Christmas

Many, if not all, of you, are prepared (preparing) for Christmas. You've got decorations up, gifts bought and wrapped, Christmas music playing, Christmas events going on and possibly even done some Christmas baking. Everywhere you go, you are likely to have some sign of Christmas. I'm sure you're looking forward to some much needed holiday time as well.

Christmas in Changsha is much different. There are no reminders of Christmas. Perhaps the odd Santa decoration is up, but not guaranteed. No Christmas music playing, no great Christmas deals on great gifts. No commercials for this or that. It's just another day. We will need to ask permission from the twins school to pull them out of school for the day (it will be granted as we are foreigners). One day off is all they will get.

You'd think we'd be used to this, being our 6th Christmas here, but it's still strange. No reminders of the 'reason for the season'. Yes, ICC will have Christmas parties for the foreigners across all ICC projects (in fact we just hosted this party this past weekend - it was a blast) and the children will all participate in celebrations as well. The ICC centers are decorated for Christmas with 'Merry Christmas' banners and garland strung everywhere. Yet, it still isn't the same.

Despite our city/country not telling us it's Christmas time, our home says otherwise. We have our tree up, lights up, stockings hung, Christmas music playing, baking happening. But, no gifts bought. Nope, not a one. 2 weeks until Christmas and not a single gift bought. But Christmas is not about gifts, it's about Jesus, and we will remember the reason for the season. Yes, we will still buy a couple of gifts for the children, but they wont be expensive, and there wont be a lot. The twins request this year from Grandma and Papa for Christmas gifts: Fruit Loops and Kraft Dinner. How many nearly 10 year olds will be asking for this?

I am glad we aren't around all the hype this time of year brings. The materialistic view of Christmas. The "I want" coming out of kids mouths every where we go.
But I do miss the church services leading up to Christmas, the Christmas Eve services, seeing houses and parks decorated etc.
Mostly I miss being with family and long time friends. I miss old traditions. I miss snow at Christmastime. We have new friends and new traditions, and it's good. No snow though.

Christmas is different here. Quite different. But we are learning that the way it was and the way it is are both good. The reason we celebrate is still the same. One year we all hope it will work out to be in Airdrie at Christmas time and we can enjoy the old traditions and perhaps introduce our family and friends to some of our new traditions.

No matter where you are or how you are celebrating this year, we want to wish you a very Merry Christmas!