Perfect Pancakes :)

We really enjoy this pancake recipe and think it makes wonderful pancakes every time! Feel free to add whatever you want to make them more to your taste--- bananas, cinnamon, fruit, chocolate chips... etc!

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 Tablespoons white sugar
• 2 Tablespoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 cup milk
• 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil or melted butter

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Make a well in the center, and pour in milk, egg and oil. Mix until smooth.
2. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

So Encouraging!

Recently, Lauren & I went to Noemi's apartment to have dinner with her, her fiancee (Emanuele), and another friend (Giuseppe). Noemi and Emanuele are both Christians, and they are getting married in June. Noemi has been a believer for a while, and so has Emanuele, who spent time in England last year, studying at a seminary there. It was incredibly encouraging to spend time together with an Italian couple who is my age, super-fun, and also are believers. Noemi and Emanuele made us fresh basil pesto-- and we had different kinds of Italian cheeses with different types of honey for dessert. It was a beautiful evening spent with friends, and I wanted to share these pictures with you so you could see their sweet faces and be encouraged by our brother & sister in Christ--- Emanuele & Noemi! :)

Please pray for them-- that the Lord would continue to give them a desire to follow Him and share the love & hope that they have with other Italians!

The fresh pesto!

Emanuele, using a knife to slice pieces of cheese off the block. What a fun & fancy dessert! :)

Lauren, Noemi, & me. What a lovely evening with sweet friends!

Decorating our little Roman apartment :)

I wanted to share some pictures with you from our Christmas decorating time (on Monday, November 30th). It was a sweet evening where all 6 of us who live in our little Roman apartment could spend time together, decorate, drink homemade hot chocolate, and finish the evening by watching "A Charlie Brown Christmas." Enjoy the snapshots--- and Merry Christmas! :)

Here's almost all of us! (Lauren, Lauren, Courtney, me, Becca)-- with Jenny taking the photo!--- as we put the lights on the tree :)

Courtney & I with a little ornament :)

What it looked like the other night when I spent time listening to Christmas music and journaling by candlelight/treelight!! Oh how I love this season! :)

Christmas decorations make our little home even MORE homey! :)