Busy New Year's Eve

We were able to get tickets to the matinee of the Nutcracker performed at the Odessa Opera House. It has recently, in the pass few years, been renovated and is gorgeous! Last time I was there was to see Madame Butterfly in 2001 and everything was old and faded! Now....WOW!

We had box seats however when we presented our ticket to the usher she showed us the box and motioned that we were to set at the six stools on a 3 tiered platform. We eventually split up and had good views of the performance. Christina and Kolya were very still watching the whole performance. There was an intermission and the usher, we called her the crazy lady because she acted like she understand and then took us all over the place, whe brought some snacks for the kids! It was a beautiful performance and we enjoyed it very much.

We walked back to our flat and changed clothes, grabbed some food and walked over the Quaterman's flat for a time of food and games. We had a great time of fellowship around the table and then played UNO ATTACK! Everyone loved especially the kids. Christina was always disappointed if she pass the UNO button and she did not get cards. When the game was over she would press it until all the cards were out!

We went back to our flat and we to bed. At 12 everyone except Kolya and Christina were awakened by all the fireworks, sounding like a war just down the street! But we knew the new year was here so we turned over and went back to sleep.

However in Ukraine New Years' Day is when the presents are exchanged. We had one present under the tree for Christina and Kolya, the watch for Kolya and a ring and necklace for Christina! By ten o'clock we were out walking on deserted streets! It is colder today and windy. Most of the shops were closed. We walked for about an hour in new areas we had not been before. We turned back and walked to the park across from the Hotel Centrally. We had been promising horse rides and this was the right time. We had cameras and the horses, ponies, arrived and Christina and Kolya rode the horses. Kolya is all smiles but Christina did not smile until she got off!

God has blessed us greatly this past year. We never thought last year this time that God would be leading us to Ukraine for Christina and Kolya. We have been blessed with Jim -28 in Charleston, SC, Stuart - 27 in Oxford, MS, Erin- 23 in Atlanta, GA, Jake - 13 in B'ham and now Christina and Kolya both 10 and soon to be in B'ham.

Praise the Lord for His many blessing beginning with His one and only Son that brought us into His family!

In Him Alone,

Leslie