God Is Our Rock

A few weeks ago we heard the shocking news that Irene (Leif's mom) has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. As you can imagine, we have been struggling with this news, trying to make sense of it all. We don't know what this means, but we know that it certainly doesn't sound good. Our hearts are heavy and we can't imagine life without Irene- without her coming to visit us in Russia every year, without our kids knowing her and enjoying her, without being around her and her zest for life. We love her so much!

In this, I feel that God is saying a few things. One is that He is God. He can do what He wants... He's the One in control. But in that, He is GOOD. And He is LOVING.

I also know that He wants us to put our trust in Him. With a lighter diagnosis, it would be easy to give credit to doctors... to put our praise in men. But God wants- and deserves- all of the glory. And I really believe He wants to do something amazing through this.

No matter what, God is with us and will give us the grace we need for whatever is ahead. He is the only giver of peace- amazing peace that makes no rational sense in times of trials.

We had the privilege of spending spring break with Irene and Leif's brother Lark and his family at Silver Mountain. This time together was a gift that we treasured. Below are some pictures from our time there....


cuddling in the king sized bed


riding the world's longest gondola to the top of the mountain



Our April Fool's joke: leaving baby Ike in a basket in front of some people's door, knocking and running away. These people are family friends of Lark's family, but they didn't know us (or our baby). Just the son was home at the time. He was quite concerned when he opened the door and later told his Dad, "That's a lot to put on a 12-year-old boy". But later he laughed. We only let him worry a few seconds before showing our faces.


Riding around on tubes on the lazy river


Gearing up to ride on the fast rides... Anneka has no fear.


Irene liked to pretend like she'd take the girls through the falling water and then would save them at the last second.


Leif tried boogie boarding and surfing.



Tubing up on the mountain. Anneka went by herself and got on the tow-rope all by herself with such confidence. This was a time that I saw how she has patience beyond her age... and I attribute it to waiting in lines in Russia. Anneka wasn't at all phased by the lines and her cousins got quickly bored with the wait. Those lines in Russia have their benefits!!


Ella got her own tube but went down with Papa. The man behind them was waiting to give them a good push to start down the slope.




Ike liked hanging out in the warm atmosphere inside the waterpark.


And Ella liked the baby slides- especially with Grandma Irene.

We cherish these memories!

The Last Half Of Our Trip

Things are starting to feel very busy as the time races until we return to Russia. Today Leif is meeting with a pastor from Cd'A who is interested in having his church adopt the Buryat people to learn about and pray for. Very cool. And tonight he's sharing with kids at Awanas. Right now he took the girls to the library so that I can get some things done around here. That's been a special time for Leif and the girls each week.



We were very encouraged in our traveling around. God has brought so many neat people into our lives! On the Sunday Leif preached in Darrington, one of the families had a potluck afterwards. Anneka delighted in playing with their kids... she even stayed a few hours after we left because she was having so much fun. And there were fun kids to play with all along the way!


Of course we loved seeing Grancy (Leif's Dad's mom)



... and playing with the keyboard (and the cat and dog) and Tim and Lucy's



... and sharing my aunt Sherrie's birthday with her!


... and reading books with Grandpapa


... and holding one of his pet snakes!


... and cuddling at McDonalds


(and Anneka and Ella played there, too!)


... and making a few trips to the beach


... and holding a crab


...and making it through a snowstorm on the pass (the girls slept while Ike cried).

... and many other visits with friends and supporters and another church that I didn't take pictures of, but we treasure the times in our hearts. We're so thankful for the health and strength to travel with three little ones for so many days. We are counting our blessings in these memories!

Skype Meetings

We're back from our trip! It was so great to see everyone,and it's also so great to be back to our temporary home here in Washington. I still need to get my pictures together before I post more, but I thought I'd throw in a picture of Leif and what he does many, many hours of many, many days. Skype meetings. He is so patient. I get really antsy in front of the computer, and he does it for hours. His meetings are usually double the time that they are predicted to be... a 3 hour meeting can be as much as six, a one hour meeting is usually 2, etc. Right now he's in a skype meeting. It was supposed to be over at 9:00 and now it's after 10:00. I'm tired from traveling and emotionally exhausted from some things from this last week (also for another post). I'm sure he's really tired, too. Our sweet little girls are staying the night with my mom and Ike is sleeping on my lap. Since he's sleeping, I guess I should be, too! Goodnight!

Life on the Island

We've had a nice time visiting Leif's side of the family on Whidbey Island. It's so nice because his grandparents, brother's family, and mom all live here now. It certainly makes for a lot less traveling around! Here Irene is making coconut cookies with the girls.



Ella doesn't get too many chances to hold her brother, but she LOVES it when she gets to!!


Playing the piano with Great Grandma Marjorie


And hanging out with Grandpa Jack


Family Picture... now Ike can be in it! (last time he was in my tummy)


Great Aunt Reta




Cuddle Time with Gramma Irene




Cousins Clay and Anneka




Everyone is happy with Uncle Lark!



Bedtime Story

Washington Tour

Last Thursday we began our "tour of Washington". We'll be staying in 6 different homes in 13 days, sharing in two churches, and seeing friends and family. Anneka was very excited to pack her dolls- one for herself, one for Ella, one for Mama and one for Ike (he was so cute with a little doll tucked up next to him). When Leif asked why he didn't get a doll, Anneka said that, of course, it was unsafe for him to drive with a baby.



Leif washed and vacuumed the car before our departure, but this is what was on one side previously.


...and this was on the other side. I've been finding Anneka's name written in various places both backward and mirrored lately. Here the last "A" is capitalized, but normally it's a perfect mirror, too.

We had an adventure on the freeway just a few miles from Snoqualmie mountain pass. Our tire blew out, and we didn't have a spare. We called a tow truck and all five of us plus the driver fit inside of the cab on one seat together. =) Anneka thought it was great fun. Ella cried very loudly for half of the ride (she missed her nap).

In reflection, I remember Anneka praying early that morning before our trip that if something happened to the car that we wouldn't be hurt. It stuck out to me because she normally prays more general prayers. It's so neat to see how God answered that prayer and protected us. And Leif's grandparents were so kind to buy new tires for the car, too. Thank you, Jack and Marj!



We had a great time with our friends, Kadie and Josh! It was so nice of them to let us stay with them and they showered our family with amazing gifts, too!



Anneka adored their dog, Charlie. Charlie was terrified of her, but he was also very kind to her amidst his fear. =)



The next night, our friends, Brian and Lesley hosted a gathering for friends from college. We were having so much fun that I forgot to take pictures!! Here's Scott bonding with Ike.


... and snuggling.



The next morning, Lesley made us Swedish pancakes. Mmmmm!


The kids loved playing together!

Next stop, Coupeville (on Whidbey Island)....

Ike's Photo Shoot

We love our new pictures of little Ike! Here are a few of them. Our friend, Angela, from Stillpoint Photography, took them for us. She is amazing. She took these in our little apartment. Her blog is: www.stillpointphotography.blogspot.com
She'll have a new website up and running soon, too.

Poor Anneka had a bad head cold that day, and her eyes were draining all over the place. But we still have some really good ones of her. =) Enjoy looking at our pictures!....

Hooray for snow!!

I was so excited last Saturday (at 4:45am when I saw sparkles outside of the window) to find that it was snowing... and that it continued! I'd wanted the girls to experience making a snowman, as it's usually too cold in Siberia. Our snows in Spokane this year hadn't yet been very packable.

Leif and the girls made a snowmama and a snowdaughter. I didn't get a picture of the snowdaughter.



Then my friend Sarah, and her daughter came and we went sledding! Anneka's been wanting to go all winter. I was so happy that there was enough snow!! Sarah has been my friend since high school!! It's been so fun to have time with her while we're in the States. Our girls love each other and it's so great to hear them giggle-giggle-giggling. =)



Here's Leif pushing the girls over the crest. The hill wasn't super-steep, but they didn't really care. It happened to also be the day of the polar plunge, so we saw a lot of icy-looking people coming up out of the lake. Brrrr. That's nuts!





Posing on the sleds before making our descent.



Even Ike got his first sled ride. He was pretty nonchalant about it. Perhaps he was wanting something a bit more exciting.

I felt like this snow day was a little gift from God- He knew that these things were important to me (snowman, sledding) and said, "Okay, this is a gift to say 'I love you'". I love that.