Mourning

Jim's mom Ruth passed away on April 12. We miss her a lot already. Within 24 hours of hearing the news, we were on our way back to the states. Richland, WA was her home & where we are for this time. There is so much to do when someone dies. Lawyers, CPAs, social workers, caseworkers, pastors, friends, papers, papers, papers . . . the list seems endless. Perhaps you've been there done that. I imagine it is healing tho too, to be staying in her apt among her things, surrounded by her life and friends. Jim gave a marvelous eulogy and managed to lead singing  without an impeding amount of tears. Ruth lived her life well, loved her Lord greatly and left a legacy of love. She was our number one supporter and we will miss her in more ways than we know. Liz intends to be here for 2 weeks and Jim for maybe a month. One of the major tasks is to make sure Jim's brother Dan has a support network. Quick and busy trip.

5 Month Old Triplets

We will miss our teacher and friend, Gana.

But we are excited for her as she begins a new adventure as an au pair for a family in Germany. 

Softer

Our mattress felt more like bed springs.So this weekend our landlord  supplied us with a piece of эсгий (wool). The same material is used for  the walls of a ger/yurt. Jim says instead of sleeping IN a ger,
we are sleeping ON a ger.

Spring?

Mongolians declare it is spring the week after their Tsagaan Sar holiday which was Feb. 14 this year. Last Tues, Mar. 30, we had a blizzard. Liz asked several passersby if it was still spring that day. Everyone agreed it had become winter again. It still looks like winter to us. Ice everywhere, snowing once in a while, warm gear a necessity. But we have seen mud puddles a couple of times and a few ice cycles. Birds are singing and many locals have exchanged shoes for their knee hi boots.