Our team had our first annual team retreat this last weekend. It’s seems weird  to begin these traditions with our team, but also wonderful. It’s still hard to believe that we are actually living overseas.

We took the opportunity to enjoy some R&R at a dairy farm. We spent lots of time playing with the kiddos, strolling through the farm, riding on a tractor, drinking fresh milk and yogurt, and playing our favorite team board games. It was a good time of just enjoying each other. It was also a time to truly worship God. We looked back at our team through the years and told each other again the stories of how mightily God worked. We shared our present burdens and our future dreams. We sang, we prayed, we cried, we laughed… we were amazed at what God has done for us and in us.

Our team (and the wonderful babysitters)

Tractor ride!

And on that farm they had a cow, E-I-E-I-O, with a moo, moo...

For missionaries, celebrating American holidays is a special time to feel connected with everyone back home, but it often requires some creativity! In Portugal, our whole team joined in the hunt for some nice, orange pumpkins (which we finally found), the kids wore homemade costumes, we trick-or-treated from door-to-door inside the Campbell’s apartment, and Tosta-Mista man (Grilled cheese sandwich man) came to visit! It was a lot of fun, and it was the first time trick-or-treating for Efesson, Biruk, Eliana, and Stephen. We all enjoyed seeing them learn the ropes. Efesson was very indignant when I offered him a (gummy) hamburger,  but was quite happy when I told him it was candy. We’re looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas together.

Our little troop

My little gorilla and zebra

Tosta Mista Man

We had a week off of classes (our Fall break, I guess), so we took the opportunity to go to Italy for some sightseeing and to visit Danny’ sister Tammy and her family. Lots and lots of fun and our little girls were amazing!

Danny had lots of fun trying to teach Eliana about 'ancient rocks' on the Appian Way.

Our family at the Colosseum

Eliana fell asleep at St. Peter's

Danny and our girls inside the Pantheon

The Florence Duomo, and my own Hercules

Eliana's activity of choice

Sophia was the center of attention whenever she was awake.

All ready to go play!

Eliana and her cousin Deborah

Blessed time with family

We were very blessed to have some very special visitors in July and August.

Danny’s mom was here for Sophia’s birth of course. She spent most of her visit cleaning, washing, and sorting or soothing Sophia or playing with Eliana. It was a huge blessing.

Beth doing double duty

After Beth left, we had a few days to realize how much we needed our next visitor – Katie’s mom! She spent lots of time playing playdough with Eliana and babysitting so that Danny and I could get back into language classes. We were also able to do some sight-seeing.

Overlooking Lisbon

Grandmother and granddaughters

And if all that wasn’t enough, Danny’s mom and dad were able to come here after their missionary retreat in Italy. We took the opportunity to rent a car and see some of the country.

At Obidos (a walled medieval city) with the Reeses

With the Reeses at Peniche

Praise God that Sophia and Eliana were able to have such great grandparent time!

We took a new family picture since we became four, and I also took some photos of Sophia at one month. Her Papa also managed to catch one of her first smiles.

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Sophia Joy Reese is here! She arrived Sunday morning at 8:40 am. She was born at the Maternidade Dr. Alfredo da Costa hospital here in Lisbon. Sophia weighed 8 lbs (3.63 kg) and measured 20.5 in. (51.5 cm). She has a good head of black hair and her eyes are already dark as well. She looks so much like her sister Eliana. Our teammates all welcomed her into the world, as well as the church here.

We are all home from the hospital now and doing great. Sophia has a good appetite. Eliana loves to watch everything we do with baby Sophia. Danny’s mom Beth is here to help cook and hold the baby, and generally take care of us. Praise God for all of His wonderful blessings.

Waiting to check in

Our precious bundle

"Sophia!"

Daddy and his new little girl.

Here's my little sister!

Danny's mom, Beth, is here to take care of us all. Katie's mom will come next month.

One of the favorite foods here in Portugal, and especially in the city where we live, is snails. They boil them in a salty, garlicy broth and serve them up in steaming heaps of shells. The Portuguese can eat them like popcorn, polishing off massive amounts (of course, there’s not much meat on a snail). There was a festival here in Loures with some local restaurants showing off their own special recipe for caracois. Danny and I have tried them before, but we still felt that we should get some again at the festival. Danny managed to get a free, small sample plate for the “Americans who weren’t sure they could eat a whole Portuguese portion.” (We didn’t even finish the tiny plate we had.) Eliana tried them for the first time and really enjoyed them. Beth, Danny’s mom, who is here to take care of us when Sophia is born, tried a couple and I ate one too. A little salty for our tastes, but they really taste a lot like mushrooms. You just have to not look at them while you are eating them.

And, without further ado, here are the picture you’re all dying to see.

Eliana kept asking for more.

Even the pregnant lady ate one.

Hooray for Mommom!

Daddy teaches Eliana the fine art of spearing snails.

Our tiny "American" portion. Normally, this plate would be full to overflowing.

Our team has a date night rotation where we take care of each other’s kids so that the parents can have a break. The Meyers babysat Eliana last weekend and Danny and I took the opportunity to go the Vasco da Gama mall where the World Expo was held in 1998. We went to an aquarium and also rode some cable cars that give you a good view of the area. It was a very fun and needed time.

I was also very happy recently to find a cheap kids table and chairs for Eliana. She was very excited and we told her she was getting a ‘big sister’ present since she would be a big sister soon. Luckily, she’ll have lots of Grandma time around the birth to spoil her!

Katie (and Sophia) at the aquarium

In the cable car

Eliana with her new 'big sister' table and chairs

Say that 3 times fast.

I (Danny) have officially started tweeting on Twitter.  For all of you who enjoy short, frequent glimpses into our lives, you can follow @dannyreese.  Also, our Angola Mission Team has started tweeting, albeit less frequently, at @HarvestAngola.

So far, I’m really enjoying tweeting.  It’s quick and painless.  Just takes a few seconds, and I’m done.  We’ll see if I keep up with it.

One of the things I’ve really enjoyed about our team is how much our kids love each other and getting to see my teammates interact with, love,  teach, and discipline Eliana (and soon to be Sophia). It’s wonderful to have  someone to share the joys of parenthood with in such a deep way.

Eliana has been going through a ‘testing’ phase, seeing if we will stick with our words. It’s been great to be able to talk through it and have some extra moral support!

Tonight the kids enjoyed a special Bible class time in English together. Teague taught the story from Luke 2 of Jesus in the temple and growing up. Then we measured all of the children to see how much they have grown. It is always a pretty indescribable feeling to see children learning about and loving God and Jesus. How beautiful is the faith of a child!

Coloring a picture of 'me' growing up

Biruk has grown more than an inch since his birthday in May!