HOME AT LAST!!!

I am home! 

It took a long time to get here!  

(almost 3 days!)

But I made it.

and I love it.

Family is the greatest!  

When I got to the airport there they all were wearing shirts that had the letters of my name on them and wearing zebra print clothing!  It was the best!  

Then we went to Costa Vida!  It was heavenly! 

I love the United States!  We know how to do everything right here!  haha

well i will be posting about my recent travels soon, now that I have more time!

Thanks for all of the support while I was gone!  I love all you guys!

Dena

Anyone know her.....

LAURA LEE JACKSON REAY

She is the greatest person in the world and my best friend!

She was born on June 1, 1958

Today she is turning 51!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!

I wish that I could be there to spend the day with you.

If I were home, I would:

Make you breakfast in bed,

give you a birthday card,

take you to the movies,

go shopping to Costco with you,

go to lunch at Costa :),

sing out loud in the car to David Archuleta,

talk with you about whatever for all the time in between,

and to end the night we would go in your room and watch the LONG version of Pride and Prejudice, while quoting the whole thing!

Sounds like the best day ever to me! Not only would it be because those are all of my favorite things to do as well as yours (i think) but because I would be with you!

I have missed you more than you can know!

Can't wait to see you in July!

Hope you have an amazing day, love you so much!

Dena

AAAAHHHHHHHHHH................

If I had one more day on earth I know where I would spend it....

PETERHOF PALACE!!!

So this place is absolutely gorgeous! I'll let you in on a few facts:
*After the victory over the Swedes in 1709, Peter the Great decided to build a palace "befitting to the very highest of monarchs"
*Later, a visit to Versailles furthered his ambitions with the Palace.
*It took 9 years for 5,000 people to finish Peterhof
*There are 144 fountains
*They are run by gravity (there is a lake above the level of the palace, that the water comes from)
*8,000 gallons of water are pumped per second through the fountains! (I still can't believe that!)
*In the "Peter" days, all guests would arrive by boat, they would ride a Gondala up the main channel to the palace.
*For each building in Peterhof, there is a Cascade of Fountains! Its amazing.....
*Oh and this is the "Palace by the Sea" that Anastasia was born at, and her brother, Alexis, was actually baptized in the Cathedral that you will see...

Ah I'll just let you see the pictures, just know that they don't do it justice, It honestly is so amazingly beautiful there!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Oh my gosh, I love it there, the day started out, sorta cloudy, with a light breeze, but as it went on it just got more and more blue and beautiful! I am really going to miss St. Petersburg! There is so much to do and see here, I am definitely going to want to come back someday! I can't believe that I am only going to be here for 8 more days! A chapter of my life is ending, but a new one beginning! Ah...Love you all!

Dena

p.s. Mom did you see how long my hair is? It has grown 5 inches since I've been here!

Summer Plans!

I have changed my plans for the Summer,

as most of you know...I was going to be traveling all over Europe, but now instead I will be extending my teaching until mid-July. I am going to go (along with Branda and Holly) to Ukraine and teach there for 6 weeks. We are going to be teaching kids from the ages 5-15. It is going to be more like a summer camp though because we will be doing a lot more outdoor activities with them, like hiking and horse-back riding! I am really excited. We are going to live in a town that is about 45 minutes outside of Kiev. I hear that it is just beautiful there, and now I will be able to experience life in yet another country! I really do want to just go home, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity! Since I couldn't just not travel at all, Branda and I decided that we will just be content with diving into the Italian culture and after Ukraine we will head to Rome and spend two weeks traveling all over Italy! It should be so much fun! It definitely is something that helps me cope with the fact that I have to leave my Russian family and my kids here soon. I have 17 days left in Russia, and it will definitely be a sad day when I leave for good, Russia has become my second home and a big part of my life! It will also be hard because St. Petersburg is getting more and more beautiful by the day! Everything is green, there are flowers and fountains everywhere! Ah I just love it! This is what it looks like now:

Big difference eh? It doesn't even seem like the same frozen ice berg that I first landed on!

**But I am excited to see everyone again, put in my papers, work, and start a normal life again! I especially miss my Mama! I know I am a day past mothers day, but happy mothers day! I hope that it was amazing and that the boys made you breakfast in bed or something! I remember when I was little and we would always have so much fun planning what we would do for mom on Mothers day. Dad would ask all of us, and no one ever knew what to get, so we would go to Fred Meyer or something on Saturday night, right before and get a card and something else! I loved those times, and I think breakfast in bed we did at least a few times! I can't believe that we are all old now! Dylan is going to be 16, and that stage is definitely passed! But we all still love you so much mom! Thanks for being my best friend! Russia can never truly be my home because you aren't here!

SPECTACLE!!!!

So at the end of the semester our classes put on skits to show off their "English skills" to their parents! I can't wait for the end of the semester! Our kids are going to be so cute! And we finally figured out what we are going to be doing!

INTRODUCING:

the amazing vocal stylings of the St. Petersburg Primary class!

32 children will be performing.....wait for it....

They are going to be soooo cute! We are dressing them all up, and they are making things in arts and crafts to put up for decorations. we will each have them say a line about what they are dressed up as and then we will sing...

Part of "Under the Sea", "Baby Shark", "Let Me See Your Fishy Face", "Five Little Ducks", and "Five Little Speckled Frogs". We will also be doing "Princess Pat" Because that is their favorite!

I can't wait to see how well they actually do it because, as of right now, they dont really know the songs! ha the parents dont really want to hear us singing it i think...but oh well!

I might be even more excited for our Level One class though.... They are gonna be awesome, and its even better because they are coming out with a movie of it....the kids are excited! They all get to be monsters! hahah

Well except Gleb...he is gonna be Max! and I think he will do great! We have tamed him!

I wish you would all be here to see our kids in Action! They are all amazing and I am gonna miss them so much when we leave! It will definitely be hard. I will video it and take pictures and let you guys know how it goes...but its not until the 21st of May! So no rush! Love you all!

Dena

Elder Richard G. Scott said....

"Keeping the covenants is not hard when you do it willingly with a 'broken heart and a contrite spirit.' When obeyed, those covenants bring happiness and joy. They give purpose to life. Difficulty comes when agency is used to make choices that are inconsistent with those covenants. Study the things you do in your discretionary time, that time yore free to control. Do you find that it is centered in those things that are of hightest priority and of greatest importance? Or do you unconsciously, consistently fill it with trivia and activities that are not of enduring value nor help you accomplish the purpose for which you came to earth? Think of the long view of life, not just what's going to happen today or tomorrow. Don't give up what you most want in life for something you think you want now."

I love this quote and it has definitely inspired me while I have been in Russia! I have been so involved in the church here, I never thought that I would be, mostly because of the language barrier. But the missionaries here are amazing. They have provided so much opportunity for us to be involved! It has helped us to stay happy! We have FHE, institute, church in English!!!, and play floor hockey with the missionaries and the members 2 times a week! We either are at the school teaching or at the church when we aren't home or sightseeing! I love being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! Every happiness I have is from being a member!

My experiences here have helped me decide for sure that I am going on a Mission! I will put my papers in this August. I am looking at the long view, instead of what I think I want now! I know that a mission will benefit my life! I can't wait! I know this Gospel is true, live it, love it, and you will be the happiest person in the world!

Love you all!
Dena

A Russian Birthday Party!

As you know it was Valera's 5th birthday party not long ago....well let me fill you in on how a Russian Birthday Party works....

Apparently the party isn't for the kid, it's for the Parents! haha Tanya and Igor had all of their friends over. It was fun to meet a lot of new people! But I think that Russia only has about 10 names in their "Book of Babies Names" because the only people that I have met are named:
Tatiana (Tanya)
Igor (George)
Sergei (Serosha)
Sveta
Sasha (Alexander)
Dima (Dimitri)
Anna (Anya, Anastasia)
Vlad (Vladik, Vladimir)
or pretty much anything that ends with "asha"
I think that they need to change it up...how about you?

Anyway...So we ate! That is what they do at birthday parties here....they just eat and eat all day! They don't even sing! It was so weird. They just sat IN MY ROOM!!! on MY bed! and we all ate, they moved a table in there, and we ate. Well I guess I should say they ate! I only had 2 things: Fruit salad, and this chicken salad, that tasted like Tuna with Chicken...anyway! Same with Branda (she was there with me) Everything else had fish in it! It was so gross! They have this thing in Russia call Holladiets (sp?) and it is like a meat jello, well they had a fish one, with 2 whole fish in it, skin, eyes and all! BARF! I just kindly passed! haha
But then when I thought all the eating was over, they brought out ice cream, we had some and then they were like "do you want to go on a walk?" Uh I think not, it was FREEZING outside! Hardly weather for a nice walk! So we stayed home and they all went for a walk and then came back to do what???? Uh eat again! haha
It was definitely an experience! I enjoyed it! And I was so grateful Branda shared it with me! She is the best friend ever and I don't think that I would survive Russia without her!
Love you all!
Dena

My Host Family!

I realized that I haven't really posted any pictures of my Host Family, so I figured I would add some pics!

This is Igor (my host dad) and Sasha. They are the ones that are going to come stay with me this August! I can't wait! They are so much fun!

This is Tanya! She is such a Beauty Queen! I love her, I think it's because she reminds me so much of my mom! It helps when I'm feeling homesick!

and this is Valera! He just had his 5th birthday! He is such a doll! He likes to bite and spit a lot, but you forget all of that when you see his beautiful blue eyes!

Love you all!

Dena

Trakai Castle

Ok I think that the reason I loved Lithuania so much, was because of our side trip to Trakai Castle! It was absolutely beautiful even though everything was frozen! The city of Trakai is the ancient capital of Lithuania, and is situated west of Vilnius between, hills, forests, and lakes. It was built in the 14th century and is known as the "Island Castle". I loved it, when you stood on the towers, all you could see around were the hills and the lake on all sides! Very picturesque!


Me, on the bridge to the Castle.

The almost hauled us to be hanged for our "Witch-craft" Don't worry though, we got off the hook by showing them some ancient Witch Dances!

They weren't really satisfied though, so we ran for our lives. They put the gates down right before we could get out, but our climbing skills were above them, we made it! jk :)

Inside the tower, on the winding stair case! Don't you just love the looks of the old walls?

Branda and I hanging out by one of the windows in the housing chambers!

We had to pose again on our way back, it was hard to leave, we all loved it so much!

I am experiencing and seeing so much here. I have now been many places that I never thought I would go and now have a place for all of them in my heart! Love you all!

Dena

Lithuania

Ok...so I am trying to catch you guys up...in March we took a trip to Lithuania and Latvia...Two countries that I never thought I would see... But it was so much fun! As much as I love Russia, it was kindof nice to leave it. A lot more people speak English and there are absolutely better looking guys! haha, we started out in Vilnius, Lithuania! It was my favorite place because we happened to be there during their Kaziukas Fair. It is their biggest Festival of the year. It has been in existence for over 400 years, and the craftsmen from all over the country come and present their work to visitors. It embraces the area of the Old Town.. which is beautiful. So we probably saw every single Lithuanian while we were there and we definitely saw all of the Culture! It was a blast! There were so many people! But it was fun to be in the hustle and bustle!

Lithuania is the oldest of all the Baltic countries, the history includes a lot of drama and war. It was independent twice. This is the "Castle" that sits on a high hill overlooking the whole city, it has been there almost as long as the city itself, which was established in the 13th century!

Who knows why these were in a random park, but of course we posed...don't mind my puffy "monster" coat! It is huge, but definitely kept me warm!

Told you there were a lot of people. This is just one of the streets! There were probably 7 others that looked the same! It was so much fun! (especially since we all carried our luggage around the whole day!)

The cathedrals are always so beautiful everwhere you go! I love red brick!

More of the festival...they were selling the weirdest things, the most popular being flower arrangements that weren't even flowers at all, just twigs and weeds, wound to look like flowers!

This is the main square "Cathedral Square" You can see the old "Castle" right above it, its just overlooking it..it was beautful, I liked the change because until now we have only been to Russian Orthodox churches, so it was nice!

Another red brick, Cathedral!


This is all of us, exhausted on the nicest bus I have ever been on! The seats were leather and it was spacious. We had a 4 hour bus ride to Riga, Latvia. The Bus even had a Coffee machine that amazingly had a Hot Chocolate Button as well! I think that we each had about 6 little cups, burnt our tongues, and got tummy aches! haha but it was worth it! We got to Riga really late and found our Hostel (which by the way, they were both so nice in both of the countries!) I wont post about Riga probably, but it was gorgeous just like Vilnius, narrow, winding, cobble stone streets. Really nice people, and beautiful buildings to see! Love you all!

Dena

Moscow

Hi everyone! So I have been really bad lately with Blog posting! haha back in February my group took a trip to Moscow, it was definitely the coldest that I have ever been in my life, but also amazing to be in a place that you only dream of going to...Red Square was fantastic!

Branda and I on Red Square, in front of the clock tower of the Kremlin. :)

LOVE THIS CATHEDRAL!!! Who wouldn't, it just looks like it belongs in Candy Land or something! I definitely think everyone needs to go in their life time!

This was my favorite building...it is on Red Square opposite St. Basil's...the picture doesn't do it justice, but the architecture is phenominal!!! I wanna move in...

Right outside this wall of the Kremlin, they have an eternal flame, and this is where the changing of the guard takes place, which is definitely cool to see, the Russian soldiers can really high kick, they are all more flexible than me, thats for sure!

Well I loved Moscow, there were so many more things that we saw and did, including: Church in English!, more Cathedrals, a Monastery, and Best of all a Blini festival, we danced with Russians and were in the midst of the first happy people we have met! We definitely had the time of our lives! Love you all!

Dena

The Russian Ballet

Everyone should go to the Russian Ballet in their lifetime if they can! It is amazing! I definitely am going to try to go again while I am here! We got to see the wonderful production of "Swan Lake" by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Everything about it was spectacular! Tchaikovsky took a trip to Germany to see King Ludwig, who was the King at Neuschwanstein Castle (the one that they created the Sleeping Beauty Castle after...and I will see it in June! yay) So King Ludwig is nicknamed "The Swan King" because he loves Swans. I guess there are carvings of Swans on the Castle and there is a Lake right by the Castle that is called Swan Lake because he filled it with Swans...Tchaikovsky was inspired and when he came home to Russia he wrote the music to "Swan Lake"! awesome how all of these things tie together! I love being apart of history! (It's kindof awesome because Tchaikovsky also wrote the Ballet for "Sleeping Beauty")

We had FHE with the missionaries before we were off to the Ballet and it was quite an experience because we had to run to the Ballet because we got lost! Here we were, all dressed up with high heels on running through the Metro.. up and down escalators in rush hour. We were definitely very hated by the russians because running in the Metro is just something you dont do...but at least we made it to the Ballet right?



The Finale....She was so graceful, they were amazing, it makes me wish I were a Ballerina, but I know that would NEVER happen! hehe


This is the Swan Princess' impersonator...Of course you weren't supposed to like her, but man could she dance! I kept looking for the strings attached to her, but I don't think there were any!

forgive my appearance. I had just run through the undergrounds and I was super sweaty! The theatre was beautiful though.

On our way...this was before we realized that we were going to be late! (Aubrey's hat I'm wearing she bought at a second hand store here....we all wore it at defferent points in the night.)

Sarah was not to happy that we had to run...not long after she took off her coat and everything! It was sooooo hot down there, no wonder the Russian have bad BO!

So funny story, we finally made it to the right Metro stop but were completely turned around and didn't know where to go. None of us has good Russian at this point so we didn't know how to ask where to go...so Rachel just decides she is going to point on a map and ask someone. We were like "ask a mom or a grandma" but she goes up to this guy! hehe and luckily he was super nice and really willing to help. We got it through to him that we had to be to the Ballet in 7 minutes...so he started running with us! and he ran all the way to the theatre with us! How sweet huh? So we had to hurry and snap a photo, being the Americans that we are! haha

Everyone should go to the Ballet! Love you all!

Dena

See You Summer....

Hi. So I just had to tell you all about my Host family...

Recently I got a package from the fam with all kinds of goodies in it... Mom made an apron for Tanya (my host mom), got some books about Utah for Igor (my host dad), and a bunch of little trinkets for the boys.. They LOVED it by the way! Anything that is from America is pretty much just amazing to them. Valera was blowing bubbles all night, and Sasha thinks that he has the game of Jacks down (although he is totally doing it all wrong, but you can't tell a 6-year-old they're wrong...) But the funniest thing was Igor. He is the best.
So, Tanya works 2 jobs and is usually not home until around 11 every night. So Igor cooks the Dinner every night and does the dishes and most of the Laundry. :) He is Superman. So as soon as I got the Apron out, he put it on and was wearing it all night. It was cracking me up!
Then I got the books out about Utah, and he was even more exited. Then they started seriously talking about coming to Utah, because our giving them the books was like an invitation. They were having a serious conversation about it, and they finally turned to me and said, "Do we have to give you an answer tonight?" haha it made me laugh, but I said, "of course not."
Then I came to find out a couple days later that they have seriously decided that they are coming to Utah this Summer! Just Igor and Sasha. But I don't know if they are coming because of me and the books, or if they had thought of it previously....but just a heads up folks, we'll have some Russians visiting us for a couple weeks this summer!
They were thinking of coming in July, but then I told them that I wouldn't be home. So Igor is now trying to talk with his boss about changing his vacation time to August. They really must love me!! :) it makes me happy!! I know that I will really miss them when I leave. But it wont be too bad because they will be visiting pretty soon after! I can't wait to show them everything about Utah!
Every morning when I leave or Igor leaves, he always says, "See you evening!" and the other night I had a dream that I was going home and he said, "See you Summer!" So I just wanted to let you all know of my little family experience!! I love it, and I love you all!
Dena

Church on Spilled Blood

Hello everyone!

I've been so busy lately, but wanted to update you a little on something that we FINALLY did! We went to the Church on Spilled Blood, which is the first thing you think of when you think of St. Petersburg. It was beautiful, definitely my favorite Cathedral we have been in so far. It was on a dreary day, but it was still gorgeous. The inside was the best though. It was full of rich colors and beautiful pictures. The best part is that everything you see is a mosaic. It is amazing! The floor is all marble as well. I just loved it!



This is our famous building! It is not as colorful as the one in Moscow, but I think it's more beautiful because it doesn't look as fake. Its all brick, and right on a river!

Again, the ceilings and chandaleirs are amazing, all MOSAIC! (well not the chandaleirs)

This is a little model of the church that someone made and donated, its amazing!

The floor is almost the best part! They have kept it in such awesome condition.

I just can't get over the fact that all of this is mosaic, even inside the double pained windows is a mosaic, they didn't overlook any part of this building!

I love you all, sorry this isn't much, but I'm running out of time yet again, I will post again as soon as I can!

Dena

Oh Russia.....

So I know that I haven't been really good with posting lately, I promise this isn't my fault.
If I could I would spend all day uploading all of the pictures I take so that my dearest mother would know everything that is going on with me....
But apparently Russia isn't having this.
We went to Moscow a couple weekends ago, right after my last post, and when we got home, the internet just decided that it didn't want to work for about 6 days. (My poor mother, she was so worried...) Someone said its because the Government turns it off? Who knows? Then I finally got on and I can't upload pictures for some reason, but trust me, I will find a way.
Another "Oh Russia" experience that I had this week: I was going to get a drink (through the filter of course) and It wouldn't turn on. Then I just turned the regular water on, and it was brown. EWW! I guess it was too dirty to go through the filter, hopefully I don't get some disease.
My final "Oh Russia" experience ended today when I finally was able to take a shower! I haven't for 4 days (and most of you know that I am a shower every single day kinda girl) because, apparently in Russia the government controls the heat. They decided to turn ours off in my apartment building. Don't ask me why, but I have been washing my face in ICE COLD water, because that is the only water that we can get. Just cupping the water in my hands made me feel like I was going to have to amputate my fingers!
We don't have heat either, so the other morning I walked into the kitchen and my host mom had the oven on with the door open, she was trying to heat the flat that way! haha I love the Russians! They make my day and DEFINITELY make me thankful that I live in the USA with clean, hot water and internet that is run through companies and not the government!
We leave for Latvia and Lithuania tomorrow, so I will have some definite catching up to do when i get home! I will figure out a way to upload pictures and keep you guys updated on the adventures of Dena in Russia!! Love you all!
Dena

Narnia..I mean Pavlovsk Palace

Ok...so after a pretty horrid week, we definitely needed some fun in our lives...I think Sveta knew that Pavlovsk was the place!! I am currently reading all of 'The Chronicles of Narnia' Books. I LOVE them!! So this reminded me of Narnia to the 'T'! It was about a 45 minute train ride outside of the City.

The train was a fun experience...and it was snowing just in the morning. The snowflakes were beautiful, just like the snowflake that the Who's live in. hehe We take for granted so often the beauty all around us, It's insane how God thought of every little thing and did it in only 7 days. In church we learned about the creation, and how we can be closer to Christ when we are in Nature and think about all that he has done for us...so sorry that is my spiritual rant.... Pavlovsk is an Estate that was created by a Czar. Its gorgeous..

This isn't a very good picture but this is the front.. There is a statue and a huge sqare. It is all rounded and yellow! I loved it! They even had horse drawn sleighs going up to the door.

I would've posted pictures of the inside and told you all about Paul the first and his wife that lived there...but the grounds were my favorite part! There were bridges everywhere and half frozen rivers. The fact that it had snowed all night and day before, made it magical.

This is the Pavillion of friendship, and I'm standing by it with my BFFF! hehe It was so pretty, and I think that I loved it even more just because it looks like the pavillion from Pride and Prejudice! and that is my favorite part of the movie.

When I grow up, I'm gonna be a photographer..hehe

We owned that bridge!

The pavillion by itself, LOVE IT!!!

This is what all of the pathways looked like that we walked on to get to the Palace. it was so cool because it seemed like it was snowing because the snow was falling from the trees. I love when the snow sticks to them like that!

These benches don't get a lot of use in the winter, so we figured we'd be the first ones to sit on it! I definitely wouldn't be opposed to someone proposing to me here, it is very romantic!

This was us trying to get up the hill to the palace. Underneath the snow was pure ice, so it was very, very slippery. You'll find out that I fell in the end. Love you guys, I'll post when I get back from Moscow!