Winter Wonderland!

It'’s been a while since we last wrote but there has been very little to talk about. You never realize how fast days fly by until 4 months have passed and you still don'’t feel like you'’ve completely adjusted to life here. The biggest adjustment so far? The WEATHER!! As I sit here typing our thermometer reads -11° Celsius, which for those of you who forgot way back in elementary school, comes out to about 12° Fahrenheit. For us southerners, that'’s cold. So cold, as a matter of fact, that it has been snowing non-stop for the last week and a half. We were both sitting at the bus stop as it began to snow last week when a big snowflake landed on Tiff's jacket. We looked in astonishment at each other and said "Snow actually does look as beautiful as those paper cut-outs we used to make in school!" You see in Texas, we get sleet. When you throw a snowball in Texas you send somebody to the hospital. Here the snow is so light, so beautiful, that it crunches under your feet. When cars pass by in the street we are treated to a display of dancing flurries that I can only remember seeing in a snow globe. It is wonderful to know that our Creator knew that the cold weather would be absolutely mind-numbing were it not for the beauty of His snow. Well, that and He also knew how funny it would be to see two cold Americans who have to put on 5 layers and look like walking marshmallows every time they wanted to just take the trash out!

Last weekend we went out shopping - well actually it was a desperate search - and we found a Christmas tree! It's small, but it works perfectly along with the string of lights another teacher before us had left behind. It is next to impossible to find good Christmas decorations around here so most of what we have up in our apartment now are crafts Tiff and I have made. Tiff strung together an actual string of popcorn to put on the tree, I cut out paper snowflakes and some cool 3D snowflakes to hang in the window, Tiff made some nice stockings out of poster paper, and right now Tiff is finishing a nativity scene which we will put up in the dining room. Combine all of that with a continual snowfall out our large living room window and seasonal music and you have yourself what feels like Christmas at home. Now we're just missing our family - both literally and emotionally. I think we are so often we get trapped inside a false reality created by commercials, decorations, and music which blurs what really makes these holidays so special. Holidays just aren't the same without family, and even though we haven't spent every holiday with our family, I think it's the fact that we don't even have that option which makes us nostalgic.

We have much coming up in the next few weeks to keep our minds busy, though! School, although this semester doesn't end until late January, is coming to a quick close. We also have to prepare for the Christmas program the school puts on every year which from what we hear has little to do with the actual holiday of Christmas as much as it's just an opportunity for the school to hold a program. Tiff and I will be performing along with our friends Kyle and Susan so we will let you know how that progresses. There are a few parties which we will take part in and one we hope to host. We doubt it will be anything like what you will probably be attending over the next few weeks, so when you do attend please eat an extra cookie for us - we're jealous. We hope your holiday season goes smoothly and if yotravelingelling be safe. We miss you all and can't wait to tell you more about our Christmas here!