Back in the USA...

We apologize for the long delay since we've last written...in our busy preparation to come back to the States, we ran out of time. And, in what has seemed like an ironic twist, we've had far worse internet access since we've been back than we ever have had in Lithuania.

So - by way of brief description of what we've been doing for the past 2.5 weeks since we've been back, I'll sum up how much I've enjoyed it by decribing our current scene:

Ieva & I are sitting outside on my Aunt & Uncle's lovely patio escaping the Kentucky heat under two huge shade trees. Their two small dogs & two huge cats are providing Ieva all the entertainment she could ever want as they run around in the lush grass of their huge yard. Just beyond the yard are miles of paddocks with horses grazing. Andrew is out golfing with my cousin. I'm doing work on the wireless laptop on the patio while sipping lemonaid. It feels like a little piece of paradise. And even though every moment of our trip hasn't felt this luxurious, our time in general has truly been this relaxing & energizing.

One of the biggest things that has struck me on this trip is how much I miss having a yard for Ieva to run around in. Soon after we arrived we went to Ohio to visit some friends who have 3 small girls & live in a neighborhood full of kids. Ieva was in heaven running up & down the sidewalk & through the grass with the other kids! My parents live in a parsonage next to their church and last Saturday the church threw a huge retirement party for them (which was an amazing testimony of my Dad's incredible ministry throughout his career as a pastor!) and there were at least 15 little kids running around throughout the yard. Watching Ieva run & play with them was so great!

Every morning this week that we've been down here in Kentucky, the first thing Ieva wants to do when she gets up is go outside. She'll wander through the soft grass in her bare feet & pjs in hunt of the kitties (whom she calls "Asti" - our cat's name) & is so cute!

In general, our time reconnecting with old friends & family has also been a blessing & our entire trip has felt as good as this afternoon has been. Below are some photos of our time so far. Notice that many of them revolve around water, which means...it's hot here!Bedtime with Grandma after our long flight

Playing with the hose in Grandma & Grandpa's yard

Picking flowers at Glenn & Reka's home in Niles

Getting her feet wet with Daddy in Lake Michigan

Getting our feet wet again in a fountain in Columbus, Ohio with the Taviano girls: Marla & her daughters Livi & Ava (Nina is missing)


Getting soaked in another fountain in Columbus - so much fun!!

A rough week for kids & kitties

Poor Ieva & Asti have had their fair share of "owies" this week. It began with Ieva last Sunday at the beach during a special worship service in the dunes. Our church, the International Christian Fellowship, met for a more informal service at the beach for a time of sharing & worship. As we sat in a circle in the sand, Ieva was enjoying running around us playing with the twigs & shells she could dig up. She came around behind me & reached her hands up around my neck, so I held her hands & leaned forward, resting her up against my back as I pulled her feet off the ground. We did this a few times until she suddenly started to cry and wouldn't stop. I took her down to the water to try to distract her, but it was clear that she was in pain & was refusing to use her left arm and hand. I was mortified to think I injured my baby!! So we called our colleague Sharon (who was a physical therapist in her former life) and asked her to meet us at home to take a look at Ieva's arm. After crying for nearly an hour straight, we finally had her bundled up with her blanky & bear on the couch distracted by Shrek on TV. Sharon assessed that one of her shoulder muscles was probably strained, so we treated it with baby Advil and put her to bed. Monday morning she woke up as happy as ever & was using her left arm as if nothing had ever happened! Ieva looking pathetic (but sweet!) after her arm injury

Then today, our kitty-boy Astorija started showing signs that his reoccurring urinary tract infection had returned. We called our vet (who speaks English & makes house calls!) and he said he'd come over around 8:30pm. In the 4 hours between when we called & when the vet came, Asti's lethargic movements evolved into a lot of whining, growling & hissing when anyone came near him & it was obvious he was in a lot of pain. When the vet came and felt Asti's bladder, he was very concerned & said Asti was extremely bloated & in a lot of pain. Apparently, he couldn't urinate...which, I can only imagine would be pretty painful. The vet said he couldn't force him to pee, so he gave him a shot to put him to sleep (which worked within about 10 seconds after receiving it!) and then was able to massage his bladder until the stone that was apparently causing the blockage popped out, followed by massive amounts of urine. Our poor kitty had kidney stones! (or the cat's equivalent to it.) It's taken him a couple hours to wake up & he's still pretty groggy, but seems to be on the mend. Keeping Asti warm as the anesthesia wears off

In both situations, we're so thankful that they have turned out to be okay & haven't been worse than they were!
Thank you, Jesus, for protecting our little family!!