Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! This is always a bittersweet time of the year- being away from our families in the States and yet still being amazed at how God still provides special relationships here and enjoying focusing on Jesus and his coming to this earth. We spent Christmas Eve with a few of our teammates.


Shannon's family has the tradition of eating fondue on Christmas Eve. She brought this tradition with her to Russia, and we've adopted it, too! It was fun to talk and graze and enjoy all of the yummy meats, appetizers, and desserts dipped in different sauces.


The Kerins got Anneka a doll stroller and she loves it. She's been pushing her doll around everywhere.


Nettie read the Christmas story from Matthew and Luke and we all acted it out. Here, Anneka suddenly decided she wanted to be baby Jesus, so she interjected in the play and sat down on "Mary's" lap. We also had a neat time of singing carols and taking communion together- celebrating Christ and his first coming and looking forward to his second coming. There was a scary moment in the middle when Matthew wrapped a ribbon around his neck and Anneka yanked it so tight that his face turned beat red and we needed scissors to get it off. We are SO thankful that there were scissors so close and that Matthew is okay!!



Last year we began the tradition of sleeping in the living room as a family, under the Christmas tree. Anneka was thrilled about this!



Sleeping in heavenly peace.



We had Swedish pancakes for breakfast(a tradition since Leif and I have been married). Mmmmmm!



It was so amazing to have so many presents from family and friends to open on Christmas morning! We all had so much fun opening everything!! And Anneka enjoyed playing with all of her new toys and books all day long.