We received a message from the couple we traveled with on our first trip that they have a Court Date! Yeah! I'm so happy for them! They will be in Krasnoyarsk for a few days at the same time as us so we'll be able to hook up again. I'm so glad we'll be seeing them again!
Please keep Tamara and Bill in your prayers as they prepare for their trip and their April 8th Court Date.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Ten Things
The ten things I will miss while in Russia are:
1. Pat's mom and dad. They are awesome, generous, kind and always listen to whatever we have to say.
2. The puppies! Maggie and Mosby are so cute-don't you think? I will miss their constant and unrestrained love and devotion!
3. My pillow. There is nothing like one's own pillow.
4. Spring and the Cherry Blossoms! The best seasons in the Washignton, D. C. area are Spring and Fall. And Cherry Blossoms will be blooming while we're gone! We might get to see the last dregs, as our tree blooms about a week after the ones in D. C., but we'll see! Also, it seems a bit unfair--the weather here next Wednesday is forecast to be about 61 degrees; in Moscow, 32 degrees; and in Krasnoyarsk it will be 21 degrees. Well, at least it will be on the positive side!
5. Cafe du Monde coffee. . .sigh.
6. Big juicy steaks. . .another sigh.
7. GMU's latest run at an ACC title--Go Pats!
8. Hearing English spoken.
9. The History and Sci-Fi channels.
10. Talking daily with my sister Amy
But, then on the flip side, here are ten things I'll love about being in Russia!:
1. Seeing Aidan again.
2. Being with and getting to know Aidan.
3. Getting custody (please, God, let it be so!) of Aidan.
4. Snuggling with Aidan.
5. Reading to Aidan.
6. Learning more about Krasnoyarsk.
7. The chance to read, guilt free (no "list of things to do" looming)!
8. Hearing from you all via Email!
9. Taking walks.
10. And, of course, spending quality time with Pat!
5 days to go until we leave! Wow.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
One Week To Go!
I'm feeling a little antsy now. . .Our time to go is coming so fast! There's a lot to do, but it is getting done, Thanks be to God!
Today, Pat will pick up our Chest x-ray films and the medical reports from our lab work. We hand carry that to our appointment at the American Medical Clinic. I have our tax records copied with our W-2's, our latest paystubs copied, and I think (although I need to look at the list of things needed again!) all I need to do is make copies of our passports. I'll do that when they come back with our visa's--hopefully today!
Last night, Pat and one of our neighbors, a Capital Police Officer, installed the new car seat into the new Mommy Mobile. I am now offically driving a Mommy Mobile! It's pretty cool. . .but the funny thing was watching two grown men try to wrangle that seat into place properly and to get it tightened down. It doesn't budge at all, so I am pretty sure they did it right. But, I'll have it checked anyway at the Fire Department, no offense to these two wonderful guys!
Tonight we're redoing Aidan's closet to add more shelves and to give him more access to his own clothes. Not that we will expect him to be able to do that right away, but when he is ready to dress himself, he will be able to reach his own things!
I have started a pile of things to take on the trip. I'm beginning to be a little alarmed at how much we have set aside to take. . .I may have to pair it down some! : ) I've never been very good at packing light. . .
I've been reading a lot of blogs lately and noticed that there seem to be a lot of American's travelling to Russia these days. That's a wonderful sign that things are really moving along nicely again. Yeah for everyone!
That's it for now. Please keep us in your prayers as we finalize things, and as we take off on our trip--especially pray that we don't get bumped in Krasnoyarsk to a different hotel. . .
Blessings to you all.
Stacy
Today, Pat will pick up our Chest x-ray films and the medical reports from our lab work. We hand carry that to our appointment at the American Medical Clinic. I have our tax records copied with our W-2's, our latest paystubs copied, and I think (although I need to look at the list of things needed again!) all I need to do is make copies of our passports. I'll do that when they come back with our visa's--hopefully today!
Last night, Pat and one of our neighbors, a Capital Police Officer, installed the new car seat into the new Mommy Mobile. I am now offically driving a Mommy Mobile! It's pretty cool. . .but the funny thing was watching two grown men try to wrangle that seat into place properly and to get it tightened down. It doesn't budge at all, so I am pretty sure they did it right. But, I'll have it checked anyway at the Fire Department, no offense to these two wonderful guys!
Tonight we're redoing Aidan's closet to add more shelves and to give him more access to his own clothes. Not that we will expect him to be able to do that right away, but when he is ready to dress himself, he will be able to reach his own things!
I have started a pile of things to take on the trip. I'm beginning to be a little alarmed at how much we have set aside to take. . .I may have to pair it down some! : ) I've never been very good at packing light. . .
I've been reading a lot of blogs lately and noticed that there seem to be a lot of American's travelling to Russia these days. That's a wonderful sign that things are really moving along nicely again. Yeah for everyone!
That's it for now. Please keep us in your prayers as we finalize things, and as we take off on our trip--especially pray that we don't get bumped in Krasnoyarsk to a different hotel. . .
Blessings to you all.
Stacy
Monday, March 10, 2008
Odd Landing Behavior
One of the many oddities about traveling to and within Russia is the strange behavior by passengers. On our first trip to Russia, several of the passengers clapped when we landed in Moscow. Thinking it odd, we promptly forgot about it in the hustle to get our bags, get through customs and to find our ride.
But, it happened again when we landed in Krasnoyarsk and again when we landed back in Moscow. We never had the nerve to ask anyone why that was the case, in part because we didn't really want to know if it was something to truly celebrate. We were in a large plane, afterall!
We returned to "normal" landing behavior upon our arrival in the U. S. No clapping.
Maybe on our pending return trip we'll ask someone about the clapping, if it happens again!
But, it happened again when we landed in Krasnoyarsk and again when we landed back in Moscow. We never had the nerve to ask anyone why that was the case, in part because we didn't really want to know if it was something to truly celebrate. We were in a large plane, afterall!
We returned to "normal" landing behavior upon our arrival in the U. S. No clapping.
Maybe on our pending return trip we'll ask someone about the clapping, if it happens again!
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Preparing to get ready
Well, 9 days to go! The time is flying. . .we have so much to do! But, we have our cash now and I've started pulling things together to pack. It's hard to decide what to take and what not to take. How do you pack for 30 days not knowing about laundry facilities?
I've been shopping to buy up a few needed items in order to survivie: mega number of books, clothing that can be worn more than once, vacuum pack bags to reduce the air(and weight!), gifts for our translators/drivers/Director of Orphanage/and our tour guide. I did take my sisters advice and bought a small bottle of liquid detergent so that I can do laundry in the tub, if need be. That was a great suggestion! And, I did purchase a jar of instant coffee (I'm not going to be like last time!) and a small jar of Tobasco--one of life's great necessities! My only concern now is about the weight of the bags. . .I guess I'll find out where we stand and then I'll need to decide if something should come out or not. . .
So, back to the gifts I purchased for the folks who take care of us: For our tour guide, Anna, she took wonderful care of us on the first trip and took us to several Orthodox churches. I'm hoping she'll be able to take us to St. Basil's and to go inside this time. So, I bought her an ornament from the Washington National Cathedral--one of the replica's of the Moon Stained Glass Window. That seems appropriate!
For Marina, I bought some books about Leesburg, and about Virginia. She teaches History to a group of students who are learning English. I thought she would like to read about the place where Aidan will be coming to live. She asked, the last time we were there, if I would come and talk to her students one day. I'd love to! We'll see if that still happens.
So, that leaves Yelena, Serge, and Vladimir and Galina. I'd like to get Serge a Washington Capitals shirt. If I can find one, I will. I think Galina would like an ornament from Leesburg showing the Court House--again, it will be about where Aidan is coming to live. I'll need to think further about Yelena and Vladimir. Maybe something Williamsburg for Yelena! I don't know. I'll think about it.
It's hard to believe that 5 weeks from now we'll be getting ready to come home! I get homesick thinking about being away, but I know it will pass as it is supposed to. I just hope our puppies are happy when we return with Aidan!
Thank you for so many prayers and well wishes. I'm going to ask you pray with us some more: Father, please help us to accept the daily wait that will be our life over the coming 5 weeks and to not let impatience take over. Please keep Aidan healthy, our travels smooth, and the judge in a favorable mood toward us. Amen.
Blessings!
Stacy
I've been shopping to buy up a few needed items in order to survivie: mega number of books, clothing that can be worn more than once, vacuum pack bags to reduce the air(and weight!), gifts for our translators/drivers/Director of Orphanage/and our tour guide. I did take my sisters advice and bought a small bottle of liquid detergent so that I can do laundry in the tub, if need be. That was a great suggestion! And, I did purchase a jar of instant coffee (I'm not going to be like last time!) and a small jar of Tobasco--one of life's great necessities! My only concern now is about the weight of the bags. . .I guess I'll find out where we stand and then I'll need to decide if something should come out or not. . .
So, back to the gifts I purchased for the folks who take care of us: For our tour guide, Anna, she took wonderful care of us on the first trip and took us to several Orthodox churches. I'm hoping she'll be able to take us to St. Basil's and to go inside this time. So, I bought her an ornament from the Washington National Cathedral--one of the replica's of the Moon Stained Glass Window. That seems appropriate!
For Marina, I bought some books about Leesburg, and about Virginia. She teaches History to a group of students who are learning English. I thought she would like to read about the place where Aidan will be coming to live. She asked, the last time we were there, if I would come and talk to her students one day. I'd love to! We'll see if that still happens.
So, that leaves Yelena, Serge, and Vladimir and Galina. I'd like to get Serge a Washington Capitals shirt. If I can find one, I will. I think Galina would like an ornament from Leesburg showing the Court House--again, it will be about where Aidan is coming to live. I'll need to think further about Yelena and Vladimir. Maybe something Williamsburg for Yelena! I don't know. I'll think about it.
It's hard to believe that 5 weeks from now we'll be getting ready to come home! I get homesick thinking about being away, but I know it will pass as it is supposed to. I just hope our puppies are happy when we return with Aidan!
Thank you for so many prayers and well wishes. I'm going to ask you pray with us some more: Father, please help us to accept the daily wait that will be our life over the coming 5 weeks and to not let impatience take over. Please keep Aidan healthy, our travels smooth, and the judge in a favorable mood toward us. Amen.
Blessings!
Stacy
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