Another Nutcracker! only this time in Costa Rica

Renee arrived yesterday just in time for the last Nutcracker show in the National Theater, San Jose Costa Rica.
We had such a fun day. Daddy had bought the tickets a few weeks ago. When we heard the East Coast may get hit with a blizzard I was really concerned. What if she doesn't get here on Saturday! I had already figured out who I would invite to go with me! But in reality the tickets were only purchased for her! An early Christmas gift. We met daddy for lunch and then topped it off at Dairy Queen!

Renee comes home for Christmas!

Renee has had a semester of all semesters! She is alone without family in Phoenixville, so that is the first hard transition. Then she carried 20 credit hours this semester. She works 2 afternoons at Grace Daycare. She dances, is in the string ensemble, along with added Nutcracker rehearsals I don't know how she has done it and still has A's in her classes. We have told her there is no work while she is here. If she wants to sleep, she sleeps! If she wants to read, she can read but only for enjoyment, no work! Of course we have lots of fun things planned but after a semester at full speed ahead, she needs a break! We will miss Ryan and Lauren for the holidays but we know some Christmas they will come! I can't wait.
When Renee arrived today at the airport we just wanted to keep squeezing her! She has been in Costa Rica 2 times before so she kind of had an idea where she was coming. Daddy told her you have one job while you're here...that is FILL OUR TANKS! We are going to store all the fun, the laughter, the college stories and memories that she brings to our lives.

CINCEL December Graduation

CINCEL's year is divided into trimesters. A different student body comes in every January, April, and August. Most missionaries stay for one year. Our December graduating class consists of missionaries going to Nicaragua, Mexico, and Ecuador. The day is beautiful. The graduation goes from 10:00 to 12:00. Formal picture taking time is at 9:00. Everyone comes in so excited and animated. It truly is a celebration of success. To think that most students cannot put a sentence together when they arrive and when they depart a year later, not only can they make a sentence but they can preach and minister in the language. It truly is amazing. Each graduate is given invitations for their pastor while here or friends that they have made. Our guest musicians were from Vida Abundante church and the speaker was Jay Dickerson. It was a beautiful celebration.

Christmas Chica Time

The lady students of CINCEL get together each month for fellowship and friendship. This week we didn't come to my house but rather to a typical Costa Rican restaurant downtown San Jose. There we enjoyed lunch and shared friendship with exchanging a Christmas gift of a Costa Rican souvenir. It was so much fun! I am so happy we did this kind of celebration with each other!