Happy Birthday, Kaity!

Happy birthday to our very dear sister/daughter, mother of Emmy, Abbie, and David, and wife to Brent.

Hope your day is as sweet and amazing as you are!

 We love you lots! ;)

Baby Shower

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Amy threw a baby shower for Kaity. They are both due with little girls around the same time next month.

Kaity was so pleased that Mrs. Nymeyer gave the challenge.

Amy, giving instructions to the ladies. See Kaity's blog for the baby quiz game.

Anna helped with the gifts.

Emily & Deanna

Mindy, Samantha and Molly

We had to get a picture together because of the bright polka dots. :)

More Russia Pictures

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We had a wonderful time in Ukraine and Russia. God was so good to allow this opportunity. It's definitely a trip that we won't forget!

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Before leaving for the airport, at 4:30 a.m.

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Ready to go - making our way across the airport, to board our first flight.

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This was the luggage for our whole group... you'd think we were moving to Russia, instead of visiting for 12 days!

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From my window, in the plane

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Shutterbugs!

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A music school we passed, in Russia

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And all the way over there, we still find... McDonalds!

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Jack, with St. Basil's Cathedral in the background.
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St. Basils!
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There is just something that comes over you... and you wish desperately that you could walk up to these guys and try to make them laugh.
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Jack and I, at a restaurant we visited.
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A neat picture that Jack took.

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A shot of the guys.

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Here I am, with two sweet people from the youth camp. Mrs. Shrock is a missionary wife and Coleen's parents are missionaries also. L to R: Mrs. Shrock, me, Coleen

- They had some gorgeous flowers in the some of the cities.

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We rode the Metro several times. Depending on how many people were riding, the handle bars really came in handy.

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A rainy day in Moscow.

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The markets were fascinating.

- Well, I don't have to explain what this little building was for... wow, nothing like the ones in the states, for sure!

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Pastor, handing tracts out to a couple of young guys.

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A Sunday service at the Ossewaarde's church. It was so neat to meet some of their converts!

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With some of the Ukrainian people at the Hudson's church.

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At the park.

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Their version of a trampoline. One child would "bounce" in the middle of the net. As you can see, it's quite a popular toy!

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With Coleen and Cindy. We worked in the kitchen together at camp... not actually making the food, but setting tables and dishing up bowls.

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Bro. Don, our assistant pastor at church, talking with a couple of little girls.

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Kids at the camp, in Ukraine.

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Walking down a main street in Russia.

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Our longest train ride was 17 hours. Some people had to see our passports whenever we crossed the border, whether that happened to be at 2:00 p.m or 2:00 a.m.
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A view of the Black Sea.

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A driver/guide drove us up to the top of a mountain, near Yalta. It was kind of windy up there, but really beautiful temp. It was unbelievable to be able look down at all the sea, buildings, clouds. Absolutely amazing!

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The Ossewaardes, good friends, came up with us.

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Looking down from the mountain.

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Jack and I, on top of the mountain. See the video camera? Jack was able to get some neat shots of different things in Russia and Ukraine.

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They had banners up for some sort of celebration.

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Bro. Don, Pastor and Mr. Ossewaarde

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Yes, we visited Yalta! The history involved with that place made it special to be there. The museum was closed when we went, which was disappointing, but we were still happy to go and see the outside. Again, very beautiful place and scenery.
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And what would any place be without kids? We didn't see many children when we were out and about, but the missionary families that we met had several small children. They were adorable and a lot of fun!

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This girl was a cutie. She couldn't say her K's, so I was immediately given the title, "Tait".

Hope you've enjoyed viewing these photos!