Series of Firsts: Part III

First Snowfall of the year

We took a poll a few weeks ago about when we thought the first snow would fall. I said December 8. Abigail said November 21, and everyone else was somewhere in between. Abi won!! It started snowing Saturday morning (Nov 22) and snowed all day long. The flakes were big and slow--my favorite kind. By the end of the day, we were sledding on snow up to our knees. Sadly by Tuesday it warmed up and melted at our house. Happily, it snowed again on Poiana on Wednesday, so we began our Thanksgiving celebration today on the mountain. We were just about the only people there--crazy Romanians forgot all about the Thanksgiving holiday--and it was beautiful. Hope to go again soon!

Daniel with our friends, the Becks, on the hill in our back yard.

Abi, wishing the snow was up to her hips

The backyard with a fresh blanket of snow

Series of Firsts: Part II

First Day of School

The kids started school Nov 17 (nearly 2 weeks ago--I'm a little slow) with two new teachers, who are adjusting beautifully and are doing a great job teaching our kids. Daniel is having to adjust a little, transitioning from talk about ATeam, pingpong, hiking, and other boy-stuff, to talking about hair products, ring sizes, and how to shop for gifts for girls. Rebekah says one of her goals is to help prepare Daniel for a wife one day. He's being a good sport thus far, even trying to enter into the beauty product conversation by talking about his all-in-one soap that can be used as shampoo, soap, toothpaste, do.... Rebekah was impressed!

We thank God for Rebekah and Carly!

Kingstone Academy 2008-9

Rebekah, Carly, Abigail, Daniel, Jessalyn and Aaron

Daniel and Abigail with Rebekah are following the Romanian tradition of showering the teacher with flowers on the first day of school.

A Series of Firsts...part I

First HMA

When we moved to Romania 3 1/2 years ago, we knew part of the plan would be to return to the US for a period of time in order to visit supporters, raise more support if necessary, reconnect with family and friends, deal with medical issues, and take care of whatever else that must be handled States-side.  Three years ago, it seemed like a long way off.  And here we are, already home 3 weeks and our first HMA is over.  We did get to see almost all of our supporters. Gratefully, there was no new support to raise. We were able to see and enjoy almost all of our more immediate family members and many of our friends.  And we spent more hours than we would have liked at doctors' offices.   With those expectations in mind, it was a productive 3 months.

And yet, as promised, the Lord did exceedingly, abundantly more than we could have asked or imagined. In between the immensely busy schedule...

• We got to enjoy Katy's first 3 months in college with her, as we helped get her moved in, showed her around campus, attended football games with her, met some of her friends, treated her to a few meals, watched her work at her first paying job (University Sporting Goods), counseled her through bumpy waters of sorority life, had dinner with her RUF minister and his wife, took her shopping, stocked her dorm room full of groceries, talked on the phone daily as she went to and from class.  What a blessing for us to enjoy that time alongside her!  Abigail even got to spend a night in the dorm with her, anticipating her own college days that are just around the corner.
  
  
  Katy and Ed in the Grove at an Ole Miss game
  
  
  
• Over three months, we visited with Michael almost weekly as we traveled to Jackson for appointments.  We caught up on much of his life that we had missed out on for the previous two years.  We walked through Belhaven's campus--Ed and I even taught a class one evening on mission, attended a football game (not quite the same even as at Ole Miss, but we did get to see Michael's friend, Sarah Grafton on the homecoming court), met many of his friends, climbed the rock wall where he works at 1st Baptist Health Center (Abi and Daniel climbed...I watched), had many lunch dates at his favorite jaunts, enjoyed countless face to face conversations about life, work, relationships, and Daniel got to be a college student for a day/night.  We thank the Lord for quality face to face time with him.
  
  
  
  Michael and his friend, Sarah Grafton
  
  
  
  
  
• Abigail and Daniel re-entered American culture by doing a lot of shopping, attending high school football games (American football), watching American football on TV (Sam's big screen made it even more of an event), participating in youth group (including a lock-in), reconnecting with friends, fishing with Ed, playing on a soccer team (Daniel), attending a Viking cooking school (Abi), and being loved on and spoiled by grandparents.


Dan's big catch

Daniel and Abi enjoying an Ole Miss football game. Go Rebs!!



• One of the great unexpected pleasures we enjoyed was our time with Sam, Chris, and Sarah.  Sarah quickly became Abi and Daniel's highlight of each day, and she adores them, as well.  Because Sam now works for M&F in Kosy, they moved to Kosy shortly after we arrived.  
  
  
  Gentleman Daniel is escorting Chris (and soon to be Burton, born Nov 12)
  
  
  

Sweet baby Sarah with Nana's new dog, Charlie

• FOOD!  We ate and ate and ate yummy American food.  Now we're working it off, or at least working it into shape.  It was worth it.
• Morning coffee with Mom and Dad. 
• Nicholas and Melissa's wedding.
  
  
  
• A trip to Destin.

Not in Destin, but it looks like it from here. It was actually at the Reservoir in Jackson. 

Cute kids, all grown up!!