Nathan is busy in his future room with a video game. 

Looking out of the master bedroom & into the living room. We'll keep the double door look, but replace these doors. 

These lights are hanging in Alida & Tom's bedroom. I think they shed good light on the new wallpaper around the area where the dresser used to be! 

We are thinking about replacing this light also...what are your thots? 

Oriental light fixture in Spencer's future room. 

Babushkas in Italy?

What did the Russian babushka say to the Italian babushka?
"why do you walk so fast?"

What did the Italian babushka say to the Russian babushka?
"why are you so tall?"

Babushkas must have an international society where they meet to discuss being grandmothers. The babushkas here in Rome all stop and pinch Rhianna's cheeks, ask her name and age. They also say they want to eat her! It is an Italian thing, I guess. She is so cute they want to eat her up! Some of them look like they have eaten a few unsuspecting little ones!

My guys had a good 4th of July... Tom made cheeseburgers and fries. Lena was back from the Ukraine so she came over for dinner. Alexei had sinus surgery in Mycop and he is still there recuperating. The apartment was supposed to get measured yesterday but they guys never showed up for that. I hear that we will have to live at the BLTC, the school Tom will eventually teach at, for a while until the renovations are complete. So, we leave one temporary home for another one! But, language school starts in a few weeks so hopefully the floors and walls will get done and we can at least get moved in before August!

I found a huge office supply store! I know that is not what I came to Rome for. But, we don't have such a creature in Krasnodar. I bought paper with lines, pencils and pens. I don't understand why they don't use paper with lines.... it is easier to find graph paper than ruled paper. They also have peanut butter at the grocery store. I am going to try some and if it passes the test I will take some of that back home with me too!

I saw the Coloseum today, the Mamertine prison (where Paul & Peter were imprisoned) and the Forum. I have some babushka shots too! I think I am a people watcher at heart... and you know the great thing about the zoom on my camera? I can catch these gals from across the street!!!!

Madrina goes to work

In Italian, Madrina, means Godmother... as opposed to GodFather! It is a thought provoking job to be someone's Godmother. I am supposed to help Rhianna in her spiritual development. Well, we started today at St. Peter's Basilica. We were able to get right through the line. Italians love babies... everyone made sure I stayed in the shade. I was not even scanned with the hand wand and did not have my bag checked. Instead the guard was saying "Ciao, Bella" to the baby! Which means "hello, beautiful!" Sometimes they call her "bambolo" which is 'doll'. Even on the metro to get there an older gentleman gave up his seat for me. And then sat down next to me once that seat opened up. I asked him where the Basilica was (it was too hard to reach my map in my bag and hang to the baby!) So, Erin taught me a few key phrases and I am speaking minimal Italian... "Doveh, Basilica?" He told me that he was getting off a stop before and that if I went one stop too far it would take me to the Museum. I thanked him and he went back to playing with the baby. With Italians you must include your thumb when counting. He asked me how old she was and I showed him with my fingers... I only know numbers in English, Spanish and Russian! I did not use my thumb but my index finger for the sixth digit so I thought he would get that she was 6 months old. Nope, he assumed the thumb and said " 7 months!" I had to do it again using the thumb for the sixth digit and he got it! So remember in Italy they start with the THUMB!!!! If you put up your index finger to ask for one of something you may get two!!!! At the Basilica I got a photo of John Paul II's crypt, the chest that holds Peter's bones and the famous statue of Peter that many pilgrims kiss or rub the toe of. The art work in there is incredible and I took pictures of whatever Rhianna decided I could take a picture of. If she needed my attention she took priority. Babies make you slow down. Babies make you remember you will be here for 15 more days and can come back if you want too. Babies make you stop and look. Babies make you stop and think. Rhianna needed a bottle and there was no place nearby me to sit. So, I sat on the floor in front of a statue of somebody. And I made a bottle and fed her. Quickly a crowd of people drew near who also wanted a rest. We made it about half way through her bottle before a security gaurd came over and made everyone else leave! I sat there and contemplated the art. I thought about the stories the paintings told and not just about what to photograph. I thought about my family and how badly they need to come here and see for themselves what I am feebly putting into words. Rhianna fell asleep long enough for me to go into a prayer room. I went in and prayed and meditated. I meditated on 'how I got here'. I got here because I said 'yes' to God. I said 'yes' when I was 10 years old and I heard the gospel story. I said 'yes' when I heard God tell me that Tom would make a good husband someday. I said 'yes' when Tom said he believed God was calling us to Russia. And I said 'yes' when I felt God saying Erin needed my help so she could feel safe leaving her firstborn child while she works. Try saying 'yes' to God and see where it leads you!

St Peter in Chains

Acts 12:1-11
Peter's Miraculous Escape From Prison

1 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3 When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. 4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.

5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. 6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.

7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists.

8 Then the angel said to him, "Put on your clothes and sandals." And Peter did so. "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me," the angel told him. 9 Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.

11 Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating."

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At the Church St. Peter in Chains; I beheld the chains that bound Peter.
I wept at the sight. As we approached the front of the altar we heard the congregants who were attending mass reciting "Holy, Holy , Holy is the Lord". What else can I say? The Bible was made plain for me today. I saw the chains, I felt the Spirit of the God moving at that moment in that church. Someone asked me once how I can know if God is real... all I can say is that: today I felt the magnificent, awesome, presence of God. I know that my going to Russia will never compare to what Peter and the early believers went through to follow God as they understood Him. I don't have to be like them.... I only have to follow my God as best as I can... one day at a time, for the rest of my life. Ciao!

Erin & Rhianna arrive!

The girls are all together now! We cause quite a stir when we go out. I thought that Russian people love babies. You should see Italians... everyone wants to touch her, talk to her & make faces at her... it's a scream. "Ciao, bella" is heard from almost everyone we come across. Today at lunch the restaurant owner brought pillows for Rhianna to lay down on the table. And then gave us a fan to cool her off. We were allowed to stay in the place until she finished her nap... all the customers in the joint came over to talk with us. One woman even sat down beside me and spoke passionately to Erin. She is fluent in Italian. A poster for the Opera she is in was up in the restuarant. The gal who sat down to talk with Erin was not happy that they don't give discounts to seniors! Not that Erin can control that!

I was given some beans by the owner for me to plant we I get home. They are the beans used to make Italian soup. They are called Borlotti. One of her recipes, in fact the dish I had for lunch was featured in Bon Appetit. When I get to post my pictures I will show the dish... of course I took a picture of the food; it was gorgeous and tasted as good as it looked. I had Tortelloni Ricotta Spinaci. Maria Theresa is one of the best cooks I have ever enjoyed! She asked me if I understood her; I told her I understood a little. She wanted to know what languages I spoke. I told her Russian and English. She told me she speaks only Roman not Italian! I had to ask Erin later what the difference was. Roman is almost the same as Italian just some of the words are pronounced differently!

We went to the chapel that holds the wood that is supposedly from Jesus manger. It was incredible inside! Is the wood really from the manger.... I don't know but there were many faithful people inside praying in front of the wood. I couldn't help praying there myself!

There is so much to see here and to do each day. It is almost too much for the senses. But, you cannot turn off Rome and make it go away. Another day we will go to St. Peter in Chains Church. Erin has not been there. Peter's chains from when he and Paul were in prison are there. I hope I can handle that sight!

Fountain De Trevi

Water... brings out the best in people. I found a cooler place to hang out today. The Trevi Fountain is enormous, gorgeous and fabulous! And any other "ous" word you can think of! I watched little kids playing nearby, the nuns giggling as they photographed each other and couples snuggling up to one another while they got the picture taken too! It was fun to just sit there with my camera and take in the scene. A TV station showed up and I captured them as well. The camera man patiently listened to his producer and went for each shot as he was told. I was happy to have the freedom to sit back and just zoom in to whatever I wanted! The police seemed to enjoy harrassing whomever they chose. It seemed random.

I walked around after a while to explore more of the city. My vacation was short lived.... my job starts as soon as Erin picks me up! I came here to work. 6 days a week for 12 hours a day for the next two weeks I will be with a 6 month old baby! Erin has a job in an Opera and I am here to help. It will be too hot to spend long days out in the sun with a baby. And believe me it is HOT here!

Yesterday, I watched a western on TV with Jimmy Stewart, Henry Fonda and Shirley Jones.... I didn't know they could speak Italian! I thought cowboys spoke AMERICAN!

I purchased a painting today for our new apartment. A small one that I think Tom will love. I know how much he misses all the art pieces we left behind. The gal at the art shop was so sweet. She was very careful in wrapping it up for me. Then she had to apologize because her credit card machine was not working. SO, I had to walk to a bank to get cash. I met up with a very tall young blonde from Wisconsin. She escorted me to the bankomat! She may have been almost as tall as my oldest brother; and he is 6 feet 4 inches tall. She told me she plays basketball for the University of Wisconsin. She said it would just be easier for her to show me where the ATM was than to explain it to me. She was right... I could not have gotten there on my own! She dashed away before I could ask her what she was doing in Rome. I wish her the best; maybe I will see her on TV someday.... surely the WNBA is calling her name!

When in doubt follow the signs to McDonalds! I was trying to understand the small map I was using but I got the streets wrong. Or the direction... I am not sure. Then I saw a sign for McDonalds. I remember from a marketing class in college that McDonalds always tries to locate themselves near the busiest intersections. I thought if I just follow their signs I will find my way to the subway! It worked... it does not take a rocket scientist to figure out why McDonalds wants to be where the people are!

My guys are without hot water! Our section of Krasnodar is doing repairs. Tom said they are having to heat water on the stove to do the dishes. And they are eating leftovers for meals.

Even babies like to hear their own language!
"ello, ew walkin abow yersel now?!" said the Irish lady to a little toddler.
The baby stared at her blankly.
"ello, ew walkin abow yersel now?!" she repeated.
Finally, after a long cold stare the baby turnd and walked away.

I think the translation for the Irish lady's words is:
"Hello, you walking about yourself now?"
Did you get it right?

Vatican Museum

Sistine Chapel, original works of art, Vatican artifacts.... what can you say about all that history!


I waited in line for about two hours to get in. The price of admission was 12 euro. The euro is at a 1.24 American today. So it was cheaper than Disneyland but still pricey! I thought I was never going to find the end of the line to get in. I followed a couple of priests for awhile but I lost them.... how do you lose a priest? I don't know; the same way I lost track of the 15 nuns I was following. This is Rome. There seems to be no concept of a line. If there is a slight break in the crowd other will come along and fill in. Our Border Collie, Domo, would go nuts here. After I got inside I went to work taking photos. It got to be overwhelming after a while. I felt like there was no place to stop. But, I just could not keep on taking picture after picture of so much beauty. I felt like I was peeking into history and it was weird.

Things overheard at the museum:
"there's too many things to take pictures of"
"yeah, it beats modern art"
"what was all that sh$% we saw in London?"
"I'm such in awe...I am just in awe!"
"there is just too much to take in"
"Thank God, it's cool in here!"
"NO FLASH, NO FLASH!"
"well, why didn't someone tell me that sooner?"
"it's too much grandeur...I have grandeur fatigue!"


I ran out of room on my memory card I looked for another one. I found one that was 90 euros. I heard all the men in my life screaming "90 euros!" Thankfully it was the wrong size! She suggested downloading all my photos onto a disc. That was 7 euros. Did you hear the men all sigh with relief? While she took care of my memory card I went to eat lunch. I have discovered that Italian chickens are skinny too and not just Russian chickens. I guess in the States they must do hormone injections to make them nice and plump!

After I got my memory card back it was time for the picture gallery. That was amazing. The Last Supper is behind glass. But I got a decent shot of it. In the Sistine Chapel no one is allowed to take photos. But.... with my new camera being silent and the flash turn off.... I took off the lens cap and pointed the camera to the ceiling and prayed for a decent photo. I could not even look at it until I left the room. There is a Russian word for this that I am sure Tom is thinking of as he reads this. Appruvdonyah. Justification! Someone else did it; so I did it too! I prayed for forgiveness when I left the room... I hope that taking a photo in the Sistine Chapel is not a mortal sin! If so there are many priests around here who can hear my confession. I just have to walk outside and I will find one if I walk far enough!

The guys seem to be doing well here is part of an email I got from Tom:

Ella came & cleaned & ironed. I gave her one of the 1 liters of honey. We'll never eat both of them. Spencer & Nathan went to Scrooges to get frozen pizza but they didn't have any. I sent Nathan back to buy Russian dumplings. Spencer cooked them & some broccoli for lunch. Spencer & I were getting ready to leave in the afternoon & Alexei M showed up! I told him he was supposed to come yesterday. He's scheduled for next Tues @ 2. Spencer & I caught the 14 & went to Savoy Renoc to get Trolleybus & Tramvye passes for July. We walked past about 20 furniture stores - many had beds but they were all cheap looking furniture. We can skip these stores - cross them off your list. We got 2 passes, then we WALKED to Tabris...mozshitbit 1 to 2 miles. We shopped & got a taxi & came home. I brought home broiled kuritza for dinner. I let Spencer post his photos on his blog tonight after Erin called & said that you had sent an email. Watch out for the heat wave in Italy. It's already killed some old people.I love you.T

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I have not watched the news here but I keep hearing the ambulances go by. I was wondering about the heatwave. I took a huge bottle of water with me when I stood in line! It is hotter than blazes here. And to get into the Sistine Chapel you have to have your shoulders and knees covered. I came back to the hotel and changed ASAP!!!

Rome!

When in Rome....

I would like to speak Italian but all I can say is thank you! I knew what I would do here; I am speaking Russian! In Vienna they all spoke German, not me... I spoke Russian. Thankfully on my flight I sat beside a Russian man. I was able to speak to him. He was bringing a group here to Rome. When I was over the Ukraine my phone let me know that the satellite was welcoming me to it's service. I received the same reception from the Italian satellite also.

It is hard to focus when you are sitting between two young men playing an online fighting game. I am not sure what language they are speaking it might be Japanese! Correction, they keep switching between English, Italian and Japanese!

I went out to get some photos today and got some great shots in the church that the pope is from. I cannot post them until I get home. I got into an argument with the taxi driver he did not want to give me my correct change from my ride to the metro station. Guess who won... not him! I was not impressed with his tour of the city and I was not going to pay for it!

I got text messages from all my guys at home they all sound great. I hope Tom finally got some sleep. He volunteered to help get one of the students to the airport last night. You see to get me to the airport I caught a ride with a group of kids going back to the states who had been here teaching Russian churches how to do puppet ministies in their churches. Well one of the girls had a different flight and Tom and Mike (the coordinator) had to take her later, that allowed Mike's wife to go home and sleep. My group had to be at the airport by 2:30 am. Our flight left at 5:40 am. It was cool to see the international side of the Krasnodar airport, they speak English there.... but you know what I'm going to say, not me! I spoke Russian.

Viewing the new place

"Moon man street" will soon be left behind for "spies for Russia avenue"! We have lived on Cosmonaut Gagarina Street since April. When we move it will be to Krasnitch Partisan. Life will be a bit more exciting for Tom as he oversees the remodel. I am getting ready to leave for Rome. I leave for the airport in four hours. I get back here after they guys will have moved out already. I get to miss out on all the fun!

cats are not impressed by paparazzi!

Sharpkid and Blackpurl have been reading photo tips on the internet. We were trying them out on the cat. The cat stayed put only for a short while then got up and walked away. As things were being taken out of the house the air began to clear... our dogs will not want to smell cat! We do not want a "marking" war to start so.... hopefully the new tile and paint will take care of any past cat smell!

Sharpkid surveys his new digs!

See all the jam the babushka has canned and set aside! All Spencer wants is the guitar on the wall. This will be his room. Our hope is that the apartment will be empty when the guys return on Thursday!

Our new front door!

We will keep this metal door since it is brand new. But, like Franzi advised we will change all the locks! Klaus told us this is their practice each time they have moved.

everything is almost out of the apartment!

One of her grandsons had his truck available for her move. They made many trips up and down the stairs. They told us they could take care of moving all of our belongings. They are also skilled in repair work and were promoting themselves to get that job as well!

mushrooms ready for winter

The babushka is ready for whatever comes her way! She had plenty of jam, mushrooms and other canned goods set aside.

the babushka's grandson

Spencer, Tom and I all had our cameras going... this young man started to pose because he said he knew he would be seen in America. Before I snapped the picture he said "cheeses!" Then he wanted to see if he approved of the photo. It did meet with his approval "horoshow!"(good) he said after he saw it!

stairway to our new dom!