The New Year!

The New Year is upon us. How do I know? I'm flat out exhausted from running around like crazy trying to do too many things! The week up to New Year's Day in Ukraine is always stressful and busy with everyone trying to get as much done as possible both for the holiday and also because life slows to a crawl for the next couple of weeks if not the rest of the month!

New Year's is THE big family holiday in Ukraine much like Christmas is in the western world. Christmas trees are put up for New Year's and presents are exchanged. Grandfather Frost and his side kick the Snow Maiden make lots of appearances and pass out gifts to the children.

Markets get busy selling freshly cut "Yolki" or Christmas trees and decoration stands multiply. Lots of Ukrainians from the outside of Kyiv come to the center to sell food. The prices of food go sky high the few days before New Year's so buy early if you can!

As this tired 2011 year draws to a close I am feeling mixed emotions. I sometimes feel a bit wary and fearful. The world around us seems to be getting crazier and more unstable. The unknown future looms large with either positive or negative possibilities. Other times I feel at peace and know that God is in control and working all things for my good.

Here are a couple of verses that have been on my heart this week:

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!".....I Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

and

"Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing? Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.".......Isaiah 43:18,19 (NIV)

HAPPY 2012!!!!!

Teenage Christmas/New Year's Party

Things were a little more sedate, ahem, adult for the teenage party we hosted last weekend. No Grandfather Frost or Snow Maiden. We had some games, gifts, food and a good film to show.

Day Center Christmas Party!

We had a party for younger children at our Day Center. Fancy dress optional.

Yes, the Snow Maiden and Grandfather Frost came to hand out presents and entertain us.

Do you know a Christmas or New Year's poem to recite for Grandfather Frost?

Each child got a photo with the Snow Maiden and Grandfather Frost and a gift!

Young Family Christmas

Last week we had a Young Family Christmas/New Year's Party and we had a good turnout. I'm not sure how many toddlers were running around the room because none of them stood still long enough so they could be counted. My total: Alot! The Mom's got to have some tea and have a good chat while the kids ran around the room.

Grandfather Frost came to visit us too!

And everyone got a present and a chance to pose for a photo with him.

And then came the suiting up in mandatory winter gear for the walk home!

Christmas Is Coming!

Yesterday we had the first of our holiday parties at the Day Center. It was fun but controlled chaos too. I probably won't be posting again before Christmas so please know that I'm sending much love and good wishes to all my blog readers! Enjoy your Christmas holiday or Hanukkah celebrations!

In The Eye Of Deception - Book Review

Nikki Rosen, the author of the book, In the Eye of Deception: A True Story
made a comment on my blog a few weeks ago which led to us "talking" more through the internet. I downloaded her book, (Oh, how I love E book technology!) and finished it last weekend. I was literally unable to put the book down for about the last hour before I finished it!

Nikki shares the true story of her life and details how God powerfully healed her as she left a childhood of abuse and a season in a religious cult.

For anyone who has experienced childhood abuse or has suffered through spiritual abuse, this book will give you great hope.

This book is a testimony of the passion for survival that all human beings can muster up no matter how bad the situation is that we are currently in and a testimony that God can and does heal us physically, psychologically and spiritually.

You can read more about Nikki at her blog, "Gentle Recovery."

Pre Lights Xmas Tree

Down on the main square of Kyiv the New Year's tree has been put up. This is obviously without the lights. I'm not sure when the tree lighting ceremony will be. Probably sometime this weekend or next week. I'm not quite sure what to say about this tree. I am glad it's not purple like last year with advertisements hanging all over it.

Before The Holidays

Many of you in the world have already decked the halls or trimmed your trees and are busy buying presents and getting ready for the biggest holiday of the year, Christmas day!

Here in Ukraine we celebrate Christmas on January 7th and Christmas trees are called "New Year's" trees and usually start appearing the last week or so of December. While Kyiv has started putting more lights for this holiday, they are not yet up and with our heavy overcast weather, (today it' raining of all things) this is the time of the year that always feels the weirdest for me. Like I mentioned in my last post, the days are short and the nights are long and everything seems a little off.

That will soon change as holiday parties start and hopefully SNOW will fall! Stay tuned for photos of New Year's trees and Grandfather Frost!

Seasons

We have entered the darkest part of the year here in Ukraine. It gets dark at about 4pm and I have to use a sun lamp if I don't want to feel drained.

The last couple of weeks have brought me two amazing blessings. One was talking to one of our young mothers who had been having a rough time. We prayed and counseled with her and the next time I saw her she had a huge smile on her face and gave me a big hug. She said her life and marriage was turning around.

This week we had another mom come visit who was at the end of her rope. I am praying for her every day. It is both a blessing and humbling to know that some things can only be healed through prayer.

It's good to know that even during the darkest time of the year that the days will grow shorter and the sun will shine again.