Monday, December 29, 2008

Some reflections on Russia

One of my favorite gals and crocheting buddy. Miss ya!
My Russian family on my last night there. N is eating one of the chocolate cookies I had baked. It was amazing how well 8 of us managed to share one bathroom.
As I think back about my time in Russia and wonder what I accomplished during my 2 month stay, I remember the story of a young woman I met there. I was visiting a family home run by Reflections of Hope and met a young woman about 19. She had been living on the streets of the city for several months but sometimes would visit the people at this flat. She was very interested in learning about where I came from and what America was like. She told me about an American woman that used to write her when she lived in the orphanage. Then, she reached in her purse and pulled out a Christmas card that was several years old and handed it to me. It was from this American woman whom she had never met but still kept her card all these years. She told me that she thought the card was beautiful. It really touched me. Just sending letters and cards to this young orphan girl meant so much to her that years later she still carried the card even while living on the streets.
Thinking about that moment, helps remind me that even the little things count. The little things we do to show love have meaning and are important. These two people have never met but the ministry of reaching out and sending cards and letters to one orphan girl made a difference.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Christmastime is here

Opening Christmas presents.
Grandma with her porcelain mug from St. Petersburg, Russia.

Our Christmas tree.

K in front of our fireplace.

My 38th birthday!
Yes I am only 2 years away from turning 40 now. Gray hairs are slowly creeping into my head. Sigh! It was nice to have my niece with me to celebrate the weekend. She and I delivered Christmas cards to the neighbors, made ornaments, looked at Christmas lights, went Christmas shopping, read Christmas stories. One of my favorite books is On Christmas Eve by Margaret Wise Brown. We also read The Tomten by Astrid Lindgren. Sunday we celebrated Christmas early and enjoyed a ham dinner.




Sunday, December 14, 2008

My Stockholm scarf and Swedish advent star

Before I left for my trip my mother commented on how plain my wool coat looked. When I was in Stockholm, a lovely yarn shop owner taught me how to make a scarf using the hurdle stitch. I found some colorful yarn made by DROPS and away I went. In fact, I made one in purple for my cousin who lives in Stockholm the week I was there.
My mother finally found a light for my advent star and here it is hanging in the front window. You can see my neighbor's Christmas lights in the distance.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

More tea room pictures

I thought this mailbox was cute!
The outside of the Old Farm House

Mom and I in some old hats.

Afterwards, playing with the kittens.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Visit to the tea room

An old telephone
A player piano
Gift baskets for Christmas
Victorian decorated fireplace

Mom and friends talking with the owner of The Old Farm House in Thomasville Pennsylvania.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Lap dog

Lance the lap dog.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

It's snowing...

The front yard
Logan
Dad

So it's finally cold here at home after experiencing this same weather in Stockholm 2 weeks ago. I have to say I arrived here at home more tired than I realized and have been trying to bounce back. I had a setback this week when I experienced an allergic reaction to some ear drops but it should be better in a few weeks I'm told. Next week I plan to drive down the east coast to visit my brother and his family.
Last night I ate dinner at IKEA with some friends and it made me think that I never visited the original IKEA in Sweden. The food was the same as the IKEA food in Russia but the chocolate overload cake was delicious. I wasn't able to find potato sausage in their market nor a lightbulb socket for my Swedish hanging star. There was plenty of candy that I recognized from Sweden like Marabou chocolate.