Well it is officially starting to get cold in eastern Kentucky! Last week was Thanksgiving and it was about 70 degrees out and this week I think the high was about 45, so a very drastic change in weather over the last week. So you would think that after working in housing last winter I would be used to the cold weather and working outside, but nope I'm not at all. One very important lesson I have learned over the last year is that layers are your best friend. It's always best to have way too many layers, than not enough and you definitely appreciate this when you are working outside and it's about 25 degrees out and you can't feel your fingers. Even though it stinks to have to work outside in the cold, it makes it worth it when your participant tells you that she made soup beans and corn bread for lunch. There is nothing better than a hot lunch on a day when you can't feel your fingers. It's even better when our participant walks outside with a hot plate of cinnamon rolls fresh out of the oven. For some reason these simple acts of kindness make you forget about how cold out it is. As you can see we are getting a little spoiled at our worksite.

Cold weather also means that Christmas is just around the corner as well. Myself and two of my housemates (Bethanie and Kevin), got to see the first official sighting of Santa this year. We were on our way to Dairy Queen in Martin and I was telling Kevin and Bethanie how early in the day I had seen a fire truck all decked out with Christmas lights on the highway. I told them I had no idea what the purpose of this was or where he was going but he was being escorted by two police cars and there was another fire rescue truck pulling a sleigh. So as I am telling them this story we come around the corner and there is the fire truck!!!! It was very exciting, we pulled into the Dairy Queen parking lot and watched as the decked out fire truck drove by with his lights flashing and his sirens on. We were like little kids on Christmas morning. It even got better because behind the first fire truck was the second one pulling the sleigh which this time had Santa in it!!!! Of course all three of us were yelling and screaming SANTA, like we were 5 years old. It was an amazing night and I think we all felt like little kids again for just a moment.

Also next weekend I start my journey back to CT for the holidays. My housemate, Bethanie and I will be leaving next weekend for home. She lives in Rhode Island, so we are practically neighbors, which is awesome, but we will begin our 14 hour drive home for the holidays. Part of me can't believe I am going home for Christmas already because I feel like I was just home for my cousin's wedding, but that was back in September already. It will be really nice to spend some time with the family and catch up with all of my friends. Although, I will miss my Kentucky family very much as well. So this will probably be my last blog post for the next few weeks! Until next time...

Kate Stefanowicz is a long-term volunteer in CAP's Housing program. She lives in Floyd Volunteer House.