Christmas

The Christmas season tends to bring with it traditions of Christmases past.  Baking, shopping, wrapping, giving, special parties, music, movies.  So what happens when you are far from home, far from your traditional places and people?

Well, there are some traditions we brought with us - like 25 years of Christmas ornaments to hang on our live Christmas tree, our childhood stockings, favorite holiday recipes, and movies.  

Baked Oatmeal for Christmas breakfast

Other traditions we improvised - like having our own time of worship on Christmas Eve rather than attending a church service (in France, Christmas Eve services only exist in some Catholic churches).

And some things were just different - like a quiet morning at home with just the two of us, followed by skyping with our families and a lasagna dinner with the Niles family, our friends and teammates.

Jordan's "Christmas Outfit"

Our families (and some friends and ministry partners)
were beyond generous and sent us boxes and boxes
of sweet, special, and thoughtful gifts

Our first Christmas in France, our first Christmas without our families, was certainly different, but it was good!  We are thankful for so many of you who have remembered us through this season with cards, gifts, texts, emails, etc., and after a busy autumn with retreats, school, language learning, and ministry, we have really enjoyed the slow, stress-free pace of Christmas.