The Day after Christmas
So what is it that we have been doing, that has kept me away from this computer for so long?
We have been coughing and blowing our noses, but that is not it. That is not all.
First, there were our gift projects. I found some lovely cotton canvasy type fabric in the Mapusa market (I really must take you on a tour of the Mapusa market one of these days. You won’t understand my life if you don’t come with me) and had cloth grocery bags made by my new fabulous tailors.
* A note on the tailors. I’ve had so much trouble with tailors over the last year that I’ve seriously considered just buying a sewing machine and making all the kids’ clothes myself, something I would LOVE to do if I had a clone who could finish my book and host all the people who come over everyday. If there were two of me maybe we could get it all done. What I did instead was took a deep breath and walked into every Nepali shop that I’ve been avoiding here in my tourist town since I arrived. I hate shopping. Remember? Loathe it. And there is nothing that will frighten an anti-shopper like myself more than an overabundance of choice. So I took an afternoon and forced myself to go and talk to all the tailors. I found some with a wide open space in the back of their shop, so they were practically outside, but with a shade cover. Good working conditions. Check. Polite, not smarmy. Check. Understood what I meant. Check. Good stitching on the samples. Check.
I found my dream tailors and I have loved everything they’ve made. Wonderful, because the kids always need clothes and there are no thrift stores here and don’t even get me started on the horridness of things that are sold in the shops. *
So anyways, I had the bags made, and then the kids drew simple designs and embroidered them.
The gifts were a hit. We gave them to our neighbors and close friends.
We decorated our Christmas tree; this year a tiny spruce.
We got the rooftop ready for a Christmas party that we had on Christmas Eve.
And then we had the party. It was so sweet. There was plenty of food, and the decorations were so peaceful and nice (the stars were made by Miriam and Johanna, members of our community from Germany and Switzerland. Some are made of paper and some they made out of palm fronds) and I read the Christmas story while the kids acted it out. The child who played Mary had a bit of a nervous problem of picking her nose, so the video may prove to be an embarrassment one day. We sang carols, with Chinua, Miriam and Johanna singing three parts, and Chinua performed his arrangement of the Little Drummer Boy, which never fails to bring me to tears. The guests went away happy and blessed, and we were all happy.
(Kid A took this photo at the party.)
Christmas day was beautiful and sweet, except for my sleep deprivation from going to Midnight Mass the night before. I may tell you about that at another time. (Mistake!)
Oh, the kids were so excited and Chinua and I made crepes together and then friends came over with hula hoops they had made for the kids, and then the other members of the Turbans (the band Chinua was in in the Himalayas) showed up (we haven’t seen them since we left the mountains) and then we went for a family swim.I’ve been worn out, lately, and missing my family, so this soft, sandy Christmas was just what I needed. God always knows, doesn’t he? He always, always knows.
13 comments
What a beautiful picture of you!!
The decorations are exquisite! I particularly enjoy the water droplets.
What lovely, soft, beautiful stories. The bags are really cute. Thanks for sharing.
Wish I had been there. It all sounds lovely. Absolutely Lovely.
What gorgeous embroidery and lovely, happy, sweet, glowing photos. I’m hoping to see more of your blog, I’ve really enjoyed reading through it today. x
Beck´s last blog ..Christmas Day
Lovely… wish I could have been there with you. Love to you all.
Rebeca´s last blog ..We Three Kings
Rachel! How sweet and beautiful it all looks! And the picture Kai took so captures your beauty and grace. So happy to have a peek at your days.
What a lovely Christmas!
We’ve been back in Canada for a year and a half now, and while we had a lovely Christmas with family and friends, I do miss the interesting, worshipful Christmases we had overseas. They were different there, lovely in a different way which seemed to lend itself to really being struck by the beauty and importance of the coming of Christ….
I miss it.
I don’t miss taking down and putting up our Christmas tree 4 times during the season so the local folks could borrow it for their parties….. (I loved lending it out and sharing, but by the 4th time of re-putting it up and re-decorating, there’s not much fa left in the falalalas….)
The Confused Foreigner´s last blog ..Hope for the Helpless, Rest for the Weary, and Love for the Broken heart
Best Gift Idea ever – those sweet handmade bags.
Great photo of you up there. You look relaxed which is always a good thing.
Happy New Year to you, Rae and Family
MsCellania´s last blog ..Fully in the Christmas Spirit!
Rae Rae-
That was one refreshing and restful entry. Thanks for the lovely descriptions of your Christmas celebrating. I’m home with my folks and oodles of family and feeling a fair bit adrift. I’m not sure where I’m at at the moment. It sure is odd to be surrounded by loved ones and missing and new loved one. I’m missing Davidas. And of course I’m used to missing at this time of year. I love you and your fam. I stuck my feet in the sand this Christmas too! Shalom.
P.S. I hope to be in your neighborhood next Fall. Praying. Oh I hope to be near you all for a bit.
Looks like a wonderful time. The bags are wicked cute–kid art is always so great and full of whimsy.
Green Girl in Wisconsin´s last blog ..have a very merry
your life is so lovely, it aches. Those bags are amazing
flutter´s last blog ..Oh, Holy Crap
You are beautiful.
I love KidA’s picture of you, delightful. Happy New Year Rae.
Paola
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