Christmas Festivities

It's been busy around here! Thankfully it's all been a lot of fun and helped us enjoy the anticipation and celebration of Christ's birth. Noah has had so much fun preparing for Christmas - he especially loved the advent candles and calendar and reminded us to do it every day. He now understands the story of the Nativity quite well and playing with the pieces of our advent calendar really helped. He has also really enjoyed the music of Christmas, often asking for us to play "Feliz Navidad" (which you'll see in the video - every part with him and/or Michael and the guitar is him playing along to the song). At bedtime, he would ask for the "Glory Song," or "Angels we Have Heard on High" - he sings along with the "Glooooria" part.

The festivities began with Noah's preschool performance - Noah was an "angel" (but we already knew that(c:). He danced with his class to the songs "Campanas de Belén," (Bells of Bethlehem) "Te Quiero" (I love you) and "Cristo Me Ama" (Jesus loves me) - and he did the best he's ever done at a school performance! It was darling.

Then, Sunday, he was an "angel" again for the church Navitiy play - this day, though, he was not SO angelic - the video taken missed the temper tantrum in the middle, where he laid face down on the floor. But regardless, it was cute to see all the little ones participating with their costumes.

Tuesday evening we hosted our first musical Christmas party! This has been a long standing tradition in Michael's family, and missing it so much, we thought we'd try it here. Michael made song sheets with many classic carols, just translated. It was so fun to share this sweet tradition with so many of our Peruvian friends. The party was complete with the Peruvian tradition of special spiced hot chocolate, always accompanied by panetón. We stayed up late after the party to finish making our gifts to friends - chocolate truffles and chocolate dipped macaroons - made with all the love and care we could pack into them. (c:

Wednesday, Christmas Eve, we prepared food to bring to the Wards and enjoyed celebrating with just our missionary team that afternoon. Michael brought our piano, Jim played the guitar, and we sang all our favorite carols in English this time. Sara Ward led the kids through a special advent book and let each of them participate in the readings or placement of nativity characters in the stable scene. Noah fell asleep in the car, so we couldn't remind him of what would happen in the morning. He was so tired that he slept through the other big Peruvian tradition - a huge firework display throughout the whole city! They are all personal fireworks, nothing official, but many are as big as the professional kinds, and are launched from every block and every street. Michael and I grabbed our hot chocolate and went to watch up on our roof - it was impressive - and LOUD.

On Christmas morning, Noah came in to sleep with us at 4:45 - a sleeping issue we're working on (c: About an hour later, he was still with us, so I crept out of bed to lay on the couch and wait to catch that first moment of him seeing the Christmas tree with all the presents under it on video. We should add here that we are so grateful for the ability to have presents and a Christmas tree. We know there are so many Peruvians who do not have either. Thank you to those of you who even took the trouble to send things or cards to us! It means so much, being so far from home during the holidays.

I had to tell Noah to look before he realized that there were gifts. Then he said that "Santa Claus came because he was kind!" (Some other Santa quotes this month include "Santa Claus is coming to Baby Jesus too!" and "I love Jesus. I love Santa Claus too!" One day he'll figure it all out, but for now we love his sweet imagination.)

We took our time opening presents one by one, enjoying the thoughtfulness of each. Then we had a special pancake breakfast followed by a very lazy day of talking to family and playing at the park - on a gorgeous summer day! Noah went to bed early after skipping his nap, so Michael and I had time to finish up our evening with a good game of Scrabble by the light of our advent wreath and Christmas tree. While he indeed beat me again, it was close!

Enjoy the highlights video of all of the fun.

Merry Christmas

Welcome, all wonders in one sight!
Eternity shut in a span,
Summer in winter, day in night,
Heaven in earth, and God in man!
Great little One, whose all-embracing birth
Lifts earth to Heaven, stoops Heav'n to earth.

Richard Crashaw, 1612-1649
"In the Holy Nativity of Our Lord God"

"Incarnation" by Denise Day Spencer

He stands,

poised on the brink of two worlds:
One, land of eternal day,
the other, earth of mire and clay.

Behind Him,
legions of heavenly host,
bright faces covered, praising,
all chanting, voices raising.

Before Him,
chaos yawning, swift and deep,
known, yet unknown. Fear unfurling,
death and darkness churning, swirling.

He turns.
One last look at golden glory.
The Three part; He is now One.
The Father’s voice says, “Go well, my Son.”

He leaps
into the abyss.

His next memory will be a Mother’s kiss.

~ Denise Day Spencer, January 1999

(via internetmonk)

Last Day of School!

Noah just finished his last day of preschool for this year! We'll be going to pick-up his "grades" on Monday, but I have a feeling he passed. Tomorrow morning is his "clausura," I suppose a graduation ceremony/Chirstmas play of sorts. We'll be sure to post something about that! We're so proud of our boy for doing well in his all-Spanish-speaking preschool!

His first day of school - my, how he's grown!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to my mother, and to my dear former piano teacher, Martha Smith, for collaborating to send the music I was looking for!

Because of the order in which posts went up, readers may have missed the thorough Noah update that Laura posted - see below for exceedingly cute pictures.

Music help?

Quick question - is there anyone out there with a Carols for Choirs 1 book and a scanner who would like to spread some Christmas cheer? I'm trying to get a hold of the O Come All Ye Faithful, specifically the Willcocks' alternative harmonizations for the last two verses, "Sing Choirs.." and "Yea, Lord.." I'm not up on my copyright law, but I'm pretty sure it's okay because I do own the book (it's back home), and I'm not using it for commercial purposes. The descant from Hark the Herald wouldn't hurt either. I know that's a major ask, and would be a fair amount of work to email it, but I figure it's worth a shot. If you're able and willing, please let me know. Thanks!

Noah Update

It's been a while since we've given a little update on our busy little boy. I can't believe he's turning the big 3 in January! When I look back at pictures, even of those taken when we first arrived in Peru, I marvel at how much he has grown and become his own little person.

He is a big talker - both in English and Spanish, while we think his English is probably better, we can't really tell because he usually only uses Spanish when there are Peruvians present. From what Elita tells us about the times she watches him, they have full discussions.

He is very active! We haven't used a stroller for probably a month or two since he's so good about walking (or running!) places with us. He could care less if he falls down, while Peruvians gush and marvel at his bravery - they don't like to let their small children run for fear of their falling. Most recent close call? We were playing in our little park and Noah ran right into a rose bush while retrieving a ball. Indeed a branch had impaled his forehead with 3 thorns - he did cry about that! Thankfully, they were superficial wounds and healed up well.

He is an artist, in every way! He loves to color and draw...sing and dance...and play a variety of instruments! We can't wait to see how he will further develop all of these skills. Some of his favorite songs right now are "Your Grace is Enough" by Chris Tomlin (complete with motions we do together), "Feliz Navidad (with his guitar or air trumpet)," and "Frosty the Snowman" (after Grandma read him the book on Skype). He really likes to make up his own little ditties or insert funny words into a song. A favorite - "Old MacDonald had a farm...and on that farm he had a cake!" (followed by raucous laughter)

Can you see the bunny and snowman?

He's a big reader...I wonder where he gets that from? Just yesterday, at a friend's house, Noah chose to spend a good part of the time with their books, instead of the friends. Perhaps an introvert in the making? He also asks a lot of questions now when we read together - about new words or what different phrases mean, like " What's 'Dash away, dash away, dash away all!' ?"

He loves to pretend - having his stuffed animals and figurines talk to each other. Often he'll tell me "You're Goliath and I'm David," wielding some sort of "slingshot" to spin around and aim at my forehead. He likes playing "running and tickle" or hide-and-go-seek with Daddy - actually he likes playing most games with Daddy. But Mommy and baby brother are who he usually runs to for snuggling and comfort.

He likes to talk to baby brother and "wake him up" by giving my tummy raspberries - sure enough, it usually makes him kick. About a month ago, we were walking to a friends' house in the late afternoon, and could see the moon beginning to rise. I pointed it out to Noah and he was happy. Then he asked us, "Can baby brother say 'the moon'?" I explained that he can't talk right now and that Noah would have to help teach him how to talk. So, he stopped me on the sidewalk, put his hand on my belly, pointed, and said slowly and carefully, "the moon." I think he's going to be a great big brother!

Here he is helping me go through baby brother's clothes...

...believe it or not, he had a lot of fun looking at them all, pointing out the little ducks, balls, whales, and cars on them.

Noah continues to teach us the joys and trials of parenthood - while he makes us laugh so often, we are learning the challenges that come with disciplining a nearly 3-yr-old. He reminds us of how very stubborn we are before God, wanting to do our own thing even when He knows it's not what is best for us. How much better a parent God is than I am! We have a lot to learn from him about patience, compassion, and grace.

Trust must be earned

Just read a very interesting Economist article about attitudes toward government and democracy in Latin America. With some notable exceptions, freedom is growing slowly but steadily, though people are mostly unhappy with their own country's system. In a survey taken, only one country, Uruguay, could claim more than 50% responding that they were "satisfied with the way demoncracy works in your country". At the bottom of that list - Peru, with only about 18% agreeing to that statement. As the text of the article puts it:
"Peruvians are particularly disgruntled. This is paradoxical; Peru's economy has grown faster than that of any other of the region's bigger economies both this year and last. Their discontent seems to reflect deep flaws in the political system." You can say that again! Peru's government is ruthlessly corrupt, and hasn't had the trust of the people for years. Recently the whole cabinet was forced to resign. More presidents have been installed through military coup than through fair elections, and bribery is common, almost expected at every level. I'm so glad this stuff doesn't happen in the U.S.

In other news, the Governor of Illinois.....

Visit from Friends

This past week, we got to host some truly wonderful people for a few nights. Aimee is a dear Canadian friend from our days in Arequipa at language school. While we were only together there for a few months, we cultivated a lasting friendship. That's why I was so excited to hear that she was marrying her Ecuadorian friend, Abner. When she left Arequipa, she was moving to Guayaquil, Ecuador to serve her mission there, living with Abner and his family. Well, God had obviously planned that out because they were wed just a couple weeks ago in Ecuador. Only a week after the wedding, they came to visit and stay with us on their way back north for their Canadian wedding.

We had so much fun with them, mostly just chatting, catching-up, and getting to know Abner, who speaks English fluently. After their month or so in Canada, they are going to live in San Jose, Costa Rica - Aimee will be working with Youth for Christ and Abner will be finishing his degree as an architect for the next couple years. Needless to say, we agreed to visit them while they are down there. (c:

Noah misses them and asks about them. We extended an open invitation to them as well, wherever we end up in the States. Congratulations, you two! And thanks for the sweet time of fellowship!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving this year was hosted at our teammates, Jim and Sara Ward's house. While it was mild enough for a pool party, Sara went all-out making the house feel like Thanksgiving with all the pumpkins and decorations. Everyone brought their family's traditional dishes and desserts. Sara cooked the turkey for all twenty-five of us.

We had the pleasure of inviting our dear friends, Todd and Stephanie Edgar, who were in town from Pucallpa - you may remember pictures of them from my visit to their home in June with Noah and Annmarie. They were here looking for a new car for their growing family (Stephanie is due in January) and doing some shopping, while Todd competed in the Peruvian Amateur Motocross (dirtbike racing for those who are unfamiliar with the sport) race and won first place! Congratulations Todd!

There was even a tackle football game...at least a tackle-Michael game.

Stephanie, Amanda, and I with our bellies!

Over dessert we all sat around in a circle on the patio, sang songs, reflected on God's graciousness to us over the past year, and prayed together. We will likely not be here for next year's warm weather Thanksgiving celebration, so we soaked-up the uniqueness and the sweet friendships that we are so grateful for when family is so far away.

Tradition

Just have to write really quick here, to say we are doing one of my favorite activities all year - decorating for Christmas. Just as last year, it feels a little strange, since we wear shorts to go outside, but just as special to be together, trimming the tree and listening to beautiful music. Noah understands and loves it much more than last year, and it's amazing to see it through his eyes. Merry advent!