A BIRTHDAY, A BRUNCH AND A BAPTISM - ALL IN ONE WEEK

A birthday gift  the Assistants to the President

presented to me when we went to check their apartment.

The hot chocolate and mints are precious things

sent to them from home......so thoughtful.

THE BIRTHDAY.....
Monday was my birthday..a wonderful day with lots of birthday wishes and expressions of love.  The best thing about birthdays, especially in Russia, is that each of our children call us and we get to talk with them (and Braydon, our grandson who shares a birthday with me). Our day started out with our regular Monday routines....shopping, beginning preparations for district lunch and studying. On this day we also had scheduled two apartment checks up north by the mission office. Since we were in that area, we made arrangements to go to dinner with our friends, the Piersons, who live close by. They had told us of a new restaurant there so we decided to try it.  During the day, another senior couple, the Ropers, called to wish me a happy birthday and wondered if we wanted to go to dinner to celebrate.  We said we already had plans for dinner and invited them to join us up north. They did and we all had a wonderful time. The atmosphere was incredible and the food was especially good. The restaurant was done in a middle eastern motiff as was the food, with lots of mutton dishes.  We didn't try that but the stir fried veal and steamed salmon we had were delightful. We must have stayed and visited for a couple of hours because it was after 10 before we got home.  Fun, fun way to spend a birthday.  

The restaurant decor

Clever way to serve a strawberry lemonade...Lots of

whole strawberries and sliced cucumbers

Ropers, on the right, Piersons, in the middle

Such an improvement!

While shopping at Ashan's on Monday, we found a new kitchen light for over our stove.  The one that had been there was held together with duct tape and finally had broken beyond repair.  The light in the fan above the stove is useless. It doesn't shine on the cooking surface, but on the floor in front of the stove, because of how far the fan juts. (That's the fan Paul is always hitting his head on)......hence the need for an additional light.  Though not meant as a birthday gift, it brought me much joy to have a light that works and stays in place.  Happy birthday to me!

THE BRUNCH......
On Friday, May 1st, a major holiday in Russia, the senior couples decided to get together at the mission office for a brunch and a walk in the woods behind the office. There were 18 of us crammed into the Pierson's office area, eating and cooking waffles. Everyone brought something to add to the brunch buffet of waffles, french toast, creamed eggs, ham, and hash brown potatoes.  It was quite a spread.  After eating, most of us took off for a walk in the woods.  After walking a short distance  through a rural neighborhood, we came to a lake and then the woods.  A few of us decided to take a longer walk into the woods instead of just around the lake. There were lots of trails to follow, picnic areas for eating, and play areas for children. It felt so good to get some really good exercise and to be out in the beauties of nature at the same time. The company was enjoyable too. We were tired and hot when we got home, but were glad we had had the opportunity to celebrate the holiday in that way. We were also glad to have been gone from our area, as there was obviously some kind of demonstration beginning when we left in the morning....not where we would want to be right about now.

The staircase that led to the woods.  The small lake is at the bottom.

Taking a rest

Just before the baptism

THE BAPTISM.....
Sunday afternoon was Michael's baptism. We traveled to the South building, after sacrament meeting in our ward, so we would be on time for the baptism. It was a nice, but short, baptism as the next ward was waiting to start their meetings.  After the baptism, Michael and Elders Merrill and Howard came to our home for a 'break the fast' dinner.  We served teriyaki chicken, fried rice, and stir fried vegetables. 

Elder Howard, Michael, and Elder Merrill

Cake decorated with the very

a make shift cake decorating tube

Michael was so appreciative of the dinner.  He has been almost overwhelmed with all the love he has felt since he has become involved in the church.  He told us that he is the youngest of 4 children and that his older brother is also a member of the church....such a coincidence that Michael would come to Russia and find the gospel here. He thinks that is why he was brought here to go to school. He seems so happy. It was Elder Merrill's birthday so I decorated a cake for him for dessert.

Other happenings of the week included a final discussion with Michael on Wednesday. When it was over we offered him and the elders a piece of banana cream pie. It was the first time Michael had tasted such a dessert....he seemed to like it as he ate it all.

Here, Michael is looking at pictures of Elder Howard's family.

When he saw an old farm truck Elder Howard owned, 

Michael's comment was, "You must be rich."

One of the many cathedrals in the park.

Wednesday was also English group.  On Thursday, because of the holiday, we did not hold Institute or Pathway Gatherings.  Friday, we taught Isaac his weekly seminary and then went to a Young Adult activity at a beautiful park. It was a bit windy but those who attended had a good time. After eating opened faced sandwiches, they played a fun tag game. Paul was asked to play so there would be the right number of players. He got so involved, at one time, he even dove to the ground trying to tag a person. He forgot his age and felt some aches and pains the next day.

Paul trying to tag the person in the back before she

can get to the front of another group.

We went to Stockman's Friday afternoon and bought Kellogg's Rice Krispies. We paid almost eight dollars for the box but it was well worth it.  I made Rice Krispie treats (complete with M&M's and chocolate chips) to take to the YSA activity. They were a BIG, BIG hit.  Many had never tasted them before.  Of course, they were all gone by the end of the evening, along with the the lemon cake we also brought.



Saturday was the first day, since we have been in Russia, that we have been apart for more than about an hour or so.  Paul had to go to the mission office for a special council. He left the house just after 9 and didn't get home until after 2 in the afternoon. It was so strange to spend 5 hours alone.  I cleaned house, washed windows, caught up on emails and baked Elder Merrill's birthday cake.  

While Paul was gone, there was an military airshow right over our apartment.

It started out with helicopters and was followed by many different

kinds of jet airplanes flying in formation.

At 2:00, our dear friend, Lada, came to our home so we could help her with her resume. She lost her job three weeks ago and wanted to submit a resume, in English, to the church human resources department. The one she had written in Russian, and translated directly into English, didn't read real well in English. We helped her with the format and simplified her job descriptions.  She was thrilled with the results. Hopefully it will help her secure a job with the church here in Moscow.  She is an amazing woman, with great work ethic and great talent....an asset to any company.  

Sweet Lada

When she came, she brought me a birthday gift. I was blown away when I opened the present.  It was a beautiful, hand painted ceramic dish...a one of a kind, made in Russia.  I was touched, but even more touched when she told me it was one of her favorites from her own personal collection. That she wanted to give it to me was such a sign of love. She had filled it with lots of delicious Russian chocolates.  Such a cherished friend.

The beautiful ceramic dish

LIVING IN RUSSIA SPOTLIGHT

On our way to the YSA picnic activity in Kolemenskya Park on Friday, we passed these American Indians. They were performing for the people as they walked by. Amazing that they would travel all the way to Russia to perform. Go figure.

It's the time of the year that all heat is turned off in the apartments in Moscow. It happens each Spring and it won't go back on until late Fall.  That was fine last week when it was hot, but this week it has turned cold and rainy.  We even had snow flakes today.  It is really cold in our apartment so we bundle up with sweatshirts and blankets.

Even though the temperature doesn't say it's Spring, the city gardeners say it is.  The annuals are being planted all over the city and the tulips are blossoming in the parks. So beautiful.

                  

A WONDERFUL WEEK ONCE AGAIN