Dear Family,
Here it is Monday again, and time to write you all and let you know how things are going here.
First of all, congratulations to Craig and Cassie on the birth of their beautiful little daughter, Marlie, born on November 15th! So glad to have her safely here and Cassie feeling so much better now.
I know this was an especially difficult pregnancy for Cassie this last little while, so it was great that the little one came 11 days early! Too bad that Craig, with his laryngitis could hardly speak, but the cute pic of him holding his new little daughter said everything!
It was definitely difficult to come back to the cold weather on Monday after being in Bulgaria, which was 25 degrees warmer there. But, after we got back, we had to get used to it quickly because it isn't going to change anytime here soon.
The thing that makes it difficult is when you are outside, it is so cold, you have to really bundle up, but when you get on the buses or Metro, you get so hot with all of the extra layers you have on, and you just have to get through it--even though you may be on public transportation for an hour or more at a time. Everything is so spread out, it really takes that long to get to most everything we do. And when Dad walks that bridge, he is just sweating to death by the time he gets to the office! His white shirts are being washed practically daily!
The thing that makes it difficult is when you are outside, it is so cold, you have to really bundle up, but when you get on the buses or Metro, you get so hot with all of the extra layers you have on, and you just have to get through it--even though you may be on public transportation for an hour or more at a time. Everything is so spread out, it really takes that long to get to most everything we do. And when Dad walks that bridge, he is just sweating to death by the time he gets to the office! His white shirts are being washed practically daily!
Tuesday night, our Senior Night, we went to the Jewish Museum here in Moscow. It was sobering, as it always is to see the atrocities that the Jewish people were put through! This museum is really a state of the art place--even with a 4-D theater. You start out with a film that is animated about the origins of the Jews, back to Adam and Eve, of course, down through Moses, to Abraham. When the Red Sea is parted, you feel the water spray and wind on your face. When there are troubles or strifes, your seat twists about. It is really lifelike and quite something! Anyway, we really enjoyed learning more about the Jews here in Russia.
A Jewish man with a phylactery worn on the head (and one on the arm) have portions of scripture inside used during prayer services.
A beautiful container that held the Torah--the first five books of the Old Testament, which contain the law for the Jewish people.
This brought back memories of when we were able to go to the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Men and women are divided and you face the wall, putting your prayer in between the cracks. When you are finished, you continue looking forward and never turn your back on the wall.
Thursday, a young man who owns a car and is a convert, took me to the big grocery store so I could get a large amount of groceries (the little granny cart would never do) and a turkey--well, just a turkey breast since the oven isn't big enough) for Thanksgiving. We are inviting four elders and this same young man for Thanksgiving. They don't celebrate Thanksgiving here, but we felt the American Elders deserved to be remembered that day. It really helped for him to let me go with him in his car (we paid him, of course) to get all that I needed.
On Friday, a few of us took the Bolshoi Theater Tour--only 16 can go at a time, so we had to break up on different days. Wow! That place is unbelievable!
It has just undergone a 1 billion dollar renovation where they dug six stories under it for more practice areas, offices, and to stabilize the whole theater which actually began in 1776. They, also, refurbished everything to try to get it to look like it did originally. The actual large theater (Bolshoi means big or large in Russian) is covered with actual gold flecks in the paint, and it is marvelous! I really want to go to a ballet before our 23 months is over here. We are actually going to the "Nutcracker" at the Kremlin Theater on Red Square in January, so I'm looking forward to that. I say, "I'm" because I don't know how excited Dad is about going to a ballet, but he has been a very good sport and been trying many new experiences on this mission!
Box where the czars formerly sat; now it is for the ruling leader of Russia.
Looking over at Red Square out the window of the Bolshoi.
It has just undergone a 1 billion dollar renovation where they dug six stories under it for more practice areas, offices, and to stabilize the whole theater which actually began in 1776. They, also, refurbished everything to try to get it to look like it did originally. The actual large theater (Bolshoi means big or large in Russian) is covered with actual gold flecks in the paint, and it is marvelous! I really want to go to a ballet before our 23 months is over here. We are actually going to the "Nutcracker" at the Kremlin Theater on Red Square in January, so I'm looking forward to that. I say, "I'm" because I don't know how excited Dad is about going to a ballet, but he has been a very good sport and been trying many new experiences on this mission!
Saturday, we went out to Izmaylovo to pick up some items I had special ordered.
I told about this on Instagram, and if you haven't seen the post, you really must! The comments everyone made are so good and really made us smile! While eating our bbq out there, a young couple came and sat down by us. There are never enough seats there, so we have met many interesting people eating there. But, none as interesting as this Saturday! The boy was from Denmark and very quiet, while the girl was from Russia and very outgoing. As we were talking to them--they had only met a week before--she all of a sudden takes off her coat--it was freezing there since it is not heated, and pulls out a vodka bottle and tells us we are all going to have a toast while she sings a traditional Russian song! We told her we don't drink alcohol, so she said we could use our Diet Pepsi--no Diet Coke there, sad!
Anyway, after her singing and Dad getting into the song, by the time we left, the whole restaurant was clapping and having a great time. We all became best friends! So much fun!
You can find anything you could ever imagine for sale out at Izmaylovo!
I told about this on Instagram, and if you haven't seen the post, you really must! The comments everyone made are so good and really made us smile! While eating our bbq out there, a young couple came and sat down by us. There are never enough seats there, so we have met many interesting people eating there. But, none as interesting as this Saturday! The boy was from Denmark and very quiet, while the girl was from Russia and very outgoing. As we were talking to them--they had only met a week before--she all of a sudden takes off her coat--it was freezing there since it is not heated, and pulls out a vodka bottle and tells us we are all going to have a toast while she sings a traditional Russian song! We told her we don't drink alcohol, so she said we could use our Diet Pepsi--no Diet Coke there, sad!
Well, I'll close for this week. Thanks again to all of you for your kind e-mails and comments. We surely do LOVE all of you. You know there is nothing that could pull us away from all the special events going on with all of you were it not for this call from the Lord. We have been so blessed and know that it is time to give back in this small way for those many blessings.
With much love,
Mom Gma Laura
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