Bittersweet Me

Well, I did my duty as a US citizen today....put my little vote in the ballot box! I must say I'm feeling quite patriotic. I was supposed to have an absentee ballot in my hands by now, but it still hasn't come and I couldn't wait any longer (that and the fact that if I waited for that ballot to come through the Russian postal service, I might be waiting until the next election). I hope to use my ballot, if/when it gets to me, for a lesson in school about how we vote in America. Hmm...I should probably study up on that myself since everything seems to get more and more complicated as time goes by. My roommate asked me when we'll know who the next US president is, and it was hard to answer that question. The embassy rep. said it could be months after the election (was he joking?). I don't pretend to know the ins and outs of our complex political system. Anyway, I don't want to write about politics anymore. It puts me in a bad mood.
I said goodbye to a friend today who's ending her term here and headed back to the US next week. The lady who sold watermelons near my building has also vacated her watermelon cage and is probably on the road home, too. Everyone and everything here is always in transition it seems...bittersweet times. I'm given today to meet and reach out to people, and who knows what tomorrow holds?
"Carpe Diem--that's...seize the day" -Cameron from Dead Poets Society (man, urge to watch that movie NOW)
2 Timothy 1:7

Mellowed out

Today was a feel-good day. This is my favorite time of the year when leaves are changing and the weather gets cooler. Here in Russia the cool usually only last a couple of weeks before the MUCH cooler weather sets in. I don't know if it's because I've lived in warmer temperatures all my life, but I actually appreciate and enjoy cold weather. What a blessing! But then again, maybe it's because I haven't been exposed to more extreme temperatures out east...God willing I'll venture out there one day soon. I went on a walk along the Moscow River with some friends yesterday afternoon and felt inspired to take a bunch a pictures among the white birch trees. These are my favorite trees in the fall because of the beautiful color contrast of leaves with the bright white tree trunks. The added blue brilliance of the sky reminded me all over again of the mighty God we serve.
Psalm 19

I'm listening to some great music by Mute Math, a group I discovered in a (Relevant) magazine ad. Check 'em out! They only have an EP out at the moment, but they'll be coming out some more cool stuff soon.

View of the 'hood from my window 

First post, first snow flurry day!

Thanks for visiting my new blog! That word makes me think of mud for some reason. Up until a couple of weeks ago, I had no earthly idea what a blog was. Living in Russia for the past two years, it seems I've slowly begun to loose some of my English as I try to tackle the Russian language. So new, western tech terms (such as 'blog') don't help matters. I've reached a point in learning a second language where I am forgetting even basics in my heart language! That doesn't help seeing as a primary purpose for my being here is to teach English. That just goes to show how God can use anyone to accomplish His will.
This morning I was able to chat with workers at my school and get my teaching schedule. So far, today has been a 'friendly day' where most people I've encountered have wanted to have conversations with me (with a smile!). The lady that sells watermelons next to my building told me she's been reading the Psalms from the NT I gave her. She will probably pack up and leave for 'the south' (Caucas region) before next month because it's getting cold (today there were snow flurries for the first time here). People come and go so quickly here it seems...
James 4:14-15