My Bubbling Teapot

I hate Christmas vacations because: Bits of wrapping paper, boxes, and gifts lay around all week. Crumbs from all-day snacking find their way to chairs, carpets, counters, etc. Everyone is in everyone else's way, trying to figure out new games, read new books, put together new puzzles. There is still the usual cooking, cleaning, and laundry all week long and sometimes it doesn't seem like a break at all for mom. Tempers seem shorter than normal. But there is more that I love about Christmas vacation: Cozy evenings reading with candles flickering on top of the piano. Putting together a puzzle every year (at least a 1000 piece one) Yummy brunches made every morning by prearranged volunteers. Lots of cookies and candy to make us all fat. Going to the zoo and going out for supper (this has become a yearly tradition. Kinda strange, but it's something we do together every year.) Taking time for playing games together. Christmas music floating around all of us all week. Going ic...

We all want to wish you a very Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!!! John, Laura, Conrad (14), Austin (12), Derek (9), and Allison (7)

...is at it again!!! He whisked me off yesterday for a romantic overnight stay at an American hotel in Warsaw for my birthday. We had been there about three years ago and had enjoyed it so much that he even requested the same room. It was a wonderful, welcome break from the everyday life of being mom, wife, teacher. Here is my one and only picture to prove it. This is our complimentary room service breakfast that they brought us this morning... The Works!!! While I'm sharing pictures, I want to share some pictures from the team's Christmas program that we put on Saturday night. We invited all our English students, plus our friends totally about 70 people. Pretty amazing. The children preformed a very meaningful Christmas play "From the Scribe's view" interspersed with singing. The team helped with some songs and we had time for the audience to help sing Christmas carols (Polish and English) as well. Truely, it was a lovely evening from the candle-lined window sill...

Today we celebrated Derek's 9th birthday. It brought back many memories...the many prayers that ascended before his conception...hours of walking the airport runway in South Boston, VA during labor...the joy of seeing such a beautiful child...seeing the delight in our other boys' faces at having a new baby brother. Derek is our giving child. He is never happier than when he is making other people happy. Many notes, drawings, and cards are tucked away in my "keepsakes" folder, ultimate treasures. He delights in surprising others by doing their work for them. He spreads sunshine whereever he goes. Today he worked ahead in all his school work just so he could have the day off. He had made a list for me before I went to America, listing in great detail what he wanted for his birthday. Does Derek look happy with his gift? He ordered cheesestuffed pizza, chips, pop, and chocolate eclairs He worked all afternoon helping to create his erector remote control truck. Does he lo...

As some of you already know, I made an unexpected flying trip to be at my sister Judy's wedding this past week. My Dad had some free miles that he used to purchase my ticket only a little more than a week before the wedding. We decided to try to surprise everyone. But the trip wasn't without it's problems. When I got to Warsaw the first morning, my flight to London was cancelled because of the fog. (Warsaw can handle piles of snow, but not fog). The next day I went back to Warsaw and began my delayed trip. When I got to Vancouver that evening and my one hour flight to Portland was cancelled. (Vancouver can handle dense fog, but not snow!!!) Five out of six of my flights were either delayed or cancelled!!! I arrived in Portland a day and a half after I was planning. I had lots of stories to tell. Here are a few excerpts I wrote home while there: "Well, the story doesn't end yet...I don't have a way to call you so I thought you would probably check email first th...

In Poland, we never celebrate Thanksgiving on the actual day. It isn't a national holiday, so of course, we all have to do our normal jobs on the day. It seems a little weird, but I think we've adjusted. We invited all our English students for a traditional Thanksgiving meal on Friday night. I made the pumpkin pies. The first two turned out glossy and moist. The next two looked drier, but absolutely beautiful. Hmm! I thought. Must be because I cut down on the cream in the second two. As I was cutting them, by mistake a sliver came off in my hand. I popped it in my mouth. Ugghhh! Something was wrong. No sugar!!!! I had forgotten to add the sugar. Well, since the first two were beautiful, we cut them in small pieces and served them. They got raves. But the next day, Saturday, we opened our home to the team for our yearly Turkey dinner. Everything was delicious as usual, and we all felt stuffed. But the pumpkin pies???? Have you ever tasted them without sugar??? All the spices, bu...

Yesterday, one year ago, would have been the funeral for my five nieces and nephews. Some of my reflections: One year ago...rudely awakened at 6 am with the awful news...God miraculously providing more than $5000 so our family could fly to the funeral...the LONG trip and the overwhelming emotions at finally being with my family...the struggle of knowing that God is a God of love...wondering what good could come from this tragedy...the stark imbedded picture in my mind of a yawning grave in a new cemetery and five little caskets...observing the grace of God being poured out in abundance in the lives of my brother and his wife...waiting for new news of Jeff's recovery...the huge void of our first family reunion...the many tears that have continued to course down our cheeks...was it only one year ago???!!! And some comments from my sisters: "...it's been kinda a week of remembering." --Gina" ...I ran to Chewelah to get the flowers Carolyn had requested for thegraves...

Can it be? One year ago that my five precious nieces and nephews were taken so suddenly in the automobile accident. My sister put it so beautifully. Read it here . I sent the words of this card to my brother and sister-in-law. The Lord has loved you through all your yesterdays... He loves you now... And He will love you through all your tomorrows. I heard a pastor recently say,"With God timing is more important than time." I have found so often his timing is perfect.Roy Lessin"The Lord appeared to us in the past and said, "I have loved you with aneverlasting love." Jer. 31:3 Thank you, God, for holding us as we remember again.

Yesterday, on all Saints' Day, most of the people in the country of Poland visited the graveyards. Every family grave must be cleaned, decorated with fresh wreaths, and candles lit to help the deceased on their road to Heaven. People travel many kilometers to visit the cemetery where your family is buried. Droves of people line the road on the way to the graveyard. Families gather to pay their respects to their relatives. The sit on the benches by the graves and visit, pray, or just think. My one friend told me that she doesn't have any family that has died so they put candles on soldiers' graves. Some people might visit 20 graves. But, outside the cemetery, it is more like a carnival. Candles for sale of every shape and size, mums by the truckload, wreaths, balloons, food, and cotton candy. Cotton candy? In front of a graveyard? Seems completely out-of-place to me. But I do know that every year my children love if we buy a little of the sickenly sweet stuff. To my family,...

I met him four years ago. This quiet, shrunken, grizzly man appeared at our door to tune our piano. Silently, he worked for several hours. He didn't talk more than he had to, but neither did we since we could hardly communicate in Polish. This morning, he appeared again. Same man, same enormous glasses dangling by a string, same bags of interesting instruments to clean our piano and same slippers that he changed into at the door and shuffled to the living room. Today he was here four hours. Again, he silently began his work. "Prosze, Pani!" he said one time and motioned me to the keyboard. There littered under the keys were layers of dust as well as a few treasures that had managed to squeeze between the keys. "Wiedzisz (you see)???" he said as he gravely shook his head. "How many years ago did I work on this piano? Six or seven?" I assured him that it had only been four. "Too long!" he continued. "You must have it cleaned every year!...

I am beginning to feel more like myself. It feels like I'm finally finding my place here in Poland after being gone for two and one half months. That's a long time to be away from home. It's long enough to feel a disconnect with what was happening here. When I returned, it was hard to know what to do first...where I belonged...what events to talk about...how to enter into conversations about the summer... After all, when you are gone you just miss out on some things. That's life! My heart warmed when my Polish friends contacted me the first week we were home. I remember one friend coming to visit me and saying, "It's so good to sit in Laura's house again. We missed you." And "this candle smells so familiar. It reminds me of the times I spent in Laura's house." Yes, those comments made me feel that I will never quite be deleted from my friends' memory, that I do have a place in their hearts. It was comforting to realize that I had frie...

My heart goes out in deep sympathy to the families of the five children that were killed in the village of Nickel Mine. I know what it is to grieve for five children and I think that a situation such as this would be especially painful and tramautic. Is there healing? How can one imagine the trauma and fear of the remaining children of this Amish school? I can't imagine the road they must walk through this valley of grief. I read that the teacher of this school said, "Me and the children need each other." So true! It is being together, facing the future together that they will begin to find healing. It brought back starkly the deep grief that my brother and his wife faced (Can it be???!!!) now almost one year ago. When we visited them this summer, there were so many emotions for me to face once again. It was important for me to see them going on with their life, seeing them laughing and talking , crying with them again, and taking time to go see the five small gravestones...

I was just thinking today about what I would ever do without the help of my children. They wash and dry my dishes...they hang up and fold most of my laundry...they sweep my floors...run countless errands...yes, they are the biggest help to me. They can never know how much I appreciate it. Why, just today, I discovered in the afternoon (that is completely another story!!!) that I was going to have supper guests. After my moment of panic, I set about organizing. With some of their help, the floors were swept, the cabbage grated, the laundry folded, the bars baked, the table set, and the living room presentable when the guests walked in the door. What a blessing!!! Five years ago I could have never gotten that accomplished!!! Thanks, children! I don't tell you enough how much I appreciate you. And I'll try to remember it even when the clean clothes are in piles on my bedroom floor, the dishtowels are strewn over the floor, and I stub my toe on the sweeper that hasn't been put...

My dearest of husbands left yesterday to spend the week touring Poland with "Hope Singers 2006", a group of 25 singers directed by Lloyd Kauffman. They are giving programs in many different evangelical churches throughout the country. I heard them on Friday night for the first time and totally enjoyed their program. Why is it that it isn't until your husband leaves you for a few days that you realize how much you love him, miss him, and can't function without him. I mean the house seems to echo his absence!!! And I can't understand. I mean, my children hardly ever get sick. I can count on one hand the times they have been seriously ill in the last five years. Well, early yesterday morning soon before John left, Derek started throwing up. He was so sick all day. All I got done was rubbing his back, reading to him, making him more comfortable, and trying to get him to drink. My!!! What a day. And, of course, John was nowhere around. It was one of the longest days of...

Yes, we're home...nearly a week now, in fact...but our stuff from our some of our suitcases still lies in stacks around us...the laundry from the trip is still drying on the lines...demands on our time are great...corn just harvested...tomatoes rotting in tubs...many unpredictables...school to be started...a choir to care about...legal matters to pursue...so just breathe a little prayer for us right now...and we're still so tired from jetlag...discouragement threatens...hoping to survive this month...

Not long ago, John asked me, “Is there anything you would like to do yet before we go back to Poland?” I thought for a little and said, “You know it would be so lovely if just you and I could spend a little time together alone.” Our trip has been wonderful in every way, although privacy is limited. Our family lives in a small apartment with room dividers, so snores can easily be heard from our sons’ rooms. After hours, John and I whisper and turn lights our early so we don’t disturb the children. So, maybe that is why I was thinking of a nice little getaway for just the two of us. We had been talking about our anniversary that is coming up soon on August 4. We had decided together that we would just go out for a nice dinner and enjoy the evening together. I continually talked about the restaurants that might be possibilities for our evening date. And then later, we were going to take a family trip for two nights close to Astoria. This, we had decided, would be how we would celebrate. B...

I have a question for you. I have been pondering this all month. Do missionaries get spoiled when they come on furlough? I was just reading the verse in Matthew where Jesus said that “to be first in the kingdom of God, you must be last and a servant to all.” That spoke to me. When I come to America, I feel so much like I’m the one being served all the time. When we set our feet on American soil, it’s like putting your feet up in a recliner for two months. I’ve noticed that everyone is at your beck and call. I have a bad habit of saying things without thinking, like, “Oh, wouldn’t I love to have this,” or “Wouldn’t this be something useful,” or “We can’t get this in Poland” or “Wow! I forgot that I missed malted milk balls” when I’m shopping with my family and friends and next thing I know these things are mysteriously appearing on our door step. I probably have a better collection of CD’s, books, peanut butter, chocolate chips, bubble bath, and Bath and Body Works lotion in Poland tha...

The top two questions that people have asked us in the past month has been: 1. How does it feel to be home again? 2. What is it like over there in Poland? The first question makes a knife turn in my heart. It makes me remember that I’m not even sure where my home really is. I love being here with family and friends, and being in my home state, but at the same time I have the horrible feeling of tears blurring my vision because I’m missing my home and friends in Poland. The second question makes me want to answer “Duh, it’s just like here,” but I know that would be a very rude answer, so I politely tell them about the climate, the land, and the people. Americans seem surprised that we can grow gardens just like here. They seem surprised that a lot of people have cars. They seem surprised that we have apples and cherries and strawberries and blueberries just like Oregon. I’m not sure where they think we live. Maybe the tropics or Antartica??? (and please, if you were one of the questio...

Our time right now is filled to the brim with: 1. Getting our house and garden ready to be gone for two months. 2. Buying wedding gifts and sewing wedding clothes. 3. Heaping "to take on furlough" things in a corner. 4. Making a photo album to show our friends in America. 5. Sorting through digital pictures of our work here to find the 100 that everyone will want to see on the slide show. 6. Preparing a table, brochures, and other items for our presentations. 7. Finishing up our first school year at Gateway to English. 8. Getting a "safari" made that will cover the school walls for the summer children's English lessons. 9. Brainstorming about what the summer lessons will include and worrying that everything will go smoothly. 10. Spending time in Warsaw with our yearly legal paperwork. Every year there are new wrinkles. 11. Having one precious afternoon and evening for just John and I (Thanks to Lavern and Lolita, our fellow Americans here). 12. Meeting with fri...

Discouragement threatened to overwhelm me. Sunday after Sunday, the empty church chairs seemed to mock us. Were there no searching hearts in this country? This particular Saturday, I was feeling especially blue. Maybe we shouldn't even be here in Poland , I thought bitterly. I sighed. "God," I prayed, "could you please just fill our chairs tomorrow morning at church." Is that too much to ask? I thought to myself. After all, who else would come? When was the last time our church room was full? The next morning, sitting in church, I thought, It seems full this morning. Then I blinked my eyes in surprise. Were my eyes playing tricks on me? I looked around. All but ONE very front chair in the whole room had a person sitting on it. "Thank you, God," I prayed. Such a small request, a small answer, but how it strengthened my faith. What a great God I serve. He even cares about our empty church chairs.

I couldn't believe my eyes! But that's what the sign said. "No achohol will be sold in this store on the days of May 25,26." What's going on here? What are the people in this town going to do if they can't buy beer for two days?! I mean beer is bought here like Coke or some other soft drink. But why? That was my question. Why aren't they selling beer on these two specific days? John asked his tutee and this is what he told him. The pope is coming to Poland on this weekend and all the cities he will be visiting will not sell achohol during the duration of his visit! It feels a little like God is coming to visit this country. I guess our little store in Minsk was just honoring his visit to the country, becausethe pope wasn't planning to stop in our town. But that doesn't stop the achoholics, John's tutee told him. They just stock up the day before for the days that none will be sold in the stores. I heard that Pope Benedict held a mass in Warsaw....

How can I explain how I felt? It was one of those times that my heart sunk to the very tip of my little toe. I was happily sewing my last dress for the summer season, feeling a great feat was about to be accomplished. How I wanted to celebrate after this last seam was finished! With gusto, I pressed the pedal a bit harder. What in the world? The pieces didn't match up. One was a good 6 inches shorter than the other. Did I get the wrong piece? Impossible--this was the last piece to put together!! Maybe I got ahold of the scraps? I looked carefully. I examined it closely. What was the problem. Then I noticed a big, jagged gouge cut right out of the bottom of my skirt!!! Oh, no! Then I turned to look into two guilty eyes. "Mom, I thought that was your scraps. I didn't know it was your dress." Her eyes pleaded me to understand. And really, it was my fault. I always allowed Allison to play sewing with the scraps of material while I sewed. I had lain the skirt on a nearby ...

Recent conversation heard between my two youngest: Derek: Alli, I have a joke for you. If you were going to be executed... Alli: Whhhhat? What's that? Derek: You know, like getting your head chopped off...now, if you were going to be killed which room would you choose? Alli: (from the shower) Whhhhhhhhaaaattttt? Derek: (repeats joke) Alli: Whhhhhhhhaaaaaaaattttt? Derek: Okkkayyy! (sigh) I'll say it one more time (repeats) Alli: Derek, I can't hear you!!!!!! Derek: Alliiiiii, you have your ears covered. Alli: Derek, just wait until I get out of the shower. Ok? Derek: I won't tell it then. Alli: Okkkkayyyyy! Tell me again. Derek: Now, if you were going to be killed which room would you choose? a room with lions that hadn't eaten in three years, a room with a fire, or a room full of soldiers? Alli: uuuuuuhhhhhmmmmmm! None of them!!! Derek: You HAVE to choose one!!! Alli: Ok, I think a room with fire. Derek: Hee! hee! hee! hee! A room with lions that haven't e...

Our small church group here spent this weekend together at a local church retreat. This place is run by a dedicated Christian couple that work hard to give you a wonderful time. We had such a good time connecting and learning to know each other in new ways. One of the purposes of the weekend was to give everyone that attends our church a chance to tell their life story and show how God has worked in their personal lives. This was scary for most of us, but especially those who aren't used to being open about themselves. It was so encouraging. We heard how God protected specifically one man's life during the war and how God pursued him until he was ready to give his whole life to God. A dear sister shared that she was Catholic when she married a Christian man, and it took 13 years before she gave her heart to God. Another sister found that in loneliness God spoke to her and that he was faithful as He was drawing her to himself. A new Christian testified that little details in he...

Since I figured out how to post pictures, I will share some pictures we took of the children for our prayer cards. Meet our family: Allison age 6 Derek age 7 Austin age 11 Conrad age 13

Now, I know you won't understand how estatic I was when I found bags of chocolate chips in my freezer, but it made me quite happy. Poland stores, with their aisles overflowing in European chocolate, don't sell a single chocolate chip. I have tried to use their wonderful chocolate bars and create, you know, "chocolate chunk" recipes. But since it isn't baking chocolate, the chocate runs everywhere in a sticky mess. So, whenever possible I ask friends to bring me chocolate chips from America. When John's nephews came for a visit in February, I sent them a list of things that they could fill their suitcases with if they had room. Of course, I included chocolate chips. I failed to tell them, though, that I was then using my last bag. I was indeed grateful for the two bags they brought, but I realized that it wouldn't last until furlough. So, I began scouring my recipe books for cookie recipes, cakes, and things that don't take chocolate chips. In my opini...

The dear 95 year old believer we met in Ukraine. She was preparing dinner when we arrived, but she had time to tell us all about her life. You would be amazed at the stories she can tell about her life and how God has kept her through the years.

How can we possibly put into words our weekend trip? Another country, another language, a completely different world for us. Wayne and Connie Hursh and family sent us a list of memories. 1. Bumpy Berezyanka Road. All the roads were bumpy, but the one to the Berezyanka village to go to church Sunday morning took the prize. Think roller coaster, think huge potholes, think about driving a truck through a field, think about hills and valleys. Yes, it was really that bad. 2. Visiting Baba Anya, and listening to her inspiring stories. What a dear lady and what a testimony. She is 95 years old, lives by herself in this poor apartment, up five flights of steps, and she can't stop talking about how God has kept her during her life. She has been a church member for 10 years now and a vibrant Christian. She continually thanks God that she can still read the Bible. 3. Mt. Dew from Poland! We blessed Wayne's with a case of Mountain Dew and they were so happy with the luxury. I also stuck...

We are ready for the adventure of the year. We are leaving early Friday morning to head to visit friends in the country of Ukraine for a long weekend. We expect the trip to last 9 hours, and then however long it takes to get through the border. Today, when Conrad was inspecting all the food purchases for the trip, he said, "I can't wait to go. There is so much good food to eat." We are all excited. It will be kind of a extended field trip for the children. So, bon voyage! We will give a report upon return. Pray for us as we go. Driving here in these countries can be hazardous.

This weekend was what I would call a "mountaintop experience" for our small group here in Poland. Sometimes we can feel discouraged in dwindling numbers. We watch friends in whom we have invested much time and energy walk away from the truth that they once embraced. We see them making wrong choices that will affect their future and destiny. We cry. We pray. We wait. God knows their hearts better than we do, but it tears at our hearts. But this past weekend, we had Polish visitors from Torun. They were all former Jehovah's Witnesses and one man shared his moving testimony with our group. Although we had invited friends and acquaintances, only a handful showed up. But those of us that experienced this day felt uplifted. This man had been an elder and preacher in the JW organization for many years. He sometimes spoke to audiences of 5000. He was sincere in wanting to do right, but the more he studied the more confused he became as he realized that what he was teaching was co...

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF SPRING ~ ~ ~ The air is beginning to smell like spring. There is a soft feeling instead of the harshness of cold. Last night I heard RAIN!!!! How exciting! It was a comforting sound to hear the pit-pat-pitter-pat on the metal window framesas I drifted off to sleep. Yesterday, I saw the first crocuses poking theirbrave little heads out of the ground. Nothing like living through a long,gray winter to make spring colors look so beautiful. Did you ever notice how vivid the first colors of spring are??? CREATIONS AND PROJECTS AND OTHER MENTIONABLES ~ ~ ~ Derek decided the other day that he wants to make a rock tumbler. Anyone know what that is? Lolita's dad told Austin that he should get one to polish his rock collection. Well, we checked them out on the internet and they are quite expensive, so we told Austin that it will have to wait for a birthday. And besides, who has a month to wait for a rock to be smoothed and polished in a little noisy machine. So, Derek say...

What a sad history Poland has!!! What other country in the world do people travel to specifically to visit concentration and death camps? And our guests are no exceptions. All of them want to see a concentration camp. And I don't blame them. But, a wave of nausea crawls over me each time I step inside. And this time with our nephews was the same. "Work Bring Freedoms" proclaims an iron sign at the entrance of Auschwitz in Southern Poland. How many people that were herded through this place believed this? Many Jews had been promised better farms and so had brought all their earthly possessions with them. The pile of suitcases behind glass is a grim reminder of the reality of what happened here. You can't imagine the un-Christian feelings that arise within you when you see evidence of this cruelty. A visitor's personal feelings in our travel book tell my feelings exactly, When you go in there's a sign in five languages that says, "There were four million....

All my children love in different ways. Conrad's love language is quality time. Austin's is physical touch and Allison's is probably words of affirmation (haven't figured hers out completely yet.) But Derek's love language is the most obvious of all. He gives gifts. Many times he gives me a drawing or a note or some paper craft that he has made just for me. On Valentine's Day, he hung a big red heart in the office. "I love you, Mom and Dad" it said. On my birthday, he gave me a special blank book that he had made himself. When the flaps were opened, they again revealed part of his heart. On Mother's Day it was an elaborate card with his love written inside. His eyes always glow when his gifts are aknowledged and accepted. (And of course, he especially enjoys when I exclaim with oohs! and aahs!) Our recent trip to Cracow was one of those times. We traveled by train with John's two nephews for a fun two days exploring Cracow and also visiting Aus...

Dear H A you tow are invitede to a teapartea on wenssday come whit your hats from Allison This is the note I found in our email sent folder this morning.....ahhem! The mother hadn't been consulted previously, so it came as a shock to get an email in reply to the invitation. Oh, dear! How do you retract an invitation to her dear friends without offending them???? Life gets interesting when little ones learn to read and write, doesn't it? The same little girl recieved new girlie PJs as a present from Aunt Dorcas this week. She was so proud of them, she flounced around in them for the rest of the afternoon and evening. The same little girl was delighted to get a personal invitation to Corleen and Alison's new apartment for a tea party. All the little girls were to bring their hats (BTW, do you think that is what inspired the above email invite.) Dressing for this party was quite an ordeal. Complete with a hat, shawl, "broach", handbag and long coat, this giggling l...

"I am going to OH tomorrow for a school reunion that will be this Saturday. It's been 9 years since we've had one. I'm secretly hoping that the other girls have matronly shapes, too. (: I dug an elegant little purse out of the closet to replace my diaper bag!" My friend in my writer's workshop sent the above quote to our group. Another writer answered with this email. "And, by the way, matronly shapes are a sign of a noble calling. Go in delight. Would you really rather be a slender single girl?" I've been thinking a lot about this. How many times during my children's infancies, had I longed to exchange my diaper bag for my dapper bag? When I would stand beside a young slender slip of a girl, I would think about my pear shape. When I looked into the mirror and see bags under my eyes, I would think about the many sleepness nights. When a friend would tell me all she accomplished in one day, I would think about my interupted schedules. When I w...

Dear family and friends, Some of you know that we have been keeping our eyes open over here for a house to buy. We have rented this present house for five years, and although we could live here the rest of our lives, it isn't a place that we would be interested in buying because it isn't ideal for our family. Property prices are definitely rising in this area. We have seen an increase in the past two years. We have looked at various places and have even had serious interest in some of them, but it seems that God hasn't opened the door for us to buy yet. We are once again seeking His will and would ask you to join us. John went with Jacek to look at a property this past weekend. We decided that I wouldn't go along since the price seemed unaffordable and it seemed senseless for both of us to waste our time chasing dreams. When John returned, he told me, "I have just seen the place of our dreams." The property is 2-3 miles from Minsk. It is a 2.5 acre place with ...

For one week our red limousine was in the shop. There were many things to fix. This meant no vehicle for us at all. We live on the edge of town. What are legs for anyway? We found out this week. We've learned that when walking, --allow plenty of extra time because it will take longer than you think. --beware of road water that cars throw like a tsunami toward the pedestrians on the sidewalks. --walkways can be icy during the winter months. Wear sensible footwear and avoid shiny spots. --scraped sidewalks are a one-way street. Please yield to oncoming pedestrians. --stray dogs follow pedestrians all the way to your front gate. --buy in small quantities when at the grocery store. Every ounce seems to become a pound heavier with each quarter-mile. --think and plan ahead and avoid extra trips. --remember that you always wanted time for your daily exercise program. --don't think of the taxi you could have called for $3. --you become more thankful for your reliable? transportation. S...

Valentine's day has always had a bad omen in our relationship. Sixteen years ago, on the 14th of February, shortly after we were engaged, I was attending winter Bible School and John was teaching school. Our contact was only by phone and mail (email hadn't been invented yet). My mailbox was strangely empty over Valentine's Day. Nothing from my beloved!!! How can this be? My imagination ran wild... John is trying to tell me it is all over between us... maybe something will come tomorrow... He doesn't love me anymore... Well, poor John. He never once thought about Valentine's Day until he recieved my life-sized card in the mail. He rushed to the stores that evening only to find that all the cards had been removed from the shelves and Easter cards were taking their place. The next day, in desperation, he sent me a big bouquet of roses... which of course I should have loved... and they were gorgeous... but somehow I couldn't forget that they were one day late... We...

It all started when the guy that lives with us flattened the front of our vehicle when he met another vehicle when sliding through an icy intersection. No, let's back up. A few weeks prior, I was taking Allison to the dentist. Now in Poland parking spaces are all meant for compact fiats not mini vans. I was wheeling into a promising looking parking spot when I kissed the fender of an innocent car beside me. Horrified, I parked and climbed out. I rubbed the scratch and it seemed to disappear to my relief. I needed to find the owner, but I had no idea where he was in the three floors of this public building. And what would I do if I did find him. I had no idea how to tell him in Polish what happened. Many bumpers in Poland sport dents and scratches, but I still wanted to be honest. I took Allison into the building and when I returned later, I saw the car speeding away. I still feel a tinge of guilt about that. But back to my story. The same day, I rode with John and sat in the car ...

When we lived in America on the way town, my boys would count basket ball hoops... now they count roadside shrines. When we lived in America, my children never rode on trains... now they are quite familiar with all kinds of public transportation, trains, trams, buses, and metro... When we lived in America, my children wouldn't have thought twice about the cashiers at Walmart... now they whisper in amazement, Mom, that lady speaks English!!!... My children talk about rondos, markets, street vendors, tutors, bigos, pierogis, gates and fences, drunks, Warsaw, and fiats like they are normal life. Which indeed they are!!! Their world has expanded to a new culture. In fact, this is the culture they know. This is their home! I always get ecstatic when I think about furlough. My heart hammers as I think of this summer and the ten weeks we will spend in America. For me, I will be returning home, to the comfortable, the familiar, the life I knew. But for my children, they will be leaving the...

What better atmosphere for opening hearts than sitting around a candlelit room sipping cups of tea? Once every two months, we open our homes in this way and invite our friends and students to get together and share their hearts with one another. This isn't always easy for them. Normally, they are very private people and only have one or two close friends. And most of them are not believers. Our theme for the evening was "Treasures" and each woman was to bring something that represented treasure to her and tell us why. It was amazing some of the original things that the ladies brought...a ring of car keys (it meant that her husband was home with her son and she had an evening all to herself)... a locket (the picture of her mother and grandfather was priceless and the memories precious) ...a wedding ring (the love of her husband)... a dried rosebud ( the rose that her husband gave to her before they were married and was romantic and before he became so practical) ... an ol...

Just when we think winter can't get colder, it does. It doesn't often get below zero, but it is now and seems to be here to stay.Today we woke up and it was snowing. Because of the cold weather, my window sills were already coated with ice and now there is snow drifting up the panes. I can't help but say it is lovely. And, every winter, even when I'm sick of snow, snow, snow, I can't help but gaze in awe at every beautiful new layer. The disadvantage of winter is our cold house. Our furnace just can't keep up heating this drafty house, and so we shiver. We try to stay close to the heaters and only venture to an outer, icy room when absolutely necessary. I was just thinking what a weight loss program spring will be. Taking off all the layers of sweatshirts and pants can only make a person feel slimmer, right? Amid the winter doldrums, we try to lead a normal life. Snow doesn't mean school cancellations like in Oregon or Virginia, or the people here would keep...

I'm amazed every winter how much "stuff" that we need to remember every time we walk out the front door. Yesterday was no exception as we bundled everyone up and headed out to the pond for the first ice skating of the year. As usual, I was beginning to wonder if it was worth it. There is nothing more frustrating than to spend fifteen minutes putting on your children's snow things than to have the children back inside in five minutes because they're cold or the snow doesn't pack right or they have snow inside their boots. I was thinking these thoughts as the usual winter dressing room became a madhouse. "Allison, do you have your scarf?" "Mom, where are my gloves?" "Austin, don't forget to take your stocking cap!!!" "Mom, I can't find any more socks. I looked everywhere." "Derek, do you have to got the bathroom? Remember, there isn't any at the pond!" MMMMOMMM, I can't find my boots!!!" ...

Imagine watching the spectacular 4th of July fireworks display along the Willamete river bank in Harrisburg, Oregon... now imagine this all around you for twenty minutes nonstop... that is how our town of Minsk welcomed 2006. Every year we are impressed again at the impressive sight... fireworks popping off everywhere... people out in the middle of deserted snowy streets, drunk and wishing everyone happiness in the coming year...apartment windows flinging open and champagne spilling out and streamers floating down to the street below... one year we witnessed a group of youngsters braking bottles all over a busy intersection... a few minutes of glory and then the people return to the warm houses and their all night party. Really????!!! My friend looked unbelieving when I told her that in America where we lived we might have heard three gunshots or a horn honking for one minute, but we never had such a wild celebrations. She seemed quite incredulous. Maybe a bit how I felt when friends t...