Absent from the Body…

…present with our Lord. Nick died late this afternoon at Cedar Sinai Hospital in Beverly Hills, California.

Our brother Nick’s suffering has ended and he is with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This next photo is of Nick and my sister Vera at our son Dan’s wedding June 27th.

Nick was my friend before he married my sister Vera. We were in youth group together at Bethany Baptist Russian Church in Los Angeles. His parents immigrated to the U.S.A. as did ours. Nick was engaged to my sister before he was drafted and sent to Viet Nam in the late 60’s. While in my first year of college (68-69) we exchanged letters while he was in Viet Nam. He returned to a world that did not appreciate his service. Nick and Vera were married November 22, 1969.

Not sure the date on this photo but it was shortly after Nick and Vera were married.

After Dear and I were married we spent many fun times with Nick and Vera.

Our first home that Dear and I bought was across the street from Nick and Vera. Our second home was around the corner from them. This photo is from our second home in Huntington Beach at a family gathering after Nick and Vera’s daughter Debbee was born.

This photo above was from a surprise anniversary party we had for Nick and Vera.

Debbee, David, Josh and Dan were such good buddies growing up. This next photo is in the backyard of our house around the corner from Nick and Vera in the early 80’s.

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Katie came into the family dynamics later in Ventura, California and soon learned of Uncle Nick’s antics!

Nick was a very generous and giving person and he was always willing to help a brother. We will never forget his acts of service to us through the years, the last being his help at our son Dan’s wedding.

I’m thankful I was able to see Nick and tell him that I loved him one last time before he died. We grieve the loss of our brother on this earth but we rejoice that He is with our Lord and we will see him again. Praying for my sister Vera and her kids as they navigate through their grief on earth…

Thank you to all of you who were praying for Nick…

 

Good Fences ~California

I was in Southern California for seven days coming home this past Monday night. My original plans were to be there on the weekend for a baby shower and to visit my pop but those plans changed when I got word that my BIL was in the hospital so I flew down earlier in the week. My drive to the hospital took me past Fairbanks Center for Motion Picture Study building on La Cienega Boulevard in Beverly Hills, California. Since traffic is a given on this busy road I was able to snap a couple photos while stopped, waiting for the signals to change.

I’m linking up to Good Fences #84 with TexWisGirl at Run*A*Round Ranch Report.

Signs from Huntington Beach…

While I was in Huntington Beach last week I saw some interesting signs at places we ate and walked.

My sister and I ate here one of the nights we were together.

This was my favorite sign that we saw as we walked down Main street. Very clever on the part of the Huntington Beach Police Department.

Dear and I lived in Huntington Beach from 1975 until 1984. Our two sons were born while we lived here. Our daughter was born in Ventura. So all of our children were born in beach cities in California. Here’s a Huntington Beach Pier photo, too, that I took just this past Monday.

I’m linking up with signs, signs hosted by Lesley.

P is for Pop!

I just returned last night from a week in Southern California. This is my dear old Pop. He is 92 years old and he is living with my sister Kathy and her family. We had lunch together on Sunday and enjoyed some story telling from him on his family’s escape out of Russia to Persia in the early 30’s and his time living in Iran before he, my mom and sister Kathy immigrated to the U.S.A. I provided dessert for our meal together which happened to be a pastry ring that looked a lot like this Bear Claw Pastry I bought from the same bakery on Saturday morning on my way to the hospital to see my BIL. Proof is in the Pudding on my re-fluffing.

The name of this bakery caught my eye because of Pondside’s name for her husband on her blog…The Great Dane!

My Pop had stood up from the table to go get more comfortable as my sister opened the box that the pastry ring came in and he looked at it and promptly sat down again saying “Oh!” He really enjoyed the pastry with soft yummy dough like my mom used to bake.

Since we are on the letter P for ABC Wednesday started by Mrs. Nesbitt and carried on by Roger and the ABC team here are a few more P’s I encountered in Southern California.

I was staying with my sister Vera in Huntington Beach and took a walk down to the beach my last morning in town where these palm trees line PCH (Pacific Coast Highway).

My BIL is still in very serious condition and I thank you for your prayers, a very powerful P word. Prayers are supporting my BIL, sister and their children as they pass through this storm. In the midst of the storm God is our Peace.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27 (ESV)

Flying Home Today…

…but not on the Goodyear Blimp!

Lots to share when I’m home and rested up. Can you believe it’s the last week of October!?

Thank you for your prayers for my BIL. Things are still as serious as they were. It was so good to see so many loved ones while I was in town. I am not fond of driving the L.A. freeways but happy that I could get around even if it took way longer than it should have.

Hope to catch up with some of you soon!

O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus ~ Hymn

O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus

O the deep, deep love of Jesus

  Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!

Rolling as a mighty ocean

In its fullness over me.

Underneath me, all around me,

Is the current of His love

Leading onward leading homeward,

To Thy glorious rest above

O the deep, deep love of Jesus

Spread His praise from shore to shore.

How he loveth ever loveth

changeth never, nevermore.

How He watcheth o’er His loved ones,

Died to call them all His own;

How for them He intercedeth,

Watcheth o’er them from the throne!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus

Love of ev’ry, love the best!

‘Tis an ocean vast of blessing,

‘Tis a haven sweet of rest.

O the deep, deep love of Jesus

‘Tis a heav’n of heav’ns to me;

And it lifts me up to glory,

For it lifts me, Lord, to Thee!

Words: Samuel Francis (1834 – 1925)

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This is one of my favorite hymns. The words are so rich and the minor key  that it is written in takes me back to my Russian heritage.

Photo taken at Pacific Ocean just South of  Naval Air Station Pt. Mugu. Our son Josh is the one on the rock outcropping, April 21, 2007.

 

My Pop!

On thursday I was able to travel from Huntington Beach to La Habra, California to see my 92 and half year old Pop. It’s been 10 months since I’ve seen him face to face. We had lunch at The Habit close to Cal-State Fullerton. My pop said he wasn’t hungry for lunch but my niece and I were so he said, “Okay let’s go. I’m going to pay because what else am I going to do with my money?” So when we got to the habit we all ordered the #1 and he ate the hamburger and every last fry! I get to see him again on Sunday before I head home on Monday night. He has aches and pains and still would rather be in heaven than here on this earth but doesn’t he look great!?

Another great Moisism (my dad’s name is Moisi in English) that we heard again today was…”he sold the house in Thirty Nine Palms instead of Twenty Nine Palms.” He will not be corrected on that and we don’t care…we love Thirty Nine Palms!

Hope you are all doing well. I fly back home on Monday night and hope to be able to visit you all later next week.

The Last Two Days…

Recovered Autosave

Thank you for your prayers for my BIL. Things remain pretty much the same. My first day here was 20 hours filled with lots of back and forth, in and out, ups and downs and freeway driving.  My BIL was airlifted to a renowned hospital in the Los Angeles area the evening I arrived. A long drive from my sister’s home. There are some impressive views from the critical care waiting room. I’m having quality time with my sisters and today I’m going to go visit my 92 year old pop. I hope to see more of my family on the weekend.

Headed South…

…to rally around my sister and her family.

Don’t know when I’ll be back online.

“All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us.” 2 Corinthians 1: 3-4 (The Message)