First Christmas in the U.K.

Merry Christmas!!

Over the years we have spent Christmas in many different places - the Faroe Islands, several places in Canada, several places in the Philippines - just the two of us, with just our family, with extended family, with good friends, with people we hardly know - we have been out in the country, in the middle of a huge city, in an isolated tribal village. We have seen many different traditions and practices; have had a huge variety of "Christmas Dinners". The main meal has been on the evening of the 24th; breakfast on the 25th; noon on the 25th. We have eaten outside under the sun; inside by the fireplace; sat at a very fancy dinner table; on the floor eating with our hands. Just when we thought we had tried it all, we found ourselves in a new country with new friends and new styles. We have enjoyed all of the variety over the years and this year too has been special.

Our journey began by finding ourselves a real Christmas tree a few weeks ago, on a Christmas tree farm. The blessing of enjoying the aroma in our home the last few days has been worth the job of daily cleaning up the needles on the floor. Sending out Christmas cards, baking Christmas cookies, decorating the house, shopping for and wrapping gifts are traditions that have basically followed us around the world.

British friends invited us to join them for their scrumptious meal at noon today. Savory turkey along with many yummy veggies reminded me of the December 25th dinners we enjoyed while growing up in Canada. Our new treat for this Christmas was the British Christmas pudding. And what a treat that was - something we need to add to our list for next year!!

In the evening our next door neighbours invited us to join them for some yummy snacks and a great new game. It is something like serades, but you ‘act it out’ with play dough. Lots of fun!!

Last year our whole family was able to join us in the Philippines for an early celebration in November. This year our whole family plans to join us for a late Christmas in January. We are so excited that Ryan, Kara, Noah and Selah will arrive January 1st. Craig, Claire, Ellie and Rebekah will also join us. Are we blessed or what?!?!? 10 of us under one roof!

Thinking back over our various Christmases, the places we have been and the dates when we have celebrated, there is one consistent theme. The reason for the season has never changed. How awesome to be able to celebrate the birth of our Saviour! We are so thankful that Jesus came to this earth to pay the debt we couldn’t pay - a debt He didn’t owe.