Some Photos from the Season

Elementary students wish you Feliz Navidad at their Christmas concert!!

Performing the Christmas cantata Let Heaven and Nature Sing Gloria at Union Church

A few of my favorite elves!!

Preparing for a performance of Handel's Messiah at the National Theater

CAG staff get into the Christmas spirit at the annual luncheon

A Few Updates...

• Javier got permission to take time off!!!!!!...only half the time we were hoping for, but we'll take it!! We'll be heading to Chicago on Monday, Dec. 22 to spend the night. We're excited to see our dear Annette (Little Wit) and check out Chad Perry's Wii!! Then on Tuesday we'll catch the bus up to Madison to spend Christmas with my family. Javier will have to return on the 28th to be back at work for the 29th, but I'll stay on, taking a short detour to the Great White Nort' of Toronto to visit my Jo-anne and her new little Mary!!

• The next-door neighbors have just had their vanload (literally!) of holiday fireworks delivered (I am sssooooo not going to miss that this year!!!).

• School ended on a yucky note...me missing it...home in bed sick with fever...and missing sharing Merry Christmases with all my kids!! :(

• Challenges have been bountiful this week with numerous financial difficulties due to fraud with my bank account and visa issues. We are choosing to believe that these are all strikes by the enemy because something big and wonderful is trying to come our way. We are casting aside discouragement and remembering that God is greater than any of the troubles we find ourselves having getting this trip underway. We ask you to join us in prayer that we will see the fruits of our faith!
  

So COOL!!!

First of all...TWO posts in ONE day!?!? What's wrong???? Nothing!! I just had to take a moment to share the coolest thing!! We just got home from another two-hour choir rehearsal in the city and decided to take Rupert for a walk since he's been cooped up all day. As we rounded the corner at the top of the hill just outside of our house, we were greeted by a huge orange glow. It wasn't the city lights below, Christmas lights, or warning lights on a cell tower...it was the lava from Volcan Fuego glowing bright as it flowed down from the crater on this crystal clear night! Now THAT is something to shout out about!!!! (Sorry I didn't have my camera!!!)

Is It Christmas Yet!?!??!

Life sure has been crazy these last few weeks! I feel all turned around and upside down with Messiah rehearsals and performances, projects at school, Christmas choir rehearsals, kid concerts, Christmas parties, accreditation work, and trying to keep up with teaching squeezed in there somewhere!!!! I am so looking forward to a time to relax and take a break to spend time reflecting on what Christmas SHOULD be about!! Please keep Javier in your prayers as he has still not been granted permission to have time off to spend Christmas in the States with me. We so want to spend this special time of year together, but do not know yet if it will be possible. We have made all of our travel arrangements on faith, believing that our Savior CAN move the mountain...which, in this case, (as is often with us) the red tape ("fijase...") of Guatemalan government! Blessings!!