I find myself doing this more and more lately...neglecting my blog. I LOVE to blog but have been horrible at it lately. I've been pouring my time into so many areas that I've begun to feel guilty sitting at the computer. Also, about a month ago a little mischievous 20mo. old spilled coffee on my keyboard making it near impossible to type one word correctly! The key were sticking real bad... let's see, can I possibly come up with any other excuses :)

Now you may be wondering where I have been "pouring my time into."

First off, I have recently been asked, or "elected" to be in charge of student activities. How exciting!!! I LOVE games, the student and having parties! Perfect! I know tis is a small way I can encourage the student body. I started out finding a team of students to help plan, organize and run the activities. Lots of meetings later we began with a game night and last wknd had 'Like,Totally 80's!" Party. We had contests for the biggest hair, best rocker outfit ,tallest shoulder pads, best valley girl impersonation and lots of other hilarious categories. The students AND staff went all out to make this night a memorable one. I spent half the night laughing at everyone'costumes. of We had 16 staff members send in pictures of themselves in the 80's how fun to watch the students guess the staff and their ages!
We did the limbo, hokey-poky, and chicken dance trying to bring back those Friday nights we spent as kids at the rollerskating rink.
We ended the evening with prizes and Back To the Future.Yay Michael J.Fox.

Secondly,I have recently committed to prioritizing my life little by little. Andy and I have made a BEAUTIFUL, AMAZING discipline chart and have been focusing on following that. What an encouraging thing to see our girls already improving in small ways and how AWESOME to be on the SAME page as my husband when it comes to discipling our children. "Spare the rod SPOIL the child." How true!

Thirdly, within the prioritizing my life comes many avenues of change. Some small some large. Many of those can be saved for another blog...Another thing (which as moms you will understand why I say this) is getting some time for myself and NOT feeling guilty about it...that rarely happens if their is a load of laundry to do, or one speck of dust or a toy out of place I have a hard time relaxing. Praise the Lord for a husband who knows me and notices when I need a moment alone. So, to prevent those "hair-pulling" moments from happening my husband has suggested I 1-get out and get involved and 2-have an hour to myself every few days! He is amazing! So all that to say I have been sewing like a maniac! Not only am I getting some alone time to think and pray I am keeping my hands busy by making things for my family! I LOVE these moments! I become quite a blog "stalker" as I search for new projects and tutorials..if you ever find a great tutorial,pattern or project PLEASE share it with me!

Alright...enough typing time to post some pictures!

Christmas Memories

I am daily taken back with my girls beauty, pictures like these squeeze my heart. They bring so much joy into my life!

Making cookies was almost a daily ritual Christmas week as we made every type of cookie we enjoy having around the holidays! The girls enjoyed the spoils of baking ;)



Novalie did an amazing job helping us bake and decorate cookies, I love how intense she looked while rolling out the dough.

As you can see, Christmas wore Eden out! We kept finding her fast asleep around the house.

Santa Baby

Many of you have asked, "How was your first Christmas in Hungary?"

Looking on past Christmases is a tapestry of memories for me. I remember unwrapping certain gifts and being elated with happiness, I remember candlelit services, bouncing around to all the relatives, tables and tables of food, laughter, joking around, Sunday school fellowships, work parties, being overwhelmed with activities on the calendar and loving every busy moment, excitement, that Christmas tree smell, ridiculous Christmas songs and also the sentimental ones that bring tears to your eyes, those great movies like Rudolf, White Christmas, Home Alone and Christmas Story. In our house it was always Little Women, While You Were Sleeping and Muppet Christmas Carol as well. Lots of time with family and friends.

I kinda felt I had to white the slate clean of everything I knew on celebrating Christmas the way I was used too and the way I grew up celebrating.

Leading up to Christmas (all the pre-holiday weeks after Thanksgiving) was really hard. Where we are located (all my suburban friends) we would call the boondocks. :) No chain stores, malls, gas stations, traffic lights, and around the holidays, no people... it seemed everyone left except us. Everyone had family to visit, traditional places and activities to go to and attend. Andy and I had many moments where it literally felt we were mourning Christmases past and traditions. We each spent some time reminiscing and crying on each others shoulders.

In the States we are used to parties, fellowships, shopping, Christmas displays and lights galore, Cantatas, family, musicals, singing Christmas carols in church, Christmas is everywhere and acknowledged by everyone for the whole month of Dec!

I think the 2 biggest things for us was the distance from family and not being part of a church family. We ached for both and how both have always played such a significant part of the holiday season for us. The warmth, fellowship, sharing about our past year and God's provision and grace, the involvement with activities and sharing laughs.

So leading up to Christmas was a struggle for us both. But we grew together as a family and came up with our own traditions and took the plunge into creativity to get through the season.

But... (I always seem to like when 'but' it mentioned in the Bible) :) we had an AMAZING Christmas day! Christmas Day was such an unexpected, much needed, surprise for us! We did what we wanted to and when we wanted too :) Yes, it was wonderful! I loved spending the day at home with my husband and girls playing, watching Christmas movies, baking cookies, reading about the birth of Baby Jesus, coloring and venturing outside. It was such a sweet, calm and relaxing day full of many precious moments, giggles from the girls, excitement, wonder and awe. I had such a blessed day living Christmas and watching Christmas come alive through Novalie and Eden.

The day began with Eden first waking up and immediately screaming with excitement at the lights on the tree and glistening of wrapped gifts! Which of course woke up Novalie who immediaetly ran out to see if Santa came. We all sat down and began reading the story of the coming of Baby Jesus. Now this is when we realized that from now on the Christmas Story will be read on Christmas Eve when the distraction and temptation of gifts is not mocking the girls in the face. We began reading from Daddy's Bible and then switched to a kid's Bible and by the end of the 3 paragraph, 1 page story Novie had her mitts on a present trying to sneakingly unwrap it.

We started with stockings and that was enough from Eden, we could not get her to unwrap another gift the whole morning she was too busy playing with the gifts from her stocking. Andy and I spent the day laughing, playing and experiencing Christmas through our adorable 18mo. and 3 year old. Which makes for the perfect Christmas!

All that to say this and answer your question ...leading up to Christmas was a struggle but Christmas Day was perfect!

All the Turkeys Give Thanks

The kids table

Novie in her Turkey Day outfit

We tried to get a picture of all the kids...

The insane amount of food and our beautiful plates and place-settings.

We celebrated Thanksgiving in Hungary with many other American and non-American staff members. We had LOTS of leftovers and a glorious time with friends and family.

Fall Festival in MI

While we were in Michigan we spent a family day at a fall festival. We saw apple cidar and donuts being made, got lost in a corn maze, fed animals, played in a huge pile of hay, and went through a hay maze.

Furlough Stop #2 Michigan

From Virginia we headed to Michigan where Andy grew up. So we went from 75 degree weather to 40 degree weather..eeekkk. it was cold with freezing temperatures.

We were able to catch up with everyone! We spent time with grandparents, parents, friends and two of our supporting church families. We squeezed in alot those 6 days we were there!

Furlough Stop #1 Virginia, Sarah's Wedding

The whole reason we were able to make this trip to the States is because my little sister, Sarah got married! So crazy! I was the Matron of Honor and Novie and Eden were the adorable flower girls.

Here are a few pictures from her wedding.