One Week

We have survived our first week in Moscow! And what a blessing and adventure it has been!

While we continue to move things around and make lists of things we still lack (like sheets and some new dishes), we are pretty much settled in. We have unpacked all our suitcases and trunks (they are put aside, in various inconspicuous places around our tiny apartment). We have arranged most of our decorations, we have done laundry and some cleaning, we have internet in our apartment now (yeah!), and we are starting to feel settled in. As the honeymoon stage of our moving to Russia passes by us, I expect that we will soon feel unsettled; however, I am reveling in the contentment and warm feelings of home that I am enjoying at the moment! Canaan is over his sickness (which he so generously passed onto me), we have all slept well the past few nights, and life is good. We got a surprise today from the Brinley's: some friends of theirs, an American couple who've been living in Russia with their job, are moving back to the States. They gave the Brinley's some of their extra food (some of it stuff you can only find in America) and some various household items. So, are food cabinet is now full and overflowing with various items, we have an extra lamp for the living room, as well as a mixer and a few other miscellaneous items. It was like Christmas in January!

The weather here is warming up. It is expected to get about freezing twice this week! Of course, I was just informed that this means the snow on the sidewalks and walkways will melt and then freeze over again when the temperature drops back down. That is how everything becomes a sheet of ice. So, the warm weather is actually the cause of the ice and slippery sidewalks. I guess I have just lived in Texas too long and don't know that much about cold weather- to know that getting a little warm can actually be a bad thing! Oh, well! We will continue to build those much needed muscles as we learn to walk on more sheets of ice!

One thing that has been nice is that we have stayed very warm. As I mentioned earlier, our apartment is very warm; in addition, our coats and boots are also quite cozy. They have kept us warm as we venture out from the warmth of our apartment and have made life quite comfortable.

Well, I here Canaan waking up from his nap. I will post pictures soon; I meant to do it today, but Dougle ran to the store and took the camera with him to take some pictures. So, another day. Just keep looking, and we'll get some up soon. Thanks again for all your prayers, comments and e-mails! We love you all!