"Christi Himmelfahrt" (Christ's Ascension Day) and other wonderful happenings....

Black Forest Academy and our family's latest...

Less than three weeks of school and our 1st "school" year at BFA will be finished.  Since the last time I was able to "post" something, many fun activities and interesting happenings have occurred. 

Some highlights are...

Our nephew Anthony and niece Chloe were baptized! 



Anthony sharing about his "faith" journey before Vince (his dad) baptized him!



Chloe after Vince baptized her! 

Chloe and Karen (Rick's sister) at the baptism celebration lunch!



Lauren and her classmates performed a "Fruit of the Spirit" skit
(written by her teacher).
Lauren was "gentleness" and dressed as a coconut (far left).



9th Grade girls last week making s'mores.  Some needed instruction on
"What is a s'more and how to make one!"



Lauren's 4th grade class hosted a "Mother's Day Celebration". 
Lauren wrote a book of poems for me. 
I love "homemade" gifts from my kids! 




The elementary school hosted an "Open House" for the German town where
they have their school.  Lauren was in the "choir". 



Our dear friends, the Bowers (dorm parents) and our family
enjoying a Sunday afternoon picnic.  The kids enjoyed playing in the
forest after lunch! 



Small group overnight!  We enjoyed a wonderful evening together
at the home of one of the girls in my group. Dutch pancakes, marshmallows, games,
a movie, snacks and they actually all were in bed by 11:30 p.m.
Now that was easy!   



These wonderful young women (seen here) "surprised" me with a birthday celebration
complete with games, gifts and decorations! 

Kaylin is enjoying this week at school.  It is called, "Experiential Learning Week".  They will tour the "Roman" ruins tomorrow in Basel, Switzerland as a field trip.  They have been studying the Greeks and Romans this year in History.  I love that they can be this close to "history".  On Friday, her class will take a field trip to Mulhouse, France and tour an Electricity Museum. 

We have been helping the Purperos (Rick's family) move out of their home (today was their last day of occupancy).  It is bittersweet.  We know the Lord will continue to use them greatly in the mission of reaching and discipling teenagers and in the "music" world however, it will be sad to see them move to the U.S. this summer.  They are staying temporarily in an apartment in Kandern so it will be nice to have them close by before they move in June.  Side note: I learned the word for cleaning lady today when I was helping them clean out their house.  It's a great German word:  "Putzfrau".

Eleven more days of school, three more weeks until we fly to the U.S. and move out of our apartment!  As you may know, we will rent a small house here in town for next school year.  All of the details of packing and planning are worth it knowing we will see our family and U.S. friends soon!   We can't wait! 

And by the way 'Christi Himmelfahrt' is a German holiday celebrating Jesus' ascension into heaven.    Do you think our family is really immature that we giggled when we heard the word? (YES!)  This Thursday, we will have a day off of school to celebrate it.  Which means you have to remember by Wednesday evening to go to the grocery because everything is closed on Thursday!  It's another day when many families will take hikes in the forest. 
On a more serious note... I am so thankful that Jesus is in heaven, interceding on our behalf!  I look forward to seeing Him 'face to face' one day and thanking Him for eternity for dying for me! 

And we also look forward to seeing many of you 'face to face' in June/July when we are in Ohio! 

Hugs and Joy, Melissa (Rick, Kaylin and Lauren)