This year Steve and Gena hosted a wonderful Christmas dinner for the youth leadership team. This included them and their daughters, Rebecka & Emma; Luis and Mari and their three kids, Carolina, Luis, and Angel; me, Sandy, Mily, and Martin. It was a lot of fun!
The evening started off with an American-style Christmas dinner. We ate turkey with mashed potatoes (provided by Sandy & I), a green bean casserole in cream of mushroom, cranberry sauce, cole slaw, and rolls. Then for dessert we enjoyed homemade pumpkin pie with whipped cream as well as some Swedish cookies that Sandy and I made that morning.
Of course there was also coffee in fun, festive, Christmas mugs! And their house was absolutely beautiful all decorated and lit up for Christmas! It simply glowed! And with Burl Ives playing quietly in the background, I seriously almost felt like I was back home!
After dinner, Steve and Gena gathered us all in the living room around the Christmas tree and shared that they had something for each of us! Rebecka and Emma played santa clause and passed out the gifts, waiting for each one to open theirs before passing out the next one. We all had a good time enjoying "the moment" together. :)
After that we all headed outside where we started a little camp fire and sat around chatting and roasting marshmellows. We told stories and laughed together and also talked a little bit about the sports tournaments that would start the day after Christmas. Then Gena's brother arrived. He lives in the states and I guess hasn't been back to visit in a while. So, he sat down and started telling us stories from things that have happened to him in the US or when he was growing up here in Mexico. He had us rolling with laughter for a good half hour at least..probably longer!
It was a really great night to just hang out and celebrate together and enjoy each other's company while celebrating together! It was so nice to have an evening that felt like "home for Christmas". That was my biggest Christmas gift from the Lord this year..a little taste of home.
Recent Comments