Yesterday was a great day. The brunch was a highlight of the day with so many delicious dishes. I'm enjoying some of the leftovers this morning.
Madeleine really enjoyed the day and her gifts. We got her a doll house, Sylvanian series. Miriam (Phil's sister) had Sylvanian stuff growing up and so we thought it would be fun to start M's collection. So far she has the house, a dalmatian family, and a kitchen set. She loves it. I was afraid it might be too old for her but she really likes it.
She was the life of the party with our friends. She kept everyone entertained with being silly and showing off her Chinese. Whenever she'd get a reaction out of folks she'd say or do the same thing over and over. It's been fun for our friends to see her personality develop since last year when we arrived here.
As I type, a beautiful white bread maker is sitting to my left on the desk, my big present from Phil. I was too tired last night to get it set up (it's all in Chinese) but I think later today we'll be having our first loaf of fresh bread. I love the smell of baking bread - who doesn't? - and break makers make it so very convenient.
Phil loved his gifts and was especially surprised and excited by the box of Raspberry Pop-Tarts. It's so fun to find rare, import products like that and give it to someone. The hard thing will be for me to let him eat them and not eat them myself! Funny what we give as gifts when we can't just pick up anything we want at the grocery store.
This morning is our team xmas party. More gifts and food.
This season I've been struck by the miraculousness of His birth. At our fellowship on Sunday the youth and choir put on a program telling The Story. As Mary gave birth -off stage - they played a recording of a babies cry. Everyone chuckled a little but then I was so moved by hearing the baby cry and just realizing that He did become flesh and dwell among us. It's so incredibly beautiful and incomprehensible that He would become a baby and grow up here, for me.
I love it when things you've always known hit you in a new and moving way.
Tomorrow I fly away with Mara to our friends wedding in the NE part of the country. I'm looking forward to seeing Rhoda and going on a short trip but I'm already missing my little family.
But as they say, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder."
Madeleine really enjoyed the day and her gifts. We got her a doll house, Sylvanian series. Miriam (Phil's sister) had Sylvanian stuff growing up and so we thought it would be fun to start M's collection. So far she has the house, a dalmatian family, and a kitchen set. She loves it. I was afraid it might be too old for her but she really likes it.
She was the life of the party with our friends. She kept everyone entertained with being silly and showing off her Chinese. Whenever she'd get a reaction out of folks she'd say or do the same thing over and over. It's been fun for our friends to see her personality develop since last year when we arrived here.
As I type, a beautiful white bread maker is sitting to my left on the desk, my big present from Phil. I was too tired last night to get it set up (it's all in Chinese) but I think later today we'll be having our first loaf of fresh bread. I love the smell of baking bread - who doesn't? - and break makers make it so very convenient.
Phil loved his gifts and was especially surprised and excited by the box of Raspberry Pop-Tarts. It's so fun to find rare, import products like that and give it to someone. The hard thing will be for me to let him eat them and not eat them myself! Funny what we give as gifts when we can't just pick up anything we want at the grocery store.
This morning is our team xmas party. More gifts and food.
This season I've been struck by the miraculousness of His birth. At our fellowship on Sunday the youth and choir put on a program telling The Story. As Mary gave birth -off stage - they played a recording of a babies cry. Everyone chuckled a little but then I was so moved by hearing the baby cry and just realizing that He did become flesh and dwell among us. It's so incredibly beautiful and incomprehensible that He would become a baby and grow up here, for me.
I love it when things you've always known hit you in a new and moving way.
Tomorrow I fly away with Mara to our friends wedding in the NE part of the country. I'm looking forward to seeing Rhoda and going on a short trip but I'm already missing my little family.
But as they say, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder."