Merry Christmas from Taiwan

The quotable Keira (holiday edition), recent photos, and Christmas reflections

Every time we see a picture of Santa Claus:

"Look, Mama!  Gnome!"

Watching me untangle a knotted ribbon while wrapping gifts:

"This too hard Mama.  Baba do it!"

Morning of December 26th:

"Keira open presents again?!"

Every time Jude tries to snatch some play food:

"No!  Jude too small eat this.  Judo eat.....egg yolk!"

(Always egg yolk.)

(Comforting Jude, who was unusually fussy)

"Judo, no sad...Baba come back!  Baba come home soon!"

Christmas Reflections

We were blessed to spend the Christmas season with many friends, some old and some new.

Decorating cookies with my Chinese classmates

Enjoying the Christmas decorations at Taipei 101 with a new friend I met in the market

Christmas Eve dinner with Dillon, Caty, and Luke

Delivering cookies on Christmas Day to friends and neighbors

Christmas Day dinner (gluten free!) with friends from church

This year, God gave us a special gift on Christmas Eve Day.  My good friend Daisy and her family unexpectedly stopped by to visit, and stayed for dinner.

We have been continually praying for their family.  For the last couple of months, their baby son had been struggling for life, and on December 22 he peacefully passed away.  He was three months old.

The kids played while we got to talk together, cry together, remember together. 

 

Usually on Christmas Eve we celebrate Jesus coming to earth as a baby, starting God's Great Rescue Plan to save us.

This year, as grief mixed with joy, I found myself often meditating on Jesus' second coming, when He will finally complete the Great Rescue and make all things new:

"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,

and death will be no more,

neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore,

for the former things have passed away."

Come quickly, Jesus, hope of the world.

Please join us in praying for this family.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year,

Kayt