Nollaig Shona!

Dee and I wanted to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas. We are having a great Christmas season. We are so thankful for our local friends and this time that we get to spend with them! Our Christmas Eve started with a coffee with friends and then a quick shoving match... I mean shopping trip for some last minute food needs. We are planning on spending the day baking, listening to Christmas music, and visiting with friends. I truly am grateful for this time... and for our community.

Children here are getting ready for Santa.... and the big guy has even made some appearances around town over the last few weeks. Living here has taught me a lot about the big man from the North Pole. He goes by many different names. Here he is referred to as 'Father Christmas' or 'Santi'. He looks a lot like he did when I last saw him in America, but he seems much older and thinner here. He even walks with a walking stick. The coolest thing is that he can even speak Irish Gaelic ( a feat that he does with amazing fluency). Children don't give him long lists of presents, but usually ask for a modest gift and a surprise. The most interesting thing is that Santi has not always been the patron saint of children. At one time St. Nicholas was the patron saint of sailors. This fact is still evident in most of the old port cities of Ireland. It is very common for the ancient churches of these seafaring towns to be dedicated to St. Nick. I was reminded of this fact only last week while Christmas shopping. I was walking around a Christmas market set up in the shadow of an ancient church named, "St. Nicholas". There above one of the doors is a twelfth century mermaid... a reminder of Santi's nautical history...