Lo' How a Rose Ere Blooming
Merry Christmas from Germany!
Our Christmas Eve service at FEG-Rebland was very nice, with caroling at the exits after the service, then we hustled off to the Bruckrainhof for a little musical by the Musik-AG (music club) from Stryker-Ann's school. Stryker played the violin and had two duets to sing. It was COLD! but a very nice evening.
Stryker-Ann "warming up" a bit
The family 'fore the tree
Christmas Day came quickly (we adults were up a bit later than usual, wrapping a few last-minute items) ... the presents were all opened and admired (or played with, or being worn, etc.), the stockings are currently being rifled for the last yum-yums, and the Christmas Tree looks so forlorn now ...
Stalking the stockings
It was a wonderful day! We arose at 6 AM (oh joy) but managed to keep the wolves at bay for another 15 minutes while daddy made the coffee and turned the lights on downstairs. Saint Nicolaus had come indeed, and our friends from the States had been likewise VERY generous, filling our hearts with gladness, joy, and blessings for the Season. Now that the day is past, we are into the 12 Days leading up to Epiphany. In this neck of the woods (Southern Germany) we will most likely be visited by the Three Kings on Epiphany and have our door marked with chalk (the marking will be some variation of "C B M 07" for Caspar, Balthazar and Melchior, the traditional names of the Biblical Three Magi, followed by the year of the visit). This custom, which we first encountered last year at the Ferienwohnung, is usually associated with the Catholic areas of Germany, but also occurs in some other spots as well.
May this time of wonder find you all happy, healthy and filled with joy!
The Vosteen family
