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multiple trips to Home Depot! The girls had some fun while we made many return trips to Home Depot. This year we're having to fix up our home and prepare for renting out when we return to Ukraine.
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The reason we have children. Finally, Iris gets to mow the grass and give Dad a break!
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Andrea has had plenty of opportunities to catch up with friends from church.
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Our front porch swing is where Abby and Emily spent most of their September afternoons.
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Three new toilets. Not a big deal to most of you, but this was a new adventure for Andrea and me.
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Our close friend from Odessa, Tanya, was able to come and visit with us for a few days in September. One the way back from the airport we stopped at MTW and showed her around.
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Andrea had the opportunity to join some ladies from church for a pottery class this Fall. What a great way to go deeper with these friends.
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Being in a large public high school definitely has its perks, and a fantastic art class is one of them for Emily. She's learning a lot now about pottery, 3D sculptures, and art history.
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THIS. . .is CNN. When our friend Tanya came to visit us from Ukraine, we took her to downtown Atlanta to see, among other things, the CNN building.
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Catching up with Tanya at Chateau Elan.
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downhome Southern cooking. I think Tanya's highlight, however, was getting a good "meat and three" at a well known spot in Tucker, GA.
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Our friend, Jay Eastman - MTW missionary to Berlin, Germany - dropped by and visited for us in Fall. I think Jay and I may have shared meals in more countries than I can count on both hands.
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A great treat was having a quick breakfast with our old friend, Russ Lathrop, who normally resides in Oregon. I always think I travel a lot until I see Russ - he's a rocket man!
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After this big pine tumbled down in our backyard, we realized that there were nearly a dozen more that were in bad shape and needed to come down before we go back to Ukraine. This, along with a LOT of home repairs, is proving to be a very expensive year!
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Aaaaar, Mateys, we be after Krispy Kremes! Using our Ukrainian "vuishivanka" shirts as Pirate-wear, we were able to snag a handsome booty of free Krispy Kremes on International "talk like a pirate" day.
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Andrea's uncle Steve passed away this Fall, prompting a trip to meet up with Andrea's parents and say goodbye to her beloved uncle.
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Congrats to Robin Price, who has served as a short term missionary for the last several years but was recently approved as a new long-term missionary with MTW. Robin will be returning next summer with us to Odessa.
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Ready for some football. An American experience wouldn't be complete without some high school football! The girls got a good taste of that this Fall.
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An impromptu luncheon with new friends in Hoschton, GA.
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Our teammate Robin was able to spend a few days with us in September.
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Getting ready for the dance.
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Abby and Emily really wanted to go to their homecoming dance, but didn't know anyone in the school to go with. Two fine young men from our church, Justin and Josh, came to the rescue and escorted our girls in style. Thanks, guys!
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Homecoming dance
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After last summer's 5k, Emily and I decided to continue running and train for longer races. The daddy/daughter time has been wonderful and we should be plenty ready for a 15k in Pensacola this February, and then a half marathon in Atlanta this March. In
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Back in the mid-90's, Jeff Rogers and I roomed together in Izmail Ukraine, the first year I met Andrea. It's nice to be near enough for an occasional grill out to catch up.
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catching up with Jeff & Penny
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Here's a shot from those magical days at the beginning of our time in Ukraine. Jeff is in the middle with the huge shopka (furry hat). I'm to the right of him, and Andrea is next to me in the blonde shopka. I think this is December 1995.
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Dinner with the Kreiders. Another family from our church is raising support to go with MTW to eastern Europe. The Kreiders will be long term missionaries to Romania, our neighbors!
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who will win?! After participating in a fund raising event for diabetes, we stopped to pose with a big election night billboard. The girls are doing their best to mimick the people behind them.
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Smores with our church family.
