All together for Christmas

Christmas at our house...

Andre's mom is with us for the week. We spent the evening decorating, listening to carols and generally getting in the spirit...

Proud of my Dad!

Since moving to Peoria, my Dad has become one of Illinois' most "Interesting People"! He was interviewed a couple of months ago about his life, and the program aired on TV two weeks ago. Dad was wonderful and his faith came through loud and clear, though he was surprised they didn't cut those parts out. So proud of you Dad!

Everyday miracles...

First of all, happy Thanksgiving to all! We were up in Peoria with Mum and Dad and enjoyed the first snowfall of the season.

Wanted to share something that happened this week which made us both smile and marvel at the kindness of the Lord in our everyday situations...Mum sent home two lovely Christmas cakes, which were a labor of love. Well, in our travel weary state on Sunday night, we left the bag containing the cakes in the taxi we took from the train station back to our apartment. I was terribly upset on Monday morning when I realized what had happened and Andre called the taxi company hoping it had been turned in to the office. And we asked God to return the bag to us if possible.

On a hunch I drove past the train station last night, and who should be there snoozing in his car, but our taxi driver from Sunday night! I think he was as shocked to see me as I was to see him--what are the odds that we'd find each other again in a place as huge as Atlanta?!

Anyway, there was our bag of Christmas cake, sitting in the back of his cab. We had a good laugh together! Isn't the Lord kind?

Please pray...

Please pray for Olga, Andre's sister who lives in Pennsylvania. She had her sixth child on Friday (five weeks early) but he was born with a severe chromosomal condition and died that night. The funeral services are this Sunday and Andre's Mom has flown from Chattanooga to be with Olga and her family. We are all so sad to loose Baby Peter but know that with the Lord he is now perfectly whole again.

Weekend in Chattanooga

We had a great time this past weekend in Chattanooga with our newly engaged friends, Hannah and Steven.

Visit to Peoria, IL

Last weekend I spent time in Peoria, IL with my Mum and Dad and Ness. New puppy, Sasha, a husky/German Shepherd mix is adorable and she and Polo are becoming quite attached to one another. Off to Chattanooga this weekend with friends. Will post next week again with photos!

Beach snapshots...

Julia and Lyuda

Mama

All the girls

Us

Grandfather

All settled...

Back from the beach (we didn't really spend a whole month there!) and we're all settled in our new apartment, thanks to many of you who helped us move.

Our week in Florida was relaxing and full of fun, watching Andre's family experience the beach for the first time. We came back sunburnt and rested, the car several pounds heavier due to the masses of shells they wanted to take home. After getting rid of half the original shell collection, the bags of sand, and several gallons of sea water, Andre allowed the favorite finds to come back home!

Photos to follow...

Off to the beach!

We're off to the beach this Saturday for a week! A much needed break. Will post some photos soon.

Little update

Due to craziness at work, apartment hunting and all sorts of other "life" things, we've neglected the blog. No new photos this time...

Andre and I are spending the weekend with his family up in Tennessee which is always fun. It's only 2 hours from Atlanta, so an easy drive. We come away from "Russian weekends" horribly spoiled, having been pampered and fed and "loved on" as Americans would say! My Russian is not advancing terribly fast; I tend to say the few words I know many times over in order to feel as if I know more than I really do! I think I end up sounding something like this: "Thank you, thank you, I love you, thank you, please, thank you"! It produces lots of laughs.

August promises to be extra-ordinarily busy at work and home, but we are looking forward to a week at the beach towards the end of the month. We're taking Andre's Mom, Grandfather, Aunt and cousin with us, all of whom have never been to the ocean. Florida awaits!

All for now...

Our weekend away--Richmond Hill Inn, NC

We had a fabulous time away in Asheville NC this past weekend for July 4th.

This B&B is absolutely beautiful, with stunning gardens...nothing but relaxation!














Room Service...

Who would have thought?...A Turkish rug market in North Carolina!

A birthday party

Our friends, Rick and Susannah's little boy Micah, had his first birthday party at our house

A June wedding

At the wedding of a good friend, Lyndon Gilbert.

My sister Vanessa and Lyndon

St. Louis

In June I spent a weekend in St. Louis visiting Sean and Liesl McDowell. Their first baby is due in July and we celebrated with a shower.



It was really fun to see other Covenantites like my little brother, Jon!

Memorial Day weekend

Andre's family came to stay with us for several fun-filled days over the Memorial Day weekend. We had his Mom,

His cousin Julia and aunt, Lyuda,

And of course, Grandfather

We packed lots in! A church picnic,

A trip to Stone Mountain,

And a feast (Russian style!) in the "grand dining room"

Moving: our summer home!

In May, Andre and I moved into a beautiful house in MidTown, Atlanta for the summer. We are house sitting for a couple in our church who are away until September and have the run of this lovely old house. And I'm only five minutes from work!



And here's what we did with all our belongings!