Our dear friends had us over for breakfast at 7:00 the day we left. If we knew they ate like Kings & Queens every morning, we would have joined them way before the day we left.

Our driver came to pick us up at 9:00am Moscow time. Our last sites were shared with our friend Jerry, he was also heading back to the states, but only for R&R.

Check out the view from 34,000 ft up in the air and you can see Greenland.


After a long flight, 2 movies, and two meals later we landed in Atlanta, Georgia; where we had a 18 hr lay over. That 18 hr lay over was worth it ...Our son, Josiah is only an 1 1/2 hrs away so we were able to visit him, see his apartment and see Ft. Benning where he is stationed. That was a blessing!

Next morning got back on a plane and hit the sun city, El Paso, and it was hot! I thought I was going to faint at 87 degrees. After seeing Terry's mom, our sister in law, and my sister, we went to the motel and crashed till the next morning.

I knew we were in Texas, check out the waffle from the motel.
Are we proud Texans or what?

Got back on a plane and headed to Denver to spend some time with my daughter, son in law and my grand children. Not to mention it's 50 degrees. nice and pleasant. I'll be in in Denver till Thursday, then arriving to my new home, El Paso May 1st.

Easter with Friends

We we're invited to Easter dinner by Dave and Pat Delamatre, which was such a blessing because the next day was our pack out.

Pat & Dave our host

Mike Brandt, one of my favorite Electricians

Sue and Frank, fellow Texans

Kurt and Cathy Lynch, our neighbors

Mary Freeman, new to PAE, and she is a delight

Our Easter-Russia's "Willow Sunday"

Palm Sunday, which commemorates Jesus' return to Jerusalem one week before his crucifixion, is known as Willow Sunday in the Russian Orthodox Church. At Willow Sunday services, congregants carry small bundles of pussy willow branches and burning candles.

At every metro station, on every marketplace one can see Russian “babushki” – the older women selling little bouquets of pussy-willow, often tied with ribbons. They are intended to represent “leafy branches” which the people of Jerusalem had cut from the fields, spreading them on the road to welcome Jesus (Mk 11:7).

By giving each other Easter eggs, Christians profess the faith in the Resurrection.

Spending time with friends and visiting those last few places we've been wanting to and never took the time to go see.

Donna, Pat & Janice sitting in front of the Grand Triumphal Arch which is decorated with the coats of arms from the 48 Russian provinces. To celebrate the victory over France in the war of 1812, it also includes bas-reliefs of the "Expulsion of the French." The arch was originally built in 1834, but has only been on this site since 1968.

Standing in front of the Peace Wall on Old Arbat Street. The wall consists of scores of tiles painted by Soviet schoolchildren, expressing their hopes for peace and fears for war. I read it was a part of propaganda against Reagan's Star Wars.

April showers bring May flowers, except our showers froze.

Our last Diplomatic Fellowship

Cafe Pushkin

These last few weeks are going by fast. Our bosses took Terry and I out for a lovely dinner. Everything was fabulous:

The company-Mary Ann and Bob Rose

The food was delicious. Here's Bob getting ready to eat the quail egg.

The presentation of the food was colorful and inviting.

Even the bathrooms were pretty, the porcelain toilets and sink were nicely painted.

Stoll with us

As we walk home from the parade, some familiar sites we'll miss.

Sharing the sidewalk with cars.

Passing the London Pub, Can you see the Red Telephone Booth?

You can see the White House behind Terry, and the guards by the Embassy.

And last but not least, we'll miss our home, 35-D, in Moscow.

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.