THANKSGIVING

Celebrating Thanksgiving at Rainbow Hills was more about teaching the kids about the holiday and being thankful. We made some turkeys out of lunch sacks and made pumpkin muffins together during the week. 

The Gibson’s hosted Thanksgiving in their home with friends from Danube International and the International Christian School. There were over 43 people that came to celebrate. The gathering started at 3 but I had to work and tutor so I arrived a bit late.  

Nancy and I, she is a leader of Bible study on Tuesday night.
Thankful for her GF cooking for me every week!

Thankful for the Karas family!

On Saturday morning, I went to the Ferencz home to start cooking for Thanksgiving lunch. I am tutoring their son twice weekly after work and they celebrated Thanksgiving when they were living in the UK a few years ago. I brought the recipes and stuffing (thank you Aunt Melba and Christa!!) and she had the ingredients for the green bean bundles, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, pie and the lovely turkey. 

Saturday evening I went to the Stanteen’s for kid patrol at their Thanksgiving with most of his coworkers that are expats with Exxon.  ...Time for more turkey and sweet potatoes at the kids table! 

Chelsea and I had a sleepover on Saturday night together, she is my absolute favorite little first grader in Budapest! We love all the same things: word searches, reading, coloring, experiments, painting and Jesus - I think we can be buds for life. 

Sunday morning I went to International Baptist Church Budapest, that is in walking distance from their home. After church, I got to take part in helping decorate for Christmas! Which included some hot chocolate, Christmas music, a little dancing and maybe a science experiment too. I am so thankful for each of the Stanteen's, they are a sweet blessing to me. (Thank you to the wonderful Michelle Lanza for getting us connected.)

Needless to say, I am so thankful for my community and families that have adopted me as their own. 

Thankful

Often I find myself at a loss for words when I think about how richly the Lord has blessed me. I don’t know how to measure the amount that I have learned, all the new things I have seen and experienced or the wonderful friendships I’ve made since I moved to Budapest. Not that everything is peaches and plums but God is constant, faithful and His love is never ending. 

A few things I am thankful for:

Danube International Church

Bible Study on Tuesday night

Game night

Cooking at the Gibson’s 

Families

Community

Daylight 

Sleepovers

Christian English Library

Face Time/Skype/Viber

...and Túró Rudi  

“My advice is: Go outside, to the fields, enjoy nature and the sunshine, go out and try to recapture happiness in yourself and in God. Think of all the beauty that’s still left in and around you and be happy!” -Anne Frank

“And my God will meet your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippines 4:19 [Theme verse from CentriKid Camp 2011]

Field Trip, Fall Break and Fun Vacation

Field Trip

The Friday before Fall Break, Rainbow Hills went on a field trip to a small farm and pony rides.  We all walked around to see the animals: bunnies, pigs, chickens, emu....

We all rotated between playing on the playground, eating a snack and riding the ponies. 

Fall Break

During the first half of the week, I had lunch with a friend, toured the American International School, helped out at the Christian library and was a substitute for second grade at the International Christian School (ICSB) on Wednesday. 

Fun Vacation: Salzburg

We left early Thursday morning and arrived around one. We went to the hotel to check-in, went to Old Town to eat and walk around. Megan (roommate for the trip and teacher at ICSB) had a self guided tour from Rick Steve's so we knew what exactly we were looking at. 

Salzburg is located in a valley with the Alps surrounding the small city. It is the birthplace of Mozart and location of the filming of the movie Sound of Music. 

Friday "Tourist Day"

Fortress

Sound of Music Tour

Shopping

We went into a store called Interio, which had quite an assortment of things for the home. They had the cutest cookie cutters! Many of the souvenir shops had beautiful ornaments. One store had hundreds and hundreds of hand painted egg shells that were beautiful. We also went in a few souvenir shops to look around. 

Saturday "Nature Day"

Hike in the Alps. Couldn't help but sing "climb every mountain..." 

Mirabell Gardens

Sunday

Train ride home.  

Salzburg was a beautiful and quaint town. Spending four days there was the perfect amount to see sights and not feel rushed, learn our way around the town and enjoy our mini vacation.