Mixed Blessings and Emotions

Summertime in Moscow

It's with saddness that we must report that our time in Moscow is drawing to a close. A decision was announced on Tuesday that BP will be reducing the staff here in Moscow. and since we have been here over 4 years we will be leaving on or before October 1, 2008. What a wonderful experience it has been to live in not one but two cities in this vast country! I will have to admit that Moscow was my personal favorite, but Izhevsk had its own personal charm. This has been one of the strongest expats communities Ron and I have ever had the priviledge of being a part of and we have really enjoyed our time here. In Jan of 2008 I had the honor of sitting next to Rob and Dede on their way to Moscow to pick up their son, Feb we meet Mark and Sinzina, and in May what we lovingly call our "adoption connection" expanded by leaps and bounds. Many thanks to the May group for stepping out on a limb to discover why these crazy American expats had an interest in your adoption journey. June has been fun with several new couples in town, dinners at our favorite restaurant, stops at Starbucks, and fun trips to the outdoor market with adoptive couples. Although after our experience on the metro with Becky and Keith we were concerned that we would never hear from adoptive couples again! LONG STORY! We are looking forward to those that will be coming into town in July as we will still be available right up until the packers arrive. No date has been set yet for moving so please continue to contact us. Also, I have proposed to the board of our American Women's Organization here in Moscow that we make meeting and assisting adoptive couples a possible interest group. So, although we are leaving late summer early fall we will maintain a connection here in Moscow for those coming later in the year.


Andy and Kasey at their optical clinic in Kyle, Texas

At this point, we have no idea what the future may bring for us within the grasp of BP. Our son and his wife will be bringing our first grandchild into the family around Christmas, and that is a stong pull towards heading to the retirement farm.


Our future Vet on Arbat Street

Ashley seems to be having the time of her life with her clinical rotations, and is just a few months away from reaching her goal of becoming a vet. We marvel at the accomplishment of our gifts from God and thank our Lord for them. What a blessing they are to us, and we are so proud of them and the goals they have accomplished

At the age of 53 there is still some possible interesting assignments that merit investigating so check back in a few weeks for updates.

We had a great day yesterday with Michelle and Ian! The weather was prefect, despite a sudden brief downpour, and it was so much fun for us to see their excitement as they explored Moscow. Yes, we made the usual trip to Ismalava but we added a side experience into the Moscow underground since their hotel is just outside of what is called the city centre. Would they have tackled the metro on their own? Certainly, but hopefully it was a bit easier for them after watching us back up the line at the Kacca window as we struggled with the ticket purchase. Think velka Karyn!?!

The objective of today's post is to ask those of you reading for suggestions on ways we might can be of assistance. My heart has been blessed recently by the response of the ladies here in Moscow to possible future needs of couples arriving. We hope to have a brainstorming sessions soon on things we might could do to be of assistance. I have had offers of assistance for ya'll ranging from a car seat and a pack and play to use in the city to accomodations. Would a list of essential Russian vocabulary works be helpful? If you traveled in the winter to Moscow your housing was pricey, but with tourist season now in full swing housing appears to be a preminum. In no way are we trying to replace your translator/driver instead we are attempting to assist them and exhance your experiences here in Moscow. Please feel free to contact us and never think for a moment it would be a bother.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you!

Paka!

Dinia and Ron

Back In Moscow - Finally

I left Moscow on March 17 for what was intended to be a 2 week trip out of the country, and I finally returned to Russia June 7. The past few weeks and months have been a blur with activity around visa renewals, family reunion, visiting our son and his wife in Texas, granddog sitting for our daughter, and the unexpected passing of my sister's husband on June 1. My sister and her husband Art attended the family reunion on May 31, and I spoke with Art early morning on June 1. A few short hours later he was gone. I only mention this on the blog as it really drove home to me how we never know when we will see a family member for the last time. Also, how important it is to tell our love ones that we love them.

That being said, it is good to be back in Russia. This is my favorite time of year here as the weather is mild and sometimes the traffic is even lighter. I did want to mention that it is also the time of year when those with allergies might have trouble here. In Moscow, they have a poplar tree here with blooms that can cause problems to those with allergies. At times it almost appears to be snowing as the blooms fall from the trees, and the blooms remind me of dandelions. Last spring a good friend with allergies was hospitalized as a result of the blooms this tree has.

Ron and I look forward to the return of Becky and Keith and to meeting a new family next weekend. It has been such a blessing to meet adoptive couples and we look forward to sharing Moscow in the future with new arrivals.

A sidenote to the couples that were here while I was away. My first meal out after returning to Moscow was to the restaurant with the stuffed chicken and strawberry pancakes. Talk about good! Yes, I have already been back to the market for BBQ and shopping!

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.