Things are picking up.

Happy (Belated) Birthday, Karen!

Yesterday was Karen's birthday. Aside from being really busy, it was good! She enjoyed lunch out with Roberta and then went to Targu Mures to pray over someone in the hospital. After I had language lessons (my first one!) and she had left, I walked to the market and bought a big boquet of daliahs. I also went to the cofetaria and got some eclairs (prajitura) as a treat for her. And when I got home, I cooked dinner so that she wouldn't have to and then made a little card. =] I then proceeded to rush out the door and leave it all behind for her to discover when she got home. (I spent the day in Tsigmadru.) Now don't you wish YOU lived with me?? =]

Just a note to mom and dad: I'm getting better at the whole birthday...special...giving gifts is a good way to love on those who have the day of birth. Sorry it took me this long. =] But don't worry, you've got plenty ahead of you.

So here are some highlights of the week:

*"Shuffle your buns" with the Tsigmandru pre-teens

*Having a conversation with the teens in Tsigmandru all in Romanian (and understanding it!)

*Playing the role of "domesticated Melanie" and cooking and cleaning all day Tuesday

*Walking the boys to and from school

This is along the path on the backroad to our house.

*Buying potatoes and beans from the little old ladies at the market.
*Discovering there is a cat living under our house...the only entrance to "under our house" is under my bed. Leaving it tuna last night and hearing it eat it in the middle of the night.
*A big storm on Wednesday that brought some very cool weather.

*"Game night" on Wednesday night with Hans.

*Building my first successful tower of cards ever!
*Sleeping in yesterday...9:30AM Woooohoo.
*My first language lesson with the American students studying abroad (I knew everything already!)
*Meeting Annie (the nurse) and spending the afternoon with her in Tsigmadru, helping tend to patients in the doctor's clinic
*Learning how to take blood pressure and what the numbers mean. (WOOT!)
Annie, the nurse. =]
Me and some patients. The baby has a umbilical hernia (I now know what that looks like!) and the little boy has a huge burn on his foot that was infected.

*Dancing with the little Romanian girls in the street to some very techno-esque Romanian music (malene).
*Playing "special rules" UNO with the teens last night. They said all the rules in Romanian. Needless to say, I was lost. I was the last one to "go out" (AKA: the loser) and so I was punished with running around the church 5 times.
*The drive home with Nelutu and him turning up his Romanian music after we had both declared "Suntem obosit", or "We are tired."

I've had a very busy week, but it's been a lot of fun too. It's good to have the boys in school and begin to have a more regular schedule to live by. I'm loving it! =]
I still inhale deeply when I walk outside, take a look around, and sometimes pinch myself. It's all real, I live in Romania! Holla back to God for that. =] Haha.