Моя молитва нехай лине
До Тебе, наче фіміам.
І серце лине без зупину
В чудовий Твій небесний храм.Боже, я молю за Україну,
Боже, молю тебе за людей,
Ти їх прости,
Ти їх спаси,
І милість Твою нам яви.
Боже, я знаю,
Що Ти будеш з нами
В храмі Твоєму під небесами
Радість і мир Ти дарував,
Життя для людей віддав,
В Книгу Життя нас записав!В Своєму Слові Живому,
Ти для людей ведіння дав,
Щоб люди всі молились Богу,
Що на Хресті за нас вмирав.
Happy Independence Day to all my Ukrainian friends!
Now that we’re living in the States again, I often find myself losing track of what’s going on in other parts of the world. The only reason I was even aware of the Iranian election was due to a good friend who is from Iran, and his updates on the hopes for a fair election and the potential to have a level-headed, reformist president.
However, when there were outcries about a fraudulent election, I became immediately and emotionally involved. The first reports sounded too familiar, eerily like the Orange Revolution after Ukraine’s 2004 election. We were there. We saw how people peacefully poured into the streets, protesting, uniting, banding together.
It’s different for me with Iran. . . I’m not there. I don’t know what news sources to trust. I’m not intimately familiar with the people on the streets. But, I know my Iranian friends (in the US, in Ukraine) and I know they are connected with people involved in the protests and understand the nuances of the situation that I do not.
The tent city in Ukraine, the peaceful protests lasted weeks, months. There were threats of violence, but thank God that nothing happened beyond threats. No violence from the protesters. No violence from the militzia. No troops from Russia.
Sadly, the same is not the case in Iran. Already there has been a violent crackdown on the protesters. Global Voices, a trusted citizen-based news source for worldwide reporting, has gathered links and videos.
In Iran, green is the color of hope, of a spring time of change, of reform. Already this Green Revolution has been stained by the violence against the reformers. Praying for peace, for freedom, for hope. . . for the people in Iran.
.
.
I told Hubby the one thing that I wanted for Christmas was this song — and he found it! *giddy* I’ve looked the past few years, and couldn’t get it online. I get so sentimental. It just doesn’t feel like the holidays without the Leprikonsi.
Ну, Дед Мороз! Ну, Дед Мороз!
Ну, Дед Мороз, погоди!
Update: 12/28. . . It’s not even New Year yet, and the video was taken off YouTube. I’m soooo bummed. Grump.
Another reason I’m infatuated with Google is Google Labs newest search engine toy, In Quotes.
Try it. . . Find out what McCain, Obama, or any one of many major politicians have said on any issue recently. I can see so many bloggers and pundits having fun with this one!
(via LifeHacker)
GIBSON: Would you favor putting Georgia and Ukraine in NATO?
PALIN: Ukraine, definitely, yes. Yes, and Georgia.
GIBSON: Because Putin has said he would not tolerate NATO incursion into the Caucasus.
PALIN: Well, you know, the Rose Revolution, the Orange Revolution, those actions have showed us that those democratic nations, I believe, deserve to be in NATO.
Putin thinks otherwise. Obviously, he thinks otherwise, but…
GIBSON: And under the NATO treaty, wouldn’t we then have to go to war if Russia went into Georgia?
PALIN: Perhaps so. I mean, that is the agreement when you are a NATO ally, is if another country is attacked, you’re going to be expected to be called upon and help.
But NATO, I think, should include Ukraine, definitely, at this point and I think that we need to — especially with new leadership coming in on January 20, being sworn on, on either ticket, we have got to make sure that we strengthen our allies, our ties with each one of those NATO members.
We have got to make sure that that is the group that can be counted upon to defend one another in a very dangerous world today.
“Let’s die, my brothers, or on high
Maintain the flag of liberty
To perish
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“The Girls” were my boys’ best friends in Ukraine. They are visiting the States for a little while and were recently at Heather’s church. I hope they come to Florida! One of the hardest things about the choices we’ve made in our lives is how far away so many people are, people who are very dear to us. Email and internet help, but aren’t the same.
I was surfing around some UkrBlogs and then YouTube, and when watching this version of Razom Nas Bahato, thought I saw Hubby. Look closely around seconds 23-25. See the grey hat guy with a goatee? The quality isn’t that great, and Hubby didn’t do much chanting. . .so I’m not certain. But Hubby wore that grey knit hat all winter, and in Ukraine, only Americans and Ukrainian pastors had goatees. . .
Гагарин, я Вас любила
Он обернулся простой такой
И белозубый, незнакомый,
Пригладил волосы рукой,
Пока еще не сведен оскомой
Добрый-добрый рот его,
Нежной-нежной щетиной рыжей
Касался, пусть бы был никто,
Прощай, прощай, родной, бесстыжий.Жизнь била, била, да.
Жизнь крыла спалила
Гагарин, я Вас любила.Не знал он после, как долго я
Плыла осколком его медали,
И в спину била его струя,
И жал он молча свои педали.Больно-больно потом упал,
Расшибился. Из-под обломков
Извлек себя и начертал
По фюзеляжу златой иголкой.Жизнь била, била, да.
Жизнь крыла спалила
Гагарин, я Вас любилаКак будто правда, что Млечный Путь
Господь спустил ему на лампасы
Его погоны горят, как ртуть,
Он так прекрасен, что нас колбасит.
Белым светом наполнен он,
Добрый, славный себе смеется,
Душа его, как полигон,
Ему светло и ей поетсяЖизнь била, била, да.
Жизнь крыла спалила
Гагарин, я Вас любила
This is one of my favorite pop songs from when we lived in Ukraine. Jen reminded me of it recently, and now I have the words and tune going through my head. The main line is Gagarin, I loved you, referring to cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. I found the words, but so far I haven’t been able to find an online clip of the song. If anyone finds it, will you give me the link?
Listen to “Gagarin” by Underwood here.
I don’t really know what is going on. . . one of the difficult things about living on this side of the pond.
However, my friend in Kherson e-mailed me to alert me about the political unrest, especially in Kyiv.
It makes me cry. I know that some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. And though the Lord worked mightily in the winter of ’04-’05, still much of that was political and not spiritual–so why am I surprised at the recent events?
More info:
From Neeka
From our friend Dan
From Homeward Bound
These are some images from my teammate in Ukraine, Little Mrs. Reformed, showing the pysanky and paska that were so common in the this time of year in Ukraine.
R7 (when he had just turned 6) is standing on the radiator and looking out of the boys’ bedroom window in Kyiv. That flat was on the 15th floor, and provided a great view of the construction of the yellow/triangular-roofed building.
(Kyiv, March 2005)
I’ve been feeling so sentimental about Ukraine the past month. Maybe because one year ago we were in the midst of the Orange Revolution. Maybe because I’m feeling more settled now, and “safer” to start missing Ukraine.
The holiday season has seemed so different. I really got used to preparing our family / American friend Christmas for December 25th. Then celebrating New Year’s with our Ukrainian friends. And then a religious observance of Ukrainian Christmas. This year everything seems so. . . rushed.
My dear friend Laura has just returned from serving over three years in Ukraine. We are hoping to have her join us for New Year’s. Have some familiarity, continuity, for us both.
One of the things I’m missing is the Christmas music I got used to in Ukraine. This song (though another version, which I can’t find to play online) has been going through my head all week. I keep trying to change the radio station to find one playing it, but they are all playing American traditional music. It’s a song from a children’s cartoon series about a wolf and rabbit (and it may be an older folk song, I don’t know.) The version I heard on the radio all the time in Kyiv was a pop one done by the groups “The Leperchauns”. The music video for it was fun, too.
НОВОГОДНЯЯ ПЕСЕНКА. из мультфильма “Ну, погоди!”
Расскажи, Снегурочка, где была?
Расскажи-ка, милая, как дела?
За тобою бегала, Дед Мороз,
Пролила немало я горьких слёз!Припев:
А ну-ка, давай-ка плясать выходи!
Нет, Дед Мороз! Нет, Дед Мороз!
Нет, Дед Мороз, погоди!
Ждёт моих подарочков ребятня,
И тебе достанется от меня!
Наконец сбываются все мечты,
Лучший мой подарочек, это – ты!Припев:
А ну-ка, давай-ка плясать выходи!
Нет, Дед Мороз! Нет, Дед Мороз!
Нет, Дед Мороз, погоди!Проигрыш.
Ну, Дед Мороз! Ну, Дед Мороз!
Ну, Дед Мороз, погоди!
I’m missing Ukraine.
The boys got a book on Ukraine from the library. I got an e-mail from a teammate in Kyiv with greeting from Babushka. I haven’t done well in e-mailing our Ukrainian friends.
I’m feeling sad and sentimental and missing Ukraine.
That’s our Yulia! And yes, the women in Ukraine are tall, gorgeous and well-dressed.
(Via Google News)
After a meeting yesterday, Hubby and I went to one of our favorite coffee hangouts, the Fashion Cafe. The decor is great, they broadcast fashion shows all day long, they have two walls of English language books for sale, and they have some of the best cappuccino in town.
I was browsing through the business section of the Kyiv Post, when I came across this article,
American firm claims ‘key role’ in revolution
Rock Creek Cooperative says they helped coordinate online media for Orange Revolution, but gov’t begs to differ
A guy who regularly comments on Hubby’s blog e-mailed this week about tonight’s Speeding Lisa concert at Art Club 44. It was great. There is just something about good rock’n'roll that is balm to the soul.
They started the set with a rousing rendition of Razom Nas Bagato, but leaving out Ми не бидло, Ми не козли. A bit of whimsy came across in Back in the USSR. The Ukrainian girls behind us went wild for Basket Case and I’m a Believer (during which I couldn’t help but think about Joe’s recent post and wondering if any seeker-types out there had already fiddled with the lyrics and included it in a church service.)
The rest of the show rocked, and I must say my fave is still Anarchy in the Ukraine. The only thing that could have improved the music would be adding Bullet with Butterfly Wings. *hint, hint*
We saw a few people we knew there, and had a chance to visit with Castor after the show. It was a great night and I don’t remember the last time I got home from a date at 3:30 am. Check out Hubby’s blog for some pics.
Yes, our dear Yulia Tymoshenko was appointed Prime Minister today. She’ll be confirmed by parliament in mid February.
(Via Kyiv Post)