(Re)learning History

I like a lot of things. I like snow. I like puppies. I like listening to live music. I like snowmobiling and jet skiing. The list could go on and on.

Why am I telling you this? Well... because I'm about to tell you something else I never liked in school and I don't want you to think I'm entirely too negative. In this case, it was something I hated, but then married someone who loved it; so I'm neutral now.

What is it? History. For some reason, it wasn't as easy a subject to memorize as my others were. I'm a classic "memorizer". That is how I aced school. History involves years and places and people. Those people and places have obscure names. This is the reason it was not my favorite subject.

Then I met my husband. He has been in the Armed Forces for nearly 25 years and his dream is to be a history teacher when he retires. While I would never, ever want to visit a museum for any reason, he enjoys frequenting them. When he, and all of the historical movies you could imagine entered my life, my views began to change. Ask me about WW2. Dare I say I might be "extremely knowledgeable" now? {he might not} 

Our host children live somewhere on this map.

Hosting an orphan from an Eastern European country has opened my eyes to that part of the world. I have always wanted to visit Russia. I have been reading history of the region! This is stuff that I might have learned in school, but it went out the other ear pretty quickly. I've been (re?)learning about those little countries that made up the former U.S.S.R. It is fascinating. I am also researching the recent orphans statistics since Russia decided to go after the Ukraine. Sad. I've heard of orphans not even getting blankets or food because the money has to go toward the war effort. That part of the world needs prayer. It causes me hurt. Countries I never knew or cared about when I studied history in school are now in the forefront of my mind. Will Putin dare attack another country? I don't know.  What does it look like over there for our host children? 

Today, a friend told me that there are rumors/grumblings about Russia invading the country our host children are coming from. I don't know if this is true, but if you Google it, it sounds like a number of those countries around Russia are thinking they might find themselves at war with Putin soon. I pray for peace. 


Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you: not as the world gives, give I to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27