Wrapping Up Christmas

We had wonderful Christmas and New Years - here's some pictures of the fun!

As I mentioned, I got bit by the cookie bug this year and I couldn't stop baking! I made 8 different kinds of cookies! Do you remember my dilemma about what to put instead of a Hershey's kiss in the peanut butter ones? I saw the perfect solution at a little store....chocolate soccer balls!Once I opened the wrappers and cut them in half, they almost looked like kisses!! Living in another country really forces you to get original sometimes!
We used the cookies as a way to make new contacts in our neighborhood and as a way to show our care for others in our lives. Everyone, from the barber to the construction workers building down the street, got cookies and a visit! It is amazing how open and receptive people were....and how touched they were too. Many people invited us in to visit and asked us to return. When we were done there were still tons left, so we brought them to Jeyson's mom to give to her neighbors too! And of course we ate two or three (ahem....dozen :) cookies ourselves too!

On December 23rd, we had a little Christmas for just the two of us before traveling to Jeyson's family's house the next day. Unfortunately the picture is pretty bad since we had to dive onto the couch after setting the timer, but we had a great time!

We spent Thursday through Saturday with the Braun's....actually lots of Brauns that came in from other state as well. I have to laugh though at the fact that I look more Brazilian than most of the Brazilians in the picture! Jeyson's relatives are Brazilian but are of German decent and still speak German with each other.

Over the weekend we drank tons of mate - a communal Brazilian tea drink

We told jokes, ate way too much, cleaned up the dishes and ate again! It was tons of fun!

It was especially fun to spend with Jeyson's family that I've met before but have never been able to speak to because of my Portuguese! So now we really got to know each other better.

These relatives live on a giant farm that grows beans, soy, and popping corn. They brought us huge bags of each and taught us a terrific recipe for sweet popcorn. You boil sugar, milk, and cream until it thickens up

to make a very fluffy but sweet popcorn.

Growing up, the Ciotta family always got a special ornament each year to represent something special that marked that year. Then, each year as we decorated the tree we'd remember all the past year and what went on. Jeyson and I have done that so far and here's what we have:

2007 - An ornament that we gave out as favors at our wedding.

2008 - This was given to us for a wedding gift and we put a picture from our ministry brochure in the frame. This represents our first year in ministry together.2009 - This year it was really tough to find a special ornament because the options here in Brazil are extremely limited. We wanted something to represent our first home, so my sweet (and talented) sister-in-law, Lika, made this adorable ornament for us. It was SO special not only to carry on our tradition but to have something homemade!

Well, as one of the Braun uncles put it so well - it's time for the "second joy" of Christmas. The first joy is when you unpack your boxes of decorations and spruce up your house, you start baking, and family arrives. The second joy is when everyone says goodbye, you put away the decorations, and rid your fridge of junk food, and return to your routine :) So cute....and true, huh? Goodbye 2009 - you were wonderful, Welcome 2010 - with all of your joys and challenges ahead!