Welcome to our Swark

Today for the first time in a week, Isaiah got to enjoy the great outdoors! He was pretty happy, let me tell ya.

Unfortunately he missed all the great snow that we had when it was still in the form of fun, sledable snow. (I love inventing new words like that.) Oh well, maybe next year. We had a great time despite the slush and remnants of ice and small lakes that filled the play area of the park.

But then where is a foot of snow supposed to go in one day of 50 degree weather? I've never really seen anything like it, so I just had to share it with you.

On the left side of the picture was the small lake surrounding the swings and filling about half the play area.

And, yes, there is shadow over Isaiah's face because there was SUN! We've had several days of beautiful sunshine and even weather above 50 degrees! Woohoo!

Lots of Hats

For a long time Isaiah did NOT like wearing hats. When the weather started getting cooler here and the babushkas started demanding the he have on a hat, we had a bit of a struggle on our hands to get him to keep the hat on. Somehow he would figure out how to untie the string and then pull of his cute little hat.

Well, thanks to Air Berlin, I think that Isaiah's dislike of hats is changing. Yes, this cute little cap is from the airline we flew to Berlin, and Isaiah actually brings it to me to put on him! Amazing. Of course, I think he looks adorable in caps, so I'm hoping that this new trend will continue.



And as for wearing lots of hats, which all moms do, of course; here you see me filling the role of jungle gym or obstacle course as Isaiah develops his climbing skills by pulling himself up on top of me and over the other side, usually with tons and tons of hugs in the process.

More Adjusting

Well, some prayers have begun to be answered:  We are not in almost constant darkness any more!  In fact, yesterday as I was coming back from a quick walk to the store, I almost got a headache from squinting because the sun was reflecting off all the melting snow on the sidewalk.  Believe me, I'm NOT complaining!

In fact, this week we're supposed to have at least one day in the low 50's!  I'm thinking about breaking out a spring dress or something to celebrate.

Oh, and speaking of spring dresses, I got a sewing machine!  There really is a connection there, I promise.  I'm hoping to make some new clothes for Isaiah.  While I was looking for material for him, I saw and bought some beautiful material for me--it was too pretty to pass up.  So, hopefully this week, I'll begin working on something for one of us.  If anyone has any suggestions about making a pattern for little boys, please feel free to pass on your suggestions.  I won't have a pattern for about six weeks (my mom is sending me a really cute one she found!), but I don't think that I can wait that long!

Some Play Time at Home

So this week Isaiah and I have pretty much been housebound.  He had a slight temperature off and on the first part of the week, with a few other symptoms that don't need to be plastered all over the internet.  Today a pretty nasty cold seems to have settled in his head.  We are thankful that the fever was just what seems to be the beginning of a cold and nothing more serious.  Isaiah has still wanted to play, and I thought that I would show you some of his fun indoors.  (All right, confession time--I had this post written a long time ago, and just realized that I hadn't posted it yet.  A really sharp eye might notice the difference, but oh well, that's what happens with busy mamas.  So a few minutes of editing, and voila! a new post is here for your enjoyment.)

One of Isaiah's favorite play spots inside is his squirrel chair (our language teachers decided that the animal head belonged to a squirrel, so it must be so!).  He'll crawl over to the chair and look back at me expectantly with a sweet smile, knowing that I'll help him get the rest of the way in the chair.  His chair has also been the spot for learning some new things.  For instance, I was working on him calling for me instead of just saying "Aaah!  Aaah!"  very loudly.  Whenever he made his "I need you" sound, I reminded him to say my name.  Isaiah quickly learned to say with his sweetest little raspy voice "Mama", which of course melts my heart and gets my attention to help him.

After a while I realized that he could get his toys for himself while sitting comfortably in his chair.  This has worked out well for both of us, giving him some more independence and me a few extra minutes to review vocab or check email or blog, all while still keeping a close eye on him and a hand ever ready.

Besides the pucker, this is Isaiah's other concentration look, bottom lip poked out.

Ok, and now something new to add (or brag about, I suppose)!  Lately I've also been working with Isaiah to learn how to clean up his toys before supper.  He's been doing very well, too.  He's even strong enough to push himself up high with one hand while putting a toy in his box with the other hand.  Ok, but I digress.  As I am sitting here editing this post, Isaiah had emptied the toys from his toybox all around him on the floor--nothing unusual about that.  THEN I look up and notice him one-by-one picking up his toys and putting them back in the box.  He had put back all the toys that he could reach from his chair!  What a smart Little Man!

Now?!

So as I've mentioned it's Spring in Russia.  And what goes better with Spring than the biggest snow that we've seen since we've been here, of course!  Yesterday afternoon around 3, the closest thing to a blizzard that I've ever seen started falling.  I think we got almost a foot of snow.  Right now of course, I hear it melting, but more snow is predicted tonight.

Unfortunately we are not able to get out and enjoy the snow right now.  Isaiah has a bit of a virus, which is keeping him and therefore me rather housebound at the moment.  So we're enjoying the beauty from the safety of our apartment for now.

On another weather note, the days are getting much longer lately.  While I'm really enjoying the lighter sky, I'm finding it a strange adjustment.  For instance, I almost forgot to start supper at a reasonable time last night because I didn't realize that it was almost 5pm (and the chicken needed to cook for at least an hour!).  The sky was so light, even with snow falling, that I thought it must be closer to 3pm than 5pm.  But I admit that I'm really ready for this adjustment.  I'm ready to say goodbye to the dark days of winter!

Oh wait, it's snowing again!

Little Buddy

Isaiah is a really friendly Little Man, which has pretty much always been the case with people. He LOVES people, and usually people seem to love him, too; I think he expects such a response. Recently he's started to get attached to a few other things, too.

The other day he suddenly didn't want to be separated from Baby Tad. Baby Tad went everywhere with him--riding the motorcycle, eating lunch, diaper change, the works. And since that day, Isaiah gets really excited every morning when he sees his little friend.

Getting Stronger

Isaiah is getting stronger and stronger these days. Here's something new that he's started doing that we're really proud of!



You can see him push up with his hips and then rest back on his knees! He gets distracted a little by the television (part of our language learning, believe it or not!), but overall he gets a pretty good workout. We're so excited to see what God is doing in his body!

Hospitality

March has been an incredibly busy month for us! One week in particular was quite busy. Thomas did lots of translating for some pastors from the PCA who came to investigate starting a ministry in St. P. He did a fabulous, job!

We also got to host some wonderful friends, Robin and Katherine Harris. Katherine played the piano for our wedding four years ago. She is planning on studying for a graduate degree in piano in Moscow in a couple years, so she and her mom Robin came over to check things out. Having lived in St. P for 6 years, they also came up here, and we got to have them stay with us! We also got the treat of listening to Katherine play the piano. I'm telling you, I thought she was good four years ago--you should hear her play now!


Robin got to stay with us some extra time, which was grand! Before she left we fit in a game of "Inatranyets: Sankt-Peterburg" that Thomas had created. It's Monopoly based on the city of St. Petersburg, that people who have lived here would really appreciate. We had some good laughs while we played the game.

Here we are playing the game. I love how Isaiah is always peeking around and finding the camera!

Isaiah consoling his daddy after Robin beat the pants off us!

So, as I've said before, we love to have people over, and any time you want to visit, we are ready to have you stay with us!

After Dinner Mint

As you read above, we enjoyed hosting lots of people a little while ago. Robin and Katherine who stayed with us were particularly fun! Robin got to watch Isaiah start a new tradition, and even name it!

Whenever we finish eating a meal in our front room, or rather when Isaiah is done eating his meal, the same thing will happen: Out stretches his left arm while his hand reaches for a picture that is sitting nearby. When I hand him the picture he quickly pulls it in close and loves on it before closely examining it, over and over again.

What could possibly capture his attention so regularly? It's a picture of Thomas, Isaiah and me that a friend took at church and gave to us. Thomas will ask him to point to Daddy or Mommy or Isaiah, and he does it.

Robin decided that this tradition was like Isaiah's "after-dinner mint" that he eagerly anticipated with every meal.

In June...

...we'll be moving!  That's right, but not back to the States (though we are taking a 6 week trip back!).  

Wednesday night Thomas got an email from a local message board about an apartment that was coming available this summer.  He called the number listed because the apartment was exactly the size we have been praying for and within our price range.

The next day we all went to check it out.  I liked it the moment we stepped inside!  The size is perfect, the area is quiet, the air feels fresher, there's a nice park nearby with a small lake, the landlady seems kind and thankful that we are "religious" (as she says).  So, we agreed to a rent and are in the process of making the financial arrangements.  We plan on moving in the first week of June, Lord willing!

Thank you for your prayers.  Now please praise God with us!

Returning to the Park

Thomas, Isaiah and I returned to the park a few minutes before 3 this afternoon, hoping that the appointment would be kept.  Since I wasn't sure who would be meeting us, I was a little anxious and looking at every face very closely.  But before we even reached the park, we saw a woman with a little boy in a wheelchair coming towards us on the sidewalk.  As they got closer, my excitement grew because the boy was the same one whom I had seen the previous afternoon.

We made our introductions to Sveta and Gabriel and continued our walk to the park.  At first Sveta was like most Russian women when you first meet--all business.  She started telling us about the doctors that we needed to take Isaiah to see, the tests that they would need to run, and so forth.  Then Isaiah started to work his charm, and she started to warm up to us a bit.  We, well, Thomas, explained what we are hoping to do here in Russia, and she seemed very interested.  She told us about several services that are already available, that we knew nothing about.  She told us about "hospice", which in Russia doesn't have to do with terminal illness, but rather with helping invalids.  Her son receives hospice services, and she offered to call and see if we could receive them as well.

We exchanged information and invited them over for a future visit.  She asked me if we could walk together some time with the boys.  All in all, I think it was a very good meeting.  We're not sure about all the doctor stuff that she was telling us about, but we are excited about having our first contact in the community; hopefully someone who can help us learn and whom we can help as well.

Please pray for Sveta and Gabriel.  Please pray for wisdom for us to know the best ways to become involved.  And PRAISE GOD for how He is bringing us in contact with people!  He has been faithful (of course!) to literally put people in our path at just the right times as our language skills increase.  I love being able to see His hand at work.  

Pictures from the Park

Isaiah really enjoyed the merry-go-round. He likes riding on the dog and the rabbit the best.

In fact, he can ride this so well, that I could slowly push it and not have to be right beside him the whole time!  Oh, and notice this--no gloves!

He also really likes the frog see-saw

One of my new favorite pictures of Isaiah.  He loves watching the kids play wherever we are.

Spring in the Park

Well, it's been spring in Russia for 2 weeks.   Here spring starts on March 1, no matter what.  So we've had some snow, we've had some rain, we've had some sun.  Overall, it's starting to feel more like spring because the days are getting longer, and it's actually getting warmer, too!  The other day, I wore a t-shirt on under my jacket--no sweater, no turtleneck, just a t-shirt!  I felt so light and free!

Today Isaiah and I were celebrating the little bit of sunshine that I saw creeping out from behind the clouds.  We went to the park.  We were finally able to get to the playground equipment which had been surrounded by great ponds of water from all the melting snow.  He really enjoyed riding on the merry-go-round and the see-saw.  But the real highlight was when a huge group of kids came to play.  He laughed and laughed until he didn't make any sound. Forget the belly laugh--I love his "whole-body" laugh!

As we were about to leave for home, I noticed a woman with 2 boys come into the playground area.  One of the boys was in a wheelchair!  Since our time in St. P we have seen only 2 children in wheelchairs.  This was the first time that I had been close enough to talk to someone taking care of a child in a wheelchair.  We stayed a few more minutes, and I observed the lady and 2 boys.  I could feel my anxiety build a little as I knew that I HAD to talk to this lady!  She seemed really nice and caring towards the boy, so as they were leaving, I stopped her and asked if they lived nearby (a nice beginning, I thought, because I know how to say that!).  She was super nice!

As it turns out, she's friends with the boy's mother and helps out often.  I'm not sure of the boy's exact condition, but it was fairly obvious that he could not use his legs at all.  He seemed like a happy little boy, though, especially to be out and playing.  She wanted to give me either her phone number or the mother's phone number (I was getting a little confused at this point), but neither of us had a pen or paper, so we're meeting tomorrow (Saturday) at 3pm our time, which would be, um, 8am EST.  And this time I'm bringing Thomas, too, so we'll be able to communicate even better.

SO.....please pray that she'll come, that we'll be able to understand each other, and that this will help us get a contact in the community to begin some of the work that we've been longing to do. I can't tell you how excited I am at this moment!  When I came home from the park, Thomas was sleeping, and it took all my willpower not to go and wake him up (he really needed his rest).

And, when I can find my card reader, I'll show you some really great pictures of Isaiah playing in the park...stay tuned!

Prayer Request

In February I wrote about my friend Anna and her father.  This afternoon I received an email from Anna.  Thursday night her father went home to be with his Lord.  Please pray for her family.  The services will be this weekend with a visitation on Saturday and memorial service on Sunday.

Happy International Woman's Day (a day late)

Yesterday was quite an important holiday here in Russia. Actually the celebrating began Friday night. Everywhere you went you saw people carrying flowers. Some people had absolutely HUGE bouquets and other people had smaller ones, but almost every single person you saw was carrying flowers of some sort!

Why, you ask? Well, March 8 is International Woman's Day, of course! In Russia this means that you give the women in your life, chocolate, flowers, balloons, perfume, any kind of pretty thing that you think they might like, but especially flowers!

Isaiah and I were able to spend the afternoon with one of our favorite Russian women, Aunt Luda. We made her cookies in the morning and treated her to Teremok for lunch, her favorite. Then we enjoyed a wonderful walk in the Summer Garden, including a ride on a teeter-totter. It was warm (right at 32F), so we were able to be outside for quite a while.

Isaiah loves to "love on" Aunt Luda

This is one of our favorite games. I spin around and say "Where's Isaiah?" while he laughs.

Then I (carefully) "sling" him down and say "There he is!" while Isaiah laughs even more!

Some more fun before heading home.

Loves Music, Loves to Dance

This evening Isaiah and I made a memory. My only regret is that I couldn't somehow visually record this sweet moment. But I want to remember this always, so I decided to record the moment as best as I could in words and share it with my family and friends.

Isaiah and I were hanging out in our front room before supper. I was blog-stalking, catching up on some friends while he played on the floor. It wasn't long at all however before I felt a little hand reaching up and tugging on my pants, soon followed by a raspy voice saying, "Mama, Mama, Mama". Of course I couldn't resist, and Isaiah was quickly in my lap. We snuggled for a few minutes, when I realized that I needed to go do something in the kitchen that would require both hands. I started to put Isaiah on his motorcycle to take him to the kitchen, but he protested by grunting a bit and wrapping his arms around my neck. The blog I had been reading was playing music, so I decided that the kitchen activity could wait for a little waltz around the room. Isaiah laid his head on my shoulder and kept his arms around my neck as we danced around the room. As we turned I could catch a glimpse of him in the mirror hanging on the wall; he had the sweetest little smile on his face that got bigger the more we twirled.

Eventually the music stopped. When it did, Isaiah leaned back and flashed a big smile as he clapped his hands. Now he was ready to go help me in the kitchen and went to his motorcycle without any protest.

But I'm so glad we danced first.

Why Buy Toys?

So the other day I was doing my weakly "heavy cleaning". Isaiah was helping me as he usually does by enjoying some time in his standing frame and chatting to me in his developing language (Isaiah-ese). I had given him a couple of his toys to play with as I moved him around the apartment, dusting, vacuuming, mopping, the usual. We started in the kitchen and somehow, Isaiah got a hold of the large black plastic spoon we have. He played with that spoon for 45 minutes as I cleaned the rest of the apartment (one of the joys of a small apartment, never takes too long to clean!). Isaiah's getting better at keeping himself occupied, but I don't think that he has ever played with one object for as long as he did that spoon. He didn't drop it or even act like he was going to throw it one time! Even after I took him out of his standing frame for us to eat lunch, he wanted the spoon.

So maybe we'll just get him fun spoons to play with...

Loving on the spoon

And of course, like everything else, the spoon ended up in his mouth

Do I Have To?

Some of you might be familiar with the challenges of getting a young one to take a nap or go to bed for the night or stay asleep all night long.  We've had a fair share of struggles in all of those areas, and except for naps, Isaiah is a good sleeper.  But I suppose that if I had to choose between naps and sleeping through the night, well, I suppose I have the better of the two choices.  

Every once in a while Isaiah will surprise me and take a really good nap all on his own, but usually he resists naps like most people resist going to the dentist.  Lately his routine is to play on my emotions by wrapping his sweet little arms so tightly around my neck as I say the final words in our nap routine.  It's as though he's saying "Mama, I love you so much I just don't want to be away from you and if you lay me down then I won't see you and I wont' know what's going on and I just want to be with you"--He knows my weakness!  

So far I have been able to resist the temptation and continue to lay him down to rest.  I say rest rather than sleep on purpose, even though that might not be the most accurate term either.  Usually Isaiah will be in his bed talking or singing or playing with Luther (his stuffed turtle) for about 45 minutes, then Thomas or I will go in and lie down with him in our bed, and "poof" he's asleep.  He'll usually sleep then for at least an hour, sometimes almost two! (and it's nice for us to get a few moments of rest, too)

But then there's Sundays.  We have to leave for church right in the middle of Isaiah's nap.  This time it's my turn for the "do I have to?" as I look at him resting so peacefully and sweetly, yet knowing that I must wake him to get ready for church.  But tell me honestly, wouldn't it be hard for you to wake him up....