…  

I hope this will  work… I’m trying to add pictures

Me and my 5 year old niece with the boquet she picked for me while we were waiting for the first marshutka on our way home.  She is a cutie-pie who was pretty much glued to my lap whenever I was sitting or asking me to push her on the swing outside.  She has a younger sister who’s 3.  Lesya has been staying with her grandmother since January but this weekend her mom is coming to pick her up and take her home.

This is Sasha and his son Nazar.  Sasha has been living with us the past month.  It’s been fun having him around   Kolya is Nazar’s Godfather.  He’s 3!  We went to there house on Tuesday, the 3rd day of Easter, and had another big meal.  All we did was EAT it seemed like… but boy was the food good

Monday, the 2nd day of Easter, found us celebrating our birthdays with Sasha, Inna, Andriy, Vitaliy and Galya for a small picnic.  It was fun just sitting and chatting just enjoying the company. BUT before this meal we went to….

Uncle Lonja’s house for this spread early Monday afternoon!

I’ll finish this post with that….  Next time…. Easter Sunday!  We woke up at 3am to go to the Orthodox Church with Kolya’s mom.  Very different from the Kyiv celebrations that I’ve attended.

Kolya and I are back in Kyiv!!!

We spent the Easter holiday out west with his family. Pictures to come as soon as I get them on the computer and stories to with them!