Walking up the stairs, I counted how many homes I've "done Christmas" in since marrying Neal.
Nine.
That means Christmas 2017 will be the tenth home in 18 years of marriage I've had to figure out how to do Christmas for a family.
There's a typical pattern:
Today I got out my 2 small Christmas boxes I hauled home from Turkey to see what I have for decorations. Certain Christmas decorations and the handstitched Christmas stockings made by Grandma have always been on our "evacuation list" for the past 2 decades if we were allowed to take more than 2 kilos with us.
Over the years we've collected decorations as a family from numerous Asian and European countries. Our family Christmas tree is always filled with items from around the world. Every Christmas, we have the kids pick out a new Christmas ornament, so that when they are finally ready to have their own Christmas tree, they will have meaningful ornaments, and not have to run out to Walmart.
As I unpack, I am happy to see the Estonian and Israeli Olive wood Nativity sets, but I am reminded the handmade Black Nativity from West Africa caught on fire last year. It was made of cloth, and when the candle next to the African Nativity set burnt so low it started the plastic candle wreath on fire, and jumped over and touched Joseph's staff.Within a minute there were 4 foot tall flames as our hall table decorations began to burn!
Thankfully, the kids saw the fire and smelled smoke. Neal used the fire extinguisher to put it out. What a mess to clean and repaint our freshly painted front hallway in our apartment in Turkey. So sad to not have the nativity - the kids also love being reminded that Jesus was not a white anglo-saxon Protestant (WASP).
When Sue, a friend in West Africa, heard about the fire, she sent a black, hand-carved onyx nativity set to replace the cloth one. (Staying in the missionary life has the fabulous perk that eventually we have friends all over the world!)
This year we get to hang our stockings above a "real" fireplace (we installed a fireplace surround with an electric fireplace) instead of hanging them above the computer screen fireplace.
Christmas will be simpler this year, but at least our little family will soon be together for 3 weeks when our oldest (Luke) returns from his overseas schooling.
And we are thankful. For over 15 years, we've lived in countries where terrorism, unrest, and militarized cultures dominate. We were always aware we were living in a political climate not unlike what Jesus was born into.
But this year, we get a little break, even though He didn't. We don't live in an area where terrorists threaten. We have food, warmth, and no bombs going off or military helicopters flying overhead. I haven't heard a single gunshot since arriving in the USA. It's a lovely treat being in a Western nation where we see Christmas decorations and hear Christmas music publically. We didn't mind missing all the commercialization all those years in Islamic cultures where Christmas is ignored, but I admit that I'm enjoying all the Christmas lights here this year.
Jesus is the reason we do what we do.
It will be nice to make family Christmas memories in a new home.
Christmas in Minnesota is a luxury.
Nine.
That means Christmas 2017 will be the tenth home in 18 years of marriage I've had to figure out how to do Christmas for a family.
There's a typical pattern:
- The first year in a new home is hardest as you have to figure out where all the decorations should go.
- The 2nd year you refine a little but at least the nail holes are there.
- By the 3rd year, (if there is a 3rd year in the same home), Christmas can go up quite easily and with less time, energy, and money.
Today I got out my 2 small Christmas boxes I hauled home from Turkey to see what I have for decorations. Certain Christmas decorations and the handstitched Christmas stockings made by Grandma have always been on our "evacuation list" for the past 2 decades if we were allowed to take more than 2 kilos with us.
Over the years we've collected decorations as a family from numerous Asian and European countries. Our family Christmas tree is always filled with items from around the world. Every Christmas, we have the kids pick out a new Christmas ornament, so that when they are finally ready to have their own Christmas tree, they will have meaningful ornaments, and not have to run out to Walmart.
As I unpack, I am happy to see the Estonian and Israeli Olive wood Nativity sets, but I am reminded the handmade Black Nativity from West Africa caught on fire last year. It was made of cloth, and when the candle next to the African Nativity set burnt so low it started the plastic candle wreath on fire, and jumped over and touched Joseph's staff.Within a minute there were 4 foot tall flames as our hall table decorations began to burn!
Thankfully, the kids saw the fire and smelled smoke. Neal used the fire extinguisher to put it out. What a mess to clean and repaint our freshly painted front hallway in our apartment in Turkey. So sad to not have the nativity - the kids also love being reminded that Jesus was not a white anglo-saxon Protestant (WASP).
When Sue, a friend in West Africa, heard about the fire, she sent a black, hand-carved onyx nativity set to replace the cloth one. (Staying in the missionary life has the fabulous perk that eventually we have friends all over the world!)
This year we get to hang our stockings above a "real" fireplace (we installed a fireplace surround with an electric fireplace) instead of hanging them above the computer screen fireplace.
Christmas will be simpler this year, but at least our little family will soon be together for 3 weeks when our oldest (Luke) returns from his overseas schooling.
And we are thankful. For over 15 years, we've lived in countries where terrorism, unrest, and militarized cultures dominate. We were always aware we were living in a political climate not unlike what Jesus was born into.
But this year, we get a little break, even though He didn't. We don't live in an area where terrorists threaten. We have food, warmth, and no bombs going off or military helicopters flying overhead. I haven't heard a single gunshot since arriving in the USA. It's a lovely treat being in a Western nation where we see Christmas decorations and hear Christmas music publically. We didn't mind missing all the commercialization all those years in Islamic cultures where Christmas is ignored, but I admit that I'm enjoying all the Christmas lights here this year.
Jesus is the reason we do what we do.
It will be nice to make family Christmas memories in a new home.
Christmas in Minnesota is a luxury.
