Feliz Navidad - Friday, Dec. 25, 2009

We wondered how we would feel waking up on Christmas morning without our family around us. Our daughters have always stayed over on Christmas Eve, so we have always been together to open gifts and enjoy the day together. We could only think of one Christmas for each in 34+ years that they were unable to spend the night on Christmas Eve and be there to see what Santa left in the morning. This year we all spent Christmas morning in separate places.

Our gift opening on Christmas morning was always a ritual. No individually tearing into our own gifts, we always took turns opening something while others watch and oohed and awed at what we had just received. Now that might not be possible for a large family with many children or it would take all day and into the night, but for us it worked well and we really enjoyed Christmas morning.

While I was showering and getting ready for the day (before opening our gifts), Rich was at his computer reading emails from anxious parents that were unsure about the information they had or didn't have regarding contacting their missionary today. He was inspired during the week to email all the parents with his home computer email address so they could contact him if things didn't go well. He would trouble shoot things from this end and correct any numbers or problems they had. Some parents he called on his iPhone through Skype, for a next to nothing charge, and some he communicated through email. Throughout the day he addressed 27 problem calls.

Besides the things we bought for ourselves for Christmas, other family members sent gifts and some treats to be consumed. We appreciated their thoughtfulness. Among the things we bought is a great cup and saucer Rich plans to use for hot chocolate, and the pottery bowl in my lap.

We talked with Marianne and Mekhi on skype, and he was super excited to show us his new train.

I put our 10 pound turkey (largest I could find) in the oven and cooked it in a Reynolds cooking bag that I brought from the states. The turkeys have tender timers in them and they have seasonings added. The added salt is evident. Marianne had sent me some Stove Top Stuffing in a care package a while back, so to that I added mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, a fruit salad, and the pie I made yesterday. It all tasted pretty good.

We invited our office elders to dinner so we would have some company and they were eager to come. They had never had Stove Top Stuffing, but seemed to enjoy it. Elder Paz had seconds. Christmas day was "P" day for the missionaries so they came to dinner in casual attire. They looked cute. At 6:00, they were to go back to work. Most missionaries probably just went visiting new converts or their investigators.

We decided to buy the elders some gifts to open. We didn't know if either of them would receive anything from home. Elder Coria finally received a package a couple days ago, and Elder Paz had received some money to buy himself something. But we wanted to give them a gift too. We bought each a valeto, where the ball is flipped over trying to land it on the stick, a neck tie, a leather key chain with their initials on it, and some bars of various Argentine candy that they like. They were excited to open wrapped presents, so they set their own cameras on "movie" in order to capture the event. They were cute! We had a fun time with them.

While I cleaned up the dishes, Rich had about four more problem calls to deal with. After that we talked with Nate, Melissa, and Urban on skype.

It has been a very different Christmas for us, but we survived and made the day a pleasant one.