Thanks for the recipes! I even received a recipe for cream of mushroom, etc. soups!

A "NORMAL" Day

That's what I wanted last week...just for one day. Exactly what that is, I'm not totally sure, but I craved it. Life has been like a raging flood (literally in the kitchen) since I returned home. Between Bible lessons, evangelism, floods in the kitchen, sicknesses...(I'll stop my list of "woe is me" 's there) I just wanted one day where I could somewhat get my house back in order and have a routine with my girls again. Well, I finally have it and I am using it to try to set up a battle plan for the rest of the week. After today, the floods start again. This is my first "Normal" Monday since being home and I am GREATLY enjoying it...even though Anna is sick again. Since we keep so busy and I have so many meetings to cook for (Ukrainians love to eat...as much, maybe more than, Baptists ;)), my main goal on Mondays is the meal planning and grocery list for the rest of the week. I just recently unpacked my crockpot and would like to try to use it more. SO, I was wondering if any of you would like to help me.

DO YOU have any favorite crockpot recipes or maybe even cook ahead meals? How about casseroles? I can't get the cream of _ soups here, so something without those would be great...or a recipe to make them. ;)

Health and Home

Sorry that it has taken me so long to write an update about my health. I know that many of you have been praying for me and I greatly appreciate it. As many of you know, the doctor there put me on steroids for a few weeks. I feel much better now and haven't had to use my inhaler very often. She was a little concerned because I am returning to the same environment and said that she thought my cough will get just as bad as it was before. So far, I haven't had too many problems since returning home. Everyone has been burning stuff lately, though, so I am a little nervous. We have been keeping a humidifier going and I have been taking some herbal pills for asthma that I bought while in the states, so hopefully it will help. AND we would like to be moved soon. which should make a huge difference.

The house is coming along nicely, though we were hoping that it would've been finished by the end of August. Our landlord has now given us until the end of September, but we keep thinking "Maybe by next week." Eric had almost everything packed by the time I got home (YIPPEE!), but I have been slowly unpacking things as I have need of them...which is going to make a bigger mess come moving time. Right now, there has been no work done on the house this past week except on Wednesday when Eric and I painted all the rooms except the bathroom. We can't wait to get moved, but right now we have no clue when that is going to happen. It's in God's hands.

Thursday Night Bible Study

We had a good group out tonight for the village Bible study...11 people not counting our girls! How exciting it has been to see that group grow! Vladimir came with us tonight and Elena's son Evan, both of whom are not saved. Eric has continued to do lessons with Vladimir on Sundays and Evan came for a few Thursday studies while I was in America. We are praying that God will work upon their hearts to bring them to salvation.

Tonight was also my first time since coming back home that I have been in a Ukrainian home. How humbling! As you know, we have been working on our home to fix it up. Eric has taken me out a few times to pick out colors for things since I've been home and I have been a little finicky. I woke up this morning kicking myself for letting the paint lady "help" pick out my paint colors. (Okay, she didn't really help. Just told me "No, you can't do that color there. Try this one." Anyways, that's besides the point.) After seeing there home though, I am again shocked out of the American way of life. I feel unworthy of all that God has given to me. How easily we - I get distracted! What more can I say? Lord, help me keep my focus on YOU.

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Looking unto Jesus teh author and finisher of our faith: who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Hebrews 12:1

House Pictures

Click here to see all the work Eric did on our house while we were away. :)