Anneka is 3!!!

Anneka celebrated her birthday three times this year (after all, she is three years old!) For her actual birthday, Leif and Anneka made two cakes. They took one to church and everyone ate it together after the service (and sang to her, too) and the other was for our family later that evening.



On her birthday, the most exciting part for Anneka was getting to open her big present- a doll house! She LOVES it! We toted this thing all the way from America and wondered if it was a little bit silly to fill up a whole precious suitcase with a toy. But we are SO glad we did it! She plays with it constantly and is truly delighted with it. It's really cute how she likes make her dolls talk and makes up all sorts of fun scenarios for them.



Before we left the States, we also had a little party with Gramma Irene, my parents, and my friend Erin.



This squirrel costume has a funny story. When I bought it, the tag said "dog costume" and I thought, "Whoever wrote this clearly doesn't know a squirrel when they see one!" and I thought it would be fun for Ella. But when we brought it home, we realized that it's a costume for a DOG. haha. It didn't fit quite right.



My aunt and uncle and grandparents threw a big family party for Anneka the day before we left. I didn't get many pictures on my camera from the day, but Anneka was just glowing! She loved the decorations and the games and the presents and the attention and was so sweet about it. She got great gifts for the airplane. I was thankful for this family time to be focused on Anneka and the happiness of her birthday rather than the sadness of us leaving! It was a sweet time together!

Progressing Forward

The last days have been three steps forward and two steps back... but the general trend is FORWARD!! Ella has been eating better bit by bit (and I think that she's feeling better, too. If it was her ears or throat before, she seems to feel fine now). And for moments in the last two days I've entered into the world again! Thank you so much for your prayers. It's such a vulnerable place to be in when something is wrong with your child. I sense that God is wanting to increase our faith in Him all the more and draw us closer to Himself. He'll do whatever it takes for that to happen, and though it's hard, I'm thankful.

I told you I'd tell you about the medical tests we've had to do. Oh, what a long story it would be!! But I'll give you a few highlights:

- ALL of us had to be tested for STDs, and this included them having to take the girls' blood (and other un-fun cultures)
- Leif and I had to get chest X-rays to check for tuberculosis and the girls had to have skin tests. In all these simple tests just for T.B. took three different days, trips to different clinics, waiting in lines for special cards for the kids (which we never got), going to a pharmacy, a kiosk, and back to the skin test place again.
- We also had to have HIV tests. This is one where it's a long story that unfortunately I can't write about. Ella got jabbed several times in both arms. Poor baby. And it's a fasting blood test, so poor Anneka was super-hungry by the time they drew her blood. But it's done! That's the best part.
- We had to be tested for narcotics, too. There was a long line, but a lady suggested we cut because we had two little ones, and everyone else in line agreed.

This whole process has been long and tiring, but God has not given us more than we could bear. At two places huge lines of people came RIGHT after we arrived, and we know it would have taken hours longer had we arrived minutes later. Also, Anneka has been so sweet about being jabbed and prodded. She's been happy to get Kinder eggs (those chocolate eggs with toys inside) as treats for enduring everything.

We hope to turn in our paperwork for our residency tomorrow. We totally understand that they want to make sure we're healthy before allowing us to live here long-term. But we're thankful these medical trips are over!!

A Trying Time

It's been a hard couple of weeks. Ella's eating has been sketchy, and I'm exhausted and weary. We've had to tromp all over the city for medical tests to apply for our long term residency (the details for another blog). And it's just been hard. We appreciate your prayers and will hopefully be back to blogging more frequently soon!

Our Sweet Ella

The day before we left to come back to Siberia we dedicated Ella to the Lord at our church service. We love her so much, and we've been reminded a lot this past week that she belongs to Him as she hasn't been eating well again. It's so scary when you know your daughter isn't getting enough and when dehydration is a concern... especially when you're not in your home country.

This past day, she's begun eating better, and we pray that it's a turnaround! I'm thankful that God brings us to places where we have to trust in Him more. I'm reminded that He is powerful and He is loving. And we're in His strong and loving hands.

Adjusting To Our New World

The only reason I have time to blog right now is because both girls are sleeping and they are in separate rooms... and I've done all that I can do in the living room and kitchen (and don't want to risk waking them up in their rooms).

This past week has felt pretty hectic. We came into it already tired, and now we're trying to adjust. As one of the girls will likely wake up soon, I'll give brief glimpses of the past few days:

JET LAG- Anneka waking at 1:30 and not going back to sleep until 4:30, when Ella wakes up, bed hopping (at one point all four of us were in one bed!), walking around in a daze in the late afternoon, falling asleep on public transportation, etc.

DISASTER HOME- unpacking all of the stuff we boxed away while our Russian friends lived here, putting away all of the stuff we brought from the States, finding lots of broken stuff (including our bathroom faucet and toilet).

LINES, DOCUMENTS, PAPERWORK- getting Ella registered, turning in our documents after being in the States for 5 months, preparing to apply for our long-term residency, going to the notary, going to the translation office (multiple times, I may add... this story could be longer, but we'll just say it's tiring, especially with two kiddos).

ADJUSTING TO TWO- I've had so much help this summer that I'm just now adjusting to having two kids. It doesn't help that we're all jet lagged and that Anneka caught a cold. But it's interesting. Our nearby store has been closed every day and I'm thinking it may be closed for good! This makes walking to the other store (still not that far away, but farther) a big event with a baby and toddler. Anneka doesn't want to step on any cracks or any garbage, so it takes FOREVER to walk anywhere. It's like an obstacle course.

But on the up side, I think we're all feeling glad to be back. Anneka has said several times, "I like our Russia home". I'm so thankful!! She doesn't remember any Russian and asks all the time what people are saying. She talks REALLY LOUDLY everywhere we go. There's no hiding that we're foreigners. She's such a funny girl. I love her.

We made it!

After four airplanes and a few days, we have arrived! Leif put it mildly in the last post about having more stuff with kids. In reality, we were a traveling circus. EVEN AFTER we checked in our four big bags. With our carry-ons alone, we were a traveling circus. It's amazing we didn't lose anything. That's just one of the ways God provided for us. The girls were champion travelers. Ella still had an inflamed ear after an infection a couple of weeks ago, and we were anticipating pain and tears. But she was as happy as could be. On the overseas flight she didn't cry AT ALL and on the other three, she cried about 2 minutes each. We were entering into the travel already worn and ragged. I am SO thankful for God's mercy in this!!



Here's Ella in a little floor bassinet on the overseas flight. Mostly she was in my arms the whole time, which made her SO HAPPY. I just put her in the bassinet to let her kick.

This baby had us so worried the week leading up to our departure. She was eating really poorly for over a week. Since she's such a big baby (and content baby!), it was harder to recognize right away just how serious it was. But it got so bad that Leif had to pack and move all of our stuff out of our apartment by himself (my dad helped moved/carry the big stuff). And I just attended to Ella. I was sick, too... I think it was from worry actually. The week before coming back is always so hard. Hard to say goodbyes, hard to take care of details like moving and getting rid of cars, hard to pack for everything you'll need in the next 2 years, etc.



I had prayed a few weeks ago that God would help to prepare us in every way, and I specifically prayed that He'd help to increase our trust in Him and that He'd prepare us spiritually to come back. I know that He did just that. God brought in our needed financial support in about 3 weeks time, He brought in all of Ella's paperwork with less than a week to spare, and He put us on our knees about Ella's health, knowing that we were dependent on Him to heal her for us to be able to leave in time. In the middle of it all, He gave me this verse: "But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead" and "On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many." (2 Cor 1:9b,10b,11) I was certainly reminded of the power of prayer!

God reminded me of His heart in little ways. One example is that I wanted to find a Dad doll for a dollhouse we brought overseas for Anneka. It was down to the wire with time (and that wasn't a priority) so I figured I'd just have to let that one go. Well, our neighbors in our apartment had a yard sale for just a couple of hours, and they had dollhouse furniture and a Dad doll!! God used that to remind me that if He cares about little things like Dad dolls, then of course He cares about things like Ella's health. And how much more does He care about the eternal parts of people!! I love how He shows us His heart.



We did something in Moscow that we've never done before, but I'm SO GLAD we did! We had an 11 hour layover and got a hotel room for the day (after we went through passport control and checked our bags, it was about 5 or 6 hours at the hotel). We all slept and it helped us to be ready for the final- and worst- flight of the whole trip (from Moscow to Ulan Ude). The things you do with kids are a lot different than what you do without them!

In Transit

We are on our way!!! Right now we are at a hotel near the Sea-Tac Airport trying to get some sleep before an early morning flight. We should be there (Ulan-Ude) in a couple of days :). It is amazing how much more stuff we have when we travel now that we have a baby and a little girl!!!

Autumn Is Here

Last week we went camping with my parents. We knew we needed to plan something away in order to get quality time with them before we leave. The last days are speeding by, and it's easy to feel drowned in all of the busyness.



It was so nice to be up in the woods, away from phones and noise. We went to a place that my family always went when I was a girl. It was so fun to think back on many fun memories. Here's Grampa with his girls.



Leif took Anneka creek fishing, and she was so thrilled at the first fish they caught that she held on tight to it for over an hour. By the time I brought her back to camp, the fish was well loved and kind of mangled.



Here, Anneka is helping Leif clean all of the fish. Anneka, by the way, loves to eat the fish heads. If you ever have a fish head, she'll offer to eat it for you. Crunch, crunch, crunch.



Ella liked camping, too. She's such a good baby!



My dad was the main cook out camping. On the last morning, we sat around while my Dad made us a nice pancake and bacon breakfast over the fire. It was so great to all be together.

Anneka caught a cold the last day and was pretty miserable. The days after camping both girls had colds. And I've had two migraines this week. Yuck! It's hard to be sick when there's so much to do now that we're back home.


We have plane tickets to return to Russia two weeks from today. I'm never a fan of the last couple of weeks. There's so much to do (packing up our apartment, deciding what to take back to Russia, buying last minute needs, raising last minute support), and what I really want to do is be with people. That's the hardest part about leaving America- the people here that we so dearly love. As the weather turns colder, it seems like a natural time to leave. Summer is over and autumn is here.

If it weren't for a confirmed calling on our lives, we'd be nuts to rip our girls away from they're grandparents and take them to all the way across the world. I have total peace because God has given it, but that doesn't negate the sadness. And while it's true that I savor each moment with family and friends while we're here (a gift in itself), I always walk around with a lump in my throat the days prior to packing up and flying away.

On Sunday I listened to this song on the radio:
"Amazing love, what sacrifice
The Son of God, given for me
My debt He pays, and my death He dies
That I might live, that I might live!"

I was reminded that any sacrifice we make pales in comparison to the sacrifice Christ has made for us. And he has LIFE to offer. Life that most people don't know about. We so want them to know. Thank you, Lord, for all that you've done for us. May we live our lives in a way that brings you great glory!

Open Houses and Countdown

Both my parents and grandparents threw/are throwing Open Houses for us last weekend and this upcoming one. It's a time to connect with people we haven't seen yet and share about our lives in Russia. Above, my mom, grandma, and aunt came over to address invitations.



We left Ella in the car seat until she woke up at my parents' Open House. The poor girl somehow got an ear infection last week. She hates her medicine, too. She totally spit out the first two days worth of doses, and we tried every trick we knew (blowing on her face, shooting it in the back of her mouth past her tastebuds, holding her nose, rubbing her throat, wrapping her like a burrito, etc!). Saturday night we finally called the pediatrician's office and the nurse said that we just need to tell Ella who is boss. Leif was on the phone and he was thinking, "Do you realize that she's not even 3 months old?" He asked what to do when Ella spit the medicine out, and she said to scoop it off of her chin and jam it back into her mouth. So we tried it, and it's working! So funny and crazy at the same time. I'll be glad when she's done with day 10 of her medicine!!!




Here's Leif answering questions at the Open House.



My friend, Erin, drove up from Pullman. It was fun to see her! We've known each other since we were babies.

This week I've been feeling overwhelmed. We leave for Russia in less than 3 weeks, and there is SO MUCH to do! Raising financial support, buying last minute clothes and items, packing up our apartment, deciding what to pack to bring with us and what to leave here, seeing people, etc, etc. We haven't been home hardly at all and the place is a disaster and I'm just behind on everything. And besides all of this I have "baby mama brain" as I call it and just feel scattered and unorganized. Anneka caught a cold this week, and it's been a good reason for me to stay home with the girls yesterday and today. It meant cancelling some things, but I think it was necessary. I have a hard time saying "no", but it's easier when I can see that our girls need it. Anyways, I appreciate your prayers. The last month before heading back is always hard emotionally and physically.

Papa-Daughter date

My little girls are so much fun, and I love when I get time with them. I try to get good time with them every day and every week, and sometimes I get special days. Well, not so much days with just Ella since she's nursing still, but I do get days with Anneka. I thought I'd post some pictures from a great "date" that we had going to the children's museum in Spokane.

This reminds me of lab classes in college. I guess Anneka is the one that got stuck with me as her lab partner this time :).

She just loves playing with water, so this little thing was the perfect thing for Anneka. It really is amazing to watch water run and to see the dynamics as it flows in and through and around different obstacles. Anneka loved putting obstacles in place.

Of course another fun part was playing in the sandbox with fountains and all. A good time to be inside and yet get dirty!

After the museum we had a picnic lunch at the Finch Arboretum. There are some great trees, and this is one where we took a picture of Jami when she was pregnant with Anneka. Boy, Anneka has grown a lot in three years!

It was so much fun. I feel really blessed that I get to enjoy my three ladies, Jami, Anneka and Ella. Thank you God!

Celebrating 85 Wonderful Years!

This past weekend we celebrated my grandpa's 85th birthday. He is such a wonderful part of our family- so loving and fun and enthusiastic and wise and filled with God's spirit! We are all so blessed to have him in our lives! Anneka helped pass out his presents. Here he is, opening one.



Anneka once again had a delightful time with her cousins. They played and played with her, which is so fun to watch and so restful for me!



We were at Harrison Baptist Church on Sunday. Leif gave the message and we showed a little video of our lives in Russia. The people there were so warm and welcoming. It was really encouraging because some of the people told us that they want to regularly financially support us. The picture above is a common sight whenever my Dad and Ella are both at church together. When it's time to greet people (or before or after the service), my Dad will hold Ella out for whoever will look and say "This is my granddaughter". So funny.



In the last post, I mentioned that Ella didn't like boating. Well, she really loves the hot tub (at kid temperature, of course). She really likes it when we let her float and we sort of drive her around the pool of water.

Ella's not a big fan of boating.

Encouraging Times

I've been behind with blogging. We haven't been home very much and when we are, we've been spending our time on household chores or reading to Anneka or sleeping (or Leif needs the computer for business stuff). But we've had some encouraging times with people lately. In the picture above, we were at Southside Christian church (2 weeks ago). Some of the leaders had a BBQ for us on Saturday night. They asked how they can be more of a support to us and gathered around us and prayed for us. And then this week we were at Olive Branch church and everyone was so encouraging. They also gathered around us and prayed for us. It's so wonderful to know that we are not alone and to remember how many people are with us as we live and work in Siberia.



Anneka loves her cousins, Nora and Myah. It was SO nice because Nora went back with Anneka to the toddler room during the morning service. She was in heaven.


Between the three services at Southside Christian, my aunt and uncle and grandparents had family over for lunch. It was good to be together.



There was no lack of people to hold Ella. Here she is with Nora. Speaking of Ella, she had a checkup this week. She's 2.5 months old and is 15lb 3oz and 25 3/4 inches long... she's off the charts (100th percentile) for weight and height. That's one big baby! It's kind of comforting to take a bigger baby back with us to Russia, though. It feels like there's substance to her. =) Anneka was delighted to watch Ella get her shots. Her favorite game in the world is to play doctor and to give people shots. Anneka told me she wants another shot (a real one) before going back to Russia. What kid wants that??! I'm sure we could get her a flu shot or something to satisfy her desires. =) The funny thing is that she takes after her mom. I like to get shots, too.


And I couldn't leave out Anneka's cousin, Eric. They came out to my parents house last week and Anneka and Eric liked pulling the rhubarb out of the ground and then waving it everywhere.

Ruth Bible Study

My friend, Rachel, organized a Bible study this summer and invited me and my mom to be a part of it. We studied the book of Ruth, and it was really good. I was thankful for a workbook to go through, as I have a very scattered brain right now (with a newborn). It was PERFECT for feeling connected with people and being in God's Word this summer. Thanks, Rachel!

On the last day of the study, we had all of the girls dress in matching outfits. Sara and Rachel and I all have kids basically the same ages. It was pretty funny trying to get a picture of them all... this is about the best we came up with!

It's amazing how fast the summer has flown by!

Sisters

I told Leif I'd write a blog in less than 5 minutes, so I'd better just post one picture to be safe. Anneka loves her little sister. Sometimes her affection can be rather smothering. But thankfully Ella is forgiving.

On another note, Leif and I went in for physicals this week. There's a group called Travel Health America that tells us a bunch of tests/shots/etc we need to get before returning to Russia. Leif has gained 20 pounds this summer. All of that yummy American food. I have gained 5 pounds since having Ella. Crazy. We need to get back to Russia so that we can walk it all off. I'm finally officially not anemic anymore. SO HAPPY. It's all of those yummy hamburgers I've been eating. Okay, I'd better end, to be safe. =)

Our Time In Bellingham

The last place we stayed on our trip was in Bellingham. When we first got there, we went straight to Rebecca's flower shop. (She's Leif's Dad's wife). It's a lovely place. We said our hellos and then decided to take our stuff back to our room to get settled in. Eric asked Anneka if she wanted to stay there with them or to go back with me and Leif. She chose her grandpa over us. I love that about her. She feel secure and knows when she's with people who love her. Here they are, happily waving goodbye.



We stayed in Leif's grandma's retirement home and decided to give Ella a bath there. When Anneka was a baby, she took a bath in the sink there, too. She fit so perfectly in the sink that we were able to let go for a few seconds to take the picture.



"Grancy" loved meeting her newest great-grandchild and Anneka. And Anneka loved being with her great grandma, too. One night we returned late and didn't get to see Grancy and Anneka cried so hard. She asked if she could just go into Grancy's room and get into bed with her. We explained that Grancy had a small bed and it just wouldn't work out. Anneka was not easily consoled.




Dinner together at Grancy's place.




"Grandpapa" and Ella enjoying one another




Our last day in Bellingham, we went to the Lynden Fair. We were there during Anneka's naptime, so she slept in the stroller for awhile. She loved seeing all of the animals and petting them.



Farm Fun



Who can resist sitting on a pink tractor?



It took forever getting home the last day. What is normally a 6 hour trip was a 13 hour trip. Ella would just get to sleep and Anneka would need to find a restroom. And Anneka got to sleep and Ella needed to stop and eat. Etc, etc. And then when we were just an hour from home (in Ritzville), we stopped to feed Ella one last time. And then the car wouldn't start! It was late enough that all of the car places were closed. Thankfully we were at a park. Anneka was delighted to be at a playground and not in a car and Ella was so happy to be able to kick and lay on a blanked on the grass. My sweet aunt came and saved us and drove us home. Above and below, we were waiting for her to arrive. =)



We had a wonderful trip and it was so good to see everyone. But we were also so glad to be back "home"!