A Look Back...

A Look Back at 2007

We returned from the states, in January, with a stomach bug!!! Even though it is a great way to shed those extra holiday pounds, it is a totally miserable way to fly the “friendly” skies...or not so friendly when your child is throwing up & by the time you land you are covered in it!!! We spent the majority of January trying to recuperate & get the energy to repack our bags to hit the road again.

The majority of February, we spent in Prague at a 3 Week Training Session for Strategy Coordinators and Team Leaders. Kristie loved not having to clean, Keith loved not having to cook & we all loved the wonderful Childcare workers & new friends we all made! Even though, we made 6 trips to the local doctor, experienced Scarlet Fever (Gideon), Strep Throat (G & ME), & Pink Eye (ME), we had a blast!

In March, we celebrated our 5th year as IMB missionaries in Russia & our 7th year as Mr. & Mrs. Sullivan!!! We are so thankful to still be married & live in Yaroslavl!

We spent 14 days in Poland getting new visas & attending our Annual Meeting with all of the IMB Missionaries from Central & Eastern Europe. We love this yearly time of renewal, fellowship & childcare & the kids loved their classes & new friends.

In May, we celebrated ME’s 2nd Birthday & we rejoiced that the snow was now melted and the sun was shinning!!! We spent most of our time outside learning to ride a bike without training wheels...which we never mastered, but enjoyed trying!

Most of June was filled with trips to the park, play dates with friends & in July, we had our first ever Russian Camp experience! Keith helped with games, Kristie took pictures & the kids loved playing, especially in the stream. We had a great time building relationships with our Church family.

We ended the summer in Turkey! We met fellow colleagues there and had a blast doing absolutely nothing!!! We made a continuous circle going from the beach, to the pool, to eat and then sleep...and repeat!!! It was one of our most favorite vacations & memories of 2007!!!

September & October brought many new beginnings, firsts & freedom! Gideon turned 6 and began his last year in preschool/kindergarten; ME started preschool; & mommy was given 4 hours of free time...everyday! Mommy also learned to drive a stick shift adding to her freedom!! This was a huge blessing, since Keith spent most of September & October in Moscow & Prague at meetings & conferences.

Kristie went on her first ever no kids, no husband, 8 day trip to the states to attend her friends wedding in Minnesota and to see her family in Oklahoma. At first she was really reluctant to leave the kids, but everything went so well, she is already looking forward to going somewhere else!!! Freedom is fabulous!!!

Kristie, with our other Ivanovo teammates, spent most, if not all, of November planning & preparing for the Best Thanksgiving EVER!!! We, & 7 colleague from Moscow, invaded Ivanovo for one of the most memorable Thanksgivings ever! We ate, and ate, and ate and then rolled our totally stuffed bodies down the hill (AKA went sledding)...it was 3 days of fun, laughter & unforgettable memories!!!

December has been lacking the joy that usually comes with the approaching holidays & the anticipation of a new year, especially for Kristie. Up on returning to Yaroslavl after Thanksgiving, Kristie discovered that her dear friend L was beaten by her husband, ending up in the Emergency Room. Through much prayer, tears & reaching out to L, we have discovered the seriousness of Domestic Violence throughout Russia & the very little that is being done to stop it. Please pray for L!

We celebrated Christmas with our fabulous Ivanovo team!!! We had lunch at Texas (a local restaurant) and end the night watching Christmas Vacation. The next day, we hit the slopes!!! We went to our local “Ski Resort”...which consists of one run that took Keith & I a total of 28 seconds to complete. Nonetheless, it was totally fun, since we have not been skiing in 7 years!!! We hope you have a fabulous New Year filled with love, joy, peace & many fabulous memories!!!

Please check-out our blog, www.the4sullivans.blogspot.com, to read stories and see pictures from our fun adventures we had this year!

HAPPY 2008!!!

We love and miss you!!!

The 4 Sullivans