Summer pics!

So these are a lot more than I thought and they are kind of in a scattered order. But even still, here are some/ a lot of pictures from my summer. I will try to explain in some.

Mom took some pics of the kids and here are some of my favorites.



I nannied for the sweetest twin babies this summer. This is Krayson taking a little nap on me.

And here is Ember doing the same.
Here is one of my last days with Krayson and Ember. They grew so much in 2 months! I miss those tiny little bodies.
Some more pics of the kiddos.
These are some pics of our little weekend trip Branson, MO. Cliff was in town so he got to come too!

While Cliff was visiting we spent my last week in the States down in the Houston area.

Here we are on our way to the Astros game.

At Cliff's first Astros game.
After the game. They won!

Another Branson pic. Bub with all the Saloon girls from the show.
My beautiful best friend and her wonderful hubby right after our lunch at Willie's

Me and Cliff on our way to NASA.

Hangin' loose at Ashley and Josh's

My favorite Ashley

My oldest and best friends in the world!
My Aunt Christi at my cousin's wedding.
Her precious son Noah was the miniture groom.
The minature bride/ groom, Hannah/ Noah dancing at the reception.
Just arriving in the States and seeing Ashley and Josh's house while it was still being built.

One of my dearest friends from OBU moved to OKC this summer so I got to see a lot of Suzi Q!

My memaw and I at Pappasitos just after flying into Houston in June. The first time I had seen her after her 8 months in the hospital. She looks so good!

One year gone

So one year has passed. Okay well not completely in all ways. It has now been over one year since I became a college graduate. I have been in Russia for about 11 months now and officially survived my first year of teaching and in a few days will have survived my first year in Russia.
I am going home on Saturday and am so happy about it but I thought before I do I will kind of reflect on things from this year.

Things I have learned:
1. Patience really is a virtue. If you can truly have patience in different situations you really are virtuous. My whole life I have been working on this, and will constantly I am sure. But I feel like I have made some huge strides this year in the realm of patience.

2. Communication is the most important factor in relationships. I was thinking about this, whether it is work, friends, family, a significant other, co-workers, whatever, when there is a lack of communication or a mis-communication big problems can occur. I have really tried really hard to fully communicate my needs, concerns, wants, desires, or anything really to everyone in all relationships I have in my life. I think this is a good thing to do.

3. Flexibility. I was once told by a professor in college, Thou shall be flexible lest ye not be bent out of shape. I think it is so true. I have seen this in over flow this year. I have really tried to be flexible. As you know this is key when living in your native country, but living in another is a whole new ball game.

4. Things don't always work out and its okay. Sometimes I think that things have to go a certain way. Some might call this anal. I don't know really. But have learned/ am still learning that when things don't always go according to plan A, its okay because I'm not the one on control anyway. So the quicker I can realized who is in control, the quicker my worries and stress with turn around.

5. Jesus really is my strength. Lets face it, people let you down. They may not mean to, or maybe they do. But people will always let you down in some way or another. You see, they are not perfect, they have flaws, they are all selfish, and they try to do right but it doesn't always happen. So when I depend on Jesus for strength, comfort, love, friendship, etc. I will not be dissapointed and will be completely filled.

6. Plan to be surprised. I actually heard this in a movie the other day and thought it is so true. I need to just plan to be surprised because its going to happen. Yes, I like to make plans, all the time. ( I can be spontaneous too) So the unexpected is going to happen, and sometimes that unexpected will completely change your life. Sometimes that unexpected is the thing you needed most and never realized till you found it. Sometimes the unexpected will completely rock your world in ways you could have never imagined and now you can't imagine you life without it.

7. People change. Yea I have always known this. But it is really beautiful to reflect on people you have known for what seems like an eternity change and grow. Of course this change can be good or bad and will probalby change your relationship. But it is a beautiful thing.

8. I really love chocolate. It is my comfort food. Russian chocolate is better than American chocolate on a good day.

9. I really NEED the sun. I never realized that my body actually needs the sunlight. I had no idea that I get really sick and don't function properly without the sun. And really if I need to live on a beach for the rest of my life then I'm okay with it.

10. Faithfulness. The Lord is so faithful. He is always faithful to fulfill each and every promise He has made and to make sure all my needs are taken care of. Today is a really great example of that!

Well that is all I can think of for now. These are in no particular order or anything.

Victory Day

Okay I know this took me a while to post. Victory Day was May 9th. But I had to get the pics from Kathryn because I did the video (which I don't have with me right now). I will post the video soon. Here are some pics of the day but they are in reverse order.

The first is that evening when we went to Victory park to an outdoor concert.

Victory Day is to celebrate the victory over WWII. This is the first time in 17 years (since the fall fo the Soviet Union) that they brought out the Soviet war tanks. It was such a cool parade! Here is a communist rally that took place as soon as the parade was over.

This is how crowded the street was, this street leads to Red Square and is usually one of the busiest streets in the city.

Here is me and Kat after the parade. It was so cold that day. We didn't expect it b/c it was warm the day before. We figured we would be too warm in sweatshirts. Thankfully our friend Jason lived about a 2 minute walk fromt there and gave us an extra layer of fleece to wear.

This is the sad looking bus they gave the WWII veterans to ride in.

And now begins the tanks. Enjoy!

Praise

So I feel the need to testify at the many blessings in my life. I just feel like the Lord is working everywhere I look. Yea I know He is always working everywhere but sometimes it takes a while for my feeble mind to see it. I have spent some wonderful time on the phone recently with family and friends and I feel like the Lord is just answering all my prayers left and right. I am also seeing this happen in my friends lives all around me. It is really a beautiful thing to see and realize that my life would be in complete shambles if I was in control. I am so glad that I do not have to try to do it on my own. If that were the case, I would have been back home somewhere around 8 months ago and would have stayed. But praise the Lord He has a bigger plan and has His hand in everything single tiny thing in my life. Without this I know I would completely lost forever, literally.

Through this I am reminded of one of my favorite songs. This song is partly dear to me because of my precious friend Mel who gave me the CD years ago because this was her Dana song. It just reminds me that He can take me and all my quirks and faults and make my life completely beautiful.

Well, I've never been a fashion queen
I wear dresses I wear jeans
I've even been known to wear my heart on my sleeve
I'm just your average kid next door
A plain simple mystery
I'm a self-proclaimed daddy's girl
With my share of idiosyncrasies

I'm just fine
I see a smile from Heaven
My father's proud
And I know that I am simply, fearfully, and wonderfully
Made in you
You make it beautiful somehow

I've got old-fashioned sensibilities
I believe chivalry still exists
And I can be a princess
Even when there ain't no prince
So what if I'm right brained
I've got half a mind to disagree
I would rather write the book
Than go and read the movie
So even when I may not rhyme
You always give me reason

I'm just fine
I see a smile from Heaven
My father's proud
And I know that I am simply, fearfully, and wonderfully
Made in you
You make it beautiful somehow

Every day, every way
Got my elbows on the table
My mind up in the clouds
I know I'm getting better
I can almost hear You laugh out loud
The more I trust in You
The more I find
What You create is no mistake
It's purpose by design

I'm just fine
I see a smile from Heaven
My father's proud
And I know that I am simply, fearfully, and wonderfully
Made in you
You make it beautiful somehow

Beautiful somehow
That is what You do
Beautiful somehow
Beautiful in You

Tsaritsena Park

When I moved to a city of 14 million people I didn't have the expectation of there being beautiful parks to visit. Well I have a favorite. It is called Tsaritsena park. Apparently my first time to visit it in Sept. was a big new opening for the park. It used to be in ruins but they restored to old castle. You can literally get lost in this park. Each time we go we spend 6-8 hours and we have still not seen the whole thing. So I went twice this last weekend during our days off of work and got some fun pics.

Moscow is beautiful in the Spring. I didn't expect this but there are tulips of all colors everywhere!! I love tulips so much! I have never lived anywhere where they survive. They plant the bulbs before the first big snow and then when it warms up you begin to see tulips everywhere! It is so delightful!

Also this pic and the video is of a cute little man. He is at our metro every day, no matter what the temperature or weather. He is there singing and playing his accordian. I don't know if he if homeless or a little crazy but I think he is precious and he is one of my favorite things in this city. I had never given him money before. But the day we went to the park there was not a lot of questionable people hanging around like usuall so I gave him some money and asked if I could take picture and video of him. I think he kind of felt like a star. His song is so funny. He is singing about singing to a beautiful girl in the pedyhold (underground pedestrian walk).

Enjoy!