Rain

After days of beautiful, warm, and sunny weather, the rain clouds decided to appear and welcome us back to Vladimir. It started raining on Thursday and has ever since. There have been brief moments of sunshine and no rain during each day, which has been nice. I think Philip and I forgot that it rained so much during the fall because we did not bring our umbrellas. Nope, not one of them. Bummer. I ventured out to the market yesterday in hopes of buying a few. I was a little nervous as I walked to the open market. I suppose I was a little nervous that it would all the sudden pour down rain on me and I would have no umbrella, but I was even more nervous to talk to someone about buying an umbrella. You see, this is not Walmart where I can go and pick out an umbrella, and then I can go to self check out and leave without talking to a soul. No, I had to use my broken Russian and actually communicate with people.
I walked to the first open market area and saw lots of meats, cheeses, breads, and clothes for sale. I just walked up and down the aisle at first. I finally spotted someone selling umbrellas, so I walked up and started looking. The lady came over and asked me something and I held up an umbrella and asked if it was a big or small one. She took it from me and opened it. We looked at a few more and then I decided on a plain black one for 350 Rubles (maybe about $12). I wasn't sure if that was a great price or not, but I was glad to just have one. I walked out and went into another area with lots of individual stores. I found some shoe stores, children's clothing stores, homegoods stores, and a place that sold umbrellas. I looked and bought another umbrella and then even bought some rain boots! I talked to the lady and told her I could speak a little Russian and only understood a little Russian. She laughed and said she understood. I didn't think it was that hot in the store, but by the time I left I was sweating...I think it was nerves.

We also got our water filter put in last night at about 7pm. We had been drinking bottled water for about a week. Philip practiced his Russian and had small talk with the man who installed the water filter. I was giving the girls a bath, so I didn't meet him, but it was nice to hear some Russian conversation going on in the kitchen.


This morning we went back to Assumption Cathedral to see it without snow. It was even more beautiful! The girls enjoyed being outside, playing on the playground near by, and eating some pizza at the mall!

Adalynn stood there and pointed to the statue and kept saying, "Wow! Wow!"

A pretty view

Adalynn checking out the scenery


Thanks for your prayers!
Blessings,
Philip, Kara, Adalynn, and Gwen