You've Got A Friend

You've Got A Friend" by James Taylor

Press above link to hear the song...

Two peas in a pod...

A brother is a friend given by Nature. - Jean Baptiste Legouve

Sweet is the voice of a sister in the season of sorrow. - Benjamin Disraeli

I sought my soul, but my soul I could not see. I sought my God, but my God eluded me. I sought my brother and I found all three. - Unknown

Siblings are the people we practice on, the people who teach us about fairness and cooperation and kindness and caring, quite often the hard way. - Pamela Dugdale

"Brother and sister, together as friends, ready to face whatever life sends. Joy and laughter or tears and strife, holding hands tightly as we dance through life."

Brothers and sisters are as close as hands and feet.  ~Vietnamese Proverb

The highlight of my childhood was making my brother laugh so hard that food came out his nose.  ~Garrison Keillor

The thought of siblings weighs heavy on my heart these days for may reasons...

My munchkins, my brothers and the Mr's.

A friend shared with me these words in regard to her own children; 

your sister is the first friend you ever had.

I had never thought of it that way, but you know what? It is so true!

I adore watching these two play. I love listening to them giggle in the other room.

I am so thankful they have each other. Things may not always be perfect between them, but I pray they love each other enough to put themselves aside.  

My mother taught us this. I have two younger brothers. Being the oldest and only girl had its challenges.  Two brothers 18 months apart had their own. The one constant in all of this was my mother. She taught us what family is about. It isn't always easy, but we work through it where the love is deeper than it was before. The key word is WE.  We are a family. We are a team she would say. We worked through things as a family, as a team. I think it is this perspective that has carried us through some rough patches.  Because we worked through things as a team when we were younger, as adults, when we have issues with each other, we can handle them alone. And we know we have too, for the good of the team. And if we can't, we know our Mom will be there to help us work through it...and when I say help I mean make. So we fight, we argue, we kiss and make up!

My brothers are the world to me. I can't imagine them not in my life. I adore them! They may be men, but they will always be three to me.

I pray this for my children.

I pray I am the Mom who can teach this value to my children.

I pray this home is never divided.

Falling Leaves, Bug Bites and a Caged Animal

Clouds quickly wash in and out over the streets of Moscow. Depending on their mood, they decide whether they want to part; allowing a crystal blue sky to peak through with a touch of warm sunshine...just enough to take the cool edge off your bare ankles. The leaves are slowly changing their colors from a bright green to the crisp hues of autumn. Walking down a damp path spotted with mud and puddles leaves fall from the sky like feathers from a pillow fight.


I have been bitten by a bug. It's not the first time I have been bitten.  In years past the side effects usually whither away after a few months.  I'm afraid the side effects from this bite may never go away.  In fact, I think it will turn into a life long illness.  This could be considered very serious by some, especially my family. Yet I remain calm internally and somewhat excited.  Unexpected...no?  But what is a girl to do?  What do you do when you have been bitten by the travel bug?  It has been six weeks that I have been displaced from my home, my home country, my mother tongue, my family and all that is familiar to me.  And I am excited! I love it here....strong statement, I know, but I really am enjoying myself.  It has been six weeks and I am already thinking ahead to where we will go after our contract is up.

I don't want to come home.  I want to travel, see the world, live and experience it.  I have found a new joy in me! I wake up excited to wonder what the day has in store for me.  Perhaps ask me after my first Russian winter and I may have a different perspective.  It was said this morning if you can make it through October and November you are through the worst if it.  I am not quite convinced of this!  Actually, I am a bit scared.  It is only the end of September. The temperature today was 50 degrees.  We've got a long way to go! 

Despite the upcoming weather, lack of decent dryer and a supermarket that has everything...I love it. So, no I don't want to come home.  We live in an amazing city where you are kept on your toes with too much to see and do in one day. Where do live in America after a place like Moscow? New York? Chicago? Los Angeles? I will be ripping my hair out strand by strand if we end up in a smaller place. And the schools? After this school, where do the munchkins go? The best public school in America does not even hold a candle. I have met some amazing ladies with whom I  never laughed so much or so hard in a long time! We are blessed! We know we are blessed and don't any of it for granted.  Living here is a gift....so, the question is...

Once you let an animal out of its cage, how do you put it back in?

The Mr Left Me

The Mr left me.  
The Mr left me alone. 
The Mr left me alone in a strange country. 
The Mr left me alone in a strange country with two kids. 
The Mr left me alone in a strange country with two kids where I am illiterate.



He is gone for a week.
He is gone for a week with little contact.
He is gone for a week with little contact bc his phone wasn't set up properly.

I hit four supermarkets.
I hit four supermarkets bc this is life here.
I hit four supermarkets bc that is life here and I still don't have paper towels.
I hit four supermarkets, but I did not rob them...

I took the metro.
I took the metro by myself.
I took the metro by myself to a coffee.
I took the metro by myself to a coffee...and I arrived!

He is still gone.
I am still here.
The munchkins are alive.
I am proud!

Sent from my iPad