If you are reading this post for a funny story, or any story about Kenya or Tanzania...sorry! It won't be found! Instead, I'm devoting this post to CHRISTMAS.
My favorite things about Christmas:
1. Christmas shopping with my dear, little Sarah bear for our parents (which usually involves us laughing at our parents.) (With! I meant with our parents.) (In spirit.) (Okay, Mom and Dad (my two blog followers) it's true. We laugh at y'all.)
2. Singing "Silent Night" in candle light on Christmas Eve and dancing while Sarah plays her viola.
3. Singing "The Christmas Shoes" (which is just not a very uplifting song. Really. Who wants to sing a song about death on a day where we remember one very, special birth?)
4. Watching all the movies with my family. Our favorite (or at least my favorite) is "A Christmas Story."
5. Our family gathering: during which I really enjoy getting my cousin, Max, to say "Packers rule, Cowboys drool!" to my Cowboy-lovin' Uncle Bobby. :)
6. Decorating our Christmas tree, which always involves:
a. Buying more lights! A tree can NEVER have enough lights. My mother would concur (yes, Mom?!)
b. Finding the old tree/ornaments in the basement that smells like Woodrow.
c. Organizing the limbs and paying very careful attention to which ones are the longest!
d. Leaving out a row (*not a necessary step, but it is becoming habit.)
e. Lights, lights, lights! and ornaments! (And I love laughing with Sarah at that star I made in second grade with my picture on it. I'll never know why I thought cutting my head into the shape of a triangle was a good idea. Nor why changing my name to "Ellen" was a good idea.)
f. Dawning the infamous tree with the "Angel with the Flaming Breasts." :)
And my most favorite part about CHRISTMAS? Spreading the Christmas cheer! I've been wearing my Mom's jingle bell earrings (Mom, did I tell you I brought them to Kenya with me?) since October, singing Christmas carols since October, and wearing my Christmas socks since October. What better way to spread the spirit than to jingle and jangle with every step?
I am going to miss Christmas at home, though I am quite content where I am. And not just because the radios here prefer songs like "Silent Night" to "The Christmas Shoes" (I know I'm dwelling, but really..."I wanted her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight"...? What a downer.) Nah. I'm happy to be in a place that celebrates the true meaning of Christmas.
Though I must say I prefer the possibility (no matter how slight) of a white Christmas to the grueling 90 degree weather of Tanzania/Kenya. Sunburn? In December? Maaaan!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
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5 comments:
This is a fabulous post Rachel! There are many things about fall and the lead up to the holidays that I have missed and thought about in a similar way. Though, we did have some amazing squash pie at thanksgiving. Hope Kenya and the new year bring you much love and joy darling.
katie
Rachel--
I am the Christian Outreach Team chair in First Pres of Scottsburg--Peter Barnes-Davies is our pastor. I have REALLY enjoyed reading through all your posts! My daughter (Jennie) and her husband (Nick) served in Peace Corps in Kenya, returning to the U.S. in February when the Peace Corps was closed down in that nation due to the violence and political unrest following the presidential election. My husband and I were all ready (had just completed our shots) to go visit them, when they were sent home. It is not an exaggeration to say that they left their hearts in Kenya, even though they lived in very primitive conditions in a village named Orinie near the Tanzania border. It was a two-hour walk, cross-country to the nearest road, which was then about a 45 minute drive (by Matatu, of course) to Kajiado, the nearest town of any size. They often had trouble finding enough water--especially when the pump on the sole drill-hole for the village broke down. They continue to have a very close relationship with a Maasai family in Orinie and a Kenyan nurse, who mentored them while they were there. So, many of your stories were similar to their experiences--especially about the matatu--Nick has some hilarious tales about those adventures. Also, your comments about food. They both started out as vegans, but soon had to adjust in order to survive. They learned they simply could not be choosy--but, both, due to respect due their Maasai friends and due to the unavailability of foods of choice, they learned to eat about anything. Beans and rice was their staple, however. Nick even got to really enjoy eating goat--which is saved for celebrations in Orinie. Nick and Jennie grew to love the Kenyan people and deeply respect their cultural differences, as I am sure you will, also.
Please know that I am so interested in your mission in Kenya, and will continue to read your blog entries and keep you in my prayers!
Carol Dunn
Rachel, What a simply spectacular post ; except for the part about making fun of your parents.( I am your father after all) We will continue our simple family traditions during the christmas season and will dedicate any and all silliness to you. Please know that we love you dearly and are so proud of your attitude and subsiquent respect for the cultures that you are encountering.Love,Dad
I am with you!! Johnny Mathis is belting out Jingle Bells in my room each night! And I got sunburnt too...while wearing sunscreen, my winter coat and hat! Go figure that one! God Bless...and MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Rachel, Cowboy Bob here, Ricky was letting me read your blog, which I was enjoying until I read the "Packer's rule Cowboy's drool" comment which I thought was just a terrible thing put on a blog for everyone to see. Almost ruined my whole day. Just kiddin'. I hope you are doing well and I missed being able to shoot various nerf objects at you.
Uncle Bobby
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