The trouble with having Christmas on a Monday this year was that it felt like any other day...seeing as how China doesn't celebrate or even really recognize Christmas(save the opportunity to make money off foreigners and the few others that do celebrate it as large supermarkets sell commercialized Christmas). But in any case, Sunday felt more like Christmas than yesterday did. I guess in a way that's good. Yesterday I started my Christmas by waking up to the most intense fog I've ever seen. I walked out of my apartment building and couldn't see 10 feet in front of me. I'm not kidding. It was like a white-out. Then I tried to find a taxi to take to work since I'd left too late to take the bus (was exhausted from the night before)...and couldn't catch a taxi. Then I grabbed a bus to take me a few stops, closer to Carrefour, so maybe I could catch a taxi along the way. Finally caught one. And we stepped into horrendous traffic just before the bridge. I was 45 minutes late to work and missed my first class....my homeroom class when we were supposed to have our gift exchange. Not a great way to start Christmas when you have to work in the morning. But the Father was good and taught me something in the experience...as I find He's often doing on my commute to work. So since I'd missed my first period, that left me with 2 free periods then watching a movie with combined classes 4th period. That was it. Well, after a great conversation with my parents, B, Amber, and her parents at 9am....which I loved, by the way. That was the highlight of my whole morning. :) For lunch, I ate with Bryant and Cherry and Kim and Jada and Bry and Cherry's place. Played with Kim and Jada's new puppy, Thunder. He was a Christmas present from Jace...and he's sooooo adorable. I'll post a photo of him later...but he's great. Lunch was nice...then Bryant and I went to the city together, me to Carrefour to buy some things for my little "party" last night. I spent my Christmas bonus in my salary on Indian delivery for Britt, Chris, Tanya, Michelle, and later Nathan. Yuuummmy. Chris contributed some Chinese wine (not entirely bad), and it turned out to be a nice evening of conversation. Complimented by my Christmas gift to myself...internet in my house!!! Woohoo!!! So we got the internet installed yesterday afternoon, and it feels awesome...though I won't truly get to try it out til tonight (Britt used it more last night than I did). But...yay! So...a Christmas with a few highlights. But most of all, a reminder of His faithfulness and love... Raul will be moving to Nanjing sooner than expected. | 
