Keeping Up With the Days

A new blog post from my sister's keyboard and camera just hit cyber waves yesterday! Check it out here! You don't want to miss the latest adorable pictures of my niece and fun stories of their surprise trip to Houston!

An Update from the Days

My sister and brother-in-law and adorable niece, Melissa, recently returned to the United States for a furlough visit after two years in Ukraine. They are currently stationed in Colorado spending time with Nathan's family (although Katelin happens to be with my family in Houston at the moment due to a surprise birthday celebration she traveled in for). She recently posted pictures of their travels to America and time there so far. I had a wonderful time viewing them and thought you would too! Of course, Melissa is the star of the show. :) Check out her album here!

Days in Ukraine

For those of you who follow the life and work of my sister and brother-in-law over in Ukraine (or for those of you who would like to), here is the link to their latest blog post which in turn has a link to the latest photos my sister has been snapping this summer. It was great to get a pictorial update! And of course, seeing my niece's adorable smiles always makes my day. Can't wait to hug that little chubber in January!!!

Another Love Story Written By God

On Saturday, we had the privilege of attending the wedding of John and Megan Pedersen. The Pedersens have been good friends of ours for nearly twelve years now. We used to attend church together and enjoyed many evenings of fellowship around the dinner table at their house or ours. John and I also graduated high school together in the same homeschool ceremony.

Over the years, he has been a wonderful testimony of a young man who waited patiently for God's best in a life partner while meanwhile investing his life in meaningful pursuits. He began apprenticing in the construction business at an early age and is now successfully self-employed as the owner of his own company. I just had the privilege of meeting Megan at their wedding, so I don't know her as well, but she seems like a delightful, cheerful, and capable young woman who has been preparing well for the role of wife and mother.

Their wedding was characterized by a purity and loveliness that was truly refreshing to behold, as well as a youthful vitality that was just plain fun! A few fun facts to know as you watch clips of it below:

* Megan has ballet in her background, so incorporating a friend's ballet performance added a unique and personal touch to their ceremony.

* Megan wore her mother's dress in the ceremony (with a few modifications) and her grandmother's dress for the reception (much easier to dance in!).

* They were married by her grandfather.

* Their vows were written personally, memorized, and stated from the heart.

* As you see their first kiss, you might be surprised to know that it began sooner than I caught on video. :)

* Us wedding guests had a blast learning the Virginia Reel, as you'll see us dancing at the end.

May the Lord bless you both, John and Megan with a rich life together! Thank you for being a testimony to the faithfulness of the Lord and the beauty of His holiness!

Unpacking Goodies

I'm sure it was really quite an amusing sight for spectators at the airport watching my mom and I try to struggle along with all this luggage...including a boxed up Pack 'N Play that is not pictured! But it was worth it to see the joy the contents brought to Katelin and Nathan!

And the unpacking begins...

"Oh look, Nathan! What a cute little cap!"

Um...I think that's supposed to be for the baby...

A hooded duckie towel.

Blankets from Mema and Papa.

So happy to see her Ergo baby carrier again! This will certainly get a lot of use with all the walking they do here!

A beautiful picture from their photography friend, Hannah Coen.

Mom takes a breather from giving out the goodies and enjoys watching the two love birds.

Katelin was very excited with her new robe! (Thank you Hawker family!)

She plans to take it to the hospital as well as wear it around the house.

Hurray for parmesan cheese!

A nursing cape from dear friends. (Looks like Nathan has found a new friend!)

A second nursing cape gets tried on for size.

The grand finale gift - a blanket from Aunt Nora that was cross-stitched with love!

Look at that happy face! :-)

Cute or what?!

Needless to say, Katelin and Nathan were very blessed by the outpouring of love and generosity from so many.

Thank you for letting the Lord use you to provide for their needs!

Happy Anniversary Katelin and Nathan!

It's hard to believe today marks the one-year anniversary of my sister and brother-in-law! My, how the time flies! To celebrate this milestone, they have posted a summary of pictures from their wedding here in case you want to relive the memories with us. :-)

Love stories written by God are so beautiful!

Update From Across the Ocean...

For those of you who want some news on my sister and the developments in Ukraine, click here! She just posted a bunch of great pictures from their life overseas!

The Princess Bride

Once upon a time, in the Kingdom of God, there was a beautiful princess who lived in a castle with her father, mother, and two younger sisters. She was beautiful of heart as well as radiant of countenance. All who knew her considered her to be full of life, full of joy, and full of love for the King.

The princess was not one who sat around waiting for servants to tend to her needs. Rather, she and her sisters were trained in all manner of skills which they used to serve others, starting within the walls of their own castle. This particular princess of whom I am speaking today became very talented in cooking, sewing, interior decorating, singing, and the playing of musical instruments.

Because she had a heart for seeing other young women come to know and love the King, the princess also devoted much time to speaking engagements and teaching opportunities outside her beloved castle walls. She shared messages on purity, modesty, and service to family with a zeal that proved contagious! Many, many maidens in her province were encouraged not only by the words she spoke, but by the example she set forth in her own life.

While the princess stayed very busy in service to her King and family, she continued to cherish a dream in her heart that one day, a prince of like faith and devotion would be her husband. She valued the honored position of being a wife and a mother and greatly looked forward to the day that the King might allow her such a noble privilege.

Time passed. The princess prayed. Every night, she faithfully penned prayers for her future prince in a little book.

And then one day, a prince did come into her life with great interest in securing her hand in marriage! He made frequent visits to her castle, first to converse with her father over the matter, and then with the intention of wooing her heart. The princess was so excited! Could he be the one she had been waiting and praying for?

Alas! It was not to be. Within a few months, it became obvious that she and the prince were not well suited for each other. Their hearts were too different, their values too divided to make for a harmonious and heavenly marriage. With disappointment, yet peace in her heart, the princess bid farewell to the young man and he departed from her life. She returned to her former duties of Kingdom service and soon, her joy returned in full as well.

Several more years passed; years that the princess found abundant with the King's blessings and brimming over with enriching experiences.

And then one day, as she was far away in another province visiting her eldest sister, the princess caught the eye of a fair-headed prince. He observed her from a distance and found her beauty of character quite appealing, but she knew nothing of his interest. A few more months; a few more discreet opportunities to spend time in her presence observing, learning, and praying. Meanwhile, the princess was making her own discoveries about this particular fellow, and found him a most delightful companion. His Godliness attracted her and his ambitions in life seemed to match her own so closely.

After nearly a year of guarded interaction and careful contemplation, the prince arrived at the conclusion that he would like very much to win the heart and hand of the fair, young princess. Of course, he had no idea how she felt about him, as she had always treated him with the most decorous behavior. Now, the time had come to find out.

Quietly and without fanfare, the prince dispatched a private message to the princess' father requesting permission to court his daughter. This particular father took his job as protector of his daughters quite seriously, so before the prince had the opportunity to communicate directly with the princess, he was first required to prove his nobility. Lest you think he was required to slay a dragon, let me assure he was not. Rather, he was asked a series of deep, soul-searching questions which he dutifully answered by his own hand. The father was pleased with the young man's expressions of faith, integrity, and vision for life, thus granting the fair-headed prince the opportunity to win his daughter's heart.

With great joy, the princess agreed to the prince's proposal of courtship. They immediately took the matter to the King and received His blessing upon their relationship as well as His promise to provide them wisdom along the journey. Thus began a very happy time for the princess and her suitor. Despite the long distance between their two provinces, they communicated as often as possible across the miles. Sometimes, the prince made the journey southward to her family's castle for a much-cherished visit, while at other times she traveled northward to his.

It soon became obvious to both the prince and the princess as well as their respective families that they were ideally suited to each other in every way. Their hearts were united in love for the King, in service to His kingdom, and in affection toward each other. Their interests were so similar, their values identical, their hopes and dreams parallel with one another.

When the prince asked the princess for her hand in marriage, she granted his request with joy and gladness.

Their wedding day dawned bright and beautiful. The princess looked stunning in her full-skirted dress of candle-light white with golden curls hanging down her back under a sparkling tiara. Understandably, her prince could hardly take his eyes off her as she swept down the aisle on her father's arm. Her eyes sparkled with happy tears, and a radiant smile especially for him lit her face. The King presided over the ceremony in a majestic and awe-inspiring way as only a king can do while heavenly music filled the sanctuary. It was a ceremony to be remembered, full of the beauty of holiness as the prince and princess pledged their lives to one another in holy matrimony.

They lived joyfully ever after.

Yes, fairy tales do come true; but only the kind written by the King Himself. :-)

The Wedding!

Today my dear friend, Tara, was married to her wonderful prince! The ceremony was exquisitely beautiful, the Lord was honored and glorified, the reception was full of happy fellowship, and now Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Craig have ridden off into the sunset amidst a shower of rose petals!

If you wanted to be at the big event, but couldn't make it, live streaming was offered through their wedding website. I heard that only 75 people were able to log on before the connection got too full of people to accommodate any more. However, the video that was streamed live is able to be viewed here. I just watched portions of it myself. Unfortunately, the sound quality is full of static when anything musical was happening, but otherwise, the effect was pretty good. There are commercials scattered throughout the video at all the wrong moments, but with a little patience, the whole ceremony is eventually seen!

I'll try to blog more about this delightful weekend, but I'm exhausted from all the festivities and must go to bed!

Until the next time, I remain one tuckered out but very happy bridesmaid. :-)

Breaking News!

1 + 1 = 3

It's a very happy Mother's Day in Ukraine today!

A Long Letter from Katelin

Dear Friends and Family,

HAPPY FEBRUARY!

Well, at long last, I finally get to write you all about our adventures since arriving in Ukraine! We arrived four weeks ago! Can you believe? WOW! We had a great flight, made all of our connections, caught a few winks of sleep along the way, and arrived with all of our stuff, namely the harp! YAY! A missionary friend, who has a van, picked us up from the airport. We have been living in our missionary friends’ apartment, since our arrival and it has been WONDERFUL! We were unpacked and settled within two days. I knew where to find everything in the apartment and how things work from my summer 2008 trip. Their apartment was already stocked with all the necessary items that were waiting for us in the boxes that we shipped (sheets, towels, hangers, spices, dishes, etc.) Also, I know the surrounding area fairly well and feel comfortable with this small section of town. The only thing that was wrong when we arrived was the water pump was broken. Therefore, we had low water pressure and no hot water. So, the first week found us boiling water for dishes and taking bucket baths! It was quite the good missionary experience! ;) Once Ukrainian Christmas (January 7th) was over, we were able to have a plumber and an electrician come out and fix the pump. Oh, the joy of a hot shower!! Jet lag hit us really hard this trip. It was a full week of being tired during the daylight hours and being wired at bedtime! :) After several days of pushing ourselves to get up and attempt to function normally, we finally made it through the toughest part! In addition to hot showers, I’m very thankful for sleep (at the appropriate hours!!) Upon our arrival in Ukraine, Nathan and I found ourselves living alone for the first time since we got married. (We are grateful to have been able to live with my aunt during our three weeks in Houston and then with Nathan’s family during our Colorado trip.) Just for the record, we ABSOLUTELY LOVE being married to each other! ;) Now that we are in Ukraine (where we’ve been planning to be for months now), we have begun to establish our life more permanently. Keeping in mind that missionaries HAVE to be flexible, we have set up a daily routine for ourselves. Part of this trial and error scheduling included the decision to eat two meals a day! At the beginning, I found that planning, preparing, eating, and cleaning up from three meals a day, took A LOT of my time! I like to be in the kitchen, but I also like to be able to get other things accomplished! :) We decided to try switching to two meals a day. Now, we eat brunch around 10:30 a.m. and supper at 5 or 6 p.m. I've really appreciated how much time I save making the food and washing dishes. Also, Nathan and I like to eat when we're hungry, not just because it's "time to eat" again! This plan helps me to think about food less, which cuts down on the brain energy associated in that direction! :) Oh, one more thing, I've also been cooking for 4, instead of just two people. What we don't eat, I freeze to pull out when we need a quickie. It’s been great! Preparing food here has been a fun and interesting experience. In America, you can buy almost any food year round. Here, food is very seasonal, especially produce. So, apples, oranges, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, onions, turnips, beets, napa cabbage, etc. are all very plentiful and cheap. (Get this! They have kiwi here, of all things! And it’s reasonably priced.) Cucumbers, red bell peppers, lemons, etc. are rather costly. So, I’ve been trying to use what is seasonal, stay on our budget, and create meals that have variety! :) Nathan could eat the same stuff all the time, but me, I appreciate the change of pace! So, I’ve had fun planning menus, making grocery lists, and shopping, and creating in the kitchen! If you have any good cabbage or root vegetable recipes, please send them to me! Ukrainians tend to stop by the store every day or every two days and buy a few items for their supper (maybe one bag of groceries.) But, we prefer to shop once a week on Fridays and stock up for the week. So, we walk to the grocery store and fill our cart (with the fellow shoppers looking on in amazement! ;) After filling 4-5 large plastic bags, Nathan calls a taxi and we ride home. This system has worked very well for us. It helps me stick to my menu and do without, if I don’t have it in the refrigerator. There are smaller stores or produce bazaars close by and sometimes, if we’re in a pinch, I can walk a few blocks and pick up what is needed. One of the projects that kept me busy for the first three weeks, was writing the remaining 57 wedding thank you notes! It was a marathon, trying to find the time slots to write 4-8 notes a day. Thanks to the Lord’s help and my husband’s flexibility, I was able to get them all accomplished! Now, each one is headed for America and I sure hope they make it!! :) The Steele Family (our missionary partners) will return to Ukraine in April and reclaim their apartment. In preparation for that, we are have been looking for our own apartment to rent. The Ukrainian version of finding a house is a similar process to that in the States, but different. Each party – the ones renting out their apartment and the ones seeking to rent (that’s us)- has a representative realtor. For example, Nathan called our realtor, Nastia, and explained to her what we were looking for in an apartment (location, cost, number of rooms, etc.) Then, she checked what apartments were available and met our criteria. We set up a time to meet her and walked to each prospective apartment. At the apartment entrance, Nastia called the owner’s representative realtor and he or she would also meet up with us. The owner’s realtor (acting as the liaison) showed us the apartment, the owner also being present. Any questions we had about the place were asked of the owner’s realtor, who then asked the owner (standing there) and then back to us! We left one apartment and walked to the next option, meeting up with a different representative realtor and did it all over again. Very interesting! We found one apartment that was perfect! It was nicely remodeled, the light colored walls were painted (American style), it had solid flooring, newer windows and doors, an enclosed balcony (good for hanging out laundry, etc.), tidy indoor plumbing, enough kitchen cabinets (no pantries here), decent sized rooms, etc. We were ready to sign on it when the owner informed us that they could rent it out for four months, but then needed to move back in, while they remodeled their other apartment. After the remodeling was complete, we could move back in. That is Ukraine for you! We could not comply, especially since a potential move would happen during the summer months, which is the busiest ministry season here. We had to leave that apartment, praying that God would open other door for us somewhere else. At this point, we have not been shown anything else, but continue to wait and pray. To most Ukrainians, an apartment is simply a dwelling place, where they put all their stuff and live. To us, an apartment, is much more. It will be our home for 2-3 years, a warm haven in the midst of cold winters, a place of hospitality, where will raise our children, etc. So, when Nathan and I look for an apartment, we are searching for the right balance of structural qualities and the ability to make the house a home! I find it rather funny that God has sent this southern girl to a very cold country! But, let me tell you, I am LOVING WINTER!! :) I know I’ve only been here for a month, but the cold, the snow, the cozy home is all very enjoyable to me. Every time it snows, I exclaim, "It's snowing!!" (I think Nathan's getting a little tired of hearing it! ;) But, he replies, "At least you have several more months to enjoy the snow!" AND he reminds me that I will have only be here for half a winter this year...and I should just wait until next winter! Last week it was VERY COLD – sub zero temperatures! But, recently, the weather has warmed up a bit to the mid 20’s. Trust me, there is a big difference! We have been so happy to have blue skies and sunshine a lot lately too! This is rather unique for the wintry season of gray skies. Snow falls every few days, which means that I’ve only seen green grass one day when the snow melted enough. Walking on snow mushed sidewalks can feel like trudging through beach sand, where your feet don’t get much traction and keep slipping out behind you. When crossing the street, it is wise to calculate enough time, so that if you slip on the ice and fall, there will be enough time for the cars to stop before hitting you!! :) On Tuesday evenings, our missionary team (EuroTeam Outreach- www.euroteamoutreach.org) holds weekly meetings here in L’viv which consist of a one-hour English Club followed by a one-hour Bible lesson. During English Club, Ukrainians are invited to practice their language skills on various topics and read aloud in English. The Bible study portion will be resuming again this week (after a break with Nathan and the Steeles in America.) Nathan will be teaching through the book of Galatians in Ukrainian. I take part in conversing with the Ukrainians after the English lesson and bringing baked goods to share while we drink hot tea. English club attendance can range from 2-8 students and it has been fun to build relationships with the faithful attendees! Private Ukrainian lessons started for me last week! I am studying with Veronica, the lady Nathan used to take lessons from. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, find me riding a marshrutka (bus) to Veronica’s house for my hour and a half lesson. Thus far, I have taken 4 lessons with 296 more to go! ;) (That’s approximately two years of language lessons.) Ukrainian is based on the Cyrillic alphabet. Previously, I had learned how to read printed Cyrillic. During my first three lessons, I learned how to write and read script (similar to English cursive.) The part that I really appreciate about Ukrainian is that every letter only makes one sound. So, “a” always makes the same one sound ALL THE TIME! Therefore, phonics and reading is a breeze! Understanding what I read is a different story!! ;) Even though Ukrainian has a simple alphabet, the rest of their language is fairly complex with different noun endings, various cases, etc. I have yet to learn all of that, but Nathan has told me enough that I’ll just wait until I get there to understand! During my “off lesson” days, I stay pretty busy studying and absorbing everything that I learn in my lesson. Homework takes me 3-4 hours in between lessons. Overall, I’m enjoying learning another language and being stretched and look forward to the day that I can understand what is being spoken around me and be able to answer intelligently! :) You know you’re learning another language when you wake up in the morning and the first thing you say to your husband is, “So, how do I make a noun plural?” ;) You might think Christmas is over, but in the Day family, it has just begun! Our 15 boxes shipped from America have begun to arrive. In order for the boxes to make it through customs successfully, we had to ship each box to a different friend in L’viv. So, when the friends call to tell us that our box arrived at their house, I get all excited! Thus far, we have six here in our apartment, with the rest still on their way. Gratefully, most of the boxes have had relatively few dings, holes, etc. and all the inside items are intact. I was most excited to receive my Vita Mix dry blade that can grind wheat berries! And I’ve been keeping it busy with baking muffins, soft pretzels, cinnamon rolls, etc.! Another huge blessing is that we have not been taxed by the customs officials at the port for any of our boxes. We very carefully packed everything to avoid this problem, but in Ukraine, you just never know!! ;) Just in case you’re wondering how I am doing personally, I am doing great! I am so happy to be in Ukraine with my man! I am very fulfilled as his helper and love being able to spend so many hours together. I am enjoying living a “different” life and being stretched just comes with the territory. Once I am able to speak Ukrainian fluently, I’ll really feel settled. Sometimes, the thought does hit me, “How did I get here?” ;) And yet, I have not experienced any loneliness or homesickness. I’m one happy camper! Thank you to each one of you that has written e-mails. News from another country is such an encouragement and bright spot in my day! Between tending to my hubby (he’s high maintenance ;), keeping up with our home and meals, and learning Ukrainian, I am staying very busy! So, if I don’t write back immediately, please know that a reply is coming! Within the next couple weeks, I hope to compile a picture album of “A Week of my Life in Ukraine!” Stayed tuned… Blessings, Katelin :) P.S. Nathan and I have a blog and some of you have been added to that notification list. If you have not received anything from us in the last month and would like to subscribe, please do so at day.euroteamoutreach.org

Lovebirds Take Flight

Well, today Katelin and Nathan flew the coop! They are off to Colorado for a few weeks with Nathan's family over Christmas, and then it's on to Ukraine in January to make a new home for themselves on the mission field to which God has called them. While we will certainly miss Katelin's cheery presence in our midst, it is comforting to know that she is fulfilling God's purposes for her life and starting an exciting new chapter alongside her husband!

I thought you all might enjoy seeing some pictures from their first month as a married couple.

This picture was taken in front of their cozy little cabin near Branson, Missouri, where they spent a few days of their honeymoon.

They are getting quite good at self-portraits!

They are also getting quite good at their new favorite pastime: kissing! And they love to demonstrate for anyone who cares to watch. :-)

Lovin' being in love.

After their return from their honeymoon, there were mountains of presents and cards to be opened!

Smile for the camera!

Kissing for the camera...again...

Sitting in the pile of tissue paper.

At American Chinese Fellowship, Katelin and Nathan gave a talk about guy/girl relationships from a Christian perspective, mainly speaking from their own personal story, interspersed with pictures and Biblical commentary. The ACF group wanted to bless them with an actual wedding cake to commemorate the happy occasion. It was especially meaningful since Katelin had chosen not go with the traditional wedding cake at her reception, voting instead for ice-cream sundaes. This way, she got the best of both worlds!

What would cake eating be without getting some icing on each other's face???

So long, Lovebirds! We'll miss you!

Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Day!

Photo courtesy of Hannah Bottom

Fiesta Videos

I have been experimenting with uploading videos from the Fiesta Fellowship to my Picasa web album so you can view them. With very limited space left in my web album, I was only able to upload four videos. Here is the link. I hope it works!

Let's Start at the Very Beginning...

Katelin's wedding was certainly the fairy tale wedding of her dreams! But such weddings don't come about with the flick of a magic wand except in story books. :-)

There were so many people who worked tirelessly to make this wedding possible; most of whom came into town early specifically to help with preparations. Our family certainly could not have taken on such an enormous event without the army of workers God supplied. We are so grateful for each of you who helped!

Here are some snapshots taken the week before the wedding. They only capture a fraction of the work being tackled by so many!

Kelsie Steele prepares name tags for the upcoming Fiesta Fellowship.

Cindy Powell (Kelsie's mom) slices English muffins for one of the many meals we served our army.

Mom shows off her muscles in the middle of doing dishes.

Brittany Buchman (now Brittany Wyatt!) trims the girls' hair before a practice-run of hair-dos.

Nice and even. :-)

Allie Buchman practices a style on Julie's hair.

Nathan works on the slideshow for the reception.

The Coen girls and Laura and Joshua Day make tissue paper flowers for decorations at the Fiesta Fellowship.

Later, this same crew works on wrapping/decorating cans that will be used as noise-makers with which to send the bride and groom off!

Mrs. Powell made a fabric covering for a glaring white screen on the wall of the church that needed to fade into the background.

Leah Coen makes dip for the reception!

Mrs. Day works on hundreds of chocolate-chip cookies for the Fiesta Fellowship. Yum!

Helping to man the kitchen (and taste the cookies too!).

Top secret projects going on in the other room!

Decorations at the church begin to take shape!

Hannah Coen cheerfully cleaning bathrooms at the church!

A happy bride-to-be vacuuming with a smile!

Sarah Coen and Laura Day - two peas in a pod!

Nathan goes over technical preparations for the slide show at the reception.

Mom covers the "Roman Era" decor in the church with that which is a bit more "wedding-ish." :-)

Time for lunch! Thank you Loo Family for providing it!

Now that is an impressive picture. My dad is tying satin chair covers!

Mr. Day, on the other hand, looks a little lost. :-)

The arch goes up!

Hurray for all the help!