Another year comes to a close…it’s hard to believe that 2005 is ending. Friends from YWAM gather at our home this evening to celebrate what God has done in 2005. Ramona fixes a large turkey and the guests bring salads and sweets. It is a wonderful evening, except our guests leave early so that they can catch the President’s speech on TV. None-the-less it was a lovely evening. Ramona and I even had a chance to speak with my parents via Skype. Pretty cool.

Ramona and Abby chat with a good friend Marina.

Tim plays with Slava a young energetic former street kid.

This a fountain firework lit off just below our balcony on the Fontanka River.

Here is a picture of one rocket lit off below our balcony as well.

Hey, it’s dinner for four, no wait six. Good friends of ours were home in Russia on furlough having served for over a year in a Muslim nation. We had decided to invite them over for dinner since they would only be a town a couple of weeks.

The same evening I was to meet a friend from MN at the train station. He was carrying a care package from my parents. Yes, Christmas now a third time for the Bogott family. Anyway after arriving Graig called from the airport asking if he could come over before heading to the train station. That is how Russian hospitality works. You never know when somebody else might arrive, but you should always be ready.

It’s Christmas again. I know it’s hard to believe, but Christmas has come a second time to our family this year. This afternoon another package arrived in the mail from Ramona’s sister Becky. What a blessing!

The kids were so excited to see more gifts under the tree. Timothy was ecstatic after opening a Thomas the Train video. His parents made him wait until the next day to watch it. Thank you so much Becky!

On Christmas Eve Ramona and I lead worship for a joint service involving three Calvary Chapel churches. There were lots of specials and a really funny drama put on by the youth. It was a wonderful evening, but the kids were exhausted by the time we arrived home that gifting giving and opening had to wait until morning. On a side note, on the way home in our taxi we saw President Putin’s motorcade heading to the airport. It made for clear roads and green lights most of the way which was nice.

In the morning Timothy woke up really excited about opening gifts. He would yell, “I see presents, I see padarki!” The last word is Russian for present. Unlike past years Timothy opened his presents with flare and enthusiasm. He had so much excitement he soon started opening other people’s gift. Abby was fine with that as long as he left the paper for her to chew.

The day was splendid; Grandma Bogott had sent three Christmas stocking stuffer packages. Timothy’s favorite gift was, of course, Diesel 10 from the Thomas the Train series. Auntie Amy had sent some cute clothes and “It’s a Wonderful Life” for the parents. Ramona and I watched this movie with great joy. It reminded us of being home when all the channels are playing the Christmas classics.

Most of all we are so thankful for the King who has come and made His Tabernacle in us. He is our joy, celebration, and the reason we live. All glory to Jesus!

Dear Friends & Family,

May the Lord bless you all abundantly! May Emmanuel truly be with you and yours this holiday season. We love and miss you.

The Bogott Clan

Click on the picture to see the larger version. :-)

The holiday season kicked into full gear this weekend with the annual International Women’s Club’s Christmas Fair. This year there were tons of people and the I think the club raised $18,000 for local charities. There was a bake sale in which Ramona supplied the tastiest cookies of all- chocolate cookies with a white mint frosting. So good!

The club brought in a local performing group which is made up of all children. They perform circus type acts to music. They were a lot of fun. Timothy watched with wide eyes as the kids flipped, jumped, tumbled and rolled around the room.

Finally a good friend from church was out to help with the bake sale. Marina dressed up as the snow maiden. In place of Santa and elves, Russia tells a tale of Grandfather Frost and his granddaughter the snow maiden.

May you all have a blessed Christmas!

Timothy received an Ikea train track set for his birthday and it fits into his Thomas the Tank Engine set. He is having a blast creating all kinds of different tracks to run his trains on. He will sit for nearly an hour pushing his train around the track. His loves Thomas the train.

Oh, to be three again!

Hiding behind daddy’s leg Timothy slowly creeps out into the living room where two of his birthday guests have already arrived and started emptying the toy box. Timothy had woken out of a deep sleep was not ready to participate in the festivities. He like an iron after his naps, he needs a few minutes to warm up.

Soon Timothy is running around the house chasing and being chased by his good friend Kolya. Leah the pastor’s daughter sits quietly playing with toys on the floor. Abigail just takes in the spectacle of all these kids and all these noises.

Before opening his gifts Timothy passes out gift bags to all his guests. He enjoys it so much that after opening his gifts from his guests he tries giving them the toys back. What a sweet hearted little boy. He received cars, books, a train set, and a special Max Lucado movie from Grandma.

It’s nearly 23:30 and Timothy and Abby can be heard from their bedroom discussing the evening events, high from the sugar and fun that they had. Maybe dad will get to sleep in tomorrow? Maybe?

The other side of St. Petersburg…


Here is the courtyard of Nevsky 32 which was recently renovated by the city. This old city takes on such beauty when it is given a little TLC.

SNAP! This is the sound of my will breaking. I have given in. I have betrayed my conscience. This year I went out and bought our family a FAKE Christmas tree. Ramona convinced me that we need something to hang all these ornaments on which we have been saving in our back bedroom.

It’s a short 4 footer which should pack up nicely and store for the other 300 days out of the year. I sure do miss the smells, but the huge smile on my wife’s face makes it all worth it. I wonder if I can buy pine smell in a can to spray on the tree? If not, I can always pick pine smell car freshener that people hang from their rear view mirror and put that on the tree. Here’s hoping that the rest of you get a real tree this Christmas season.

A visit with good friends…

It was a lovely evening over the Tim and Sarah’s place. It’s always a wonderful when we get together with good friends. Our friends serve with YWAM and have a real heart to work with the local churches. We are praying for them and their team as they step out to minister in this area.

Aaaaahhhhhh! One of the boys is yelling again. Anders and Timothy are in the other room playing and sometimes arguing. Anders room looks like a tornado hit it. Toys are scattered everywhere and the boys are throwing anything and everything about the room. By the end of the evening the h\toy house had also come down and was taken completely apartment by these two rambunctious ones.

Pictures are worth a thousand words.