Christmas morning

Thanks, Grandma, for the cute matching pajamas!

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First we opened stockings, then took a break for Churros y Chocolate. (Think funnel cake with chocolate sauce) Mmmm. And on to more presents...

Thank you to all who contributed to the abundance of gifts, resulting in the mess you see here. :)

And finally, with money from several family members, we purchased this little playhouse for the kids. To find it, David gave Rachel a card with a scavenger hunt message. She had to find the clues around the house, which finally led her outside. They were so excited. SO FUN! :)

This is the first year we have been away from family for Christmas since we have been married. As much as I love our families, I admit I (Keri) was kind of looking forward to the slowness and quietness of a small family Christmas, like I always had growing up. And truly, the month of December has not been the rushed blur it usually is because aside from one all-school Christmas concert and a small dorm party, we didn't go to any preschool programs, school programs, church programs, parties, open-houses, and because it was just us, we had very little shopping to do. And because we were away from our families, we decided to open our home to anyone in our ECA community who didn't have other plans. We ended up with 16 people for Christmas dinner and it was a blast! I had so much fun decorating and planning and I think all who came had a great time as well. We ate ham, turkey breast, broccoli salad, two kinds of stuffing, sweet potato casserole, applesauce, Venezuelan 'pan de jamon,' sushi rolls, olives, and for dessert chocolate pecan pie, pumpkin pie, and Rachel's birthday cake.

We bought the long table a few months ago at Ikea. With the leaf in it, it comfortably seats 12. We added a folding table to make room for everyone else.

I just put a roll of red foil wrapping paper down the center of the table and made these little napkin rings out of some 75% off Christmas garland we found at the grocery store. It's not exactly Christmas China, but I was pleased with how it all turned out.

Our dear friends George and Bonnie came over and Rachel quickly talked George into a game of Jonah-Go-Fish (Thanks, Miss Debbie!).

The entire gang, including two young ladies from the U.S. who are studying abroad in Germany. They are here for the week staying with our friend Penny.

And finally, to honor Rachel on her almost-birthday, we sang and let her blow out candles on her birthday cake.

El Belén

One of the Christmas traditions here in Spain is the Belén, a very elaborate moving Nativity scene. Most families create their own in their home and I am told that each town has their own "Belén committee," a group of volunteers who put one in the town square and it supposedly changes each year. We went with some friends to the one here in Camarma on Christmas Eve. It was amazing. Enjoy the pics!

The surrounding walls and passageway were decorated to look like old Bethlehem.

Here are some miniature people dancing around a flickering fire.

Rachel standing in front of a shepherd's cave

A moving river through the village

A very life-like miniature farm scene

Fun Christmas

After a nice dinner tonight with Paul and Ellie Madsen, we were putting the kids to bed and our doorbell rang. There were two middle school-aged boys singing Christmas carols. Their first song was in Spanish, then they sang, "We Wish You A Merry Christmas," in English. Rachel loved it. This is the second time. A different group came by the other night at 11:15 at night. Thankfully, we had the insider knowledge that kids go caroling for money around here, so we gave them each a Euro, not knowing how much money they expect, but oh well. What a fun idea! We never got carolled to in the States! :)

Christmas break

Our last day of school was Friday. This is a picture taken at the staff breakfast on Wednesday.

The Sunday morning fellowship we have been attending had a simple service of music and carols this morning and during Noche de Paz (Silent Night) they had all the children come forward and sing. They sang the first verse by themeslves in English, then the rest of the congregation joined in in Spanish for the rest.

Rachel has been going to the elementary Sunday School class and they put together this little piece for this morning's worship service. The blond on the end is Steffen, a British boy whose parents work for European Christian Mission and he and his older sisters attend ECA. The two Koreans, Cecilia and Martin, are regular attendees to our church and attend ECA as well, then on the end is Andrew Humes, a fifth grader whose family is very involved in our school.

Christmas Tour of Homes

Click HERE to see the dorm at Christmastime.

Today's Spanish Sermon

It has been recommended to us that we write down everything in the Spanish sermon on Sundays that we understand.  This is supposed to help us listen to the Spanish better and hopefully understand more.  Here is the first five minutes of the sermon, as understood by David:

"The same topic chapter 3 also remember class 40 years the word the word of God time man word of God John chapter 3 at night if responded Jesus new can not said a time Jesus responded the Spirit God is necessary what is necessary we are going a conservative group five this man very little Jesus Jesus reign social position prestige of the night afternoon near Jesus Jesus question he said without doubt Jesus responded Jesus Jesus God in front of tradition and Jesus then you can not see the kingdom of God is it necessary new Jesus reaction calm Jesus"

By the end of the sermon, I had kind of understood the point, but my Spanish classes will need to continue...