Rice Porridge

With the visit of my sister in law and her fiancé, I thought I would share with them some Moldovan foods. This morning we had a breakfast dish called rice porridge. It is a dish that varies depending where you are in the world, even served as a dessert. So, I thought I would share this basic version found in Moldova with you as well.

Rice Porridge

1/2 c. rice

3 1/2 c. milk

4 tbsp. butter

1 tbsp. vanilla sugar

optional: raisins, salt

Step 1: Melt butter and add in rice.

Step 2: Stir in milk and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and cook for 20 minutes.

Step 3: Turn off heat and stir in vanilla sugar and raisins. Let porridge set for 5 minutes.

PS- Don't forget your bread with lots a delicious butter atop!

Welcoming Baby Evan

"What was I thinking?!" was the question that ran through my head as I gripped the bed railing and muttered a few words and then called on Jesus. Yes, I got to that point in my labor where I questioned my sanity for going through labor again.

When I gave birth to my firstborn, I had a textbook labor. I still can tell you the hour my contractions started, when we timed them and when we chose to head to the hospital. But my second born decided to switch things up. I've heard siblings are different, so I guess their entrance into this world can be too!

I woke up on my due date thinking that this baby wouldn't be born today. I was feeling pretty good. The night before I had irregular contractions but they faded as I went to bed. After breakfast I took a walk to the pharmacy to pick up a needed item. I had to stop a few times as I started my irregular contractions again. Mike and I decided that I was fine and he should go to his morning Bible study. Even though my contractions continued they remained short and the pain low in my abdomen, signs that it was false labor....according to the internet.

I was confused as to what my body was doing, but the pleas of my toddler to go outside won me over. Needless to say, the rest of my morning was spent on the playground, crawling around building train tracks and picking up toys. I'd stop to work though my 'false' labor and then continue about my day.

Mike got home and I felt a sense of relief to have him nearby. Josiah went down for a nap and I jumped into the shower to try and slow down my contractions. I'll spare you the details of the other signs of labor. By now I was seriously thinking I was in labor and started asking God for signs if I should go to the hospital. I like to labor at home, but I didn't want to be foolish and wait too long if this was indeed labor.

With a wet head and comfy clothes on, we began timing my contractions again. They were still only 30 seconds long but 3 min apart and very painful. It was then my water broke and my very excited husband exclaimed that we were going to have a baby!

Our babysitter and ride rushed over as fast as they could, and we were off to the hospital.

Mike and I were separated as he had to fill out paperwork and dress for the delivery room. I don't think the nurses knew how far along I was in my labor. But when the doctor checked me she said I would have this baby in 20 minutes.

It all happened fast. I remember asking where my husband was, snapping at the doctor when she told me not to push and asking if they saw a head. And then it was all done. I had a wet, little blue baby on my chest. He made his gurgling first cries right in my arms. It was beautiful.

Evan Alexandru was born May 5th. He is all sweetness. Mike and I are amazed at the little life God has made and feel beyond blessed that God has entrusted him to us.

   

Easter Weekend

Last weekend was a beautiful time to spend together as a family. It was also refreshing to stop, remember, reflect and rejoice in God's grace.

Friday evening was spent in communion with believers at our church. We quietly reflected on what Christ went through, nailed written praise on a cross and prayed with one another. I enjoy this day. It is a day to remember the power of Jesus' words, "It is finished." And indeed it is. Redemption was made complete. We were made right with God. There is nothing we can do to obtain salvation because Christ has done it for us.

We spent the weekend strolling around a very quiet Chisinau, dying Easter eggs and hanging out in the parks. 

Sunday morning we enjoyed a nice Easter breakfast with the traditional sweet bread served on this holiday. Then we played a Balkan Easter egg game we learned while in Macedonia; our toddler made sure every egg was cracked. Then it was off to fellowship at church, where we greeted one another by saying "Hristos a inviat!" (Christ resurrected), and responding "Adevarat a inviat!" (Indeed resurrected!).

Thanks to Gigi, who sent us plastic Easter eggs, Josiah got to have his first Easter egg hunt. He was excited to open every egg he found and promptly eat what was inside. Lesson learned for this momma! Then it was off to our nearby park where we enjoyed the beautiful afternoon with other families.

  

Sunday's Sermon:

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.