We had visitors!!! Aaron's parents came over Thanksgiving and were here for about 10 days. We were able to show them our lives in Klaipeda and continued much of our daily routine (minus the homeschooling;). We played A LOT of cards and had our own little expat Thanksgiving feast at our friends, turkey and all! We did take a trip to Vilnius, this time by train. We were quite excited to have our own little cabin (Quincy and I felt like we were on the train to Hogwarts--we have both now finished the Harry Potter series). We were surprised to learn that we were there for the Christmas tree lighting, that was quite an experience! The Lithuanians love their fireworks;) It was wonderful to have Aaron's parents here and to have our kids be loved on so well. It reminded all of us that though many miles and an ocean may separate us from many that we love, relationships don't have to change.
Waiting...waiting...
They made it!
Train ride at the mall.
Train ride to Vilnius.
The view from our window.
Sweet Nala turned 2 on December 22. For the weeks leading up to her birthday, she would tell us at least 25 times a day "It's almost my birthday!" and still does from time to time. She was certain she would be 6, but can now hold up 2 fingers after much practice. She talks quite a bit, loves to dance and sing, and is the best helper in the kitchen. What a joy to remember her swift entry into our family 2 years ago!!! She continues to be a gift of God's grace, comfort, and provision. Her current tricks include doing a darn-good forward somersault, "helping" me cook on a daily basis, and asking "can I? can I? can I?" to almost anything anyone else is doing. She is a spunky, lovable, and chatty little girl, so very fun!
Reading with Jackson.
Birthday morning, not sure who was more excited, Nala or her siblings.
Lots of sister love here.
That face!
The day after Nala's bday (Dec 23), Jackson took an unfortunate fall and we were able to experience the Klaipeda Children's Hospital. None of us saw him fall, Quincy was the first responder and didn't think it was "all that serious." We learned that Jackson is an internalizer of pain. He was very quiet, but precise about where it hurt, and it was a new sad face we hadn't seen before. The care he received at the hospital was remarkably efficient. Jackson fell around 625pm, and he was back home with a cast on by 830pm. Thankfully, the fracture did not require surgery, he just has a cast on and goes in weekly for an x-ray to monitor his healing. Aaron has been the "hospital parent" and has been really impressed with Jackson's care. All is going well.
At the hospital.
And back home less than 1.5 hours later!
And then Christmas and New Year's. We were a little apprehensive of what celebrating the holidays would be like for our kids. We made a few attempts to plan a trip away from Klaipeda, but nothing really worked out. And in the end, it was a wonderful way to celebrate Christmas. We were able to spend Christmas Eve with friends, going to the Klaipeda Christmas tree and singing carols together.
And on Christmas Day, we had lunch with many families and students that stayed at LCC for the holidays. All that in the midst of opening presents and FaceTiming with friends and family back home. It was lovely!
The Klaipeda Christmas tree!
Christmas Eve, singing carols.
Our Christmas tree.
Who doesn't love legos!
She's too fast for the camera most of the time;)
New skates.
We rang in the New Year with our good friends, the Bikis's...well at least we got pretty close for having 7 young kids between our 2 families! Our night was filled with eating, playing in the snow, lighting off fireworks, and playing cards. Our most successful New Year's party to date!
Our giant snowman, Smokey the Phil.
He also participated in the fireworks extravaganza!
It has been wonderful to have Aaron home for most of the holiday break. He has gone to work a few times, but for the most part has been here. That has allowed our kids to go ice skating several times, Quincy says "We've been there so many times, Annie, Dad, and I have all gotten better." And to play in the snow while it was here. Aaron is also embracing the sauna life of Eastern Europe. He went 3 times last week, one of which included a jump in the Baltic Sea!?!
Snow! The day after Christmas.
Ice skating, so much ice skating.
And Annie and I went to the ballet, Swan Lake.
We are nearly at the midpoint of our time here (our return date has not yet been determined), but with one semester completed at LCC, it feels much like halfway. During the first semester, we feel like we focused most of our energy on learning to live in a new and foreign culture, and helping our kids feel at home here. It kind of feels like now we will begin to learn additional lessons God has in store for us, and how we go back to our same lives as different people, all 6 of us. We love and miss our friends and families back home, but also feel connected to LCC and the people God has provided for us in this place, and continue to learn much about what it has and continues to mean to live in Eastern Europe.
So, Happy New Year to you all! May this year be filled with stretching and growing, peace and joy!
Much Love, the Winkles
Thanks a mill., Betsy! So interesting, so beautiful (people), so missed! Hope Jackson says goodbye to his cast soon. Quincy sounds like a soccer player: "It doesn't look so bad."
ReplyDeleteCalvin men's BB home games are not the same with no Winkle family sightings.
Can you top (bottom?) -12F? Minnesotans (me, back when) can tell temperature these cold W. Michigan days by the crunching sound snow makes underfoot; Linda (Californian, back when) doesn't want to hear about it.
Grace and peace to each of you. John and Linda Rozeboom