December 2023

Playing some games at a ladies outreach Christmas event. I met a college student named YuQi who happens to live very close to me!

Ladies posing in front of the Christmas tree.

Regan got some new plants for her dorm room for Christmas.

I was sick for most of December. Thankfully, I felt well on our anniversary (just super tired from being sick) Two days later, I was down for the count again. Burger King lunch was nice :)

Our tradition...year 22 by a Christmas tree...and finsihing up Christmas shopping together.

Ended the evening with dinner and an apple pie with vanilla ice cream. YUM

Katherine was in her first tennis tournament. She placed second. Great job, Katherine! This is her friend Emma from tennis class.

These little ones have my heart...these are my little Sunday school kids. They are so much fun. Here they are practicing their song for Christmas.

Learning about Jesus being the Good Shepherd...

They were all little sheep and were showing me what a sheep sounds like (and following the shepherd)

Afterwards they got a VERY special snack! It was actually meant to go home with them for the whole family, but our snack person forgot to bring snacks, so these guys went home on sugar overload...haha!

Homemade Sheddan cookies in each bag

These are a few of teh kids from our afternoon Sunday school class.

We had a Christmas party and played some games as well.

They had a good time.

There was a gift exchange AND each kid received their very own Bibles from me and Rachel. Davide was super excited that he got an Action Bible!

And Yuan Yuan was a fan of her Storybook Bible :)

THe kids that couldn't make it still got Bibles, just a little later.

Walking back to the metro after class.

Katherine enjoying some tennis and pretty skies

Jonathan helped a friend of ours put together an IKEA cabinet for her kitchen. As a thank you, she fed us lunch!

Hudson performed at the school Christmas program. They asked him to be the piano player for a couple of the songs.

Studying (and Scout breaking the rules)

Pick me! They say

Katherine got a snow globe for Christmas. It's so cute!

Lauren got a Precious Moments 

Benjamin got some headphones from Hudson

Hudson got the hoodie he was wanting!

Look at these cuties! Going back to Sunday school after singing their song in church.

Christmas Time

Christmas morning

New shoes!

Airpods

a puzzle

3D Empire State Building

Tennis racket and "dance pants" from Nike

New backpack

Chess Set

Exchanging sizes at the mall after Christmas

Happy 43rd birthday:)

Brownies for his birthday because...

We are going on a trip! Scout wanted to go but had to stay ;)

November 2023 Summary

Thanksgiving Celebration with Centro Agape

Regan and her roommates with some great fall leaves!

Building up some future leaders

The tree goes up at the day after Thanksgiving

We kept hearing seagulls killing some pigeons. It sounded terrible! Turns out that Rome hired a bunch of guys to walk around in hazmat suits blaring a recording of just that, to scare away the birds.

Pretty Girl

Regan and Kai went to a Christmas tree farm

Regan had a great time with Emily and Mamaw

And she went on a hike in the Smokies with her friends

Technically, October 31, but it is in my November folder. Halloween fun at the house

He is my favorite :)

Went to a ladies retreat and hiked a crazy mountain steep mountain, but the view at the top was worth it!

Benjamin playing around with his paints. Nice job, Benjamin!

The girls started teaching Grace some English. She is so gifted in language learning!

Hudson joined his brother in some painting fun.

It's been a lot of prep for the Franklin Graham Noi Festival, but what a good time!

So many people heard the good news! 2 nights, 20,000 people

We went both nights, different people both nights

Night one was Kari Jobe, and night 2 was Michael W. Smith

This. Every. Single. Night. The driving theory test is full of trick questions and most Italians have to take it multiple times before passing. It was definitely a God thing that I passed on the first try. I can't tell you how relieved I am!

The cutest puffer fish at the pet store! 

Almost as cute as these two babies

Silas, Katherine, Lauren, and Ruthie.

Working on her art homework in the car while we wait for tennis to start.

Making apple squares with her dad

Katherine's finished project

Happy Thanksgiving!!

getting started

First ornament on the tree

It's Katherine's turn to put the star on top

selfies with Mom...Katherine (16)

Benjamin (18)

Hudson (14)

Scout

Lauren (14)

My Sweetie

Thanksgiving with friends

Quite the spread!!!

Friends

Katherine, Sara, and Lauren

I love that the chocolate festival sets up by our house each year! it's so tempting though!! Hudson spent some of his money to buy a macaroon 

And Lauren bought 2 pieces of chocolate...one for her and one for me :)

Benjamin giving Shadow some love

Dorcas, one of my SS kids

celebrating the opening of the children's section of our church! Now we can have 3 kids classes!!!

Lois, little sister of Dorcas ;)

Eating pizza with some friends

making Christmas cookies

Hudson was a bit cold ;)

Another Thanksgiving gathering

SO MUCH FOOD!

These 3 cuties :)

These are teh Bible we purchased to give to the kids who come to our afternoon Sunday school.

Katherine playing tennis.