We had a wonderful time celebrating Christmas Day and New Year's Day in our new home! On Christmas morning there was a pile of presents under the tree for Christian and Abbie. Greg and I bought one of those presents, and the rest were hand-me-downs from friends and a couple new toys form Grandpa and Grandma. Our children have truly been blessed with many generous people in their lives!
Christmas morning I attempted to feed the kiddos breakfast, but that didn't last long because Abbie saw Angelina Ballerina sticking out of her stocking and couldn't wait to cuddle her! So we opened our stockings, acted out the Christmas story with our Little People Nativity set, and unwrapped the pile of presents!
The one present Christian and Abbie received from Greg and I was a Chinese Noah's Ark. While living in Beijing we purchased it but we waited to give it to Christian and Abbie until this Christmas. They love acting out the story of Noah's Ark with their "Chinese Little People Animals" as they call it.
I also made my first feast! In past years we either spent the holidays with our team in China or with Greg's family in Michigan so I never had to cook more than a couple side dishes, but this year it was my responsibility to prepare a little feast for our family. I made a ham, mashed potatoes, candied yams, corn casserole, and rolls – it was delicious!
Last night in celebration of the New Year our youth group had a Chinese dumpling making party – a first time event at our new church (that will hopefully become a tradition :). On the way to church Greg and I were so blessed to get a special phone call from our Dayton Chinese Christian Church youth group teens – we miss them! The kiddos and I cut out of the New Year's party earlier, but Greg and Pastor Wayne led the teens in sharing goals for the upcoming year and praying in the new year together - what a wonderful way to start 2011!
We were so blessed to be surrounded by
so much love over this holiday season!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
so much love over this holiday season!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!