Holiday fun

Christmas seemed to sneak up on us this year. Probably because we got home on the 11th of Decmeber and then spent the next couple of weeks trying to get everything in order and the house put together after unpacking the loads of stuff we brought back from the states (mostly for Natty!). We also had a Christmas program at church the Sunday before and sadly, the wake and funeral of the grandmother of our good friend Jimena to attend. The neat thing is to see how Natalie really opens up paths into peoples lives. As we walked into the wake (which is basically where all the friends and relatives of the deceased sit around the casket and wait for people to come and grieve with them), there were many people looking very sad with eyes red from crying. But, as soon as Natalie came in the room, the old ladies brightened up and out came the smiles and the hands to hold her. I'm often not asked if a person can hold the baby, she's just taken from my arms and I have to let go. One of the older aunts of our friend took her from me and paraded her around the room, getting everyone smiling and cooing- a nice break from the time of mourning they were going through.

Christmas morning was relaxing. Natalie got up fairly early to eat and then we all sat on the bed to open stockings. I hadn't planned on getting anything for her, since she received so many gifts back home. But, Scotty surprised me by buying this fun, squishy lobster (that's about her size) that we had seen in a store that she just loved. She always lights up when she sees his big claws flailing. We had also decided to keep things simple this year, seeing as though we had bought plenty for ourselves when we were home. We're also hoping to establish customs at Christmastime that keep our children focused on Christ's birth and life and not go overboard with presents. We had a nice walk around the neigborhood after breakfast. Christmas breakfast in my family has always been cinnamon rolls. Well, as a new, often tired mommy, I didn't want to go through the process of trying to make them. So, we happend upon cinnamon roll flavored pop-tarts in the grocery store and sprang for the somewhat expensive imported treat instead. Then it was off to the Hursts for the afternoon and a scrumptious meal with some of our missionary colleagues and friends.

The night before, Christmas Eve, is actually the big holiday here and we have started the tradition (a year ago) of eating picana, a meaty soup, with our good Bolivian friends the Ramirez family. Ericka brought over all the fixins and prepared the soup at our house while Hugo and their 2 sons played Settlers of Catan with Scotty. It was a neat night of sharing, playing, laughing, eating lots, and having a little devotional at the end to remind us of what Christmas is all about. How we love that family!

Things are always very slow around the holidays, but we're hoping to have at least one family over each week from the church to try to get to know people better and share lives. There are many people hurting at this time because of deaths in the family or illness and we remember how Christ came to heal and love the hurting and want to be ministers of this grace too.