it's almost time..

for thanksgiving!!

today at kids' club we made hand turkeys. we also tried playing lightning. you know, the basketball game? yeah, didn't work so much. but the kids really liked the turkeys! figured i might as well show them something we do at home for one of our special holidays. they wrote lots of cute things on them that they were thankful for. got a kick out of them asking me in german how to spell german words that i didn't understand. :) 

so, thanksgiving is this week! in the states, it's tomorrow. and here, it's on friday! for us anyway- the germans don't celebrate thanksgiving, and are actually quite intrigued by the whole idea! i was asked to explain the story behind it.. and i think i got it right.. but maybe a few legends got mixed in with the whole-and-nothing-but-the truth about it. pilgrims.. succotash.. indian corn.. plymouth rock.. sweet potatoes with miniature marshmallows [oh wait, maybe that's where i went wrong..]

SO friday is our big day. i will be peeling potatoes early in the morning, and later setting up the snack table, making sure everyone gets seated [there are 96 of us eating thanksgiving dinner together in the church coffeebar! if that isn't cozy, i don't know what is!!], singing with our choir [new addition to ccbc this semester, thanks to our girl Karen!], and in general helping to ensure that everyone makes their thanksgiving crafts and has a glorious time!

hannah and i have been having heaps of fun together of late, cooking and baking, practicing with our alto section, getting details figured out for thanksgiving, and making decorations and favors and other preparations for our ladies' christmas brunch next saturday [6th dec]! this week alone we've had one night of staff girls' dinner/cookie baking/crafting, a whole day of t-day prep, tomorrow more baking and planning, all day cooking friday, saturday spent with german friends in various fun places [christmas market anyone??], setting up and helping at the missions' fundraising bazaar [we made bags a few times this fall to sell], and so on and so forth!

among other notable items of late:

 it's been snowing a lot, and it's real cold outside! the first snow is always so b-e-a-u-tiful! the first ice is not necessarily quite so congenial.

i went to köln [cologne] last weekend with david guzik's prep for ministry class- went to the roman museum and the Dom [cathedral]. interesting, saw some cool stuff, it was really cold, but we had a good time. and had starbucks.

i got new shoes that don't leak! the very kind woman even gave me 10 euro off the sale price. wie lieb.

i am living in the wohnung again. it is very nice, very warm, and very unmoldy. sometimes lonesome, but then either i go visit the villa [about 20 steps from my front door], or the girls come over to hang out. it's nice.

there is a GINORMOUS christmas tree in the middle of the Halle! it seemed to me to be 20-some feet tall. it was being decorated with the help of an overhead crane. it's a beaut.

in fact, it seems as though well nigh everyone is christmas-decorating like mad! it's quite an enjoyable meander through the hillside streets above us. everything has taken on a very twinkly feel.

i go home in about 25 days!! i am really excited to see my family and be at home for a whole month!! hoping for a white christmas..

one of these days i'll quit being a bum and actually post some pictures. after i take them. after i charge my camera. until then, here's a little thanksgiving love!! xo. 

p.s. dear mom, please make the oreo/candy corn/malted milk ball turkeys. even without me. sigh. :)