dinner with friends from Uzbekistan!

Lily set a beautiful table!
















Ruslan preparing the plov!






















Lily getting the meat and garlic ready to add in...
the garlic was cooked whole with the skin on and
she is showing me how it is removed.

















We had a great time with Lily, Ruslan, Artur and Bagdan! They are preparing to move back to Uzbekistan and wanted to have us over before their departure. They will be doing work with people in Recovery.

Lily had asked me about getting her a toe ring when I was in America... she thought that maybe I had forgotten. But I didn't! She was so thrilled to receive it. She let out a loud scream when she open the box. I think most of my friends in California wear one so I don't always think about how unique it is. She put it on and wore it for the rest of the night!

We gave the boys the Dr Seuss book and they loved it... Lily tells me that they have read it many times over the past two days. I knew it would be a hit. When Nathan and Spencer were younger they loved Dr Seuss too!

Ruslan cooked all day to make us authentic Uzbekistan plov (pilaf). He says that there are 18 different varieties of plov! We were very happy to be sent home with the leftovers... Ruslan made plov for the church's Easter dinner and Tom has been a fan ever since!

We have enjoyed working with them and watching them grow and we will miss them a lot when they leave! They both have incredible hearts, are very gracious,are generous in sharing all that they have and all that they have experienced with those around them.

PS... I did not show Lily and Ruslan's faces on purpose. They are going to be working in a dangerous area and they told us that Christians are currently being persecuted there. One of his friends was arrested just for having Christian literature.

Thought for Today

We go to our homes in hopes of finding physically many of the same qualities God offers us spiritually—a restful place, safe from the storms and stresses of the world, filled with love, comfort, and absolute acceptance… Home is to be the refuge we run to after doing battle in the world. It should be where we are reminded of who we are, to whom we belong, and what really matters in life.

Terry Willits, from her book Creating a SenseSational Home



I was thinking about how we as a family use our home... when we lived in America there were times when our home was just a "pit stop" a place to sleep, eat and use the facilities. Here in Russia we have made our home more of a restful place. A safe place for us to come after the stresses of the day. A place where we are all accepted for who we are and not stared at or watched as we go about our business. I pray that our home will always be a safe place to run to... no matter where in the world it is located!

Solzhenitsyn lies in state in Moscow

Russians queue up to mourn dissident Solzhenitsyn

By James Kilner and Conor Sweeney

Russia paid tribute to former Soviet dissident Alexander Solzhenitsyn on Tuesday with all the hallmarks of an official lying-in-state.

While Muscovites lined up to honor the Nobel Laureate, four Russian soldiers in dress uniform stood at attention at the open coffin in the Russian Academy of Sciences -- a telling symbol of recognition for the former exile.

A large portrait of Solzhenitsyn and a Russian flag completed the backdrop.
After tributes from world leaders following Solzhenitsyn's death from heart failure at 89 on Sunday, Russians paid respects to the survivor of Stalin's Gulag prison camps who documented their tyranny and challenged Soviet rule at home and in exile.

Solzhenitsyn's widow Natalia and his sons looked on as people, many of them elderly, brought small bouquets of white or red flowers to lay before his coffin.

In keeping with Russian tradition, mourners brought an even number of flowers, usually two or four.

"Solzhenitsyn was one of the most important people in the history of Russia, he wrote exactly what he thought and needed to be remembered," said maths professor Alexander Romanov, 60.

"It's a shame that not all young people understand how important he is. The young people of Russia today understand less and less," he said.

Solzhenitsyn came to international attention after the publication in 1962 of "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich," which chronicled the appalling life of a labor camp prisoner.

He went on to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1970 and later produced his most famous work, "Gulag Archipelago," a chronicle of his own and thousands of other prison camp experiences.

GREAT DEFERENCE
Solzhenitsyn was stripped of his citizenship in 1974. He moved to the United States, where he lived until after the fall of the Soviet Union. He spent his final years living quietly in a Moscow suburb.

Solzhenitsyn was treated with great deference by subsequent Russian leaders, including current Russian prime minister and former president Vladimir Putin, though he became increasingly critical of corruption in modern Russia.

"The young know he wrote important books about the camps and that he received the Nobel prize, but that's all we really know. he's more important for the older generations," said football trainer Alexander Selemenev, 27, on his way to work.

He said he respected Solzhenitsyn because he wasn't afraid to tell the truth. "But recently in politics, for Russia, it's not clear what he has done," he said.

Russia's main television channels ran lengthy reports on their evening news programs and unscheduled documentaries on Solzhenitsyn's life.

But not all media reports remembered Solzhenitsyn kindly. The Communist party newspaper Pravda called him a radical critic who produced one-sided accounts of Stalin's rule.

"He became one of the main battering rams in destroying both the state and nation ... that is why he is being applauded so rapturously by both Russian President Medvedev and U.S. President Bush!" it wrote in a commentary on Tuesday.

A funeral service will take place on Wednesday at the medieval Donskoi monastery, where Solzhenitsyn will be buried.

(Reporting by James Kilner, writing by Conor Sweeney; editing by Robert Hart)

how long has it been?

We have been using the same water company for the three years that we have lived here. I have been talking to the same girl for most of the that time when I place an order. Last Friday I called to place an order and this is what happened:

Me: I would like to order water
Her: ok, you live on ------
Me: yes, apartment number----
Her: Why haven't you ordered in the last three weeks?
Me: we were in America
Her: oh, a little vacation, huh? Did you get some rest?
Me: yes, thank you we enjoyed our time there!
Her: wonderful! As usual your order will be delivered before lunch tomorrow... that is two bottles right?
Me: yes, thank you!


Tom and I believe that we must be the only foreigners on their route. She knows me by voice! For those of you thinking that she is using a computer for all her information guess again... if someone else happens to answer the phone, they have to ask for all of our info. This gal is truly on the ball and has mastered the art of customer service!

weighing in!

Finally movement in the right direction!! I am down two pounds... walking and sweating in the hot Krasnodar sun is truly the best diet around :-)

a few more shots of the family!

Thought for Today

That insatiable longing for more that you feel, the emptiness you want those closest to you to fill, is put there by God so that He can fill it.
Stormie Omartian, from The Power of a Praying Woman


Instead of demanding more from your spouse, siblings, children or your friends... look to God. Only He can fill the emptiness in your heart of hearts.

Tanya’s Homemade Ranch Dressing

My friend Tanya made this dressing for those of us who were able to attend the PWF retreat in California… I gave it a try and it was a hit!

I made the dressing in the morning and was able to serve it with salad at dinner. Like Tanya said you can experiment with the herbs. I was out of fresh parsley but I had cilantro… and I liked the kick it added! I did go out to the market today and bought parsley so I can make another batch and compare them.


Tanya’s Homemade Ranch Dressing
1 c. mayo
1/2 c. buttermilk
1 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1 Tbsp chopped fresh chives
1 Tbsp chopped garlic
Freshly ground black pepper

Combine all ingredients and let them sit for awhile (overnight is great, several hours is good), the garlic and herbs will infuse the mayo & milk and make it really good.

Tanya's Notes:
1. Garlic is the KEY to this recipe.

2. Fresh garlic is MUCH stronger than the chopped in a jar, and can be harsh, which is why I usually use the jar garlic -- I can serve it much sooner.

3. If you make this and it's too strong, either with garlic or the herbs,
just add a little more mayo and buttermilk to dilute, and let it set.
The ratio is 2 to 1 for mayo and buttermilk.

4. If this is too weak, just add more garlic or herbs.

5. Experiment with the herbs. I have fresh dill in the garden right now,
and I added it recently, and my family loved it. One recipe I have calls for oregano, another mentions marjoram (!?)

A tale of two brothers

It starts with Spencer looking over Nathan's shoulder
as he plays a video game!
















Then I get them to pose for a picture...

















Nathan is not ready to let
go of his brother!
















brotherly love?

















yep... brotherly love!!

weighing in!

I didn't want to post this today... according the the scale I was using in California I had lost weight while we were in America. But, my scale here in our apartment is telling me otherwise. I have to accept this as fact and move on... I am up four pounds and need to get outside and walk it off!!

we made it!

We are tired, hot and glad to be back in our own home!

Tom, Spencer and I slept quite a bit yesterday but we still have some catching up to do. We left California on the 22nd not knowing how we were going to get from Moscow to Krasnodar. But, we were all flexible on the how and the when so after we arrived at the Moscow Airport I went to the travel agency and asked about flights to Krasnodar... we were able to get tickets that day and were home four hours later!

We were picked up at the airport by Vladimir, the father of Spencer's friend Vlad. He drove us home and helped us carry our bags up four flights of stairs. We had to knock on our own door because someone had placed the slider on and our key wouldn't work. We were greeted by Lena P. who was making our dinner! It feels so good to have friends who are thoughtful enough to take care of small details like that. She cleaned the apartment after fixing dinner and left us with plenty of water and clean sheets.

Our internet was down yesterday so we are all taking turns catching up on email and current news... so if you are waiting for an email from one of us please be patient and we will answer as soon as we can!

Thanks for praying for us and may God richly bless you!!

back to Russia...

Our flight leaves early in the morning and we still need to run a few errands, do some laundry clean the condo and then finish packing! Please pray for us as we travel!!

weighing in!

Despite enjoying ice cream sandwiches with Nathan I managed to lose another pound this week!

Nathan is leaving tomorrow and it will be very hard to say goodbye to him... we have really enjoyed our family time this week. Remember to cherish your loved ones and show them how much you love them!!

Nathan is here!!!

We picked up Nathan on Sunday and we all just keep taking turns hugging him!!! I don't know if I will be posting much this week... I don't want to miss a minute of fun with my three favorite men, Tom, Nathan and Spencer!!

and for those who are wondering how the retreat went you can check out Christie's blog!
http://cricklsnest.blogspot.com/2008/07/pw-retreat-2008.html

weighing in

Normally I weigh in on Friday... but since I am at Joann's I weighed in yesterday. I am down a half pound but I will have to update my ticker when I get more time. My goal while here in America is not to gain weight!!

We are off to Solvang today, then on to the beach and then out to Magic Castle for dinner. It is just awesome to be here with my online buddies!

chillin with the girls!

I am at Joann's now using her computer while we wait for the other gals to arrive! This is the first Pastor's Wives Forum Retreat and I feel so privileged to be here. I met Joann and Christie last year and this year I am looking forward to meeting Tanya and Alena too!


Gotta go... Alena just got here!

Thought for today

"God's power is too precious and too powerful to be let loose in an unsubmitted soul".
Stormie Omartian author of The Power of a Praying Woman

If the power of God is not evident in our lives it is possibly due to our attitudes, our thought lives or our choices. Our restless souls can be likened to children wiggling in their seats waiting for the sound of the last bell for the school day.

My personal desire and the prayer of my heart is to be fully submitted to God so that He can fill me and use me for His purposes!

congrats to Spencer!!

Yesterday Spencer was able to log on and check his email.... he just found out that he has been accepted into YWAM's Discipleship Training School in Kiev, Ukraine!

He will be studying the Bible with students from various countries and the lessons are taught in both English and Russian.

We are very proud of him! He set this goal to attend the program two years ago when Tom taught a class there in Kiev and he finally realised his dream!

Of course Alida is lamenting the fact that Nathan will be in America and Spencer will be in Ukraine while she and Tom are in Russia. Our family of four will be spread out over three countries.

Spencer lovingly reminded Alida yesterday he "is not leaving the planet!"

we made it!

yeah, we have been missing in action for a bit but we did arrive here safely. We traveled for over 27 hours to get here and we have been sleeping, getting used to the time difference and trying to recover from the 30 hour train ride and the 27 hours on the airplane!

We have heard that it takes as many days to adjust to the new time zone as the hours of time difference from the place you traveled. We have an 11 hour time difference to recover from!!

I was able to pick up the van that was loaned to us today and now Spencer and I are at the library to check email and for me to post here!

Thanks for all the prayers!

big city grief!

Spencer and I went out by ourselves today to find a FedEx office and run a few other errands. It took us three hours including time spent on the subway, purchasing a map, reading the map, asking several people for directions as the loud roaring subway went by, and then finally deciding to go straight to the American Embassy and ask there for directions. The police officer guarding the gate for American citizens sent us straight there!!

There is a Russian proverb that says "your tongue can take you all the way to Kiev". We put that to the test today and it truly was amazing the number of people who were willing to stop and help us figure out where we were going... I think most of them were just relieved that I was asking in Russian!

After our morning adventure Spencer and I treated ourselves to lunch at TGI Fridays, one of the benefits of a big city, and just as we finished our meal Tom sent me a text message letting me know that he was awake and ready to see some sights! We met him at Red Square and went to the GUM (goom) to see all the exclusive shops... for those of you in Southern California it is somewhat like South Coast Plaza Mall, the high end side.

Outside in the square Tom pointed out the stone circle where Ivan the Terrible had people beheaded. It gave me an eerie feeling to walk up the stairs to look at it.

We just loved seeing the beautiful colors on the roofs of St Basil's and it trulywas an awesome feeling to stand in Red Square and admire the architecture and the grandeur of the Kremlin!

Please keep us in your prayers as we leave here in the morning for our flight to America. We will be flying through New York to LA!!

And "thank you" to all who prayed for our highschool friend with cancer... her surgery went well and they believe they got it all!