They Say It's Your Birthday....We're gonna have a Good Time!

Who knew that Facebook is so popular? 
Probably everyone else but us... Of course, we hear of people who are addicted to Facebook and spend hours on it, but we aren't that way. We seldom check our Facebook page, and only signed up for it because our Church leaders say its a way to keep up with the younger generation. 
So when Sister Davis signed up for a Facebook page, being the very honest person she is, she entered  not just her birth day, but her complete birth DATE. Yep, July 23, 1955. And thought nothing of it. After all, if any school friends tried to find her on Facebook,  they would know they had the right person because of age, right?


Well, last Thursday, we took Juris out to McDonald's for dinner. He was the first to mention Sister Davis's birthday.
 He said, "Sister Davis has a birthday soon."
Sister Davis was amazed!  She said, "Yes, I do Juris. How did you know?"
He smiled and said, "Facebook."
Elder Davis, jokingly (we hope) said, "Yes, and Sister Davis is going to be 65 this year."
Juris looked at him, and very seriously, said,  "No! She is going to be 57!"

Well, so much for keeping THAT a secret!

Is it any wonder that our next FHE was a tad different?  July 23rd happened to fall on Monday night this year.  Dimitrijs came over two hours early and started cleaning the apartment. He said, he had nothing better to do and he liked to help.  Well, the apartment needed cleaning so why not let him?





Elza showed up about a half hour early.....and gave Sister Davis a single lily in a vase and said Happy Birthday. Ohhh, Sister Davis had forgotten the Latvian tradition of giving flowers for special occasions!

Elder Davis and Dimitrijs made dinner and YSA's started arriving earlier than usual.  Hmmm, something was definitely different.


Elder Peterson & Elder Reeves came to FHE and....

....brought an investigator named Aleksander, who was a Russian/Latvian living in Germany. Luckily for us, he spoke fluent English,  and he was warmly welcomed by all the YSA's. We love to see that!

Noemi brought her friend Roberta, who was visiting from Hungary.

She is single and says there aren't any single LDS men where she lives...hmmmm, we seem to have an abundance of single LDS young men.  See anyone that interests you?

We started FHE and not everyone was there. Where were Dainis, Lauris & Renars?

They arrived 10 minutes late (a dangerous thing sometimes, if you want to eat). They all came in the door, take off their shoes and Sister Davis didn't notice because she was busy eating,....

 but each of those sweet boys had a HUGE, white chrysanthemum in their hands.  One at a time they handed a flower to Sister Davis,  said "Happy Birthday, Sister Davis", and leaned in to kiss her on the cheek.  It was so touching...and not a camera around! 

They say it's your birthday

We're gonna have a good time

Sister Davis also got a box of chocolates...
and she should have shared them but forgot.

And no one knew who was teaching the FHE lesson.

The person assigned didn't show up. Sister Davis has an idea!  She runs around the apartment putting things in a basket.  After the hymn is sung, she says she is finishing the lesson from last week..."All things testify of Christ". And one by one she holds up an item and asks the group to find a gospel principle associated with each item. She started with an easy one. 

Soap.

Answers came in quickly..."repentance"... "your body is a temple, keep it clean"... "keep yourself pure"....this was great, she got a lot of responses!  One by one she held up,  a pen, a stick of gum, a pair of scissors, mouthwash, cell phone, camera.... and every item  had multiple answers given for it. They all had some gospel truth that could be applied to simple everyday items.  A fun activity to try at home!

Afterwards, Elder Davis told everyone that it was Sister Davis's birthday...
Like everyone didn't already know that? 

They say it's your birthday

Well, it's my birthday too yeah

And he led them in the traditional "Happy Birthday" song and he brought out one of Sister Davis's favorite treats....

Now Sister Davis knows why Elder Davis insisted on buying our groceries that day at Spice shopping center.  It is the only place that has a Cinnabon in Riga. 

 Then Noemi brought out (where had she been hiding it?) a big chocolate cake with a single huge candle in it.  Everyone then sang a Latvian Birthday song to Sister Davis, which we have on video, but still haven't learned how to put them on our blog!



They say it's your birthday

We're gonna have a good time

So, the left picture is what the candle looked like and the right picture is what it was supposed to look like when it was lit.

Only this candle didn't want to cooperate.  The match caught the cardboard tube on fire but no sparks.            Hmmmm, now what?

The boys all get excited....they get to play with fire.

The candle that just wouldn't  work....

Sister Davis brings out the butane lighter she took to youth conference....and notices how every male in the room is interested in lighting that silly candle.  It was like some weird male challenge...who can light it first? Who will be the one person who will succeed in doing the impossible?  It was funny to watch and no one wanted to use the butane lighter ...there is no challenge in that. They would light that candle with matches or die trying!

Noemi had suggested the candle was upside down...but no one listened at the time. And finally someone turned it over and lit the other end.  The candle ROARED to life...like a Roman candle.  It was a little scary...is Sister Davis supposed to blow it out? With sparks shooting in all directions?
No, thank goodness, the flame burns itself out, just like a sparkler does.

I'm glad it's your birthday

Happy birthday to you..

What a fun way to celebrate Sister Davis's birthday in Riga, Latvia! 

But it wasn't over yet! Sister Davis got a two-day Birthday this year!

Yes, we're going to a party party

I would like you to da-da-dance

Take a cha-cha-cha-chance

They say it's your birthday

We're gonna have a good time

The next day, the Senior Sisters took Sister Davis out to lunch. We chose a new, homey place called Fazenda.

Sister Millet and Adams

Sister Boswell with the Birthday girl and THE BOX.

What is THE BOX, you ask?  The Box is another package sent from our girlfriends in California who wish they were with us on our mission. They send things to us. They are wonderful and we love them...

..But that box cost a small fortune to send!

 Seriously girlfriends?...

...Are you crazy?

But the gifts were delightful! We had a blast looking at all the fun things they picked out to send half way across the world.  Sister Davis especially enjoyed the Neccos...a childhood favorite.

And since we share a love for "Willow Tree" angels,  two were sent all the way from California to Latvia for Sister Davis's birthday!  And they  now have a special place of honor in her front room.

 And speaking of angels...it was our sweet granddaughter  Brooklyn's birthday, too!  We missed her 1st birthday ever! Please forgive us Brookie...we will be home for birthday #2.

"Hi!  I am Brooklyn and I was born on my grandma's birthday! 

I am one year old now ... Grandma is much older than that!"

"See my pretty head band?"  

"Hmmm, this grass looks really interesting....."

"Hi, I am Brookie's big brother, Isaiah. I like to play with her and I have the cutest giggle!"

"When are you going to send me those funny candy eggs from Latvia, grandma?"

"We just mailed some to you, Zaya...they should be there soon."

And things that make Sister Davis happy, even on her birthday? 

Seeing pictures of her Grandkids!

Bailey is our first grandchild and can twist grandma around her little finger.  Bailey loves to talk with grandma over the internet (via big screen TV) and she likes to show grandma everything she plays with.  Her little brother Nicky is always getting into something.   Last time he talked to grandma he said, "I heard an owl."  They are both growing up way to fast.

Nicholas and Bailey, relaxing by the BBQ...

And Aaron is now 3 1/2!  What a big boy he is! He likes to count backwards.

And his baby sister is the newest arrival to the Davis clan...Sunny Lynn. 

The one grandchild we have yet to meet!

Sister Davis can't wait to spend her next birthday getting this little girl to smile for her.

Birthdays can make you realize how blessed you really are!

Shop 'Til You Drop!

In the United States, it would take an average LDS mother at least two weeks to outfit her son for his mission.  Missions are a great sacrifice, and parents (and sometimes the  missionaries themselves) pay for everything: shoes, personal items, suitcases, books, suits, white shirts, socks...well you get the picture.  We can't remember all the stuff we had to take care of for our three boys who served missions, but we do remember how much work it  took to prepare for our mission to the Baltic.  We had four months!

Well, Elder & Sister Davis met with the mission president the other day and who happened to come to the mission office to pick up his passport?  Lauris, the young man who received his mission call to Ukraine.  President Boswell gave us the assignment to make sure he had enough clothes to leave for his mission.  We had done something similar for a sister missionary leaving Latvia for Salt Lake City and now we needed to get Lauris outfitted with everything he might need in the next two years.

So Friday morning, we started shopping at 10:00AM.  First stop, the mission office where several missionaries had left bags of clothes when they left Latvia to go home from their own missions. Lauris found three nice white shirts, a rain coat and a warm coat for winter.  Well, that was easy!

Next stop, Alpha shopping center where we bought a pair of Ecco shoes, a suitcase, 6 pairs of socks and stopped at the Burrito Bar, Mexican Grill, for lunch.  Our new favorite eating place!  We were helping educate Lauris on international cuisine...he ate his FIRST burrito with us!

Burrito Bar is new and we have noticed it isn't as busy as it should be.  Elder & Sister Davis have taken 5 different people here for lunch, just to try and keep them in business.  Hey, we only have to keep them in business for the next nine months...after that we will be home where Mexican food is plentiful.

Elder Davis likes a large beef burrito (they actually put a thin layer of refried beans on the tortilla first and then pile on the beef) with lots of cheese, lettuce, hot salsa, & cilantro (koriander leaves). And he doesn't like it grilled.  Sister Davis likes a medium size, vistas (chicken) burrito with mild salsa,  and  LOVES it grilled, giving the burrito,  a just-crisp taste. Her burrito is actually crunchy when she bites into it.

Lauris got a large beef burrito with mild salsa...and he loved every bite!  Ahhhh, the good we missionaries do...spreading a love for good Mexican food around the world. We don't know how many Mexican restaurants there are in the Ukraine but it is always good to be prepared.
Lauris picked out a few personal items at Drogas, (while Sister Davis found a new pair of earrings at an assessory store), and we headed home.

But the shopping trip isn't over yet!  It was now about 1:30,  and some of the young Elders had told us the Dressman's store by the Opera House, was going out of business, and had men's clothing for 50% off. 
We parked the car in our lot, left all Lauris's stuff in the car, and walked 1/2 a mile to Dressmans.

Now anyone who has gone clothes shopping knows that you have to try EVERYTHING on at the store. Sizes aren't always true, and one size 52 (European size), may NOT be the same as another size 52. So Lauris, spent much of his time in the dressing room, while Elder Davis kept throwing stuff to him over the door.

But prices were so good, we bought three more white shirts, two ties, a belt and a suit for 99L, about $173 (a bargain in Latvia). Lauris has already been preparing for his mission and has two suits of his own. We were under the budget the mission gave us....

By now Sister Davis's feet are starting to hurt.  

It was 3:30 and Sister Davis, the master shopper, is tired....

Are we done yet?

Not yet!

 We still had to hit the Central Market to buy a murse and a shaving bag. Sister Davis is sure you are wondering what a murse is. Well, that is what we call the purses that are worn by every Latvian male...a male purse=murse. Lauris needed one for his scriptures, pen, missionary guidebook and probably a map when he gets to Ukraine. 

We couldn't find a shaving bag anywhere...apparently, they aren't used in Latvia. Sister Davis did find a cute flat leather purse that she could use when she is out walking and doesn't want to take her bulky "everything but the kitchen sink" purse. So she bought it and Lauris speaking in fluent Russian got the price lowered!  And Lauris did find himself a murse....there were lots to choose from.

Now lest you think Lauris wasn't having a good time...think again.  Lauris, whom has lived on his own since he was 15,  told us his father had never taken him shopping, ever.  And, Lauris (who hasn't quite mastered English),  kept saying over and over...."This is best day, my life". 

A picture of Lauris's "Best day of life!"

And it wasn't just Lauris who felt good about the day...Elder & Sister Davis were feeling pretty satisfied for what they had accomplished. Caring for other people and serving them is the greatest part of missionary work.  We drove Lauris home to Kengarags and he showed us his humble little room. And he went over to a chair,  picked up a huge watermelon and handed it to us, saying,  "For me".

 Elder Davis: "What?  Is this your watermelon?" 

Lauris, still holding the watermelon out: "Yes,  for me."

Elder Davis: "For you or for me?"

Lauris, just not getting it:  "I give for me."

Elder Davis: "Okay, we will take it.... for me."

So Elder & Sister Davis hurried home in rush hour traffic, with our watermelon tucked securely in the back seat.

We still had a dinner appointment that evening with Linda and Ritvars from Riga 1st Branch.  They were such a big help with youth conference we wanted to take them out to dinner...and one of their favorite places to eat is Tokyo City near Old Town. Tokyo City is mainly a sushi place.  SUSHI.... Yuck! is the first thought that comes to Sister Davis's mind.  She has never tried sushi and never really wanted to...

And  this is the warm sushi Linda ordered for all of us to try...Sister Davis daintily took one and ate it, but went right back to the teriyaki beef she had ordered for herself.  Elder Davis tried three sushi but agreed that his fried crab legs were much better tasting.  Linda & Ritvars didn't mind, they ate the rest of the sushi. 

 Elder & Sister Davis can now honestly tell everyone who asks...

"Do you like sushi?"

"No! We don't!"

No Worries!

No worries!  That is what we needed... a day without worries. 

Well, that means not looking at our emails, not answering our phones,  and getting out of the apartment.

Two people have recommended to us a Russian restaurant that is around the corner from our apartment and this was the day to try it.  They both said the borscht (cabbage soup) was something we had to try.  So we did...and it was very good! The flavor was wonderful.
Notice Sister Davis has her kindle with her.  She takes it everywhere with her, cuz you never know when you might find a minute or two to read something.

The interior of the restaurant had colorful murals on the walls.

And fun, Russian music was playing in the background while we ate. 

We felt like getting up and dancing the Rasputin (the one on wii's Just Dance 2 disc). 

 But we didn't, we just sat in our chairs slurping our borscht.

But afterwards, we needed something else to do with  "no worries."  So we decided to visit....

which is just a short jaunt from our apartment.  It looks nice, doesn't it?

Wooden cows "grazing on the grass".

And the interiors is as nice as the outside is....

The museum was built in the early 1900's and features paintings by Baltic, German, and Russians artists. And of course there are many paintings by the best-known Latvian artist, Janis Rozentals.

And, so you will have a day of "no worries" too, we will just post some of the lovely paintings that were on display and let you sit back and enjoy a trip to the Latvian National Art Museum....

Portrait of a Man-  1797

Christ raising the daughter of Jairus....

Second story....

 "From the Church" by Janis Rozentals, 1894.

And we ended a day of "no worries" by walking around the park and returning home relaxed and ready for a new day of missionary work...