Celebrations

Happy New Year!

Although this is the first post of the new year I wanted to post about Christmas. It was fun to be in the US this year for Christmas. I love Christmas in Japan-a little less commercialism, so many ministry opportunities, Silent Night in Japanese, making new traditions.

Some of the fun events of this year's Christmas in the U.S.: several excellent concerts, visiting with long-time friends, visiting with family, singing Silent Night in English (actually I just listen because I am crying as I think about singing it in Japanese), Christmas Eve service in a snowstorm, Christmas at my sister's place, skyping with family and friends around the world.

Christmas eve my parents and I took a chance in the lull of the blizzard and went to my sister's. We arrived just in time to carry in our stuff and brave the roads to the Christmas eve service. After church we made it home just as the interstates were being closed, had some delicious homemade pizza and put the lights on the tree.
The cats also like a lit up tree!

Christmas day was spent relaxing, making turkey, watching the snow, watching the kids across the street enjoy the snow, decorating the tree, and eating-Mom's rolls for breakfast and turkey, mashed potatoes, Shonda's yummy corn, and Jan's chocolate silk pie for dinner. The day was topped off with present opening and a Hallmark movie.
Getting ready to eat our Christmas dinner.
Fun around the tree.

Since the highways were still closed we spent another day of mostly the same, except for the presents!
A little look out back and the snow flying around.

I am thankful for a family who loves Jesus and enjoys celebrating His birth together. We had a wonderful, warm holiday in the midst of the snowstorm raging outside.