I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane!

Tomorrow we leave for the States! Woo hoo! I never think too terribly much about going to the States; my Moscow life keeps me busy. But when we are getting close to leaving to go back for a visit, I can hardly stand the wait! Guess that's pretty much my nature! Impatient!

We will be visiting family from the bottom of Texas to the top of Oklahoma! No way around it; we do alot of traveling in our short time back. We begin in Houston; we will be there for a week or so, visiting friends, taking care of appts. and getting some shopping done. We will be meeting Meghan's beau for the first time....they will pick us up at the airport. Imagine what a first impression we will make, "fresh" off a 12 hour flight! Poor guy! Then we go to Oklahoma next weekend, with a overnight stay in Dallas to break up the trip (it was originally to meet Jacob who lives there at the moment, but he is able to come to Houston this weekend .) So we will stay at the Adolphus Hotel (we love old hotels...especially ones with good weekend rates!) and have a nice dinner. Sunday, Harry, Meghan and I will drive...in TWO cars....to Oklahoma City. Meghan is taking a little bit of time off and we will get to see Harry's mom and sisters. Meghan will head back to Austin on Tuesday, and we will head to Ponca City to see Dad & Maxine. I am going to have lunch with a couple of friends there, one I haven't seen in awhile. So I'm excited about that. We will go back to Texas on Friday (May 8) and Harry will return to Moscow. I am going to spend the following week in Tulsa (yes, back up to OK for me!!) with 4 good friends who all used to live in Moscow. One lives in Alaska (we are staying at her place in Tulsa) one is living in Washington DC and two are living in the Houston area. Why are you driving back just to go back 2 days later you might ask?? Well, it is Mother's Day weekend and I simply can't be that close to my kids and not see them on that weekend. Of course, I will only see one kid (Meghan) as Drew is still in Korea and will not make it home when we are there. We are ALL sad about that. So, I will go to Austin (probably), then fly back to Tulsa from Austin, and return on the 15th to Houston and fly out to Moscow on the 15th. The downside....all that extra travel....the upside.....I get to visit alot of friends and family!! I'll come back to Moscow to rest!

Happy 25th birthday Meghan!

Wow...it is really hard to believe my oldest child is 25. As everyone knows....time passes quickly! I remember so clearly the day she was born, although I'm not too sure about what happened yesterday. She was 11 days late, our first child....highly anticipated! Did I have a CLUE what was happening, what had happened, what would happen...NO! But I was thrilled beyond words for that blue-eyed, blonde bundle, although I was a bit curious how she wound up with blonde hair (guess that has to be thanks to Mama Fran, who claimed Meghan validated her "blonde" hair!)

I'm so proud of who that infant has become....do I dare to sound obnoxious if I say I'm SO proud of who BOTH my children have become? But this is Meghan's day and I will say that that bundle of joy fufilled all the promise that birth day held...she is beautiful, happy, doing the work God intended for her. Happy Birthday, Sweetie!

Well, I'm still working on the layout. I definitely am in a bit more over my head on this one. Maybe Meghan or boyfriend Jacob will help me when we get back to the US!

The weather today has turned cold and snowy/rainy. Bummer! I was to Nordic Walk today (our first walk of the spring season) but cancelled. I'm far to bummed by the departure of the lovely spring weather we have been experiencing. And when I called to cancel, Robin told me they might have to cancel once we got out there. So hopefully I just saved myself an unnecessary car ride! I guess the bright side is I can squeeze in one more pot of chili and some cornbread before THAT season is over for awhile.

Thanks to my young friend Bobbie for straightening out my blog! I think I have a bit of an edge over SOME of my peers when it comes to technology, but nothing at all on the next generation. At any rate my page now appears centered. I still am not thrilled with it so don't be surprised if you come back to a whole new look!!

Easter Sunday was a beautiful day in Moscow! Hints of spring are beginning to appear. Definitely the scent of a Moscow spring is in the air! In most places that would mean flowers....but in Moscow that means paint! Oil paint...pungent oil paint! They paint every metal object. It needs it after a winter of snow and dirt. But you just know to be careful when walking to avoid fences, trash cans, poles, gutters....anything metal. If it is shiny it has probably recently been painted!

After church and breakfast with our church friends, Harry and I decided to walk to the Arbat (our old stomping grounds and still a fun place to go.) There are usually lots of things going on. Well.....did we get a surprise! There were hundreds, probably thousands of people, mostly teenagers and young adults, on the walking street! They were blowing bubbles and dressed crazy, and singing, and dancing...it was wild!! We stopped in one of the souvenir shops, so I asked the girl who was working there and who spoke English, what was this craziness all about. She said that someone had posted a notice on the internet to come to the Arbat, dress crazy, and bring bubbles! Amazing the ability of the internet to spread that message. It was great fun, really. Everyone was happy, not too much beer drinking...just kids having fun! Here is a link to a website with pictures....I didn't have my camera. But no need...ah, the wonders of the internet! http://community.livejournal.com/ru_dreamflash

I'm trying out this new blogsite....seems like everyone is using it, so no more Xanga for me. Perhaps it will inspire me to write more! I'm having the hardest time setting up the page...any suggestions?