¡Feliz Navidad!

The anticipation for Christmas morning began at 11 p.m. at St. Luke's Episcopal. The candlelight service was beautiful - scripture readings, carols, and communion. After the service, we helped ourselves to egg nog, hot apple cider, and cookies in the fellowship hall.  We headed home and the kids hit the beds.  Once they were tucked in, Dave left to go to our storage unit to retrieve the bicycles for the kids from Abuela Marilyn and Abuelo Mike.  We placed cookies and milk out for Santa, wrapped a few more surprises, and headed to bed around 2 a.m.  The morning came early with Lizet entering our room around 6:50 whispering that Santa had indeed visited.  He even ate the cookies!  

Presents included:  American Girl dolls (Josefina) from cousins Kim, David, Catherine, and Gabriella;  a Razor scooter;  Play Station games;  digital cameras;  engraved NIV English/Spanish Bibles;  clothes;  makeup;  watches;  DVDs and CDs.  Stockings were an additional treat filled with many types of candy.  After cleaning up, we watched a few of the new movies and shared a Christmas lunch of ham, scalloped potatoes, and green beans.  

Our evening was traveling to Kansas to spend time with Dave's grandparents.  We had a good time with them and additional family, dropping in at various times.  

We asked our children what their friends at the orphanages would like for Christmas and they told us a movie and dinner at a restaurant.  This was something they always thought was fun. Our little family decided to send some money to the two orphanages in Peru so this would become a reality.  We heard from our missionary friends, Sandy and Gloria, that the children were elated and even had a little over a hundred soles leftover.  They were able to enjoy the new Narnia movie and a roasted chicken dinner at a local restaurant.