Merry Christmas to You!

It's Christmas Day here in Kolkata and as I awoke today (at the crack of 11 AM) I realized this is our first Christmas without our children in 24 years. Of course, this is the first Christmas EVER for Shannon and Momo where their parents are not there. We did have long conversations with Shannon and Momo yesterday (Christmas Eve for us, December 23rd for them) and they were celebrating Christmas together for the weekend. It was reassuring to know they were doing our traditional Christmas breakfast of 'sticky' buns, eggs, sausages, fruit, juice etc..... Like Shannon said, Cholestoral overload but we love it! Also nice to know all are healthy and the girls are together.

To the right is a picture of our Christmas tree. It reminds both Cole and I of our first Christmas tree when we lived in Perham. Our tree there was taller but it didn't have many more branches than what you see to the right. Notice the Duluth Pack birdhouse next to the tree. No birds yet. A couple of sparrows have given it quizzical looks but I think bird houses are a rarity here! But I digress......whether we are here or home, as Momo so wisely pointed out to me, the reason for Christmas is the same, Jesus Christ. So in our family tradition, just prior to opening presents, we recite from Luke Chapter 2.....

Girls if you read this here is my attempt at Luke Chapter 2 ......and trust I WILL do this by memory!

In those days Ceaser Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. This was the first census taken while Quirinias was govenor of Syria. So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea because he was of the house and the line of David. He went there to register with Mary who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there the time came for the baby to be born. She gave birth to her first born, a son. She wrapped him in clothes and laid him in a manger. There were shepards living in the fields nearby keeping watch over their sheep. An angel of the Lord appeard to them and the glory of the Lord shown aroung them and they were terrified! The angel appeared to them saying, 'Fear not I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the poeple. Today in the City of David a saviour has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you. In the City of David you will find a baby wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger' Suddenly a great multitude of the heavenly host appeared praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest and peace to men upon whom his favor rests.' When the angel had gone up to the heavens the shepards said, 'Let us go to the city and see that which the angel has told us'.

Merry Christmas to all but especially Merry Christmas to Shannon and Momo! We love you!