Christmas Wreath

 Winter traditions we have had here in Kandern, wreath making.  We share this with a few local German women.  

Here is what you need:  

One Wire Hanger

Greens, different kinds and textures.

Light gauge wire

Next,  make 12-15 small bundles of greens wrapping the bottom of each bundle with the wire.

Then place each bundle on the wire hanger one at a time, wrapping it with the wire.  

Adding embellishments at the end.

This one is mine.

Th Fifth Grade Performance

The 5th grade and the High School Piano 1, performing Christmas Carols in English and German.

  

Our Tree

We have our Christmas tree now.  You can see our Local Christmas tree man in the background, he sell trees and greens and wood.  He is just down the street from us and we can just walk it home.  We love our little village.

Kandern Christmas Traditions

On the first two Thursdays during the Advent season our village celebrates!   There are fires set up, to  keep warm by or to cook stock brot.  Stock brot is a dough that you wrap around the end of a stick and cook it over the fire.  Children can hang one of their socks in the village square and on St Nicklaus Tag (dec 6th ) and they are fill with treats and then you can pick your stocking up. Fun tradition.  

Treats

Jake Matt and I made chocolate peanut clusters for teachers and friends for Christmas.

Yum !!!  Try it :)

Dorm Staff Christmas Party

The dorm staff annual Christmas Party is always filled with fun activities, music and food.  I have had the honor with two other ladies to cook for them for several years now.  They serve students everyday  so its wonderful to give them a break and serve them.  

   Here is a great appetizer to try,  dates wrapped in bacon topped with brown sugar,  and sweet potatoes cut to french fry size, then wrapped in bacon topped with brown sugar.  Bake 350 until the bacon it cooked.

This was a quick easy center piece.  Some greens from behind the dorm, 3 glasses from the recycle bin filled with candles and a basket that oranges came in.   Love it ! 

Field Trip Week

     Each year there is a week in the beginning of the year that is learning outside the class room through field trips.  It is a great way to start the year off with learning and bonding as a class .  The juniors and the seniors do over night field trips.  For the past several years Rob has chaperoned the juniors.   This year Rob and I chaperoned the senior class, ( Andrew's Class)  We have known most of these students for the past 5 years and have watched them mature into young men and women, so it was wonderful to share this journey with  them.
     We are close to many historical sites only a bus ride away.  We spent 3 nights sleeping on the bus while we traveled at different points and 3 nights in beds.  ( my neck is still cramped from the bus and that was a month ago :( .)  We stayed in a sleepy little village/ ghost town.  It was strangely empty,  maybe because tourist season was over?   Anyway it was great for the kids,  in the evening they played games in the street with no worry of cars!

We were able to catch up with a former BFA graduate.  He spent the whole day with us and it was so nice for him and the students to swap BFA stories.

(Below)Here the we are hearing about the history of The Pantheon.

The senior trip is the same each year and they visit the same locations.  Along the way friendships have been made.  Here is one in the photos below meet Costantino.  Let's pray for Costantino, a brother in Christ.  He asked one of our Chaperones if we could get him an electric wheel chair.  Pray, and let's see what God does.  

Here is a photo of our whole group!!

Early Thanksgiving

A few photos from Thanksgiving at the dorm we sub at :

Blessed by my Mom !!

We are so thankful to my Mom ( and Dad for giving her up for 3 weeks !)  . 

Mom came to take care of Matt and Jake while Rob and I chaperoned the Senior class trip for a week.    She came just one week after she broke her arm quite severely. So with a plate, 8 screws and stitches she was able to pass thru security and board the plane for the long journey here by herself.  Thank you to those who prayed for her journey here and her stay with the boys.   Jake and my mom both with broken bones they were quite a duo ! While she was here she even took out her own stitches, she will always be wonder women to me :)  Thank you MOM !! 

Jake

Well, boys, boys, boys!  Jake had another visit to the Hospital here!   He broke his arm playing soccer at school.  Yup, same arm as 2 years ago!

Laura

    Many of you prayed along with us, as one of our staff members was injured in a fall, last year.  This year she is back teaching with a grateful heart.  She still has many obstacles to overcome but she is working hard everyday and maybe one day with the help of God she will walk again.  Here is Laura sharing her story with the students at Friday Chapel time.

Our BFA Staff

This group of missionaries have dedicated their lives to pouring the love of Christ into missionary kids, that are living abroad as their families serve across the globe.

Kids Stuff Program

  This photo is from a few months ago, at the Kids Stuff retreat.  We have a wonderful Sunday School program  called Kids Stuff.  Adults and a group of middle schoolers teach the grade school kids through skits, crafts and Bible stories.  Each year they go to a horse farm for a weekend retreat, its a beautiful time of learning and growing together !

Photo Time :)

   I have started photographing Seniors for the yearbook, we are blessed to have a beautiful village with great natural surroundings to photograph in.    Today I photographed the middle schoolers each grade and individuals.  Below is a photograph the Vice Principal took of me setting up the 8th graders for their class photo.  You really cannot tell from this angle, but the background is a cow field.  Some of the classes have cows right out side their windows,  not the usual distraction while at school!

GemStone Media short video

Last June Andrew got to be a small part of making this video about a young French girl.  Why I Live: The Sabrina Kebli Story.  It's done !

Fall Party

The  high school starts the year off with a fall party.  Each year there is a theme and students and staff come dressed in costumes.  This years theme was heroes and villains.  I set up a photo booth for everyone to get their photos taken & then posted them so the students could all enjoy them.  Here are a few photos from the events. 

 Some of the heroes and Villians that one best costumes.

 Price is right game

Whipped Cream Pie toss...... guess who is the one on the left?

Matt with our school mascot :)