Christmas in New Zealand

I'm still waiting for it to hit me that Christmas is just around the corner. I see on Facebook from US friends that Christmas lights are being put out, Christmas music's on the radio, and the sweet virus of special memories and family cheer is spreading rapidly.

 It's December 6th and the weather is hot and humid here with occasional fitful showers. It's hard to picture sipping hot chocolate and warming fingers after a vicious snow ball fight. Sharing stories around a lit tree in the evening with soft Christmas music playing looses its magical romance when the sun's peering in to be a part of it. The sun keeps houses lit nearly til bedtime these days.

Maybe if I wait for the Christmas's I've known to arrive it will never come, but if I look around I see many joyous wonders to thank God for surrounding this special time of year when the world joins in celebrating our Savior's glorious appearance on earth as a wee babe.

With summer/Christmas holidays letting loose in New Zealand, Kate was off school and Olivia has graduated. Yesterday before lunch the two of them walked up with a couple games and a homemade slice of cheese cake for me. :) We ate lunch together out on the trampoline. When the sun was blazing we woke Zeke up and walked down the farm for a swim in Mum and Dad's pool. Zeke played on the lounge floor, Mum keeping an eye on him, while the gals and I had a wonderfully refreshing afternoon swim. Jack arrived back from school on his bike and joined us for some afternoon tea and Mum's famous queen cakes.

Around Mum and Dad's table with Zeke sitting on my knee and Olivia, Kate and Jack keeping everyone in stitches with impersonations of Mr. Bean, I felt very blessed and very much in a Christmas spirit.

No snow ball fights going on around this house this season but I did get playfully tossed out in the rain yesterday evening by my husband during a violent downpour.

I didn't pile on the couch with siblings and little nieces and nephews to watch Elf or ride downtown as Papa pointed out Streets and Houses dressed for Christmas but...the New Zealand skyline was clothed in splendor as the sun bid us ado. At nearly nine o'clock Zeke slept soundly as Andrew and I went out to enjoy the Light show and drink in the fresh, clear spring air just after the rain.

...from a couple nights earlier.

Sunset pics with Zeke...

Thank you Lord for spoiling me with people to love both near and far! Thank you for taking the time to create beautiful rain showers and sunsets, hot summer days and cool clear water, beautiful farms and dancing hillsides. Most of all, thank you for coming to earth to save and restore what is good and beautiful and to rescue and defeat what is evil and sinful. Teach my heart contentment that my spirit may bathe in your joy day by day.