the hub bub
leading up to Christmas this year was sooo fun. and we thought last year was fun. o man.
ok, i know that i am a seize-the-moment, make-a-memory-type of person. but lebanon knows how to meet me with a power-punch of christmas magic.
We set off to go to "winter wonderland" a series of little christmas huts alongside the sea. Alongside the harbor where all the yachts are, to be exact. And it was a simple outing, but it was so perfect for our family. There was a hut with a Santa. he was 20 years old, had not hat on, and only said "Ho, Ho, Ho" but Claire Bear is still talking about him.
There was christmas music blaring, tons of families all bundled up, kettle corn and cotton candy, and little artsy booths with people selling things. It was unique and wonderful.
A week later we packed up and went to one of the nicest malls.
I had been earlier and had been swept in the swirl of decorations, christmas music and bustling shoppers. but taking out littles was so much better. wide-eyes. gasping. pointing and running and talking and kissing strangers. i think drew and i were smiling from ear to ear the whole evening and kept looking at each other and saying " this is perfect. "
and while we were in the "enchanted woods" area, with rabbits, squirrels, reindeer and more..music started getting louder...and all of the sudden a chain of about 15 sweet, dainty, snowflake ballerinas passed by us. twirling and waving and blowing kisses. I was holding Layla and she exclaimed and clasped her hands to her heart...just then a ballerina saw her and blew her a kiss. and i thought little bear was going to float she was so happy. she just whispered, "follow them mommy."
and we did and they ended their procession through the mall in an open are and danced gracefully and whimsically with snowflakes softly falling on them. sigh. christmas beauty.
it was also fun to read christmas books, watch christmas movies, sing christmas songs, and make christmas cookies...building into a foundation for our family of traditions and memories. i absolutely positively loved it.
and the moments and outings and decorating is so fun, but i also love the ways we can give ourselves away in this season...going to a hospital to play with the children, pray for every patient in the hospital and give away bibles. and bringing our close lebanese friends with us, added bonus
then i visited the government hospital with one of my closest friends here and we did a christmas program for all the kids in the oncology floor. i actually had so many memories rush back to me- of singing carols at children's hospitals, nursing homes, and visiting different homes. My mom set a amazing foundation of giving away the Love that has so changed our lives. and i loved that i was hauling my 3 and 1 year old around doing the same.
so in small ways and big ways we are filling our days with celebration, love, and wanting to get closer to the king...
ok, i know that i am a seize-the-moment, make-a-memory-type of person. but lebanon knows how to meet me with a power-punch of christmas magic.
We set off to go to "winter wonderland" a series of little christmas huts alongside the sea. Alongside the harbor where all the yachts are, to be exact. And it was a simple outing, but it was so perfect for our family. There was a hut with a Santa. he was 20 years old, had not hat on, and only said "Ho, Ho, Ho" but Claire Bear is still talking about him.
There was christmas music blaring, tons of families all bundled up, kettle corn and cotton candy, and little artsy booths with people selling things. It was unique and wonderful.
A week later we packed up and went to one of the nicest malls.
I had been earlier and had been swept in the swirl of decorations, christmas music and bustling shoppers. but taking out littles was so much better. wide-eyes. gasping. pointing and running and talking and kissing strangers. i think drew and i were smiling from ear to ear the whole evening and kept looking at each other and saying " this is perfect. "
and while we were in the "enchanted woods" area, with rabbits, squirrels, reindeer and more..music started getting louder...and all of the sudden a chain of about 15 sweet, dainty, snowflake ballerinas passed by us. twirling and waving and blowing kisses. I was holding Layla and she exclaimed and clasped her hands to her heart...just then a ballerina saw her and blew her a kiss. and i thought little bear was going to float she was so happy. she just whispered, "follow them mommy."
and we did and they ended their procession through the mall in an open are and danced gracefully and whimsically with snowflakes softly falling on them. sigh. christmas beauty.
it was also fun to read christmas books, watch christmas movies, sing christmas songs, and make christmas cookies...building into a foundation for our family of traditions and memories. i absolutely positively loved it.
christmas cookie fun...
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