Christmas Day

This year, in addition to the usual store-bought gifts we gave and received, the girls made several homemade presents for our little guy. It was, like, the cutest thing ever . . . and the saddest: a couple hour's work destroyed in a matter of minutes.

And, as we are snow seekers and Tbilisi is bereft, we went in search of snow. We left on Christmas afternoon for Bakuriani, the opening weekend of ski season. We had a wonderful Christmas feast at a new restaurant, complete with festive fruit sculpture, and no exertion on my part.

The next day we set out to ski as a family, including the little guy. These attempts yield varying levels of success and are always exhausting.

Sighnaghi in winter

Celebrating 12 years of marriage (a few weeks late), we slipped away for a brief visit to a city with fresher air and a higher altitude. The last time we visited Sighnaghi was in spring and a great patchwork valley stretched out before us. This time, with the lofty Caucasus Mountains hailing us from a distance, we were on a remote city island, hovering over a cloudy sea.

Notwithstanding the magnificent panoramas, my favorite part of Sighnaghi is Bodbe Monastery, the resting place of St. Nino. Of all the holy places in Georgia, this is to me the most sacred, peaceful, and mystical. 

They are currently constructing a new cathedral onsite in the traditional Georgian Orthodox style. Though still unfinished, it was beautiful to behold the detailed masonry in its variety of stone colors and exquisite detail, as yet unravaged by time and the elements.

The interior is much further from completion, but I liked the look and feel of the exposed brick walls with the icons on temporary display. The morning sunlight burst through the window openings in powerful rays.

A little Lada, for scale.

Awaiting a new home.

Island in the clouds.

Tredje gången gilt

Our third and final Santa Lucia celebration in Georgia with the Swedish Embassy. This time I joined the procession and choir. Here you can spot me making an exit.

The problem with sisters, part 3

Thanksgiving

We do a lot of entertaining, but I rarely take pictures during the meal, which is unfortunate considering all the work that goes into it. We had a large group of missionaries and friends join us this year, it was our most lovely Thanksgiving in Georgia.

But this year I had the additional complication of a camera on the fritz-- periodically blacking out. Thus I give you Thanksgiving, after the fact.

And, sadly, these aftermath shots are the last pictures my camera took before it bit the dust.

We gathered autumn leaves and various dried flora for the tables.

After the guests departed, the ipad reemerged.

Gergeti Trinity Church

This is Mount Kazbegi, but see that tiny monastery on the left? That's Gergeti, before it snowed.

 We started out with a stay at our old favorite, Rooms Hotel, so we could begin our ascent the next morning, fresh.

Gergeti Trinity Church is located on a mountaintop in the same range as Kazbegi, but at 2170 meters, it is nearly 3000 meters lower. There are dozens of local taxi drivers clambering for customers, but we thought we'd duke it out with our 4WD.

Turns out it was a little too icy, bumpy, narrow, steep, and all the things you'd expect from a remote dirt mountain road in winter. So we parked the car and headed up on foot. The passing taxi drivers told us the kids would never make it. They told us they'd be back for us in 20 minutes.

They didn't know who they were talking to.

The girls were so tough and optimistic, I couldn't have been more proud. They were singing songs and alternately racing up the mountain. After trekking through the steep snowy forest, we came out of the trees and had a spectacular view of Kazbegi.

Our friend R. joined us on the trek, often carrying our little guy on his shoulders when he got weary.

At long last we reached a clearing where the monastery was in view. It was a great moment. It was also very windy, but after the steep ascent we laughed in the face of the wind.

When we arrived at the monastery grounds we felt like celebrating (and maybe gloating a little at the incredulous taxi drivers).

It was a powerful experience to climb up the mountain to the monastery on foot, like the pilgrims of old. You get a much greater feel for their scope, grandeur, and massiveness. It's no wonder that mountains in the ancient world were associated with temples and God.  We spent time inside the church lighting candles and singing hymns in Georgian. It felt warm and ancient.

The little guy was so spent he fell asleep in my arms. So we took the taxi after all, for the trip down.

Snapshot

Do not adjust your screen, this is an actual clothing set-up.

My girls are gaga about setting out an outfit the day before which, joking aside, I think is a great habit.

But every so often the setup goes awry. I had to capture this one.

Student body

It's our fourth and final year at l'Ecole Francaise du Caucase (somehow that worked out despite our 3 1/2 calendar-year stay). It's also probably the only time when all three children will attend school under one roof. Counting my blessings. . .