A Christmas to Remember

Being in the mission field at Christmas definitely has it's pros and cons.  We had some beautiful experiences, but each time we watched family produced DVDs or listened to our grandchildren singing Christmas carols or sharing their Christmas eve activities, we would dissolve into a blubbering twosome.  But this will most assuredly be a Christmas that we will reflect upon often with joy and good memories.
One of our favorite parts about a German Christmas season is the bounteous Christmas markets, which I have posted about before.  Our final, and FAVORITE, was to a little town about 45 minutes away called Rudisheim.  It is located along the Rhine river and we loved it in the summer when we went on the river cruise.  It was decorated and lit up so festive and had wonderful things to enjoy (and buy).  Stopping for refueling with delicious hot chocolate was a must.

Christmas eve morning we enjoyed a fun and yummy Christmas brunch with 35 other dear friends/missionaries.  It was like none other with a crepe bar, cheese blitz bar, waffle bar and an array of other fruits and egg dishes.  These missionary couples know how to have a good time.  We had a fun gift exchange and lots of chatting.

Then in the evening we jumped on the U-bahn and went downtown to the pealing of the bells (10 churches ring bells in unison for 30 minutes).  It is quite the tradition here and it was fun to join the mob along the river and in the town square.

And our own quiet personal time together with  special Christmas traditions and loving skype calls with all our dear ones made this a warm and peaceful occasion.

It is such a blessing while serving a mission to be able to be somewhat removed from the stress and commercial demands and have a deeper and more personal relationship with the Savior and feel his tender mercies and love during the time of celebration of his birth.