HOME

Ron and I have moved so often in the oil business that it has sometimes been difficult to determine where home is. Although our kids got to be expats and travel they had to change schools often and never really had roots as children. Currently Ron is at our flat in Moscow, and I am holding down the fort in our retirement house in Alabama. So where is home? I guess I would have to say HOME is where the Lord places us on any given day. If I had not remained in Alabama I would not have gotten to spend some extra time with my Mom and our daughter, visit with high school friends, host a luncheon for some senior citizens in the community plus a family reunion. If Ron had not returned to Moscow he would have missed the opportunity to meet some wonderful adoptive couples in Russia. The adoptive couples would have been fine in Moscow without Ron, but I know they have blessed his heart with stories of their journey to their forever families. Now my perfect plan would have been for Ron to remain in Alabama for all the events here, and then we travel to Moscow together and meet the great couples coming into town. God's plan was different and I guess today I have grown to appreciate the fact that all things happen in God's timing.

I would also like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt apprecation to Sue and Susan, friends since grammer school, for their generous donation today of school supplies for the Children's Cancer Hospital in Moscow. I know your donations will be appreciated and put to good use by the children in treatment at the hospital.

Future Grandparents?!?

Hard to believe that we will be grandparents soon! What a great chapter in our lives we will soon be starting. I am so excited, as I finally was able to add a ticker counter for the new grandbaby and Ashley's graduation along with an geosite counter to our blog. This future "Baba" still has lots of things left to do in life and new things to learn. Rob and Dede, you guys are responsible for getting me "hooked on blogging!"

It has truly been a blessing for both of us to meet Rob, Dede, Liam, Mark and Sinzina. This week Ron has had the pleasure to spend some time with Karyn, Norm, Dana and Aaron. We are fascinated by international adoption and find you guys to be true heros in making a difference in the life of a child! If we can somehow make your time in Russia a little easier and enjoyable then its time and energy well spent for us. Please know that there are several couples in Moscow that are more then willing to meet you guys and provide some assistance while you are on your adoption journeys. Best wishes as you go forward in this exciting journey!

Paka!

Dinia

Life Is Good!

Our most exciting news for this posting is that we are going to be grandparents! Our son and his wife are expecting near the end of the year. I have always joked with Ron that I would follow him anywhere for work until the grandkids came. Excited and proud does not begin to describe the emotions we are feeling at the moment. Perhaps it is now time to really start thinking about retirement and wondering what life will be like with grandbabies! I wonder if I can teach the baby to call me Baba!

Friday Ashley left for her offsite clinical rotation and we are currently granddog sitting in her absence. While stateside awaiting work permits, we had the opportunity to attend her Junior Presentation at the Vet School, and needless to say we were busting with pride at what she has accomplished while in school. Graduation is May 5, 2009 and we are counting the days.

Saturday Ron and I will mark our 33rd wedding anniversary and I have to say its gets sweeter with each passing year. I am married to my soulmate and feel truly blessed. Ron leaves May 11 to return to Moscow and I will follow early June after Ashley returns and a family reunion.

With a new baby coming and graduation from vet school on the horizon I will have to try to fiqure out how to add the cute ticker countdowns to our blog site.

Life is good! On we go in this wonderful journey called life!

Moscow Bound!

We have been stateside since March 28 awaiting work permit approvals which finally arrived today! This wait does not compare with what you guys are going through in the adoption process, but it has given us a glimpse of what its like waiting for the mailman to deliver those longawaited passports with valid visas! Ron will be trading in his farm clothes and back to the daily grind on being an engineer in Moscow. This time in the states has given us a preview of what retirement will look like, but it has also made me sit back and appreciate each day God has given us in a particular location. Best wishes to those that will be traveling to Moscow soon looking to expand your families and know that we are available to assist you in anyway.