Merry Christmas!

I've had Bebo Norman's "Come & Worship" song stuck in my head for 2 days now (if a song has to be stuck, that's a good one...much better than "All My Ex's live in Texas" -- not sure why in the world that song gets stuck in my head...but it does.).  "Come & Worship" got stuck in my head last year, too...here's a link to that blog post: Come & Worship

 

It's been a sweet advent season for the Cash Family.  We've had official celebrations with the Dutch (Sinter Klaas), Swedish (Santa Lucia) (here's a link to a great blog about Santa Lucia) and Australians (candles by carol light) ...we've made cookies...we've wrapped presents (and been quite creative in our wrapping)...we've gotten to participate in some projects where serving and blessing others was the focus....there's been an Academy Christmas Play and a production of the Nutcracker....we've gotten to participate in and enjoy special Advent services every Sunday evening.  It's good to celebrate Jesus' birthday and to do it in meaningful and purposeful ways...  

 

Here are a few pictures from the past few weeks:



Caroline packing Care Bags for some of the children who are visited/loved on through Mercy Ministries

A whole box of bags!  Over 600 were put together for babies in orphanages, kids in hospitals, children at the deaf school, and for women and men in prison.

 Cookie Making:

Our Nativity Scene! 

Australian Tradition of a Bar B Que, Candles & Carols

Yes, it's certainly been a special Christmas Season...but it's been bittersweet at times....missing others and knowing that others miss us - it's a positive and negative.  It's good to know we are missed and loved and thought of...but it's hard to be missed - and hard to miss others!  We're very thankful for blogs, emails, facebook, skype, letters, packages, phone calls and the like that help keep us connected. Thankful that we can be close in heart and spirit even though we're an ocean apart.  It sounds like such a cliche'...but cliches are cliches for a reason. 

 

Something we've all missed is getting Christmas cards -- we're thinking the ones that were sent will show up mid to late January (if you happen to have an extra, feel free to go ahead and send it!). The "Christmas Container" is somewhere nearby - but not on the ship...but it's coming!  So we'll just keep on celebrating as long as it takes... :) 

 

Christmas Greetings from the Cash Kids:

 

Emma: "yay!!  Christmas!!" (then she sang "Twinkle, Twinkle letter star)

 

Caroline:"May you give lots of presents & get lots of present!  Happy Christmas!"

 

Eli:   "Enjoy getting presents...but know that the real meaning of Christmas is giving.  God gave us Jesus - the best gift!  Enjoy your Christmas!  Have fun with your family!"

From Cabin 7219 aboard the Africa Mercy off the coast of Guinea, Africa...Merry Christmas & Many Blessings!!  May you know the peace, joy, presence, love and generosity of our God this Christmas...and always. 

 

Surely there will be more to come.