Learning Thai

I can't believe it's taken us until December 17 to have any Christmas on our blog! Blame our constantly crashing computer! We have managed to sqeeze in some festive-ness in between all the attacks of sickness and team busy-ness. We're all getting very excited about our beach trip this weekend and Christmas next week. Some very exciting packages have been arriving at our door and turning up under our tree, making the wait almost unbearable for two of us! :)

A few weeks ago we had our annual family tree decorating party and here is the result. We made our ornaments this year- stringing popcorn and making cinnamon bundles and salt dough "cookies." Lots of fun craft times in homeschool.

Gazing at the tree. We love turning off the lights at night and having our advent devotions around the tree..and tearing off another day of our countdown chain. Only 9 more links!

The perfect arrangement of the manger scene. All hands had to help with the exact placement of baby Jesus in the manger.

Santa baby.

The girls with the giant Christmas tree at the mall.

Nobody makes you laugh your head off at nothing more than a sister (that sounds wrong but you know what I mean).

We also had a fun day out celebrating our 10th anniversary in Bangkok......

We ended our day of adventure with a beautiful and moving performance of Handel's Messiah at a Thai church.

As I mentioned, we've had a lot of team things going on too. The new Reachers are fitting right in and have dived headfirst into a very intensive few weeks of language school. We really appreciate their positive attitudes and are having fun getting to know new friends.

Here's the whole team together this week for a meal and worship.

We also had a unique experience with an impromptu gathering of some believers here at our house- EMM workers as well as Thai friends from the North East and new Vietnamese friends....as well as some of the Thais who have been meeting with us. It was an encouraging day of sharing what God is doing as well as praying for each other.

Silas was entranced by the loud Isaan music filling our living room.

We've received some encouraging e-mails from RMM this season from other workers experiencing the holidays overseas and it was interesting hearing how everyone handles that in different ways. While we miss our families a lot and also some of the traditions from the States, we are really enjoying the holiday this year and are feeling at home. I've really come to appreciate some of the difference in celebrating here although it's taken awhile! I was so struck while listening to the Messiah by the Thai chorus singing "for unto US a child is born." So thankful for Jesus' incredible gift to us and to all Thai people.