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Thursday, October 21, 2010
Welcome Greta Louise!!!
Greta was born on Oct. 6 at the Baltic American Clinic in Vilnius, Lithuania.
After spending her first 10 days of life in the NICU & then the children's hospital, we're very thankful that she's now healthy & the family is home together!
After spending her first 10 days of life in the NICU & then the children's hospital, we're very thankful that she's now healthy & the family is home together!
Monday, April 12, 2010
These are a few of my favorite things!
Last weekend while we were having dinner out at the mall, I looked down at the foods I was eating & realized that each of these items are my absolute favorite Lithuanian foods! In fact, in my book, there couldn't be a more perfect meal that this. Which is what makes me start worrying, even now, about how I'll survive without having these scrumptious delicacies available to me at any local restaurant whenever we move back to the States...
For starters: Kepta Duona su Suriu (Fried Bread with Cheese)
Any one of you who have ever visited us here have certainly had this, as it's essential tourist fare, and, quite honestly, essential fare period. Thankfully, we don't eat out a ton these days, otherwise we'd be dying of clogged arteries from it. The trick is in the bread. It has to be a thick, dark rye - the denser the better. This is cut in strips & deep fried until nearly (but not quite!) crispy. Then each piece is rubbed with fresh garlic and then it's smothered (or drizzled, depending on the restaurant) with a glorious mixture of mayonnaise & melted cheese. Heart attack on a plate? For sure. The tastiest thing on the planet? Most definitely!
Next to come: Šaltibarščiai (Cold beet soup)
This one took me a few years to get used to, but now I'm addicted. Americans like to call it 'Pepto Bismal Soup' because of it's bright pink color. Thankfully, they taste nothing alike! You do have to appreciate the taste of beets for this one as well as be okay with the concept of cold soup (which is what took me a while, I think). This is strictly a summer-time soup, which unfortunately means it's only available in most restaurants during the warmer months (which we have about 4 of per year here). I have figured out which places serve it year-round, however, and go to those as often as possible!
It's essentially made of buttermilk, and then has thinly sliced beets, cucumbers, dill & usually a piece of hard-boiled egg in it with a dollop of sour cream on top. It is ALWAYS served with boiled potatoes...and in my opinion, the two cannot be eaten separately (although I was told once that dipping your potato into the soup before eating was perceived as a rather low-brow thing to do...good thing I don't care about how people perceive me)! :)
The main dish: Graikiškos salotos (Greek Salad)
I know you can find Greek Salads in the States, but I'm not confident they compare. The one I got last weekend at the mall was one of the best restaurant salads I've had here. The caramelized onions on top were glorious! But in all honesty, one of my favorite addictions is our local grocer's version that you get at the deli. "Salatos su Feta" (salad with feta - clever name, huh?) used to be called Graikiškos salatos & for some reason, the name was changed (even though the salad didn't appear to). The deli version is simply huge chunks of tomatoes, yellow & red peppers, feta, slivers of red onion & black olives, but the kicker is the vinaigrette! I literally can't stop myself from drinking what's left from the bottom of the container when the salad's done. I make my own version of this salad at home, but can't seem to replicate the vinaigrette they use...it's simply amazing!
And finally...the grand finale...DESSERT! The hands-down single best dark chocolate in the universe: Karuna.
After our dinner at the mall, I came home and promptly took out my usual 1-2 squares of Karuna from it's usual place in the door of the fridge. In my opinion, it's much better when cold. There is an alarm that goes off in our fridge if there is ever a time when there is a lack of Karuna there. Okay, maybe not quite...but I always keep a close eye on my supply & when we get low, it always gets replaced. I seriously have nightmares about how I'll be able to live in the States one day without Karuna. There is nothing America produces that is as good. Hershey's, Ghirardelli & Fannie May don't hold a candle. Karuna is where it's at. And no, I'm not biased! ;)
What I've learned is that if I want to continue enjoying these scrumptious treats after we leave Lithuania, I'll have to learn to make them all (or in the case of the Karuna, ship myself cases of it). I have actually made versions of each myself, but they need a lot of practice before they'll come close to making up for the originals!
And each of these dishes (with the exception of the Greek Salad, obviously) is strictly Lithuanian. I've never heard of or seen Šaltibarščiai or Kepta Duona in any country outside of here, and Karuna is locally produced.
Lithuania - you have created some AMAZING food...and have got me hooked!
For starters: Kepta Duona su Suriu (Fried Bread with Cheese)
Any one of you who have ever visited us here have certainly had this, as it's essential tourist fare, and, quite honestly, essential fare period. Thankfully, we don't eat out a ton these days, otherwise we'd be dying of clogged arteries from it. The trick is in the bread. It has to be a thick, dark rye - the denser the better. This is cut in strips & deep fried until nearly (but not quite!) crispy. Then each piece is rubbed with fresh garlic and then it's smothered (or drizzled, depending on the restaurant) with a glorious mixture of mayonnaise & melted cheese. Heart attack on a plate? For sure. The tastiest thing on the planet? Most definitely!
Next to come: Šaltibarščiai (Cold beet soup)
This one took me a few years to get used to, but now I'm addicted. Americans like to call it 'Pepto Bismal Soup' because of it's bright pink color. Thankfully, they taste nothing alike! You do have to appreciate the taste of beets for this one as well as be okay with the concept of cold soup (which is what took me a while, I think). This is strictly a summer-time soup, which unfortunately means it's only available in most restaurants during the warmer months (which we have about 4 of per year here). I have figured out which places serve it year-round, however, and go to those as often as possible!
It's essentially made of buttermilk, and then has thinly sliced beets, cucumbers, dill & usually a piece of hard-boiled egg in it with a dollop of sour cream on top. It is ALWAYS served with boiled potatoes...and in my opinion, the two cannot be eaten separately (although I was told once that dipping your potato into the soup before eating was perceived as a rather low-brow thing to do...good thing I don't care about how people perceive me)! :)
The main dish: Graikiškos salotos (Greek Salad)
I know you can find Greek Salads in the States, but I'm not confident they compare. The one I got last weekend at the mall was one of the best restaurant salads I've had here. The caramelized onions on top were glorious! But in all honesty, one of my favorite addictions is our local grocer's version that you get at the deli. "Salatos su Feta" (salad with feta - clever name, huh?) used to be called Graikiškos salatos & for some reason, the name was changed (even though the salad didn't appear to). The deli version is simply huge chunks of tomatoes, yellow & red peppers, feta, slivers of red onion & black olives, but the kicker is the vinaigrette! I literally can't stop myself from drinking what's left from the bottom of the container when the salad's done. I make my own version of this salad at home, but can't seem to replicate the vinaigrette they use...it's simply amazing!
And finally...the grand finale...DESSERT! The hands-down single best dark chocolate in the universe: Karuna.
After our dinner at the mall, I came home and promptly took out my usual 1-2 squares of Karuna from it's usual place in the door of the fridge. In my opinion, it's much better when cold. There is an alarm that goes off in our fridge if there is ever a time when there is a lack of Karuna there. Okay, maybe not quite...but I always keep a close eye on my supply & when we get low, it always gets replaced. I seriously have nightmares about how I'll be able to live in the States one day without Karuna. There is nothing America produces that is as good. Hershey's, Ghirardelli & Fannie May don't hold a candle. Karuna is where it's at. And no, I'm not biased! ;)
What I've learned is that if I want to continue enjoying these scrumptious treats after we leave Lithuania, I'll have to learn to make them all (or in the case of the Karuna, ship myself cases of it). I have actually made versions of each myself, but they need a lot of practice before they'll come close to making up for the originals!
And each of these dishes (with the exception of the Greek Salad, obviously) is strictly Lithuanian. I've never heard of or seen Šaltibarščiai or Kepta Duona in any country outside of here, and Karuna is locally produced.
Lithuania - you have created some AMAZING food...and have got me hooked!
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Light, Glorious Light!
Those of you back in the States 'sprung ahead' by one hour a few weeks ago, but here in this part of the world, we didn't do it until last night. After a LONG, DARK winter (in the darkest part of December, the sun wouldn't rise until after 8:30, and would set by 3:30), sunlight is an incredible gift! And this winter has been particularly long (snow as recently as last week) and due to that, has felt particularly dark.
Our church meets at 5pm on Sundays. In the darkest part of the winter, we go to church in the dark. As our days slowly started to get longer in January (it's something like 2 minutes longer each day), it was fun to look out the windows & see how much longer it stayed light each week. The past few weeks it's even been light until after we've gotten home! As I was sitting in church this evening, enjoying a wonderful Palm Sunday service, it caught my attention how tremendously bright it was outside. Part of the shock was because it had been raining most of the day, but despite that, there was no way it should be that bright while we were still at church!
It was wonderful to come home tonight while it was still bright and to find myself surprised as I looked at the clock to see that it was already 8:00 while I was cooking dinner -- and not dark yet!!! This is only the beginning of the disorienting summer sunshine of Lithuania. It will only stay lighter for longer here on out...until we hit the lightest part of the summer when the sun only goes down for about an hour between midnight & 1am. It's during that wonderful season that you lose all track of time, want to be outside all evening and forget to make dinner or put kids to bed until much past a sensible time. It's FABULOUS!!!
For as much as Lithuanian winters may be long & dark, they make us revel in each beautifully bright evening as the days continue to get longer and longer. Which reminds me...I've got to get on top of making those curtains for the skylights in the kids room pretty quick! Light...GLORIOUS light!
Our church meets at 5pm on Sundays. In the darkest part of the winter, we go to church in the dark. As our days slowly started to get longer in January (it's something like 2 minutes longer each day), it was fun to look out the windows & see how much longer it stayed light each week. The past few weeks it's even been light until after we've gotten home! As I was sitting in church this evening, enjoying a wonderful Palm Sunday service, it caught my attention how tremendously bright it was outside. Part of the shock was because it had been raining most of the day, but despite that, there was no way it should be that bright while we were still at church!
It was wonderful to come home tonight while it was still bright and to find myself surprised as I looked at the clock to see that it was already 8:00 while I was cooking dinner -- and not dark yet!!! This is only the beginning of the disorienting summer sunshine of Lithuania. It will only stay lighter for longer here on out...until we hit the lightest part of the summer when the sun only goes down for about an hour between midnight & 1am. It's during that wonderful season that you lose all track of time, want to be outside all evening and forget to make dinner or put kids to bed until much past a sensible time. It's FABULOUS!!!
For as much as Lithuanian winters may be long & dark, they make us revel in each beautifully bright evening as the days continue to get longer and longer. Which reminds me...I've got to get on top of making those curtains for the skylights in the kids room pretty quick! Light...GLORIOUS light!
Sunday, February 07, 2010
2010 Update
It's been too long since we've updated the blog...it seems like facebook is taking over instead! But there have been a few new happenings since we returned from our marvelous time in the States for Christmas.
1. New job for Andrew! (or should we say new addition to his job?) Along with being the Athletic Director with the mission of bringing back LCC's men's basketball team, (and the babysitter coordinator and very part-time stay at home dad) he is also now the new Alumni Relations Director! His primary purpose now is to be the collector of stories from LCC student alum & LCC staff/faculty alum. What a fun job! The stories he's already recieving are fantastic! We love this place & the affect it has on people's lives!
2. We are having the snowiest, coldest winter Klaipeda has seen in DECADES. There was a solid covering of snow everywhere when we returned on January 7...and we haven't seen the ground yet! For a couple weeks there, the temps were bitter cold -- like the kind of cold that's only supposed to happen in Alaska or the U.P. or Minnesota. But now we're at least hovering around freezing, so that's doable. Ieva has loved her first sledding experiences!
3. I'm working like a crazy woman & praying for sanity that God's recently been giving me through my recent walks to work (approx. 1.5 miles). Since we got the car last summer, I've been getting lazy, and not only need the solitude, but also need the exercise! The big things on my plate at LCC this spring: Recruiting half (7 of 14) of the Student Life staff for this coming fall; working with our local architect & our board members in Canada on building plans for a new campus residence hall that we'll break ground for this spring; and chairing a committee for the Presidential Inaguaration we'll be doing for Kyle at the end of March...and all the other day-to-day stuff that always comes up. It's a lot, but God's given me peace to know that this is where I'm supposed to be for this season of life!
4. Despite our gentle nudges, Ieva has decided to quit the ballet class she began last fall & we've all decided she'll try it again when she's a little older. In the meantime, however, the dance class at her preschool that she didn't like last fall has suddenly become fun to her now & she attends & participates with a new-found enthusiasum we've never seen before! She is growing like a weed & the things she'll say amaze us. And, she's a fabulous big sister!
5. Isak is now 8 months old & we can't figure out where the time is going! He's into experimenting with new foods & wrapping his student babysitters around his little finger. He's a total charmer and we're so very thankful for the fantastic group of babysitters God has provided for us this spring!
6. I'll save the biggest news for last...our President Kyle recently invited us to consider making a 2 (more) year committment to LCC, and after talking and praying, we've accepted his offer. For the past few years we've only been committing a year at a time, but with my new role as VP and Andrew's new role with our growing alumni program, he'd like to see us stick around for a bit. So we're now committed through the summer 2012...which will be the 10-year anniversary of when we first came to Lithuania. Unbelievable! But we're here because we know this is where God wants us & we truly, truly love it.
And after all...these two kids know nothing else.
1. New job for Andrew! (or should we say new addition to his job?) Along with being the Athletic Director with the mission of bringing back LCC's men's basketball team, (and the babysitter coordinator and very part-time stay at home dad) he is also now the new Alumni Relations Director! His primary purpose now is to be the collector of stories from LCC student alum & LCC staff/faculty alum. What a fun job! The stories he's already recieving are fantastic! We love this place & the affect it has on people's lives!
2. We are having the snowiest, coldest winter Klaipeda has seen in DECADES. There was a solid covering of snow everywhere when we returned on January 7...and we haven't seen the ground yet! For a couple weeks there, the temps were bitter cold -- like the kind of cold that's only supposed to happen in Alaska or the U.P. or Minnesota. But now we're at least hovering around freezing, so that's doable. Ieva has loved her first sledding experiences!
3. I'm working like a crazy woman & praying for sanity that God's recently been giving me through my recent walks to work (approx. 1.5 miles). Since we got the car last summer, I've been getting lazy, and not only need the solitude, but also need the exercise! The big things on my plate at LCC this spring: Recruiting half (7 of 14) of the Student Life staff for this coming fall; working with our local architect & our board members in Canada on building plans for a new campus residence hall that we'll break ground for this spring; and chairing a committee for the Presidential Inaguaration we'll be doing for Kyle at the end of March...and all the other day-to-day stuff that always comes up. It's a lot, but God's given me peace to know that this is where I'm supposed to be for this season of life!
4. Despite our gentle nudges, Ieva has decided to quit the ballet class she began last fall & we've all decided she'll try it again when she's a little older. In the meantime, however, the dance class at her preschool that she didn't like last fall has suddenly become fun to her now & she attends & participates with a new-found enthusiasum we've never seen before! She is growing like a weed & the things she'll say amaze us. And, she's a fabulous big sister!
5. Isak is now 8 months old & we can't figure out where the time is going! He's into experimenting with new foods & wrapping his student babysitters around his little finger. He's a total charmer and we're so very thankful for the fantastic group of babysitters God has provided for us this spring!
6. I'll save the biggest news for last...our President Kyle recently invited us to consider making a 2 (more) year committment to LCC, and after talking and praying, we've accepted his offer. For the past few years we've only been committing a year at a time, but with my new role as VP and Andrew's new role with our growing alumni program, he'd like to see us stick around for a bit. So we're now committed through the summer 2012...which will be the 10-year anniversary of when we first came to Lithuania. Unbelievable! But we're here because we know this is where God wants us & we truly, truly love it.
And after all...these two kids know nothing else.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Merry Christmas!
We're currently in Oregon having a WONDERFUL time celebrating the holidays with friends & family! One extra special treat was a family photo shoot that Joel Bock did for us in Newberg. He's a great photographer & we're thrilled with the results. You can see some of them here in our 2009 Smilebox Christmas card. Enjoy!
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Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Reflections on Thanksgiving Eve
Thanksgiving in Lithuania always makes me reflective. For some reason this holiday holds more emotional connection for me than any other...especially during the past 7 years since living here. Maybe it's because life here the last Thursday of November is so completely different than it is in the States, and we know just what we're missing. But instead of feeling the loss, this year it's put me in a reflective mood. I truly have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving 2009, so I thought I'd jot down a few of my thankfulnesses (that's not a word, is it? I'm making it one right now)!
Kim's Thankfulnesses 2009:
Kim's Thankfulnesses 2009:
- Andrew: nearly 10 years of marriage to a guy that I'm so thankful to be with. He's taught me a ton on this journey and I can't wait to see where the next 10 years take us!
- Ieva & Isak: what a gift it is to be a mom to these two. I may want to pull my hair out at Ieva's 4 year old antics at times or plug my ears & scream when Isak won't stop crying, but I can't imagine it any other way -- they bring me more constant joy & laughter than I've ever known & I simply LOVE being their mom!
- Our extended families: I couldn't ask for more supportive & loving parents & in-laws -- all of whom are so great at encouraging us to go where God wants us to be, even if it takes us far from them. Their selfless love is a reminder of why we're supposed to be here, doing what we're called to do.
- Our local community: we are so rich in relationship here! And the best part is that we don't get to choose who we're in community with - it ebbs & flows with every semester & the staff, faculty & students who come & go which only broadens our perspectives & teaches us how to love those we may never had the chance to love before.
- Our community of supporters, friends & family abroad: how amazing you all are!!! The emails, facebook notes, cards, prayers, financial support & so many other ways that you let us know that you're keeping us near to your hearts is truly humbling. We praise God regularly for the great cloud of angels he's surrounded us with!
- LCC International University: working here in such a culturally diverse & spiritually ecumenical environment over the past 7 years has developed me professionally more than I ever could have been working anywhere in the States. Having the honor of serving students from 20 nationalities, alongside staff & faculty from a broad cultural spectrum themselves has expanded my worldview & challenged me in phenomenal ways. And more than that: I LOVE the effect this place has on our students, as it introduces them to a style of education radically different than they've ever known & for many, to a God they never knew they could have a personal relationship with.
- Klaipeda: I truly love this city! Having the contrast of an urban environment bumping right up against the beach of the Baltic Sea is totally my ideal location (okay, it could be a little warmer...) but I can't tell you how many times I've thanked God that LCC is located here, rather than nearly any other city in Lithuania!
- Our apartment: When we had to move out of our beloved little 'house in the trees' last December, I was heartbroken. But when God brought us to this place...which is so much bigger & has so many more perks that the last place did...I was amazed! As I stare up at our Christmas stockings hanging from the banister leading upstairs or hear the hum of the dishwasher or lay in bed watching the snow fall on our bedroom skylights, I always thank God for this place, as I know we have been so truly blessed.
There is so much more I could list: my fluffball of a cat purring next to me, the smell of the Christmas candle burning on the counter, hearing Ieva request to watch Madagascar 2 in Lithuanian rather than in English, watching American TV shows online without commercials, Andrew Peterson's, Sandra McCracken's & Jill Phillip's music, driving our car, the genius of video skype...the list could go on & on & on.
And Lord...it's all a gift from you. A free gift to one so tremendously undeserving of the love, the grace & the mercy you give to me every day. Thank you, thank you, thank you. For all my thankfulnesses, I give YOU the glory!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Fall Break; Part 3 (Transport)
The most adventurous part of our little road trip through Poland & Germany was our car problems! Soon after leaving Poland, our transmission light started flashing, but everything seemed okay (and really, what choice did we have?) so we kept going. Just outside of Berlin (approximately 200 km after the light started blinking) the car started having problems shifting gears. And as soon as we entered the stop-and-go traffic of downtown Berlin at rush hour (no less!) the transmission couldn't take it & the car died. After letting it cool off for a few minutes (we needed a potty break anyway), Andrew managed to get it going again -- for a couple more minutes. It took us well over an hour to get 3 km to our apartment. But we made it!
So much time in the car!! (the kids were great road-trippers!)
Our knight in yellow armor got us to the ferry, just in time!
With a huge sigh of relief, we collapsed into our tiny room & praised God that we made it! The next 18 hours on the ferry were uneventful & we enjoyed experiencing a new form of travel that didn't depend on us or a faulty car. Upon our arrival to Klaipeda, the car started & drove out of the cargo area, all the way to the gate that separates the ferry port from the city. And there, yet again, it died. It was Sunday morning around 10 -- every friend we could think of with a car would be at church -- but we started calling anyway. And finally Raimis came to our rescue & rope-towed us home (don't worry -- me & the kids were in his car). We were so glad to be home! 
So much time in the car!! (the kids were great road-trippers!)Andrew & Sabine took the car to 2 different mechanics - one who didn't work on automatics & the other said it was a computer problem that would take days to figure out...and we had to drive another 350 km up to Sassnitz the next day. He said if we had to drive, we probably could, as long as we went slowly. 
Isak & Ieva on the ferry
Isak & Ieva on the ferrySo on Saturday, we had to be in Sassnitz to check onto our ferry by 3:00, for a 4:00 departure. We gave ourselves twice the time we assumed it would take & headed out -- averaging about 55 km/hr (35 mph) on the autobahn while cars whizzed past us at speeds of around 200 km/hr (125 mph). We limped along, slowly but surely...until...the poor car didn't want to go anymore. 45 km short of the ferry terminal in Sassnitz we were stuck. But amazingly, the place the car stopped at was an outdoor farmer's market with a play area for kids & a tourist information booth. We could have been anywhere -- on the side of the highway miles away from anything -- but God allowed us to make it there. It was phenomenal. The guy at the information booth spoke decent English & called a tow truck for us, as well as the ferry to tell them we'd be coming (via tow) late. Ieva got to stretch her legs at the play area while we waited for the tow truck. At 3:30 we were towed right up to the cargo hold of the ferry. Thankfully, the car started & rolled itself into the cargo hold (amongst train cars & semis; without knowing if we'd be able to get it off, we didn't get to be with the rest of the passenger cars)!
Our knight in yellow armor got us to the ferry, just in time!
Silhouettes in the cargo hold
With a huge sigh of relief, we collapsed into our tiny room & praised God that we made it! The next 18 hours on the ferry were uneventful & we enjoyed experiencing a new form of travel that didn't depend on us or a faulty car. Upon our arrival to Klaipeda, the car started & drove out of the cargo area, all the way to the gate that separates the ferry port from the city. And there, yet again, it died. It was Sunday morning around 10 -- every friend we could think of with a car would be at church -- but we started calling anyway. And finally Raimis came to our rescue & rope-towed us home (don't worry -- me & the kids were in his car). We were so glad to be home! A great adventure and great memories!
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