A secular Christmas is widely popular in urban China. Christmas Eve is called Ping An Ye "Peaceful Night" and everybody exchanged apples because the word for apple 苹 looks and sounds like the word for peace 平. We didn't really get into the apple thing.
A few senior girls joined me for supper last week. I gave them pretty rockin awesome gifts and they almost died laughing. What were you expecting? Wool socks?
\We're so pleased with Jonathon -- eating snacks with his brothers.
Drew had a couple nice guys over.
Two sophomore girls, our 8-mos pregnant neighbor lady, and our 1-year old neighbor kid helped bake Christmas cookies -- with no eggs, milk or butter. We had to get around our neighbor kid's milk and egg allergies.
We brought this tin in for Titus' four teachers and 36 classmates at preschool!
Milk-egg-butter free.
Friday night the preschool hosted a big Christmas bash for the kids and their parents. Jonathon and Michael came on an honorary sibling invite. It was a blast!!! Tons of sparkly lights, hilarious (and awkward) dances and games and obnoxious flashing reindeer headband lights.
Wang Zhao and Li Ci are 18 year-old friends who grew up in the orphanage. Wang Zhao is now a freshman university student and Li Ci is working in a government program at the orphanage. They've been coming here every Saturday to hang out, just love having them in our house. This week we baked some cookies, watched a movie, ate supper, opened gifts -- the normal Christmas Eve family stuff. They've never had a family. I hope they feel a part of our family...I think they do.
That's pre-Christmas and Christmas Eve, Christmas Day next to follow.
Your Christmas pics made me Smile! You got the true meaning going, Rachel.
ReplyDeleteWe are loving having Portia home with us - her first "traditional Christmas" in a few years.
Merry Christmas to your loving family. Would love to send you a box of goodies ... let me know what you would enjoy - clothes? cooking supplies?
Ruth - Portia's mom