12 Days Before Christmas...Looking Back

Christmas in the southern hemisphere is not the easiest for us.  You would think we would know this by now but each year it surprises us.  We are used to really dreaming of a white Christmas, Christmas parties, baking with friends and family, hot chocolate, sledding, glowing fires, singing Christmas carols in church every Sunday and all throughout the day (OK, we still have that as we are building up a great collection of music).  To be honest, I am missing all things non-spiritual about the holiday.  Needless to say we are completely stripped of all the artificialness of celebrating Christmas out here in San Fran.  Although last night I did notice a lone house in the distance with a strand of colorful Christmas lights and I had a little moment of happiness. 

But, it is this very hot, dusty, sticky Christmas season full of fireworks and watermelon and swimming that will be our children's memories.  And, I know this is not the TRUE meaning of Christmas but I am a work in progress.  Don't expect me to have arrived yet just because I'm on the mission field.  God still needs to tear things away and get down to my deeper levels.  In an effort to help aid this process and to prepare for the new year I'm taking these 12 days to Christmas to go back over the last 12 months to remember how far God has brought us, how much He has blessed us, His direction and faithfulness, and attempt to refocus on the important things of life in general.  Oh yes, this is typical reminiscing and getting ready for New Year's resolutions but enjoy the ride with me and enjoy my adorable children as you see how much they've grown too in just a few short months.  We are blessed indeed.  Deep down I truly know this. 

So, here we go...Looking Back: JANUARY 2012

After celebrating New Year's at the guest house with teammates, where we were living that month (mid Dec - mid Jan), Dan kicked it back with some big screen game playing. Oh, we all played games all that night and beheld a spectacular firework display from some of the neighbors at midnight. It was a lot of fun.

Later that month we moved to A.L.M.A. to live til mid Feb. while Dan took a Guarani refresher course along with the Camerons. We enjoyed our time next door with our good friends; the kids loved the space and friends to run, play and explore; I enjoyed having time alone with E & T to homeschool; and it was a nice place to settle for a bit. No internet, no tv, no laundry...I read a lot. It was great!

While living there we also began house hunting on Saturdays, driving roughly three hours toward the camp property and up and down various roads, asking people if anything was available to rent.  We were really hoping to live somewhere near this community and dreamt of a view of the mountains. 

But that was January.