Fall Semester 2017

We honestly cannot believe how quickly time has flown.  We want to apologize first of all for how long it has been since our last update.  We are going to put forth a greater effort to update more often.  We would encourage you also to add us on facebook and instagram if you have accounts on those.  I, Jessica, try to update the facebook account often, and we generally are able to respond to messages within a short period of time. The messages come to both of our phones and so they are one of the quickest ways to shoot us a text.  Romeo has been really good about posting pictures of where we live, and captures our day to day life really well on Instagram, and of course, photos can speak so loudly without any words at all.  

The past months have been packed, both with blessings as well as challenges.  The semester went so well.  The group of students here were just great.  We were so blessed by them, and are praying that a large percentage of them will be able to return for next semester.  During the semester we had groups of students over for an occasional game of Settlers of Catan.  (One of our personal favorites.)  And it was a really nice chance to get to know them more.

The classes went smoothly and the students papers reflected a real understanding, as well as a desire to implement the things that they were learning.  Romeo was able to meet on a weekly basis with several of the male students and has been keeping in contact with those students by phone since they left for the holidays.  I think those relationships have been mutual blessings.  For a few weeks leading up to the end of the semester Romeo told me almost daily that he was so sad to see the semester coming to a close.  He wasn’t ready to see such a great group of students go home.

The kids have adjusted back to being here really well.  I’ll let Eva tell you about that though in a little update she is writing. 🙂

We were really excited to find some Christmas decorations on a good sale.  The kids were so excited as this was the first time in years that we got to have our own Christmas tree.  I’m not sure if the younger three would have even been old enough to remember our last one! So it has been really sweet to decorate together.  Okay sweet, and a little intense if we’re going to be honest.  Growing up, my family had the tradition of popcorn garland on our Christmas tree.  (Look it up, it’s a thing. lol) So of course, my tree wouldn’t be complete without popcorn! But I may have yelped, “STOP pulling the needle out of my hand!” about one hundred times as we all worked together to move the popcorn down the string.  I tried to explain the correct method several times, but let’s be honest, preschoolers (or one really cute one in particular) complicate things like stringing popcorn.  Of course, now that it’s on the tree, I think it was cute to do it all together. haha

We have managed to learn in the past month how to replicate both French’s Fried Onions as well as Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom soup for our green bean casserole.  To make cranberry sauce out of a bag of Craisins and some brambleberry tea. As well as to make homemade eggnog!  

We have made Christmas cookies, but learning to bake at close to 10,000 feet above sea level, in ovens that don’t hold consistent temperature is apparently a little tricky. 😀 So we’re still working on that one.  And relying on things like gingersnaps that taste good flat and those green cookies in the shape of wreaths.  It’s hard to ruin a stovetop cookie!

Alright, I will close before this gets too long, but we would love to hear how you all are doing and how your Christmas prep has been. Isn’t it hard to believe that we’re only two weeks away already! Wow!