Leaving Poland

We leave Poland Saturday moring at 1 AM!!! We will return to Russia Saturday night. We love and miss you all!!!

Fun in Poland

We are having a wonderful time in Poland. We are enjoying incredible times of worship, fellowship, and relaxation. Kristie joined the other women for "Ladies' Night Out" and had a wonderful time of fun and met many new friends. She ended the night with some of her team mates in the hot tub sharing funny childhood memories. The kids are really having fun in the hotel's fabulous the playroom, outdoor playground, and of course swimming! Keith is enjoying the buffet!!!

Fun Run

Today was the long awaited "Fun Run"---I am still wondering what is so fun about running? I had prayed for rain (because I really did not feel prepared to run) and He answered my prayers...next time I just need to be more specific. It rain hard the night before the race, but was hot, humid, and sunny at 4pm. A tree had fallen and was blocking the original route. So, the runners went to the tree and back twice. It was a very steamy day and the path was still a little muddy. I am used to running indoors on the treadmill and my pink runny shoes still looked brand new after months of running! As, I was coming up to the half-way, turn around point, a runner passed me completing the 2nd lap and finishing 5k in 20 minutes! I was so hot and now discouraged, so when I saw Gideon and ME cheering me on, thinking mommy was finished...I just pretended I was! Gideon thinks I did a great job! We had 100% team participation and a great time of fellowship and encouragement. We wanted to think Holly and Jenny, our co-workers, for cheering us on with Gideon and ME making it possible for Keith and I to run.

I am so proud of Keith for finishing in 30.30---his second time ever to run 5k!

Check out our other pictures at www.the4sullivans.photosite.com (Poland-AGM).

The Haircut Revealed...

Our Polish Adventure Begins...

We made it to Moscow in record time on Sunday and had a great time of fellowship with our friends, Olga, Nastiya, and Holly. When we went to bed, ME woke-up crying and was not able to go back to sleep until 2:30! We began our Polish adventure with 4 hours of sleep! Praise the Lord that there were no problems. We made it to the airport in 45 minutes, which is a miracle. With Moscow traffic on Monday mornings, it could have taken hours! We had 3 hours to explore the terminal. We made it to Kaliningrad with the 3 other missionary families traveling with us. A van was waiting to take us to Poland, but did not bring car seats, which is against Polish law to travel in privates cars without seat belts. So, we spent over an hour driving around the city looking for two car seats. To make a long story short, our 3 1/2-4 hour trip to our Polish hotel took 7 1/2! We are so thrilled to be here. Our hotel is very nice and the kids are having a blast. More details and pictures coming soon! Keith is looking over my shoulder waiting for his internet time. We will have very limited internet access.

Happy Father's Day!!!

We wanted to wish our wonderful dads, Les and Otis, a very happy Father's Day. We are so blessed to have such great dads and grandpas! We love
and miss you!!!

The reason why we do not do art projects...

Keith was gone all day yesterday, so I thought we would do a fun art project for Father's Day. I gave specific instructions---put a little bit on your fingers and then draw a picture on the paper. I then demonstrated and helped M.E. to put a little on her finger and then on the paper. I said, "Do not eat it and do not stick your whole hands in the paint!" The first thing M.E. did---ate it! The first thing Gideon did---stuck his hands in it and then rubbed his eye! We had a huge mess and no art project!!!

BAT GIRL!

A Bad Hair Day...

Today, I got two hair-cuts and I have only had two hair-cuts in the past 8 months! I tried a new salon---first mistake! I found a picture, while I was waiting for my appointment. I thought I had explained that I would like something similar to the photo, which was not dramatically different than what I already had. I also thought I clearly said "choot-choot"---just a little! She got to work and I began reading a new book---second mistake!! I looked up and was in shock! She stopped and all I could say (of course as nicely as possible) was, "Is her hair that short?" and pointed to the picture. She had cut my very long hair, so short it would not even go into a pony tail! I felt sick, but smiled and asked her to finish---what else could I do?!? With each cut, I felt more sick. After she finished, I went to a different salon (with a better reputation) and begged for their help...this could be counted as mistake #3!!! Since my hair had already been cut, all they could do was go shorter. We looked at many pictures and had a lengthy discussion...let just say a "bad hair day" (or in this case, several months), brings on a whole new meaning. The blessing---two hair cuts totaled only $12!!!

A word of encouragement to those of us having a bad hair day...
There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head. "Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today." So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head. "H-M-M," she said, "I think I'll part my hair down the middle today." So she did and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head. "Well," she said, "Today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail." So she did and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head. "YEAH!" she exclaimed, "I don't have to fix my hair today!"

Attitude is everything!!!

PS. There is a reason no photo is posted with this blog!!!

Driver's Education...

New Carpet!!!

Pilot Training...

Pilot training took place on the 4th floor "Play Land" at a near by mall.

A Trip to Moscow

We went to Moscow today to go to the doctor and visit with our friend, Olga. We had a great trip with minimal traffic and wonderful fellowship. We love you Olga! To see more fun photos with Olga, check-out our online photo album www.the4sullivans.photosite.com.

Meet "Aunt Katya"

Aunt Katya is Gideon's preschool teacher. At Gideon's school, they refer to their teachers as Aunt or Uncle, instead of Mr. or Mrs. or in Russia-by the first and middle names!

A Castle---Playground?

God is so amazing! When we were exploring cities to relocate to after our first term, my prayer was that I wanted to move to a city with a playground. Yaroslavl has many playgrounds, but I never dreamed one would be a castle and only a 10 minute walk from our apartment!!! I also meet a really nice girl there with a daughter the same age as Mary Elizabeth and she speaks great English!!! For more pictures of our family adventure in a palace go to www.the4sullivans.photosite.com.