Snow, Snow, Snow (Yes, this is a "White Christmas" reference...one of my faves)

 A few of you have sent me questions to answer on my blog, so thank you!  If you haven't sent a question yet, keep 'em coming!   I will start answering questions next week!  On this Christmas weekend, I wanted to point out a funny thing that happened Christmas night :)  You may have seen me mention on facebook that it occasionally snows in our bathroom.  Well, keeping with tradition, it snowed quite a bit on Christmas night, and that snow came right inside.  For you doubters, I even attached pictures.  Because of the sheer amount of snow getting in, I went to our landlord and asked to show him the problem.  As soon as he came in, he just started saying over and over "Jesus and Mary" (this is my rough translation guess of Jezus Maria).  I then proceeded to have a conversation with him in Hungarian about solving the problem (keep in mind I speak little to no Hungarian :).  As far as I can tell, he said he would come this morning (it is 1pm here and no sign of him yet).  All that to say, hopefully soon it will no longer snow inside the bathroom.  I love it on the outside, but not so much in :)  As I have considered this situation, I feel like my response normally would have been aggravation with this inconvenience, but I just can't help but smile when I think about it.  I guess it is just one of those enjoyable little quirks of living in a foreign country.  Enjoy the pictures and I hope it brings a smile to your face too!  Merry Christmas!  Boldog Karácsonyt!

Snow in the Window Sill

More Snow in the Window Sill

Snow on the Bathroom Floor

More Snow on the Bathroom Floor

Even More Snow on the Bathroom Floor (Note the great help the towels were...not so much)

Snow where it belongs...in our courtyard

View from our Front Door

Our Shared Patio

Christmas Traditions

I love Christmas traditions.  From Pillsbury cinnamon rolls Christmas morning to Christmas carol charades with the Mehlers to LRC with the Berliners, I simply love things that we can always look forward to year after year.  This year, I think I may have discovered a new tradition I want to be a part of.  On Saturday night, my church hosted a festival of lessons and carols.   I got the unique privilege of participating because the Christmas choir I am in sang two songs.  I had never heard of this type of event  before, but it was really great!   This idea started at the Kings College at Cambridge University.  On Christmas Eve in the year 1918, Cambridge hosted its first Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.  To this day, they still hold the service every Christmas Eve.  In 1928, they began broadcasting the service and it has been broadcast every year since (with the exception of 1930).  The festival always begins with the hymn "Once in Royal David's City" and always ends with "Hark the Herald Angels Sing."  I am hoping to make the listening of this service part of my yearly Christmas traditions.   Would you like to join me?  This year's service will be at 3pm London time (9am Chicago time) on Christmas Eve.  If you would like to listen, click here and enjoy!  Hope you have a blessed Christmas season remembering the great gift we received from the most generous Giver!

Stories

I love stories.  Who doesn't?  I especially love hearing peoples' life stories.  Perhaps it is the history teacher in me, or perhaps it is just a quirk.  Either way, there is little I enjoy more than a good story.  Yesterday I had the opportunity to sit down with one of my students to hear her story.  I thought I was sitting down to help her write a bio for a scholarship possibility, but in the end I think I got a beautiful picture of how God can use one person's story to shower His grace on many.   You see, this particular student doesn't have the typical middle class suburban life story so many of us know as "normal."  She was born in the midst of war.  She had to leave her home country and live in a refugee camp.  She saw things know child should have to see.  She was bullied when she was finally able to attend school.  Eventually, the Lord brought her to ICSB.  While there is heartbreak in her story, there is also clearly the grace of God.  I was amazed to watch this resilient girl share about her desire to use her experience to help others.  What struck me the most was not that this girl saw (in my opinion) some of the worst sides of human evil, but that she saw the need.  The need for someone to help.  The need for someone to instigate change.  She is not content to sit by as others live in poor circumstances.  As we ended our conversation, I couldn't help but think (and share with her) that God is going to use this story in a mighty way.  It is clear to see how He is using it in her life, and I am excited to see how He is going to continue to use it in the lives of others.  I was blessed yesterday when I heard a story.

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. "  Genesis 50:20