Learning Thai

We've had an activity-packed week here in Delaware and are now counting down the rapidly-diminishing days until our departure on January 5. Some of the highlights have included Christmas caroling with the church (the girls both loved that), spending lots of time with my siblings, and the arrival of most of my dad's brothers and sisters.

Our immediate family opened gifts on the morning of the 24th after spending the night together in the cabin.

That evening the whole family got together. Here are the 8 cousins in their pajamas.

Silas patiently waiting for the present-opening to begin on Christmas morning.

The Nativity story as acted out by the cousins.

The excitement of the gifts...

And of course we've spent a lot of time eating delicious food - like make-your-own pizza.

We'll stay in Greenwood through New Year's and will then return to Ohio for a few days before flying back to Thailand. We'd certainly appreciate your prayers as we go through this next week of goodbyes, travel, and transition. Thanks!

-Tom

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Catching the first flakes on her tongue.

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This past weekend was our Christmas celebration with Candice's family. We had been hoping and wishing for snow but we got blessed beyond our expectations with a 20 inch snow during our time together!! It felt like a miracle straight from God! The best part was being snowed in at Mom and Dad's as a family and everyone sleeping over for two nights. We had so much good family time, good food, and many many more great memories for the girls to take back to Thailand with them! They LOVED the snow and all the auntie/uncle/cousin/grandparent time. We feel so, so blessed! Saying good-bye for another two years was the hard part....
A few pictures of our time together.....

Decorating the tree with Grandma. Cedars are a family tradition.

First snow

Christmas breakfast

Silas loves Grandaddy!

We skyped with our family in Morocco and then had to get sister picture with Carmen!

Presents!

Philip and Betsy sing a Christmas song that Philip wrote. Beautiful!

Men's quartet

Snow!

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We've been enjoying our last few weeks in Delaware so much- we've had lots of nice, low-key family time. We've enjoyed having lots of family meals and the girls have had a great time playing in in the new playroom upstairs and playing outside, collecting eggs, etc. We've also loved getting ready for Christmas, making lots of cookies and candies, getting the tree and shopping for gifts. We're ready for Christmas and still hoping it's white!

A Thai meal we made for the whole family minus George. The eight cousins under six can make quite a racket when they are all together!

Silas and Owen, in a semi-rare moment of getting along. :) It's been fun to see them getting to know each other but we're seeing a new, aggressive side of Silas at times!

Watching Grandpa power-washing the sidewalks.

Putting finishing touches on pecan lassies with Grandma. Today, Grandma and the three girls are busy making and icing sugar cookies.

Tom and Ezra

Over this past weekend, Tom and I also really enjoyed a trip to Philadephia to celebrate our 11th anniversary.

Tonight (Thursday) we are headed back to Virginia for the weekend for the Rhodes Christmas. We are excited and also starting to feel some sadness over the good-byes that are coming up! Beginning to think about our return to Thailand on Jan. 6!

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Congratulations to Dad Mast on his retirement! He worked at a social worker for the state of Delaware for 39 years and retired on Dec. 1 this year. We loved that timing as we've had him at home for our visit! Here are a few of the ways we celebrated....

We had a party here at home a few weeks ago with many of his co-workers- some current, some past. It was interesting to meet so many of those he's worked with and hear their stories about him. We were amazed how many of them knew many of our family's names and lots of stories about the kids and grandkids.

The grown-ups in our family also enjoyed a night out at the Melting Pot to celebrate....

Posted by Tom & Candice Mast at 04:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We haven't seen snow on the ground yet, but the girls were able to run out and watch some icy snow falling the other night. So exciting!! Still hoping for some accumulation at some point on our trip.

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A Christmas tradition that we've missed for the past few years is going out to find a perfect live tree. Claire, Eliza and I had a great afternoon going with Grandma to the tree farm.

Posted by Tom & Candice Mast at 09:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We've lost three grandmas during our first term in Thailand, so we find ourselves feeling blessed and thankful to spend a little time Grandpa Shrock during our time in Delaware. Silas met him for the first time and they seemed to hit it off, grinning away at each other....

Posted by Tom & Candice Mast at 11:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Do we really need an excuse to sit in candlelight and read Christmas stories? A brief power outtage last week got us in the Christmas spirit as we read and arranged the manger scene with Grandma Mast. A great start to our advent....

Posted by Tom & Candice Mast at 09:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

My parents have a cabin in the woods at a place called Sparkling Springs. We used to love to go to Sparkling Springs (pre-cabin days) as kids to have treasure hunts, picnics, and occassionally stay in a borrowed cabin. Now it's one of our favorite places to go as a whole family for days of together time. This year we were lucky enough to be able to spend our Thanksgiving holiday together there. It turned out to be an incredible blessing for our family to have uninterrupted time with granparents, cousins, and aunts and uncles. Rhodeses- we love you guys! Carmen, we missed you so much!

A FANTAST
IC Thanksgiving feast was made by all and enjoyed by all.

No Rhodes gathering is complete without a whole lot of game playing. This year's favorites seemed to be black rook, scattergories, and password. The Farming Game gets the award for longest lasting.

Carrying on the treasure hunt tradition.

Woah, that's a lot of Rhodeses and Rhodes-in-laws.

Ping Pong Tournament of Champions. (not really)

The Bearded Ones.

We truly enjoyed our time in Virginia and as of December first are now living in Delaware having fun with the Mast side of the family and getting excited for Christmas!
-C

Posted by Tom & Candice Mast at 09:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)