Late last night I got a message from our new friends Renat and Elena inviting us to church with them today. They offered to come over early to help get the kids ready and take us with them via the metro. We hadn't really decided what the plan was for Sunday, but I decided that it would be a special experience to take Jaymi to her first ever church meeting right here in the city she was born in. So I wrote back telling them I was in!
When we got up and went in Becky's room it looked like she was going to die. Poor thing was so sick, so I told her to keep sleeping, the kids and I would go down to breakfast and hangout in my room. Then after seeing how sick she really was I asked if we could take Gabe with us to church so she could rest.
Breakfast went well, both kids were great! When we got back to the room we got the baths going. Wow it's been a while since I got two kids ready for church, good thing we had a couple hours to do it. It's even trickier here because after you get them ready, you then have to gear them up in their snow clothes. Pants, gloves, sweaters, extra socks, tights, scarves, hats and a coat. Then you have to book it outside before the kids start sweating to death. Thankfully Renat and Elena were there to help with that part. Of course in true little boy fashion, the second we get Gabe all decked out and ready to walk out the door he informs us he needs to go to the bathroom. Thankfully his little snow bibs unzip so we didn't have to completely undressed his cold gear layers. We had a good chuckle when they were unzipped and it looked like he was wearing a long brown dress. Of course he didn't have to go potty once we got him in the bathroom. At least we got a laugh out of it.
As we were walking out the hotel lobby I told Elena we were being VERY brave. I would have to say taking two kids to their first three hour church meeting in a Russian speaking ward is probably the bravest thing I've done here ;). Thank goodness I had good help.
We walked a good 20 minutes to the metro stop. Gabe took about two steps and decided he wasn't walking anywhere, so Renat carried him the whole way. Jaymi walked more than half the way. I would carry her for a bit, switch hips, carry her a bit longer and then I had to set her down because my back was killing me. She is a heavy little girl. I was so proud of her for walking so far. I have even noticed an improvement in her gate over the last week. Gabe is a quick little guy and is a good example when it comes to gross motor skills. She has also improved her stair climbing skills with all the practice we get. She can walk up the using one foot per step where before she would step on each stair with both feet before moving on to the next one.
Once we made it to that infamous red "M" we headed inside to the worlds longest escalators. Vika was pretty scared going down so I held her close a kept telling her we were going to the choo choo. When the train pulled in it was apparent the kids were pretty nervous. Just like the first time Becky and I braved the metro a few weeks back. The car was pretty full but luckily we found seats. Trying to ride the metro standing should be an Olympic event!
When we started going the kids looked pretty freaked out so we started doing choo choo sounds and it didn't take long for them to join in. Every time it stopped they would start chanting choo choo and making their little train motions. It was too cute. There was a cute lady that across from us that was just so sweet with the kids. The three of us were just loving seeing the kids soak up their first time riding the world famous Moscow Metro. I'm glad they got to experience it. It was strange to me how just about everyone else on the train just kept up with their straight faced, blank stares ahead. I mean really, not even two of the worlds cutest kids having the time of their lives on their first choo choo ride doesn't make you smile? I just don't understand. At all. Then when it was time for our stop Gabe was not happy we were getting off the train and her threw a bit of a tantrum. At that point I thought, "Oh dear, what have I done?" Luckily he was distracted and did well moving on to the next adventure.
When we got to the church building the first people we saw were the same sister missionaries we met our first week there. One of them talked that first week and what she spoke about really brought comfort to Becky and I. I pretty much cried through her whole talk as she spoke of how much our father in heaven loves us and is aware of us. Of course the kids ran up to them and gave them both hugs. They told us they had been praying for us and our children the whole month and were so glad to see that things worked out. I'm guessing that's why the kids hugged them, they knew they were part of the reason they were now with their mamas.
Being at that meeting felt like we had come full circle from where we were four weeks before. Then we were sitting in that chapel trying desperately to fight the fear that we may not return home with our children, to now feeling the pure love of Christ as these precious souls were sitting right there in the room next to me. I know Heavenly Father knew that is how it would end up and in his infinite wisdom he prompted that sister missionary to remind us of his love.
The kids were just awesome during the whole thing. They were the most well behaved kids there. I did teach Renat and Elena a very important lesson in church attendance with small children. It is a lesson I myself have recently learned with little Bryn. You feed them snacks for an hour straight. You can get about 30 minutes out of a serving of gold fish crackers and another 30 minutes out of fruit snacks, apple sauce packets and a drink. I like to try and get 15-25 seconds out of each piece of food, so that requires some creativity like the airplane to mouth maneuver or pretending you are going to eat it. Yes there is a science to it. Timing was perfect because it was right during lunch time.
They both also loved the hymns that we sung. Vika got a kick out of me signing "in Russian" as I made up my own words. The speakers were senior missionary couples from the states so it was all in English with a Russian interpreter this time, rather than vice versa. The sister talked about something that has been very near and dear to my heart over the past few weeks. I even wrote a journal entry in this very topic on the flight over to Russia. I'll have to post it on here later.
After sacrament I took the kids to primary. I figured they would love interacting with the other kids and hearing the stories if Jesus in Russian. Sadly when we got their the other kids didn't pay much attention to them. It did hurt my mama heart a little, but these two are so loving it didn't make them feel bad. They just kept being sweet and kind even though it didn't seem to be reciprocated. I'm guessing the kids had never seen children with Down syndrome before, so they didn't know how to react, engage with them, and I can't blame them for that. I hope they did have an impression on them and maybe some day they will look back on the two orphans that had parents chose them, because they are special too.
Like I said, Jaymi and Gabe were the best behaved in primary too. They sat quietly and listened to everything the teacher said. When she asked if someone would volunteer to say the opening prayer who was the only one to raise their hand? Mr. Gabe. Then when the next class began and the teacher asked for a volunteer to come up and say the prayer Jaymi hopped right up and stood by the teacher. Another girl came and said the prayer but the teacher was really cute with Jaymi and held her hands and made her feel included. To top if off and get me giggling uncontrollably the teacher asked for someone to come by her and read a scripture. Gabe jumped off my lap and sat down on hers and recited his little Christmas poem with the biggest smile on his cute little face. Another example of me being the only one getting a kick out of it while everyone else except the cute, kind teacher sitting straight faced. There is just such a culturally difference here that I have a hard time with. Part of me really wonders if its because of their Down syndrome. I hate to even think about it, but we have had a few instances when it's pretty obvious that is the case. It breaks my heart. These children are so precious and so so smart! But for everyone ad experience we have have twice as many good experiences where someone has gone out of their way to thank us, congratulate us and interact warmly with our kids. Thank goodness for the loving examples of these little ones to spread love rather than anger, because the mamma bear in me just wants to be just as rude back to people that look down on my daughter. She reminds me that it's love that teaches and changes the world, not anger and unkindness.
Thankfully we found a couple that drove out of their way to take us back to our hotel in their car so the kids didn't have to walk back from the metro. It worked out perfectly and was so much fun getting to spend another day with our friends and the kids getting to be surrounded by the Russian language.
To finish out the evening the kids and I got to visit with another adoptive mom Whitney in our region that is here picking up her cute little guy tomorrow. She was so kind to the kids and let them kid proof test her room and play with all the sweet toys she brought for her son. They had a great time once again enjoying the simple pleasures in this new life of theirs and letting me come along for the ride.
When we got up and went in Becky's room it looked like she was going to die. Poor thing was so sick, so I told her to keep sleeping, the kids and I would go down to breakfast and hangout in my room. Then after seeing how sick she really was I asked if we could take Gabe with us to church so she could rest.
Breakfast went well, both kids were great! When we got back to the room we got the baths going. Wow it's been a while since I got two kids ready for church, good thing we had a couple hours to do it. It's even trickier here because after you get them ready, you then have to gear them up in their snow clothes. Pants, gloves, sweaters, extra socks, tights, scarves, hats and a coat. Then you have to book it outside before the kids start sweating to death. Thankfully Renat and Elena were there to help with that part. Of course in true little boy fashion, the second we get Gabe all decked out and ready to walk out the door he informs us he needs to go to the bathroom. Thankfully his little snow bibs unzip so we didn't have to completely undressed his cold gear layers. We had a good chuckle when they were unzipped and it looked like he was wearing a long brown dress. Of course he didn't have to go potty once we got him in the bathroom. At least we got a laugh out of it.
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| Who's ready to go to church? |
As we were walking out the hotel lobby I told Elena we were being VERY brave. I would have to say taking two kids to their first three hour church meeting in a Russian speaking ward is probably the bravest thing I've done here ;). Thank goodness I had good help.
We walked a good 20 minutes to the metro stop. Gabe took about two steps and decided he wasn't walking anywhere, so Renat carried him the whole way. Jaymi walked more than half the way. I would carry her for a bit, switch hips, carry her a bit longer and then I had to set her down because my back was killing me. She is a heavy little girl. I was so proud of her for walking so far. I have even noticed an improvement in her gate over the last week. Gabe is a quick little guy and is a good example when it comes to gross motor skills. She has also improved her stair climbing skills with all the practice we get. She can walk up the using one foot per step where before she would step on each stair with both feet before moving on to the next one.
Once we made it to that infamous red "M" we headed inside to the worlds longest escalators. Vika was pretty scared going down so I held her close a kept telling her we were going to the choo choo. When the train pulled in it was apparent the kids were pretty nervous. Just like the first time Becky and I braved the metro a few weeks back. The car was pretty full but luckily we found seats. Trying to ride the metro standing should be an Olympic event!
When we started going the kids looked pretty freaked out so we started doing choo choo sounds and it didn't take long for them to join in. Every time it stopped they would start chanting choo choo and making their little train motions. It was too cute. There was a cute lady that across from us that was just so sweet with the kids. The three of us were just loving seeing the kids soak up their first time riding the world famous Moscow Metro. I'm glad they got to experience it. It was strange to me how just about everyone else on the train just kept up with their straight faced, blank stares ahead. I mean really, not even two of the worlds cutest kids having the time of their lives on their first choo choo ride doesn't make you smile? I just don't understand. At all. Then when it was time for our stop Gabe was not happy we were getting off the train and her threw a bit of a tantrum. At that point I thought, "Oh dear, what have I done?" Luckily he was distracted and did well moving on to the next adventure.
 |
| Don't mind my closed eyes, Jaymi looks so cute. Also notice the straight-faced people in the background. |
When we got to the church building the first people we saw were the same sister missionaries we met our first week there. One of them talked that first week and what she spoke about really brought comfort to Becky and I. I pretty much cried through her whole talk as she spoke of how much our father in heaven loves us and is aware of us. Of course the kids ran up to them and gave them both hugs. They told us they had been praying for us and our children the whole month and were so glad to see that things worked out. I'm guessing that's why the kids hugged them, they knew they were part of the reason they were now with their mamas.
Being at that meeting felt like we had come full circle from where we were four weeks before. Then we were sitting in that chapel trying desperately to fight the fear that we may not return home with our children, to now feeling the pure love of Christ as these precious souls were sitting right there in the room next to me. I know Heavenly Father knew that is how it would end up and in his infinite wisdom he prompted that sister missionary to remind us of his love.
The kids were just awesome during the whole thing. They were the most well behaved kids there. I did teach Renat and Elena a very important lesson in church attendance with small children. It is a lesson I myself have recently learned with little Bryn. You feed them snacks for an hour straight. You can get about 30 minutes out of a serving of gold fish crackers and another 30 minutes out of fruit snacks, apple sauce packets and a drink. I like to try and get 15-25 seconds out of each piece of food, so that requires some creativity like the airplane to mouth maneuver or pretending you are going to eat it. Yes there is a science to it. Timing was perfect because it was right during lunch time.
They both also loved the hymns that we sung. Vika got a kick out of me signing "in Russian" as I made up my own words. The speakers were senior missionary couples from the states so it was all in English with a Russian interpreter this time, rather than vice versa. The sister talked about something that has been very near and dear to my heart over the past few weeks. I even wrote a journal entry in this very topic on the flight over to Russia. I'll have to post it on here later.
After sacrament I took the kids to primary. I figured they would love interacting with the other kids and hearing the stories if Jesus in Russian. Sadly when we got their the other kids didn't pay much attention to them. It did hurt my mama heart a little, but these two are so loving it didn't make them feel bad. They just kept being sweet and kind even though it didn't seem to be reciprocated. I'm guessing the kids had never seen children with Down syndrome before, so they didn't know how to react, engage with them, and I can't blame them for that. I hope they did have an impression on them and maybe some day they will look back on the two orphans that had parents chose them, because they are special too.
Like I said, Jaymi and Gabe were the best behaved in primary too. They sat quietly and listened to everything the teacher said. When she asked if someone would volunteer to say the opening prayer who was the only one to raise their hand? Mr. Gabe. Then when the next class began and the teacher asked for a volunteer to come up and say the prayer Jaymi hopped right up and stood by the teacher. Another girl came and said the prayer but the teacher was really cute with Jaymi and held her hands and made her feel included. To top if off and get me giggling uncontrollably the teacher asked for someone to come by her and read a scripture. Gabe jumped off my lap and sat down on hers and recited his little Christmas poem with the biggest smile on his cute little face. Another example of me being the only one getting a kick out of it while everyone else except the cute, kind teacher sitting straight faced. There is just such a culturally difference here that I have a hard time with. Part of me really wonders if its because of their Down syndrome. I hate to even think about it, but we have had a few instances when it's pretty obvious that is the case. It breaks my heart. These children are so precious and so so smart! But for everyone ad experience we have have twice as many good experiences where someone has gone out of their way to thank us, congratulate us and interact warmly with our kids. Thank goodness for the loving examples of these little ones to spread love rather than anger, because the mamma bear in me just wants to be just as rude back to people that look down on my daughter. She reminds me that it's love that teaches and changes the world, not anger and unkindness.
Thankfully we found a couple that drove out of their way to take us back to our hotel in their car so the kids didn't have to walk back from the metro. It worked out perfectly and was so much fun getting to spend another day with our friends and the kids getting to be surrounded by the Russian language.
To finish out the evening the kids and I got to visit with another adoptive mom Whitney in our region that is here picking up her cute little guy tomorrow. She was so kind to the kids and let them kid proof test her room and play with all the sweet toys she brought for her son. They had a great time once again enjoying the simple pleasures in this new life of theirs and letting me come along for the ride.
What a NEAT experience being able to take them to church! I am sooo glad you met some GREAT people over there that took such good care of you guys!
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