Decorating

 Every year we get out the tree and it just keeps getting smaller! Annie is as tall as the tree this year!

 Toby needed no help putting the star on!

I love all our little ornaments, each with it's own little story of where it came from. I love having the twinkling lights and extra clutter of Christmas around the house to make us feel cozy. All of our traditions are in full swing with Jesse Tree and an advent calendar to count down the arrival of Immanuel, God with us.

Thanksgiving!

 Another great year to celebrate in Soran with the Rays. As usual, the food was abundant and there was much to be thankful!

 At the top of the list we are thankful for friends!

 It still amazes me that we can produce this food here in Iraq!!

We had a great couple of days in Soran with friends, playing games and eating lots. Truly we are thankful.

Home School Presentations

 We decided to try to have some FUN while learning, so we picked historical characters and jazzed them up a bit. Toby presented Esteban, a black slave during the Spanish Conquistador explorations in 1700s.

 He was a professor presenting his findings to a class.

 Jesse acted out Squanto's life and how he helped the Pilgrims.

Annie filmed a newscast featuring the death of Cleopatra and gave a synopsis of her life. 

Full Circle

 So proud of Tim and his keen mind. He has been able to help with the edit of the Old Testament in Kurdish.

 He studied to do this, but we gave up that dream 15 years ago and now God has brought it full circle for him.

Proud to see this faithful and patient man at work.