A Camel for Christmas

I wanted to bring my Dad a real taste of the Saraha for Christmas. I've been on a campaign to get him and my stepmom out here for a visit. So I thought maybe if I brought home a camel it would really give him a hankering to come out for the full-blown adventure (after all, at his age my grandparents were globetrotting!) . Anyway, I wasn't really sure that would work. But then I thought some more about it and decided maybe after the camel ate up all his grass and drank the well dry a few times he would be REALLY motivated to come and bring it back. So I tried to think of where I would be able to get a cheap camel. I don't think my dad's ever ridden a camel before (although I think Geordie did that at the Bronx Zoo), and he probably wouldn't know the difference between a cheap camel and an expensive model, so I figured the cheap kind would do. Besides, camel transportation is extremely uncomfortable after a couple of hours, so there's no sense in spending the money on something that is really just for looks. Last year I met a man in the medina who told me his family owned 500 camels and he was asking which one of the young teachers I was showing around he could have as his 3rd wife. Apparently, he had earned enough money to be able to afford the 3rd one. As a good Muslim, he can only have 4, so the selection process has to be pretty tough for the 3rd one cause he's only got one chance left after that! I guess an American sounded like a good option for number 3. Anyway, since I didn't sell him one of the teachers (I told him he would have to go ask their dads), I didn't really think he would give me a good deal on a camel. I went to the medina anyway...

I didn't find any live camels (I didn't have time for a trip down to the desert), but I found a dead one. I decided that it would be easier to get this one through customs anyway, so I brought it home and wrapped it up. My dad's been wearing it to work and getting a few compliments. So far he hasn't booked a flight yet. Maybe next year I'll kidnap my brother.

Dad in his new camel skin coat

Spoiling Silas

Rachel & Ian's little Silas is the newest arrival to the growing pool of Adams grandchildren . He was born in September, and I was so excited to meet him when I got home. Over the holidays he got passed around from one to another of us until he fussed to be put down for a nap.

Silas & Auntie Bec


Silas & Uncle Danny


Silas & Uncle John

Christmas Princesses (& the Queen Mothers)

My little sister and my little niece are both really into dress up right now, so I brought a couple of traditional childrens outfits back for them.

Princess Lena



Princess Piper

This one's for you, Papa Mort!

Finding just the right Christmas gift for my dad is pretty tricky. First of all, he's about as picky as I am. If he doesn't like it, he's just not going to use it. Or if his first impression isn't impressive, it's going to end up forgotten under a pile of papers somewhere in the office to be discovered a few years later (like those barbecue smoke chips for the grill...). So, whenever somebody gives my dad a gift he REALLY likes, I am impressed. This year my dad eyes lit up when opened a gift from Papa Mort (his father-in-law). It was a beautiful monochromatic drawing of our house. I mean, his house. I guess whenever I visit I am made to feel so at home that I still think of it as my house even though I haven't ever lived there for more than 2 months at a time. Anyway, KUDOS to Papa Mort for spending hours to create such a perfect gift!

The Youngest Uncle & His Niece

Gosh I'm getting old. I had to actually repeat in my head "i before e except after c, and when spelling words such as neighbor and weigh" to figure out how to spell niece. Eeck! At least I'm not teaching spelling to my four year olds.

Anyway, here's the cute picture of the youngest uncle in our family and his cutie patootie little niece (who also likes Dr. Seuss!).

The Uniformed Son

Yeah, my almost-youngest brother prides himself on being the Uninformed Son in the family. This year he missed the Red Memo...

Before the Throne

Sometimes a song is the most beautiful expression of my deepest feelings. How perfectly this one captures my thoughts today! I can't help wanting to share. It is the amazing story of God's grace reaching down to show me mercy. It is the story of Christ's intercession for me before God's throne, even when I am guilty.

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea,
A great high priest whose name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on his hands;
My name is written on his heart.
I know that while in heaven he stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair
and tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Saviour died
My sinful soul is counted free,
For God the Just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold him there the Risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless Righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of Glory and of Grace.
One with himself I cannot die;
My soul is purchased by his blood.
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Saviour and my God.

Sovereign Grace Music
http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org/music/

... and it was Merry, Very!

OK, so I like Dr. Seuss a lot. I think I read How the Grinch Stole Christmas at least 10 times while I was home. My wonderful belle-mere has this aversion to Dr. Seuss, but I CAN'T let my little siblings grow up without his sing-song-y stories. I grew up listening to a-million-and-one Dr. Seuss stories, as read by Mimi (my fabulous grandmother) and twenty years later I still hear her voice in my head when I read that Grinchy tale. So I bought the book for my little brother a few years ago, and every Christmas Eve I sneak in and read it to him after he's supposed to go to bed. My dad's ears start working really good on Christmas Eve, so we have to be extra quiet and try not to giggle at Cindy-Lou Who who was no more than two (Now Dad, you can go ahead and forget about that by next Christmas Eve, 'kay?). This year my bitty sister who was no more than two (but has since turned three) decided she likes Dr. Seuss too. Several nights found us reading a pile of books before she snuggled under her blankets to dream of the Cat in the Hat who can Read with his Eyes Shut (and that is VERY hard to do - it makes his eyebrows get red hot).

the victims of Dr. Seuss mania...