Proud to be an American

As many of you already know this week the US inaugurated its 44th President. Tuesday morning Todd and I woke up early and watched all the festivities. This was especially unique for me because now I was an official US citizen. Although I have lived in the US since I was five I became an official citizen this month.

I thank you all for your prayers regarding my interview and the citizenship process. God honored our requests and everything went smoothly. Now we are awaiting to get my passport so I can actually leave the country. Although we must admit that we are really enjoying the 80 degree weather here!

Ode to my Secret Santa

Every year the missionaries do Secret Santa during Christmas. Each person is supposed to do three surprise things for their secret person and then a final big gift on Christmas Eve. My (Rocio's) secret santa was amazing! My first gift was a beautiful painted glass ornament. Problem was Todd and I decided not to get a Christmas tree so we had nowhere to put it. My secret santa soon took care of that by getting us a Christmas tree. Then a few of us had mentioned we were bummed by the lack of snow this winter. My secret santa then left me snow balls (made of the ice from defrosting her freezer!). It was so fun! Then my final gift was amazing. She looked up a funky new restaurant near my parents' house back home, printed out the amazingly yummy menu, wrote out the directions so I wouldn't get lost, and gave me some spending money so Todd and I could go have lunch there. She rocked! Thanks so much Kelsey! You made my Christmas super special.

The Beautiful Ornament

Our Christmas Tree

Please note: all real trees in Romania look like they were grown especially for Charlie Brown

Christmas Cookies

One of our favorite Christmas activities is baking cookies and decorating them. We really wanted to share this tradition with the children we work with but the frosting here is too runny and it would not work. Thankfully, my brother decided to spend his Christmas in Romania with us. He packed up all our cookie cutters, frosting, sprinkles, etc. and made it possible for us to have the kids share in this tradition. Enjoy the pictures below!

Georghe cutting out cookies

Matias (my brother) helping Diana frost her cookie

Alex discovering that frosting is just as good on fingers

Gina, the master decorator

Don't they look good!

Jesus Birthday Cakes

Kelsey and I do a Bible program for the kids at Casa Alba. As Christmas time approached we wanted a fun way to tell them about the importance of Christ's birth. After much searching we found the Jesus Birthday Cake. Each part of the cake building process tells a different reason for his coming. It's quite a neat project. Below is a picture of the finished product from all four groups of kids.

St. Lucia

As many of you know, the organization we work with in Marghita was founded by Swedes and the majority of the missionaries are Swedish. During Christams time, one special tradition they have is the caroling of Santa Lucia. Yet this tradition is not only for the Swedes on the team. Everyone must partake. I can barely hold a tune in English, so you can only imagine what my singing is like in Swedish.

The caroling is to commemorate Santa Lucia (St. Lucy). It is usually celebrated on December 13th, although we did not do it on that day here. St. Lucia is an Italian saint who has been "adopted" by the Swedes. She gave her dowry to the poor. Her fiancee denounced her for this. She was blinded and burned. The flames didn't touch her so she was stabbed in the heart. She is associated with the idea of light. It is said that she appeared during a famine in Sweden in the middle ages carrying food to the farmers across Lake Vännern. During Santa Lucia all the girls dress up in white robes with gold sashes around their waist and hair and go around caroling while holding candles to represent Santa Lucia. The boys also dress up as "star boys," wearing white robes with a cone-shaped hat decorated with stars and also carrying a star wand. We then all walk around caroling in all three languages (Swedish, English, and Romanian). It is quite a sight to see and hear. What an experience!

St. Lucia with Star Boys

Singing Swedish, English, and Romanian Christmas Carols