Mama's little helper

Abigail loves to do what mama does. She often goes over to the vaccuum and picks up the broom and "vroom vrooms" around the room. What a reminder to watch every idle word and action because we have a little observer who is taking everything in. Abigail even says "ouch" just like I do when something hurts. Ukrainians say "oie".

Sunday helpers

Managing to keep an 18 month old quiet for a 3 hour church service is a mammoth task! We praise the Lord for our young church friends who help us keep Abigail occupied. Lilya is Abigail's absolute favorite friend. When she sees her come in the building she waves and yells, Lilya. Vladik is another Abigail favorite. He has a little sister and knows how to keep little girls happy!

Ukrainian Thanksgiving - Zhatva 2008

Thanksgiving in Ukraine is a church holiday. Each church determines when they want to celebrate. It is a wonderful day of church family fellowship. After the church service, we had a meal together. Today Abigail had her first "golupsi" - a Ukrainian cabbage roll. She ate 5 of them - just one of the many Ukrainian sides of Abigail :).

BALL!

The other day while riding our tricycle there was no riding alone. She had to have both her balls and several toys stuffed here and there. If one of the balls slipped out, we heard about it until it was safely perched in her arms. Abigail has become quite vocal about what she wants and thankfully, we are getting beyond the caveman grunt. Her little vocabulary is expanding daily, both English and Ukrainian.

Blue eyes and shoes

Abigail's new passion is for mama and papa's shoes. Her favorites are sandals that you can put your toes through! I have to make sure our shoes are clean now so that she can stomp around the house in them (unlike America, where you never have to clean the bottom of your shoes - in Ukraine if you don't, your house will turn into a dust pit). I never thought that a simple pair of sandals would be a great babysitter :)!

Houston, we have a problem!

Yesterday morning, we closed the office door while doing our morning devotions so that Abigail wouldn't wonder in there. Well, when we went to open that wonderful door, it wouldn't! We had to take the glass out of it (praise the Lord it had a glass panel) to get in. We took the handle off to find no way to get to the lock mechanism w/o breaking the door. Wonderful! So, now we are climbing in and out of the hole in the door to get to the computer :)! Hopefully our locksmith friend will be able to work us in - in the near distant future!

Visiting with our friend Sasha

Growing up so fast

September 1st

September 1st is the traditional day for students to return to their studies in the countries of the former Soviet Union. Ukraine is no exception. All morning, students dressed up in their white tops and black pants/skirts have been scurrying to purchase bouquets of flowers for their teachers. Every school and university will have elaborate opening ceremonies and then the students will go to their homeroom classes for a short instruction time. Tomorrow lessons begin in earnest. Please pray for us as we start a soccer league and hand chime choir as follow-up to our summer camps. Our tentative start up date is September 15.