Winter Break Fun!

Winter break has been filled with lots of fun times! Here are Nicolae and Cristian enjoying their bikes from Santa...aka Everett Staff.

















These are their first bikes. They have ridden them a couple of times now and will soon be ready to lose the training wheels. These pictures just happen to be pictures of their very first rides on their new bikes.



We also got to take the boys bowling. Another first. Let's just say, it was a great thing that the bumpers were up. Some of their throws reminded me of Fred Flintstone, where the ball ricocheted off the sides 6-8 times before actually hitting the pins.



Skiing was another new experience for the boys. Nicolae did awesome. He loved it and worked hard at it all day long. Cristian was less aggressive and would have been fine sitting in the lodge for the afternoon.



Um...that was so not happening. He ended up getting back out there and finished out the day with Nicolae. Yay Cristian.
I am proud of both the boys. They did a great job for their first day of skiing.

The next day we went skating at Long Barn. It was the first time for Daniel, Cristian and Nicolae. We had such a great time. A cute little rink, spending time with each other,laughing and enjoying each other's company. It was such a special moment. Pictures don't even come close to showing what a wonderful time it was...filled with so much LOVE.
And...look at the cute little skating bars that the boys got to use. They were wonderful. Cristi was tearing up the ice for about 2 hrs. Nicolae ventured from the bar and skated on his own after a bit. He was so adorable skating and dancing.

Here is Bev and Daniel hanging out together on the ice. Actually we all pretty much hung out together. It was not a big rink.

After skating we headed to Pie in the Sky pizza and then to the cabin to clean up.
We got back home Monday evening.

Here are a couple more pictures of Nicolae, Cristian and Daniel on the deck of the cabin.










I used to dream of moments like these with Nicolae and Cristian. Now they have come true. God is so good!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Everyone!
Nicolae and Cristian are doing very well and are enjoying the holiday season. Singing Christmas songs, visiting Santa, decorating the Christmas Tree and reading books about the real reason for Christmas...Jesus. They especially love the book "The Legend of the Candy Cane". It talks about how the red represents the blood of Jesus and how the white is our sins washed away white as snow. It explains how the shape is that of a shepherd's hook and when you turned it over it is a J is for Jesus. It talks about how a little girl and the candy shop owner go from house to house sharing God's promise. They leave candy canes at each house. It is such a beautiful story. Cristian and Nicolae love it. Cristian was so moved by this story. He invited Jesus into his heart. It was so precious. He said, "Jesus please come into my heart, because I want you to be in my heart." Then Nicolae followed up with...Yes Jesus stay in our hearts and thank you too because Maga, Mrs. Kucera and Osita are with you. Yes, of course, I cried.
To all of our friends in Romania... Luminita, Ani, Vali, Carmen, Petre, Marius, Rebecca, Petra, Maria, William, Nannette, Julie, Pastor Florin.Claudia, Claudia, David, Feli, Dana, Laurentiu, Brandusa, Paul and Stephanie, Nicoleta, Bianca, Andrei all of you...we think about you often and miss you so much.
We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas. Merry Christmas/ Craciun Fericit.
Love,
Nicolae, Cristian and Debbie

Cousins together for the first time!

I know that it has been so long since I last emailed. Hopefully, I will be better at keeping you all updated. I certainly have enough pictures, but I can't think of a better picture to begin with than this one.. Here are Tomas, Nicolae, Daniel and Cristian together for the first time. Cousins Together...December 14, 2008.