A week's worth of groceries: How different it looks!

Germany: The Melander family of Bargteheide

Food expenditure for one week: 375.39 Euros or$500.07

United States: The Revis family ofNorth Carolina

Food expenditure for one week:$341.98

Japan: The Ukita family ofKodairaCity

Food expenditure for one week: 37,699 Yen or$317.25

Italy: The Manzo family ofSicily

Food expenditure for one week: 214.36 Euros or$260.11

Mexico: The Casales family ofCuernavaca

Food expenditure for one week: 1,862.78 Mexican Pesos or$189.09

Poland: The Sobczynscy family of Konstancin-Jeziorna

Food expenditure for one week: 582.48 Zlotys or$151.27

Egypt: The Ahmed family ofCairo

Food expenditure for one week: 387.85 Egyptian Pounds or$68.53

Ecuador: The Ayme family of Tingo

Food expenditure for one week:$31.55

Bhutan: The Namgay family ofShingkheyVillage

Food expenditure for one week: 224.93 ngultrum or$5.03

Chad: The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp

Food expenditure for one week: 685 CFA Francs or$1.23

Christmas Time is HERE!

So, this past weekend we've jumped chin-deep into Christmas. On Friday night, at BIG Friday a group of us went to an older couples home for a visit. Besides the lovely decorations they had up, and the hot cocoa and cookies they had prepared, the Christmas carols we sung really made me feel like Christmas was here. It was a lovely visit, but by 9:30 PM, we knew it was time to leave. We hurried back to the church and helped make the last few cards for those on our list of "needing a note of encouragement".

Then, Sabbath morning, the praise songs I led with Marella and Debbie were Christmas carols. To hear the whole congregation belting out Silent Night really filled me with the warm spirit of Christmas. And to hear Pastor Jeff preaching about the way Jesus came to my world to understand me, reminded me of what Christmas is all about. A fun evening with young adults at Glow Miniature Golf didn't remind me of Christmas as much as the CROWDED mall we waded through to grab dinner and get to our venue (the mall parking lot rarely fills up, so that was the first sign).Then Sunday morning we picked up my grandparents and headed over the river and through the woods to the Taylor's home for a lovely afternoon of Christmas Tree decorating. We hiked out in the woods, found the tree, cut it down, shaped and trimmed it and then made it beautiful (see pictures).

It was really fun to have some of the family around helping our tree be straight shapely and decorated just right.

Mom hung the stockings while Jack baked fresh chocolate cookies for us to munch on and SMELL!

This is just the beginning of an influx of family time over the next week or so. Wednesday we leave for northern California to do it all again with Jack's family. I'm loving it!

WORD Time

The title of this post could mean several things to you all:
1. I'm a scrabble/word game nerd
2. I'm attempting a gansta'/rapper phrase
3. I can't spell "world" correctly
4. I've had a cool experience in Bible study

And the correct answer is... #4! We started a Friday night Bible study time last week, and it is becoming more and more exciting. Though our attendees have varied from last week to this week, one thing is for sure: we're making time with friends to connect in God's word, and it is have a powerful influence. This influence is rather subtle now, but people cannot say enough good things about this simple gathering. All we do is meet at our humble apartment, find a cozy place on the couch, do a few minutes of sharing about what we have been studying and what questions/passages we want to pursue with the group and then study. It is relaxed, loosly led in the inductive style, and winds down with some practical application. So far we have tackled: The Parable of the Sower and the Parables of the Wheat and Tares, Mustard Seed and Leaven. Check them out for yourself and tell us your thoughts! This week we are looking into the phrase "Kingdom of Heaven" as used by Jesus when telling parables. What do you know about this?