Christmas All Around Me...I feel it in my toes!

Well the excitement of Christmas was all around, the weather had turned chilly (very cold to my body's thermometer). I may have the lyrics backwards but with my cold feet it was Christmas!

Christmas Eve!
Today we got up this morning with a mission. I joined the staff and their families at RVA in delivering food hampers to the surrounding Kenyan neighbours. I met some great people that day, as we delivered some food basics, and prayed for these families. Most were widowed seniors that were left to raise their grandchildren. It was great to see grateful people, sad to see horrid living conditions. But a sense of joy of light in their eyes as we sang Christmas carols together. Please pray for these people as their crops try to grow still, this week was the first time that they got rain in the past five weeks.

The rest of the day was spent preparing for Christmas, getting the last of the presents wrapped and under the tree.

That evening we all jumped into my little car, over the bumpy road and went down to a friends house for some more Christmas goodies, a live Nativity with the children, and then off to the Kijabe Hospital for Christmas Caroling. It was a great way to give during this Christmas season, we got to go into the Maternity Ward, we gave gifts and greetings, and we came with balloons, these women loved them. I also got to see some adorable Kenyan babes!

It was a great day of giving to those that needed love and joy!

Merry Christmas!
Well our Christmas morning started off at 6:30 am...I pulled myself out of bed, but I had a thought...I haven't been up this early for Christmas morning since...I was 10 years old...yikes! But there wasn't any pidder patter of young little feet yet. So as I rolled into my clothes, our day was starting with a trek, a fun trek. Soon we were joined by the family of kids, and with our chai and cinnamon buns in hand it was off to visit the guards of the compound. this tradition has been one that the Stenstrom's (Kylie's parents) have been doing for years, I think since they got there in the early 90's. We visited all three gates with warm greetings and singing a Christmas carol, we made our way back to the house.

We started off with a quick breakfast, then on to the Christmas story, as the children were reminded of the birth of Jesus, we then sang Happy Birthday to our Saviour! The excitement started as the stockings were handed out and let the games begin!

Present Opening

Ella, excited she got Winnie the Pooh Smarties, she stopped there for a while
and was ready to break into them until she realized that there was more presents in her sock!

Titus, digging a little deeper

Ella, and her first Princess Barbie of her own

Ella, getting the hang of opening gifts, Cassidy ready to help her little sister

Ella, and her princess themed gifts, all fit for her Barbie too

Todd, now I told Todd about the poker game we had in Canada...he was speechless...ha ha...
What they do in Kenya...Just kidding...he would get me good if I started to spread rumours, apparently this is for a game that they play...not the game poker!

Ella, so as Ella opened gifts, she played with them, not realizing that there was more for her under the tree. I gave her a colouring book with crayons and a new dress, unfortunately the dress wasn't pink...so her first words were "I don't like it" but she did wear it to Christmas dinner and she looked adorable in it. Sorry no pictures of it!

Cassidy, really did get gifts...she really cleaned up, as you can see she is wearing new slippers, and a new headband, I got her a couple of her own DVD's, including the new Hannah Montana movie and a CD burned with new songs for her to sing and dance to, I also got her some headbands that she can wear to ballet. She loves it!




















Kylie, got these great presents to decorate her home with, Todd made her the great lanterns!

Titus, is becoming a little boy...watch out...here he is with his Maasai knife...he also received a leatherman (a pocket knife)

So by the end of the morning, my camera was getting low on batteries, I didn't get pictures of the Stenstrom's who were there as well. As well, I was there, I got some cool things from the kids this year, they were so proud that they were able to get things that everyone liked.

Christmas Dinner
The next part of the day we spent it getting ready to have 17 over for Christmas dinner, it was great, I helped by moving furniture in and out of the house, setting the table, decorating and helped cook with making the gravy and testing the stuffing before all the goodies and side dishes were brought over. It was a great day, and ended the evening with board games. I played games with the kids to keep them entertained with Apples to Apples, and Ella who was good and tired by then needed a good cuddling.

I then got to talk to my mom, first time in 7 1/2 months of being here. I got to hear of all the cold weather I was missing and the fun excitement of my cousin, Jackie and Chris' triplets all growing up. They were born a few weeks after I left I have yet to meet them but they sound like they are a joy to be around.

So by the time you were all pulling yourselves out of bed and before your morning coffee, my Christmas was over, presents all put away, stomach all stuffed with turkey, and joy that our Saviour was born on this special day.

Merry Christmas to you all, and Happy New Year!

Be blessed!