Christmas in Africa

Greetings and Happy New Year! With the close of 2015 we realize that we have now lived overseas for a year.  Luke doesn't remember what real stores or roads are.  Miriam of course hasn't ever known any other life than France and Africa.  We're grateful to be here.  And we're grateful for so many friendships that have spanned over so many miles this year!

Our internet is snail's pace, so I spent most of yesterday trying to upload these pictures.... enjoy!  I'll post some more soon when I have the patience.

The Butt family tradition of giving cereal for Christmas continues!  Luke had tasted Rice Krispies at a friend in Bunia's house.  He was obsessed with what they were telling him!  So, a friend picked some up for us, $7 a box!  He's in heaven.

If you want to know what Luke is like nowadays, look at this picture.  Big, always preferring to be in underwear over shorts or pants, and always silly.  He loves his new alligator shirt.

Miriam got some sweet gifts from the grandparents, but Mom and Dad's gift of a green guava in her stocking won for her favorite gift!  She gnawed on it all morning with great pleasure.

Luke still loves books.  Its a treat to have a new one with no libraries around.  We're getting pretty board of the selection we brought, but we're going to start trying e-books for kids (never thought I'd say that!).

Luke proudly standing before our charlie brown tree.  The Coopers gave us lights from Uganda, we made a paper chain,  and enjoyed ornaments from the past.  Patrick's hiking socks made for good stockings on the coffee table :).

The day started with reading about Jesus being born, then opening stockings full of passion fruits, eating pancakes, and opening the other presents.  Next we headed to church for about an hour (though the service starts at 9 AM and goes till at least 2 PM!).  We relaxed and made desserts in the afternoon and then shared a huge feast with our close Congolese friends (nurses and neighbors)!  We provided the goat, and they the rice, cabbage, potatoes and plantains.  About 10 neighborhood kids showed up to play, and they were invited to join in the feast as well.  We had a blast.  I think it goes down as one of my favorite Christmases.  The joy of a goat celebration was contagious.  Luke LOVED the miracle of Jesus and presents.  And Patrick and I enjoyed not having the pressure of finding the perfect gift :).  

Patrick brought out stacking cups.  They'd never seen anything like them, so Luke demonstrates how to build a tower.

Hanging out in our back yard before the food is all ready.

Mama Sunday praying over the food.  She is the mother of our nanny and a dear person to us.  We just spent New Years evening with her, as she kindly invited us into her home for a meal.

Miriam continues to grow up and we fall more and more in love with her every day!  She is at a super sweet stage of playing super well on her own, making cute word-like sounds, and waving and saying 'hiii' to everyone.  Here she's snagged a lollipop from someone and she's reveling in her first candy :).