We had a turkey dinner complete with stuffing, gravy, and cranberry sauce. Jarred is outspoken in his love for canned, jellied cranberry sauce. He didn't get any for Thanksgiving, but his Mom sent a package in which I removed the special can of sauce and wrapped it for him. He opened it right before we went over to Josh and Danielle's for dinner, and enjoyed sliced jelly cranberry sauce along with his turkey. I'm pretty sure everybody else besides us ate the real stuff, but it didn't make a difference because he almost ate the entire can by himself. Danielle had set the table so beautiful, and we had a great time eating together. Danielle and I had bought a frozen turkey a few weeks ago, and she cooked it in a bag she had from America. It was an incredibly successful first-go at a turkey. It was like being in America for Christmas dinner.
Even Max was given a personal invite to dinner (Josh and Danielle's is like his second home), and showed up clean after a bath, with even a Christmas bow! He spent the night trying to scratch it off. After dinner, Max got to chew on a turkey bone Josh gave him, and I think it was the greatest thing he had ever tasted. 
After dinner, we had a time of praising- reading Luke, lighting the last candle on the Advent wreath we have been doing all together, and singing a few songs whose lyrics are simply divine and capture my heart anew every year I celebrate this holiday so rich in precious meaning. I loved it. So grateful for these people around me, and even more so for the One whom we celebrate! We then exchanged gifts according to the person's name we had drawn. Grace gave me an awesome calendar, a book cover, and a bag of tortilla chips from one of my favorite western restaurants in the city. Josh gave Jarred a National Geographic DVD about Mount Everest, which he is currently watching. It was a wonderful Christmas Eve celebrating together!We woke up this morning truly grateful that after a brief awakening at 5:00, Max slept until 7:30. Jarred and I spent our first Christmas morning just the 2 of us and it was awesome! We read the story of J's birth and spent some time chatting together. It was such a sweet time for the 2 of us together to really celebrate Christmas. Every year I learn more and more about the Christmas story and am touched and changed by a perfect king coming to earth and being born in such a humble way, and this year has been no different.
We then opened our presents from Kathryn and Rusty, which we are so thankful for! We will put pictures up soon modelling our new gear, and our presents that we already have from Tim and Jane and what we have gotten with gifts from others! We then opened our gifts to each other and it was really fun. Jarred connived with Kat and Rusty to get me lots of my favorite things from America including chai mix, york peppermint patties, southern season coffee, and caramel coffee. He also got me a tea kettle that I love. My Uncle Rob got us a really awesome one for our wedding, but it was too big to bring over here, so I am so so glad to have one here now! Thanks to our friends Chris and Sarah and Amy for helping keep it out of my sight :) I got Jarred a few things that had been on his wish list including a weight bench, p90x, and some crocs shoes. i am pretty proud of myself for accomplishing (ok, josh and danielle graciously helped!) online shopping in east asia (think all characters) because jarred's shoes were $85 in the store and i got them for about $7.
then our friends/neighbors came over for brunch that jarred and josh were making for us. we had a delicious breakfast of biscuits and gravy, omlets, and fruit. and then we just hung out at our house for a long time, enjoying time relaxing and playing cards. now we are getting ready for them all to come back over for leftovers followed by a very special birthday party tonight with some very special friends. and that may be my most favorite part of all.
and we plan to end our night calling our families in america when it will be christmas day for both of us. we miss our families with our whole hearts right now more than ever and wish we could be there to celebrate with you! talking to you will make our day :)
so that's a short summary of the last day or so. i love christmas and being here always helps me remember truly why it is so powerful and important.
merry christmas, from our house to yours.
