MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Wishing you all the very best of Christmas blessings. See you back here soon with family photos!

Christmas Preparations with Laura, Chris and Owen

One afternoon, we all set out to explore the little town of Melnik (about a half hour car ride from Prague.) After enjoying some Chai in the clock tower, an experience in itself, we took a moment for photo ops above the river.

Laura and Owen bake a special Pavlova (see the Syvertsen Family blog.) Owen donned his apron to help mix ingredients under careful supervision of his mom. It was delicious!

Another day, Chris and Rick brought home the perfect Christmas tree, and Owen was given the honor of hanging the first ornament just before bed.

Christmas in Prague

This Saturday, I will be giving a talk at Gail's Christmas Tea on Christmas in Prague. Here are just a few of the 147 photos I took while visiting with Chris, Laura and Owen that have to do with the festivities:

The Old Town Square is filled with wooden booths arranged in a star shape where vendors come to sell their hand-made items, from gingerbread cookies to candles, jewelry, and lots of souvenir trinkets. Notice the nativity scene carved from a large tree trunk near the huge Christmas tree. A stage features local school groups singing traditional Christmas carols (in Czech, of course.)

Dec. 5th is the day St. Mikulaus comes to the town squares to see if children have been good or bad. We joined the gathering in Namesti Miru (Peace Square) where whole families gathered, some in costume, to enjoy the festivities of this special night. Only three costumes would be appropriate: St. Mikulaus, an angel or a devil. It was like one huge block party, complete with fireworks, sparklers and hot spiced wine!

The next day, we admired handmade nativity scenes on display at a local church. They were all well done, from the traditional wooden, paper or crochet to the modern pictured here with baby Jesus in a carriage with a star balloon above.

Although Christmas in Prague is less commercialized than here in the U.S., even with its emphasis on the Nativity, much evangelism needs to be done in order to bring out the Truth of God's coming to save his people from their sins.

HOME FROM PRAGUE!

We made it home from Prague to three happy cats who were well taken care of all week by our neighbor. More news will be posted as soon as we recover from our jet lag!