International Friends Holiday Christmas Party
Tuesday, December 7
Cornerstone Lutheran Church
4850 East Main Street, Carmel
10:30-12:00 in Room 100
Enter door 6
Bring a dish to share and a white elephant gift*
A white elephant gift is something from your home that you don't want any more and can't throw away because we all know it has value to someone!
Hello, Friends.
I hope your Thanksgiving was blessed with feasting, friends, family, fun and football.
Christmas season officially opens on Black Friday. Shop in stores for deals. Cyber Monday offers great deals on-line. Giving Tuesday is the opportunity to donate to the community.
Advent marks the Christian church season leading up to Christmas. Special musical programs to celebrate and prepare for the birth of Jesus, Son of God and Savior of Mankind. Churches are decorated with Christmas trees and special community programs reach out to the community to give gifts, meals, and holiday bazaars and cookie walks for finding one of gifts or treasures. Items are donated and these holiday shopping events help to fund outreach activities in the church.
Advent doesn't just reflect a religious holiday. Advent calendars count down the days: some have pictures, some have small toys, some have bottles of wine. Everyone loves counting down to this holiday!
ALL MEETINGS AND CLASSES RESUME
NOVEMBER 29. SEE YOU ZOOM!
Check our webpages for homework.
More Festive Fun
Fishers has a lot going on for the holidays for everyone! Read about the free, fun and festivities in Fishers Announces Holiday Events from the Current. Fishers Story Walk in Fishers parks
This edition of the Hamilton County Reporter has the lowdown on Christmas Season Celebrations.
Hello, Friends.
Winter in Indiana and the United States is wonderful for meeting friends and family for feasting and fun. To get set for the feasting, find the new tabs at the top of our webpage: our classic and updated International Friends Recipes. And, November 26 is Black Friday. Get out in the crowds and get some Christmas shopping done.
There is no excuse not to make a traditional or not so traditional turkey this year. Turkey roasting tips:
Remember, no meetings or classes November 22-26.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Local Winter Fun
COVID 19 Update
It has been a while since we had new COVID news. All around Indiana we are beginning to see relaxing of mandates. Many schools are relaxing the mask mandates beginning after the new year. Look for announcements for your particular district and school.
If you are fully vaccinated, you can return to your normal activities without wearing a mask, except where required by rule or law. If you are not fully vaccinated, wear a face mask properly, maintain social distancing, get a flu shot, wash your hands frequently, clean and disinfect surfaces; in communities you may visit restaurants and public places and enjoy outdoor activities safely where COVID-19 is not spreading.--Mayo Clinic
The COVID boosters have been opened to everyone (although they were readily available in Indiana) in the U. S. To be eligible for a booster, you need to have been vaccinated with Pfizer or Moderna at least six months or Johnson and Johnson at least two months. You can mix and match boosters. Find out more with this WebMD article.
Indiana Considers Lifting COVID Public Health Emergency
Governor Holcomb announced what he needs to end the public health emergency after a month by month extension of the emergency. The governor's statement"
When extending the last state public health emergency for another 30 days, I asked my team to bring me a plan that would allow us to wind it down responsibly. The plan identifies three key items that must be preserved if I am to responsibly allow the state pubic health emergency to expire. To carry this out, I am working with Senator Bray and Speaker Huston to consider passing three statutory changes to continue protecting Hoosiers by allowing continuation of enhanced federal matching funds for Medicaid expenditures, the continuation of the enhanced benefit for those receiving federal food assistance and extend the ability to efficiently vaccinate our 5-to 11-year-olds.
A statement from House Speaker Todd Huston regarding the request:
I think that we feel like we're reaching that point where we've had vaccinations available, we now have boosters available. We've got, thank goodness, much better therapies available. At some point, we move from a government response to an individual responsibility.
American Sign Language: Monday, 5:30-6:30 PM EST (GMT-5), Zoom
After free conversation, we worked on numbers and time, extended family and reviewed holiday words. We covered non-manual signs (or signs that are driven by expressions and physical action almost as a short cut).
International Bible Study: Tuesday, 9:30-10:30 AM EST (GMT-5), Hybrid
We read Ephesians 4 where Paul writes that he is a prisoner for Jesus Christ meaning that now as Jesus prisoner he is possessed or in control by Jesus to act accordingly (previously he says a prisoner of meaning that he is possessed or in Jesus' control). Paul further explains that human changing direction and instruction can follow the whims of fashion, politics, society or you name it based in "the cunning craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming." Paul writes to be humble, gentle, patient, and bearing each others burdens in love as having been taught by Jesus. Because of the firm and decisive leadership that comes from the authority of God, people do not need to be lost in confusion of the bad leadership of people who put self first and wish to harm others for self gain.
Part two gives great advice for living with others. "Do not let the sun go down on your anger," is advice we could all benefit. And the last verse are excellent words to live by: "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another just as in Christ God forgave you."
International Friends: Tuesday, 10:30 AM-12:00 PM EST (GMT-5), Hybrid
Four of us gathered to feast. Our menu included: Roast turkey (prepared the previous week during class), cornbread dressing, pan drippings gravy, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, garlic know rolls, sweet potato and fig salad, Japanese style rolls, pumpkin pie and Tarta de Santiago (Spanish Almond Cake). It was nice to get together and spend time talking face to face and pick up our traditions.
Afternoon Conversation: Wednesday, 4:30-6:00 PM EST (GMT-5), Zoom
No takers this week. No one wanted to hear about my trip to the dentist, I guess. That's ok, though. I will tell you all about it! I drove up to Gas City to see my dentist because a chunk of a tooth fell out (while I was eating fried chicken, no less!). He was able to keep the tooth since the damage did not extend into the dentin and the nerve was well preserved. I think the tooth must have been giving me some trouble for a while, because my jaw is much more relaxed than before.
English Classes: Thursday, 9:30 AM-12:00 PM EST (GMT-5), Zoom
We covered our M, N and O frequently used words and talked about what can be troublesome verbs for native English speakers. For our next meeting we prepare P, Q and R.
Kids' Conversation: Friday, 4:30-5:00 PM EST (GMT-5), Zoom
We had a full house on Friday! It was fabulous to meet new Friends and see old Friends (and guests). People shared food they cooked or food they created artistically. Thanks for Zooming guests and pets. It is fun to share our lives!
Musicians, prepare to play Jingle Bells. Everyone can sing along!
Hello, Friends.
In Indiana, the leaves are falling fast. The best way to take care of them is to mow them into your grass. It is also the easiest way to take care of them! Another great use is to pile them into your flower beds. They protect your plants during cold weather and act as compost.
We had snow and wintery mix over the weekend. Get out your mittens and hats!
International Friends Feast and Fun
You are invited to join us in person (with a Zoom back up) for an International Thanksgiving Celebration.
Bring a dish to share. You do not have to be currently registered to come. Just show up!
November 16, 10:30-12:00, Room 100 (enter Door 6)
Cornerstone Lutheran Church, 4850 East Main Street, Carmel
American Sign Language: Monday, 5:30-6:30 PM EST (GMT-5), Zoom
We chatted about the week. We also reviewed the names of family members: mother, father, children, son, daughter, niece, nephew, aunt, uncle, in-laws, spouse. The holidays mean family gatherings and this year we all are looking forward to seeing family again!
November 15: We are dragging out our holiday sign vocabulary. We haven't used some of these words since last year! How many do you think we will remember? I am going to guess that like the holidays these words are pretty memorable!
International Bible Study: Tuesday, 9:30-10:30 AM EST (GMT-5), Hybrid
This week we read and discussed Ephesians 3 where Paul begins by saying that he is a prisoner of Christ. What does that mean? When Paul was writing this letter, he was a Roman prisoner, yet his heart and mind free in Jesus Christ. How can someone be the prisoner of someone who has set him free? The message of this chapter is that Gentiles (non-Jews) with the Jewish believers are heirs and members of the body of Christ. Revelation 7 (John's vision of the end times) provides an amazing word picture of all the saints. Sainthood belongs to all who are in the family!
November 16: We will discuss Ephesians 4 both at church and on Zoom. Join us in Room 100 or online.
International Friends: Tuesday, 10:30 AM-12:00 PM EST (GMT-5), Hybrid.
We planned for our Feast on Tuesday.
November 16: Have you heard we are feasting???? Join us in person (or on Zoom!)
Afternoon Conversation: Wednesday, 4:30-6:00 PM EST (GMT-5), Zoom
I had a dental emergency. My apologies for having to cancel our class.
November 17: Let's catch up. I can tell you all about my wonderful tooth!
English Classes: Thursday, 9:30 AM-12:00 PM EST (GMT-5), Zoom
Sentence sharing for JKL was job that kept us learning. Conjugation can be a conundrum that can be overcome. Check additional links on Our Meetings and Classes for American Accent textbook links and the free Mastering the American Accent App for iPhones and iPads or for your Google or other devices.
November 18: Review M and NO. Sentences, please.
Kids' Conversation and More: Friday, 4:30-5:00 PM EST (GMT-5) Zoom
We expanded our world to Japan this week. It is nice to have Friends around the globe and in different time zones. It is funny to think that we are tired or hungry but at different times of the day!
We talked about Queen's Gambit on Netflix. The Queen's Gambit is a chess move to learn!
November 19:
Prepare to tell us "All About Me" in five sentences.
Cook a feasting dish and either bring it to Zoom or snap a shot and share. Tell us how you made it.
Have fun coloring and write about what you are thankful for:
Learn a little about the history of Thanksgiving.
Hello, Friends.
It is time to set you clocks back one hour to standard time. The best ways are to set your clocks back before you go to bed or to rely on your computer and/or cell phone to set your time for you. Don't forget to set the time in your car! I always panic when I hop in my car to go somewhere and suddenly I am too early or too late!
If you are reading this Sunday. Go catch an hour nap to catch up with the rest of us!
What Are We Reading?
Our Kids' Conversation Meeting has a great reading list (all of which have movies and series to watch on PBS, YouTube, and other video sources):
Yankee Doodle
We talked about The song Yankee Doodle. Have you learned this song? Are your kids singing this song in school? This nursery rhyme song has roots in the American Revolutionary War. Read The Story Behind the Song from the Kennedy Center to learn the history and crafting of this classic American song.
And since we all know the tune, why not sharpen our English language skills?
The Preposition Song (Sung to the tune of Yankee Doodle)
Verse 1:
Aboard, about, above, acrossAgainst, along, aroundAmid, among, after, atExcept, for, during, downChorus:
Under, underneath, since, upLike, near, past, throughout, throughWith, within, without, insteadToward, inside, into, toVerse 2:
Behind, below, beneath, besideBetween, before, beyondBy, in, from, off, on, over, ofUntil, unto, upon
American Sign Language: Monday, 5:30-6:30, Zoom
Sentence writing is our jam! This year all of our classes are building our skills with sentence writing. You may wonder why this works when learning a new language (more than just word flash cards). For adults, this a great way to memorize. Adults are extremely efficient learners! We learn best in context and when we use information or skills. What better way to learn than by creating sentences?
November 8: Join the conversation and add to your vocabulary.
International Bible Study: Tuesday, 9:30-10:30, Zoom
This week we read and talked about Ephesians 2. This wonderful chapter Paul writes:
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
So, as you plan your week, you can be sure that your plans are good.
November 8: We are talking about Ephesians 3.
International Friends: Tuesday, 10:30-12:00, Zoom.
We planned for our cooking and talked about how we liked to cook our turkeys. In Turkey, turkeys are stuffed with rice and cranberries for Christmas. This may be the perfect dish for Thanksgiving here in the U.S.! We could start a new tradition this year.
November 8: Zoom over to learn how Carolyn prepares a turkey and we talk about preparing the classic dishes.
Afternoon Conversation: Wednesday, 4:30-6:00, Zoom.
November 9: Shhhh. Private lessons!
English Classes: Thursday, 9:30-12:00, Zoom.
November 10: Prepare your sentences using J, K, L words.
Kid's Conversation: Friday, 4:30-5:00, Zoom.
November 11: Bring your five sentence stories or five sentences about yourself.
