Look who's here!

One of the best parts about being a Grace Church missionary are all the guests that come through here. This week has been quite eventful and with the upcoming graduation on Sunday we have a bunch of Stateside visitors coming to Samara. We have had the privilege of hosting Andy Snider in our home this past week. He is here teaching an intensive course to the 1st year students on Theology Proper. Jon and Andy led a bible study together back in the Seminary days. This is also the bible study where Jon and I first met. Andy and his wife Pam also led the worship and sang a beautiful song at our wedding. It has been fun catching up with him and having a guest around. Josiah loves it of course because Andy is sleeping in his room which means he gets to sleep in our room! Josiah likes to call him Doctor Andy. For those of you who don't know him, Andy is a full time Theology professor at the Master's Seminary. He is also involved in ministry in Crossroads (the college group) at Grace Community Church.

Teething Toy

This is Nathan's new teething toy. The last few weeks he has been sucking on, chewing on, and teething on the cabinet door handles in our living room!

Tour Around Samara Part 4

The Rocket Up Close

Daddy boy is home!

Jon was just in Krasnodar for 3 days. While he was there my computer (his old PC) crashed! I have no idea what happened but it just went dead. I am using his Mac which I need to get used to. Don't know if I will be able to post too many pics or anything else considering that his Mac is like his other wife and so I am not sure that I will ever be able to get on the Mac. As far as him looking into the old computer and seeing what is wrong.....well I am not sure if he will even have the time for that either right now. Thankfully his trip went well. He was in Krasnodar for the first and final graduation of the Preacher's Institute there. He had a great time. Now we gear up for a busy 2 1/2 weeks. There are a lot of guests coming, the Samara Seminary and Institute graduation, dinners, and just a lot of busy time. Jon will conclude his language lessons next week. As for me and the boys we did just fine while daddy boy was away but we all were so happy to see him again.!

Our Changing Family

Josiah David...........growing up!

Favorite Spot

Be Grateful For Hot Water

Last week the hot water in our building was turned off for 4 1/2 days. Thankfully by Friday in the late afternoon it was turned back on again. This really just poses an inconvenience for us and really isn't a big deal, but until it is gone you don't realize how much you use hot water. For example, we had to take baths all last week which I personally do not enjoy. This meant boiling a bunch of water each night and doing that 3 times. I don't like baths but I am just thankful that I am able to get clean. Washing dishes can also be a bit of a pain. Really, I am not complaining and I shouldn't be because I know that for some Russians they have to live without any running water at all so I am thankful for the cold running water. Anyway, this morning I go to wash my dishes and guess what? No hot water again! Oh well.

It's a wonder!

What's a wonder? That I can get anything done around here anymore. At 8 months, Nathan started crawling. He picked it up right away. Now he is a speed demon on all fours. Sometimes to stop him, Josiah grabs his legs. Even though we don't allow him to do that to Nathan, it kinda makes me laugh.


At 8 1/2 months Nathan started standing up against anything that would hold him, including pant legs, walls, etc.


He gets into everything. Like in this picture, he knocked over my laundry on the rack.


At 9 months he started cruising against anything that will hold him up. This is when he really started getting into the way, especially with his brother. I know that Josiah adores him, but I also know that Josiah would like to play on his own sometimes. Nathan doesn't quite get that concept.



Josiah thinks the only way to stop him is to capture him!

Tour around Samara Part 3

MCDONALDS


THE FROZEN VOLGA RIVER


VIEW OF THE ROCKET ON PROSPECT LENINA


ALONG THE VOLGA RIVER

Back In The Saddle Again

I am so thankful because Josiah is just now feeling better. This is the longest he has been sick. Last week we had a graduate of our seminary come to take a look at him. Victor used to be an ENT and was more than happy to help us. It seems like Josiah had an ear infection in his right ear which would explain the ongoing fever. Victor said he would give him an injection to clear up the infection so we said sure. Josiah willingly pulled is pants down and I took him into our living room so he could lie down on the sofa and get the shot. Then Victor said, "Oh, I need more light". Huh? We asked where he was planning to give the injection. He said behind his ear. What? Yep, behind his ear. I then said as nicely as I could "Hmmm, no thanks!". I guess here they do this for ear infections. If you take your finger and touch behind your ear you can feel that there isn't much room there for an injection. Thankfully our wonderful pediatrican back home stocked me up on antibiotics and so Josiah has been on oral antibiotics since. Nonetheless we were very thankful for Victor and his help.

To all the moms with sons........

My sister sent this to me a year ago. The header was : Interesting things you find out when you have boys:

1. A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. ft. house 4 inches deep.

2. If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite.

3. A 3-year old Boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.

4. If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound Boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20x20 ft. room.

5. You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using a ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.

6. The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.

7. When you hear the toilet flush and the words "uh oh", it's already too late.

8. Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.

9. A six-year old Boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year old Man says they can only do it in the movies.

10. Certain Lego's will pass through the digestive tract of a 4- year old Boy.

11. Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.

12. Super glue is forever.

13. No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.

14. Pool filters do not like Jell-O.

15. VCR's do not eject "PB & J" sandwiches even though TV commercials show they do.

16. Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.

17. Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.

18. You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is.

19. Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not like ovens.

21. The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy.

22. It will, however, make cats dizzy.

23. Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.

24 . 80% of Men who read this will try mixing the Clorox and brake fluid!

Victory Day

Yesterday Russia celebrated it's victory over Nazi Germany in 1945 during the Great Patriotic War (WW2). This is a very big holiday and celebrated by young and old alike. We watched the Victory Day parade in Moscow live on television. You could really sense the national pride and honor that Russians have in their role during the war. It has been 17 years since Russia put on display all their military hardware and it was quite a show. I love to go walking on Victory Day because very often you will see veterans coming home from their celebrations. They proudly wear their medals and very often they will also be in uniform. Obviously there are fewer and fewer around these days. I saw 2 yesterday. I would have loved to taken their picture but I always become hesitant to do so. Maybe next year.

Happy Mothers Day Mom

If there is one word that I could use to describe my mother it would be strong. She has submitted under trial after trial and yet her faith in the Lord only grows. She endured 23 years of an abusive marriage before the Lord freed her from it. She did her best to raise 3 girls in a violent environment day after day. I don't think I will ever understand why God allowed this is in her life and in mine and my sister's lives but He did. He is sovereign and He has His reasons.
My mom holding her niece at her wedding
My mom taught me to love the church and ministry. She exemplified the importance of being in the Word and in prayer daily. Sure, she didn't go to my volleyball games or my track meets. There was never a warm batch of chocolate chip cookies waiting for me at home. She spent a lot of her evenings doing ministry at church. To be truthfully honest I resented this for many years. But, can you really blame her for wanting to get away from my father and the misery she experienced every day? The impact she has made on so many others lives and on my own life is eternal. Now that I am a mother I often think of the problems I gave her as a young child. I reacted a lot to what I saw happening at home and she took the brunt of my rebellion. Later on as a teenager growing up in a single parent home, I took advantage of her trust. But thankfully God watched over me and protected me.

She really enjoys being a grandma. She once told me that it was her joy to finally be able to enjoy children without being under so much hardship from my father. She said she really never got to enjoy the coos and warm hugs from her own daughters as babies because she could never relax and enjoy being a mother. Josiah just adores his Grandma Maria and not a day goes by that he doesn't ask to go to "Grandma Maria's house".

Happy Mother's Day Judy

This is dedicated to my mother-in-law Judy. Happy Mother's Day! Jon is really a great testimony of your mothering and your love. I always heard people say that the way a man treats his mother is the way they will treat their wife and I have always seen Jon treat you with so much love and respect because you deserve it.

Grandma and Grandpa with Josiah

I love hearing how you were always at Jon's basketball and football games. I know that you sacrificed so much so that your son could have so much more. You have always supported him and been such an encouragement to him.


You are also a great grandmother. Once again you sacrifice so that you can spend time with your grandchildren. Their well being is a priority for you and I know that it is so hard for you to be seperated from them, yet you praise God and support our decision to minister in Russia.
One of the things I admire the most about you is how you continue to stay strong in the Lord after losing your beloved. I know it isn't easy for you to be alone but you have really glorified God in how you have responded to this trial. I also love that you refuse to grow old and do fun and silly things to keep you going. I don't know too many grandma's who drive a bright red Volkswagen bug!

Out of commission

Our #1 has been sick for 4 days. He seems to have caught the latest bug and maybe what Nathan and I had last week. He has been sleeping in 'til nooon, lying around all day watching cartoons, and only eating from his t.v. tray! What a life. No, but really I feel so sorry for the little guy. He can't seem to shake it. Jon and I keep saying how weird it is for our home to be so quiet. #2 is crawling around everywhere looking for him and when Josiah does make his presence Nathan just stands there leaning against the sofa staring at him. Let's hope Josiah gets better soon, I sure do miss him.

This is for your Melissa!

O.k., Melissa, you "tagged" me. I have to admit that I am not a big fan of these little surveys but nonetheless they are fun. I have added my own 5.

Five reasons why I am doing this:
1. I am enjoying getting to know you.
2. You are so good about leaving comments on my blog.
3. You're married to my mom's best friend's son.
4. I would feel bad if I didn't do it.
5. I don't want to be a party pooper.

Five things on my To-Do List:

1. Scrapbook
2. Go to the grocery store
3. Plan my menu for the week
4. Prepare for small group on Thursday
5. Take Tylenol for the huge headache I have

Five Favorite Snacks!

1. Reese's peanut butter cups
2. Ice cream
3. Empanadas
4. Red vines
5. Watermelon

Five things I would do if I were a Billionaire:

1. Stay on the mission field with "no worries"
2. Support other missionaries
3. Finish all the construction work that is still needed at our church here in Samara
4. Invest of course
5. Start some sort of domestic abuse shelter here in Samara

Five Bad Habits:

1. I don't screw the cap of the toothpaste(or anything else with a cap )tight enough
2. I lack patience
3. I start a million projects at once
4. I roll my eyes when I am disappointed about something
5. I say "whatever" too much

Five Places I have lived:

1. Cordoba, Argentina
2. Granada Hills, CA
3. Montrose, CA
4. Novosibirsk, Russia
5. Samara, Russia

Five Jobs I've had:

1. Housewife
2. Medical Assistant for Pediatric office
3. Asst. manager at clothing store
4. Asst. manager at earring store
5. Salesgirl at clothing store

I want to know more about: ( This means you are tagged)
Whoever wants me to know more about them!