Faster than a speeding bullet...

Okay, well maybe not a speeding bullet...but guess what (enter drumroll)... I just ran 3.2 miles! Yep, 5k distance. Wahoo!!!! I have not done that distance since my tibia decided to stress fracture back in October. I had planned to do the Lonestar Sprint Triathlon at the beginning of April, but after two brick workouts (bike then run), my leg was definitely protesting. So I decided April wasn't realistic and took it easy for a few more weeks. I still haven't done another brick workout since then....but the leg is feeling good after the 5k, so, I am aiming for the Silverlake Sprint Tri in May. Yay for triathloning...and I am looking forward to being able to run again with my running buddy Lisa! I do have some other pretty major athletic goals for this year, but that's better left for another post :).

Promoting Foreign Relations

Well, as the title says, yesterday Nik and I promoted foreign relations for NASA...which means getting to attend a small party held by our counterparts to celebrate the mission. Now, we still had three days left of the mission, but its hard to get everyone together. As always, they provide a huge spread of yummy goodies and selection of tea.

Twix and Milky Ways, compliments of the Americans

Alexander actually played his guitar for us over the weekend, but he did pull it out once or twice yesterday as well (not the greatest shot...he caught me taking a picture)

Alexander and his guitar

There was a new musical aspect to our party...they brought in a flute for me. Oh yeah (Molly I hope you are reading this). Back in the fall when our counterparts were in town, Molly and I got together and played a flute/piano duet for them (since they are always gracing us with a concert when we visit). Well...I got over here and the first question I was asked was: did you bring your flute.? I had completely forgotten...like honest-to-goodness forgotten. So they said they woudld track one down, despite my protesting that I had no music to read (I don't do improv). Thank goodness I took Moose and Erin's advice and printed some music off the internet, because we walked into their office...and out came the flute. Yay for free downloadable sheet music. I don't have any pictures, but there were several cameras out and I am sure (sarcastic face) I will be seeing those videos for years to come...just like the one of us singing "Yesterday" at the BBQ 4 years ago...

Nik is quite the artist and he was showing them some of his work

Good stuff

So for the past several months, I have been studying in the book of Isaiah. I'm up to chapter 45 and this was just so good that I had to share:
"Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, 'What are you making?' or 'Your work has no handles'? Woe to him who says to a father, 'What are you begetting'" or to a woman, 'With what are you in labor'"? (ESV, Isaiah 45:9-10).

This actually made me laugh! Because this is what I visualized when I read this...think about a time when you were making something, cooking something, doing SOMETHING where you KNEW what you were doing, but someone was standing there at your elbow (who has never done what you are doing) and watching you and giving you "helpful" advice. What was your reaction? Hehe, I can tell you that mine wasn't very nice...probably something along the lines of "leave me alone, I know what I am doing"...followed with an exasperated sigh and possibly an eye roll...

Think of that time, when someone was telling you what to do, even though they didn't know what the outcome was supposed to look like, and compare that to when we try and tell God when things are supposed to happen...interesting huh? We can't see the big picture, God can. We don't know how things are supposed to unfold, God does. So, how presumptuous is it that we try and tell God what to do and when to do it (and believe me, I do this A LOT)? And what a gracious God we have that He doesn't say "Oh my GOSH would you just shut up already!?"...instead He patiently teaches us to wait on Him, through lessons (easy and hard, sweet and painful). He may let us have our own way for awhile, until we see what a mess that is and come running back to Him or we may get a big fat, no-bones-about it "NO". It's a daily decision we believers have to make each day- giving God the control, yielding to His wisdom, letting Him take the reins we so desperately want to hold. Next time you find yourself aruging with God about His timing, think of yourself as a little clay pot saying "um, hello!? Where are my handles?" If that doesn't make you grin and take a step back from your presumptuousness...well let me know and I will pray for you ;-).

Addendum to Proof

Note to self: do not try and flush dead cockroaches down a Russian shower drain…the drains are much smaller than those in the states and the cockroach will not go down the drain. He will just sit there in the elbow of the drain with the dead antennae poking out- taunting you with his cockroachy deadness. I may be Smelly Melissa for the rest of this trip.

St. Patrick's Day

Last night (yes, I realize I am posting this at 4am...I need more sleep!)...I went to the young adult/singles/young married bible study that ICF has. IT is hosted at The Fisher's residence (ha! which I found thanks to google maps). They have three adorable children-for whom I managed to procure some space stuff earlier today at work. They were so cute when they saw it-and kept saying they are going to be astronauts (the oldest is 6). Aww kids and space.

The group usually does a big dinner (potluck style) together and then reads and discusses a passage in the bible. In honor of St. Patrick's Day- Rachel, the resident Irish woman, made stew, and soda bread (with Irish butter) and Irish cookies...and a green cake (not 'Irish'). Then we discussed Phillipians 2:5-11. What an awesome experience to discuss God's Word with peopel from all different countries and situations. (Thanks to Emily for these pictures).

Troi (not sure of the spelling), Reayla (this gal has a REALLY cool story- grew up in a village in the Ural Mountains), Tim, and Anna discussing

Chris, Natalie, Jason, Lauren, Anatoly, and Daniel

(Lauren was leaving to go back to the UK after a rotation-type stint over here as a lawyer).

Oh best comment of the night came from Anatoly: when I told him what I do, he said ::in a wondering tone of voice:: "but... you're a girl". I seriously had to bite my cheek to not bust out laughing. Unfortunately, that sort of humor just doesn't translate well across languages. :)

Group picture of everyone who wore green (let's see how I do with names)

Rachel, Emily, Katya, Joe, Elisabeth, me, no idea how to spell her name, but it means 'Snow Maiden', Tim, Ana, and Doug. Oh yeah- I got people to do the Charlie's Angels pose.

Proof

Not everything is bigger in Texas...some of it is the same size in Moscow...like...you guessed it...cockroaches...the one in my shower...which is currently dead under a pile of the powdered Tide detergent that the last room inhabitant left (God bless that person!) and my travel can of hairspray...those were the only chemical agents I could find in this room...(and believe me, the fire extinguisher WAS considered...).

Humor

So the ADCO on console today (Todd- see, there's your credit) made the following comment about me: "You should come with a warning".
In context, he was referring to my penchant to gesticulate wildly when I talk (something that several people over my lifetime have brought up). Taken out of context...I find this comment wicked hilarious. Of course, I told him this and in true Melissa fashion, proceeded to point out the other areas this statement could be applied to: my randomness, my dorkiness, my quirkiness (yes, I have learned to embrace all of these). Ha, I'm still giggling about it it..."you should come with a warning".