Tribute to my dad

Today was a good day. Thanks for listening and for praying for us. It was therapeutic to get my feelings out last night.

I am switching gears today, to my.dad, as we celebrated his 65th birthday today. The day began with my dad walking up a big hill....you can only walk it to appreciate it....to get us McDonalds for breakfast. We learned something new....McDonalds in Donetsk switches to lunch before 10 am. So we ate chicken nuggets and hamburgers for breakfast. I didn't mind, and just appreciated my dad's efforts. ( it takes about 25 minutes to get there...one way).

Valera gave Pa his present after "breakfast/lunch".  Last night at the mall, after ice skating, Valera picked out coffee to give Pa.  Pa drinks coffee every morning and Valera had told Anya early on that he wanted to drink coffee with Pa. Well, I said no to coffee but said he could have hot chocolate or tea. So, we bought some and every morning Pa and Valera have their hot drinks together. Valera was very excited to give Pa his coffee this morning.

At about 12:30, Den, Anya, and Anya's sister came to our apartment with party hats on, with cake in hand. Candles were lit and they entered singing "happy birthday" in English. It was very touching. Anya has told me on more than one occasion that Den really enjoys my dad. Every day, Den greets my dad with a handshake and a "hello mr. James, or mr. Jim or mr. Jimbo".

Den explained to us that it is Ukrainian tradition for people to pray for the person celebrating their birthday before eating cake. Den said a prayer in Russian so I don't know what he said but I am certain it was heartfelt.

After enjoying cake, we all left for our salt mine journey. A journey it was. After getting a flat tire, getting a tire repaired, and getting lost, we made it to the salt mine 8 minutes after the last tour. We ended up getting a "private tour".....we had to pay extra for it....but we had been through so much to get there, we weren't leaving without seeing that mine. Den drove, Anya sat shotgun, and me, Pa, Valera, and Anya's sister sat in the back of a small 4 door sedan, weaving in and around other cars and potholes for two hours!  We were going down that hole!

We went about 3 1/2 football fields down into the earth. It was very interesting and we are glad we went. Only in Europe would you find 2 soccer nets with a ball down one section of the mine. That was the highlight of the day for Valera. He beat me 5-1. As far as the mine goes, Valera's comment on the way out was: "that sure was a lot of salt".

After the mine we ate at a Ukrainian restaurant. Neither my dad or I need to go back. I vote for pizza again tomorrow night.

Valera was taking a shower tonight and I heard him singing, "happy birday to you, happy birday to you". In his sweet accent, the "th" in birth doesn't get pronounced yet.

Valera and my dad have a special relationship forming. Not only do they enjoy their hot drinks in the morning, they also both love to ice skate. Valera is impressed with Pa's speed. Pa would like to teach him how to skate backwards but Valera doesn't slow down long enough for that to happen. I think he's trying to be fast like his Pa.

Because of logistics when Ted and the girls were here, Valera was sleeping in a room with my dad...with two twin beds pulled next to each other. Valera was always tucking my dad in, making sure the covers were up to his chin.  When Valera would wake up in the morning, and see that the covers were down, he would pull them back up to my dad's chin again.

When the girls left, Valera wanted to sleep where they had been sleeping. That only lasted two nights. A few nights ago we had rain and lightening, and Valera ended up in the room with my dad. He has been there ever since.

Valera has had a few bad dreams, to the point he sits straight up in bed while talking in his sleep. My dad rubs his back until he lays back down. He falls right back to sleep.

All of this to say, I am so grateful for my dad and the love that he is showing Valera, and me. I truly don't know how I would be doing without him here. I have invited him to come live with us when we get back to America but he says he wouldn't do that to Ted. Hee hee.

I am also so grateful for my mom.....because behind my very wonderful dad stands an equally wonderful mom.