The Question Has Changed

Not too long ago, when my baby looked like this:

Her favorite question to me was, 

“Why, Mama?”

That, “Why?”  just about drove me insane!  

She asked “Why?” about everything  . . . and then, when I would answer, 

she asked “Why?” about the answer!  

It was constant and consistent and sincere - she wanted to understand everything.

Now, my baby looks just like this:

And, I’ve noticed her question has changed.  

No more, “Why?”  

She doesn’t need “Why?”   

She knows exactly how so many things work now.

For goodness sake, she’s a DOCTOR and all of her patients get better - - even if she has to use her “doctor knife” to take out all the bad parts in their hearts!

She can ride the tram like all the big girls, in her own seat.  She knows how to pay the conductor, take the ticket and then hold it tight and not drop it, in case the conductor asks to see it again.  She even knows how to sit quietly, straight-faced like a real Russian and think and watch people...

She knows that sometimes guys won’t answer your questions, even if you ask them over and over.  But, if you sit down and cry, sometimes guys will come over and ask you what is wrong and listen.  (We’ll work on this one, but, heavens, SHE told ME this! at 3, almost 4, yrs old!)

So, the question has changed.

Now, she THINKS, 

makes a statement of fact, 

and then asks,

“Right, Mom?”

          And. . .  

                            most of the time. . . 

                                                               she’s right!

Ode to the Winter Mama! or "Will I Ever Get Out This Door?"!

INTRODUCTION:

An ode typically is a lyrical verse written in praise of or dedicated to someone or something which captures the poet's interest or serves as an inspiration.

THE ODE:

(best read aloud)

To The Winter Mama

The sun is shining on snowy day.

She loves her child, who wants to PLAYI 

The plans are set, it’s out they go.

 “Common, get dressed!”

She says . . . 10 times . .  in a row!

It’s -20 Celsius, humidity is high.

Layers and layers are what she needs 

To keep baby warm and dry.








Winter dressing skills she carefully teaches.

The little hand holds” inside shirt” and reaches

Up through jacket sleeve, just right!

“Look Mom, I did it!”

Success is a beautiful sight.

                       Dressing is far from over,
There's still so much to do!  
Bibs on, hood on, zipper's zipped, and more
Before they're through!

No air must get down little neck 

And, so, she wraps on scarf

Once, twice around and tied so tight

The little one squeaks, “Mom, I’ll barf!”

Now it’s time to put on boots 

They’ll keep little tootsies warm

“Foot in, push down.”

“Mom, it hurts!”

“Push down, HARD!” 

Mom replies with a scorn.

Still more pushing, 
this time, out the door.

Fresh air is such a delight!

She endured at least 7 heat flashes 

While dressing her child up right.

   

First stop, the garbage shoot.

She opens the hatch with 2 fingers.

No matter how lightly she touches,

The smells always seem to linger!

On the way to the elevator, she soon discovers 

They’ve forgotten baby’s transportation.

“The SLED!  Oh, my goodness!

Stand here - don’t MOVE!” Mama says 

And without hesitation

Runs, in dirty boots, to balcony

Grabs the sled 

And, back out the door

“This is it, last time - one more thing and we’ll sit at home, evermore!” 

As they start to exit the building

Baby yells with all her might

“Mom, I forgot my gloves!”

Mama hesitates, then answers,

 “Oh, you’ll be all right!”

A pang of guilt grips her heart 

As the cold air hits their faces.

And, so, back up the stairs 

Mom, with baby, races.

There they sit, in the basket,

all pink and “purty.”

Baby puts one on, the other drops to the floor

And is now, of course, all dirty.

Down the elevator, one more time

Hysterical laughter begins.

She thinks to herself, “Better to laugh than cry.”

As the journey comes to an end.

All Hail! Winter Mama!

She finally made it outside!

And she will say, if you ask her

It was worth it all, every sweat drop and hassle,

For sunshine, fresh air and QUIET, as her baby rides.

Now, it’s your turn!  
Write and link us to your best Winter Ode!

Jan 7th - MERRY CHRISTMAS!

According to the “old” Julian calendar  (the one from Julius Caesar, yes, that far back)  Dec 25 is Jan 7 . . .  but only until the year 2100 . . . in that year, every thing will be on the same day again.  (ok, I admit, I don’t really get it either but it has to do with the mathematics of the calendars)

When the Catholic and Protestant world moved to the Gregorian calendar (named for one of the Popes), the Orthodox world stayed in the Julian.  

Russia didn’t adopt the Gregorian calendar until 1917!  

How does all this show up in modern-day Russia?  

It means that, just as most Russians are recovering from the New Year’s night, it is time to celebrate Christmas.  

So, as New Year’s is an after-thought to those of us in the West, Christmas is a blip on the end of a long, eventful week-off for most Russians.   Some may have another special meal, even fewer may attend a midnight Orthodox service - most do nothing.

Our family is blessed to be a part of a small group of Orthodox and Protestant Russian Christians in this country.  And, we as a group, celebrate Christmas on Jan 7th as the birth of Jesus, God in Flesh, the Savior of the World!  How I thank God for my Brothers and Sisters here!

Sophia had two Christmas parties this year - the first one was with Mom’s Day Out:

Sophia got to play “Mary” in the Christmas play!  She practiced holding Jesus, with a look of quiet dignity and love, every day for a week!  

She told Roma, “Joseph,” that they were married and he was her husband now!

We decorated Christmas cookies . . . and, of course, ate them!

Each child received a present from under the tree!

But, first, according to Russian tradition, each child should do something to “earn” the gift.  

Some said a poem, quoted a verse from the Bible, or sang a song. 

Sophia sang, “Silent Night.”  

Made me so happy to see her sing with such sincerity!

The next Christmas Party was at our local church:

The children played games . . .

Watched a cartoon about the birth of Jesus . . . 

Made a craft . . . 

And each child got a gift, in an American stocking, delivered by an elf!  

Sophia made friends with this elf and the whole group of Americans who come every year at this time to serve and love orphans in our area.  They also love on our church children, for which, I’m thankful!  They were amazed to hear Sophi speak English and soon became her good friends.

Speaking of friends . . .  here is Sophi and her friend, Dasha.  Dasha’s papa, Andrey, has an amazing story about how God found him and changed him.  Some day I’ll do an interview with him for you all!

And here are all the children with their stockings!

I don’t have photos, but Anton and I attended a one-woman play put on by one of the actresses from our local theatre.   It was a series of Bible stories - from Genesis to the Resurrection - all parts and narration done by this one woman. It was wonderful!

Our church had a special service on Christmas day and I had the privilege of singing beautiful Christmas carols with our choir, in Russian!  (some day I hope to post a video of our singing!)

I am thankful to God that we are a part of His Family and that our daughter is growing up among a group of people who Love Him and want to know Him more.  

Christmas is God’s Gift of Love - what a blessing to be included in that Love and to share that Love here in Smolensk, Russia!

Thank you so much for your prayer for all of us here!