A Couple Videos

We were able to capture a few moments from Carter's Christmas program  with Jonathan's phone. The quality isn't great, but you can hear some of the singing in the first and last videos and the middle video is Carter reciting his poem with his teacher, Kriszti. Enjoy!

A Christmas First

Carter during his program.

 This year we had a Christmas First... Carter participated in a school program for all the parents. We weren't exactly sure what to expect (since we are new to preschool, new to Hungary, and new to school programs) but we were pleasantly surprised! The entire class was dressed as characters from the Nativity story and Carter was an angel. The class sang songs and recited poems (in Hungarian, of course!) and Carter even shared a Christmas poem in English for everyone! Afterward, there were cookies and tea for all the parents and children.

One of the things that did surprise us, was the incorporation of the Christmas story in a public school - something that isn't seen these days in the United States. They lit an Advent Wreath and sang about Baby Jesus. It really is a testament to how disconnected people have become with religion here, that it is celebrated in the schools, but not in their hearts.

Carter was excited to give me (Corinne) a hand-decorated votive holder and cookies that they worked on in class. We had prepared some American favorites (chocolate chip cookies) to give to each of his teachers. We feel so blessed to have such caring and understanding teachers in Carter's class. They both are so patient with Carter's language limitations (and ours as well!). Carter wanted to have his picture taken with each of them before we left. It was his last day of class before he starts Christmas break.

Carter and Miss Anniko

Carter and Miss Kriszti

I'll Have a Blue Christmas (without you)...

The past few weeks of holidays and prep for Christmas has put me on a bit of an emotional roller coaster. I read this quote on a friends blog and it pretty much puts into words what I have so much trouble explaining to others.

"changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another.” 

~Anatole France

Coming to Hungary was a longed for change, a passion we feel even today...but with it came the death of our lives before. The relationships we have with our friends and family back home are cherished and will never completely die, but are a loss to us none-the-less. At Thanksgiving and Christmas, especially, we long for those love ones who are many, many miles away.

Some of those holiday memories left behind...