The Novy Arbat turns Irish once again this Sunday

We joined the 10,000 Muscovites who turn out to see the 17th classic St. Patrick's Day parade. The parade in Moscow, takes place five days after the real St. Patrick's Day.

You can see Terry in the background, already passed the security check point.

Our friend Chris, but look at all that security.

Dancers in traditional clothes.

A few marching bands

бабушка

Terry arranged for flowers to be given to me (by my neighbor, Cathy) and also bought a gift before he left for El Paso; so between Terry, my kids and my friend Julie my birthday was special even though I spent it by myself.

My Favorite Cartoon ...Of our Life

According to the map, we are suppose to turn right!

We're heading back to El Paso, Texas.

Terry went back to El Paso to help take care of some family business. It's been 5 years since we have lived & worked at home. There is still a lot of family business that needs to be attended to, so this gives us the opportunity to do just that, live and work at home. Terry will return back to Russia to finish out his contract. We'll be home sometime at the end of April.
The couple that was suppose to be renting our house for 3 years; emailed and asked to be released from the contract. They're moving out of the house February 28. God has orchestrated everything.

Thanks for the Memories!

Freedom in February!

What a precious gift, Freedom!

February has been a great month so far! Two political hostages have been released so far! Read all about it on Jorge & Karen's blog.

Uncle Len

Melissa gave us a call while we were on the cruise. Unfortunately she had do deliver some more bad news. Uncle Len had passed away on January 13th. My dad and uncle Len (brothers) died less than a month apart. My mom went to the funeral and is spending some time with Aunt Shirley in Midland. We will miss him.

Another Cruise??????

In Russia we're off January 1-9 so we took a few extra days off and went on a 12 day Mediterranean Cruise. Yep, we went on another cruise on January 3. This cruise was booked before the holidays and before Terry's Dad passed away.

Cruise with us :

С новым годом- Happy New Year!

Terry and I had slipped out in our pj's not expecting to see anyone except the fireworks.
Lo and Behold we found our neighbors, so meet our neighbors:

Jon and Janice Martin from Utah.

Gary and Donna from Michigan.

A Tribute to Phil Barrett, our Dad

Dennis, my older brother created a Memory Book, if you have a comment about our Dad, my brothers, sister, and I would love to hear your story.

Terry, Joan, Mom, Dennis and Richard


Josiah and Waldo (the pilot) spread the ashes from the plane, and Mom.

An Unexpected Trip

Dec.16 Moscow time: Melissa called at about 12:30 am and said Grandpa was being taken to the hospital with a possible heart attack apologizing for waking us up. We were grateful she called us and asked to be kept updated no matter what or when. About an hour later she called back my dad had died. Emotions: Unbelief, Stunned, Sad -- then decisions: to Go, Wait,. We called Delta and got the last two seats for the 1:00 pm flight back to El Paso. Packing, no sleep, setting up the house to leave, talk to our bosses at 7:30 to say we are leaving, and being picked up at 9:00 for the airport. Life becomes a whirl wind over the next ten days.Melissa, Josiah, Blake and Avery were able to come for the funeral and Isaiah called a number of times.

Pat and I arrived in El Paso on the 16th, 34 hrs after Melissa called. On the 18th was the viewing at the funeral home, the memorial service at the church on the19th, a pot-luck lunch at the airport in memory of Dad, to church with Mom on Sunday, on the 22nd met with a lawyer, on the 24th-had the internment of some of the ashes at Ft. Bliss Cemetery, Christmas, 26th- Dad had his ashes spread over Horizon Airport, 27th back in the plane headed to Moscow, and arrived home on the 28th.

Two days later we got our luggage @11:30pm unpacked and on then 3rd of January we left again...this time for a 12 day cruise that was already planned. A lot of emotions to deal with.

Terry with Blake and Avery

Happenings in November and December

A masquerade party given for Marleen Benson, who left the Embassy in December.

We had dinner with Angelo, the AirSep salesperson who sold Mercy Ships the Oxygen Concentrator, whom we had meant in England. We had not seen Angelo in years and didn't even know he was the salesperson for Moscow. It was nice to reunite and hear all about his family and meet his representative from Moscow, Mila.

Enjoying Thanksgiving Meal with Lynn Chow, Chris Lewis, Pat and Terry taking the picture.