Merry Christmas from the Selaqui family!

Maybe it’s because this was my 3rd out of the past 4 Christmases in India...
Maybe it’s because leaving ripped my heart out, which made coming back especially sweet...
But being here-- for Christmas-- with this family, felt so right.

Everything is different than back in America. No Christkindlmarkt or Macy’s window displays. No Christmas music on the radio. Fried chapatis and spicy paneer on Christmas morning instead of Mom’s candy cane coffee cake.

And yet, maybe the strangest thing of all is that all these strange things could feel so... normal. This place has truly become my home; these people, my family.

Of course I love my family back in America. Of course I missed our Christmas Eve pico de gallo and “A King is Born” glow-stick parade around the house. But, seeing as I can’t be in two places at once, I’m thankful this year for yet another special Christmas here.

It’s Christmas Eve. The big boys’ hall is decorated with crepe paper and balloons and our makeshift tree, and we’ve all gathered for the traditional program– songs and dances and skits so funny my face hurts from laughing. We break, 10 minutes, for chai around the bonfire. And finally, after midnight, out come the gifts– a bundle for each boy (a sweater, pants, a new pair of shoes...) and a coveted bag of peanuts and treats.

There’s something so precious and innocent about this kind of Christmas. So removed from the “hustle and bustle” of the West. A true celebration of family and love and JESUS. And I’m blessed to be a part of it again.

Christmas morning, we gather on the stairs for breakfast and worship. Several of the older boys have come “home” for the holidays– it just seems right having them here. Frieda is smiling big under her red woolen cap, and we thank God for her life and health. It could have been a much different Christmas. But here we are. The sun is shining, the family is together, and our hearts overflow with gratefulness.

What a gift.

(By the way, a special thanks to Ade & Jeff and Liza for their help with this year’s “team shirts.” The boys love them, and I've been seeing orange, orange, orange all week long!) :-)