Christmas Festivities

"We couldn't imagine a better way to spend our Christmas..." those were words spoken by our team member as she closed our Christmas meal in prayer. I have to admit that I immediately disagreed.

Our first Christmas in Africa was very different than what we were used to. It just didn't quite feel like Christmas with temperatures in the 80s, singing Christmas carols while roasting marshmallows and definitely the absence of loved ones made this Christmas feel incomplete.

Is that really what Christmas is about though? A white Christmas filled with holiday cheer, the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping, good food and time with those you care for most?

"...than sharing the gospel with those who have never heard." Megan finished her prayer. Ouch! Reality check. It's about Him, not me. As part of our family's Christmas preparation we put up a cross that says "The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." Matt. 20:28 His example is why we came to Africa; not to be served (and have everything our way) but to serve.

In light of that, we had a great Christmas!

Papa and Grandma sent the girls Christmas jammies and a Christmas book. We let them open them Christmas Eve. You can see they were thrilled!

Thailie squeals as Mat turned the last page to reveal twinkling lights on the star.

"Too bright!" The girls declared as we tried to get a picture of the matching pjs.

I guess this is the best we'll get!

Not quite Christmas cookies, but definitely delicious!

Thanks to awesome people who send care packages, we had a few Christmas crafts - the girls loved it!

Even Daddy joined in!

Our decorations include a manger and a cross. Each year Mat builds both, then every night during our family worship he tells part of the Christmas story. Mat draws a picture to illustrate it on the manger and then the girls color it. This has been a great tradition for our family - we all love it and the girls are able to recall the story following along with the pictures they colored. We keep the cross up to remind us the reason Christ came was to die for our sins. Around Easter time we begin telling the story of Easter and drawing the pictures in the same way.

Even Daddy joined in!

Thailie working hard to color the next part of the story.

Even Emily (our cat) and Tank (our turtle) love it!

The girls cleaning off the rocks and stick Thailie picked out for Daddy's Christmas gift - perfect to add to the chameleon cage he is building.

Three gifts in, I ran out of wrapping paper, switched to newspaper, ran out of that and had to use black plastic bags.

Looks pretty good considering what I had to work with! You'd never know the backs of those are wrapped in bags!

He's here! The whole scene was set - Christmas Day we added baby Jesus to the manger.

Our completed nativity scene.

After breakfast and family worship we opened our gifts - here are a few of our favorites.

I carried on the Erickson tradition of Cinnamon (or orange) rolls for breakfast. Kinda wish the Pillsbury dough boy would have showed up - I had to make mine from scratch. You can tell they didn't disappoint by the fact that we couldn't get a picture before some went missing!

Nia showing off the bracelet her sister made.

Thailie was very excited to receive her first "Big Girl Bible" - which is just a regular Bible, but the cover does have girly swirls on it.

Thailie made me a fabulous necklace that boast a purple lion bead at the center.

Clearly, the girls were SO excited about giving Daddy the rocks and stick they picked out and cleaned for the chameleon cage!