Christmas Tidings!

Merry Christmas!

It has been longer than normal for me to be updating our blog. I have to apologize as life has been extremely busy with all of the events in our lives. In August, I was hired as a new teacher for Chapel Hill Academy. It's a Christian private school in Chanhassen. Following this, we got the boys enrolled for school in the fall. All the while, Nathaniel was looking for work and not having much success. After a month of waiting, the staffing agency called on his references and contacted a previous employer from before we left for Brazil. His previous boss found out that he was in town needing work and specifically requested him.

With the economy the way it has been, finding work and such a good job is a huge answer to prayer. Nathaniel later found out after the official hire (he started as a temp) that they would honor his years of service in the company before and he has a great vacation benefit for the 2009 year. We were so amazed at God's provision and his ordering the events of our transition.

We were looking at homes as the housing market was an opitmal time to purchase with the prices being so low. We looked and looked in the range that we were willing to pay and homes were just not very good. Finally we found a home, and on October 30th we closed on our new home! We moved into the home November 1st. Below are some pictures of our new home.

Part of my favorite part of our new home is the large kitchen! It's so big that we hosted my whole family in the kitchen over Thanksgiving and it was quite comfortable!

The greatest joy this season has been seeing the kids realize that we are home to stay and the way they are bonding with the family. In addition, it has been fun to see each time it snows their reaction to the snow. Eliana literally giggles with joy and cries out "SNOW!"

Recently we had our Christmas program at the school. I hope to post some updates here of the video feeds of both the kindergarten and second grade classes so you all can enjoy hearing the boys sing! It was a fun event that I hope you may be able to attend next year! Blessings to all and hope you have a Merry Christmas!

Here are some photos of the boys in the Christmas concert: