Kwanzaa

I have to say this holiday puzzles me....


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwanzaa

I am so Loved

I really am so lucky to be so loved. Really the only thing I missed this Christmas were people. I did miss some traditions and the Christmas Eve service at church but the thing I really wanted more than anything was people. I had a great Christmas though. People here were really thoughtful and wonderful. They invited us over, fed us, and loved us. One family in particular was really a huge blessing. The Kliewer family are also new here and they had us over for Thanksgiving and then again today on Christmas. They also have a vonage phone they let us use to call our families. Also, last Saturday they had a group of us over to relax and watch Christmas movies all day. It was so wonderful. Today when they had us over, they also had presents for us! Talk about going above and beyond. They gave us (5 single female teachers) gift bags with fuzzy socks, a picture frame, candles and a candle holder, and some candy. Last night for Christmas Eve, the 5 of us had a sleepover at Heather and Paula's. We listened to Christmas music, decorated cookies, had snacks, and really enjoyed ourselves. This morning we woke up and had muffins and then opened stockings we had made for each other. It was really special.

I have gotten to really celebrate Jesus' birth and enjoy Christmas in Budapest. the Christmas Market here is fantastic. The one thing I did miss was not seeing It's a Wonderful Life. That is a movie my family watches every year and I missed it. I really am so loved though because I have gotten packages (some still on their way) from several family members and friends. I got emails and messages (on facebook and myspace) and I got to talk to my family twice today, which was just awesome. I love you all and I can't wait to see you soon!!!


Me at the Christmas Market














Be sure to check out Paula's blog because it has photos of Christmas Eve and Christmas.

My Christmas List

Do you remember me?
I sat upon your knee;
I wrote to you
With childhood fantasies.

Well, I'm all grown-up now,
And still need help somehow.
I'm not a child,
But my heart still can dream.

So here's my lifelong wish,
My grown-up christmas list.
Not for myself,
But for a world in need.

No more lives torn apart,
Then wars would never start,
And time would heal all hearts.
And everyone would have a friend,
And right would always win,
And love would never end.
This is my grown-up christmas list.

As children we believed
The grandest sight to see
Was something lovely
Wrapped beneath our tree.

Well heaven surely knows
That packages and bows
Can never heal
A hurting human soul.

No more lives torn apart,
Then wars would never start,
And time would heal all hearts.
And everyone would have a friend,
And right would always win,
And love would never end.
This is my grown-up christmas list.

What is this illusion called the innocence of youth?
Maybe only in our blind belief can we ever find the truth.

No more lives torn apart,
And wars would never start,
And time would heal all hearts.
And everyone would have a friend,
And right would always win,
And love would never end, oh.
This is my grown-up christmas list.

This is my only lifelong wish.
This is my grown-up christmas list.

Fine. I'll tell you what you want to know.

And the winner is.....

Well, there were multiple winners.
For picture number 1: The answer was 2 yrs old; Cary, NC
the winner is: my mom (she would win them all but I'm only counting it if no one else gets it)

For picture number 2 : The answer was 5 mo. old; Christmas; Lesotho, SA
the winner is: Shannon Cox!
Congratulations Shannon:)

For picture number 3: The answer was 1 year old; Myrtle Beach, SC
the winner is: David Nida!
(only 3/4 credit because the "USA" wasn't very specific...although maybe my instructions weren't specific enough...)
Way to go David!


Good job to everyone who played. Thanks:)

winter wonderland

So, contrary to the date "winter" technically starts, winter has arrived in Hungary. It is so cold! I can definitely feel it, especially since I have to spend more time outside, not having a car and all. Yesterday Heather and I waited 25 minutes at the Volanbus stop on our way to get her haircut. We had to take the volanbus and then get on the 49 tram and then get on the M1 metro and then walk 2 blocks. After the wait at the Volanbus stop, my toes were in so much pain I wanted to...do something drastic...like go home. My feet never thawed out until an hour and a half later when we finally arrived at the hair place. The trip home was much better because we were able to keep moving and didn't start the trip with painfully frozen appendages.

I don't know if I am ready for this intense winter. I do have my snow boots and ultra down coat. Hopefully I will learn to adjust and dress warmly enough everyday. Part of the problem is that the school is HOT, especially the "east wing" building where the elementary school is located.

As much as I love fires in the fireplace, snow, crisp air, warm blankets, heated beverages, and everything Christmas related, I do not prefer winter. I don't like the lack of sun, an especially huge problem in Hungary where many winter days we don't see the sun at all (arriving at school before it's up at 8am and leaving after it sets at 3pm). I also am not a huge fan of being freezing outside and then coming inside and 'burning up' and having a runny nose. Oh winter, it's a good thing you have Christmas and sleigh rides* or else I would just not like you.



* I have yet to experience a sleigh ride, but the thought of the possibility makes my heart happy.

Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes....

....it's the Lisa baby contest!
(100000 cool points if you were thinking "it's the charleston contest")

Let's play the guess how old I was and what country I was in game, also known as the Lisa baby contest.

Congratulations to Mom who won the first one. We'll see if anyone can even get close.

Picture number 1:
The one in the last entry with the corn and the KLM bib.

Picture 2:


So we're looking for how old, what country, and let's also go ahead and say-what time of year?















Picture 3:






This is my cousin Jennifer (soon to be married!) and I at the beach. I am wearing a bonnet.




Good Luck :)

Paula and Pictures

Check out Paula's blog because she updates a lot. Also, did those photo links two posts ago work for people? Please let me know. It was a lot of pictures and if you can't see them, I need to do something different. Thanks:)



(Christmas Music I do have: Amy Grant- A Christmas Album
Mariah Carey- Merry Christmas
Unexpected Gifts- Various Artists)

Dumb Artists!

So, I am seriously lacking Christmas music. It makes me so mad that all these artists I love decide not to put their great Christmas music on itunes. What is that about?! So, I did find some music, but if anyone wants to send me some Christmas music, via mail or email or skype or AIM, that would just make me so happy. Even the first little part of the Christmas season has been hard. I am so tired, school-wise, and my kids are getting crazier and crazier. That is very normal for kids and school, but on top of that, I miss my family and friends soooo much. Thanksgiving was great (and I was in the middle of a post about that that I still haven't finished) and it was much easier than I anticipated but Christmas has already been much harder. The Christmas season is my favorite all year long and that is because of all it means, which it still means, but a lot of the things I do are very family/friends centered. The first time we sang a Christmas song in Elementary chapel, I started tearing up and pondered if I could slip out so I could go to the bathroom and cry. I started thinking about all the things I love about Christmas and about my family's Christmas Eve tradition, which is my favorite all year long, and how I was going to miss it this year. I just wanted to sob. Anyway, it'll be ok. My friends here and I have already started talking about how to make Christmas here special, and a family has invited us over for Christmas day. Anyway, you can pray for me, send me Christmas music, and think about me sometimes:)

Also, if you missed my November prayer letter and would like it, let me know!

I always loved corn;)