My RSS Feeds
Thinking of VBS
OK, not really...but there just aint nothin' to say. We had another normal day of the Beckers being overly nice to us and helping us, and us hangin' out, and getting to know the girls. OOOHHH, I almost forgot...Sergei took us to a place for supper for us to have real borsch. So, I've had it. Jeff just tasted mine. The girls had no interest in it. It was so good. So good. I've decided if I could just communicate I could stay. I've developed a tolerance for almost everything else.
Just for fun...
Top Ten things I will miss about Ukraine (how's that for hope?)
10. Finger combing my hair at every red light so I can see again. (windows-open driving like a convertable, ya know?)
9. Watching drivers treat the white lines as completely optional, (and every other traffic suggestion as optional as well)
8. The morning drive listening to Jeff and Sergei discuss Communism.
7. Smelling my clothes every night to see if something absolutely has to be washed. (seldom require a wash!)
6. My developed tolerance for really bad smells. (I'm hoping -kinda- my sense of smell returns)
5. The European toilets...now there's a play on words.
4. The rides to the camp in the evening with the girls squeezing, leaning, or sleeping on us.
3. Counting the squares on our blog calendar (I actually haven't done that yet, but I have watched them grow!)
2. Watching movies dubbed in Russian and trying so hard to hear the English (Jeff is watching Jaws right now)
1. Sergei, Sergei, Sergei
There are so many more than 10. We'll have to take another crack at this later.
Tomorrow is the camp party for Lena and Alla's classes. Lena has 21 and Alla has 12. Do you think we can trust them on these numbers? Do you think we should plan for more? Anyone with any info on this can comment...It's camp, so it's different than the internot. They said they asked permission and it will be in the dining hall. The girls suggested fruit, something sweet and drinks. Lena's supervisor party is Monday evening. I really hope we don't have all these parties and then end up for another week in Odessa...I think I've used all the vacation I'm going to get. Did you know Julie gave me a week of her vacation? Isn't that crazy? I've never heard of such a thing. Just try to stop Julie from doing something when you are in Omaha, let alone a foreign country.
Anyone want to send me a photo of VBS decorations? Sarah? Kristen?
Blessings on all of you. Going to church tomorrow?
Those numbers do sound about right, I think that Lena's class is the
biggest in the orphanage, and Alla's 6th grade was split into 2 classes so
it makes sense that there are fewer in her group. I am glad that you will
be able to have the parties at the camp and get to know the other kids in
their classes. Please take lots of pictures :)
I had just decided I'm going on strike, no August calendar, soooo you
better be home in July. Will that work with anyone of importance over
there. Better get another opinion on smelling the clothes, by the end of
the day you are used to it. :) Bring Sergei along, either he or his wife
could be office administrator at FCC. Just do the old funeral trick, don't
cut the fruit until you count kids. Can't send pictures, don't have a
camera. Enough you say....
The VBS decorating looked great when I left at 11:30 - can't wait to take a
sneak peak tomorrow and see how much better it all got after that. When
they said we wouldn't have that much decorations- well, they weren't quite
right - it was still alot. Did you know that the alarms go off if you open
the doors at church really early? And if you don't turn the alarm off; it
gets pretty loud in there. Wow, can you believe it? You're almost there,
just days and you and all your daughters will all be home. Thanks for the
list of things to pray for this week.
Amy and Jeff, become like Andrew in the feeding of the 5000 (John 6:8),
bring what you have to Jesus, He will bless it, distribute it (verses
11-12) and there will be "enough" (as Jeff spoke of the Van Putten income),
in fact AMPLE fruit, water, etc. for the camp party...that is my prayer for
your day tomorrow. Can't wait for tomorrow's blog w/pictures!
Solution for the Odessa hair problem.....Jeff puts Amy's hair up in pig
tails? It would be rather stylish for today's world anyway!! We think you
will like the VBS decorations. Although, I was thinking we would have lots
of Serengeti-type of animals of which there are some..but we seem to have
many masks which Cathy commented that seems a little odd for VBS
children....all these spirits on the walls that look a little scary...maybe
they'll all go running out the first day!! Can't wait to see the pics from
the party tomorrow! Sending you both huge hugs...oh by the way, Pat B,
Scott T. and BIll W. and I are attending the Afresh Annointing church
service this morning...I don't think they have any AC and it's suppose to
be 103 degrees again...I told the boys to come in their speedo swim
trunks...we shall see!
after a day at the beach in Odessa those 3 in speedos doesn't even sound
weird. Well, a little weird because I know them...but boy anything goes
on these beaches!!
Jeff and Amy - What a delight it has been to read of your journey. Alla
and Lena are very lucky girls to have such determined parents-to-be! We
wish you the very best, and can't wait to welcome the girls into our
family. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you!