Part of Christmas for LDS missionaries is to be able to call home. We had 6 missionaries using our two computers. It was so exciting to be there with them as they talked to their families! Some were able to introduce friends from here to their families. We've been on the other end of those phone calls, being on this end was so fun.

More Weihnachten!!
 Christmas pyramids come in all sizes. "Angels" come in all sizes and some do tricks - this one played the harmonica, guitar, blew smoke, changed colors, skated and sang simultaneously. He tried to teach me a song - I didn't get it. He was very entertaining!
We brought recipes from home so we had dipped pretzels, cereal candy, cranberry salad and chocolate chip cookies. Mindy made herself right at home in my "kitchen." We made Christmas trees in Primary using our handprints.

 More sights, sounds, tastes and experiences of a German Christmas. Top picture is our mall right next door to our apartment. It has been beautifully lit and have had entertainment going on everytime we were there. Christmas Eve was spent with our dear friends wanting us to experience real German traditions including a 9 course meal.

We woke up Christmas morning to our very own stockings that Santa had left. We are so glad Mindy could be here with us. Christmas afternoon was spent with our International friends who had never experienced Christmas before anywhere. They were from China, India, Africa, Utah and Washington. Turkey, potatoes, cranberry salad, roasted carrots, lime jello with shredded carrots, pumpkin pie and chocolate cake were more than they could deal with but they ate it! Thanks to Rod I had the courage to make pumpkin pie from scratch! Germany doesn't have canned pumpkin but they do have great fresh pumpkins. It was delish if I do say so myself!

And we celebrated Duane's birthday!! They are all so good to us!!                                                                                       

Mindy came for Christmas!! We visited the Documentation Center in Nurnburg first, then the Market and all that came with it. Christmas in Germany is absolutely beautiful, thrilling and exhausting!!

 

More sites and sounds of Christmas. The missionaries from 3 cities got together and sang Christmas carols at Christmas Markets. They sing beautifully together. It was fun to accompany them and hear the comments of the listeners - "Who are those guys?" For our last Home Evening together before they all went home our Young Single Adults delivered treats and sang for a few people. Then we all came back to our apartment for homemade caramel popcorn and hot apple cider. My sweet cousin sent us caramel popcorn "kits." Everyone I know will be getting a "kit" next year. It was delicious!! And of course Santa came to visit!!

Snow in our hills and valley, this was taken out our bedroom window - always beautiful no matter what season it is. The month had tons of exciting activities -
a baptism, a train ride with our "kids" (more can be seen in the reflection in the window) to a nearby city to experience a Christmas Market, and decorating the Christmas Tree at the church. German traditions laced with American traditions - very confusing to some - it's been a wonderful way to start the Christmas season.

Thanks to my techie we are up and running in the blog department. I hope I don't bore you, but since I started my sentence that way I guess it's more like "Be prepared to be bored," while I get this caught up.
In November we had a lovely Thuringen Sausage Thanksgiving Dinner; the Relief Society had a fun Christmas activity; we went to the Freiberg Temple right after a snowstorm; and we drove home through a wonderful winter wonderland!