Merry Christmas from Vietnam

Boy do the Vietnamese know how to party. Not that they are partying for all the right reasons, but they are celebrating Christmas. And every year they are hearing all the Christmas songs, including the words Jesus Christ, little baby, Savior, Holy night

They decorate everything, trees, buildings, play and sing music, and then party like crazy on Christmas Eve. They do this thing where they create a temple of aluminum foil around the nativity scene. You see small displays and then you see big displays. We saw one while driving that had to be two stories of aluminum foil around a life sized nativity.

From about 7PM until 1AM there was a big party going on at the lake about four blocks from the hotel, with two big stages and tens of thousands of people. Then about 11PM we heard a few fireworks and then an endless parade of honking cars and motor bikes worked its way through the streets. The difference from any other time during the day was all at once loud and constant. Who could sleep.

We were blessed by the staff of the hotel with a Christmas Eve party last night with caroling, Santa Clause helper and food. Lilli even got involved in the singing and dancing. Take a look (sorry for the quality.)

After the fun downstairs, we came back to our room, which the girls had decorated earlier in the day. We even had a Christmas tree. We sat down and read Twas the Night Before Christmas, The Christmas Story from the Bible, and sang Silent Night. Then we made sure the stockings were hung on the credenza with care, put a plate of oreos and a glass of water out for Santa, and it was off to bed. At least for the little ones, and beleive it or not they both were able to fall asleep.

When we woke this morning, Santa had come and left some small gifts and candy in out stockings for everyone. He had even eaten most of the cookies ;-). Lilli got two new games for her Nintendo DS, and some house socks. Katelin got some new toys. Mommy, daddy and Trina got some bath supplies and pocket calendars. It was great to see the expression on Lilli's face when she realized that Santa did find us and she got some of the things she wanted.

Of course the best Christmas present we could have asked for was the completion of our adoption of Katelin. At 11:30AM on Christmas Eve we received our clearance and visa from the US Government, which means we are free to come home at anytime. YEA!

Please keep us in prayer as we prepare to travel home. Especially Kristi and Trina who are fighting bugs. From all of us in Vietnam, Richard, Kristi, Lilli, Katelin and Trina, we wish you a very Merry Christmas, and we will see you all soon. God Bless