Christmas in Dubai

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  Well, we did it.  We had our first Christmas away from our families.  It was a tough time but we did it.  We had a great Christmas despite being in a new country.  It was very surprising to us to see how Christmas is celebrated here.  All over the malls you see signs saying "Merry Christmas!".  We didn't once see "Happy Holidays" or a "holiday tree".  It was blatantly Christmas - no hiding it.  Such a change from back home where people are afraid to mention Christ.  It figures that when we go to a Muslim country we are more free to say "Merry Christmas" than we are at home.  All the malls are decorated with Christmas themes.  Most malls have something to do related to the holidays.  We went to a mall and made a gingerbread house.  It was a lot of fun. Evan was really good at eating the icing and candies.  He would take a bite off and put the rest back in the house for later.  So cute!  No wonder he didn't get to sleep until 11:30 that night.

Christmas Eve we went to church and wrapped presents while watching Home Alone and drinking hot chocolate.  It was a nice evening.  Christmas morning Evan woke up just before 9.  We put the coffee on and began opening presents.  Evan was spoiled by his family and by his new friends here in Dubai (the people I work with.  Thanks Charlene and Kristin!).  He got a great balance bike called a Y-bike.  He loves bombing around the complex on it.  He especially loves going over the bumps.

Ooooohhh...what is in there?  THOMAS!!!

We then had a delicious bacon and egg breakfast.  Bacon is now a very special and rare thing for us.  We used to have it almost every weekend.  Now we will have it on special occasions.  It is really expensive to buy here (and you get it from the non-Muslim section in the grocery store).  After breakfast we cleaned up and had family nap time.  YES!!!  We got up and headed to my friend's house.  There we had a delicious Christmas dinner with all the fixings.  We had turkey, ham, twice-baked potatoes, veg, country biscuits stuffing and cranberries.  It was so good.  Evan did not eat this as he despises eating anything other than french fries and fried eggs.  So, he had his own Christmas feast of Fishy crackers.  After the kids went to bed we had a nice fire outside.  It was such a blessing to us to be able to spend Christmas with great friends.  Thanks Jannie and Ryan, Joseph and Alice.  We would not have survived the season without you!  Here are some pictures of our Christmas.

A foggy Christmas morning

Evidence of a delicious meal.  Notice how Paul is still eating?  He is on his third plate!

Our Christmas tree with stocking hung above a fire

I want to take this time to thank you all for your prayers, emails, messages and support as we live our Dubai Dream.  I am so thankful to have amazing family and friends!  You are all missed more than words can say.  I pray that you will have a blessed 2013 making memories with your families, having laughs with your friends and knowing and loving the Saviour more.  May God bless you all in the new year.