Nesting

First of all, Happy New Year! I wish every one of you all the blessings of the Lord in this new year 2006.

I have been nesting. You know, feathering my nest, making a house (apartment) into a home, settling in. That's why you haven't heard too much from me the last few days. It's not like I haven't had time... the OM Centre closes over Christmas so we have lots of time 'off' between Dec 23 and Jan 10. But I guess I am beginning to settle in on several levels - in my home, of course; but also in my relationships. I am starting to get to know people. In fact, one of the wonderful things about having my own place is the opportunity to invite people over. And with a more relaxed pace of life,- especially in this season - that seems to be happening a fair bit.
So if you are expecting to read my blog today and hear exciting missionary news about valiant endeavours for the Lord, or needy people that God has called me to help... you'll have to wait for another time. Today I want to tell you about the sweetness of life lived at a gentler pace, and new friendships being forged.
Since Christmas I have started baking and cooking again. For our New Year's Eve gathering I decided to take a chocolate cake. So I had to go to the store, buy a cake pan, find cocoa and icing sugar and baking powder (not an easy task!). Then I went on the internet to find a recipe, since I gave all my recipe books to my daughter. And I had to estimate measurements as I don't have a measuring cup, and then guess whether the oven was hot enough or too hot and how long to leave the cake in because it is a gas oven...but the cake turned out really good!
Now that I am living on my own, I have to start cooking for myself again - it's been awhile! Even when I was in Toronto I would be more likely to eat out or zap something in the microwave than to cook a meal. But here those options aren't quite so simple. So - I am making big pots of soup of various kinds, eating it for a couple days and freezing the remainder for another time when I want some variety. I wanted to make spaghetti - something I haven't had since I've been here - so I called Dana and the Brazilian family that I work with and invited them over for a spaghetti dinner.
Vittor & son Joao
We had a lovely relaxed evening and at the end of it all, I realized that we had spent the whole evening conversing in our common language - Romanian - and I had understood almost all of it! And participated too!
So I am feeling more relaxed with the language, being in my own home, and having more easily accessible internet.


Ivanir
On Monday, Claudia called and we went for a walk in the park across the street from my building. Another woman, who is Swiss like Claudia, joined us for our walk and we went to her apartment afterwards for tea, cake and a game of Rummikub. On Tuesday I went shopping with Jeanine for furniture for my apartment - and bought a desk and chair. Yesterday it snowed - so beautiful and in the evening was the spaghetti dinner. (I should mention that Ivanir, the mother in the Brazilian family, had participated in building her first snowman ever yesterday - and loved it!) The view from my apartment window this morning
And today I was relaxing at home and Matthew and Helen phoned and asked if they could drop by to see my apartment. So they came up, along with their three girls, and we had a nice visit. And tonight I made curried potato,mushroom and onion soup for my supper.
It's been nice having some vacation time. Monday we go back to work... well, for me that means Romanian lessons for one thing, but it also means I am finally going to find out exactly what my job responsibilities will be! I'll keep you posted about that.
I like having my own little nest. And I like that when you come to visit me in Moldova, there will be room for you to stay in my house. Just let me know what kind of cake I should bake for you!