Potatoes

They're gone.

We ate every blessed one of them.

Ukrainians love their potatoes. Mr. YH was out at Yuri and Sveta's dacha (in August, I think!) when they were digging them up, and they insisted that he bring a bag home. Bag as in you could fit a medium sized dog in it.

Mr. YH is super concientious about food we've been gifted. The balcony was too hot, so they went into a box in the dark sauna {which is in our bathroom} so they wouldn't turn green and would be at the right temperature- not too hot, not too cold...which meant we could not turn the floor warmer on in the bathroom until every.single.potato was gone.

I pulled the last four out for breakfast burritos tonight. And then I flipped the switch on the floors.

Bliss.

We're so spoiled!

P.S. Not a word to Sveta that we're out of potatoes!!!

Book Worms

I was reminded a couple of months ago of the Book It incentive program sponsored by Pizza Hut. I did not know that home schooling children can also participate. Unfortunately, we don't have a local PH, but I really wanted to help increase the confidence of our newest reader, so we have our own Yellow Hat "Book It."

The kids have to read 20 books a month. This is nothing for Big Girl since she includes the dictionary and text books in her pleasure reading. This was also not too big of a task for The Boy since he is only reading things like The cat sat. Baby Girl just gets to listen to 20 books. So, hooray! They did it!

Since the streets were free of snow and it was not too cold outside, I threw caution to the wind and we headed to Podil to Domino's a week ago. In a car in light traffic, it may take 15 minutes to get there. On public transport- an hour each way. And it's just stressful dragging 3 kids out on public transportation. BUT, they reached the goal for November and this is one of the better pizza places in town...

As tasty as it was, the next time we're going downstairs to Chelantano!

'Tis the Season

For everything there is a season,

and a time for every matter under heaven.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (ESV)

I arrived to our small group earlier than usual last week because Mr. YH was out of town, and I was teaching. During the course of casual conversation, it came out that I have a degree in music. Three, to be exact- two bachelors and a masters in Orchestral Instrument Performance with an Emphasis on Trumpet... or something like that...the diploma is framed but in storage somewhere in California.

The people in my group were surprised. They had no idea. Because they just know me as Tara, Mr. YH's wife with the three cute kids who teaches Sunday School and sometimes takes over the small group study, who home schools, and is a stay at home mom.

And that's totally fine with me. It's an identity I'm blessed to have.

There was a time, however, when I was associated more with my horn: hours of personal practice and rehearsals, playing in the church and community ensembles, hiring out for weddings and other gigs, teaching privately, teaching as a profession...

And then I got married and moved...a lot. And the seasons have changed....a lot.

During some seasons, I have been able to regularly practice and have even had opportunities to play publicly and even take some lessons. And during other times, the horn has sat in the corner, the case gathering dust and the valves and slides freezing up.

When we moved back here to Ukraine two years ago, our orders were messed up and we were juggling three kids and their gear. It was the first time since the sixth grade I had not hand- carried my horns with me and I had to watch them get packed in a box, hoping I'd see them again....there were many times I wished I had them with me while we waited 4.5 months for our household goods to arrive from the States.

The last box I unpacked when everything arrived had my trumpets in it. I waited until the end because it meant everything else had been taken care of and I could open it and enjoy them. Music is a language of the soul.

So this tour in Ukraine has been another season or two or five...I've lost count. I've had times I've been able to practice, but it hasn't been anything consistent. I teach Big Girl piano lessons weekly and I even find time to sit down at the piano and get lost for a few minutes, but it's just not the same. Even though a piece of paper that says I earned some title is in storage, practically speaking, I didn't want to be in storage!

I kept looking at my schedule and trying to figure out how to fit playing in. If I don't get things done for myself- exercising, my quiet time, a shower- in the morning, I'm just too wiped out in the afternoon to feel like doing any of those things. I wondered if adding a practice time into the morning routine would be a little too selfish....it'd have to be after the kids were awake and after the neighbors were up and about which would cut into school time. I prayed and prayed about how to use my time wisely and talked to Mr. YH who happily encouraged me to take the time and assured me that the kids' education wouldn't be harmed.

So that's been part of my latest organizational overhaul- to include a daily formal practice time. When Big Girl's scheduled practice time for piano and guitar rolls around, I have been able to spend some time getting reaquainted with my own music. Sometimes Baby Girl gets all cozy on my bed and reads while I practice...and when the time is up, we jump into the day's school lessons, and we've been able to get it all done. It feels so good!

I wanted to share that bit of testimony because I think that there are a lot of ladies out there who are educated and accomplished in some form or fashion. Different seasons of life require that our time and attention be focused elsewhere. And we feel guilty, disappointed- maybe even bitter- that we aren't "using our education and/or talents."

Listen. Don't. Don't go there. Every single experience we've had makes us who we are today, and if we are diligent to seek the Lord, He is faithful in being found. And His priorities will be ours and all that He has used to make us who we are will be used in some form or fashion- every.single.day. And a time will come when we can have more time to enjoy those first passions.

He is the master orchestrator after all.

Let your life sing His praises

no matter what season you're in.

Miss Lucy

Big Girl told the children's director that she wanted to be Lucy because
"I'm really good at being bossy."

At least she's honest, right?!

She worked hard and was a fantastic Lucy!

I'll give you five good reasons....

Tree Decorating 2011

Last Friday night we decorated our Christmas tree.

We set up the little tables so the kids could color

while we put the tree together and put the lights on.

The first present the kids get each year is an ornament from us

that represents something significant in their life the past year.

{Such bad lighting in this place!!!}

Big Girl's- a handpainted Ukrainian egg

The Boy's- a cross because he

accepted Christ as his Savior in March

Baby Girl's- a la metrushka doll,

a handpainted wooden Ukrainian doll

{And then they went to bed and Mama helped spread the wealth around the tree a little instead of having 3 poor branches hold the bulk of our decor!}

Questions

I am a Type A.

I follow rules.

I like lists and charts.

I like my clothes to hang ROYGBIV in the closet.

My sock drawer is organized.

I sort my silverware in the dishwasher.

I have files to keep my files organized.

{You should really not be surprised by any of this

if you've read for any length of time.}

SO.

Every now and then I let myself become human and slip out of organized mode until I get that tick which sends me into a frenzy of putting everything back in its place both literally and figuratively. And we are about 7 months out from packing up again, so I am beginning to feel the need to have my T's crossed and I's dotted and all of it tied up in a neat bow....or something along those lines. And I need your help.

1. I am in need of a light pink- like powdery pink and not mauvish pink- 8.5 x 11 C.r.e.a.t.i.v.e. M.e.m.o.r.i.e.s. album. Does anyone have a new one they want to unload or sell these or know someone who does?
2. Where can I find reasonably priced and cute binder divders or file folders online?
3. Does anyone else do their photo albums online? How do you manage to keep up to date?
4. I have a beautiful Strasburg beach dress in size 12 months (runs big) that I would like to sell for $30 shipped. See last year's Christmas card. Know of anyone who'd like that deal?
5. My rubber.maid is getting old. I like it, because it has a little tab that helps pull the lid off. Do they still make that? What do you use? Please, no one tell me about the chemicals that leach from plastic; I've read it and I still want some. I'd like to find something new so that I can leave Sveta all the old. And yes, please make your suggestion something matchy-matchy.

And these are just random things I'd like to know.

Seriously, I'd appreciate your wisdom:

• How long are unmentionables supposed to last? Like the ones on top.
• How long do you keep your white tees and camis before you pitch them due to "color discrepencies?"

Ok, I'm waiting for your answers.

I Have an H

Ladies, this is sold. If you left a comment, I did not publish it to keep emails private.

I'm linking up with Kelly's monogram swap.

Five piece 24-months outfit by Lolly Wolly Doodle.

"H"

Includes swing top (buttons on front),

2 apple green {alligator clip} bows,

ruffle pants,

and bloomers.

{cutie-patootie stays with me!}

$20 shipped*

Leave a comment with your e-mail address and "SOLD!"

and I'll contact you about arranging payment

via Paypal and shipping.

*Lower 48 stateside shipping only.
I'll be happy to arrange shipping elsewhere, but
you will need to cover those costs.