Cold Hands, Warm Heart!

Happy November!  Recently, Andee and I have had to make the switch from light, unbuttoned jackets or sweaters and running shoes to something a little more cozy and warm.  I've made a scarf and mittens a permanent addition to the contents of my purse, but have maintained a much less bitter attitude towards the cold than in the years past.  Why is this?  Our apartment is so warm and amazing!!  I can comfortably sit around in nothing more than regular pants with no long johns, a regular shirt without 15 layers, and WITHOUT the addition of a heating pad, blanket, or hot water bottle following me around!  And we often times do not even need the heat on, or put it on low for a few hours and call it a night!  So since I am not permanently freezing for the entirety of the Fall, Winter, and Spring season, I am quite the happy Diana!  A little bit of Winter can't hurt, right??

Last week, we celebrated all the women at our study by having a Women's Bible Study Brunch!  Because nothing brings a bunch of ladies together like good food and good company!  The food was absolutely delicious, and it was great getting to know the ladies better in my small group!  

Andee and I are also trying to extend the regular fishing season by fishing in the cold October and November waters!  We had unseasonably warm weather near the end of October, and then it dropped off quickly and has been cold ever since.  We have still managed to make it out to the lake a few times to catch more massive bass at Bass City, USA!! 

Great news!  I was able to sing on the Worship Team at Harvest Bible Chapel last week!  It was amazing to sing with such talented musicians while worshiping our God!!  I always forget how much I miss singing until I get involved with something that I love!  It was really great, and I really look forward to singing with the team again!!  I will get Andee to snap a picture or two next time so you can see the team!

I have also been babysitting a little bit for one of the ladies at our Bible Study who requested prayer for a daytime babysitter for one day a week for her three youngest kids!  I thought, "I can do that!", and so now I get to work on my kid skills, and she gets a little time off to get stuff done!  And with 5 kids, it is a much needed break!  So glad to be helping out!

For Halloween this year, Andee and I visited our friends Maria and James for a delicious Mexican meal, and great company!  We have so much in common with this wonderful couple, as they have also just recently gotten married and moved away from their family and home!  It was so amazing to get to know them more, and we hope to spend lots more time with them in the future!

As soon as November 1st hit, I knew it was time to get into the Christmas spirit!  Many Christmas songs, movies, and decorations are to come soon, and in fact, the shopping malls have already taken the cue to Christmas-afy everything!  And as I am typing this, I am happily listening to and singing along to popular Christmas youtube songs!  Perfect!! 

Great news again!!  It has just been confirmed that Cassie and Trevor are for sure coming to visit us in a week!!  YAY!!  We are so excited to show them Chicagoland, our apartment, and everything else we love so much about living here!  And of course, all the boys want to do is fish, fish, fish, so we are hoping the fishies are not too cold to chomp down on our lures!  So excited to see them!!  And after they arrive, it will be only a month left before we head home for the holidays!  YAY!!!!!!!  "It's the most wonderful time of the year...!"