Christmas is a big deal aboard a Mercy Ship. There is something Christmas related almost everyday of December and can actually get quite overwhelming at times!
Some of our favorite activities have been the multicultural/international ones where we learn more about how friends from around the world celebrate Christmas. We loved Sinterklaas (The Netherlands), Carols by Candlelight (Australia and New Zealand), Christmas Ceilidh (Scotland) and Santa Lucia (Norway/Sweden/most of Scandinavia).
Sinterklaas!
Carols by Candlelight
We have also enjoyed some traditions from home, but in a new way here. Things like finding a hidden Elf everyday, making gingerbread houses, being part of a Christmas play at school, and a Christmas door decorating contest! 
Sadie was The Star in the Nativity Play
The Elf hiding in a window!
Gingerbread house contest
Sadie was The Star in the Nativity Play
Jeffs Finance Director door decorating like Marley and Scrooge Accounting Services!
An extra fun thing has been decorating the hospital with my patients. We have made paper chains, paper snowflakes (funny for people who have never seen snow!), and just tried to make being in the hospital more fun. The patients also sang a song in Krio (the language here) during our Carols by Candlelight celebration. Seeing my kids interact with my patients make my heart so happy.
See those cute little shepherds at the bottom? Those are all of the rehab therapists!
Sorry I can't show any of the cute patients I have been working with, but just believe me that they are very sweet, thankful, amazing people I feel privileged to serve everyday!
Anything else you would like to see? Questions for us? Let us know!
Love you all and we are so thankful for the big and small ways you have loved us this special season. We have received boxes with candy, stockings, notes from home etc from many of you and it really does recharge our batteries to help us keep doing the work in front of us. The FaceTime calls and texts of "Thinking of you!" and "Love you!" really make a difference.
