Snapshots of Christmas Break 2011



Christmas Eve service at Black Forest Fellowship Church
We are thankful that we had the Purpero family to worship with this year! 



 



Our friends, the McKell family, hosted a Christmas eve dinner where we combined our tradition of
fondue with another family's tradition of pizza.  Good thing no one was lactose intolerant! 



Christmas present joy!  The girls are so thankful for all that sent gifts from the USA!



Before Christmas, our family took a few days to play "tourists" in the Bavarian region of Germany.  Lauren and Kaylin are walking up to the Schloss (Castle) Neuschwanstein and loving all the snow. 



We are almost at the top!  This is the castle in Germany that the Disney Co. fashioned their castle after. 




The best surprise of our trip is that my lifelong friend, Becca and her family (now living in Barcelona, Spain) visited the castle on the same day.  We enjoyed the day together and counted the blessing of God working the details out that we could see each other! 




I think the girls enjoyed the amount of snow to play in (on the walk down from the castle) more than they
enjoyed the castle itself. 



The Bauernhof (farm) where we stayed when we traveled to the Bavarian region.  (A cheap, fun way for lodging.)  We were blessed to meet the Unsin family and experience a German milk farm. 



Freiburg, Germany Christmas Market





A new fun way to travel to Freiburg (the train)!




Celebrating 19 years of marriage on Monday, Jan. 9th!  We enjoyed an over night in
Badenweiler (famous for the Roman bath ruins) while our niece, Ellyn blessed us by watching the girls.



Badenweiler Castle

 Our first Christmas in Germany was a wonderful time of worshipping our Savior and enjoying family time together!  We are thankful for the long break from the fast paced life when school is in session.  The students from BFA arrive tomorrow.  We missed seeing the students but we are thankful for time to catch our breaths before 2nd semester.  My small group with the 9th grade girls will begin on Wednesday and I am excited for what the Lord can do in each of their lives!   Please pray for teachable hearts!    There are many things to be a part of here in different ministries.  Please pray I would have wisdom on deciding the best way to use my time. 
Rick and I are so blessed to celebrate 19 years of marriage on Monday.  I am so thankful to experience living overseas with my best friend!  He is my encourager, wise counsel and still makes me laugh!
We know 2012 will be wonderful as we trust in the Lord and pray our lives give glory to Him!