$1.99 February 8, 2010

What can you buy for $1.99?

In Marghita $1.99 exchanges to 6.99RON.

It was literally all I had on me this afternoon when I ran into 2 little kids begging.  It was a brother and sister.  The brother’s name is David an d I have forgotten the sister’s name for the moment.  They’re pretty young…probably about 6 and 7, the sister being the eldest.  They were wearing multiple layers of dirty clothes with dirty hair sticking out from their hats.

I love these kids.  Everytime I see them I think…I love these kids.

I was with another friend, who spoke Hungarian, who also talks to these kids a lot.  They asked her what time it was and when she told him they immediately looked extremely worried.  See, it was 3:30pm and the children hadn’t met the requirement yet for begging money that their Mom set for them earlier in the day.  Early that morning she sent them to Marghita, by themselves, with just a mental shopping list.

Beans

Bullion Cubes

Apparently she needed the children to beg for the money to buy these items and return home by a certain time (almost 4 miles away) so she could make soup with them for supper.

The day had been successful for them food-wise…someone had already given to them 2 bananas and a half bag of pretzels.  Pretty exciting!  But once they heard the time they were visibly stressed out as they discussed in hushed voices in Hungarian…3:30pm was too close to when they were supposed to be back home and they didn’t have enough money yet to get what they needed.

The kids were actually in a store (Kodak) when I saw them today.  They had already left while I waited for my photos.  The pictures cost 2 Lei which left me 7 Lei in my wallet.  I walked across the street from Kodak to the small grocery store.  The kids were there begging for money but they didn’t see me walk inside.  I told God, I only have 7 Lei – You have got to make this work.  I found the beans (canned yellow beans), found the bullion and then I grabbed a bag of Malai.  Malai is cornmeal and Romanians eat this a lot.  You basically make corn meal mush out of it and milk, then sprinkle salty cow’s cheese (Telemea) over it and sour cream.  But, poor people can make this with just  hot water and a little salt and it’s something warm and filling to eat.

I went up the register and the total came to 6.99 Lei.  Thank YOU Lord!  Heading outside the kids were nowhere to be seen.  Dang it, where are they?  Two seconds later they came tumbling out of the store next to where I stood with huge, and I mean HUGE, bags of garbage in their hands.  I think the store owner was paying them to take the trash to the dumpster.  That made me really happy to not only see someone else in Marghita helping them, but that the children were willing to work for it instead of just beg!  I showed them what I had bought and asked them if this was what their Mama wanted.  They seemed confused, I’m not sure why.  Perhaps I bought the wrong type of beans?  Regardless, I think their Mama should be happy anyway with what they are bringing home.  I told them that Jesus loved them and then left.

I’m praying that the $1.99 I spent today will appease their Mother tonight.  That it will have bought what those precious kids were ordered to bring home tonight.  And, that, maybe that Mom will have some extra patience on her children and treat them just as that for this night.  That they will go to sleep wrapped in Jesus’ arms with their tummies full of bean soup and mamaliga.

Ice Ice Baby January 31, 2010

So in our little dear old town of Marghita there has been progress in regards to snow care since I arrived  in 2004.  They will, almost consistently now, put down grit when it’s snowy or icy on the main 2 roads through town.  Side streets and side walks are forgotten but at least the main roads are less accident prone!  When it begins to snow you’ll see the women start emerging through their gates with huge brooms in their hands and sweep away the snow to clear their area of sidewalk.  You’ll rarely see shovels, just brooms mostly.  I’ve been trying to do this in front of our team’s house, as it is forgotten amongst busy schedules.  Twice this week I was able to take the broom to work on the snow on the sidewalk outside of the house.  Pretty good workout in addition making our little area of sidewalk a bit safer for those walking!  Because the sidewalks stay so covered in snow and ice you’ll see parents pulling their children on sleds as they head to school in the morning.  (Everyone walks to school.)  Brooms, sleds…it slows the pace down and I love the difference when compared to snow life in the States.

The problem is that when it rains on ice and packed down snow – it becomes absolutely dangerous.  Try walking your 5 year old to school on hills that are literally a wet ice skating rink.  I can’t even tell you the number of times that Caleb and I have both fallen in just trying to get him to school in the mornings.  This morning it was just that.  Raining on ice and snow.  A team mate called me just before 7 am, knowing we would leave in a little over an hour to head to church, saying that the roads and sidewalks were so slippery….she was sliding on her walk to work while watching cars slide their way down the street.  So, we had to miss out on going to Oradea for church again (Caleb was sick last week.)  We sure as heck didn’t miss out on church though – that’s for sure!  Dani, Anton, Caleb, Alex and I did church at the kitchen table and living room floor this morning and they loved it.  (So did I!)  It reminded me of just how important it is to keep the boys in different corporate worship settings.  I want them, as they grow, to feel just as at home meeting God in someone’s living room as they do in a huge building with a rock band.  So, can I say I’m kind of glad we couldn’t go today?  Alright, I’m just going to say it.  I’m kind of glad we couldn’t make it to the city today…

This week the kids have vacation from school…again… SERIOUSLY.  Romanians have vacations and holidays from school all year round.  I’m not sure how they get away with it!  So, it’s going to be a bit different this week.  I won’t be going to the orphanage at all but rather will be working some additional shifts at the boys’ house.  And, on Friday night, I’ll be working with a group of people on the worship portion for the teen night at our Club.  Very cool!

I posted a new recipe under the “Cooking for 30″, Lemon Chicken.  Check it out – try it out…it’s REALLY good (and okay calorie/health wise as well!)

Off to the bath…that’s right, I am taking a bath tonight.  I never take baths.  But see, I feel like I’ve earned the right to spend the money on the amount of hot water that it takes to fill up the tub.  I started an exercise bootcamp (online) on the 4th of January and it involved working out SEVEN DAYS A WEEK ALL MONTH.  I can’t believe I’m saying this but I actually, other than 1 day, did the entire month of workouts and fitness challenges.  And, I’m freakin’ tired now.  I’m going to go and take a bath now as a reward.  (Hey, no making fun of me!)

Alrighty, signing off now!

Some changes! January 25, 2010

Alrighty, a few changes to have you take note of in regards to this here blog!

1. I’ve added a new tab above…see that little piece of awesome-ness?  Hmmmm?  That’s right!  I’m putting up the recipes that I’ve tried with cooking for my team.  This will be updated weekly and I’ll alert you to when I have done so here on this main page.  Hope that it inspires your own cooking at home!  This week’s recipe is for dinner rolls.  Check it out by clicking on “Cooking for 30″ above.

2. I’ve made some changes to the finance tab above as well.  Even a few bucks can start chipping away at the adoption financial needs!  Thanks for considering this . . .

Last week we headed to group time with the kids at the orphanage and realized that we didn’t have the key to our room with us.  I’m thankful though for how it turned out actually.  Instead of doing group we headed into the dormitories and just spent time with the kids.  Lots and lots of hugs and laughs were shared.  Relationships that can’t form so easily in a group-time environment were deepened.  For this, I am thankful and for this, I am joyful.  Walking up through the floors through clouds of cigarette smoke, swearing, yelling and hitting can sometimes make you want to turn around and leave.  But the image of God’s presence entering in through all of that with us makes me want to charge in and go to battle.  So, that’s just what we did!  I think out of all the children the young boys are the ones that my heart has most been connected to.  They and two very special needs 20-something girls.  Talking about 7 kids total.  Even when they throw hard packed snowballs straight in my face as I leave (literally) I still love them.  And, I have to say this especially about the snowball incident.  It hurt, I’m not going to lie.  The boy who did it ran away from me because he was scared that I was going to (______________) (public blog) because he had done it.  I patiently and quietly called him to come to me so we could talk.  He finally let me approach him stating over and over again what he thought I was going to do to him if he let me get close enough.  I started laughing and said “_______! I would never ___________, ever!”  I said, “I have to be honest.  It really hurt me.  And, I’m so bummed because I wanted to have a snowball fight with you but now I’m not feeling up to it.  It doesn’t make me mad that you threw a snowball at me.  It just makes me sad because you threw it in my face.  Would you enjoy someone doing that to you?  (He answered “No.”)  Right, so I didn’t enjoy it.  That means that I don’t feel like having a snowball fight now with you.  But maybe next week, okay?

He asked me for forgiveness and after a hug he ran away with a smile on his face.

It’s the little victories…  Thank you, all of you, you have made it possible for me to be here for moments like this one.

Caleb’s Song January 18, 2010

A couple times per week Caleb will make up his own songs. It usually happens when he’s off in his room in the world o’ hotwheels playing by himself. I’ll be doing whatever around the house and then I’ll hear, for example last Friday’s song, this :

You know all my plans
And all Yours
You are God
No one like You
Jesus is my Savior
He loves the entire world
Jesus is my Savior
And I love You, Jesus
I know You are my Savior
You have good plans
I know You are next to me
You are next to anyone
He loves me for a day
and even more
Because He’s mine
My Savior
Jesus my Savior

Whew. Just even typing out the words now from the envelope that I furiously scribbled down the words on as I heard him sing them…it moves my heart. Hello, did a FIVE YEAR OLD just make up this song? God, what are the plans that you have for this little one? Whew.
I’ve never been able to get to a scrap of paper fast enough before to write down the words of one of his songs. I think I tell myself that I’ll “always remember it.” Not true. I told myself that countless times when he was a baby about different milestones he reached. And now, although I remember them happening I can’t for the life of me remember exactly WHEN. Yeesh, Kels. Should’ve written them down when they happened!
I’m so thankful I was able to catch this song.

Even in a 5 year old the Spirit cries from within him to His Jesus in Heaven. I pray and pray that Caleb will continue to grow in His love for Jesus as He grows. That he will, as an adult, choose God’s plans for his life than his own. I pray this – everyday for him. But, I do know that it will be Caleb’s choice to do just that, choose. So, for now, I pray and treasure these worship times that he has with his God! Although, I think God by far treasures them even more

Haiti January 14, 2010

Global Refuge International was started, and is currently run-led by, very close friends of mine. I can personally attest for the fact that when you give a financial donation you are giving 100% to the relief work that they coordinate. Just outside of the capitol city of Haiti are 42 pastors and their rural churches. Global Refuge is hoping to begin medicine, food and water distribution through these pastors.
I know there are many organizations that are requesting you to help Haiti by giving through them. All I can say is that if you give $10 (or more) to GRI that it is almost the same as you heading down to Haiti yourself to personally hand out the water and food. I also appreciate that they are trying to work within the Christian community in the area to help meet the overwhelming needs and destruction. Pray that these pastors would be encouraged and strengthened as their leadership and faith are, as I can only imagine, being exceedingly tested. Pray that GRI can form good relationships with them and that God would multiply their relief efforts in a miraculous way…as the provide Hope in Christ along with the food, medicine and water.
CLICK HERE TO GIVE TO GLOBAL REFUGE’S HAITI RELIEF
(Choose “Haiti Relief” in the Donation Category Drop-Down Box)

Torn in two January 3, 2010

For some days I have been running around some ideas for a new post on here…snapping some pictures here and there. It was going to be a bit about New Years and what amazing meal my neighbor, Magda, made for Caleb and I. Also had wanted to update on the great time I had at Popesti seeing and visiting with all of the orphan children there last Friday.

But then, yesterday happened. Because this is a public blog I can’t really go into detail about what happened. I can tell you that it happened at Popesti and it was horrible. These children are so abused, so destroyed that it is truly animalistic at times how they act with each other. I wasn’t there; it was my day to cook and clean for the team. Those who had just been visiting returned for lunch and walked in the door with tears and a look that can’t really be described in their eyes.

I couldn’t process what happened then. Too much was going on. Once Caleb and Alex were in bed I let it hit my heart. For hours I brought it back and forth to God. What is the point? WHAT IS THE POINT? I wasn’t using these words with Him and they seem to not capture my questioning or anger over what happened enough. But, I have some young readers of this blog so that is the only reason why I refrain from really expressing myself right now.

The children at Popesti, majority of them, are so destroyed. Their abandonment and childhood in growing up in a state institution has literally created destruction. Destruction of their minds, destruction of their emotions, destruction of their social skills, destruction of their language, destruction of their personality and destruction of their behavior. This destruction is the basis for their daily life. So what happened yesterday, I’m sure, happens on quite a regular basis. It’s just unusual that “we” were there when it happened. Knowing it happens and being there when it happens are two very different things.

It tore me in two. What is the point, Lord? What is THE POINT? I, we, cannot bring any change there by ourselves. Each one of these children is in need of an entire slew of therapists and life long counselling in order to have any sort of success in their life. So why even try God – what ARE we doing in Popesti? This stuff happens all the time. I know it. So what is the point – if it’s going to happen anyway what’s the point?
And, why? Why was I chosen to grow up where I did with the parents and family I had? Why was I allowed to have the education that I did? Why was I allowed to have an incredible set of friends, many who remain even today? Why am I allowed to go to sleep in safety each night in a warm apartment? Why am I allowed to wake up and put on clothes that don’t smell of body odor and bad hygiene? Why have I been chosen to succeed when they, by no choice of their own, have been set on a plan for failure?
Why?
Why am I allowed to have a relationship with Jesus like I do – have a Christian body like I do – have an amazing network of prayer, support, counselling and accountability like I do?
Why is there some who do and some who don’t?
I could have been one of those kids at Popesti. You could have been as well…

Does that hit you? That is by no act of your own, or your parents, or their parents, that you were born where you were?

I hate sin. I hate that sin took these children on a horribly mis-led path for their lives. I do not believe that Jesus CHOSE this life for them. He lovingly created them and they were born into a sinful world with free-will. That free-will, for these children at least, forced them into the destruction that they call their lives now.

So, what is the point? It’s something I’m still struggling with today even… Last night I spent time sitting in Ecclesiastes. There’s just so much sin in this world. Letting the words of the first few chapters of this scripture sink into my heart brought such sorrow and depression. So much sin. And oh MY SIN. I am so guilty of so much that is written there. The sin at Popesti. The sin in this world. SIN.

I went to sleep – my heart was just hurting and aching for the evil of sin and the hopelessness that it brings.

This morning I was led to Romans 5 in a daily devotional I’ve been using.
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

I literally took each phrase and ‘told’ God to prove to me how this made sense in light of ministry at Popesti.

It wasn’t that He necessarily answered but after repeating each phrase over and over again I had peace…and then came His answer.

AND HOPE DOES NOT PUT US TO SHAME BECAUSE GOD’S LOVE HAS BEEN POURED INTO OUR HEARTS!

Hope.
Hope.
Hope.

Does not put us to shame. Does NOT put us TO SHAME.

Because.

God’s love.

GOD’S LOVE IS POURED.

POURED!

Into our hearts.

So, I don’t know much but I do know this.

God HAS poured His love into me and created a HOPE THAT DOES NOT DISAPPOINT.
God HAS called me to let this overflow to the kids at Popesti orphanage.
He has called me to do this without knowing how, when or if ever it will create change in them.

How’s that for a mission’s update?
It kind of makes me excited, actually…brings Him front and center even more…

On a totally random note. (Really REALLY switching gears here.)
Caleb was rhyming words to “Barbara Ann” today (we were singing the song together). Since I was making pancakes at the moment he started saying “Mommy needs a pan, Mommy needs a man. Mommy needs a pan, Mommy needs a man.”
I looked straight at him and said – you most definitely are right! Ha! He still doesn’t realize what he said but it made me laugh so hard. And, I kind of needed that after the load that’s been on my heart over the crap at Popesti. Hope the rhyme brought a smile to your face as well!

What can I say? December 28, 2009

I cried.

I’m so proud of both Rachele and Elizabeth…two old friends from I.U.  Okay, wait, they’re not old.  You know what I’m trying to say.  It seems like such a long time ago but it’s really only been 5 or 6 years.  Ah well, maybe the changes that have happened since then have been so drastic themselves that it makes my Bloomington days and friendships seem so long ago.

I just have to share these 2 videos that are brand new. Click anywhere on the text and you’ll be whisked away to the appropriate video!

Deal with the opera, people.  Okay?  Because you know what Rachele is pretty much freakin’ awesomeness itself.  People are saying she may have ever sung the highest note ever in the HISTORY OF THE METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE.  Do you get that?  DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?  So even if you hate it, listen to it because if you really understand what was happening you would be blown away!

And, Elizabeth’s…I think you all are going to love this so I’m not going to threaten you if you don’t watch it because I know you will . Her crazy piano skills and beautiful voice.  It’s just SO COOL to see where her life is heading!

Craciun Fericit! December 25, 2009

Merry Christmas!

The freezing temperatures and nicely piled up snow went “la revedere” as the temperature changed to dramatically warm and the rain started pouring down.  Been about three days like this now.  Low 60’s for Christmas Day?  That is not a problem for me!  (Although I do have two little boys who would have loved to have gone sledding today… instead we took a walk around town for a couple of hours, seeing who could jump the best over each puddle!)

Christmas Eve I headed over to our team’s house with Caleb and Alex.  I stuck the brined turkey in the oven, helped peel some potatoes, finished the Butternut Squash Bisque and pulled the tables together/decorated.  At 1:30pm the 13 of us who remained here in Marghita for Christmas sat down to eat together.  We also had Swedish Christmas Ham and Swedish Meatballs (both an absolute MUST for a Swedish person at Christmas), Swedish Bread, Blueberry Butter, Swedish Cheese, Mashed Potatoes and Roasted Veggies.  It was a really lovely time all of us eating together and our super energetic boys handled the sit-down part pretty well!!  And, on a side note, on a possibly quite prideful side note…I pretty much rock at making turkey.  Sorry, sorry…just had to tell you all that.

Once dinner and dessert were over I headed home with Caleb and Alex for…drumroll please…gift opening time!  I put all of the presents under the tree starting this past Sunday evening.  So, they both knew which ones were theirs in advance and we didn’t have any sleepless nights and/or waking up at 4am in excited anticipation for what would be left under the tree.  Worked out pretty well I think!  We logged onto Skype with family and they watched and interacted with Caleb and Alex as they opened their gifts.  It was really special that my sisters and their husbands were there so they could watch Caleb’s reactions as he saw what they had sent him.  Neither he, nor they, were disappointed…so fun.

This morning a shoebox full of goodies and stockings were put under the tree for Alex and Caleb.  I did eventually put my stocking under the tree as well because my parents did send me one small item with instructions for Caleb to put it in my stocking.  He snuck it into my stocking on Tuesday so I thought it gave my stocking enough credit to be placed under the tree as well…ha ha ha.  My stocking needs some support anyhow…it was so used to being with so many more when I was growing up!  On a side note, doesn’t my stocking and Caleb’s rock?  My Dad’s Mom made them for all of us when we were growing up.  Now, my sister Arwen and my Dad make them for each added family member.  Each husband/wife has gotten one, as well as baby Dax!  I’m so thankful they have the patience to continue this extremely tedious, beautiful Winters family tradition…because while I want the tradition to keep going there is no way on this side of the Atlantic Ocean that I could ever make one myself!

I put a twist on the “Egg in a Hole” recipe from one of my most favorite gifts this year….Pioneer Woman cookbook (thanks Mom and Dad)….for breakfast.  Instead of using plain bread I made up French Toast, with pumpkin pie spice in it and used that bread for “Egg in a Hole.”  Caleb and Alex loved it!  We had some friends over for a very yummy lunch, had a birthday party for Jesus and then took a very long walk around town.  Heck, you would’ve too if it was warm enough for you to walk outside without a coat on today!  I just don’t enjoy cold…I do most definitely enjoy temperatures in the 60’s on Christmas Day!!  HECK YEAH!

Alrighty, well here are some pictures from last night and today.  I hope that your Christmas Celebrations was as peaceful and joyful as ours was.  MERRY CHRISTMAS!

(Note, there are quite a few more pictures of Alex…that’s because my very good friends, who love Alex so very much, weren’t able to see him open his gifts on Skype and so I’ve put some extras in for them to see!)  Click below to see all of them.  Note, my top two are Caleb and Alex hugging (can’t believe I caught that on camera!) over their Spiderman memory game they received as a joint gift…and Caleb using his “Silly Straw” glasses with his milk at supper tonight.  (Found those at the Cracker Barrel in October and immediately bought them knowing my very silly son would love those as a stocking stuffer!)

The War with Mold December 17, 2009

I want to begin this post by saying 2 things.

1. You chose to read this post in an effort to somehow grasp a more clearer picture of what daily life in Marghita looks like.  What I am posting about is literally a part of my daily life here.  Although it doesn’t involve orphans …

2. I am SO GRATEFUL for the amazing, miracle of an apartment that God suddenly brought into me and Caleb’s life almost 2 years ago.  It’s a gift, it honestly is.  This post is not to be interpreted as me complaining in anyway, shape or form about this apartment.  Because, if I ever did that, almost every single member of my team here would probably beat me up tomorrow.  And, that would probably hurt and I’d rather just avoid that if at all possible

On to the post.

Mold.

In Romanian : Mucegai

The roof of my apartment building is in bad need of replacing.  My pleas to my neighbors to begin this process has not gone unnoticed but they want to hold off until Spring of 2011 to do it.  Yeesh.  2011?  One side of the apartment is particularly bad with the mold.  The wetness from a bad roof has seeped into the concrete walls and in 3 rooms (all on the same side of the apt.) you can see a 6 inch wet strip the entire length of each wall of each room.  And, there begins the mold.  It’s disgusting.  This year the problem is much worse than last.  My Dad, thankfully, last December told me how to spray bleach and it’s gone within a few minutes.  Woohoo!  Problem solved…that is, until 3 days later when it starts appearing in little spots that connect with each other and…

This is just one small section from my bedroom ceiling.  And, this photo does not do the mold justice.  Sorry, mold, you actually are much more disgusting looking in person!  The mold in my room covers the length of this wall and then at the corner travels all the way down to the floor.  Which, I just realized a few days ago when the shadows of my lamp hit the dark green wall in such a way that I finally understood why I went to sleep every night smelling an awful mildew smell.  I know, it’s gross.

So, in light of the mold I have become quite close friends with an empty spray bottle that I continually refill with bleach…Ah, the daily life in Marghita.  I bleached all of the mold growing down the wall behind the Christmas tree first this week so that the mold wouldn’t be bigger than the tree in the family Christmas photo backdrop that, hopefully, I’ll be able to get of Caleb and I soon : )

60 Degree December… December 10, 2009

Well, until last night that is!

Sorry for the lack of posting.  Here’s the quick run down of life since Thanksgiving.

1. We’ve had to stop doing groups at Popesti Orphanage until the 1st week of January.  During the holiday and summer breaks all of the teenagers from the State Orphanages in Oradea (those who grew up in Popesti Orphanage) come back “home”.  When all of them are there the groups become extremely difficult to do – something the team that has worked with these kids over the years has found out.  Instead of groups we will be going and doing hang out times instead.  Since I work with the youngest children there and hanging out in their room to talk for a few hours isn’t usually up their boat, unlike the teens, I am spending lots and lots of  time in the Donation Warehouse.  We fondly call it “The Depot.”  Monday morning I helped unload 2 semi-trucks full of Christmas donations.  Yesterday and today were all morning, afternoon and some evening as well – all in the depot.  My arm muscles are killing me!  I’m not used to carrying around heavy boxes : )

2. Last week I was able to drive a van PACKED full of tortilla chips, clothes and canned rice pudding from our Depot to my friend in Oradea.  She has an amazing ministry in a gypsy village and said she could use our oversupply of the chips and rice pudding.  I think we gave her, literally, 1000 bags of chips.  (We received about 4000 bags total.)  A block from her house the tire blew out on the huge white van I was driving.  Thankfully Rachel’s team member was able to change that tire.  It took him over 2 hours – it was that difficult.  It was a long night (Caleb was with us, and my friend had also brought her son, and another one of my team mates came as well) and we didn’t get back to Marghita until 11pm.  Uggghhh.  Still though, it was kind of fun standing in the middle of the city of Oradea (where my friend lives) directing traffic away from the van so that the tire could be changed without squashing the guy fixing it!

3. Mos Miklos came on Sunday, the 6th of December.  Alex and Caleb carefully chose the shoes they wanted him to fill and set them out by the door.  Caleb knows that Mos Miklos is Mommy but Alex doesn’t so it was fun on both sides of the story this year!

4. Caleb, Alex and I put up our little tree.  Well, Alex was there for part of it.  He’ll also be decorating a tree at the boys’ house, where he stays during the week.  Caleb has a few ornaments with his name on it and he loved hanging them up.  Thankfully, he has finally stopped pulling the sled off the tree every morning, noon and night to play with it.  Every time he grabbed it off the tree I thought the tree would topple over.  I finally gave him an ulitmatum saying that the Caleb ornaments would disappear if he could stop taking them off : )  Now that we have added, since the picture below, a load of Romanian candy to the tree (traditional Romanian tree decoration) it’s hard to see where all of the ornaments are and there have been no toppling over almosts since.

5. I’m really trying to focus on advent with Caleb this year.  Last week – no problem.  Each morning at breakfast we lit the promise/prophet candle, read a section of scripture that was a prophesy about Jesus, talked about it, learned Isaiah 6:9 and then Mommy made a promise to Caleb each day…something to do for Christmas each day.  It was awesome, really.  This week – oh my WORD – I am the lamest advent mother ever.  We haven’t lit the advent candles at all – and it’s Thursday night.  I’ve been rushing us out of the house about an hour earlier than normal each morning because the Depot was calling my name.  Tomorrow, though, we ARE going to start candle number two.  Maybe 5 days too late but I’m not going to give up.  By the way, Caleb saying Isaiah 6:9 is probably one of the rock my face off moments of my life…

6. Christmas cookie craziness has started at our apt.  On Sunday night Caleb and I did sugar cookie trees and then I shoved them in the freezer.  This Saturday I’m going to make 2 or 3 more kinds of cookies so that on Sunday I can hand out to our friends at church.  Then, Monday night our team is celebrating Christmas and we are to each bring some Christmas goodies of some sort.  So, I’ll take the remaining cookies over there.  We got a load of canned raspberries donated, that’s way out of the ordinary, and when I say a LOT  I mean we got A LOT.  So I was allowed to take a few jars so that I can make this raspberry filled biscotti recipe I found.  I’ll add a chocolate something or other to that, “maybe” a bar recipe and then the tree sugar cookies.  It’ll be a good line – up, I think!

7. I have to cook for our team tomorrow – for 2 days!  That means this post needs to end and I need to get to bed : )

Spaghetti and Baked Potato Soup.  Not together.  One meal to be eaten tomorrow and one for Sunday!