Dennis IS Monster.com!!!

Ok, so Dennis got a new job :o)  (well, he started at the beginning of the month).  He seems to like it.  He says the people he works with are nice.  When he first applied for the job I was asking him about it and all he said was “it’s for a recruiting agency” and Calyn and I were like “yes, but what does that mean?”  Here is what I have figured out since he started his new job.  People submit resumes and businesses tell Dennis’ company what they are looking for and Dennis helps to match the two up.  He is monster.com.  That’s amazing!  :o)

Adventures in Baking...

Ok, so who knew how exciting baking could be? 

 

 I mean, when I was a little girl, it was the best thing ever.  I would put on one of my Grandpa’s old shirts and sit up on Grandma’s counter and add each ingredient ever so carefully knowing that if I messed up all the neighbors Christmas goodies would be ruined and Grandma would be terribly disappointed (now I know this to be false, but in my 6 year old brain, it all made since).  However, upon reaching high school, I found that it was still just as much fun to bake cookies with Grandma, but not near as adventurous as it had once been.  

 

However, upon my decision to take up baking again today, the 6 year old excitement had returned.  

Task One: learn the names of all necessary ingredients in both Russian and Ukrainian—just to be safe (this step requires help from Dennis.  He’s amazing.) 

Step two: walk to the grocery store (the rain complicates things a bit, but does not deter us from the task at hand. 

Step 3: Find all necessary ingredients that Dennis helped us come up with the names for earlier.  (Easier said than done but the only item we never found was baking powder).  

Step 4: stuff all purchases (including the indispensable Coke light) into a backpack. Don't forget to keep your reciept out so the man at the door can chek it--kinda like at SAMS Club.

Step 5:  wait for the cheap bus.  "Nope, that one costs 1.25.  Maybe we should just wait for the tram thing.  It's only 50 kop.s"

Step 6: attempt to take off shoes and open door while juggling groceries. 

Step 7: Unload all over the kitchen table.  Admire all the things we bought for just twelve dollars.

Step 8: Bring laptop to kitchen in order to read the recipes we found earlier online

Step 9: Begin the baking process. 

 

FINAL STEP: Enjoy the results.  (Best if done with a Dennis or some such company--and, of course, with tea and coffee).

 

 

 

 

It is 20:48 here...so 1:48 there (there being Tallahassee).  And Calyn and I are sitting on the couch which is folded out like a bed at the moment, because we have taken to sleeping on it as we watch movies...or better yet, Boy Meets World—the best TV Show of all time.  I would marry Corry Matthews.  Just so you know.  (Except that he eventually married Topanga, but we only have seasons 1-3, so they’re only dating off and on at the moment...there’s still hope).  We had a picnic with Veronica and Tanya and Zhenya today.  That was fun :o)  We had been planning to do it for 3 days and the weather was yucky.  But, today it was beautiful.  And as we were lying on our blankets and the girls were all talking and stuff I was looking out over the city thinking "Gosh, God, I don't deserve to call this place home.”  But, I do, and I can’t imagine life any other way.

 

 I was talking to my mom the other day and she was saying that she wants to learn more Russian which says to me a couple things: 1) She loves me so much that she loves the things I love and cares about the things I care about, which is awesome, and 2) She understands that I plan to be here for a long time, and not only is she ok with that, but she wants to help me and support me in it.  I have an amazing mom. 

 

I know this is a kind of random post, but people were asking me to post, and, well, that’s what I’ve got to say.

 

Peace Out :o)

 

Lori

Hey everyone,

            I am so sorry that e-mails have been few and far between this summer.  I know that Calyn has been keeping a lot of you up to date.  She is amazing.  And having her here is such a blessing (as I’m sure you can imagine).  Thank you for sharing her with me.  I do want to ask you to pray for us tonight though.  This is our last camp of the summer.  And I know that God has big plans for us today.  To be honest, I can feel Him today even more than I have been able to during any other camp this summer and I cannot wait to see what He will do.  I ask that you specifically pray for some kids from a church called ‘Good Harbor.’  Several of them are kids from the English Club Amberly and I have been working with all year and many of the ones who aren’t are friends that they have brought with them.  Please pray that they would understand the message that Oleg gives tonight and that they would desire a relationship with Jesus.  Also, we have a translator here this week, Victor, who is not a Christian and all week I have seen God working in him.  The first night he was here he was very reserved and quiet.  He just sat back and took everything in.  After worship, he was a little intimidated and you could tell.  But, throughout the week he has gotten more into everything that is going on.  He is our most enthusiastic English Class interpreter and I’ve even seen him singing some during the Russian worship time.  Please pray for him.  We don’t normally hire interpreters who are not Christians and I know that God has Victor at camp this week for a reason.  Our evening program begins at 7:00 our time—that’s noon Tallahassee time.  So, if you get this e-mail before 12 on Saturday I am asking that you pray for us around then.  Thank you all so much for your investment into my life and for helping me to be here.  I am blessed beyond words to be able to live here and watch God work.  There honestly is no other place I would rather be.  I can’t wait to share with you about what God does tonight.

 

Lori