Christmas Day

Christmas Day was bittersweet this year. It was our first Christmas away from family. However, God has given us some wonderful friends who spent Christmas day with us. After church in the morning, they came over for what turned out to be a very late lunch. We've decided that's Linner... cheesy but an apt name I think :-)

Anyway, below are some pics from the afternoon. This is us with a serious cook up. Deboned, stuffed chicken and a rolled roast, which ended up being unrolled and roasted as a fillet instead...lol. Dior and Lindsay were fantastic in the kitchen. Hats off to all the culinary efforts!!

This is going to be one of the most famous dogs on the internet! Meet Echo! He's Lindsay's hound dog, but I've adopted him :-) His cute factor is definitely over 100%. Echo and his friend Dotty both came over for Christmas Day lunch too.

They definitely decided the kitchen is one of their favourite places in the house. Dotty likes to clean up especially...lol.

Despite the fact that we definitely didn't take enough pictures on Christmas Day, I thought I should add in our special tree. Thanks to all the wonderful people back home who have given us so many Christmas tree decorations over the years. Combined with a few new ones that I couldn't help getting this year, they helped to make our home more festive, despite family being so far away.

I can't help but think of Psalm 103. This Christmas could have been a lot different. I certainly realised all over again how fortunate so many of us are!
"Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." Psalm 103:1 - 5.