Love.
And now I will show you the most excellent way.
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.
--Corinthians 13

I hope that when you see it you recognize it and never let it go. I hope that you have dreams and that when they are about to come true you do not run away from them and that you are prepared and have the courage to be happy. After all, it is all that matters…
Merry Christmas, friends!
Love, Diana.

here is a random collection of pictures to celebrate Kazakhstani Independence.Some are from Almaty, some are from Petro and some are from our trip to the skating-ring yesterday ( these were contributed by Saule). Just for the record---there were sooo many people there that Saule and I had to watch Alexei skate and feel jealous. Well, may be some pirozhkis helped us survive the disappointment:)) We had fun anyway, that also is just for the record!!!

Just one little comment for today: be careful what you’re asking for-- It might happen! And it would really hurt if you are not prepared. Believe me…

Some virgin snow pictures outside Petro.

We were going to make it to the skating ring some time during this weekend but the weather decided to get funny and all the snow melted. This is not fair!!! I want my December back. Today. Right now. Okay, may be some time on Sunday morning. Or Tuesday afternoon after I get back to work. Although it really is not fair to have all the snow and ice gone.
I wish at least the ladies who I used to see every day on my way to work were there with their flowers to add some color to the muddy gray that everything has turned to now. I love surprises I really do but sometimes I just wish things were what they are and did not change ( without my permission at least:)).

I heard it on the news today 2009 is not going to be the year for KZ to become a member of the OSCE board. They might reconsider the matter in 2011 but who knows. Only Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and the CIS countries voted for us. And we were so close. So close. Four more years to wait. Darn it! Are we still not democratic enough for UK and the states? Should I take my thanksgiving package being torn for something other than mere curiosity of the postal workers? Do people really believe this Borat movie? And why is it still not on here? Duh, it’s so many questions in my head right now that I am getting a complex even posting them.
I like our president, I really do but sometimes some things just make me wonder.

magic snow
if i could choose a day to fall in love i would probably choose today. because it is december. because it is warm. because there is snow everywhere and there are lights all around at night and the sky is not black but the weird milky beige just like in my camera sepia mode. you go outside and you find yourself in a fairy tale-- the snow glimmers in the street-lamp light and it makes you wonder if it was not for cinderella's godmother who decorated the ground with the stars from the sky. there is magic in the very air you breath and it makes you think that any wish you might want to make will come true. and so i never let the chance pass by. i always make my wish. year after year after year. it hasn't happened yet but i am stubborn too. i'm gonna ask for the same thing again. today. and if the fairy godmother doesn't hear me... well, i guess i will have to switch to santa. did i ever tell you how strongly i believe in fairy-tales?