Astazi Este Ploua si Este Foarte Frig

"Today it is raining and very cold." That is one of my newest learned Romanian phrases and I have had many opportunities to use it-more than I would like in fact. Winter is crawling its way here to Nicoresti making for many rainy and windy days spent inside laughing at Casa Elisabeta, crafting at workshop, and when the rain subsides many bundled up walks through the surrounding cornfields and goofing off in the front yard.

Adina walking back from Workshop one of many mornings:
Every morning myself and the girls of Casa Elisabeta head to workshop for about 2 hours-rain or shine. It is a lot of fun and something all the kids enjoy doing: from cross stitching to card making to carving, there is always music playing and plenty of laughs.

Marianna proud of the cross stitch pattern she has been working on all month:
Florentin working on his cross stitch and Amy (one of the 2 other volunteers) helping to show Catalina how to put the finishing touches on some of the cards:This past week we had two special events- both of which were very fun! Wednesday night, the rain let up just in time for our Camp Fire night at Casa Rachel (the boys' house). The volunteers and staff set up a bonfire in the outside brick barbeque for the kids and laid out blankets for all to sit on while we sang songs accompanied by guitar (in Romanian and English), ate hot dogs and warmed up with hot chocolate. Everyone enjoyed it very much and was thankfully able to keep warm by the fire.

Maricica and I getting ready to head over to Casa Rachel for the Camp Fire:The girls bundling up in front of the fire:
Costel (my workshop buddy) and I at the bonfire:
The other special event was this past Friday-the Fall Dance! We decorated Casa Jacob with konkers, paper chains, posters, fall leaves, drawings by the kids, scarecrows and lights, played fun dancing music and danced like nobody was watching. Definitely one of my favorite dances I have ever attended! Pictures to come soon (and possibly a video)-didn't bring my camera but Fran (member of the staff) took plenty of pictures and videos to sufficiently embarass me... A highlight was watching the kids play musical chairs and cheer each other on.

Other than that, each day has been its own adventure full of new experiences and new Romanian phrases for me. There is definitely no typial day here at Casa Elizabeta. Each day is spent doing something new and exciting in the afternoons, and always something new to laugh at (usually ends up being at me)...The staples to our days do include though laundry if it is not raining (drizzle is ok...) and playing all bundled up in the front yard. I forgot how much I missed the swings of my childhood...

The girls on the swings outside (Adina, Verginica, Amy pushing Marianna, Anca, Tina):
Hanging our laundry outside under the grape vines:
Well, that is everything for now. Until next time stay warm and laugh lots.


Romans 12:9-13