The Real Christmas

Well, our first Christmas alone has come and passed. We even got to be with both of our families for a bit via skype! Even though we were far away from "real" Christmas, we had a successful Christmas day with decorations, presents around the tree...

a hearty, although unusual, Christmas lunch...



and even some Christmas turkey!!


Yes, we went bowling on Christmas day! And we were surprised to see the multitude of Toogijuku students at the bowling alley to spend the Christmas Day. Later on we even got to have a "double date" with two of our students for dinner. While we were enjoying our Christmas Dinner at a nice Italian chain restaurant, two of our students came to sit at the table next to us. The waiter was about to sit us together at the same table, due to our friendly chatter, but we all delightfully declined knowing that the conversation would shortly dissolve. So we enjoyed our Christmas dinners separately.


And thanks to all of you who help bring Christmas a little closer with your Christmas cards!!!! We really appreciated it!

Overall a quiet but wonderful Christmas celebration. Sounds better than the snow and rain we have heard so much about in Iowa!!