thanksgiving in kiev

we went to kiev for the thanksgiving weekend. the number one question we were asked before we left....why kiev? the answer is a) doesn't it sound like some forbidden place to visit, wouldn't you want to go b) max speaks russian c) the real reason...max had a missionary companion (well they weren't ever companions it's just easier to say companion) and his name is max also and they were really good friends...and he lives in kiev...and they invited us to come stay with them...so we did..
and that is why we went to kiev...

and i am so glad that we did. it really made me grateful for america and the freedoms we enjoy. ukraine has such a sad history because their government didn't care about them. when it was part of the USSR, their lives and their culture meant nothing to the Russians. they suffered so much and you can still see the effects today.

{independence square..i think...about 95% of the time they were speaking in russian...i have become really good at translating what people are saying into what i think they are saying....and i think they said something about independence and i also think i heard them saying how awesome i was too}

{max and mark...the busiest two year old i have ever met}

{this is where we had our thanksgiving feast...puzata hata..i think..again every name they said was completlyforeign to me...but my good friend katherine recommended it to us and it was a fabulous recommendation...ukraine food is different but oh so good...we ate here twice and i think my most favorite thing i had was pelmeni..its like ravoli but better...}

{mark again...eating a waffle we brought. this kid taught me more russian in three days than what i learned of french in three months...i know how to say thank you, ocean, cartoon, yes, and the one i learned the best...NO...it's his favorite word..}

{the goryachevs in front of the beautiful kiev temple. so exciting for them. as you are driving up on the freeway to get to the temple...it looks as if the temple is sitting on the freeway...it is this huge beautiful building...among so many old apartment complexs...it is going to be the most beautiful thing is kiev}

{baby nikita....he is almost 2 months old...and so dang cute...it was so fun being able to help out and hold him as much as possible. i love the cream thing he is wearing in this picture. all of the babies in europe have them and they make the babies look ten times fatter than they are...and they can't move anything when they are in this warm jumper suits..its darling}

{beautiful colorful church}

{one of my most favorite things....we went to the taping of the Ukrainian So You Think You Can Dance. It was AWESOME....the stage is just like america's and we were right on the floor...it was kinda hard to see but so fun to be so close. the dancing was amazing and i loved being a part of it...the show is my most favorite back home and i felt like i was watching the american version...even though i had no idea what anyone was saying...it was just great...i was so close to the dancers...{sara i was so close to the dancers i could've touched them...imagine what it would've been like going to a taping in l.a. when benji was on the show}

{this giant lady was built in ww2 i think..i am sure i am getting all of these facts messed up..but i don't really know why she was built..probably because this culture loves to build statues...they are everywhere}


to be continued.....