What a day!

We had the blessing of going to the market with Iris Loomans yesterday. (She and her husband are missionaries to the people groups in the remote parts of Northern Russia, who are NOT Russian, but were forced to learn the Russian language under the communist regime.  These people groups are more like tribes with an Eskimo look to them. It is quite interesting.)   It was quite the experience at the market.  Actually, there are a lot of similarities between their farmer's market here, and Findley Market in Cincinnati, where I would have gone yesterday with some friends had we been home. One difference is that the meat is just out on huge butcher block tables, with no glass between the customers, and the merchants.  We were just enjoying the experience, and picked up some veggies along the way for our dinner salad, and some spices.  Diester bought some cheese, but we both decided the Russian cheese wasn't our favorite, so he stuck with cheese from Holland.  Iris bought some beef, and then she also had to pay extra to have it ground up.  She  took us to get some souvenirs.  It was a joy to be with her and her son.  Diester and Steven (Iris' 8 yo son) enjoyed each other so much, they talked nonstop as we traveled around.  Diester tried on one of the hats that are common to wear in the Siberia winters here.  He also picked up a couple of caps for our soon-to-be boys. 

When we got back to the apartment, we decided that we would spend some time making our Scrabble game.  You have to understand~~we are Scrabble fans, and we looked for a travel Scrabble game before we left, but didn't find one within our budget.  So, we decided to check them out at the airports to see what they had~~as if they would be inexpensive there-HA!  $40 in one store, $50 in the other.  We just weren't going to pay that, so Diester decided to make his own board.  I have to say, I think it turned out pretty cool.  We do have some time on our hands when we aren't visiting the boys, and we love Scrabble, so hence our Scrabble game.  I thought you might like to see it. 

Then we had the blessing of being invited to church today with Iris and her husband Tim.  Tim and Iris Loomans were such a blessing to us with their 2 sons, Steven (8 yo) and Jonathan (6).  We drove out of the main part of the city, and headed to their Baptist church.  It is a church building that is about 10 yo, and made to look somewhat like an orthodox church.  I would have taken a pix~~however, dead camera batteries, and a battery charger that was not working made that impossible (we bought a new charger after church).  We'll try to get pictures of it next week, as we plan to go again.  Tim informed us before we went into church that the service is 2 hours long.  He also explained that Iris would be translating for us from the pew behind us.  So, we headed in at that point, and as we were walking into church, a car drove by, and the hood of the car was covered in a bright green (like grass) color textured material with artificial orange geranium looking flowers strategically placed on the green material, and then there were some flowers placed on some other parts of the car.  I turned to Iris, and asked about that??  She said that it is tradition to do that for your wedding in Russia.  She explained that there must've been a wedding there yesterday.  I didn't think much more about it.   So, we headed up the steps to the entrance, and as we walked inside, there was a green lining along the pews with orange and white material draped ~~Oh, I cannot describe this.  It really looked hideous if you ask me.  And there were green apples along the floor of the aisle as you headed towards the front of the church, and more green, orange, and white decorations draped from the sanctuary.  It was at this point that Iris said, "Oh, there must be a wedding here today.  Normally, weddings do not take place on Sundays.  I didn't know they were having a wedding today.  They have never had a wedding on a Sunday since we have been coming here.  This is a first."  WOW!  So, we are in for a Russian wedding~~how cool is this! ! !  I was so excited.  I would get to see a Russian wedding.  Diester thought it was pretty cool too.  So, we found our place to sit, and got ourselves situated.  Then the service started.  The singing was lovely.  A strong choir which was very loud and clear.  So, the preacher tells us that because there is going to be a wedding here today, the message is going to be about 'family'.  That just added to the coolness of this whole scenario since we are adding to our family.  So, we sang some songs.  It was funny, Iris told us that we would be able to sing along, because they have the screens with the words on it.  (Is she thinking we can read Russian?)  Diester and I just knew she didn't mean that.  (Later, we found out that she actually did think we could read Russian because Diester knew so many Russian phrases~we got quite a chuckly out of that.) Anyway, some of the songs were very recognizable, not because of the words, but because of the tunes.  So, Diester and I were praising God with the words as we know them.  It was so wonderful to be there in Russia praising God with all of these Russian Christians, and knowing that we have the same God!  It was very moving~~So then, they introduced the couple being wed; and people crowded around the balcony so much so that we could not see down to see them.  The couple processed to the front and then took seats off to the side.  Then the preacher preached on Ephesians 5:22-33 today about how wives are to honor and respect their husbands, and how husbands are supposed to love, sacrifice, speak purely, and to nourish and cherish her.  The way this message was presented was absolutely beautiful.  Iris was translating the entire time, and it was like listening to an angel.  And, you know, it was like I heard the words of God from Ephesians in a new way.  He added in such a lovely way how it looks in real life to carry out these passages.  That was nice.  Okay. . .  so then the wedding ceremony portion of the service started.  The couple came back out to the center to be wed.  The preacher talked to them (we have no clue what was being said as Iris took a break from translating), and then they exchanged vows.  One thing I thought was cool was that they each had memorized their vows to one another, and so they said them without any prompting.  That was something Diester and I had done when we got married.  So here we are on the other side of the world, and getting to experience a wedding, so I am checking out everything (thinking in my little brain that I should try to remember this so that one day when our sons are getting married maybe we can use some of the ideas from this wedding in their wedding plans~~Diester said he would just pick up a bag of apples from Krogers~~hehe).  This bride's bouquet was not composed of flowers.  It was butterflies, like metal colorful butterflies all together in a bouquet that she held.  It was really quite unique I thought, and instead of a flower for a boutonniere, the groom had a butterfly on his lapel.  So, between the orange, green and white; the apples along the aisle; and the butterfly bouquet and boutonniere, I was racking up ideas, but thinking certainly other colors might be good??  Anyway, the whole service was quite the unique experience, and I was really kicking myself for not having my camera handy.  Ughh~~would have loved to share some pix of this.  The service finally ended with a couple of lovely songs, and we were on our way after a bit of fellowship.  We truly were blessed by the service, and the message~

One funny thing, a man who sang some solos spoke to us after the service, and he said he noticed us smiling during one portion of the service, and said he knew we were Americans because Russian people do not smile like that.  I took that as a compliment. 

We headed out of church, and I asked Iris if that is a typical wedding service (or, you know, decor?), and she shook her head no, and smiled, saying something to the effect that the bride must be very artistic, because she has never seen such a type of decor for a wedding, or a butterfly bouquet??  So goes my theory of using the ideas for the future.  FUNNY! !   (Just got done SKYPEing with the girls, and told them this story, and they were not too excited that I would be butting into the plans of my future DIL's)

Anyway, we headed to Mama Roma's Italian restaurant for lunch, and enjoyed lunch and fellowship with the Loomans, and then out for ice cream.  All of the guys got an ice cream.  I haven't gotten any yet, but will before I leave.  Everyone tells us Russian ice cream is SOOOO good! 

We then went to look for the battery charger, and got one, thank goodness.  And then, being right next to the market, we went in to get some meat.  I will not post the pix, as I don't want to gross anyone out.  I will post a copy of our cute little wildflowers.  Enjoy!  The blessings we have had just keep adding up.  We get to see the boys again tomorrow~~taking bubbles~~that's always a hit.  And then our court date is on Tuesday~we will get briefed and prepare for that tomorrow.  Can't wait to see what is in store for us then.  It is at 10:30.

Have a blessed day!  Michelle