Tuesday, December 31, 2013

The Year in Review - Part 2

Now for the other half of the year.......

JUNE
In June we continued to unwind from our time overseas while Jon also began searching for a job. Little did we know how difficult the job search would be with one moment getting our hopes up and the next being let down.

We enjoyed a couple of days at the San Diego Zoo.


Then we explored the San Diego Safari Park


We capped off the trip to enjoy Star Wars Days at Legoland.


JULY

Nathan turned 6! He's not so little anymore. We also did some exploring around Los Angeles and we got to see some friends visiting from Russia.



Katya and I at the Japanese Gardens.


AUGUST
By August Jon had closed in on a job and thankfully started working for a small firm near our home.
It was a lot of work as he had to begin studying for several exams in order to be licensed as a financial planner.......he is still in the studying process but thankfully has passed 2 real big exams.
I got to go to the X Games with my two sisters.

Celebrating the birthday of one of my closest friends.

And of course we celebrated August birthdays.......there are 5 family birthdays in August.

SEPTEMBER
It's back to school. We actually joined a homeschool group this year since we are Stateside and the boys and I really enjoy it.




I hosted a table at our fellowship group's annual tea.

OCTOBER
I got so used to 4 seasons while we lived in Russia so I was a bit disappointed as October rolled around. Although I am not complaining about the beautiful warm weather in California I did miss the crisp cold air and changing foliage.
We headed to the San Diego Zoo but this time with friends.

We also visited a couple of pumpkin patches.

A trip to the Griffith Park Observatory

We finished the month off with some trick or treating!


NOVEMBER
This was the first Thanksgiving in California in over 8 years! We were definitely thankful to be with family again.
We are definitely thankful for my mom who has opened up her home to us.

DECEMBER
The last month of the year! It was a crazy month. So fast paced and a bit stressful but we did enjoy this season being back in the States.

With my husband by my side I am looking forward to 2014 and all that the Lord has in store.
Even though I know I don't have so many readers I do want to wish my readers a Happy New Years from Nat and the boys!

Monday, December 30, 2013

The Year in Review - Part 1

It was around this time last year that I was really dreading the New Year.  I knew that as soon as I turned the calendar to January the countdown to our departure from Russia would start.  There were also so many unknowns regarding our future.......I knew 2013 would be a test of my faith.

I thought it would be fun to recap the year month by month.


JANUARY
Happy New Year of course. 



January is a festive month for Russians. Russians take the first 10 days of January off to celebrate the New Year. In the above picture the boys and I headed to Kuibashev Square to enjoy all the New Year decorations and ice sculptures. It was really cold this day and I remember my toes felt like they were going to fall off.


FEBRUARY

Women's Conference

The biggest highlight of this month was the women's conference with Pam Hardy. So many months of preparation went into these two days. The first day of the conference also happened to be my birthday! I turned 39.........the last year of me being in the 30s!!!


MARCH

What a difficult month this was. Our days in Samara were getting shorter. This is the month where a lot of the good-byes began. The times we spent with friends were sweeter and we hung on a little longer to the minutes. 
This good-bye to our teammate came a lot sooner than we ever thought it would.

The play dates were longer and more often.

Saying good-bye to our teammate and friend at our wives' group.


APRIL
The days were getting more and more stressful as we started selling our furniture, giving things away, and packing. And the good-byes still hurt as I write this.

Our neighbors, teammates, and friends.


One last evening with the men from the program.




Our dearest friends since the very beginning.





And these ladies......well words will never express how much they mean to me.



The remaining teammates who were not only friends but also family.

MAY
Back in California and the unknowns begin. We were grateful to be back in California but there were truly so many unknowns at this time. At this point we really just needed time to think, relax, and take in all that has transpired the last 8 1/2 years of our lives.  I really wasn't myself this month. I had so many emotions going through my mind. I missed my friends in Samara, I missed our way of life in Samara, I felt guilty, I felt bad for leaving, I was happy to be back at church, I was excited to be with family, and I was also so worried about our future. I was a wreck but by God's grace and strength I was able to get out of bed every day and still praise Him.



My niece graduated from Heritage High School


So fun being with family once again.


This happened more than once.


Reunited.


A much need family trip to San Diego.


To be continued.................

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Christmas Countdown-Day 25

Christmas day was a great and relaxing day. The boys woke up earlier than we liked but oh well! We continued our tradition of a big french toast breakfast.
Then Jon read us the Christmas story according to Luke 2.




The boys listened so well.




Then baby Jesus went into the manger.


Finally they got to open presents!



Can you believe they haven't eaten their gingerbread houses yet? Lots of Lego building going on.

Christmas Countdown - Day 24

Christmas Eve!! Yay, the day we've all been waiting for. Our activity for the day was.............a Christmas Eve party. It's been several years since we've been "home" for Christmas so it was a real special time for us.

The boys had to get some energy out so thankfully Jon took them outside for a while.


By evening my family arrived and all craziness ensued....just kidding.





There was a ton of food........



Jon shared a devotional and we also sang Christmas carols.



My sister Monica was laughing at my mom's singing.






And of course there were lots of gifts.






Christmas Countdown - Day 23

I got behind again but can you blame me? There was no time for blogging these last few days.  Day 23 I stuck a little Angry Birds notebook and pen for each of the boys in their bag. They were so anxious by day 23.....I thought they were going to explode from being so excited.

It was a busy day for me with all the prepping for our family Christmas Eve party. I did a whole lot of baking! I took these pictures with my iPad and they look awful!!



We also read from Matthew 2:9-12!

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Christmas Countdown - Day 22

Well the countdown is slowly but surely coming to an end! Today was another fun day. Our activity today included a Christmas movie with lots of snacks and a sleepover in mom and dad's room. The boys have been asking for a while to sleep with us!

I saw this idea on Pinterest a year ago and knew that one day I would do this with the boys. You basically pack a movie night box with new pajamas. The pin says to do it on Christmas Eve but we will be busy with family that nights so we did it tonight instead.
    
  
The boys were so excited to open a present early. 





And the movie was one of our very favorites.

The boys in their new pajamas.

The reading today was from Matthew 2:7-8.