56 Reasons we Love Tom…

56) Has a voluminous sneeze

55) Always has a smart comeback

54) Helps people feel good about themselves

53) Loves Mexico is working on loving Russia

52) A Leader Among Men

51) Has a Great Memory

50) After almost 30 years of marriage is grocery shopping with me

49) Cracks Funny Jokes

(I keep telling him his jokes are getting lost in the translation)

48) Has an Exceptionally Kind Heart

47) Is Very Organized

46) Is a Hard Worker

45) Has a Selfless Nature

44) Is always willing to “Stop for a Photo-Op”

43) Encourages Me To Take Many Many Pictures

42) Serving Others Is a Natural Part of His Life

41) Goes the Extra-Mile

40) Makes Me Laugh In Any Situation

39) Has a lot of Incentive

38) Set and achieve goals (constantly)

37) Extraordinary

36) Loves Mexican Food

35) A Very Fine Scullery Maid

34) Kind Brother and Brother-in-law

33) An Exceptional Boy Scout

32) Smart Navigator

31) Creative Map Maker and Reader

30) Only gets lost once a day

29) Is a whiz on the calculator

28) Is looked to for help from others offers good advice

27) Always singing around the house, at the computer, always, always singing

26) Has a good singing voice

25) Sees the Best in Everyone

24) Is Loved and Admired by His Children

23) Makes great potato and macaroni salad

22) A True Friend

21) Great Son-in-law

20) Amazing Builder and Designer

19) Frugal

18) Plays Pinochle Marvelously

17) Admirable

16) Loves Snickers and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

15) Remarkable Linguist

14) Experienced Sudoku Player

13) Devoted Missionary

12) Is a good son

11) Loves little children, will be a great Grandpa

10) Wise

9) Is a terrific cook-his specialty- cat food sandwiches

8) Shows Kindness to Other People

7) Smart

6) Compassionate

5) Knows how to Find Joy in the Journey

4) Honors His Priesthood Has a Strong Testimony

3) Dedicated to Service in the Church

2) Loving and Kind Father

1) Exceptional Husband

Living In Saint Petersburg...

An apartment with three or four rooms and a kitchen and bathroom can house three families (or individuals). One young lady I know lives in an apartment that has four rooms (not counting kitchen and bathroom), a family of four uses two rooms, she has a room, and a young man has another room. They share the kitchen and bathroom. She has a bed, refrigerator, chairs, table, wardrobe and maybe a desk in her room. Her room is not as big as the kitchen in the apartment we live in and she pays 5000 rubles which is over $150.00. She only makes about 15000 rubles a month, which is around $500.00. Another young lady shares a room with another lady and they pay 10000 rubles a month. She makes only a few thousand rubles a month. Needless to say by the time they pay rent, buy food and Metro/bus passes they have little money left over. They also told me about some apartments that have the kitchen and bathroom both in one room. That would be very inconvenient don't you think?

Here is the keys we have to use. The black magnetic key for the front gate. The gray magnetic key is for the two doors going into the apartment building. The long silver key and the black and silver key are for the two locks on the steel front door to our apartment.

Here is our front gate. You have to push the button to the tattoo parlor for the gate to open or use one of the magnetic keys we have.

Our front gate, Tom is going out of it. To even get out you have to push a button for it to open.

The covered walkway from the front gate. Off to the left is a police station and day care or school where the children come from to play on the play area. Straight ahead and to the right is the play area, and tattoo parlor. Above all the businesses are apartments.