Thursday, November 18, 2010

Random

When the days were sunnier, like in October, the kids enjoyed some playtime outside.  It literally has been raining for all of November.  I haven't been able to walk and pick up the kids from school hardly at all in the last two weeks.  Sunshine tomorrow in the forecast and we can't wait!!  Here are some random pictures of the kids from this fall.

Dressing up, but not celebrating Halloween here in Italy.
My handsome Samuel
Luca: "I'm Star Wars Clone Wars"
It really was not tang top weather by my Californian standards.  I guess she has a strong streak of Michigan blood in her.
No carved pumpkins this year, just cookies from the bakery.
Luca loves to write these days.  He still can't identify all his letters, but he knows how to spell all of our names.  Numbers are a different story and he is surprisingly really good with them. 
He was just too cute playing Doctor.  His glasses make him look so professional.
I love his eyebrows and expressive faces

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Celebrating Emma

The extended celebration for the new six year old in our house has been quite exciting.  We celebrated as a family on Thursday with a few gifts and then went out for pizza.  She got lots of phone calls and cards in the mail and thoroughly enjoyed those too.  She carries her cards all around the house and looks at them often.  Here are some birthday moments for you to enjoy.

Getting ready to open presents
A horse calendar from Mamma and Dada.
Horses rank right under her frogs.
A red eye tree frog that was affectionately named "Mr. Reddy"
So blessed by our sweet Emma
Dining out at Bam Bam Ristuaro.  Her first choice of Pizzerias was closed for vacation, but she was just as happy to go here again.
And finally....the cake.  I did not have to convince Emma to choose something different than a frog cake, she chose the horse idea all on her own.  I was happy to oblige her and she was thrilled with the outcome.


The face kept cracking from the weight of the head, but it held up long enough.
Mamma's looking a little tired.  But that big smile next to me makes it all worth it!
The horse is all made out of marshmallow fondant.
Trying to blow out her candles while Diego was grabbing for the horse.

We had a few families over on Sunday night to celebrate Emma's birthday. I always forget to take pictures of people and the party. Oh well, usually by that point I am one shot Mamma from the hours of preparation for such an event and that just slips my mind.

English for Everyone

Finally, here is an update on our English classes.  In October we began our second year of teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) at our center, Reset.  Jonathan teaches 2 beginner level classes for adults on Wednesday nights.  Between the two classes he has over 20 students.  Our coworker, Catherine, teaches a class on Tuesday afternoons for upper elementary, in which she has 3-4 students.  She also teaches the intermediate level class on Thursday nights for 7-8 adults.

In the middle of October we received a call from a mother who asked if we would offer a class for a group of third graders.  She had already recruited 10 children of interest and even had a proposed day and time for us to consider.  It just so "happened" to work perfectly in to our schedules for Monday at 5:00.  We have our women's Bible study on Mondays from 2:30-4:00 at the center, so it was an obvious solution that Catherine and I co-teach this class.  I mean, how could we refuse this great opportunity to expand our contact base and serve our community?

Last night was our first class and we had 10 students.  I took the first week teaching and then Catherine and I will alternate each week.  All went really well and the kids seemed to have a great time.  One little girl was almost giddy even before we began saying how much fun this was.  When we asked why she said because I'm with my classmates and you are nice.  She seemed to carry with her the same smile when she left.

This year Jonathan has been using a new method of teaching called Total Physical Response (TPR) and it seems to be going over really well.  It worked really well with the kids as they have to respond with actions to each thing they are learning.  Basically you try to teach them as a baby would learn a language.  They are not encouraged to speak in the beginning but just to listen, comprehend and respond to your commands.  And the other huge plus is that you don't translate anything for them.

So for example:  You imitate the commands for them when you speak like "stand up", "point to the door" "touch the chair" etc.  They follow along with you in small groups and then they have to do it alone without any help.  They are learning vocabulary and commands with very little stress.  I am no TPR expert but hopefully for those who are interested you get the idea of what I am trying to say.

If you calculate the numbers, we have 40+ students we now interact with on a weekly basis.  We are truly thrilled for this and pray that as we seek to make ourselves known and serve our community that God might use this to bring others to a saving knowledge of Christ.  Pray for us and them.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Emma's Day

Six years ago today, our precious little Emma Patryce entered our lives and forever captured our hearts. Today we celebrate her life and the blessing that God has so graciously given to us. Below is a slideshow capturing pieces of her first six years of life.  Jonathan wrote this song for Emma just a couple of weeks after she was born.  It has been a while since I have listened to it and the sound of Emma cooing brings tears to my eyes.  It seems just like yesterday...  We love you "Mems" with all our hearts!



P.S. Party to be held for Emma on Sunday...so hang in there for more celebration posts.