PICTURES:

1) Kellan playing basketball. He is the star of the team!

2) Ella's new favorite thing is taking a bubble bath!

3-7) Our winter-wonderland! I don't think that car is traveling soon!

8) 3 students from our English Club

9) Deana and her language teacher, Elvira!

It has been a BUSY, but GREAT week! Deana continues to improve every day. The kids are doing well! We have had LOTS of snow this week. I just took the kids out for about 30 minutes and in some places where people have not walked in our playground the snow is way above my knee! Ella has a hard time walking in it because some of it was over her hip. Kellan fell backwards to make a snow angel and went completely under! WE'RE READY FOR SUMMER!

On Wednesday, we had a Valentine's Party at our English Club. There were several unbelievers there and we talked alot about God's love for us! I gave a short devotion on God's love at the end and invited the students to a grammar group that was started this morning. After the grammar lesson this morning was church and I gave a short testimony today. We tried to coordinate all of this to attract some of the unbelievers to church. We had 3 unbelievers at the grammar group this morning, but only 1 chose to stay for worship. He listened very attentively and was very open. I saw some of the young people speaking with him afterwards. Please pray for him. His name is Sasha.

On Thursday I was invited by an old friend of mine to The Academy of Budget and Treasury of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation. Wouldn't you hate to have to write that name alot! I thought I was going to listen to about 12 students present their power point projects on business in Russia. I told Deana when I left home I thought I would be home about 6. Well, I returned home about 11! When I arrived at the Academy (15 minutes late), Larissa led me into what I thought was her classroom, but when we rounded the corner, it was the shool's auditorium and it had about 150 students in it. The director of the business department was on the stage and when she saw me she said, "And now our American judge has arrived!" They all began applauding and I quickly figured out it was for me! I had no idea I was there to be on a panel of judges to rate the students on 10 different areas of their presentations. I listened to 5-7 minute presentations from 3:25-8:25 with no break! It was definitely an interesting experience. After the awards were given, I was invited to go back for tea with all of the judges and professors. Hopefully, I made some good contacts.

On Friday night we prepared for Mark and Marina's wedding and on Saturday, the wedding lasted all day. Thankfully, Deana was able to go and the kids went and had a good time as well. Congratulations Mark and Marina!!

THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS, SUPPORT, MAIL, EMAIL, AND ENCOURAGEMENT! YOU ARE ALL A BLESSING!

Last Monday we had a fantastic visit with our friends from Rzhev. They came to Moscow (which is normally a 3 to 4 hour drive) to visit with and encourage Deana! They have 3 children and we had a GREAT time being able to see them for about 3 hours here. Our pastor's wife cooked us dinner and we were able to fellowship around the table as well. There are a few pictures above from their visit with us.

I am continuing with language at the University. The first couple of weeks after our holiday break were great because there were only 3 or 4 of us in the group. This past week we had all of our students back and it was a little frustrating because 2 of them slow our group way down. I am beginning to understand more and more, but it is still very difficult to speak correctly! I may never! I had to take a break from the English Club and from music rehearsal, but hopefully I will return to both of those this week. I will be teaching at the English Club on Wednesday because the other teacher called and is sick.

Deana continues to go to therapy 3 days a week. She started her language lessons back last week on Tuesday and Thursday. Her teacher comes to our apartment to teach now. She is beginning to walk around the apartment without crutches and is doing a little better every day.

The kids are great as usual. Kellan had a class party last Friday night and had a great time sledding and playing games with his class. He has a great teacher and does well in schoo, just HATES homework! Ella continues to love being with Olga. She is beginning to work on writing numbers and letters in English.

Thanks to everyone who prayed for Greesha. He told me that his mind and spirit are much more calm now. I was able to tell him that I had asked LoTS of people to pray for him and that many of you responded and said that you were. He grinned very big and asked me to say, "Thanks!"

Our church family is helping us out so much right now. On Monday's and Thursday's 2 ladies are coming to cook and clean for us. I am learning how to shop for Russian products because they give me lists to shop for before they come here to cook. They have been a BIG blessing to us.

Thanks for your continued support and prayers! You are a blessing as well. There have been many emails, facebook messages, regular mail, and skype calls. Thanks!