Dear Family,
First of all, I want to say how proud Gpa George and I are of Lauren and Jenna. They have had such wonderful high school years, worked so hard, and yet found time to participate in wonderful extra-curricular activities. They both graduated with not only their high school diplomas, but also their seminary diplomas this past week. We surely love these two beautiful (inside and out) granddaughters of ours and know there are great experiences and goals they will accomplish ahead! We surely LOVE you Lauren and Jenna!
This week has been sort of a quiet week for me. We didn't have any major assignments, so I have been working on a children's book about family ancestors. I have been wanting to do this for at least ten years, so now I have the time, even though it is time here and there, I have decided to tackle it again! As I read the story of our ancestors, I just amazed at what most all of them went through to provide the gospel for their posterity. My heart is really touched at their faithfulness in the gospel--often enduring many hardships, ridicule, and even having to leave family members behind that didn't want anything to do with the church. It makes me want to work even harder in my callings and be a better example of the gospel in everything I do and say. I have a long way to go!
On Saturday, Gpa George and I headed to the Kolomenskoye Estate and the Wooden Palace. We had been there in the winter time when we rode the Troika ride (the three horse sleigh) through the winter wonderland. But I personally prefer green and thought it was absolutely beautiful today! I think we saw at least ten brides and grooms walking around the estate getting their pictures taken in the beautiful spring weather.
We, also, visited The Church of the Beheading of John the Baptism built by Ivan the Terrible for his coronation. It is surrounded by very old tombstones.
But the main church there is the Church of the Ascension of the Lord. It was constructed in 1529-1532 by order to Tsar Vasily III to commemorate the birth of his son and heir, Ivan the Terrible. The last church in that area was the Church of the Lady of Kazan,built in the 17th Century. We had lots of history lessons we learned that day, but it was a beautiful day to learn it in!
Sunday, we went to our Rechnoy Ward. Since it was Fast Sunday, I was determined to bear my testimony. Of course, I had to take a translator up with me. We have two very nice young men from BYU , who are here in Moscow doing a six-week internship at the Area Office afterfinishing their first year in law school. I asked one of them to come up with me to be my interpreter. You really appreciate interpreters and couldn't do without them. We had invited them over for Sunday dinner after church, which they did, and we had the best time with them. They are the same age as our older grand kids, but we all have such fun together. We played Crown Five, and ate lots of food! They had us try this crazy Russian missionary custom (since they both served missions in Russia), that you take a cookie that looks like a chocolate covered Oreo that is made in St. Petersburg. You bite off a piece on either side, then have a bowl of milk and suck the milk through the cookie until the cookie softens, then you eat the cookie. Crazy, huh! Anyway, we LOVE having visitors!
Tomorrow is the big 5-0! Yes, we will have been married FIFTY YEARS! It just so happens that our Visa trip landed exactly on June 5th, so we are heading off to Zurich. We are so excited to spend five days in Switzerland. Jonathan and Ingrid have so kindly agreed to pick us up and let us stay with them for two nights, then put us on the train bound for the Bern Temple, where we will stay in temple housing for a night. Then, we stay one night in Bern, and the final night in Lucerne, before heading back to Moscow. George has always said Switzerland was his favorite country, and I'm thrilled that we can be there for our 50th Wedding Anniversary.
As far as our Russian lessons are going--we are definitely working at it. The funny thing is--when we try our words and phrases on the Russian people, they will definitely correct you if you don't say it exactly right. The trouble with the language is the gender part--there are so many rules. All nouns are either masculine, feminine, or neuter. George says he doesn't want anything to do with anything that is neutered! Hah! Should I have said that??? Anyway, it all depends on the last letter of the noun, and you are trying to think of the word, and then have to think of the gender, and then it changes if there is a plural--you can't just add "s." We both laugh about the fact that if we do say the word or phrase right, the Russians will take off in a conversation to you, thinking you know Russian! We just smile and say, "Da," (yes). They could be smiling while they are saying, "You are the dumbest Americans we've ever seen," but because they are smiling, we just keep saying, "Da."
I'm sending a Mission Picture of us with Elder Golden two weeks ago. It is such a blessing to be able to be taught by these wonderful leaders that the Lord has called. We always learn so much and it is always a great testimony builder. So proud of Carter and Kade and how hard they are working. We surely get a better appreciation of what missionary work is like by being on this mission ourselves--and ours isn't nearly as hard as theirs because we can call, Skype, or text whenever we want--which really helps. We surely love all of you and thank you for your love and prayers!
Love,
Gma Laura
P.S. Russian lesson--1. Most Russians wear their simple gold wedding band on their right hand rather than their left hand as most Americans do. They think the right hand is most important hand (we call it the covenant hand) and you should show that love by putting it on the right hand.
2. Russians don't understand the American way of asking, "How are you?" and then walking on. They truly feel it is asking a question and you should listen to their answer of how things are really going for them. So, if you ask it, be prepared for a detailed answer.
3. Russians think it is bad luck or whatever to shake hands over a doorway. You should enter, then shake hands.
Just thought you might enjoy hearing about a few of the customs.
Also, I had to put the sunset picture. The sun rises about 3:45 in the morning, and doesn't start going down until 9:00 p.m. It is amazing! That's why it seemed pretty dreary in the winter-time, because it then just reverses the process, and we have so much darkness. You can see why the Russians love to get out in their parks and fresh air in the summertime!
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