We're Home!

After five flights, sixteen time zones, and a day and a half of traveling, we made it home!! Thank you so much for your prayers. While it's not a trip we're aching to do anytime again soon, God helped us each step of the way. All of our bags came through unharmed and we caught all of our flights. When we got to the airport in Seattle, we learned that the e-ticket computers weren't accepting leap year and so everyone had to stand in line to check in. Amazingly, all of our flights were early- even one that started 40 minutes late... the tailwinds still got us to Moscow a little early. The flight attendants were so nice and changed our seats so that we could have a baby bed (for free!) for Anneka. This helped us to get a little more rest than if she'd been on our laps the whole time.

It's good to be back. It's always a weird feeling to change from one world to the other in a matter of a couple of days. Already more people are talking to us becuase of Anneka. She seems to like it here. She caught her first cold today and is really sleepy and lethargic, but she's still happy. I introduced her to the ladies in our local store today, and she smiled alot at them. Then a Russian man came in and she laughed a belly laugh when she heard his voice. Maybe she knows it's a different language? It was funny.

We're super tired. Today we got a lot done, but everything just takes longer here. Please pray for energy and strength. We love you!

Our Visas Came!!!

The doorbell rand today, and we were shocked and happily surprised to see the FedEx man at the door, delivering our visas! I would have hugged him had he not already been walking away. I'm sure FedEx workers meet a lot of either really happy or really angry people.

So now our biggest obstacle is packing. There's so much stuff you need for a baby- especially when you're factoring clothes for the next couple of years and she grows so fast! We found out today that even if there's an empty seat next to us on the plane we can't put a car seat there. And the car seat will cost $137 to check. Oh, brother. Basically we just need it for transporting between airports in Moscow, so we're looking into finding a taxi that comes with a car seat. I hope there is one because that'll be one less thing to carry.

Thank you for your prayers! We definitely feel surrounded!

It's So Hard To Say Goodbye

Today my Dad flew to Louisiana to visit my brother and so we had to say goodbye to him... for who knows how long. It's always so hard to say goodbye and to know we're taking Anneka away from her grandparents and so many others who love her so dearly. But I also am struck by the beauty and depth of time that we have with people simply because of this path we've chosen. I find that I'm much more intentional in getting time with family and sharing with them how much I love them. I'm thankful for this special gift. We also had a dessert time with other family members this evening. We are blessed with such a wonderful family!

Speaking of family, I realized that we've posted pictures of all the great grandparents except for Anneka's "Grandpa Great". So here they are together. =)

The Polar Plunge

Dad, Leif, Anneka, and I went on a walk today and at the other end of the lake came across a polar plunge. Different groups of people jumped from the ice into the freezing water as a fund raiser for the Special Olympics. We were happy to just be watching!

He Did It!!

Leif did it! He finished reading the Russian Bible before we head back next week. Hooray!! I am very proud of him, as this is a huge feat and is indicative of many, many hours of study.

Our letter of invitation came in the mail today at about 4:00. We just found out that Monday is a Russian holiday and the consulate will be closed... so we'll need to rush our visas to get them back by next Thursday. We're thankful that we found out about this holiday and would much rather pay a little more for rushed visas than a lot more for all new plane tickets. Please continue to pray for all of that!

Sew Fun

My mom and I have been in a Bible study on the book of Daniel since September. One of the blessings in our having to be in the States through February is that I get to be there until the last day of the study! Yesterday the women from the Bible study got together and made baby quilts for a crisis nursery in Spokane. It was really fun to have the time together. I'd never made a quilt before (except for one for my cat, Dorothy, when I was about 12). I felt quite proud of myself!

On another note, our letters of invitation are in route from Siberia to the States right now! If all goes smoothly, we should get them just in time to get our visas (hopefully with a day to spare!) We joke that no matter how much time you give, visas always come the day before (or the day of!) departure. Please pray that there will be no hangups with this. Also, as I write, Leif's mom is in the Seattle airport, waiting for her plane to be fixed before she comes to visit us one last time. I had forgotten about the reality of late flights until her call, and then I started thinking about how all 5 of our flights are back-to-back to get to Ulan Ude. So then I started worrying a little about that. I know, I'm not supposed to worry. But please pray, too, that we won't have any delays as we fly home. One delay could cause having to buy all new tickets and being stuck at any number of airports around the world for a day. No fun.

Our latest understanding of the visa situation

Acually the picture of the deer on the deck has nothing to do with this blog other than it has been fun to see these fearless deer around Medical Lake since we've been here.

Laws and rules can be tough to figure out some times. And it feels like we are often thinking that one thing will happen, and then realize that maybe it will be something else. Up until a couple of days ago we thought that we would be going to Russia on the 29th of February on a three month visitor visa and would begin the process of applying for residency. Actaully that part is still the same, but there is still new information. We thought that according to the rules we would need to return to the States for a full three months following that three months in Russia. Well as people have been visiting the registration office in Ulan-Ude for us to get our letter of invitation for that visa they found out that we would probably be able to get a second visa directly following the first without the three month wait and that we could probably process that in Mongolia (much closer to Ulan-Ude than the States). We may even be able to get our original visa extended because we will be in the process of getting our residency. That is good news as far as not having to endure that long travel and saving money, but it is a bit sad as we had thought we would see family and friends again soon and will miss some big events here in the States. We also have a bit more stuff (e.g. Anneka hand-me-downs for bigger sizes) that we will have to sort and pack that we thought we could put off until this summer. Of course this is the latest plan and understanding, and that is always subject to change. Please continue to pray for our visas to be processed and sent to us quickly and for the residency process in Ulan-Ude to go well when we arrive in Ulan-Ude.
-LG

She's not a criminal!

The other day my mom answered the phone, and I could tell the person on the other end was asking for Anneka because my mom started laughing and said, "Yes, she is, but she's a baby". The person calling was confused because she was running a criminal check on Anneka (for us to have to apply for temporary residency in Russia), and she thought the date of birth must be wrong. We've been in Russia long enough to know that when they have document requirements we need to have them- thus, a criminal record of our baby daughter. But the good news is that she came back clear! She's not a criminal!

Fun Pictures

When Anneka was a month old, our friend Angela took these pictures (and many more great ones) for us. She has such an eye for details and she set up a little studio here at our home. She has a website. You should check it out: www.stillpointphotography.net

Thanks, Angela!!!

Happy Birthday, Grandma, Mom, Leif, and Nora!

Yesterday we had a family birthday party to celebrate the birthdays of my grandma, mom, cousin Nora, and Leif. Their special days all fall within about a week of each other. We had a hotdog roast out in the snow, followed with s'mores later on. This is one of the things I miss most when we're in Siberia is celebrating times like this with the family. My family usually has some sort of "theme" for the parties (ex: ugly sweaters, dancing party, "whole hog", etc.). It's fun.

A Good Little Traveler

We're back from traveling all around western Washington. It was so good to see family and friends, and Anneka was such a good little traveler! Among all the people we saw, Anneka was able to meet four more of her great grandparents. Leif's grandma was in the hospital after having open heart surgery. Thankfully, she is doing exceptionally well.

People keep asking us when we're leaving for Siberia. The good news is that our letters of invitation are in progress! We did have to change our flights to the end of February, and we can only get 3 month visas this time. We will use the 3 months in Russia to apply for temporary residency, which lasts for 3 years. The thought of traveling all the way to Siberia and all the way back in a 3 month period (with a baby) seems so exhausting, but we also have peace that God knows what He's doing. And, of course, our parents aren't upset about having to see us again this summer! =)

Dedicating our daughter

We dedicated our beautiful little Anneka Dorothy today at church. Actually we have already dedicated her to the Lord, but this was a chance to do it publicly and to ask the church to help us in raising her up to knowing Jesus and to pray for her. That is one thing that we have come to realize over these 12 weeks of parenthood, we cannot do this alone. God has often helped us at different times as we have come to Him in prayer. Friends and family have also helped out, and it was great to have some of our family there with us in front of the church as we prayed for Anneka. We are so excited to be parents and to help her recognize who God has made her to be.

A shower and a monkey baby

Yesterday, my friends Rachel and Laurie threw Anneka (and me!) a baby shower. It was so nice. They sent out the CUTEST invitations that looked like a little international letter and had people bring items that they'll ship to us in Siberia. It was so so nice. Anneka slept through most of the presents, but she'll be surprised when the package comes in the mail and we open it up. =)

Two of the ladies at the shower got us a down snowsuit to tote our tot around in. It's perfect for cold Siberian winters (and springs). Erin (one of the ladies) said that it reminded her of the time Leif and I held a monkey in a snowsuit in Moscow. I'd totally forgotten about this, so I dug through our pictures this morning. And found it. Haha. It's so funny. Here's the original monkey and our own little monkey:

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! We celebrated with some refugees from different African countries that are now living in Spokane. They prepared African dishes, played festive music, and danced for us in fun costumes.

The girls in my family (Grandma, Mom, Aunt, Cousin, and Sylvia- she's like family) all went to the spa for some time together before we head back to Russia and a celebration of the new year. I love my family!

Our visas are still on hold. It looks like we'll be getting a guest visa, which is only good for 90 days. During that time, we'll apply for a temporary residency, which is good for 3 years. All of the government offices are closed until the 10th, so after that, hopefully the ball will begin rolling with our letters of invitation and visa process (about 40-45 days total).

The other night we went to dinner at the house of a Russian family (friends of my parents). When we got there, we asked where their 7-month old baby was. "Oh, she's outside", they said. We totally thought they were joking, especially because our experience in Russia has always been that babies need to be very warm. Even if it's 90 degrees inside, people will not crack a window if a baby is in a room because of the draft. But pretty soon, we heard a cry on a moniter, and sure enough- they opened the slider to their back yard (in below freezing weather) and brought in the baby! She was very bundled. They said that Russians believe it's good for babies to sleep outside, as long as it's not colder than -20 degrees. They said that if you have a balcony that's safe, you should put the baby on the balcony. But if it's not safe, you need to walk with the baby in a stroller, up and down the street. I had noticed many people with strollers in the daytime walking around in Siberia... maybe this is what they were doing. Of course, much of the winter in Ulan Ude is below the safe -20 range!! hahaha.

A Merry Christmas

We had a lovely time with family this Christmas. Leif's mom made the trip over for a few days to be with Anneka on her first Christmas. It was fun to pretend that Anneka knew what was going on and to put words in her mouth as she opened presents. It'll be so fun to have traditions throughout Anneka's childhood, celebrating our Saviour's birth and enjoying the holiday season. Here are a few pics. (Anneka in a stocking- my brother thought this was terrible, but we thought it was funny, a Raggedy Ann doll from her great grandmother, with Gramma Irene, a snowy day, matching cheetah-print socks from Grandpa, our little sweetie snug in her bed, Anneka's favorite hat)

She's smiling!!!

It is so amazing to see Anneka grow. She has put on weight and is becoming more aware of things, and a couple of weeks ago, she started to smile at us. It makes us feel so good when she looks at us or hears or voices and gives her big toothless grin! Of course she also will smile at bright colored toys and other things so it's not just us, but it makes us feel good when it is. I think she'll be smiling a lot this Christmas too :).

Tatiana

I've been doing far less language study than Leif, as Anneka has become my first job, but I am SO THANKFUL for Tatiana. She and I get together about once a week to speak in Russian. She welcomes me in with the utmost of hospitality, serving me tea and delicious cakes or breads that she has made herself. She's just a delight to talk with. After Anneka was born, I didn't see Tatiana for a few weeks and I felt like I'd forgotten all the Russian I'd ever learned! But now it's coming back, and I'm so thankful to have this language practice to keep my mind fresh before we return to Russia. I can see how God takes care of us in so many ways. Providing Tatiana is just one of those ways.

Our Wooden Anniversary

I have been so blessed to be married to the most beautiful, amazing and loving woman in the world!!! And we just recently celebrated our 5th anniversary! I am so thankful for the wife that God has blessed me with and for the deep and wonderful relationship that I have with her! When I look around both here in America and in Russia I see so many broken or disfunctional marriages and it makes me so sad. Even in the church it seems like couples often co-exist and don't thrive as they should. But, I absolutely love being married! I absolutely love my wife! And marriage is so much more than a thing to endure as our culture often tells us. Marriage is something to be celebrated and enjoyed, and I have to say that that is an easy thing for me to do! I know that a huge reason that it is so easy for me to enjoy marriage is that God has blessed me with such a great wife. She is always supportive and encouraging. She feels things with me and keeps me striving after God. I know that so many of you have seen and felt the beautiful qualities of Jami, and can see why it is so easy for me to love her and love being with her. Well, I just had to tell you all again about how much I love my wife!!!

Eyes Open

Here it is, for those who've requested an "eyes open" picture of Anneka. She sleeps alot, so a lot of our pictures are with her eyes closed. She's been awake more and more lately, though. It's fun.

Russian in Spokane

As many of you know, our job right now is to focus on learning the Russian langauge. That is of course always easier when you live in Russia among the Russian poeple and use it and hear it all the time. We'll we don't have that advantage right now, but we are blessed to live in Spokane where there is a large Russian population. Thanks to some asking around by Linda at Barton school where she teaches English as a second langauge to immigrants, both Jami and I have language partners. The picture is me with Vlodya and Tanya. I go to their house about twice a week and we hang out in the livingroom just talking. We talk about everything from history, to polotics, to what we're doing for the week, to cultural differences between America and Russia, and really anything that comes to our minds. It has worked out well, because Vlodya wants help with his English so we usually split out time in half between speaking in Russian and speaking in English. Even when we speak in English I am being reminded of how Russians think and look at the world differently than Americans because of their background. I think that we're both making progress, and at the very least we have a good time together. My original goal was to not lose any Russian, so I have to say I'm pretty happy with how things are going.