Ok, so for those who are worried that I'm permanently damaging my children by not keeping sacred holiday traditions here in Africa...breath a sigh of relief. I made gingerbread cookies and we all decorated them. We have Christmas music playing (THANK YOU, Jen Rhoad--the CD you sent us years ago has the only holiday music we own!!!). And as of today, we have a very unique, African Christmas tree up and decorated. That's my favorite part of getting ready. Both Chad's and my parents gave us a special ornament every year, starting back in 1976 (stop doing the math right now!!!). There is so much history looking at all those special ornaments that have made it all around the world with us, from Africa, back to the States, and now out here again. Our house here has tile flooring, so I did loose my ornament from 1981 when Omara got ahold of it--but I suppose a little superglue on something 31 years old is fitting...some days I feel like I could use a little superglue myself. But that's beside the point. Christmas. We're getting ready. My 4-year old now can recognize Santa Claus, though I did have to intervene when he asked if Santa in his sleigh was God coming to be with us. Yikes! Nativity scenes from the US, Ethiopia, Malawi and Kenya are up. Our kaleidoscope of stockings are hanging from the window sill, and the horror of all the patterns against the curtains is somehow fitting for an African Christmas. I feel quite jolly, in spite of the heat and the lack of commercialism. Wait, did that sound like a complaint? I assure you, it was NOT! You all need to think about trying out this tropical Christmas some day--it is a breath of fresh, sunny air! Now, if we can just figure out how to FILL the stockings, when a matchbox car costs $14 and an action figure is $27!
Ok, so for those who are worried that I'm permanently damaging my children by not keeping sacred holiday traditions here in Africa...breath a sigh of relief. I made gingerbread cookies and we all decorated them. We have Christmas music playing (THANK YOU, Jen Rhoad--the CD you sent us years ago has the only holiday music we own!!!). And as of today, we have a very unique, African Christmas tree up and decorated. That's my favorite part of getting ready. Both Chad's and my parents gave us a special ornament every year, starting back in 1976 (stop doing the math right now!!!). There is so much history looking at all those special ornaments that have made it all around the world with us, from Africa, back to the States, and now out here again. Our house here has tile flooring, so I did loose my ornament from 1981 when Omara got ahold of it--but I suppose a little superglue on something 31 years old is fitting...some days I feel like I could use a little superglue myself. But that's beside the point. Christmas. We're getting ready. My 4-year old now can recognize Santa Claus, though I did have to intervene when he asked if Santa in his sleigh was God coming to be with us. Yikes! Nativity scenes from the US, Ethiopia, Malawi and Kenya are up. Our kaleidoscope of stockings are hanging from the window sill, and the horror of all the patterns against the curtains is somehow fitting for an African Christmas. I feel quite jolly, in spite of the heat and the lack of commercialism. Wait, did that sound like a complaint? I assure you, it was NOT! You all need to think about trying out this tropical Christmas some day--it is a breath of fresh, sunny air! Now, if we can just figure out how to FILL the stockings, when a matchbox car costs $14 and an action figure is $27!
I love the pictures of the kids. I can't get over Omara's hair! Precious. Love y'all. Merry Christmas!
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