Just Give...Any Way You Can...

We spent our last day in the Big K at a special needs orphanage that our church has become very involved in. Saturday, the 13th had to have been one of the most humbling days I have ever experienced. I spent a few days at an orphanage in Mexico while on my Senior Trip in high school, too. When you spend a day with children who have nothing that they can call their own, you feel as if you've been cut off at the knees.

How have I been living all this time and not spending my time with these children?

Our church had been collecting gifts for the children, as an Angel Tree project. The first Sunday they announced it, Stephen and I went directly to the table during coffee break and immediately picked up pictures of three children. At first, we were going to get one child for each of us, but Stephen said he couldn't stop picking up pictures. How could he not pick them all up?

So, we went home that Sunday, wondering how we were going to purchase pajamas or track suits for these three angels. We don't know Russian enough to go to the Green Bazaar or the Baraholka, where they sell these items at a reasonable price, and without expensive name brands on them. So, we headed to the Ramstore, in hope that we could find something.

No such luck.

So, the next Sunday, we asked if we could give the money to our pastor's wife to purchase the wanted items for us. She more than willingly obliged and we thanked Him that we can at least financially give.

The Sunday after that they announced that they still had 20 children without supporters. We immediately picked up four more children. Well, we gave the money to the lady in charge. To know that seven children would be getting pajamas and track suits to keep them warm during the day and night just feels right.

So, the following Saturday, we helped with the party for the kids.

Stephen and I were immediately asked if we could be Mary and Joseph in the Christmas story that we shared with the 150 children.

They had a band from another church come and play lots of songs. The kids loved it! They were dancing and waving their arms, and sometimes singing along. They got to have pizza and homemade cookies, which was a real treat! We helped pass out food and made sure we helped them drink from the straws on their juice boxes. I have never seen so many smiling faces!

Then, we headed back to their assigned rooms, where we met Santa Claus and his daughter, Marie Noel. The girl is one of our pastor's daughters, Emily. She's a nice girl, teaching at one of the International Schools in town.

We went to the teenage boys' room, where there were about 15 boys, ranging in age 12-20-ish. In a typical orphanage in this country, orphans are basically sent out to live on their own at 18, since there is no more room for them. They usually have a very minimal education and lack in life skills, so they have a bleak future. Since this is a special needs orphanage, you really can't just push them out on the streets, so there are some kids that are older than 18. Above, you can see them waiting very patiently for their gifts to be passed out.

Even when they got their gifts, they were just so happy to hold them, wrapped! And they loved getting their picture taken. I was very busy with the camera! I took about 100 pictures this day, but I chose the best ones for you.

Looking inside his "stocking." The church had put in things like deodorant, socks, and some little treats, like cookies!

This is Zair and Stephen. Zair just loved Stephen. We were amazed at how we know so little Russian, but were able to communicate just fine with the boys. Zair kept shaking Stephen's hand and patting him on the back. He also fancied kissing the top of my hand! He was very proud to be wearing his new black track suit! He also got a "zeloni futbolka", which means green t-shirt.

Zair and this other boy posed for a great picture! Modeling their new clothes...

We also had to make sure we put their name in every piece of clothing to at least try to discourage theft as much as possible.

This is me with the youngest boy. I never heard his voice, but he was so darn cute and sweet.

He sat Stephen down on his bed and proceeded to open the package of cookies he had received from his stocking and gave one to Stephen! Could he be any more generous? Talk about humbling...

Here is the whole crew that was in that room. The ladies who look after these boys are on the end on the left, in the black shirt and on the right side, between the two boys, standing.

It is certainly a day that I will never forget. Hopefully, we will be able to help in additional ways when we get back to the big K. It is the least we can do, right?

We Made It!

I am sitting at a borrowed laptop from NYU at 6:44 am. I am in New York City.

Finally.

I cannot tell you how happy I feel. I just feel like a part of me that has been missing for the past several months is now back in place. Where it belongs.

I can't post any pictures at the moment because this computer is the only one that I can use to connect to the internet at the moment and it doesn't have a handy slot for my memory card. Photos will have to wait.

We arrived in New York, on time on Sunday afternoon. Our flight left the Big K at 4:20 am on Sunday morning. It was so hard for me to stay awake! But as soon as I could recline my seat to the flatbed option, I was out! I slept really well for the majority of that flight, which was exactly what I was hoping for. We were able to stay awake Sunday night until 10:00 and slept ten solid hours before waking up yesterday morning. But I woke up this morning at 4:00 and couldn't get back to sleep. Thus, blogging so early in the morning. Yes, I said Thus.

When we arrived in Frankfurt at about 6:00 am, we headed straight to the Golden Arches. I know...it's a sickness.

But, I'm telling you people, you don't realize how much you love those Arches until you don't have access to them. When I lived in the US, I rarely ate at McD's. Only when I craved it like nobody's business. But now, I just feel like I need chicken nuggets and sweet 'n sour sauce. It's just tasty.

Anyway, after some nuggs and Stephen scarfed down his Big Mac, we headed to the Lounge and I drank a decent caffe latte. Another thing I have been deprived of. Good coffee.

After a few hours, we boarded our plane, again on time! HE takes such good care of us, doesn't He? Stephen and I were just counting our blessings of His providence, as we counted down the minutes to setting foot on US soil.

Well, as the last of the people were boarding, guess who boarded the plane, TWO rows ahead of us???

I know.

I had the perfect angle to watch his every move, including when he went to the bathroom.

I think Stephen thought I was a little crazy.

He should count his lucky stars, actually. I was proud of myself that I didn't ask him for his autograph or a picture with him. I made eye contact with him at baggage claim at JFK and just gave him the nod, as if saying, Hello Hugh...Nice to see you again.

We are old friends.

Anyway, he was obviously on his way to NYC for the holidays with his family. It was he, his wife, and their two kids. And their two nannies. It's alright, Hugh. I will not judge you for your nanny-usage. The nannies seemed very nice and attentive and they all seemed relatively down-to-earth.

His wife is beautiful and very petite and was in bright blue leggings with gray and white striped Uggs and an oversized tunic sweater in purple. None of it matched, but of course, she looked pretty.

Wait, hold it.

While searching Google Images for a photo of his wife, I am realizing that one of the ladies that I thought was a nanny is actually his wife. I am slightly baffled right now.

Here she is. Her name is Deborra-Lee.

So, I don't know who the beautiful, petite brunette was. Must've been a nanny or something. Silly me for assuming...

The picture above is Hugh with his son, which must have been taken recently because his son looks just like this. Sorry about the picture of the clothes next to it. I don't have the time to remove it. Nor do I care.

Yes, I said Nor.

Here is Deborra-Lee and their daughter, Ava. Also must've been taken recently because she also looks just like this. In fact, she might have been wearing the same t-shirt on Sunday.

Quick little story about Hugh and Ava before I stop boring you to death about this celebrity and his family.

As they were loading up their two huge carts full of baggage at baggage claim, no further than 15 feet from ME, the two kids were running around a bit. I wanted to join them, as I was also slightly stir-crazy after the 8 hour flight. Well, they got all their bags and were walking RIGHT BY ME (and Stephen) and just as they were next to me, the little boy gave his sister a big hug (cute) and accidentally tackled her to the ground. When he realized that he had pushed her down and laid on top of her, he gave her a kiss and ran away. Ava just laid there, face-down, and didn't move.

Hugh to the rescue!

He bent down and whispered to her that she was a big girl and to get up. It was very motivating, and it worked like a charm, as she lifted up her head and smiled at her famous daddy. He scooped her up and carried her off to customs.

I witnessed Hugh Jackman having a fatherly moment. Aren't I so special?

Just kidding. Sort of.

Anyway, we are having lots of fun in NYC with our friends! We head to Colorado on Thursday for family fun for 19 days!

Two Felted Hats...

Last night, when our driver, Vinneyamin, brought us home, he wouldn't let us get out of the car.

He went around and opened up the back door and pulled out two little gift bags and handed them to us.

In it, we found these!
A felted hat for each of us. Isn't that so nice of him? Felt is used on yurts out on the steppe, here in the big K. It is to keep it warm inside and waterproof. I kept the hat on for just a few minutes and my head got pretty toasty!

Filling My Shoes...

The other night, we went over to Matt & Sonia's and R'iordan busied himself with this:
My black work shoes are shiny, so I think he was attracted to them like a bug to a light.

He was so cute! This is him, smiling for the camera...but he forgot to smile. He's just posing.

Then, the next night, I was over again and had on my Ugg boots.

Of course, he needed to sport those out.

The boots were up to his hips! He is such a fun little boy.

Thanksgiving...K to the Z Style....

I know I'm a little late with this, but as usual, I haven't had a whole lot of time to blog lately. But, our Thanksgiving was unlike any Thanksgiving Huzz or I have ever experienced.

There was no turkey. No mashed potatoes. No gravy. No stuffing - I know, unforgiveable. No green bean casserole. No pumpkin pie.

Surprisingly, we survived! At the time, we didn't know of a restaurant that did a turkey dinner, but we later found out that the InterContinental Hotel does...for a pretty penny.

Instead, we decided, appropriately, to go to the American Bar & Grill.

Here is Stephen, enjoying the smoked cheese that they give you for an appetizer. I think it's called "suluguni" in Russian. It's like a drier string cheese that has a delicious smoky flavor. I like it.

Oh, you can see the smoked cheese on the little plate on the right. I pretty much demolished it. We also got mozzarella "steaks" and onion rings.

Stephen had a Philly Cheese Steak sandwich and fries for his main course. As you can tell, he wasn't a fan.

I had their Crispy Chicken Sandwich, which has this tangy sauce on it that I enjoy very much. This is all I could eat. I was stuffed!

I meant to take pictures before we dug in to our food, but I was distracted with all the fried goodness. It did not feel like Thanksgiving, since we both worked and didn't spend the day with family.

We ordered so much food because I said at least we should just eat too much, since that is definitely what happens at normal Thanksgivings.

We can't wait to get home to the U.S. in THREE days!!! I only have one more day of work. Thank goodness. Waking up at 7:00 am and it is still pitch black outside is just not what I call a good time.

My Day...

Right now, it is 5:33.

I have 38 seven year olds in my classroom. They are watching Planet Earth.

We have just (finally) welcomed the President of the big K to our school. At the moment, he is down the hall, visiting a Year 2 classroom. Then, he's on to other various points in the school. He'll be here, maximum, a half hour.

We have been waiting since 8:00 am for this. Actually, we've been waiting since the beginning of September. This is the fourth time he has said he is coming, but the only time it has actually happened.

This is Kazakhstan.

I am tired. It is Friday. It is now 5:36 pm. I still have 38 children in my classroom. My estimate is that children don't even begin to be picked up until at least 6:30.

Apparently, we will have an assembly and tea time before they go home.

Somebody shoot me.

11 Days...

I'm not organized enough, and I don't have enough time to post every day and countdown to when we get to the US. I wish I was because I could also keep up with what all has been going on during the past week or so.

It has mostly been a week of sorrow and angst and more frustration. However, things are looking up because in ELEVEN days, people, we will set foot on our home soil.

I know I am going to enjoy my 3 1/2 weeks in the good 'ol US of A. I will make the best of every single moment that I have there. However, I can't help but already be dreading when I have to step back on the plane in Denver to head back out of my home.

I am kind of worried about it!

I am just hoping for strength, as I know it is going to take more than I feel like I can muster right now.

Anyway, anymore opinions about what to do about my hair?

Oh, and the President of the big K is "definitely" coming on Friday to visit the school. We are having school from 10 am to 5 pm. Is anyone happy about this? Um, no.

Grrrr.......11 more days.