7 Months Together

The most interesting thing this month has been the approaching holidays. Whenever I talk to home I hear stories of ice skating, sledding, and Christmas shopping. And a few weeks into December I expect nothing less. However, here things are looking very different.

Christmas carols I know and love are not overly played in stores, if played at all. Many of our songs in the US an in North America are about snow. It is summer here folks. We didn't have snow in the dead of 'winter' when I arrived, we certainly don't have snow now. I encourage you to search through songs and listen for the amount of cultural cues. That is what I have been raised on. Without snow, I don't feel like Christmas is coming.

It feels like 4th of July is heading up quick. But then I walk through that Prado to look at Christmas lights. No icicle lights or snow flakes. Simply stars and Christmas trees. Very weird.

However, being a missionary. The lack of snow and holiday cheer has brought be back to reality of what Christmas is all about for Christians. A tiny baby, wrapped in clothe, who lay in a manger. And for that --- I am grateful.

Touch some snow today. And think of me :)

3 Earth Quakes and my 2nd sleepless night

So heres the thing:
I am from Chicago. We do fire drills and we do tornando drills.

I remember my senior year in high school making fun of Nicki for saying she felt an earth quake in Island Lake. (Which there was one, but it was TINY!)

And so last night when I woke up to the first quake I thought I was dreaming. But the 2nd one shortly followed and I was nearly laughing at how ironic the situation was. I had NO IDEA what to do. Stay int he house? Leave the house? Bathroom? I live on the 2nd floor I did want to fall to the ground. But I was listening for Joann under me because I didnt want my apartment to fall into hers. Oh goodness.

Don't worry, everyone I know and love is perfectly safe. And I have been given instructions as to what to do.