Tackle it Tuesday

Today we "tackled" a few projects – I made up Nathan's bed and put his clothes out (well, into the crib that's in his room – he has a twin sized bed to sleep on and there is no dresser in there). We also bought some toys to take to the orphanage when we pick up Nathan. They had asked for toys to help with development – well when the words are in Russian sometimes it's hard to know exactly what you're buying but I found a few puzzles, a few games and Legos. The Lego's were expensive (!) but hopefully they'll enjoy them. I also bought a duplicate of one of the games for us – I'm going to attach some pictures from it so Billy or someone can decipher the instructions for us. I'm sure it's a "Candyland" type game (markers and dice came in with it) but what are we to do when landing on the different colors? And I'm pretty sure I know "start" and "finish" even tho those words are not in my translation books but we'll attach those shots also. No other pictures from today

We also got most of our souvenir shopping completed. I'd still like to get a few things for Nathan for in future years but haven't seen what I want yet! So we'll check a few more places. We had every clerk in the store helping us out today tho – they spoke good English and were helpful. We're not bringing back a lot as I have said we're bringing back the biggest souvenir of all so not much else is needed! LOL

Otherwise really not much to report today. The weather was sunny but colder again – long underwear, warm hat and gloves and scarf weather! We got rotisserie chicken from the supermarket for dinner and I made boiled potatoes and we had purchased a salad at the deli to go with it also. Simple meals today. Going to try and plan out the menus for the coming days so we can do a bigger shopping trip Thursday and then we don't have to go out with Nathan once he's here – either Brian or I will go alone! For Valentine's Day I am planning hamburger steak for dinner – Brian is really missing his hamburgers so that will be a special treat (hopefully Nathan will think so also!) They celebrate Valentine's Day here too – at least I'm assuming – as there are lots of red hearts and cards and stuff like that in the stores and being sold on the streets also!

Speaking of stores, we found ANOTHER mall today – I tell you, every other building is a "mall"! This one looked more like one we'd think of in the USA but still the smaller, individual stores. No one was working too hard tho! So many clothing & shoes & lingerie & hat/coat stores, I don't know who's buying all this stuff!

We did hear word that there will be a new the judge in this region hearing adoption cases after March. Judy and I talked this morning and figure we'll be the only Americans to have appeared in front of this current one, but we both feel that everything we did was worth it and hopefully adoptions will be flowing in this region again very soon. We hope it becomes a much shorter and easier process for everyone. Maybe more children can find "forever families" then! We'll hope and pray!

Lastly I've had some thoughts going through my head the last few days… well, I have many thoughts but this is what I'm thinking right now. I think all of us who have any interest in mission work have often felt "how do they do it?" How can they settle into a "foreign country" and just live there? How do they interact in everyday life – nothing with religious activities I'm talking, just day to day activities. Well, I feel like we've gotten a small idea of that in the last weeks. We have had NO language training – yes, it would have been nice but everything wound up happening so quickly at the end! – but yet we make do. The good thing is the literacy rate seems very high so when my pronunciation of a word is puzzling I show them the printed word in my translation books and we go on. While we haven't gone on public transportation yet (our feet serve us well!) we have done the grocery store, restaurants and cafes (and cafes and cafes!), shopping, cooking, purchasing at the market, sightseeing, laundry – mainly without the help of translators! Not that I'm ready to be here full time as we're really missing JJ (believe me, I am STILL glad he's home in America – this was not a trip for him to be on) but I am sure that as a family we could adapt and thrive into whatever situation we'd be placed… I do, however, have great admiration for those who have made mission work their full-time occupation and life – no matter where God has you doing His work!