Follow the Light

On Thursday, I had to drive to a part of the city where I'd never been to pick up Jimmy's Christmas present. When I left the embassy, it was blue skies, which was a blessing because the traffic would've been an even worse pre-Christmas nightmare had it been raining.

My euphoria was short-lived because the clouds rolled in very quickly.

But there was always a window of light straight in front of me. Sort of a subliminal Christmas message to follow the Light.

I hope no matter where you're celebrating this most joyous of holiday seasons, it is merry and bright!

Baking Gingerbread

Mac really wanted to bake gingerbread cookies this Christmas season.

You know how I feel about baking.

Especially at this altitude.

But we baked gingerbread cookies - not gingerbread people because I don't have people cookie cutters - Sunday afternoon and they are quite possibly the best gingerbread cookies.  Ever.

Yeah, you heard me.  These cookies are that good.  If we do say so ourselves.

The decorating on the other hand will win no awards. The icing was too loose and drippy, so they're a  bit messy and nondescript.  jimmy thought the wreath cookies were scallops. But did I mention how good they taste???  From top to bottom, we have Jimmy's batch (notice the smiley face scallop), my amazing and artistic cookies, and Mac's colorful explosion cookies.

random musings

1.  Christmas is two weeks from today.  I can't believe how quickly it's coming.  I have finished all my shopping, which is a minor Christmas miracle in and of itself.

2.  Vacation starts in 18 days and this cannot come a moment too soon.  Hawaii, here we come.

3.  Mac got his first term report card and he did really well.  Super-proud of that boy.

4.  Key Stage 2 at Mac's school (grades 3-6) had their sports day last week and Mac scored big.  He came home with a trophy that looks like something they'd give to the Heisman Trophy winner.  Serious blingage.  The events were all track and field, which I think is definitely Mac's strength.

5.  Mac got sunburned at sports day and is now peeling.  Oh, to be peeling in December.  Unfortunately, the florescent lights in my office do not give me a peel-worthy sunburn.

6.  We tried to do a Christmas light tour last weekend around Bogota, but apparently the other 8,000,000 people in Bogota had the same idea.  It was a bit of a bust.

7.  I enjoyed great fellowship with my Bible Study gals at a pre-Christmas lunch on Saturday.  These ladies inspire me so much (and they're great cooks).

8.  We attended the embassy's Christmas party on Saturday morning.  Mac had a great time.  He didn't participate in any of the Christmas activities (except being coerced into taking a Santa photo), but instead rolled down the large hill in the yard repeatedly for about 1.5 hours.  Here he is with a tickling Santa and his very good buddy John.

9.  We went to Mac's Christmas concert at school a couple weeks ago.  He takes "Stomp", where they beat on the floor and cans and drums and make rhythmic noise.  They did a great job.  (Mac is on the far right, closest to the front of the stage.)

10.  The most illuminating part of the Christmas concert was when I went to the girls' bathroom and saw all of this on the back of the door.

Mac is in the 4th grade and Jimmy and I were in the 5th grade when he gave me flowers, so we're not that far removed from Mac potentially meeting his bride, aka my daughter-in-law. Y.I.K.E.S.