togetherness

A word that has come to mind a lot lately is anticipation... what do you anticipate? I think I can honestly say that I don't think I've ever anticipated anything more than this visit home that we're making in about a week. The Christmas season has always been one of 'anxiously and excitedly waiting' for me, as I think it has for many of us, no matter how old we are. It changes as we get older - we start to focus our excitement on 'giving' more than 'getting' and yet above all of that, I'm anticipating togetherness this year. I'm looking forward to our Christmases and exchanging gifts and all of the above, but if we had all that but not togetherness, it would be such a disappointment.

As we prepare to come home, though, I'm painfully aware that I'm finding myself more and more wrapped up in our schedule, plans, and gifts than in reflecting on the birth of Christ. I've spent plenty of time placing online orders, watching sales, tracking packages (Christmas shopping has been a little different this year), but have I spent that much time in the Word, seeking to know Him more and praising God for the eternal gift He gave us that Christmas? I'm writing this maybe more as a reminder for myself that Christmas is about Christ! Why do I have to re-learn this lesson every year? When I'm anticipating togetherness, am I also anticipating togetherness with Christ, someday, eternally? Am I living each day intentionally to reach that goal? Am I planning my service to the Lord as carefully as I'm organizing our Christmas lists? Because all of those things will go beyond our three weeks at home. It is God's grace that will bring us back to Mexico in January and help us to keep going here, even when its hard, or we're lonely, or we miss home. Even when we don't have togetherness with others... we have togetherness with Him. Investing in that togetherness with Him is a decision we must make - and choosing wisely makes an eternal difference.

Missing our family and friends is a daily challenge, especially right now when home seems so close and tangible. And yet we are so very blessed with opportunities for 'togetherness' and fellowship with believers here. Ruth took a few pictures the other night at Jovenes as we were working on pinatas, and looking back through them I was reminded of that. Because of our role, especially on Saturday nights, it is more tiring, it does take more effort, and it is sometimes more stressful to be together than to be by ourselves. But it is a blessing. And these children need a sense of 'together' too. Here are a few pictures:

Cutting strips of paper to glue on... these guys were having a little bit of trouble focusing but once we got them working on it they did great! :)

So colorful!

Working hard... or hardly working. 

A few more views of the pinatas

"Matt's pinata" - it was a donkey (I think?) but now its a hippo because it just turned out more that way.

And... while we're talking about Christmas and togetherness, I just thought I'd remind you not to forget us on your Christmas card list! We'll bring your family photo/card down here and feel so much closer to you. :) You can mail it down here if you have our address, but if you don't or don't want to worry about mailing internationally, you can also send it to one of our parents houses as we'll be bouncing back and forth for a few weeks at the end of the month. Just wanted to make sure you know you have that option. ;) We're looking forward to seeing you all!