Sorry Everyone!

    Sorry it has been so long since the last post! We have been unbelievably busy over the past month (which has made me laugh at what I used to consider "busy", and makes me wonder what I did with all my time!!) Now that we are nearing Thanksgiving break, and all our major projects are done for now, we can take this time to update everyone on what's been going on.

First, here are some pictures of our nursing home ministry:

This is us in front of the nursing home.

The kids practising for a nursing home special. (the girl in the plaid skirt is a friend of mine. She leads the kids with their songs)

Outside the nursing home on the morning of our first snow.

Which leads me to the next event, our first snow:

It started after dinner that night.



By the next morning, this was the view from our balcony.

The snow was gone by the end of the day, and we even had a few 70 degree days since then. I think now it is just going to stay cold, though.

Next, here are some pictures from the make-a-wish foundation fundraiser we had at the daycare:

We all had to dress up, so I used what I found in my closet to dress like a hillbilly.

This is me, along with two of my co-workers/college-mates, Christina and Tiana.

We got Hannah to join us for this picture.

 Last, but CERTAINLY not least, here are some pictures from Empowered Youth Week ( a special week-long meeting where hundreds of teens come and hear preaching and play games and go on activities.):

This was the first night of the meeting. It opened with a play put on by the staff members, with the college choir providing the music. This is Miranda with her friends Catherine and Hannah.

The scenery being set up for the play.

Miranda waiting for the play to start.

During the week, they had two game times each day. The staff members all dressed up along with the Roman theme this year, except Luigi, the Italian pizza maker.

The game times were always loud and crazy, with balloons going off and constantly flying throughout the auditorium, cheering as the teams competed, and candy and prizes being (literally) thrown everywhere. This is a picture of Mr. Edwards in his Roman "dress" as he called it.

There were two services each day. This is a picture of the teen choir getting ready to sing in the evening service.

On Thursday, everyone went to a science museum in Chicago

This is a picture of a complete miniature city they had there.

Miranda said this was supposed to demonstrate an avalanche.

Another pic. from the museum.



Another pic. of gametime. You can see Mr. Edwards, Luigi (Mr. Tom Almanza), and Mr. Armacost in this picture.



One of the many hilarious and crazy stunts they did during gametime. Each gametime was always "interrupted" with some silly thing.



After the last day of Empowered Youth, we had cake and ice cream for Miranda's 13th birthday. She said she had the best birthday ever because she got to go to Empowered Youth.

Phew! Hopefully everyone is still alive after all those pictures! After E. Y. was over, we went back to the daily schedule of school and work. Emp. Youth was fun, and worth the effort because it sounds like God really moved in some lives that week, but it was also very tiring! We are so thankful that Thanksgiving is almost here!! I'll leave you with one final thought, and that is: what Dad and I both hope to get to do a little of during our break-

  We havn't posted anything in a couple of weeks. We have had quite a few projects due and midterms are upon us, so while we had the chance, we thought we would show you Charlie's new favorite thing to do.

He loves to stick his head out of the balcony and look at the people or animals passing by. Sometimes he will stay in one spot for 5 or 10 minutes.

It's Fall!!

         The weather here has been getting cooler, and last Saturday after nursing home service was over, some of the people from our nursing home ministry took us to County Line Orchard, sort of like the Cider Mill back in New York. They sell apples and other fall produce, make their own delicious doughnuts and apple cider, and have lots of things for the kids to do. It was a nice break, which was something we haven't had since school started.

The entrance. Somehow we missed taking a picture of the actual barns that we went to.

Miranda, Shelby, and Catherine. The other 2 girls help at the nursing home.

Hannah (one of the college girls) and I.

From this picture, you can't really see how big the inside of the barn really was.

Some of the desserts they had there.

This is everyone outside the main barn. The lady with the black shirt and her husband standing next her are Mr. and Mrs. DePriest, who head up the nursing home ministry we are in.

Our First Video!!

Mom took this video of our apartment once we had finally unpacked everything. Now you all can have a good idea of where we are living.

Old-Fashioned Sunday

Last Sunday was our old-fashioned Sunday at church. It was also the church's 40th anniversary. There were about three thousand people that came, and many were saved. There was a lunch served on the grounds, games for the kids, horse and buggy rides, boating on the lake, horse rides, and a huge baking contest. We were all able to get or make something to dress up, which all of us enjoyed (except Dad). It was supposed to rain, but the Lord blessed with perfect weather for the day. Here are some pictures: 

You can see how happy Dad was about having to dress up!



This is us getting ready.

In this picture, everyone was trying to be serious, like in the old days.

on the way to church.

Miranda (her bonnet was made by Mrs. Vigil, and her dress was from the Salvation Army thrift store)

Beka already had this dress. We just added the sash and made the bonnet.

Jake is wearing Grandpop's hat.

Here I am in the "pride and prejudice" dress that I made (in one looooong afternoon!!)



Here is the back. The jeweled pin tying the sash was my great-grandma's.



Dad was a helper with parking the cars as people arrived in the morning. Jacob was there, "helping" him.



Miranda, Rebekah, and their friend Ana in the auditorium.



On the way to the tent. It was (appearantly) much smaller this year.

The church got some old cars and buggies to display.

Some of the ladies outside the tent.

One of the horse and buggy rides.

They even had an old plane to show! Rebekah is running toward it.

They had a "who can be the first to catch the greased pig" contest for the kids.

The inside of the tent while the baking contest was going on.

Miranda and her friends Allison and Jessica . Miranda wants everyone to know that it is not her belly that is sticking out, it is the dress.

Mom and Dad. Jake took the picture.

Jacob, after having enjoyed the results of the baking contest.

This is me with two of my good friends, Katie and Rachel. They came to the conclusion that Katie was the tutor, I was the rich man's daughter, and Rachel was the housekeeper.