Quick Update

We're finishing up packing tonight... we had a little 'nuclear explosion' scare today. That sounds so crazy to type. But, yeah... we were told to stay inside because 'the cloud' would be passing over Krasnodar- but as it turns out there was no accident or explosion. But through finding all this out we weren't able to get lots of errands and such done today that we had planned on...hence the reason I'm still at home! Gavin is spending the night and tomorrow at Isaiah and Katya's house- definately having a great time- despite coughing and being on breathing treatments again... yep, he's got bronchitis again. Perfect timing, huh?

The moving truck comes tomorrow morning along w/ several guys from the moving company who will load the truck! Yeah! Tomorrow we have to clean the house (fortunately Inna is coming to do the bulk of this for me!) and we have to take the cat across town to get medical clearance from the state vet for him to fly on the plane to Ekat. Crazy. We love Bruce and he's an awesome cat...but medical clearance, really? And to top it off Tuesday JB has to take him to the airport 3 extra hours early so he can get checked out by the airport vet too! Welcome to the country we call home :) !

Tomorrow evening we'll be staying at Don's house and enjoying Shashleek (russian BBQ) sooooo yummy! And Tuesday afternoon we fly to Moscow. Wednesday I have my last Dr's appt here and Thursday Gavin and I fly to Pittsburgh and JB flies out to Ekat. Oh... yeah- we have an apartment there! We'll send pics when we get it all set up- but it's newly remodeled and complete with Cabinets and a stove in the kitchen! We'll still have to buy living room furniture, table/chairs, and all of our beds, but that's better than having to hang cabinets ourselves in the kitchen :)

On a sad note- last night was Inna's last time w/ Gavin. She stayed with him while we went to our last team gathering yesterday. When she left I spent most of the evening crying. She has spent the most time with him next to JB and myself. He loves her and she adores him- it kills me to know that he will only remember her through pictures and what we tell him... She just kept saying how much she was going to miss being with him everyday. I gave her a scrapbook I put together of pictures of our families over the past 2 years- she was so excited, but it doesn't begin to put a dent in the reality of saying goodbyes. Fortunately I know that this won't be the last time we'll see her- we're planning on coming to Krasnodar a few days before our field retreat this fall- just to see our friends here and they are top on the list!

Lots going on in these next few days- please remember our family and pray for us as you think about it! Blessings and we'll be seeing many of you very soon!