I cannot wait to wake up to our "kid alarm" clocks, hearing little feet pad down the hallway to our room...maybe Gavin or Chase or Zeke knocking on their doors and calling for us. I want to drink a cup of coffee while the kids watch cartoons. I want to make a giant batch of big fluffy pancakes drizzled in maple syrup. The kitchen will be a mess from my little helpers, and the table will be sticky from the drips of syrup and the pieces of pancake that fall off of forks. Someone will spill their milk, and someone else will take 2 bites and decide that they are done. At least one person will ask for seconds and thirds.
Ah, heaven!
I know that one thing I will take away from this adventure is a new appreciation for everything about my life. So often we don't appreciate the privilege of living the lives that we have. When I get home, it will be my pleasure to wake up at 5am when one of the kids sees the first sliver of sunlight through the curtains and decides it is time to get up. I can't wait to run around like a maniac getting lunches and backpacks ready, breakfast on the table, and all the children out the door for school. I'll be happy to change diapers, to kiss boo-boos, chase the runners outside, and to fold laundry for my boys. And at the end of the day, when we're all exhausted and cranky and there are still baths and pajamas and tooth-brushing and stories...I'll be able to do that all. All these little things- you think that they are have-to's. They are not. They are get-to's.
Anyhoo.
We didn't have big fluffy pancakes this morning, but we did make it to McDonald's for breakfast. By the time we got there, they only had one egg left, so Bryan graciously gave me my Egg McMuffin and he had Big Flat McPancakes with strawberry jam (no syrup!).
Our big outing of the day was going to Victor's birthday party. Victor is the pastor at Calvary Chapel, and aside from seeing him Thursday and Sundays, we met his whole family last Saturday at that picnic in the park. So we went with several other friends to celebrate at his apartment.
It was really nice...by now I guess we are kind of the resident Americans of the group, so we know everyone and they know us. What's cool is that the conversation floats from Russian to English, as most of the people in the group speak at least a little English. This is a good place to pick up new Russian words. Today's word of the day is tort. That means cake :)
We ate a TON, played some games (I am the Mexican Train champion), had great time for fellowship, and celebrated with coffee/tea and cake (because no meal is complete unless you have coffee or tea!)
Again- we are so thankful for new friends and new ways to pass the time here. This is starting to feel like home, in a bizarre, second-life kind of way.
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