tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27650472325969952022024-03-13T18:30:36.913-04:00Not Forgottenmartahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577280042198534149noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765047232596995202.post-39831582561902972982015-02-06T10:05:00.001-05:002015-02-06T10:05:40.900-05:00Part II of our Trip to Belarus in July 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
These are some of my favorite photos from our trip to Minsk sightseeing for the day. It was so much fun to see the city! Minsk is the capital of Belarus. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sX-mCh3xx2c/VNTJ_f5xwkI/AAAAAAAABLk/bdK9SmDPnnE/s1600/P8280136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sX-mCh3xx2c/VNTJ_f5xwkI/AAAAAAAABLk/bdK9SmDPnnE/s1600/P8280136.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5sR15VohQcE/VNTKR5qhSTI/AAAAAAAABLs/1vve_fe5lk0/s1600/P8280198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5sR15VohQcE/VNTKR5qhSTI/AAAAAAAABLs/1vve_fe5lk0/s1600/P8280198.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_ZSvjLFB2Ko/VNTLBx4U6WI/AAAAAAAABL4/JEemjFPur2E/s1600/P8280149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_ZSvjLFB2Ko/VNTLBx4U6WI/AAAAAAAABL4/JEemjFPur2E/s1600/P8280149.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Rommy was so happy to find a McDonalds! If you look closely through the window in the background you will see a TGI Fridays across the street. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F-0U9pTnUzo/VNTLeLqdZVI/AAAAAAAABMA/GyrKMPyO5FM/s1600/P8280193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F-0U9pTnUzo/VNTLeLqdZVI/AAAAAAAABMA/GyrKMPyO5FM/s1600/P8280193.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A day spent sightseeing in Mogilev. Population about 300,000. Ihar used to go to school in this town; Tatiana's family lives here. These are a few of my favorite photos.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y9vGu_m3hug/VNTMfaLgJlI/AAAAAAAABMc/CKtH8ar2xgw/s1600/P8290232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y9vGu_m3hug/VNTMfaLgJlI/AAAAAAAABMc/CKtH8ar2xgw/s1600/P8290232.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RB8wsEi2XeI/VNTMl_BG3yI/AAAAAAAABMk/ySrEOxkl-GI/s1600/P8300244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RB8wsEi2XeI/VNTMl_BG3yI/AAAAAAAABMk/ySrEOxkl-GI/s1600/P8300244.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j4_Vh7rjVSw/VNTLmRClePI/AAAAAAAABMI/UF0WRy80dB4/s1600/P8290211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j4_Vh7rjVSw/VNTLmRClePI/AAAAAAAABMI/UF0WRy80dB4/s1600/P8290211.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Our favorite pizza place. We go to this restaurant every trip to Belarus...sometimes several times during the trip! No complanints from Ihar!<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mf9tJLORYQk/VNTMCG0PIwI/AAAAAAAABMQ/ixcTRzDC-tA/s1600/P8290218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mf9tJLORYQk/VNTMCG0PIwI/AAAAAAAABMQ/ixcTRzDC-tA/s1600/P8290218.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Dinner at Tatiana's daughter's apartment.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XclyHzXU3D8/VNTMwaCrvmI/AAAAAAAABMs/xBn_v_Vg_GA/s1600/P8310338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XclyHzXU3D8/VNTMwaCrvmI/AAAAAAAABMs/xBn_v_Vg_GA/s1600/P8310338.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_vNEC_Kfc1I/VNTQ4TEusVI/AAAAAAAABNA/TQHs5c2o0S4/s1600/P8310360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_vNEC_Kfc1I/VNTQ4TEusVI/AAAAAAAABNA/TQHs5c2o0S4/s1600/P8310360.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ixsUwqdrQfo/VNTQlxKSAmI/AAAAAAAABM4/pvOvp5oRVhg/s1600/P8310358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ixsUwqdrQfo/VNTQlxKSAmI/AAAAAAAABM4/pvOvp5oRVhg/s1600/P8310358.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Sightseeing around Krychev. This town is about 2 1/2 hours from Mogilev...close to the border of Russia. Krychev is where Ihar was born and where he goes to trade school.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-abkL3OaN9DI/VNTR2DRuKGI/AAAAAAAABNc/BWwkE1-TIpI/s1600/P9010379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-abkL3OaN9DI/VNTR2DRuKGI/AAAAAAAABNc/BWwkE1-TIpI/s1600/P9010379.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d4OzsolRVeY/VNTR3dW5u7I/AAAAAAAABNk/otYPpWHJP8g/s1600/P9010384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d4OzsolRVeY/VNTR3dW5u7I/AAAAAAAABNk/otYPpWHJP8g/s1600/P9010384.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BjW7jpJcVzI/VNTSd-lyAAI/AAAAAAAABNs/RSLj_IarX0Q/s1600/P9010409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BjW7jpJcVzI/VNTSd-lyAAI/AAAAAAAABNs/RSLj_IarX0Q/s1600/P9010409.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span id="goog_1424846352"></span><span id="goog_1424846353"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
What does every parent do with their child before taking them back to college? Buy groceries of course!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qwmt_ucDdwo/VNTW2b4bwJI/AAAAAAAABN4/UYj9oC_s1nM/s1600/P9010413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qwmt_ucDdwo/VNTW2b4bwJI/AAAAAAAABN4/UYj9oC_s1nM/s1600/P9010413.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It was so hard to say goodbye to him this time. We miss him so much!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7LtYQ7cTu38/VNTXBemYRWI/AAAAAAAABOA/ZcITbhVNJiw/s1600/P9010415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7LtYQ7cTu38/VNTXBemYRWI/AAAAAAAABOA/ZcITbhVNJiw/s1600/P9010415.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0h7QxATXMD4/VNTXEVDX18I/AAAAAAAABOI/lBFmRZmAF54/s1600/P9010419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0h7QxATXMD4/VNTXEVDX18I/AAAAAAAABOI/lBFmRZmAF54/s1600/P9010419.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577280042198534149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765047232596995202.post-26070197503492891542015-02-05T10:43:00.000-05:002015-02-06T09:01:06.303-05:00Our trip to Belarus in July 2013 Part I<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SqTMZBYeygQ/VNOB-UfvpnI/AAAAAAAABJQ/OS9133pGD90/s1600/P8260014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SqTMZBYeygQ/VNOB-UfvpnI/AAAAAAAABJQ/OS9133pGD90/s1600/P8260014.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Hugs after 4 long years of separation.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pkchPPzcWNo/VNOBcWPXa9I/AAAAAAAABJI/8EUyb-bA99A/s1600/P8260018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pkchPPzcWNo/VNOBcWPXa9I/AAAAAAAABJI/8EUyb-bA99A/s1600/P8260018.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Family!....Papa has only been to Belarus twice while Mama has been 4 times..</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KEkAOvzPkUg/VNOCEkJotgI/AAAAAAAABJY/4OTJxwpjU-U/s1600/P8270037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KEkAOvzPkUg/VNOCEkJotgI/AAAAAAAABJY/4OTJxwpjU-U/s1600/P8270037.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I (Marta) always make a trip to the baby orphanage...this time we took toys, diapers and wipes. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gNSo5Tbok38/VNOCcL54IQI/AAAAAAAABJg/iRrKS7ZBI0o/s1600/P8270110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gNSo5Tbok38/VNOCcL54IQI/AAAAAAAABJg/iRrKS7ZBI0o/s1600/P8270110.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Celebrating Ihar's 17th Birthday! Wish I could say I made the cake! It was yummy!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MicQOZ28eAc/VNOGdc1TtTI/AAAAAAAABKI/OxohCwd3j14/s1600/P8310336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MicQOZ28eAc/VNOGdc1TtTI/AAAAAAAABKI/OxohCwd3j14/s1600/P8310336.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We are so grateful for friends like Tatiana and Sasha who always open up their home to us and Ihar. Language or country doesn't matter. We have become a family.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8HGjoQ-gcco/VNOGQehi37I/AAAAAAAABKA/xt2kl-_7Gi4/s1600/P9020449%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8HGjoQ-gcco/VNOGQehi37I/AAAAAAAABKA/xt2kl-_7Gi4/s1600/P9020449%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Tatiana is like a sister to me. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_zCqFRu1vZc/VNOC7lUnT1I/AAAAAAAABJw/1fDih70zLso/s1600/P8270105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_zCqFRu1vZc/VNOC7lUnT1I/AAAAAAAABJw/1fDih70zLso/s1600/P8270105.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This is Anzhelika....we always try to visit her and her family. This was my (Marta's) first host family in Belarus. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jPMqDCVP88E/VNOIsm8-NhI/AAAAAAAABKc/_KfWnGnOS3g/s1600/P8270097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jPMqDCVP88E/VNOIsm8-NhI/AAAAAAAABKc/_KfWnGnOS3g/s1600/P8270097.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The Atroshkin kids and Grannie (Anzhelika's Mother) from Siberia. Ihar is great friends with this family as well. Left to Right Luba, Grannie, Masha, Liza, Dasha, Ihar and Angelica. All of these kids are former ABRO kids with the exception of Luba. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jvj5z_3SEH8/VNOIestVhTI/AAAAAAAABKU/g0-wZWJxkG0/s1600/P8300242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jvj5z_3SEH8/VNOIestVhTI/AAAAAAAABKU/g0-wZWJxkG0/s1600/P8300242.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We met with many of our former ABRO kids this visit. This is Anastashia. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G8SoSHSYyFA/VNOC7I1xTCI/AAAAAAAABJs/NvK9Hr37tHA/s1600/P8300240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G8SoSHSYyFA/VNOC7I1xTCI/AAAAAAAABJs/NvK9Hr37tHA/s1600/P8300240.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
They are great friends!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AI5B_ONM4lQ/VNOJ-rdurWI/AAAAAAAABKo/LKtNyT5_3Aw/s1600/P8300273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AI5B_ONM4lQ/VNOJ-rdurWI/AAAAAAAABKo/LKtNyT5_3Aw/s1600/P8300273.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This is Lena who works at the ABRO office in Belarus. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She is also very special to us!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5g52hdL5PJE/VNOKZezNUpI/AAAAAAAABKw/nsTsZy8NwaY/s1600/P8310313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5g52hdL5PJE/VNOKZezNUpI/AAAAAAAABKw/nsTsZy8NwaY/s1600/P8310313.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Vlad and Anton (both former ABRO kids)..</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ns2n-XwEgAc/VNOK2-TQKiI/AAAAAAAABK4/-fA3g_peaR0/s1600/P8310281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ns2n-XwEgAc/VNOK2-TQKiI/AAAAAAAABK4/-fA3g_peaR0/s1600/P8310281.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Masha and Liza are also part of our ABRO family...!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s85MWw3TCCQ/VNOLFC731hI/AAAAAAAABLA/_5A9Bkjpc5I/s1600/P8310339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s85MWw3TCCQ/VNOLFC731hI/AAAAAAAABLA/_5A9Bkjpc5I/s1600/P8310339.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
These kids are Tatiana's grandchildren! Anna on the left and her brother Maxim on the right are part of the our ABRO family! There are many more children we were able to visit with but for the sake of keeping my posts shorter...we'll skip ahead to Part II of our visit.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577280042198534149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765047232596995202.post-3060748543263658402011-09-06T12:03:00.001-04:002011-09-06T12:05:20.608-04:00Ihar Then and Now.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J8wtwEw5nSA/TmY5OEQC8vI/AAAAAAAABG0/139rJ7AyA0g/s1600/Baseball-Ihar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" nba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J8wtwEw5nSA/TmY5OEQC8vI/AAAAAAAABG0/139rJ7AyA0g/s320/Baseball-Ihar.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ihar age 11...loves baseball and being part of the family! This is shortly after he came into our home and hearts. June 2008.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tkiGuDp6H4A/TmY5nf4ptUI/AAAAAAAABG4/XqT52yd3_h4/s1600/Ihar-Papa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tkiGuDp6H4A/TmY5nf4ptUI/AAAAAAAABG4/XqT52yd3_h4/s320/Ihar-Papa.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ihar age 12 with his Dad....looking cool and ready for church! July 2008</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TgiW9WrV9iY/TmY6ClAf-vI/AAAAAAAABG8/04vG-zxjz9Y/s1600/Ihar+in+Uniform.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" nba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TgiW9WrV9iY/TmY6ClAf-vI/AAAAAAAABG8/04vG-zxjz9Y/s320/Ihar+in+Uniform.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ihar sent us this photo when he was missing us. Age 12 1/2, at cadet school. Nov. 2008</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jTRuhILkgWc/SuTqIgbFvZI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/wtlunGwAVsA/s1600/DSCN0447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jTRuhILkgWc/SuTqIgbFvZI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/wtlunGwAVsA/s320/DSCN0447.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ihar age 12 1/2. Photo taken when I was in Belarus shortly before I left to return home. Jan. 2009</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bXs-mSq-JYc/TmY-gA6pRGI/AAAAAAAABHA/0l2fppbM0xo/s1600/S7002556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bXs-mSq-JYc/TmY-gA6pRGI/AAAAAAAABHA/0l2fppbM0xo/s320/S7002556.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Almost 13! Graduation from Grade 7. May 2009</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ULPOqWvt4bc/TmZAUoov17I/AAAAAAAABHE/eV16p2mg8Q4/s1600/DSCN1071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ULPOqWvt4bc/TmZAUoov17I/AAAAAAAABHE/eV16p2mg8Q4/s320/DSCN1071.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ihar age 13 1/2 (Jan. 2010) The date on the photo is wrong! Ihar was playing w/my camera! Ihar is in Grade 8 in this photo.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l1vv-GAh_NY/TmZCMYNpgKI/AAAAAAAABHI/ykFd0LI1zCg/s1600/DSCN1611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l1vv-GAh_NY/TmZCMYNpgKI/AAAAAAAABHI/ykFd0LI1zCg/s320/DSCN1611.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ihar age 15. My how he has grown!!!! I almost didn't recognize him! :-) It had been 1 year and 7 months since I last saw him.</span></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He has finished Grade 9 in this photo...August 2011</span></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zeP-EoZAi4c/TmZCxOknFAI/AAAAAAAABHM/uu28mjFAmDM/s1600/DSCN1695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nba="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zeP-EoZAi4c/TmZCxOknFAI/AAAAAAAABHM/uu28mjFAmDM/s320/DSCN1695.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">August 2011</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">15 years old!</span></div>martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577280042198534149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765047232596995202.post-66882586108614721592011-09-06T10:59:00.000-04:002011-09-06T10:59:48.508-04:00I love you!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-l01XIEvh66c/TmYwy2Y-5KI/AAAAAAAABGo/JMfMsFy9jK4/s1600/DSCN1940.AVI"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv7.nonxt3.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3Dbcddbd8037c7ea28%26itag%3D18%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1315341611%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3DBA496DA363ACE794E3C1B4B3F9F82EF2951838DD.A5976A94BC7C99EB0BDC5F46A060FB864CC163BE%26key%3Dlh1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv7.nonxt3.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3Dbcddbd8037c7ea28%26itag%3D18%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1315341611%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3DBA496DA363ACE794E3C1B4B3F9F82EF2951838DD.A5976A94BC7C99EB0BDC5F46A060FB864CC163BE%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although this message is a bit personal....I decided to share it with you! Ihar loves and misses his Dad very very much. Someday perhaps we will be together as a family. </span>martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577280042198534149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765047232596995202.post-52247788739904877062011-08-13T19:01:00.002-04:002011-08-14T16:12:30.392-04:00Not Goodbye...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h9LZ25u2RYU/Tkb-4AGcB8I/AAAAAAAABFc/06cNmVVXPh0/s1600/DSCN2022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h9LZ25u2RYU/Tkb-4AGcB8I/AAAAAAAABFc/06cNmVVXPh0/s320/DSCN2022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The night before we left. It was an emotional evening...thankful for some sleep medicine! Tatiana is like family to me....we love her!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5afO02mgXR8/Tkb_QAPFhKI/AAAAAAAABFg/VLYrEHl3hYI/s1600/DSCN2026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5afO02mgXR8/Tkb_QAPFhKI/AAAAAAAABFg/VLYrEHl3hYI/s320/DSCN2026.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our last morning....It's a little early for Ihar! This is the first time I've been to Belarus that he has accompanied me to the airport. We had a 3 hour drive and needed to arrive 2 hours early. I knew it was going to be hard for me. </span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b6wCNxvI5Q4/Tkb_nG4_HEI/AAAAAAAABFk/lygmix3qkOY/s1600/DSCN2028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b6wCNxvI5Q4/Tkb_nG4_HEI/AAAAAAAABFk/lygmix3qkOY/s320/DSCN2028.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mom....I'm half asleep!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7skmi4izD7A/Tkb_58yXOkI/AAAAAAAABFo/3pNp44Ps910/s1600/DSCN2031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7skmi4izD7A/Tkb_58yXOkI/AAAAAAAABFo/3pNp44Ps910/s320/DSCN2031.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saying Goodbye to a wonderful friend who also has made Ihar part of her family! Thank you Tatiana and Sasha!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yGhvPk67WKg/TkcAPZbE85I/AAAAAAAABFs/7KNYOExzJaY/s1600/DSCN2044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yGhvPk67WKg/TkcAPZbE85I/AAAAAAAABFs/7KNYOExzJaY/s320/DSCN2044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the airport...tears are just below the surface.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n6NeVPGFnf8/TkcAsdM2pAI/AAAAAAAABFw/jVEpn6IZ3Qc/s1600/DSCN2037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n6NeVPGFnf8/TkcAsdM2pAI/AAAAAAAABFw/jVEpn6IZ3Qc/s320/DSCN2037.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Minsk Airport....We love you Ihar! See you later!</span></div>martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577280042198534149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765047232596995202.post-33267111952176832542011-08-13T13:46:00.002-04:002011-08-14T16:18:20.076-04:00Ihar...Some of our favorite photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ugNIqTz2uk8/TkavEq-ayfI/AAAAAAAABEk/7dsCtmSzWYg/s1600/DSCN1610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ugNIqTz2uk8/TkavEq-ayfI/AAAAAAAABEk/7dsCtmSzWYg/s320/DSCN1610.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So happy to see Ihar! This trip was all about making memories to last a lifetime.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IUphUhfkZ8A/TkavrKHYDnI/AAAAAAAABEo/kzXgTONn7Oo/s1600/DSCN1681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IUphUhfkZ8A/TkavrKHYDnI/AAAAAAAABEo/kzXgTONn7Oo/s320/DSCN1681.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is no price tag you can put on spending time with your kids!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w80gZOkQxE4/TkawHatxYtI/AAAAAAAABEs/1dnBK69RjU8/s1600/DSCN1695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w80gZOkQxE4/TkawHatxYtI/AAAAAAAABEs/1dnBK69RjU8/s320/DSCN1695.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He is growing up....He told me he wants to stay in Belarus until he finishes school...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JsVI9ILXH_Q/TkawsN28rBI/AAAAAAAABEw/UJ1LKsrKGQE/s1600/DSCN1732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JsVI9ILXH_Q/TkawsN28rBI/AAAAAAAABEw/UJ1LKsrKGQE/s320/DSCN1732.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">even though it hurts, we understand his decision...now he must make good marks at school if he wishes to stay where he is...It's up to him. </span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EzCV3fvOdRU/TkaxBbzR6mI/AAAAAAAABE0/3cvAnuK0yHo/s1600/DSCN1765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EzCV3fvOdRU/TkaxBbzR6mI/AAAAAAAABE0/3cvAnuK0yHo/s320/DSCN1765.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We told him we would do all we could to continue to help him. He is happy he has a family who cares for him and loves him even if we are in America. </span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mv-FaqcxVbc/TkaxXSIoIBI/AAAAAAAABE4/bt4YYd6e6QU/s1600/DSCN1773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mv-FaqcxVbc/TkaxXSIoIBI/AAAAAAAABE4/bt4YYd6e6QU/s320/DSCN1773.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When he finishes school, he will decide then if he will try to come to America or pursue a career in the military or police. He knows our home is always open to him. Our desire would be for him to come here!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rvtDgSdmUkk/TkayBX17VZI/AAAAAAAABE8/ajjLk60amhA/s1600/DSCN1888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rvtDgSdmUkk/TkayBX17VZI/AAAAAAAABE8/ajjLk60amhA/s320/DSCN1888.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God put Ihar in our lives for a reason. It is all in His hands. We love him as a son. He is our</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"kid"! </span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qyr1vbSTbkM/TkayV0RCgUI/AAAAAAAABFA/LNzCwpmUzcE/s1600/DSCN1894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qyr1vbSTbkM/TkayV0RCgUI/AAAAAAAABFA/LNzCwpmUzcE/s320/DSCN1894.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are proud of him! Yes, he makes some bad choices, and he knows we are not happy when he does that! But he really wants for us to be proud of him. And we are! We had alot of serious talks about things. As I said, he is growing up. He knows the importance of making better choices which will impact his future. </span></div> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KMgEfH6wP_M/TkaywEKPcLI/AAAAAAAABFE/KJWcdeT7QR0/s1600/DSCN1937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KMgEfH6wP_M/TkaywEKPcLI/AAAAAAAABFE/KJWcdeT7QR0/s320/DSCN1937.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Loving him and so happy I got to spend some time reconnecting with him!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uuYw4_x8yZg/TkazDaoB9BI/AAAAAAAABFI/LccNB51B3ek/s1600/DSCN1945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uuYw4_x8yZg/TkazDaoB9BI/AAAAAAAABFI/LccNB51B3ek/s320/DSCN1945.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">American smiles...all around!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZQuZkVb5_kM/TkazX2q1WlI/AAAAAAAABFM/qXMeKtIUxBA/s1600/DSCN1964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZQuZkVb5_kM/TkazX2q1WlI/AAAAAAAABFM/qXMeKtIUxBA/s320/DSCN1964.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-87wxW0zSO0M/Tka0CyKkc0I/AAAAAAAABFQ/S0S0QMwlyy8/s1600/DSCN2020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-87wxW0zSO0M/Tka0CyKkc0I/AAAAAAAABFQ/S0S0QMwlyy8/s320/DSCN2020.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We played alot of card games...which was great fun! </span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VZMu4fLeaXs/Tka0fSTWl-I/AAAAAAAABFU/7R63YroV_lo/s1600/DSCN2024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VZMu4fLeaXs/Tka0fSTWl-I/AAAAAAAABFU/7R63YroV_lo/s320/DSCN2024.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy when he wins!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p82jEB1PhYc/Tka1X5sMzlI/AAAAAAAABFY/-cYCxrzRhxY/s1600/DSCN2017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p82jEB1PhYc/Tka1X5sMzlI/AAAAAAAABFY/-cYCxrzRhxY/s320/DSCN2017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We love you Ihar! Mom, Dad, Miranda and Zack</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577280042198534149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765047232596995202.post-4892134566332603242011-08-12T09:23:00.000-04:002011-08-12T09:23:20.126-04:00Visit with Atroshkins!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P_qrMIA2kZ4/TkUgl4BQywI/AAAAAAAABC8/bJ7eeR7P9XE/s1600/DSCN1968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P_qrMIA2kZ4/TkUgl4BQywI/AAAAAAAABC8/bJ7eeR7P9XE/s320/DSCN1968.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy to see Anzhelika and Liza! Even Ihar was happy to see the family!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--9fpZaHBhN8/TkUg6SIar1I/AAAAAAAABDA/sBoCPvZTU0s/s1600/DSCN1971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--9fpZaHBhN8/TkUg6SIar1I/AAAAAAAABDA/sBoCPvZTU0s/s320/DSCN1971.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Liza and Ihar....Liza has been to my house before.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EMiRzMUtE5I/TkUhYBHHLpI/AAAAAAAABDE/VLJmGDmGSoM/s1600/DSCN1972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EMiRzMUtE5I/TkUhYBHHLpI/AAAAAAAABDE/VLJmGDmGSoM/s320/DSCN1972.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love this family! We are at Grandmother's Datscha; Anzhelika, Sergei, David, Ihar, Angelina, Liza, Anya, 3 cousins and Antie complete the photo.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YODsPTH0BEQ/TkUh0xI_lcI/AAAAAAAABDI/lyRSwCyaEQE/s1600/DSCN1977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YODsPTH0BEQ/TkUh0xI_lcI/AAAAAAAABDI/lyRSwCyaEQE/s320/DSCN1977.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">David is taller than his father! Liza gives "the pose"!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eKYc351JAmA/TkUiT4OcqMI/AAAAAAAABDM/kEoaUCkmOh8/s1600/DSCN1995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eKYc351JAmA/TkUiT4OcqMI/AAAAAAAABDM/kEoaUCkmOh8/s320/DSCN1995.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The kitchen inside the datscha. Ihar is helping himself to some "kukarooza" or corn!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4fRiMKcjFag/TkUj_TBaXvI/AAAAAAAABDQ/UJXAu6uZGvE/s1600/DSCN1986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4fRiMKcjFag/TkUj_TBaXvI/AAAAAAAABDQ/UJXAu6uZGvE/s320/DSCN1986.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The kids cooked dinner for me...corn, boiled potatos and a cucumber salad. Anya and Liza competed for my attention. Anya won out most times...she was anxious to show me everything!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DrZk7l_jjZk/TkUkbLAxtHI/AAAAAAAABDU/I2PYtfiFd3A/s1600/DSCN2003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DrZk7l_jjZk/TkUkbLAxtHI/AAAAAAAABDU/I2PYtfiFd3A/s320/DSCN2003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sergei with 3 of his girls, a niece and a nephew (these are his sister's children)....They are showing me nuts growing on the tree.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cs1kAbHxfjU/TkUk2cuLc0I/AAAAAAAABDY/ZzWYttRK3CE/s1600/DSCN2000.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cs1kAbHxfjU/TkUk2cuLc0I/AAAAAAAABDY/ZzWYttRK3CE/s320/DSCN2000.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A datscha would not be a datscha without beautiful flowers in the garden! This is Liza!</span></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u6Tx1L6zPnQ/TkUlQt5fNdI/AAAAAAAABDc/WtAb51X1_pY/s1600/DSCN1980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u6Tx1L6zPnQ/TkUlQt5fNdI/AAAAAAAABDc/WtAb51X1_pY/s320/DSCN1980.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Three beautiful Atroshkina girls! Angelina, Anya and Liza!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jk1cb713Tjk/TkUlszcOvCI/AAAAAAAABDg/PybOjNn4vK0/s1600/DSCN1989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jk1cb713Tjk/TkUlszcOvCI/AAAAAAAABDg/PybOjNn4vK0/s320/DSCN1989.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ihar and David...David is one of Ihar's good friends. They are the same age. David has finished Grade 9 and will move to the trade school to learn working with metal. Ihar will remain at the Cadet School. David has been working this summer sometimes helping his father who is working in St. Petersburg, Russia.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Pp3IAxvzjs/TkUnfyzL6pI/AAAAAAAABDk/1SbOKffnEmc/s1600/DSCN2002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Pp3IAxvzjs/TkUnfyzL6pI/AAAAAAAABDk/1SbOKffnEmc/s320/DSCN2002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Great Grandmother's Datscha....isn't the scenery beautiful?!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-INpuZONKqEk/TkUn18zuB2I/AAAAAAAABDo/Cp-zgia4n-s/s1600/DSCN2005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-INpuZONKqEk/TkUn18zuB2I/AAAAAAAABDo/Cp-zgia4n-s/s320/DSCN2005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Great Grandmother (83 yrs. old)....Angelina, Anya, Cousin, Liza and Cousin</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Exp6_e4x-6M/TkUoKqTcw9I/AAAAAAAABDs/yLZu-pTt-e4/s1600/DSCN2013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Exp6_e4x-6M/TkUoKqTcw9I/AAAAAAAABDs/yLZu-pTt-e4/s320/DSCN2013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was the first American Great Grandmother has visited with. She was precious and so Russian!! I love this photo! All in all, it was a great visit with my precious friends...Pray for them, their lives are difficult right now. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577280042198534149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765047232596995202.post-22435615594879980022011-08-12T08:43:00.000-04:002011-08-12T08:43:28.537-04:00Girls Orphanage & Foster Village<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1qEx8qYMkr0/TkUYCtU5RLI/AAAAAAAABCU/A7QKnp3I770/s1600/DSCN1844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1qEx8qYMkr0/TkUYCtU5RLI/AAAAAAAABCU/A7QKnp3I770/s320/DSCN1844.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ihar is standing in one of the dorm rooms for the girls. The cabinets are new from the last time I have visited the school/orphanage. My friend, Cheri, her daughter was in this orphanage. Many of Ihar's friends are here as this school and his school get together for many dances throughout the year. And the boys and girls are at camp together in the summer. </span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fja7yjFC0zk/TkUYfbzz8vI/AAAAAAAABCY/SpF6Axe1JSw/s1600/DSCN1848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fja7yjFC0zk/TkUYfbzz8vI/AAAAAAAABCY/SpF6Axe1JSw/s320/DSCN1848.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They are taught many skills. One of them is sewing and design. Aren't these cute?!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kB7Qfw8V6sc/TkUY7ijH66I/AAAAAAAABCc/mnqrrPmvtyg/s1600/DSCN1851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kB7Qfw8V6sc/TkUY7ijH66I/AAAAAAAABCc/mnqrrPmvtyg/s320/DSCN1851.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ihar in front of a mural. All crafts are taught to the girls....beads, jewelry, painting, sketching, sewing, cross stitch, etc. I have given money in the past to help buy supplies for the girls. </span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zyu3yBlNPMs/TkUZb0Ig0zI/AAAAAAAABCg/7EMAjPiGNMQ/s1600/DSCN1852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zyu3yBlNPMs/TkUZb0Ig0zI/AAAAAAAABCg/7EMAjPiGNMQ/s320/DSCN1852.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The girls' handiwork from sewing class. I can't even sew!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YcUi2z72_7Q/TkUbsK2FZTI/AAAAAAAABCk/makm3CXlhgI/s1600/DSCN1945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YcUi2z72_7Q/TkUbsK2FZTI/AAAAAAAABCk/makm3CXlhgI/s320/DSCN1945.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are at the SOS Foster Village. It has been open for only 1 year. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Ihar always goes with me when I visit the orphanages. I have wanted to tour this village from the first time I heard about it. </span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vu7qIOF0-Sk/TkUcF1doPLI/AAAAAAAABCo/Mwek6Wq8ITs/s1600/DSCN1957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vu7qIOF0-Sk/TkUcF1doPLI/AAAAAAAABCo/Mwek6Wq8ITs/s320/DSCN1957.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was really impressed! It has been built with money from other countries, such as Germany. Each "home" has a mother who has been hired and up to 6 children in the home. There is no "dad" ....</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Viyz2XAQrk/TkUcszr_BJI/AAAAAAAABCs/YxjjRvJ2kRE/s1600/DSCN1949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Viyz2XAQrk/TkUcszr_BJI/AAAAAAAABCs/YxjjRvJ2kRE/s320/DSCN1949.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ULXq4FDF2Mk/TkUdECafpQI/AAAAAAAABCw/8ohqYKSb9-0/s1600/DSCN1951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ULXq4FDF2Mk/TkUdECafpQI/AAAAAAAABCw/8ohqYKSb9-0/s320/DSCN1951.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This little guy took us on a "tour" of his home. He was so sweet and wanted to show us everything! Then when we got ready to leave, he gave us a muffin!</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I could almost see myself doing this kind of thing. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4TJosHBxWMo/TkUdcdvxwTI/AAAAAAAABC0/KmAu-A-sE8g/s1600/DSCN1960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4TJosHBxWMo/TkUdcdvxwTI/AAAAAAAABC0/KmAu-A-sE8g/s320/DSCN1960.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SOS Foster Village, Mogilev, Belarus</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1tJ8IwQxTxY/TkUflIF-yAI/AAAAAAAABC4/G_4jIxql65w/s1600/DSCN1959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1tJ8IwQxTxY/TkUflIF-yAI/AAAAAAAABC4/G_4jIxql65w/s320/DSCN1959.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ihar looking at a photo of the president of Belarus.</span></div>martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577280042198534149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765047232596995202.post-80341163916711978692011-08-10T12:24:00.003-04:002011-08-13T19:17:16.200-04:00A Highlight!!! Baby Orphanage!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UFCe7lkC5Cs/TkKo-_kZAAI/AAAAAAAABBg/fNCOd9CGH8E/s1600/DSCN1823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UFCe7lkC5Cs/TkKo-_kZAAI/AAAAAAAABBg/fNCOd9CGH8E/s320/DSCN1823.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well it wouldn't be Belarus if I didn't make it to some orphanages!!! This is one I have </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">wanted to go into for quite some time. It is the baby orphanage. They have 300 workers </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">(24/7) and 143 babies right now. </span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u-c11ZN_Qjo/TkKpiwbUbhI/AAAAAAAABBk/Lr43WgPTMWc/s1600/DSCN1794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u-c11ZN_Qjo/TkKpiwbUbhI/AAAAAAAABBk/Lr43WgPTMWc/s320/DSCN1794.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is Masha. She is 4 weeks old.....that's Katie in the background (she traveled to Belarus</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">with us, Katie went to visit her Belarussian "sister"). We are in the infant room. Most of these babies</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">are already potty trained. They begin at 4 mths. old...putting them on the potty.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Diapers are so expensive and they pee pee right thru the cloth diapers they use...and they</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">don't have rubber pants...</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--ztu2eV_mzU/TkKp2yLVpyI/AAAAAAAABBo/QONV93WvFu0/s1600/DSCN1787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--ztu2eV_mzU/TkKp2yLVpyI/AAAAAAAABBo/QONV93WvFu0/s320/DSCN1787.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is Kacha....she wanted all of us to pick her up!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tmkJnjCQ6m8/TkcF0G9xkII/AAAAAAAABGE/_ZDh9fUH06Q/s1600/DSCN1798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tmkJnjCQ6m8/TkcF0G9xkII/AAAAAAAABGE/_ZDh9fUH06Q/s320/DSCN1798.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The infant room...where is all the color?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wUSigpaH_zM/TkKqkcqq4oI/AAAAAAAABBw/6KXRKEVurxI/s1600/DSCN1804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wUSigpaH_zM/TkKqkcqq4oI/AAAAAAAABBw/6KXRKEVurxI/s320/DSCN1804.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ihar will make a great daddy someday. He loves kids and they love him!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He didn't even seem to mind coming with me here!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3R-mQPgkmqg/TkKsLYoVcwI/AAAAAAAABB0/q0fhhYftxd8/s1600/DSCN1809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3R-mQPgkmqg/TkKsLYoVcwI/AAAAAAAABB0/q0fhhYftxd8/s320/DSCN1809.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He didn't even have anybody telling him to pick up the children!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He loves them!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hJMQDnPa5Io/TkKsgPImtjI/AAAAAAAABB4/vq04n92Rjfg/s1600/DSCN1813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hJMQDnPa5Io/TkKsgPImtjI/AAAAAAAABB4/vq04n92Rjfg/s320/DSCN1813.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She's ready for her shopping trip!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QKefti1kjZw/TkKszVT1KSI/AAAAAAAABB8/za4ne5Rnv8k/s1600/DSCN1818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QKefti1kjZw/TkKszVT1KSI/AAAAAAAABB8/za4ne5Rnv8k/s320/DSCN1818.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ihar enjoyed pushing the children on their swing.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CaQg128PkWY/TkKt2Z5UdDI/AAAAAAAABCA/ewhH9oaBCXM/s1600/DSCN1817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CaQg128PkWY/TkKt2Z5UdDI/AAAAAAAABCA/ewhH9oaBCXM/s320/DSCN1817.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is Koyla...he wanted me to hold him the entire time I was there...of course, I</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">obliged him! He seemed to tell me "don't put me down"....I sang songs to him and I</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">prayed scripture over him. I wish I could have taken him home with me. He squished his little</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">head right next to mine. I wanted to cry. </span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0OXl5h16G28/TkKuMV17MBI/AAAAAAAABCE/5xEViEvnTe0/s1600/DSCN1821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0OXl5h16G28/TkKuMV17MBI/AAAAAAAABCE/5xEViEvnTe0/s320/DSCN1821.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Koyla looking so very very serious. Isn't he adorable?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2jepKCb1shI/TkKvoiLx3aI/AAAAAAAABCI/os5z614UXxk/s1600/DSCN1802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2jepKCb1shI/TkKvoiLx3aI/AAAAAAAABCI/os5z614UXxk/s320/DSCN1802.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Aren't we adorable?</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BRQey_kBHCA/TkKwFiDu4MI/AAAAAAAABCM/gI7r_7r7G-w/s1600/DSCN1961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BRQey_kBHCA/TkKwFiDu4MI/AAAAAAAABCM/gI7r_7r7G-w/s320/DSCN1961.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We bought diapers, diapers and more diapers......and we</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">bought medicine for babies' gums and stomach...I hope it helps a little! All thanks to a precious friend!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YlMyLdkMlKg/TkKwbEK5avI/AAAAAAAABCQ/5AzxxejWttE/s1600/DSCN1962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YlMyLdkMlKg/TkKwbEK5avI/AAAAAAAABCQ/5AzxxejWttE/s320/DSCN1962.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pleased that we could help!</span></div>martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577280042198534149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765047232596995202.post-47605814348903728912011-08-10T11:45:00.001-04:002011-08-10T11:48:56.434-04:00Ihar Always Said......!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B-Ks4Afhi24/TkKhSMTGJpI/AAAAAAAABA8/451bSWR5fSs/s1600/DSCN1686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B-Ks4Afhi24/TkKhSMTGJpI/AAAAAAAABA8/451bSWR5fSs/s320/DSCN1686.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ihar always said to me, "Mom, Come to Belarus in the Summer, it is beautiful!"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He is so right!!!! There is so much green and so many flowers! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Ihar is proud of his country. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oGVnuH0lBFA/TkKhtdMKTNI/AAAAAAAABBA/2XIvgW4qQC0/s1600/DSCN1685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oGVnuH0lBFA/TkKhtdMKTNI/AAAAAAAABBA/2XIvgW4qQC0/s320/DSCN1685.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These photos were taken at the museum which is next to the zoo.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">It was fun doing some "tourist" things with Ihar!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iLhqy4-umcM/TkKiDhXg9VI/AAAAAAAABBE/2bJGHl2-SuY/s1600/DSCN1682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iLhqy4-umcM/TkKiDhXg9VI/AAAAAAAABBE/2bJGHl2-SuY/s320/DSCN1682.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Isn't this gorgeous?!!! This is a hotel at the museum. It is just as beautiful</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">inside as it is outside! We went in to use the bathroom!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AIO3eiS7Adw/TkKig3B-XuI/AAAAAAAABBI/-dOQPg7m5bY/s1600/DSCN1705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AIO3eiS7Adw/TkKig3B-XuI/AAAAAAAABBI/-dOQPg7m5bY/s320/DSCN1705.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ihar at the museum....We had some fun!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MuwurbJQ9Uo/TkKjUNrFupI/AAAAAAAABBM/HP1xXTy_Bxs/s1600/DSCN1878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MuwurbJQ9Uo/TkKjUNrFupI/AAAAAAAABBM/HP1xXTy_Bxs/s320/DSCN1878.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was a datscha where the people used Coke and Sprite bottles to make all</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">their decorations, the roof and the gate....etc. It was amazing!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZDOy0NLC9Q/TkKj_w86kZI/AAAAAAAABBQ/e2PbR22bCfI/s1600/DSCN1874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZDOy0NLC9Q/TkKj_w86kZI/AAAAAAAABBQ/e2PbR22bCfI/s320/DSCN1874.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wouldn't you agree!!! It is beautiful!! I wonder how many bottles</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">they had to use????</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2n51wCR0OI0/TkKkhLWwbuI/AAAAAAAABBU/S2Dk-CAZElY/s1600/DSCN1882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2n51wCR0OI0/TkKkhLWwbuI/AAAAAAAABBU/S2Dk-CAZElY/s320/DSCN1882.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here I am standing in front of their gate! Start counting those bottles!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4zLgjNn4qyo/TkKlDwVlGsI/AAAAAAAABBY/n2b7dJyoCyA/s1600/DSCN1896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4zLgjNn4qyo/TkKlDwVlGsI/AAAAAAAABBY/n2b7dJyoCyA/s320/DSCN1896.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Russian Orthodox Church</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oFSGmQ-br7g/TkKlcTsnqII/AAAAAAAABBc/zmPdd2qgZVU/s1600/DSCN1831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oFSGmQ-br7g/TkKlcTsnqII/AAAAAAAABBc/zmPdd2qgZVU/s320/DSCN1831.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were walking by when the bread truck drove up for a delivery....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">my oh my but the bread smelled so good!!!!</span></div>martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577280042198534149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765047232596995202.post-66596698723260707232011-08-09T23:09:00.001-04:002011-08-13T19:14:13.742-04:00Ihar's city, Mogilev (Summer 2011)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7DEWv0WXtEQ/TkHxFXFm9QI/AAAAAAAABAg/XmNGxDDy0-A/s1600/DSCN1647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7DEWv0WXtEQ/TkHxFXFm9QI/AAAAAAAABAg/XmNGxDDy0-A/s320/DSCN1647.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ihar in the heart of downtown Mogilev. The wedding chapel is the building </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">on your right. If you elect to get married in a church you still have to make</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">a visit to the chapel!!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Vj57zK2Ux4/TkHxb0SrALI/AAAAAAAABAk/TGykFVfmfzQ/s1600/DSCN1652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Vj57zK2Ux4/TkHxb0SrALI/AAAAAAAABAk/TGykFVfmfzQ/s320/DSCN1652.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This river runs between the city. It is called "Daniper" at least that is how it sounds, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">but I'm sure the spelling is wrong!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FUToTNxagco/TkHx1qiSl0I/AAAAAAAABAo/51y5glD3iXw/s1600/DSCN1675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FUToTNxagco/TkHx1qiSl0I/AAAAAAAABAo/51y5glD3iXw/s320/DSCN1675.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Linda and myself sitting almost in a bed of flowers.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5ot91KVcCBk/TkHyMi5H7EI/AAAAAAAABAs/21S5TllDy_w/s1600/DSCN1676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5ot91KVcCBk/TkHyMi5H7EI/AAAAAAAABAs/21S5TllDy_w/s320/DSCN1676.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Town fountains....when it is really hot, you will find people getting </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">in the fountains!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--HD0Ryw5W_s/TkHyk2eFNZI/AAAAAAAABAw/7wfDvpKGrQQ/s1600/DSCN1678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--HD0Ryw5W_s/TkHyk2eFNZI/AAAAAAAABAw/7wfDvpKGrQQ/s320/DSCN1678.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Standing near one of the zodiac chairs in the heart of the city. Story goes that you sit</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">in the chair of you zodiac sign and your wish will come true. If my wish came true, Ihar</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">would be coming to America!!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FM0x3cstsFs/TkHzRsVNpkI/AAAAAAAABA0/K9NEwTgTKaM/s1600/DSCN1779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FM0x3cstsFs/TkHzRsVNpkI/AAAAAAAABA0/K9NEwTgTKaM/s320/DSCN1779.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ihar and "his girl"...in front of the theatre.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CGcQWHiiCbk/TkH0IxlpbSI/AAAAAAAABA4/GBakSIWa_-g/s1600/DSCN1963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CGcQWHiiCbk/TkH0IxlpbSI/AAAAAAAABA4/GBakSIWa_-g/s320/DSCN1963.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course we visited a candy store! Candy is of high importance....you</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">will be served candy almost at every meal!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fHQ21Q7ilw0/TkcDRZESUqI/AAAAAAAABF0/FEfyhC5XUW8/s1600/DSCN1656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fHQ21Q7ilw0/TkcDRZESUqI/AAAAAAAABF0/FEfyhC5XUW8/s320/DSCN1656.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ihar standing in front of one of the war memorials....</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tYbtyhqpHCU/TkcDxNswFTI/AAAAAAAABF4/i77rQ6ojbU4/s1600/DSCN1658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tYbtyhqpHCU/TkcDxNswFTI/AAAAAAAABF4/i77rQ6ojbU4/s320/DSCN1658.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tribute to the leaders of Belarus and Russia...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bze7rixeLNE/TkcElUBi4_I/AAAAAAAABF8/cG_W2UiE4zQ/s1600/DSCN1711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bze7rixeLNE/TkcElUBi4_I/AAAAAAAABF8/cG_W2UiE4zQ/s320/DSCN1711.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">German tanks</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EE2Ilb5LtUc/TkcE9J73O5I/AAAAAAAABGA/PmDG_fWkxJc/s1600/DSCN1708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EE2Ilb5LtUc/TkcE9J73O5I/AAAAAAAABGA/PmDG_fWkxJc/s320/DSCN1708.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another war memorial..this is one that wedding couples also visit.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577280042198534149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765047232596995202.post-90789179679500973382011-08-09T22:43:00.000-04:002011-08-09T22:43:29.207-04:00A visit to Tatiana's Datscha<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H8p2YL3EiH8/TkHr6cyy92I/AAAAAAAABAE/59Sswm3BNDg/s1600/DSCN1715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H8p2YL3EiH8/TkHr6cyy92I/AAAAAAAABAE/59Sswm3BNDg/s320/DSCN1715.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is Tatiana's datscha...which is really just a country cottage.The government</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">gives them a plot of land and you have to use your own money to build</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">a house. This is where most Belarussian people spend the summers and</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">where they have large gardens (to can and freeeze). </span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iVyK7i7ooPU/TkHsij-EW_I/AAAAAAAABAI/9L7Oq2C1GQQ/s1600/DSCN1732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iVyK7i7ooPU/TkHsij-EW_I/AAAAAAAABAI/9L7Oq2C1GQQ/s320/DSCN1732.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Ihar....</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5FquMCnghH4/TkHs4cON8mI/AAAAAAAABAM/MHAQsSfi9aQ/s1600/DSCN1733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5FquMCnghH4/TkHs4cON8mI/AAAAAAAABAM/MHAQsSfi9aQ/s320/DSCN1733.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Mama!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-21Wr6xc_7Yg/TkHtUcdrVUI/AAAAAAAABAQ/FT7aqlvLXto/s1600/DSCN1731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-21Wr6xc_7Yg/TkHtUcdrVUI/AAAAAAAABAQ/FT7aqlvLXto/s320/DSCN1731.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is Tatiana's "bana" or another name could be "european spa".</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">They burn wood fires to heat the bana which will get 160 degrees....then they use leaves</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">to beat you (like a massage) and in the winter, you go into the snow to cool down then back again </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">to the heat....No, I have not done this before! Yes, Ihar has been in a bana.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Americans are rather more modest than europeans (at least this American is!!!)</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Oq0uBCJQocg/TkHtvktbeHI/AAAAAAAABAU/UE9U4m8I3pc/s1600/DSCN1725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Oq0uBCJQocg/TkHtvktbeHI/AAAAAAAABAU/UE9U4m8I3pc/s320/DSCN1725.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WUc313RiBtk/TkHuJaG8OrI/AAAAAAAABAY/NG6qjbFrrfQ/s1600/DSCN1726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WUc313RiBtk/TkHuJaG8OrI/AAAAAAAABAY/NG6qjbFrrfQ/s320/DSCN1726.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is Tatiana's oven in her datscha in which to cook.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JYxrT5YAbyc/TkHugdh_1DI/AAAAAAAABAc/gePZNBWzWmM/s1600/DSCN1717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JYxrT5YAbyc/TkHugdh_1DI/AAAAAAAABAc/gePZNBWzWmM/s320/DSCN1717.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tatiana and Ihar</span></div>martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577280042198534149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765047232596995202.post-65981899028330133402011-08-09T17:19:00.000-04:002011-08-09T17:19:24.405-04:00Tour of churches...Belarus 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tm_ivJd-1jc/TkGZcZpDRII/AAAAAAAAA_c/UPnt0T9XNnY/s1600/DSCN1655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tm_ivJd-1jc/TkGZcZpDRII/AAAAAAAAA_c/UPnt0T9XNnY/s320/DSCN1655.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ihar is standing in front of a Russian Orthodox church he helped lay brick for. The main part of the church is behind the wooden building behind him.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QHMkmoZuTmk/TkGWKhetOCI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/0unaweqypDQ/s1600/DSCN1638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QHMkmoZuTmk/TkGWKhetOCI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/0unaweqypDQ/s320/DSCN1638.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the smallest Russian Orthodox church in Belarus...it is one of the traditional places all newly married couples visit for photos....we saw several wedding couples.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-muudojQL2_g/TkGXKougxfI/AAAAAAAAA_U/lUUtk6dPnoA/s1600/DSCN1636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-muudojQL2_g/TkGXKougxfI/AAAAAAAAA_U/lUUtk6dPnoA/s320/DSCN1636.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has a natural Spring where the water is clean and icy cold. I have seen this on previous visits to Belarus but the water is frozen in the winter!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o9G70Yg0RPA/TkGX2nm-wPI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/MOLWGgyUEi4/s1600/DSCN1640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o9G70Yg0RPA/TkGX2nm-wPI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/MOLWGgyUEi4/s320/DSCN1640.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a pool of water for "holy cleansing". It was busy while we were there. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zqamqd5vKZs/TkGbRW7plJI/AAAAAAAAA_k/Uhk_BzgHHJE/s1600/DSCN1660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zqamqd5vKZs/TkGbRW7plJI/AAAAAAAAA_k/Uhk_BzgHHJE/s320/DSCN1660.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Catholic church</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wmgv2B-zbP8/TkGcIVsdLXI/AAAAAAAAA_o/18vRmMf_qa0/s1600/DSCN1887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wmgv2B-zbP8/TkGcIVsdLXI/AAAAAAAAA_o/18vRmMf_qa0/s320/DSCN1887.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Three very "Russian" looking women! This is actually me, Tatiana and Linda. This is at the convent where nuns currently live and work. There is a small building which has a celler full of skulls and bones and a nun sits round the clock praying for those bones. </span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lg90CtlWLa8/TkGc5b3_VKI/AAAAAAAAA_s/eBGbSC8wwMY/s1600/DSCN1888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lg90CtlWLa8/TkGc5b3_VKI/AAAAAAAAA_s/eBGbSC8wwMY/s320/DSCN1888.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ihar and me in front of the oldest part of the convent.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JQhLJxwB92M/TkGdpuGdcSI/AAAAAAAAA_w/KLbgW4sSzhk/s1600/DSCN1911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JQhLJxwB92M/TkGdpuGdcSI/AAAAAAAAA_w/KLbgW4sSzhk/s320/DSCN1911.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inside of the convent which is beautiful. It was built in the early 1600's.</span></div> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a7iPmCl4zZg/TkGfSPYnTXI/AAAAAAAAA_0/wOjE7rgv7Xk/s1600/DSCN1914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a7iPmCl4zZg/TkGfSPYnTXI/AAAAAAAAA_0/wOjE7rgv7Xk/s320/DSCN1914.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A burial plot for one of the saints of the church.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TN5mDTVIi-Q/TkGiNqrtlJI/AAAAAAAAA_4/q9kvGRrqF5c/s1600/DSCN1897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TN5mDTVIi-Q/TkGiNqrtlJI/AAAAAAAAA_4/q9kvGRrqF5c/s320/DSCN1897.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Convent....</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xMAZI9vj6eE/TkGiwRVqHwI/AAAAAAAAA_8/2gGmDkJcA98/s1600/DSCN2032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xMAZI9vj6eE/TkGiwRVqHwI/AAAAAAAAA_8/2gGmDkJcA98/s320/DSCN2032.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the drive to the airport we passed this church.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SbKiqJw8yqc/TkGjfLtjqOI/AAAAAAAABAA/i9suBs53Ix8/s1600/DSCN1713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SbKiqJw8yqc/TkGjfLtjqOI/AAAAAAAABAA/i9suBs53Ix8/s320/DSCN1713.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Russian Orthodox church in Mogilev.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577280042198534149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765047232596995202.post-56585407043378065642011-08-09T16:07:00.003-04:002011-08-14T17:11:51.715-04:00Ihar's 15th Birthday Celebration July 30, 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r2tK2eZ0JWo/TkGO2_KyOXI/AAAAAAAAA_E/WeZlo93J5_4/s1600/DSCN1667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r2tK2eZ0JWo/TkGO2_KyOXI/AAAAAAAAA_E/WeZlo93J5_4/s320/DSCN1667.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nyzRRw6iOec/TkGRoHqf93I/AAAAAAAAA_I/5fh9NuGsfYU/s1600/DSCN1668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nyzRRw6iOec/TkGRoHqf93I/AAAAAAAAA_I/5fh9NuGsfYU/s320/DSCN1668.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you...."!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4umE9dWixfo/TkGSRFgfLUI/AAAAAAAAA_M/79cS3R2aIKA/s1600/DSCN1671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4umE9dWixfo/TkGSRFgfLUI/AAAAAAAAA_M/79cS3R2aIKA/s320/DSCN1671.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturday night I bought drinks, pizzas and birthday cake (torte) to celebrate Ihar's 15th birthday (which was July 22). The party included Tatiana, Sasha, Linda, myself and Ihar.....We sang Happy Birthday in English. Yes, there were 15 candles on the cake! What was his birthday present besides my visit? A cell phone! He has wanted one from the first time I met him !!!! I think it was about time! My prayer is that he will be responsible with it. In Belarus, you cannot use a cell phone until it is registered with the state....so Ihar had to wait several days to use it! That's called patience for a teenager! Ihar even liked all the clothes and shoes I brought him from America.....now that IS being a teenager!!!! </span></div>martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577280042198534149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765047232596995202.post-32391987275943873542011-08-09T15:33:00.004-04:002011-08-15T08:43:44.293-04:00Reunion Day!!! July 30, 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dyc3BrGTTw8/TkGGkXAyUoI/AAAAAAAAA-w/W6JDqUXBxVI/s1600/DSCN1607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dyc3BrGTTw8/TkGGkXAyUoI/AAAAAAAAA-w/W6JDqUXBxVI/s320/DSCN1607.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial;">On Saturday, we (me, Tatiana and my friend Linda (who traveled with me)) picked Ihar up from camp! Ihar is now 15 but was still happy to see me (it had been a year and 7 months since I saw him last). <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This photo says it all, "Hi Mom! Welcome to Belarus!". It was an emotional time for us both. I was so happy to see him! I think he was happy to see me too!</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X3SzBDplKeg/TkGHL4OtT-I/AAAAAAAAA-0/CmeWyPmFSBc/s1600/DSCN1610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X3SzBDplKeg/TkGHL4OtT-I/AAAAAAAAA-0/CmeWyPmFSBc/s320/DSCN1610.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do I look slightly happy or what? He is a good looking 15 year old!!! That's being a mom!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EjRMC2xKkyk/TkGHjVW2fdI/AAAAAAAAA-4/DIaQKVKP-wI/s1600/DSCN1611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EjRMC2xKkyk/TkGHjVW2fdI/AAAAAAAAA-4/DIaQKVKP-wI/s320/DSCN1611.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial;">He has grown so much I almost didn't recognize him! He is much taller than me and wears a size 10 shoe! He is fit and works out with weights....</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2SZGUdiV95c/TkGIXSnDVeI/AAAAAAAAA-8/7vemqj-fOsw/s1600/DSCN1620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2SZGUdiV95c/TkGIXSnDVeI/AAAAAAAAA-8/7vemqj-fOsw/s320/DSCN1620.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This photo was taken at the creek where the kids keep cool in the summer! It was a little muddy for me!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nZAD2gNoEUs/TkGJElxzvCI/AAAAAAAAA_A/p3UXg8JZQ3g/s1600/DSCN1599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nZAD2gNoEUs/TkGJElxzvCI/AAAAAAAAA_A/p3UXg8JZQ3g/s320/DSCN1599.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also got to visit with Anastashia (my friend Cheri's daughter). She was also at the same camp at Ihar. She is very beautiful! She is now sweet 16 (almost 17). </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TtFb5Hiker0/TkcGZzUMThI/AAAAAAAABGI/m4Xpif75ekM/s1600/DSCN1594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TtFb5Hiker0/TkcGZzUMThI/AAAAAAAABGI/m4Xpif75ekM/s320/DSCN1594.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The front of the camp....this would be the main building...the kids do "disco" outside in front of here.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DzF6KCLD-so/TkcG2j133GI/AAAAAAAABGM/iptlBAbL3Ro/s1600/DSCN1619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DzF6KCLD-so/TkcG2j133GI/AAAAAAAABGM/iptlBAbL3Ro/s320/DSCN1619.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a view of the back of the building where the dorm rooms are....The girls are on the top floor and the boys are on the bottom floor. The pavement here is their tennis courts and where they play soccer and basketball.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-osVVv2dXdiU/TkcHL0x75qI/AAAAAAAABGQ/_4vNOwVr5zQ/s1600/DSCN1621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-osVVv2dXdiU/TkcHL0x75qI/AAAAAAAABGQ/_4vNOwVr5zQ/s320/DSCN1621.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The creek where they swim....</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OKrj81NdBlI/TkcHiY2qm-I/AAAAAAAABGU/5aNGUdq4Brs/s1600/DSCN1585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OKrj81NdBlI/TkcHiY2qm-I/AAAAAAAABGU/5aNGUdq4Brs/s320/DSCN1585.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">View from the entrance...colorful. The camp is not at all like I pictured! </span></div>martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577280042198534149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765047232596995202.post-61049326236944013652011-04-07T14:10:00.001-04:002011-04-07T14:12:06.980-04:00Ihar Spring 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GpBaMwgKt-Y/TZyRGtnE1CI/AAAAAAAAA9I/7RfPVykyK80/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GpBaMwgKt-Y/TZyRGtnE1CI/AAAAAAAAA9I/7RfPVykyK80/s320/029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>My Ihar...a photo taken the end of March 2011 by some wonderful friends who traveled to Belarus and were kind enough to send me these photos....enjoy!!! Ihar will be 15 in July. I am hoping to be in Belarus for his birthday! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2JxmvSuQ3AI/TZySghsKXRI/AAAAAAAAA9s/vOeKY3py4VI/s1600/049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2JxmvSuQ3AI/TZySghsKXRI/AAAAAAAAA9s/vOeKY3py4VI/s320/049.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>and another.....this last photo is Ihar and the Atroshkins children and their grandfather...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1OOTtd69fNA/TZySRTavKsI/AAAAAAAAA9c/iEga083UlPI/s1600/031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1OOTtd69fNA/TZySRTavKsI/AAAAAAAAA9c/iEga083UlPI/s320/031.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577280042198534149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765047232596995202.post-74883971551320550862010-07-22T07:56:00.001-04:002010-09-15T16:02:00.180-04:00Happy Birthday Ihar!!!!!<em>Today is Ihar's14th Birthday! Another special moment missed; however, I did send him a musical birthday card which sings the Happy Birthday song in English. The tune is the same in Russian.</em><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">My Prayer for Ihar on his birthday:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">May the Lord bless you and keep you,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">May He make His face to shine upon you,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">And may you know He made you speical and</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">He loves you with an everlasting love.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">May you draw near to Him as He whispers His</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">love to you. His strength is your strength.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">He hears your every prayer. God Bless.</span>martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577280042198534149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765047232596995202.post-83993955047120353892010-07-16T22:47:00.000-04:002010-07-16T22:47:40.178-04:00My Ihar<em>Most parents attend special events in their children's lives. This is our son, Ihar, at his graduation ceremony <strong>a year ago</strong> when he was promoted to rank of vice-sergeant upon completion of grade 7 to grade 8. I have spent the past 6 months trying to get these pictures! Anzhelika attended and took the pictures.....what else have I missed? We're still trying for a student visa...so keep praying with us. Ihar's at camp until the end of August. He will then return to cadet school and go to a week of camp prior to school beginning.</em><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iAdQNQwPqoc/TEEZI5yg0yI/AAAAAAAAA74/3vX8DD4--pE/s1600/S7002556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iAdQNQwPqoc/TEEZI5yg0yI/AAAAAAAAA74/3vX8DD4--pE/s320/S7002556.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iAdQNQwPqoc/TEEZvaLlp0I/AAAAAAAAA8A/CXoB1GTioMA/s1600/S7002555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iAdQNQwPqoc/TEEZvaLlp0I/AAAAAAAAA8A/CXoB1GTioMA/s320/S7002555.JPG" /></a></div>martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577280042198534149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765047232596995202.post-69662662322632986252010-06-28T09:23:00.000-04:002010-06-28T09:23:22.390-04:00The Magic of Anya<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_iAdQNQwPqoc/TCigBLRWdDI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/KYNa7fLioIY/s1600/DSCN1343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_iAdQNQwPqoc/TCigBLRWdDI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/KYNa7fLioIY/s320/DSCN1343.JPG" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iAdQNQwPqoc/TCigYg0WlWI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/zdTENZ5y7Zw/s1600/DSCN1332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iAdQNQwPqoc/TCigYg0WlWI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/zdTENZ5y7Zw/s320/DSCN1332.JPG" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iAdQNQwPqoc/TCifK3uVM_I/AAAAAAAAA7A/3PtPt4MbwbM/s1600/DSCN1321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iAdQNQwPqoc/TCifK3uVM_I/AAAAAAAAA7A/3PtPt4MbwbM/s320/DSCN1321.JPG" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iAdQNQwPqoc/TCig2c1-NXI/AAAAAAAAA7g/rB31YL7K3fg/s1600/DSCN1338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iAdQNQwPqoc/TCig2c1-NXI/AAAAAAAAA7g/rB31YL7K3fg/s320/DSCN1338.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><em>This week we had the honor of taking care of Anya Atroshkina. She is an ABRO kid from Belarus. She is also Liza's sister and 3rd child of Anzhelika and Sergei Atroshkin (my host family in Belarus). She is great friends with my Ihar. We have so enjoyed her visit with us! Every child is a precious gift and we thank Him for moments He gives us! </em><br />
<br />
<em>Anya enjoys swimming, horses, playing, drawing and eating! We had great fun! We called Belarus and talked with Liza and Ihar. We went up to visit Anya's brother who is with a host family in Pilot Mtn. Today Anya goes back with her American host family. Thanks Lynn and Steve for sharing Anya with us!</em>martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577280042198534149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765047232596995202.post-4091549100575089522010-04-29T14:03:00.002-04:002010-04-29T14:05:08.320-04:00"He is the Father to the Fatherless"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iAdQNQwPqoc/S9nGDodZ51I/AAAAAAAAA64/TaD6zCcFOEM/s1600/DSCN1149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iAdQNQwPqoc/S9nGDodZ51I/AAAAAAAAA64/TaD6zCcFOEM/s320/DSCN1149.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div>Feb. 17 we mailed two very important letters to Belarus. One to the Minister of Education and the second one to the Director of Ihar's school/orphanage. We wrote requesting permission for Ihar to come to America to study abroad for the remainder of his education. We received responses back from both men. The Director of his school promised to help us in anyway. The Minister of Education gave reason upon reason why he would not permit it. <br />
<br />
Did these reponses come as any surprise to our Lord? No. Do we need to give up? No. Is God Unfair? No. <br />
<br />
He reminded me that "He is the father to the fatherless", "that He hears us when we call out to Him", "His way is perfect", "He rules over the nations", "God is seated on his holy throne", "He will watch over Ihar's comings and goings", "not to swerve to the right or the left", "let my eyes look straight ahead". "guard my heart"....and "The kings heart is in the hand of the Lord, he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases" (Proverbs 21:1)<br />
<br />
What promises! And He Always Keeps His Word! So, we will respond to the Minister of Education and will continue to keep asking, trusting God in His perfect timing for our request to be answered. In the meantime, we are preparing our hearts for what God wants to accomplish in us. <br />
<br />
We appreciate any prayers lifted up on behalf of Ihar and his student visa. We love you. We serve a God who is more than able to meet any need or request.martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577280042198534149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765047232596995202.post-40816867283865240462010-03-31T21:32:00.000-04:002010-03-31T21:32:46.715-04:00"Road To Charlotte"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iAdQNQwPqoc/S7P2lVzvzJI/AAAAAAAAA6w/c-o6nUiVxLg/s1600/Road+to+Charlotte.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iAdQNQwPqoc/S7P2lVzvzJI/AAAAAAAAA6w/c-o6nUiVxLg/s320/Road+to+Charlotte.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>This picture came in the mail with the letter from Ihar. I call it "Road To Charlotte". Ihar is still at the Cadet School in Mogilev and for that I am thankful. He is not allowed to visit the Atroshkins, but I rec'd a letter from Anzhelika and she let me know they go to visit him and take him some treats. This meant alot to me because Ihar has had too many poeple come and go and not stay in his life. For now, he is doing okay. Please continue to pray for his peace, safety and protection. Also we mailed another letter in Russian to the Minister of Education. May the God of the Universe hear our prayers and move mountains for us to get this student visa. </em></div>martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577280042198534149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765047232596995202.post-11292245406458989372010-03-20T17:45:00.001-04:002010-03-20T21:42:41.728-04:00A Battle..."<em>For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark work and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."</em><br />
<br />
We receieved a letter in the mail from Ihar yesterday, March 19. Please pray for our son. We do not know at this point where he is. I am going to try to get in touch with someone this week to see how Ihar is doing and if he is still at the Cadet School. Our battle for his life must be fought by the Word of Truth. Will you join us in prayer? This is the letter. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">Hello, mama and dad.</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">How are you? Everything is bad for me, but not all, most of it is bad. I want to be kicked out. I can not finish the things that I have started. Every where there is a problem waiting for me from the people around me. When you see them you will think they are well behaved and good, but if you are with them you can feel that they are different.</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">They put so much pressure on me so much. I want to give a note to the school saying that I want to drop out. For me it’s enough. I have no more patience for the situation. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">I don’t study as good. I got in a fight with someone, February 22nd, 2010. I have a lot of big problems now.</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">I have no more news.</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">Excuse me for writing only bad things. I am not sure that I can have anything good in my life.</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">Anyway I love you guys the most.</span>martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577280042198534149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765047232596995202.post-33154842517753504332010-02-17T15:27:00.000-05:002010-02-17T15:27:38.297-05:00Not Because of Us..but because of God's great mercy. Just as Daniel prayed we are asking God to Listen, to Forgive, to Hear and to Act because of Who He is-His Righteousness. We are in a spiritual battle for this student visa for our Belarussian son, Ihar. The letters have been translated and mailed today. Now it is out of our hands and into God's hands. We pray believing God will answer. And if the answer is "no", I trust that He knows the big picture and I only see in part. I trust Him to answer according to His perfect will for Ihar and for us. You see, I love God so much and I know His way is best.....He loves Ihar with an everlasting love and He is pursuing Ihar and I know someday, Ihar will see that and put his faith and trust in Him....Thank you for praying for these letters. May the men who read them be moved to action. Thank you......<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iAdQNQwPqoc/S3xQs2Jh6sI/AAAAAAAAA58/pT0ND93F2VM/s1600-h/DSCN0201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iAdQNQwPqoc/S3xQs2Jh6sI/AAAAAAAAA58/pT0ND93F2VM/s320/DSCN0201.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center">Ihar </div>martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577280042198534149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765047232596995202.post-37006019526247742142010-02-04T21:20:00.003-05:002010-02-08T08:01:22.966-05:00To God and God Alone........<em>The steps are in motion. We have written two of the most important letters we have every tried to write. One to the director of Ihar's school and the other to the Minster of Education in Belarus. They are being reviewed and prayed over as I write this. Next step is to have them translated into Russian. And then the scary part, mailing them. Scary because if our requests are denied, that's it. There are no more chances for now. Please join us in prayer, that God would move the hearts of these men; that He would move mountains and work out all the details for Ihar coming to America on a student visa. And most of all, that Ihar would see God's hand in all of this and he would invite Him into his heart. You see, Ihar has not accepted Christ as His savior....and I know this is God's will...What we are seeking to do may be called blind faith. For you see we have nothing to rely upon but God Himself. </em><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iAdQNQwPqoc/S2uAHbyZofI/AAAAAAAAA50/y73-jq1A6Kw/s1600-h/DSCN1002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kt="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iAdQNQwPqoc/S2uAHbyZofI/AAAAAAAAA50/y73-jq1A6Kw/s320/DSCN1002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ihar's Orphanage</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promises, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."</span></div>martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577280042198534149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2765047232596995202.post-51423498119228914242010-01-15T21:32:00.013-05:002010-01-17T20:45:32.510-05:00The Orphans of Belarus Videos & Interesting Observations!<p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyg4AgUrrKI-AkUnwSBqBjfbjJ7ONQQbtZGlmTeroQ342DMmuykPCdcXFP9iokmZxuwD6yKAaUe-tDgEd_bbw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw9BpzTG529sBA6HcjLXP8RMiHbrSYvF7ZHMNLaUrqFSW0479NOzWbbW6aa5BAAksAPBxoRD_3tJ6AxAs_8' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwFLEQBco1BZzXDFqaZw0Y4uimd-dx4UnHhk9oq-piqfUpnco1k50uteFguPwxE-vLrhhroN2ruG2KLtVZ87g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><br /><p align="center"><em>The videos above were taken by Ihar. He loves electronics like kids everywhere. His job while we visited the orphanages was to take pictures and videos! </em></p><p align="center"><em>Some things I found interesting while in the land of Belarus:</em></p><p align="center"><em>We took the Atroshkin family shopping again at the Hippo Store. They asked me if I had Belarussian money or did I have the "plastic card" (which I used last year and they found fascinating). We bought 4 boxes of cereal this year and milk along with chips and cokes. So for breakfast the next morning we got cereal (much to my delight). But I didn't relize they heated up the milk they used to put in our cereal. So we had cocoa puffs with hot milk. A little strange but maybe some of you do this here?!</em></p><p align="center"><em>Belarus used to be the Industrial part of the Greater Soviet Republic, so practically everything was and is made in Belarus. Because Belarus is so small, they don't need most of the factories as they operate on a much smaller scale. There are no natural resources in Belarus so all oil, etc. must come from Russia. There are huge pipe lines that run across the crounty that bring it in.</em></p><p align="center"><em>When they cook, they cook very large portions and you eat it until it runs out. They do not have specific food for b'fast, lunch and supper. So you may have mashed potatos and pickles or you also may have "porridge" for b'fast (which we had both). I like mashed potatos and pickles!</em></p><p align="center"><em>They don't have enough refrigerator space, so all leftovers stay on their serving plates and get put out on the balcony. It's cold enough so this works, they just don't use foil or plastic wrap to cover it up. </em></p><p align="center"><em>Belarus lost half of it's population in WWII. </em></p><p align="center"><em>I constantly stayed amused by Rommy and Jeff George (another American who came on the trip who hosted the Atroshkin's younger daugther, Angelina this past summer). They kept looking out the window saying "we're in here, and Belarus is right out there"! Yes, this is how I felt last year when I was by myself and no other English speaking person to talk with. The family wouldn't let you go out alone without someone with us.</em></p><p align="center"><em>This year I wasn't searched by policemen with the exception of New Years Eve night...only I was smart enough not to bring a purse or back pack with me when we went out!! Anzhelika got detained as they searched her.</em></p><p align="center"><em>Anyone want some Chai? That was the constant question more times than I could count each day! And most days, it wasn't asked, just fixed and put in front of me...and did I mention candies, candies, candies, everyday all day long! And who brushes their teeth in Belarus? I even took very colorful toothbrushes for the Atroshkins and Ihar and I think I saw them used once.</em></p><p align="center"><em>Popcorn in Belaurs doesn't have butter or salt. It's a little more like carmel popcorn but not nearly so much carmel. It smells like funnel cakes at a fair. It's actually really good!</em></p><br /><p align="center"></p>martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577280042198534149noreply@blogger.com0