boats, boats, boats

The little row boat is for the lifeguard!

Fun in Anapa

Tom and I were met by these guys from Nigeria as soon as we walked to the beach. The guy on the right is an anesthesiologist who cannot get work in Russia. He is in the process of applying for an American visa so he can finally put his education to use.

We saw several groups of African students posing for photos or braiding hair to raise money for the coming school year. Their determination is inspiring!

just relaxin!

We are here in Anapa having a great time, eating lots of food and taking in all the sights... pictures will have to wait until we get back home!!

thought for today

Excerpt from Angels and Demons, Dan Brown

At forty-three, her bushy black curls were streaked with gray. She was too proud for dye. Her mom, a Southern Baptist, had taught Chinita contentedness and self-respect. When you’re a black woman, her mother said, ain’t no hiding what you are. Day you try, is the day you die. Stand tall, smile bright, and let ‘em wonder what secret’s making you laugh.

Stand Tall, Smile Bright

No matter what you look like, no matter what you believe that others are thinking of you, try standing tall, smiling bright and just see how many people are attracted to you. In Recovery circles there is a slogan about attraction not promotion. People can be drawn into a life of healing when they see someone who has what ‘they want’. Now go out there and make them all wonder what or Who your secret is that is giving you so much joy!

on our way...

here is a preview of some of the sights in Anapa!! We should be there by 10am. Tom says he packed my bikini and his speedo!!

vacation time...

Today we are cleaning, doing laundry and packing to leave for the Black Sea... we truly need this vacation!

how much would you pay?

I found Dr. Pepper in our supermarket for $2.94 a can. I only bought 2 cans... didn't feel like splurging on a 6 pack!

more dancing from the wedding!

I apologize for the footage starting out sideways... I am still trying to figure out my camera. Be sure to pay attention to the little girls when they show up in this Father/Daughter dance!

thought for today

Excerpt from The Secret Life of Bees, by Susan Monk Kidd

Probably one or two moments in your whole life you will hear a dark whispering spirit, a voice coming from the center of things. It will have blades for lips and will not stop until it speaks the one secret thing at the heart of it all. Kneeling on the floor, unable to stop shuddering, I heard it plainly. It said, You are unlovable, Lily Owens. Unlovable. Who could love you? Who in the world could ever love you?

There is One who could love you... though not of this world. There One whose heart aches for you. He won't force Himself on you. He is not rude. He will wait patiently until you call to Him. Call to Him, wholeheartedly seek after Him and He will answer you and be found by you.

Going once, going twice...

At each of the weddings Tom and I have attended it has been the custom for the bride and groom to cut and serve their wedding cake to the guests. After Timofey and Tanya cut their first slice it was auctioned off by the Maid of Honor before anyone else was served.

The first piece of cake was described as being the sweetest and best tasting piece of the entire cake. It sold for 16$ to the lucky guy in the final photo!

dancing at the wedding

mmmm.... sushi!

So far the best sushi I have had here in Krasnodar can be found at The Gray Goose Restaurant across from the Galleria! Everything was fresh and delicious... and for sushi that is just how it should be!

Thought for today

Broken life, broken heart

Excerpt from Lolita, by Vladimir Nabokov

“I’ll die if you touch me,” I said. “You are sure you are not coming with me? Is there no hope of your coming? Tell me only this.”

“No,” she said. “No, honey, no.”

She had never called me honey before.

“No,” she said, “it is quite out of the question. I would sooner go back to Cue. I mean-“

She groped for words. I supplied them mentally (“He broke my heart. You merely broke my life”).

Each week Tom and I meet with people whose lives, hearts and spirits have been broken. Some of them are brought to their knees by the circumstances of childhood losses. Others were abused or mistreated by a lover or friend along the way. Can you conceive of a power great enough to mend your life, heal your heart, replenish your spirit and redeem all of your suffering? Help is available to each of us from a Source greater than ourselves. Make your need known to Him, and you will find comfort, healing and renewal as well.

our neighbor's garage

The first time I saw this garage I had no idea what it was. Tom, of course, knew right away!

the playground near us...

This little play area is situated between three apartment buildings. Everyday it is filled with little ones and those who are watching over them. Mothers, grandmothers, aunties, uncles and granddads coax little ones on slides, coach them on playing with others and calm the ones who have suffered an offense from a playmate. We love listening to the sounds of kids laughing day after day!

22? Already?

Today our oldest son, Nathan, is 22 years old. It is hard to believe that the time has gone by so quickly!

Happy Birthday Nathan!! We wish you love, joy, and an incredible year of God's peace and hope. God bless you, we love you!

thought for today

"A temptation resisted is a true measure of character."
-Pappilon

Proverbs 20:29

Youth may be admired for vigor,
but gray hair gives prestige to old age.

The Message

window shopping

Siberian Ginseng

These past few weeks I have not been feeling well. The constant change in the weather along with the work load that we have been carrying has taken it's toll on my body. There were days when I felt as if my fibromyalgia was totally in control of my life.

A friend sent me a text message today describing a natural medication that she thought might be of help to me. It's nickname is Siberian ginseng and here is a blurb from the University of Maryland Medical Center:

also known as eleuthero, has been used for centuries in Eastern countries, including China and Russia. Although a distant relative of American (Panax quinquefolius ) and Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng ), with some overlap in its uses, Siberian ginseng is a distinct plant with different active chemical components. Prized for its ability to restore vigor, increase longevity, enhance overall health, and stimulate both a healthy appetite and a good memory, it is widely used in Russia to help the body adapt to stressful conditions and to enhance productivity.

You can read the rest of the article by clicking here

I am looking forward to feeling better and am hoping that this works out for me! If you give it a try let me know!!

thought for today

"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are."
~ John Wooden ~

appreciating the small things!

Four years ago my friend Lena taught me to make bliny (Russian pancakes). I used to get frustrated because I could not flip them over without tearing them. Now, not only can I flip them over but I can even slide them off them pan and onto to the serving platter!

Breakfast anyone!?

Natural Hair Care

A few years back the founder of our language school, Diane, told us that you can tell to what extent you accept the culture around you by the number of changes you have made in your life. When I first got here I stuck with products from the states that I was familiar with. I am glad that I got over that. This conditioner so much better for my hair than any of the brands I have used in the past!

The brand name is Clean Line... all of the products contain some natural ingredients. Give them a try if you find them in a store near you. I am so glad that I did!

this just in...

Spencer and his team have left Georgia and are now in Armenia! Keep them in your prayers. They had some frustrations in Georgia with people not seeing the need for counseling.

War Memorial & Eternal Flame

Thought for today

Remember, if you’re headed in the wrong direction, God allows U-turns!

~Allison Gappa Bottke

Ask and you will receive

Typically in Russian culture people are indirect. Tom has been teaching his counseling clients to make their needs known. Today one of them sent a text message announcing that today is their birthday. The last three words were a simple request... Bless me, please!.

I sent back the blessing from me and Tom. And this person wrote back thrilled. It was exactly what they needed to hear!

So remember, just ask and otherwise you cannot get your need met!

path in the park

Not far from our house is a botanical garden... this particular path has bricks painted the colors of the Russian flag.

What would you do?

Tom just gave food to a woman begging door to door. At the end of the day, he'd rather be accused of being too loving than being too judgmental.

riding the tramvai

thought for today

As a child my family's menu consisted of two choices: take it or leave it. ~Buddy Hackett

Hot water update...

We finally have hot water again... this year it was off for 3 weeks. In the past it has only been around ten days or so.

oh well, such is life! I am off to take a hot shower!

Tea in my soup bowl…

Each Sunday morning before attending worship team practice I take the time to warm up my voice. Oftentimes I begin that process by drinking tea. I can get two delicious cups of tea from one teabag. However, to do so I have to find my bookmark, set down my songbook, get up off of the couch and walk into the kitchen to make the much needed second cup.

Elegantly poised on the top shelf of my kitchen cabinet I found the cute little bowls with handles that I normally reserve for soup. Deciding that I would like get through my warm-up time without needing to trek off to the kitchen for a second cup of tea I chose to use the soup bowl.

I was glad that no one was watching me. I felt a little silly drinking tea out of a soup bowl. But why? Martha Stewart does not live here. She isn’t even coming over for a visit anytime soon. Come to think if it, if she likes tea as much as I do… I would suggest that she relax in her favorite reading chair, with a great book while cherishing a few simple moments of quiet by drinking tea from her soup bowl as well!

T-shirt wisdom

I love reading t-shirts for some reason. Not sure why. Today's sighting:


It's all good
In the hood!


It made me think of the character that Eddie Murphy used to do on Saturday Night Live years ago in his skits called Mr Robinson's neighborhood!