Christmas Joy! Weihnachten Fruede!

Less than one week and we will celebrate Christmas in Germany!  The cultural celebration is more on Christmas Eve as it is called  "Holy Night" or "Weihnachten".  We will try to go to the Christmas Eve service at a local German church.

We have been continuing some of our same family traditions during the Christmas season but also had enjoyed some new memories.

Last Thursday evening, we went to our town square and the girls' roasted pieces of bread over an open fire.  We ate waffles with powdered sugar and saw all the beautiful white lights on the trees around the town.  It was a fun way to begin our Christmas vacation.  Thursday was the last day of classes for the girls and Rick until January 10th.  The dorm students have flown home (all around the World) and the BFA campuses are quiet until 2012.

Tomorrow morning, we will go on another Bush family adventure to visit the Bavarian region of Germany.  We will prayerfully see the famous Neuschwanstein castle and take another day to travel to Munich to see the city and  go to their Christmas market.  We will be home by Thursday evening to continue to enjoy our break in Kandern.

Ellyn Purpero (our niece) comes home tomorrow from Purdue Univ. so it will be great to see the whole Purpero family during Christmas vacation as well.

Our family has had a meaningful time celebrating the Advent season.  We have been reading the Bible accounts of Jesus coming to Earth as well as books called, "Tabitha's Travels" and "Jotham's Journey" that help bring to life what it would have been like at the time of Jesus' birth.  Our girls enjoy the lighting of the candles each evening around the wreath and spending time praying and reading together. These are "real" special times that a mommy cherishes!
Here are some pictures to describe our December memories:

"Oh tannenbaum, oh tannenbaum... " We cut down our  own Christmas tree this year!  

Decorating gingerbread houses at our friends' home.

I helped host a "Teacher's Appreciation" lunch at the BFA Middle School. 

Lauren participated in a German/English Christmas program at school.
What a blessing that Aunt Karen was able to come watch as well!  

Lauren and the "girls in her 4th grade class (including WONDERFUL  Miss Brown)

Our neighbors had lunch/ dessert together last Saturday.
One Finnish couple, one German couple and two American couples.
What a special time to get to know each other better.  

Lauren and her class has been studying Rocks/ Minerals in  their Science class.
 I helped chaperone a field trip to a local Rock/Gem store.  

Lauren's handmade Nativity scene next to our family one that we found at a Salvation Army store.

We pray that no matter what we are all doing this Christmas season, we all have time to slow down and enjoy remembering the miracle that Jesus would desire to come to this world because He loved us so much!  To humble Himself as God and become a baby.  We are so thankful we can celebrate Immanuel (God with us) no matter where we live in the World.

Merry Christmas and a Good New Year!  Frohe Weihnachten und ein gutes neues Jahr!