Christmas Finally Arrived

We go almost the entire month of December and when do you think the malls broke out the Christmas decorations?  Dec. 20th!  Yep, that's when three of the big malls set up all sorts of elaborate decorations.  Above is Al Wahada Mall. In a month where I wasn't really seeing Christmas all about me, I got a nice taste of it the few days before!

Friday, the 19th we had our Christmas service at Evangelical Community Church (ECC) and it was really nice.  We had great music and Pastor Cam shared a great message to make us all really think about the heart of Christmas.  

Saturday and Sunday, the 20th & 21st I stopped at two different malls and saw the first really "public" Christmas decorations that weren't selling something!

Monday, the 22nd four other ladies and myself gathered at one of the ladies homes and watched Elf while we ate pizza, snacks, and brownies with ice cream!

Tuesday, the 23rd I got not one but two "Merry Christmas" greetings from store clerks!  The first (and second) time that has happened this season!

Wednesday, the 24th we attended two different Christmas Eve gatherings with friends that were so nice and homey!

Thursday, Christmas Day I spent an hour working with "my little angel" and was able to give him his first (with dad's permission to not offend) Christmas gift!  He kept debating with me over the issue of it being Christmas or not!  I stopped at two grocery stores on my way home and they were playing Christmas music!  And so was the expat radio station as I was driving about.  Barry came home early from work (like 3pm) and we chilled out as I wrapped a few gifts.  We stopped by friends with small children and gave the kids gifts, that was fun.  Then we went to another friends house for a Christmas cookout!  It was a "lowcountry" boil with shrimp, corn on the cob, and new potatoes, along with salad and garlic bread, dinner was awesome!!!!  We played the sneaky Santa gift exchange where you "steal" and overall had a nice evening!  Then it was home to make phone calls to family and friends!  We only got through to one and left messages for everyone else!  Oh well, that was the only bummer of the day!

Friday, the 26th we had another wonderful church service and gathered at the malls food court to eat with a ton of other families.  That we love doing most Fridays after church.  And then we went to a different mall to see a movie and do a bit of shopping.  No crazy day after Christmas sales and returns!!!  That was nice!

It was certainly a different Holiday season than one at home but I enjoyed it for reasons of it's own.  Christmas to me is celebrating Christ's birth and that's what Barry and I did!  Abu Dhabi style!