Our last couple of weeks in Kyrgyzstan...for a year

I think everyone knows that we have been in the US for the past couple of months...but I'm taking some time this week to update the blog and post some pictures of our last few weeks and memories in Kyrgyzstan, so that we have these photos to tide us over until we can return later this year.

The kids have such a great group of friends in KG. These kids play together, create RPG characters together, and make lots of fun memories together. We are so thankful for their friendship.

I'm going to miss our rotisserie chickens at the bazaar. So very tasty and fresh.

One of the bazaars that I frequent weekly to get our produce. Love this place and these people.

We will definitely miss the amazing restaurants in Bishkek. So much variety and such reasonable prices.

Date nights....why are we better about that in Bishkek? We need to get some on the calendar here in the US.

We miss this sweet bunny, so much! Poor Winnie passed away over Christmas and so we'll never get another set of cuddles and lovin' while Sissi works on her art projects.

Ahhh, the Korean food. We love it!

Praise and Worship with friends!

The Georgian food...do you see a theme here?!

Our back patio, an area for rest and quiet and shared meals together.

This yard with its trees and hammock brings back some memories.

And, again, the friends.

Hikes and God's amazing creation.

We love getting out as often as we can to hike and spend time outside of the city.

Family and friend time!

Krypto

Gwangi

Sissi

Waterfalls

Our precious puppy, Vera.

Friends that make good food...buffalo wings!

More precious cuddles from Winnie.

Moving all of our stuff out of the rooms. Packing and moving is never an easy thing.

Having Winnie go to a friends' house for the year. Who knew this was our last goodbye, it brings tears to my eyes to even write this.

All ready to go, the day before we are ready to leave.

Running over to the vet clinic to get our final paperwork for Vera to fly.

Final dinner out and enjoying the local entertainment.

Eating with friends!

She has no idea what is coming (27 hours in her kennel and flying half way around the world), but she looks comfy.

One last look at our sweet yard.

The Porter showed up over an hour late to take us to the airport with all kinds of stuff in the back of his truck...it was a stressful way to start our day.

We made it...on the flight and we're ready to go!

The airport in Istanbul was empty.

We're going to Chicago!

Jet lag!

Sissi's 13th Birthday

We tend to do birthdays big in this house! And 13 is one of the bigger ones, for sure. We tend to schedule a weekend away with a parent and take some time to talk about life and being older and dating and relationships and all the stuff. This was our last kiddo to do this with!

One of the projects we were going to do on our weekend away called for playdoh...but I couldn't find any locally because of shipping issues due to quarantine. So, I found an online recipe and made some.

My hands were multi-colored throughout most of the weekend.

We stayed at our friends' guesthouse, Southside. If you are ever in Bishkek, it's worth a visit.

We also got to put together some puzzles to talk about how the Bible is our guidebook regarding all things...if you don't have the guidebook (or with a puzzle, the box top), it's pretty hard to build the puzzle, isn't it?!

That first night, we went over to Sierra. Yummy drinks and dinner.

We listened to the lessons in our room and worked through the log book together.

At night, we watched some fun movies and ate rather strange desserts...this time we chose nacho chips and Kit Kat ice cream.

Together, they were pretty amazing.

Breakfast at the guest house. It never fails to fill you up!

Lunch out was at Social Coffee so we could get Sissi's favorite for dessert...Red Velvet Cake!

I even brought the Disney Birthday Plate with me!

Yummy cake!

Woohoo! 13!

Cutting the cake while we waited.

Opening presents is always fun.

The boys wrote her a nice card and gave her cash. Her plan is to collect all her gift money and buy a guitar when we get back to the US.

They even drew a guitar and a butterfly on the front.

Daddy and I found her Disney "Hidden Mickey" Figment pins. The whole set...I had to buy them on eBay from different sellers, but it was fun searching for them all.

NASA shirt. This girl loves her some NASA.

Photo with her brothers.

Photo with her "grandparents" overseas...Dave and Debbie Weller.

Group photo.

Then, she wanted to go and get some make up...I had told her to wait until 13...she did.

Dinner out for the end of the weekend was a special meal at La Maison, a French restaurant in town.

Super fancy, but very reasonably priced. Can hardly believe I got Filet Mignon with a Blue Cheese sauce for less than $10.

And fancy water in a wine bottle.

Our appetizer...bruschetta with pesto!

My Filet Mignon with Blue Cheese sauce.

Sissi ordered mussels and she loved them!

Plate of empties.

Such a lovely view in the garden.

And, her final gift of the weekend...an INTP shirt. Yep, this girl is unique in every way possible!

Happy birthday to my special girl. I love you forever and am so glad that we have such an amazing relationship that is growing into a friendship that I know I will treasure as you enter adulthood.

I also believe that the Lord will bless you in some pretty incredible ways in the coming years.