Christmas is here! Well, almost.

Christmas is almost here, and there won't be much under the tree for Glenn and me. (Don't feel sorry for us! Everyone gave us our presents when we were in the States a few weeks ago and we either "already spent it" while in the States on something we wanted or we already opened it and are using it!)



However, one gift I may still be getting is a new washing machine! Just before we left for the U.S., ours stopped working. So, upon our return to Budapest, I headed up to the Eden House to wash all our clothes and decided I wanted a washing machine like the one up there! Not only is the barrel HUGE compared to the one that came with our house (I'm not complaining about the free one in my house, mind you!), but also it washes a load in less than half the time! My old washer holds about 3 pairs of pants at a time and takes 1 hour and 15 minutes, whereas the ones at the Eden House hold about 7 pairs of pants and takes only 30 minutes!!


Fuzzy Logic???

As I was washing, I noticed the name of the machine is Fuzzy Logic. Somebody needs to tell them in their own language what that means!! Glenn and I decorated our house and tree this week, but before we could begin, we wanted to pick up a few things. I am SO THANKFUL for the Christmas tree we bought from Kristie and Mark before they left!


A color for everyone!



And while at Tesco (British version of Walmart), we did a little grocery shopping but jumped right over these pizzas! The pizza on the left has corn and kidney beans on it (among other veggies). On the back right, 8 slices of raw bacon with a tomato in the middle. The front one has 4 pieces of sliced luncheon meat (similar to balogna) with a tomato. And this is why we make our own a lot of time!!!

After our trip to Tesco, we were ready to decorate!!!


Putting on the candy canes

We brought out with us all of our ornaments from when the kids were growing up, but not a lot of other decorations, which I sorely regret! The tree we got from Mark and Kristie came with a lot of Christmas balls so between their balls and our ornaments, we filled the tree. While in the States I bought a couple of dozen candy canes to hang on our tree, and I'm really glad I did since we can't buy them here. Not yet, at least. I did see them in Ukraine, Estonia and Czech Republic so they will probably make it here soon. I "babied" those candy canes by hand carrying them on the plane because I didn't want them to break. Every one made it intact!


...and getting myself out of the way!


Glenn decorates the spiral staircase


Very beautiful!


Peace on earth to everyone!

The ceramic Christmas tree on the right was made by my mom for us. The snow globe card beside it was a recent gift from Pam and Adam, and the PEACE letters were a gift from Donna before we moved (one of the few decorations we brought).


We love our fireplace-

Even though our fireplace here is small, we really enjoy it! Glenn likes to keep a fire going and I like him to keep a fire going.


At the end of a busy day, Glenn strums me a tune


I love to fall asleep to the sound of music (but I had to get up to take the picture)


Glenn bought us more firewood in anticipation of SNOW!



Something very special happened this weekend! Friday night a couple from our church came for dinner. Gabor and Zsuzsi are the first couple we met upon our arrival in Hungary almost 2 years ago. We had invited them to dinner when we first arrived but they were not able to come, and then they invited us to their house for a BBQ our first summer here, 2007, but this was their first time to our house in 2 years! With such a busy schedule and no hopes of slowing down, we had to set the date 7 weeks ago! Gabor often translates the message on Sundays for us and he does a GREAT job! There will be extra stars in his crown when he gets to heaven for the ministry he provides for us. They have been a blessing to Glenn and me.

On another note...Chris and Kate are in New Jersey with Kate's family for the holidays, and Kari and Jonathan have gone to Spain to spend time with Jonathan's brother and sister in law so Glenn and I are "on our own". Not really. The Member Care team has invited all the Journeymen in CEE to spend Christmas at the Eden House, and we have 15 that have accepted our invitation. Needless to say, we will have fun spoiling them with goodies we brought from America, making Christmas cookies, attending the international churches' Christmas eve service, enjoying a Christmas day feast, and just being Mom and Dad to them (if they need it). We are looking forward to the week!

As we move into the final days before Christmas, let us wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas. Or, as the Hungarians say, "Boldog Karacsonyt!" We pray that the birth of God's Son, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be the reason you are celebrating!

I hate good-byes!

Well, I left off last week just as we were getting ready to go get a tree and to decorate the house for Christmas. It was fun to do this in America, knowing that I would get to do it again after we returned to Budapest. Doing it twice really gets one in the mood to celebrate the birth of our Messiah!


Chris and Kate find the perfect tree


Kate and I have the same taste. We both feel these are tacky.


Perfectly straight!

They bought a tree that would fit nicely in the corner, and one that wasn't too tall--they have to raise the tree up on something so that Shadow's tail wouldn't swing and knock all the ornaments off the lower branches!!! (Shadow is their dog.)


Kate decorates the tree with childhood ornaments


--while Chris hangs the stockings-notice the one for Shadow?

We had a great time with Chris and Kate. God blesses us daily through our kids! We have a great relationship with Kari and Chris, and we thank God for them and for the spice (which is plural for spouse) that they brought into our family when they married Jonathan and Kate. Indeed, we are richly blessed as a family who gets along so well and enjoys spending so much time together!! Thank you, God!

It was very difficult to say good-bye to Chris and Kate, but our days in America were quickly coming to an end and they needed to get on with their life. It was time to go back to Marietta so that we could pack our bags and return to Budapest. I guess when we left Maryville on Tuesday, it was the beginning of our last good-byes.


My old workplace

As we drove back to Marietta, we stopped by North Cobb Christian School to pick up some books from Beth but unfortunately, I didn't have time to visit with friends there. It was a case of run in and run out!


BFF!

I got into town just in time to meet up with my wonderful friend Kristin (from NCCS days) for dinner. One would think that five hours together would be enough time to get caught up on our news, but no! Next time we will have to plan a full day together! She is one of those people through whom God speaks and blesses, and I sure miss her friendship.


Saying good-bye to my sister and B was tough

Due to falling sick when I first arrived, Glenn and my travel schedule, and then my sister Elizatbeth falling sick herself, we had very little time together, which I really hated! She is the keeper of our records, the reciever of our mail, the one who holds all things together for us in Marietta-and we are so thankful for her and her ministry to us. Thank you, Elizabeth!


Getting the most of our "handicap" parking sticker!

Our last day there, we went out to eat with Glenn's family and a dear friend from MFBC, Anne. It was quite a trip--a slow one, that is! Becky in her wheelchair (broke her ankle before Thanksgiving) and Queenie and Pa with their canes gave us a reason for parking at the front door! Anne gave us some very fresh, plump PECANS from south Georgia and some Peppermint Bark from Trader Joe's that is out-of-this-world delicious! We made sure that they made it in our suitcases!!!


Sam's Club

After lunch, Glenn's brother, Darden drove me to Sam's Club to pick up a few items for our suitcases. I couldn't buy all my heart desired because I wasn't sure everything would fit in the last suitcase to be closed, but I got the most important! Nutter Butter, Oreos, and soft peppermint for Glenn, and chocolate chips, Brownie mixes, and M & M's for me. Can you tell which one of us loves chocolate???


Grandma Whitfield

We had a quick visit with Mary Jean on our last night in town. She "adopted" Kari and Chris when they were 7 and 5, respectively, because they didn't have a "grandma". Glenn's mother has always been "Queenie" and my mother was always "Pooh". When Mary Jean found out that Kari and Chris didn't have a grandma, she became theirs, in every sense of the word! She has always held a special place in our hearts and we wouldn't go to Marietta without stopping to see Mary Jean (just like we wouldn't go without stopping by to see Jo and Ed, our dear neighbors!)


Christian

Even though one of my brothers live in Marietta, we didn't get to spend much time together due to sickness (his and mine), his work schedule, and our travels. Jay and Tanya were both sick the night we stopped by, but Christian (I call him Ethan) was up and opened the door to us. My, how he had grown! He is in second grade now, and is the most polite, articulate little boy I have met. His mom and dad have done a great job! On our next visit to town, we will make sure we get to spend more time with them.


Can you believe it? $5 for a large pepperoni pizza!

Glenn and I said our final good-byes to restaurants and fast food in the U.S. by eating at each one! In the 3 1/2 weeks we were in America, I ate pizza 5 times. My favorite meal. Didn't get Krispy Kremes, but ate Richy Kremes in Tennessee with Chris and Kate. Besides eating with Emogene (next door to my Dad) a few times, we ate at Steak and Shake, La Bella Pasta, Applebee's (3 times), Ted's Montana Grill, Red Lobster, Ruby Tuesday's, La Parilla, Captain D's, Checker's, the Varsity, the Waffle House, Beef O'Brady's, and in Maryville we ate at a Mexican place, Sonic drive-in and a great BBQ place called Boomer's. Can you believe I only gained one pound?


Sorry Tundra, I didn't mean to wake you!

We enjoyed staying with my dad in his new condo and with his dog, Tundra. Thanks, Pop, for letting us stay with you! It was good to be with you. You have a beautiful place, and we were very comfortable. You are a wonderful host.

But let me tell the world about Tundra. Tundra is the most amazing and most spoiled dog I've ever seen. During the day, my dad leaves the door from his kitchen to the garage open and the door to his truck open so that Tundra can get to the front seat of the truck. Tundra is afraid that my dad will go off and leave her at home while he runs errands during the day so after her morning walk, she goes out to sleep in the front seat of the truck and stays there all day. Even if he doesn't go anywhere, she goes out to sleep in the truck-just in case!!!


My Pop and me


It was so hard to say good-bye!

Friday afternoon, Darden and Becky drove us to the Atlanta airport to catch a 6 pm flight to Copenhagen, Denmark and then on to Budapest, arriving at Ferihegy airport on Saturday at 8 am, Atlanta time. (2 pm Hungary time) By the way, Dad...two of our 4 checked suitcases were one pound overwieght according to their scales, so we had to take something small out of each of those two bags and stuff them in our carry-ons and coat pockets, but hey, we made it! No problems, otherwise.


They're everywhere! They're everywhere!

We were scheduled to have a one hour lay-over in Copenhagen, but due to a strike at Ferihegy airport in Budapest, we had 2 1/2 hours in Copenhagen; plenty of time to wander and browse the duty-free shops. We found this 7-Eleven store in the Copenhagen airport! Cool, eh?


Overlooking Budapest

After arriving on Saturday afternoon at 2 pm and safely reconnected with our suitcases, we made the trek across town via taxi. We were soooo tired but managed to unpack all our suitcases before finally going to bed at 10 pm. We made ourselves stay up until then to fight against jet lag! Would you believe we slept through church the next morning, and woke up at 3 pm???? Seventeen hours of sleep!

Well, we're back at home, the suitcases are down in the basement, and we are ready to get back to work. We had a GREAT visit, seeing family and friends, shopping for new clothes, and eating to our hearts content, but it is also good to be back to the real world, our real life. We are thankful for the time in America that refreshed us, and now we are ready to get to work, serving our missionaries and our Lord.

This Christmas will be our first to celebrate without our kids or family, but we will be okay. (Kari and Jonathan will be celebrating Christmas in Spain with Jonathan's brother and sister in law, and Chris and Kate will spend it in New Jersey with Kate's family.) We will have 14-20 Journeymen from throughout Central and Eastern Europe to spend Christmas at the Eden House as guests of the Member Care team, so we will be busy as "mom and dad" to these young college graduates who will be away from home and parents/family, many for their first time. We will miss being with our own family, but we will be focused on being "family" to these folks so that they will FEEL like they are celebrating Christmas with their loved ones.

Please pray for these young missionaries during the whole Christmas season as they are away from parents, brothers and sisters; it will be difficult for them.

Time Flies When You Are Having Fun!!!

Time flew by so fast that I totally forgot to update last Sunday!

We have stayed very busy the whole time we have been in Marietta. So busy, in fact, that I have had to take a day off occasionally just to stay at home and rest up. Twice I've stayed at Pop's house all by myself and either did laundry or a little packing. It was nice, and a good break from the hectic schedule we've kept the whole time we've been home.


I've only had two fountain drinks so far!


My sister, Karin

We drove to Columbia, South Carolina to spend Thanksgiving with my sister's family. Her husband Eric was not able to be with us due to the unfortunate death of his mother a few days before. We missed seeing him very much.


Corrie and Morgan-two beautiful nieces!

Karin and Eric moved into a new house last January that they built on Lake Murray so we finally got to see it. It was an awesome house with all the nice amenities. I won't describe it since words won't do it justice. Just believe me that it is gorgeous!


Our Thanksgiving crew


Sitting on the back porch, watching the sun go down


Gorgeous view, isn't it?

After Thanksgiving with the Brown side of the family in Columbia, we enjoyed another Thanksgiving with the Borders side in Marietta on Saturday and Sunday.


Beth and Madeline


Kate and Pa with Sarah's little Katherine


Stephen and Beth


Sarah and Chad


Glenn and Darden


Carolyn and Katherine


Jackson


Aunt Beck and her broken ankle


Handsome chap, isn't he?


Queenie and Pa

After Thanksgiving was over, we started visiting with friends in the area, usually getting together over a meal. Needless to say, we've eaten at most of our old favorite places and had to watch out not to gain too much weight! After all the baguettes with butter and chocolate eclairs in France with Kari and Jonathan last month, I've really had to watch the calorie consumption!


Getting together with Beth


Visited our old house on Big Oaks Drive


Visited with my favorite cat, Devon


And our favorite neighbors, Jo and Ed


Met Kerri for lunch at La Parilla


Dinner at the Raders' with Bubba and Tassie too


Dinner at Emogene's with long-time friend, Anne

We've also enjoyed time with Dianne and Al, Ken and Shawna, the folks at TFS that Glenn used to work with, ladies in the WMU at Marietta First Baptist Church, and Jay and Pam. It has been so good to see everyone and get caught up on their news! A few days ago we borrowed Glenn's mom and dad's car and drove to Maryville, Tennessee to spend a few days with Chris and Kate. We miss them so much when we are in Budapest!


Kate works on a project for some friends


Chris and Glenn built basement stairs


Chris collects motorcycles in his basement

Kate flies to Colorado tomorrow for work. Glenn and Chris were scheduled to go backpacking tomorrow in the Smoky Mountains for 2 nights (I was going back to Marietta) but their plans changed so Glenn and I will be staying a couple of extra days in Maryville. Yea! We love helping Chris and Kate with their house projects! I just wish Kate were going to be here with us. We will have to say our good-byes tomorrow since she will not get back from Colorado before we head back to Marietta! So sad.


Glenn cleans up from one project before beginning another

We decorated Chris and Kate's tree and house today but I don't have the pictures uploaded yet. I will try to put them on later this week. It was fun to decorate with them. Glenn and I will decorate our tree in Budapest next week, and will think of the good time we had today! We have had a great time here in the U.S., and only have 4 more days here until we return to Budapest. We thank God for the opportunity to see our families and friends, and for the change in pace we've had. Can't say we've rested, but it has been good for us.