Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

This was my first year to NOT spend Christmas and New Years in Minnesota with my family (because of immigration I can't leave Canada until the process is complete - hopefully by next Christmas!) However, as I was reminded "Luke 2 is the same worldwide"! When taken away from all the things I'm used to associating with Christmas, I've been reminded to search deeper for the true celebration of our Saviour's birth.

We were able to lead several Christmas Carol Sings - a neat experience to spread Christmas joy throughout December. Also, the Christmas Parties at the schools and teaching Sunday School was another neat reminder in sharing with the kids the true meaning of Christmas.

We spent Christmas week with David's family(that includes Boxing Day, Dec 26th- basically the equivalent of "Black Friday", in the U.S). We played games, HOCKEY!!!, watched "A Muppet's Christmas Carol" and had fun being together. There's definitely a lot more people around for David's families' Christmas than mine in Minnesota!

David's gift to me was to make me a shelf to attach on top of the desk his parents got me for Christmas. (Yahoo for not having to work off our kitchen table soon!) He spent hours and hours and hours planing, sanding, cutting and staining the wood. He had me choose something for him to carve in the sides (Psalm 19:14 -"May my words and thoughts be pleasing in Your sight, My Rock and My Redeemer") slightly reiterated so it wasn't as long. I cut out each letter and stenciled it on so David could router it out. It turned out beautifully. The stain wasn't dry before we left, so it will come home whenever we can make it back.