A few thousand words.

We've been neglecting the blog lately -- probably because we come home so soon to visit that it feels silly to be typing the stories we'll soon tell in person.  (!!!)  Plus, life is FULL here right now.  The weeks before a long trip always feel that way -- packed to the brim with "one last dinner together," "one last hike before it snows," "one last weekend" -- and thus we're too busy spending time with people, saying temporary goodbyes, to write.  I think that's probably healthy, in the grand scheme of things -- though it does leave our blog woefully empty.

But I have been taking pictures.  And because the old adage says a picture's worth a thousand words, well... hopefully this will make up for our lack of verbiage in the last few weeks.

This man.  Have I mentioned lately how incredibly thankful I am for his friendship and his love and his faithfulness 

and the millions of ways he makes me laugh?  Oh, what a gift God gave me in my husband.  I am so grateful.  

(Also... check out the beautiful fall foliage!)

 Halloween... we dressed as Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox.  And then we sang karaoke with the study abroad students... to Katy Perry.  We're awesome missionaries.  heehee.

November has proven surprisingly warm and beautiful, after a miserably cold start to autumn... so we've done a lot of playing outside, enjoying the sun before it sets each day... at 4:45 PM, I might add.

Jack's birthday party, surrounded by loving and wonderful Romanian friends.  

I AM SO THANKFUL FOR THESE PEOPLE. 

 We went to the opera in Cluj as a surprise for Jack's birthday.  We rarely dress up, so it was fun, even though we've decided that attending the opera is not our favorite pastime.

A lot of weekends this fall have been spent on Straja, leading groups through the ropes course. 

This weekend was with IMPACT leaders from around the Jiu Valley.  

Okay, I guess I only took pictures of the fun things.  :)  In reality, much of our time is spent the same way it has always been -- working, cooking, sleeping, cleaning, slowly getting to know other people over the course of conversations at the grocery store and earnest, eager dinners together.  But it's good, and steady, and beautiful, and we are doing well.  And I promise to tell you more about it when we see each other... in person!