City Wheels

"The wheels on the bus go round and round....all through the town." As a parent of a toddler I know this song very well. I even sing it on the bus with my Juju-Bug, who loves to entertain those around him.

Chisinau is an easy city to get around. Most apartments and homes are located near public transportation. Ours is a little bit off the main road and takes us about 10 minutes to walk to, depending on the zig-zagged path of our two year old.

There are a few options for traveling around the city if you don't own a car. One can travel by foot, by public bus or trolleybus, and by marshukas/rutieres. If you can pay more, there are plenty of taxis to get you through the city. 

Chisinau is slowly replacing the older buses for newer ones with help from other European countries. Though we do hear that some of the money gets pocketed and not all of it goes to replacing the buses. It only costs 2 lei (less than 20 cents) to ride the trollybuses. You have to make sure you don't lose your ticket on the bus or you could be fined if someone were to check. If you have a cute toddler with you, you are guaranteed a seat...okay, Moldovans will kindly give up a seat for any parent with a toddler.

Marshukas (Russian), rutieres (Romanian) or properly named maxi-taxis in English can be a quick way around the city. They have designated routes but no designated stops; you need to tell the driver when to stop. Marshukas aren't for most westerners. Once the seats fill up, they can get tighter than a sardine can with people pressed against one another standing in the aisle, and with not much ventilation it can get very hot inside. As tall as Mike is, he opts for the buses unless they aren't jammed packed. But for 3 lei (30 cents) and a little bravery marshukas can get you places quickly, especially if you have a certain driver from marshuka 113! 

Finally, I can't pass up a picture of our little stroller. This little stroller has just about been retired by our self-proclaimed-independent two year old, but it has served us well. It has been our 'family-wheels' for over the past two years. It has journeyed from the four corners of the US, to the not so easy streets of Chisinau and Ukraine and has hauled bags and bags of groceries. It is torn, wheels bent inward from over loading and lasted us longer than ever expected. But all good things must be retired.....or we could get a few more bumpy kilometers out of it for baby number two.

Chisinau: An Emerald City

I'll admit, the only time Chisinau is beautiful in winter is under a blanket of snow, untouched by the snowplows that clear only the main driving roads. There is something stunning about the city sparkling in the snow. Other than that, Chisinau is dreary and grey.

But when spring makes its arrival, Chisinau transforms into a city of emerald beauty. What was once lifeless looking blooms forth into beautiful shades of green with bursts of color to delight anyone within sights. It is a place that draws everyone into the open.

As I move about the city or stroll through the parks, I can't help but think of my grandfather. He was a quiet, simple man, whose greatest treasure on this earth was his family. He had a love for the earth and a special fondest for trees. With a soft voice he would quote the poem Trees by Joyce Kilmer. As a child he would take me back into his garden and stroll among his rows of vegetables. My favorite gathering would be from the zucchini plants. He would lift up the gigantic prickly leaves, reveal the vegetable, slice it off with his small pocket knife and hand it to me. Even as he aged and had to rely on his family to plant a small garden, he would bend over from his chair, place his massive hands upon the earth and pray over the seeds and for wisdom to care for God's creation.

As I enjoy the beauty of Chisinau in spring, I can't but carry with me the love my grandfather had for the beauty God creates in the emerald colored trees and the burst of new life. 

Trees

Joyce Kilmer

I think that I shall never see

A poem as lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day, 

And lifts her leafy arms to pray,

A tree that in summer may wear

A nest of robins in her hair,

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

Preparing For Baby

Three weeks to go and we'll be welcoming our newest little one to our family. The reality that our family will grow to four has not sunk in, but we are excited. Just as we couldn't have imagined life after Josiah, we'll feel the same way once this little one is in our arms.

37 weeks feels good to me. Looking back on this pregnancy journey, I have a feeling of gratefulness that we are finally here...with a few weeks to spare to help realize that a new life will be coming. So I'm treasuring the last moments of pregnancy, still uncharming as they might be, getting extra snuggles in with my little one, finding out all the more how amazing of a husband and father Michael is, and taking advantage of some extra sleep.

We're thankful to a giver who has helped us afford care at the international hospital

He is one awesome dad!

Our first baby crib!

Practicing how to hold baby with Fuzzy Wuzzy.

The Tuesday Breakfast Crew

I love our ministry meetings! Every Tuesday morning we gather together to chat, laugh....guys talk basketball....fellowship, share an encouraging word, talk about the needs and upcoming events of the academy, and bring our praises before the Lord as well as our petitions. Oh, and we love to eat a nice breakfast.

This breakfast was extra tasty. Nick and Uliana surprised us with finding meat cut and prepared just like...bacon!!! Now to our American taste buds, and this pregnant lady's cravings, it was a special treat to have the frying pan out and a bacon smell coming from the kitchen. And in Anna's own words, "An American breakfast."

Yes, excited to have bacon!

It's not Pillsbury, it's homemade cinnamon rolls.

Chisinau Zoo

"BUS! ZOO!" Josiah shouted to the elderly lady we sat next to on the crowded bus. She had a big smile for him.

We decided to welcome the warm weather by meeting up with Logan and Rosbie at the Chisinau Zoo. For only paying 50 lei (about $4), the Chisniau Zoo isn't too shabby. But I do think the bears would agree with me that they are cramped in their cages. We got to see Bengal tigers, lions ('Mufasa' according to Josiah), lynxes, monkeys, wolves, camels, sheep and to Josiah's delight zebras. You just can't go wrong when you take a toddler to the zoo!

  

      

  

Welcoming a Little Sunshine

Growing up in Southern California,  I had no need to complain about the lack of sunshine. Maybe this is why I think large windows and natural light are a must. It wasn't until we got a few days of sunshine and 50 degree weather that I realized the nourishment the sun provides. I even braved the motherly comments of the babushkas when I took Josiah's cap off so he could get some vitamin D on his noggin.

Once the snow melted, the unshoveled walkways revealed themselves, and with the return of some sunshine, a shedding of winter seemed to peel itself from my mood. I didn't realize how much the lack of sunshine had affected me. I am rejuvenated, even though I struggle to keep up being 31 weeks pregnant.

The Moldovans put me to shame. They have their little ones bundled and out in the fresh air, no matter what the temperature or how deep the snow. I'm going to blame my lack of winter exercise on my Southern California upbringing.

But Spring is upon us and our trips to the park have returned and Josiah is trying to make up for the lack of exercise he has missed these past months.

When Spring Bled

Many years ago, Spring came to the edge of the forest where it saw a little snowdrop flower covered in snow. Spring felt bad for the weak snowdrop and tried to help the flower by brushing away the cold snow. Winter watched in anger as Spring showed kindness to the little flower. Winter sent bitter winds against Spring and the flower, but having compassion for the little flower Spring wrapped its hands around the defenseless snowdrop, pricking it's finger on a nearby thorn bush. A little bit of blood fell from Spring onto the white snow and the flower. The flower was strengthened, bloomed, thus defeating Winter. This is the story told on Martisor, March 1st, when Spring spilt it's red blood on the white snow, ending Winter.

A few days before Martisor, the streets of downtown are lined with people selling little broaches made of red and white. Usually one buys a broach to give to another in celebration of the beginning of Spring. Men and women pin them to their jackets or sweaters and wear them throughout the week. Many of the broaches are made of red and white thread but can also be elaborately made with flowers and charms.

Next weekend is the celebration of International Women's Day. It is kind of how we celebrate Mother's Day in the States, but it recognizes all women. The church I attend combined the two holidays for the women where we had a fun time playing games, eating homemade sweets and being encouraged that women are not a mistake but designed especially by God in the mother's womb to do great things. Women can have a tough role in Moldova, so I know many were encouraged, as I too was encouraged. Each woman received a Martisor pin as they symbolized Christ's blood and our purity because of his redemptive act.