“You won’t open presents by yourself will you?” Those were the concerned words of my parents a couple of weeks ago. It’s a valid concern. Since this was only the second Christmas in 27 years we have been apart and the last time was 2004, and I was with 40 other interns in Switzerland and more than a little distracted. Even without having the Swiss Alps looming outside to distract me from being away from my family during Christmas I was very, very blessed to see my “family away from family” here in Prague make it a blessed Christmas. So even though my stocking (see above) was empty Christmas morning, my heart by the end of the day was over flowing with love from my “Prague family”.
My Christmas celebration began on Christmas Eve at Mark & Joanna Stewart’s for dinner and a gift exchange. As I sat there with some of my closest friends in Prague, I felt that being there was the only gift I really needed. See the Stewarts and my friend Jason McFarland have been among the biggest gifts and surprises of my return to Prague. I knew a lot of people that were here, but I had no idea that I would have the Stewarts and Jason, so it was a beautiful time to celebrate the birth of Christ with them, a Christmas gift that arrived in Prague while I was back in the States.
Then I ran back to the flat to exchange gifts with my goofy and all too lovable roommate, Ernie, and no my nickname isn’t Bert! See Ernie was leaving our flat at 4:30 am to catch a Christmas flight back to the Great White North of South Dakota. We had a fun time exchanging gifts. I got Ernie a teapot so he can drink more than one glass at a time and he gave me a great set of stained glass candle holders (it’s the hopeless romantic in me, I love candles!). They are great. Then it was a goodnight to Ernie and off to bed…
Christmas morn came and so did Erin, my teammate/co-worker with AIA, in her car to go up to Billy and Adrianne’s, my director and his wife, for Christmas breakfast and opening gifts with them and their three kids. It was a beautiful morning. Even with Levi using my gift that I got him to try to cut my head off, he plays David and Goliath a lot! Usually I’m Goliath. The joy of children on Christmas morning is infectious, I love it. It was such a blessing to be with the Crossans. They go above and beyond to love us as their team, but also as their family. I can’t get enough of being called and feeling like I’m their Uncle. Thank you for a great morning Crossans!
Then from there I came back to my place and slept for 30 minutes before going to the Davis family Christmas celebration. Phil is my pastor, friend and confidant here in Prague with our church, Faith Community. He and his beautiful, and very pregnant wife, Shanna (She’s due next month and the running joke is if their little girl comes quick they will just call me, the son of a midwife, to run to their house, which is 5 minute away, and catching their little girl. My mother has taught me more than I want to know over the years, but I don’t think I could handle it!) are great at opening up their home and loving on many here in Prague. We had a great time of hanging and the “Kitchen Elves” did a masterful job with a delectable meal! Thanks for loving well Phil and Shanna! You are appreciated more than you know… My night wrapped up with some calls from great friends back in the States, praise God for Vonage! There you have it, my 2007 Christmas. Sheer Beauty and Love. I pray you had a blessed Christmas and I pray for a blessed 2008 for you as well. Here are two of my favorite random pics that came out of my camera…
