Still scraping paint

With Christmas only days away, Kristen and I are pondering what the new year shall bring for us. Will it bring spiritual growth, more rain, boyfriends perhaps? (right Darrell?) 

Last week Darrell, Lyz and Arloa came to visit and it was such a delight to entertain them. On Saturday we took a trip up to Leeds to do some holiday shopping with the three of them ... despite the rain. We also took them to see our school's holiday program and to the cafe where we work. I had so much fun just laughing and engaging with them for the three short days they were here. I'm an eager beaver for Lyz's next visit in the spring!

We leave for London on the 23rd and will return on Saturday. We plan to spend New Year's Day with the Bilton's and some other friends eating goose. 

This evening we attended a carol service at Great Horton Methodist. We listened to the Christmas story and sang carols and it reminded me a lot of back home and all the Christmasy things my family would be doing around this time. Because this is my first Christmas away from home I am so anxious to see what awaits us in London at the Mennonite Center. 

Christmas countdown

Today is already the second week of December and our Christmas countdown is flying by. This afternoon Kristen and I ventured to Cineworld to see 'It's a Wonderful Life.' Kristen had never seen it before and I was so glad to watch it once again. However, since its an old movie, the theatre crowd mostly consisted of gray hair which would comment and snicker endlessly. It also brought back memories of home and made it hard to return to our flat. 

This evening we had the Biltons over for dinner and we cooked a lovely Mexican meal complete with apple empanadas. We love having company over to entertain and to show off our kitchen skills. So of course we are thoroughly looking forward to Darrell and Lyz's visit to our abode this coming Saturday! I can't believe we're going to be in the presence of other Americans once again, but sadly only for a short while. 

Last Friday we set up and decorated our little Christmas tree. Memories of Charlie Brown's Christmas tree are starting to form, but ours is fake so it'll last till Christmas... and probably longer, as those fakers tend to do. Kristen and I are also doing daily Advent devotions together. It's a wonderful way to start our days and prepare us for Christmas.  

Christmastime Is Here

Today is the first day of December and it snowed this morning! It was a perfect start to this month. Kristen and I have been working on making Christmas cards while listening to holiday music and watching the snow fall outside our window. We've also been keeping up our baking and have lots more to come since we are going to bake plates full of Christmas goodies to give to our neighbors and people from church. 

We are still scraping away at our living room walls trying to get them ready for paint. Our goal is to have them ready in time for when Darrell and Lyz arrive in two weeks! Things aren't looking too good, though...

Just a few more weeks and Kristen and I are headed to the London Mennonite Center for Christmas! It will be so nice to spend the holiday with some of our kind. :)