Last Thursday our friend Kelly took a bunch of us out for his birthday. (He's a firefighter with an abundance of gift cards, bless him!) He turned 47. But, um, his kids told the wait staff he was turning 50, which our waiter proudly announced to the other patrons while the kids (okay, we all) laughed. Hard. Our waiter never did realize how he'd been manipulated!

The next day my friend Crissy arrived from Fort Hood with her kids and stayed overnight so I could go with them to the airport and help get them situated on their flight to Pennsylvania. Her hubby is in Iraq for fifteen months, and she has three kiddos under the age of five. Imagine all these little ones and the stroller and ten bags getting checked and through x-ray. Oy! She did it once alone and swore never again!

The day after they left, my gourmet cook friend Mary had a fab brunch for some of her friends. Imagine screeching to a halt during the insanity of the season and taking time to savor good food and fellowship. Delish!

Later that day, my parents arrived from Oregon. I had seventeen here for the big Christmas feast, a highlight of which was hearing from my student Deepthi and her husband, Immanuel, about how they celebrate Christmas in India. Apparently they have an all-night caroling party during which they visit every single church member. (That'd cut down on the number of churches with 6,000 members, eh?)

Yesterday was my birthday. My sis had us all over for dinner at her place, and my niece made my fave cake: chocolate on chocolate. Yum! Then my bro-in-law dragged out the old slides of us all 25 years ago. Ohmygoodness--it was too funny. I'm not crazy about aging, but if the alternative is to relive the polyester double-knit years... Know what I mean?

This morning at 4:30 my folks left, and tomorrow I take off for four days to meet up with our church's sister church in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. They have established a mission church in an area that has no plumbing or electricity, and every year they ask us to bring a few hundred boxes of gifts for families (toothpaste, toothbrush, washcloths, soap, balls, dolls, stuffed animals). For most of the recipients, it'll be the only Christmas gifts they receive. My friend and neighbor, Reiko, coordinated the box effort this year. When she was a little girl in Japan she was on the receiving end of such gifts and it meant so much to her that she is now giving back. It's a joy to get to be a part of it. Would you please say a prayer for us and our team and our efforts?

Gracias, amigos!