Christmas is in the Air

First day of our Jesse Tree; Dec 1st 2009.

Well, sort of.  It is 96* inside my house at 9pm, and there are definitely no Christmas decorations going up around our city anytime soon (or ever), but I can pretend right?!  "Christmas is in the air" of my heart...or something like that.

The Christmas season is approaching and if you are like me, and love to give gifts, you are already plotting and maybe even purchasing (or have been stock-piling for a while now) some gifts. 

Last year I read about the Advent Conspiracy.  I thought it was a good idea and a great reminder of what Christmas is really about.  We scaled down a lot last year, which I admit, was so much easier to do from this side of the world.  Though we greatly missed our family last year, we really enjoyed making new family traditions, just the five of us. One of my favorite new traditions was doing the Jesse Tree for advent.  It is a great way to keep His story at the center of the holiday.

I also just read this great blog post on wonderful gift giving ideas that reach beyond us (as the gift-givers and gift-receivers) to the world around us.  Brittany has some really good ideas and you should check them out. 

What are some of your family holiday traditions?  Do you have some new ones you are thinking about trying this year?

Thinking Christmas,

Independence Day

We celebrated on the 3rd with co-workers. It was a great evening with grilled hotdogs and hamburgers, sides, and homemade apple pie with homemade ice cream! It was great to get to spend time with other Americans, speak English, and pray for our nation and it's leaders.

The guys making ice cream; boy was it good!

Little Sojourner as cute as ever.
Pictures by Rachel Powell

Flashback: December '09

Credits: Blythe Evans' "Mocha Berry Winter" Kit.
We tried a new tradition of a Jesse Tree. A very cool way to keep the real meaning of Christmas at the center.

Credits: Charlie's Digiscraps' "Gingerbread Lane" Kit.
Middle Sojourner turned 7 and had a gingerbread birthday party (yet another challenge with the resourses around here) with all of her friends from school. They sure do grow up fast!

Credits: M. Neaves' "Gold Foil Alpha" & C. Heins' "RAK Scaps Dec '06 Mega Kit."
Our kids and the kids of our co-workers put on a nativity for all of our co-workers. The little Sojourners did a great job. Ms. Sojourner played Mary, Middle Sojourner played an angel, and Little Sojourner was a sheperd (with the smallest sheep ever).

Credits: Farrah's Designer Scraps' "Christmas Express" Kit at Groovy Scraps.
We started a new Chrstmas Eve tradtion of opening one present.

Credits: Farrah's Designer Scraps' "Christmas Express" Kit at Groovy Scraps.
We had a fun, but different, Christmas morning at home. Mr. Sojourner got a tea set. In this culture that is a manly thing, but it sure sounds funny to us.

Credits: Farrah's Designer Scraps' "Christmas Express" Kit at Groovy Scraps.
I made my first pies from scratch.

Credits: Blythe Evans' "Classic Grundge 2" Kit.
African ingenuity rubbed off on Mr. Sojourner.