First Christmas in Costa Rica

If you didn’t get a Christmas card from me this year, it’s not because I don’t love you. It’s just because I’m lazy. :) In fact, we’ve been consciously lazy about Christmas this year, and it’s been our least stressful holiday season yet! Well, maybe “minimalist” is a better word choice than “lazy”. Regardless, it’s been a great holiday season for us.

Gifts

Jen and I aren’t really getting gifts for each other – we have all we need. Although she saw a few dresses she wanted in Guatemala which we bought, and I ordered a new router and set of walkie talkies for my mom to bring down when she comes next week, since our old ones are dead or dying. So we feel quite satisfied.

As for the girls, in addition to a new dress each in Guatemala, we also got them each a bike, which they’ve both been asking for. Hopefully they’ll be able to learn how to balance on them soon. They also got a little stuffed animal puppy they wanted. And that’s about it, except for a few additional gifts Grandma may bring down. (We’re so excited to see her!!!)

Santa Claus and Baby Jesus

Christmas plant

Marie (5) has already pretty much figured out that Santa Claus is a myth, but Emily (7) seems to want to hold onto the belief a little longer. We’ll see how she feels about that on Christmas morning, since there aren’t really any big surprise gifts. Actually, Santa Claus doesn’t visit kids in Costa Rica, anyway. It’s baby Jesus who comes to deliver the gifts – an interesting twist to the Christmas story. Although, I don’t get how that would work if he grew up and died and everything – how could he still be a baby? Oh well.

For a Christmas tree, we used one of the large potted plants from our patio, and have hung some ornaments on it that the kids decorated with their friends from the package that my mom sent. It looks pretty cute, in a pathetic sort of way. But it works for us. We also decided to go ahead and get a Pricesmart (Costco) membership, and bought a little decoration of a snowman and a tree, and some nice smelling candles to place next to some red lilies from our garden so our place would look (and smell) a little more festive.

What a Year!

Christmas decor

Usually when I send out Christmas cards, I include a letter summarizing our lives during the past year. It’s a good chance to reminisce about what what we’ve accomplished, how we’ve grown, and how our lives have changed. As I look back on 2010, I can hardly begin to understand the incredible opportunities we’ve had. I knew that moving to Costa Rica would be a great learning experience. But I didn’t realize that it would have an effect on almost every aspect of my life.

In just another couple weeks, we’ll have our one year anniversary of moving to Costa Rica. And what a fantastic year it’s been for our family! We’ve made some very dear friends, become conversationally fluent in Spanish (the kids are almost there), and have enjoyed wonderful weather and food almost all year. We’ve also had the chance to visit several other countries nearby, learn more about ancient civilizations and cultures, focus on our family, our spirituality, and improving ourselves, and have even discovered that we’re pregnant with our third child, which is going to have an even bigger affect on us next year, I’m sure!

I have no idea what the future holds for us. I used to have plans about what I wanted to accomplish in life, and had firm short and long-term goals. And I still hold to some ideals of what I might like, but I’m less attached to them now, and am more willing to just let things unfold naturally and go with the flow. I’m confident that my life will continue moving in the right direction for me, if I don’t force things too much, and just follow my joy. As I try to live with love and give more of myself, my joy will increase, I’ll be able to do more good, and I will continue to have a “Fulness of Life”.

Merry Christmas, everybody! I love you!