Let Your Glory Fall: It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Here in the Dominican Republic, Christmas has come early this year. Actually it started November 1 to be exact. Due to the lack of Thanksgiving celebrations here (we actually are celebrating but there’s not nearly as much hype here about Thanksgiving), we decided to go ahead and deck the halls and trim the tree to get optimal Christmas celebration in before we all head back to the States in December to spend some time with our families.

So...on November 1, Evan and Rachel invited all of us over after to school to decorate the tree, listen to Christmas music, eat some yummy potato soup, and watch Elf. The evening was topped off by each of us making our own ornaments with our favorite Christmas memories on them and by Connor wearing around his Christmas-music playing reindeer antlers. It was a a great way to kick off the Christmas season, and we all had a really good time.

Then, the following Monday, we were out of school for a national holiday here. Chad and I took the opportunity to do some Christmas decorating of our own. We made three wreaths - one for Chad’s back door and two for the classroom doors. This was our first wreath making experience, and it was a lot of fun! Then we decorated the Christmas tree with the “help” of our sweet Dominican kiddos. They mostly just sat and made fun of us and kept stealing the balls and hiding them. They’re crazy! We finished off the day by hanging our stockings, drinking some apple cider, and watching yet another Christmas movie.

Do the kids think we’re crazy for celebrating Christmas already? Some of them do. Does it even remotely feel like Christmas here based on the weather? Not at all. Is this the first year of my life I’ve ever decorated a Christmas tree wearing shorts and a t-shirt? You better believe it. But is it actually beginning to look and feel a lot like Christmas around here? Absolutely! I think there’s a reason they call it the most wonderful time of the year, and it has to do with being around people you love. I’ve realized that that sentiment carries across oceans. No matter where you are, Christmas really does feel like the most wonderful time of the year. And in the words of Audrey, “This year for Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for Christmas.” Merry Early Christmas!