buon natale!

Merry Christmas, friends!

My family has arrived and we've all been bustling around--I just finished my last week of work so we actually haven't spent a ton of time together yet! My parents spoke at the Marriage Conference my church hosted (reaching out to the Castelli region--read previous posts for info) and my dad will preach today and next Sunday. My two families (birth and adopted Congolese-Italian) will celebrate Christmas together at my apartment... you can be sure I am counting my blessings and thankful for the precious gift of JESUS and His love that makes familial love all the sweeter.

Thanks to all of you who have reached out and sent packages or Christmas cards or kept in touch on facebook/skype etc. Missing you this Christmas! Frascati is bustling with Christmas spirit this month. The town is covered with lights and there's a literal red carpet covering the cobblestone streets with music resounding from speakers on every corner... the Christmas stalls with artisan products are out each evening. Tania and I have set up our (fake) tree and I am trying to decide whether 4 months seems like a lot or a little... time is a funny thing. Thankful for a God who does not measure time and that I find my home and peace in HIM. Thankful to be loved and used by Him. Thankful for you!

Below is a summary of some things you can be continuing to pray for.
May the God who came as a piccolo bambino bless you richly this Christmas!
Lots of love, Allie

*Marriage Conference...that people now process & apply the things they heard
*Christmas Sunday outreach and dinner at church Dec 23
*Praise God for my family here with me!
*Praise God for my job, students, coworkers--a great semester
*Praise for an amazing weekend in the north at an Italian women's retreat :)
*Prayer for loving friends new and old that they might know Jesus (F, A, M, L, S, R--by initials)
*Blessing on our House Party Dec 29--meaningful conversations (we are throwing a party to connect our Christian-Non-Christian friends...includes live music from my siblings!)

Pics top->bottom: Austen & I, my brothers getting ready to play music at the conference, parents getting ready to speak, Christmas bus downtown Rome, my xmas pic with the Diamubeni fam :)