December 5, 2013

For the last week I have been thinking about my first and only December in Ukraine.  It was magical.  The city was a winter wonderland,  and because we walked everywhere we got to see and appreciate the beautiful world around us.   Independence Square was filled with lights and frivolity and a magnificent Christmas Tree.  I loved going through the square every morning and evening and sometimes even more often as that was where I would head if I needed even as much as a spool of thread.  I loved every minute of those winter months.

This year as I read about the political unrest in that country and see the pictures of Independence Square - so very different than a year ago - my heart aches for the people of Kyiv.  How quickly things can change in just a short time.   The beautiful tree that was covered with lights is now home to protest posters.  The photographs I have seen remind me of a scene out of Les Miserables.  In some ways I am wishing I were back there to see and understand what is going on.  The people have much more to be concerned with than the gayety  that was a part of last year at this time.  Will the happy times return before Ukraine celebrates its Christmas in January.  Or will their lives be forever changed by what is happening now.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/posttv/world/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-ukrainian-protests/2013/12/05/ca25dd6c-5dbf-11e3-95c2-13623eb2b0e1_video.html

 With only twenty-two years of independence I pray for more peace and security there.  I am reminded that thirty six years after America's Independence they were once again fighting the War of 1812 against Great Britain.  The outcome resolved many issues which remained from the American War of Independence.  Who knows what  the outcome will be of this current situation in Ukraine. 

The happiness from a year ago will remain in my heart but I will be praying for my friends far away and for the safety and protection of this country.

December 2012

First snowstorm - December 4, 2012

Natasha

Happy Day at the Temple with Natasha

Walking in City Center

Snow at Tara Shevshanko Park

St. Michael's Cathedral

Great way to travel in the snow

St. Nicholas

Monestary

The Park

St. Sophia's

The Golden Gate

The Tree at Independence Square

The festivities

Independence Square

Feed the birds

The tree at night

October Palace

The fun

European Square

The Kiddie Rides at Independence Square

Post office on Independence Square

The fireworks 2012

December 1, 2013  

After reading about the political unrest in Kyiv and Ukraine right now I decided to focus this weeks post on people in Ukraine and not places.  I recently read the following quote by C. S. Lewis that really put things into proper perspective for me.  After having just celebrated Thanksgiving in America I know that people are the most important part of

my life.  So here is the quote and my some of my favorite faces from Ukraine.

"It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all love, all play, all politics.  There are no ordinary people.  You have never talked to a mere mortal.  Nations, cultures, art, civilizations--these are mortal, and their life is to ours a the life of a gnat.  But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit. "