Christmas songs

This morning we begin the conditioning of our bodies to wake up earlier to prepare for our early flight next week (5:35am!). This is not an easy task when you are sick. Willing your eyes to open when your nose is stuffed and your throat hurts because it's dry is so much more difficult when snuggled under a woolen blanket. ;o)

John got our little Netbook on-line and turned on our local town's radio station, KTSY Christian music station. It eats up the money we've put on the wireless internet card we bought, but it is so worth it to hear praise songs and encouraging music in ENGLISH. There is nothing, absolutely nothing like it here.

As I try again to open my eyes, to my amazement I hear Christmas music! I said, what are they doing? John said it's the day after Thanksgiving so they are beginning Christmas music.

This fact hit me square between the eyes. Do you know we have been here so long we have gone through 3 American holidays: Halloween (we have Autumn parties at church instead), Veterans Day that our soldier son participated in our local school's assembly honoring our veterans, and Thanksgiving. We will have blown through 3 of our children's birthdays before we get back. Now we are heading into the time to celebrating our Savior's birth......time is going by quickly.

John and I calculated it the other day - we will have been gone for 52 days when we finally get back. That's almost 1/6 of the year!

The day after we get back we will be having our first Christmas party. It seems almost surreel. When we left, the trees had leaves that were just beginning to change color, grass was green and still being cut sporadically. We occasionally left the house without a coat because it just wasn't cold enough to wear one.

Which of you plan on going shopping today for the bargins? I am not sorry to be missing this American tradition - large pushy crowds are not my idea of fun - but then look where I'm at? That's funny actually! Manners are not taught here as one Brit said on a T.V. show. Men will just as easily push you out of the way to beat you on the metro, take your place in line or drive right over you to keep their car moving. Perhaps I've been in training the past 7 weeks to do "Black Friday" shopping!! lol! Still, I don't think I could be inticed to go....but maybe for a good deal....

We pray whether you are snuggled up with your family today or blessed to have a job and are working instead, that you continue to be Thankful of every moment you receive with loved ones, good friends, co-workers who bring joy, good food, clean water, warm homes. I am thankful for you.

Wishing you a blessed day and praying as we start our Christmas season that you remember it wouldn't be Christmas without Christ!



Much love to you,

Jenn & John & Vala

P.S. This is a traditional way to show your love to someone in Ukraine - they autograph a metal lock, then hang it on a gate, fence, etc. We were at a metal sculture museum and they took our picture beside a piece of art commemorating the "love lock".