Thankful for more visitors.

We had a good visit with Steve and Tonya.

Scenes from the drive to Barcelona.

I led a couple of songs in Spanish in 

Barcelona.

The wildmans.

A Thanksgiving feast.

Jim and Subie.

The boys and Arianna.

We said goodbye to the Rutherfords.  We enjoyed a couple of days with them.  We took them to the market Friday morning.  We were able to walk around a little until it started raining.  In the afternoon the ladies enjoyed some shopping while Steve and I watched the boys.  Saturday I drove them back to Barcelona via the scenic route.  The changing leaves made a beautiful drive.  Saturday evening, Angie was going to the youth meeting, but when Lilia and her arrived they found no one else was coming and so they drove home.  That evening I had a basketball game.  We won! It was a good game, even though I did not contribute much.  Sunday services went well in Carcassonne.  Monday the kids started back in school.  Finally Angie and I had a time to sit and talk seriously about Thanksgiving.  We were approved for a room from the Mayors office, but there was not one available until mid-December, which is when things get really busy for us.  We decided that we would just invite guests over once a week, a few at a time.  That left us with Thanksgiving as a family.  We were not really motivated to do anything, but . . . Wednesday morning Angie got a call from Jim, they are an American family traveling the world for a year.  There were looking for someone to have Thanksgiving with and so we invited them to come.  They came over with their three boys Wednesday afternoon and went to basketball practice with us, stayed for Pizza, Jim came to basketball practice with us that evening, walked with me to get our boys from school, stopped by and had lunch with us on Thursday, stayed for Thanksgiving dinner, we watched the kids for them Friday afternoon and evening. . . we just had a wonderful time with them.   Thanksgiving is one of the times when we really miss family the most, and it worked great the God sent us the Wildmans for a moment.  We were able to help them out as well, as their car had recently been broken into and they were having to deal with all the issues about replacing all their credit cards and stolen items.  You can check out their blog here, hearing the echoes.  We just had a great time with them.  And Thanksgiving was great, not just because of the food, but because of God's blessings.  Sunday we traveled to Barcelona, where I preached.  Lilia stayed home because Saturday night she had fallen off the ladder to her bunk bed and bruised her hip.  Monday our new friends stopped by for supper and to say goodbye as they continue their adventure and as we continue ours.  We definitely hope to visit with them next time we are in the States.  Thank you God for all your blessings, we are looking forward to the future.  God bless, JASON

Visiting with friends

Visiting with the Rutherfords.

The picture does not do it justice.

Lilia took this shot at the basketball game.

The kids playing with their friends.

Well the second week of vacation went well.  I went and picked up our friends from Romania, the Rutherfords, on Wednesday.  While I was gone, Angie had a friend come over with her four children, and the kids had a good time together.  I arrived with the Rutherfords without any delays.  We spent a good couple of days together.  We laughed a lot.  We walked through the market on Friday, in the rain.  The girls went shopping the afternoon.  I drove them back Saturday morning.  We took the scenic route through the mountains, which was very pretty with all the fall colors.  Saturday afternoon, Angie and Lilia went to the youth meeting in Carcassonne.  There was no one else that came, so they returned. It seems everyone had put all their homework off until the last minute.  I had a basketball game Saturday night. It went well.  Lilia, Caleb, and Andrew went with me.  I played okay, but did not score, missing the one shot I did take.  The other team was from a small community, but still had seven players.  They played a good zone defense, which is why myself and others did not penetrate and score, thankfully we have some good long distance shooters as well, which gave us the victory.  I had a good time.  Sunday, we enjoyed the services in Carcassonne, followed by lunch and a nice nap.  We listened on skype to the services at Walnut Street and finished off a good and filled weekend.  This week the kids are back in school.  I have been occupied with paperwork and bible studies, that  I had put off during the vacation.  Someone is considering coming to work with us for two years, which would be great.  I prepared a paper giving her details and things to consider.  I have been trying to get a meeting place for the Thanksgiving meal we would like to do, but each time I stop by, I miss the person in charge.  I will try again this afternoon.   Bible study went well Tuesday.  We almost cancelled because one lady was out with car problems, and a couple were unable to make it because of work, but we ended having two come.  We had a good time of singing, praying, and studying God's word.  Wednesday, we picked back up our basketball practice.  I had 8 kids this time, and they all played real well.  After the first of the year we should start playing mini-competitions with the other teams.  I am looking forward to it.  I just finished an hour with my language partner.  Looking forward to the market in the morning.  The weather is supposed to be nice.  God bless, JASON 

Barcelona and Birthday

Lilia had a smiley face cheesecake birthday cake.

Her favorite gift was some boots.

Snow covered Pyrenees on the way to Barcelona.

Caleb had all of these kids playing in his lap for a while.

Pastor Leopoldo, Nancy, and their kids.

Lilia and I looking at some spanish music.

We did have a good weekend.  Lilia's birthday party went well, with just our family.  She was spoiled as usual.  We spent Sunday in Barcelona where I was preaching. We had a great time.  I am still amazed at how much Spanish I can pick up on.  I suppose it helps speaking French.  I wish I could speak as much Spanish as I understand.  We had a great service, and a great lunch as well.  We made it home without any problem, stopping by McDonalds to treat the kids for being well behaved.  Caleb was playing well with all the other kids at the church. Arianna went to Sunday School class without any hesitation.  I would think some kids would be scared to go to a class in another language, but it didn't slow down Arianna and Andrew.  Monday I went in search of the tensions pulley for our dryer.  Yes, our dryer still is not working.  I replaced the belt that finally came in, and found out the reason why the belt went bad, now just waiting for that part.  The kids have been a lot of fun this vacation.  Right now Caleb is chasing Arianna around like he is a monster.  She just went after him with a shoe to defend herself.  Andrew said something out of the blue yesterday, "Dad instead of spanking us, why don't you spank the dishwasher?"  I don't think I ever answered him.  Arianna is potty training, in the beginning stages.  She goes if you ask her at the right time.  But now she is just as happy when she goes in her diaper as when she goes in her potty.  Angie has bought her some panties that should help the process along.  No hurry. I heard some words of advice when dealing with kids once, "Sometimes the key to enlightenment is to lighten up."  I will be returning to Barcelona on Thursday to pick up the Rutherfords, missionaries in Romania, who are going to spend a couple of days with us.  God bless, JASON

Photo shoot

The first week of vacation is going well.  We have enjoyed nice weather, sunny highs near 70.  I was able early this week to help a friend get some used utility poles to make a fence, put down some concrete in a horse stall, and place some beams for a new barn. Halloween went well.  Lilia went to a friends house, and I delighted the boys with scary stories, while candy was served, and we let them watch a scary movie (Winne the Pooh style).  We actually had a couple of trick-or-treaters stop by, evidently it is becomming more popular.  I did not know who they were, but I heard one of them repeating, "It's Micah's dad."   Lilia stayed for the first as well, which was a national holiday here, All Saints Day.  I went and played basketball for a little bit.  Friday, I had a good time at the market, enjoying nice weather and making some good contacts.  Friday afternoon I took the kids to the pool with one of their friends. Saturday (today) is Lilia's 13th birthday.  She is all excited, mostly about getting a facebook page.  I will include birthday pics later.  That attached pictures are from Angie's photo shoot with the kids.  God bless, JASON