Christmas-ness

 

It's still the 20-something of December, so still ok to say MERRY CHRISTMAS I think!  I hope you and your family had a wonderful day.  I've been holding out for some snow so I could pretend it had been a white Christmas, but alas not to be :(  This was my third northern-hemisphere Christmas and still no luck....perhaps it is me that causes the lack of snow? There was one snowy day a week or so before Christmas but silly me thought there was surely more to come so didn't bother with photos!  I did however get a cool movie of the snow falling that night....hard to capture in a photo anyway:

I really enjoyed the build-up to Christmas this year, even all the shoppers rushing around getting last minute gifts.  Perhaps I enjoyed it because for once I was organised and had everything bought by the 5th of December :)  Being soooooo organised, there was plenty of time left for making an epic gingerbread house!  Annie and I spent Christmas eve decorating and chatting....it's such a blessing to have friends to share life with :)



Working hard....

With our Gingerbread ladies......

The finished result....hooray!

 

 

That evening at church we had a watchnight service, starting at 11pm and going until midnight.  It's not something I have heard of before, but it was so special to be together as a group of Christians belting out Christmas carols to welcome in the celebration of Christ's birth.  There are so many aspects of Christmas that are removed from it's true meaning, but what a way to claim it back as a Christian celebration! 

It was up early again Christmas morning to do family skype calls, then back to church for a Christmas day service.  My lovely friends Leah and Ashish had invited me for Christmas so it was back to their place, then together off to a lovely family celebration :)  After stuffing myself with too much food and sweeties we finished the evening by visiting more friends and chatting until I was nearly falling asleep.   It was such a blessing to meet new people and spend time with friends.... a lovely way to celebrate Jesus' birthday! 

 I didn't really take many photos on Christmas day, but here are some other random Christmassy pics.  I hope you have a wonderful new year.....next update: 2013!  God bless :)





Christmas flowers from Dad and Alison...
a lovely surprise!

Pretty staircase :)













 







Finally, my best reindeer impression....with real antlers.....how could I resist??? Tehehe.  I shall never grow up ;)