Is it the 'end of summer' or the 'end of the school year'?

May sound like a bit of a weird question, but Diester was describing to his mom this morning that picking the boys up tomorrow kind of gives him the feeling of what it was like at the end of a school year, when he would be gathering all of his stuff, and clean out his locker to take everything that was his home with him.  Then the summer started.  That is how he sees our pick up day for the boys.  The reason he feels like it is school letting out is that everytime we see the boys, it is totally structured, and we were kind of like on a school routine with them.  Now that is coming to an end.  It is like a half of a school day tomorrow.

I on the other hand, looking at it from my persepective, was thinking that it is more like the end of summer, when the fun ends, and we have to get in the grind.  You know, school starts tomorrow, and we have to get on a schedule now, and face new challenges,  make new friends, and face new teachers.  That is how I see our lives changing.  We are starting a new school year (life with the boys , and them with us), facing new classes (trying to get used to the boys and visa versa), making new friends (they will not know anyone), and facing new teachers (we are going to be different from their caregivers in many ways.)  Not that it is going to be bad, but just walking into the unknown of the newness of this journey ahead is kind of scary.  Isn't it interesting how perspectives can be so different?

Are we ready for this?  Probably not, but only with God's help can we make it.  It will have it's ups and downs, and Diester and I believe we are ready for the challenge.  I have to say that one of my biggest prayers has been for the Lord to change me~~~to make me a better wife, a better mother, and to prepare me for these boys.  I have also prayed that God would change us in ways to strengthen our marriage, and for us to grow together in ways that are beyond our expectations.  That is one thing that God has been working on a lot.  Especially in Russia.  There have been some major changes going on here.  God has been softening my heart, helping me to guard my tongue, and to be submissive under the authority of Diester.  It's not just me.  I have half a mind to take a picture of my new husband, and share it on our blog, so the girls know who this man is that I am bringing home with me.  God has been working and changing him in ways that I wouldn't have dreamed of during our stay here.  No hair transplants, no tattoos or body piercings, but if I could take a picture of his heart, I would say it 'grew 3 sizes that day'! ! ! "Max, Max, I'm feeling!"   No, we are not staying in Whoville, but Russia is the next best place if hearts are changing like this!  Praise the Lord!  He is continuing to bless us as we journey along here.  God wants our hearts, and we are trying to be obedient as we go along.

We have been enjoying playing Scrabble on our homemade Russian Diesterhaft Scrabble board.  I have to humbly admit that he has been a tough opponent.  We has beat me 3 games to 1.  This is a new record for him.  One game, he beat my by just one point.  That was hard to take.  They have been really quite exciting, getting some of our biggest points at the last moment to win the game.  We like Scrabble.  We even turned down an official Scrabble game (offered by Iris) to play on our homemade game.  

Another thing we did yesterday in town while shopping for some things was to pop into a Russian Orthodox church.  (Nina, this one is for you~~)  There was some sort of service going on.  I have to say that yes, they are VERY ornate, no pews, many similarities between the orthodox church, and the Catholic church at home.  Lighting of the candles, etc.  It was very beautiful.  Although one difference with this one is that it is missing the 'onion bulb' looking top on the steeples.

 

Diester had gotten up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed this morning.  He got our chicken in the oven, washed his watch and his flip-flops, skyped with his mom, made breakfast for us, and then woke me up when Mallory was skyping us. (I need to marry that man.) We skyped with Mallory for a while (I am missing talking with Hannah)~then Diester's mom skyped us again and we talked with her for a bit.  I got a shower, did dishes, fun fun, and then Diester moved a big chair into our bedroom to help with getting the boys down for naps (the orphanage caregivers let us know that the children like to have an adult nearby when they are going to sleep~~it is a comfort for them.)  Diester got me ready with a list to take when I went out, and got the $$ situated for me to use/exchange. We also did a Proverbs bible study today, and there are so many good reminders in there about how God blesses those who fear him.  Prov. 22:4 says "By humility and the fear of the Lord, are riches and honor and life."   We have certainly been blessed, and we were so thankful again for all of the ways that God has taken care of us.  

Iris Loomans was such a blessing today to bring us some fresh veggies from her lovely garden (lettuce, cucumbers, zucchini, beets, etc.) and to take me to the Chapel on the Hill (a Kras sightseeing landmark which overlooked the city), and to get some final groceries for our stay here, diapers for the orphanage, sunglasses for R., rubles from the bank (I did have to turn over some shrinking USD), and looking for bibs (not easily found in Krasnoyarsk at any stores).  We spent the afternoon together, and then she dropped me off.  (Her husband and oldest son are on their way to a people group (tribe) 8 hours north to some sort of a festival to build relations with them, and to start recording their language so that he can start translating the gospel in their language.  God is really using him in big ways!  They have some great stories of how peoples lives have been transformed by this.  Please say a prayer for his safety, and his work there.  Thank you!) 

Then tonight, we went out for a special dinner to celebrate getting our boys tomorrow!  YAY!  It is finally here.  We went to a German restaurant that we had heard was really good.  Can't tell you the name of it, but we got some interesting food items.  It is hard when they try to translate the menu from Russian language to English, but for the most part, we knew what we were getting.  Diester got cut-up reindeer with mashed potatoes.  He said "Rudolph, you were cooked just right, with the mashed potatoes, I enjoyed every bite."   The girls just rolled their eyes (we just skyped with the girls a few minutes ago~for which I am happy) when he told them his little saying.  :-)  Corny, huh?  Thank God for his weird humor~~I'll take it any day over a dull boring personality.  I got some a wonderful spinach salad, and then had a huge eclaire dessert.  That was a splurge for me!  :-) 

We really enjoyed our dinner, and now are home to sleep tonight.  This is our last few hours before we go to get the boys.  Thank you God for tomorrow!  If it is your will, we will have our boys with us for good!  YAY!    Gotcha Day, here we come!  

Have a blessed day!