This year is proving to be a little different. Even though I'm an "adult" now, this is the first year I will be away from home for Christmas. Even typing that is hard. Throughout collage and our first two years of marriage, we always managed to find our way home for the holidays. Germany is a little far for that this year. I am really missing family and friends.
Realizing I won't be seeing my sweet nieces and lively little nephews on Christmas morning, that I won't be waking up to Mom's breakfast casserole, that I won't be able to barrow any of my sisters' clothes to complete my Christmas ensemble, that I won't get to hear my father read the Christmas story are all hard things to digest.
Before you feel sorry for me, or roll your eyes with a, "Poor you! Living in Europe, traveling all over the place." It's not all bad. Christmas in Germany has been a spectacular thing to experience. The Markets, the music, the lights, the glühwein. The Germans know how to do Christmas. And, I am learning all over again what it means to know that the Lord is near. In church on Sunday we talked about peace. A message my heart was eager to hear. The Holy Spirit was alive, comforting and convicting. God is faithful, of that I am certain. He is faithful to give me a husband to hold me. He's faithful to give me family that constantly reminds me I am loved and missed. He is faithful to provide a job. He is faithful.
Starting new traditions in our own little family has been fun too. Since it randomly happened two years in a row, we've casually decided that it will now become a Langston Family Tradition to make chili the night we decorate our tree. Two weeks ago for my "birthday weekend" Daniel and I went and picked out our perfect tree. After a quick stop off to pick up the missing ingredients, Daniel whipped up a batch of chili and I added some corn muffins. Let me tell you, my man can cook some chili.
Daniel's unit's Christmas Party also feel on birthday weekend.
Another birthday weekend event - the Saarbrücken Christmas Market.
My birthday cake dessert.
At 7 PM, "Father Christmas" flies across the town center and tells the story of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. Even though it was in German and then in French and we couldn't understand any of it, it was still something magical to experience.
The following weekend {last weekend} Daniel and I rode with the Coopers to Deidesheim for their Christmas Market. It was so fun to get out with friends and walk around, sip on some glühwein and explore the many handmade treasures.
On our way back to the car, we purchased some tasty candied nuts. They were gone within five minutes of walking in the door.
Another fun thing I've gotten W A Y T O O E M O T I O N A L about is our Christmas cards. Cards I ordered weeks ago that are now lost, somewhere in the state of New Jersey. After "fighting" with Snapfish for three days in a row, it seems there is nothing they can do but resend the order and have it arrive December 24th. The poor employee that had to listen to me cry as I gave the sob story about being overseas and wanting to send Christmas cards home to friends and family. Bless his soul. I did manage to pull it together and apologize by the end, but I'm sure I wasn't the merriest of customers to encounter. So if your Christmas card from the Langston's arrives a week or two AFTER Christmas, now you know why.
In other news, I am going through in-processing at one of the elementary schools here to substitute teach. The hope is that by the time Christmas Break I over, I will be in the system and able to start working the first or second week of January. Patience. A virtue I am constantly re-learning.
Daniel and I plan to stick around here for Christmas day. We both decided that it was important to us to wake up in our home on Christmas. We're going to enjoy a nice Christmas lunch with the Coopers and then hopefully Skype with family later in the day. Friday we might venture out to do some more sightseeing. TBD.
Hoping you experience the joy & peace of the Lord this Christmas season & always.
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