New Experiences

Christkindlmarkt

The traditional Christmas Market of Vienna is a sight to behold.  It is an assortment of food, decorations, and gatherings that happens from the middle of November until Christmas Day.  We had so much fun wandering through the market.  We sampled new foods like KartoffelPuree, potato patties made from mashed potatoes, and spicy wurst wrapped in croissant-like bread.  We also had some roasted chestnuts.  Never had a roasted chestnut, not a tradition in Texas, but surprisingly enjoyed them.  Sweet flavor.  The desserts called krapfen, giant filled doughnuts, were a big hit at our house.  Overall, a wonderful experience that we will treasure forever.

Snowfalls

We experienced our first and second snowfalls this week in Vienna.  The first snow fell and we played in it making snowballs to our hearts content.  A second snowfall, even more than the first, would have closed schools in Texas but not in Austria.  We trudged through the snow to school and had a great time keeping the kids from eating the snow and sliding around the streets of Vienna.  Freezing temperatures have kept the snow around and we have enjoyed seeing it for days now.  The girls came home tonight to have a snowball/ice war in the backyard in the dark.  What other choice do you have when the sun goes down at 4 o'clock!  Great times.

Thanksgiving

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; His love endures forever." - Psalm 118:1

The spirit of thankfulness, as Pastor Tom Mason of Grace Church in Vienna says, is deeply biblical.  Abel's offerings to David's Psalms demonstrate how we as His creations should show thankfulness to God for all He has given us.  We can be so ungrateful towards God especially when we look at our circumstances, trials, failures, and frustrations.  When our focus is solely on ourselves, His provision seems so removed from the daily grind.  It's when we lose ourselves, we gain heavenly eyesight to see how He orchestrates our entire existence especially our dependence on Him alone.  So in this week of grateful thanks, allow me to mention some of the things He has done.

• Salvation - the greatest gift anyone can receive
• His Spirit - for guidance, comfort, and more.
• His Plan - not completely reveled which keeps us dependant
• Debt - freedom - owing only Him is the only way to live!
• A new place to live - on the mission field in Europe, serving Him daily with teens and adults from all over the globe
• Places to serve - ICSV and Grace Church, Vienna
• Weight reduction - changes in diet, more exercise by walking everywhere = 2 dress sizes less for Channon and really, baggy clothes for me!
• Our kids - even though transitioning continues to be tough, they are doing better than we expected and we can see God's mercy and power through each of them.

"How can I repay the Lord for all His goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord.  I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people." - Psalm 116:12-14

This week of Thanksgiving, I pray that you refocus your eyes on Him so that He can show you how He is working in you and help you to be more thankful for all He is and provides for you!