Merry Christmas!
I didn't send letters with this year's Christmas Cards. Instead I directed folks to the blog. "Find our Christmas letter at mcrambles.blogspot.com," I said. I guess I better put up a Christmas letter, huh? |
| St. Nikolaus on the Christmas Train. |
2011 has been a good year for us. The big news is that it's also been our last year in Europe and we move back to the states in March of 2012. We're going back from whence we came, to Warner Robins, Georgia. We are excited to be back in the South with its mild weather and plentiful sunshine. As you might imagine the details of moving are threatening to overrun the Holiday season, but for the most part I'm successfully keeping them in a box until the New Year.
We've been so fortunate to be able to do oodles of traveling while living here, most of which you can read about by clicking the country categories on this site's navigation bar, so I won't rehash them here. (I am admittedly months behind in the travel blogging department. I usually get caught up in the Winter when the weather is so totally nasty that there's nothing more appealing than to sit inside at your computer, so if you're interested in our ramblings, be sure to check back.)
As far as how life goes when we aren't out seeing the sights....
The boys are 6 and 3. C started first grade this year. And he loves it. It was a bit of a transition at first as this is his first year in a traditional classroom, but he's taken to it well and I'm frequently amazed at both the depth and breadth of what he learns at school. He's at a DOD elementary school in a very small class with a supremely dedicated teacher. I think we've been spoiled, for sure! Here's hoping our tansition into the Georgia school system goes smoothly.
This is B's second year in the German kindergarten and he continues to do well there. He'll frequently announce to me that when he's at kindergarten he's a German kid and when he's at home, he's an American kid. We're undecided if, when, or where he'll be doing any kind of preschool stateside, but I'm envisioning having to explain to him that he is actually an American kid, 24-7.
D stays busy at work. Which is about all I can say about that, here. He was selected for Major this year and in between his stints here and there "saving" the world is one class away from finishing his Master's degree. We're proud of all his hard work.
As for me, I manage to keep busy with all the typical SAHM things: volunteering at the elementary school, coffee with friends, playdates with pals, and when the weather's nice long walks and bike rides over the beautiful (but sometimes smelly) farm fields. I'm basically simply trying to soak up every last ounce of atmosphere before we leave. While I look forward to being back in the USA and having Publix and Target around the corner and to being able to complete a (as in ONE) load of laundry in under 4 hours, I love village life. I love being able to ride my bike to anywhere I need to go and am not at all looking forward to reacclimating to suburban sprawl.
This time of year as the boys flip through toy catalogs and wander through stores and tell us all the things they want for Christmas, we try to talk them about Christmas really being about giving, not getting. (Mercifully, Armed Forces Network doesn't air commercials. Which stinks at Superbowl time, but is super convenient this time of year). Local organizations sponsor Angel Trees and we take them shopping for angel tree toys and try to explain to them how fortunate they are that they want for nothing. It seems that everywhere you turn these days, people are wanting. Times are hard, for many. There are lots of excellent charitable organizations out there doing outstanding work to meet the needs of those in need around the world. If you're considering additional holiday giving, but don't know where to direct your donations, consider some of these worthy organizations.
The Ronald McDonald House or the Fisher House which provide lodging to family members of sick children and wounded warriors, keeping families together under devastating circumstances.
Donate Animals and feed a family. In most of Asia, rural economies dominate and donating chickens or milk-producing goats can provide a family mired in poverty with both food and longer term income generation.
ENTRUST, an organization founded by an old friend that uses professional mentorships and monetary donations to help local people in Haiti and Honduras create, manage, and grow their own businesses, breaking the cycle of poverty.
We hope you and yours are well this holiday season. There's not enough time left for us in Europe to invite you to visit us here, but if you find yourself traveling the I-75 corridor in middle Georgia and have time to sit-a-spell, holler at us!
Do you facebook? If so, friend us. It's probably one of the easiest ways for us to not lose any of you as our contact information is constantly in flux.
May your 2012 be filled with love, peace, and great joy!
love, The Mcs :-)
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government
shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful,
Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
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