Wesołych Świąt! / Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas...Wesołych Świąt !

We enjoyed our first Christmas in Poland and from the beginning to the end it was a great day!

We woke up, had a simple breakfast and then off to church for just one hour.
The messages in church this morning were wonderful...bearing testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ, his mission and the gifts we receive because of Him. 

After church, eight missionaries serving in the Warsaw II Branch and one other young man from our branch came over for Christmas dinner.  We were thrilled to have them in our home!

They participated in a group gift exchange....and then we gave each of our guests a "bag of goodies" also. 

We were creative with the eating arrangements in our home and found it was possible for eleven of us to eat together in one room!

Our guests enjoyed eating, visiting, singing, playing the piano, reading and playing a brain game...Blokus!

They became "angels" as they insisted on helping clean dishes, which was a great service to Mark and me.

Here is this wonderful group of missionaries and one Young Single Adult...

Front row: Sisters Bailey and Jones, and Elder Johnson

Back row: Elders Murphy, Curtis, Dopp, Hillyard, YSA Dominik (who just received a mission call to USA...Tacoma WA), and Elder Dobrowski.

What a wonderful Christmas to have our home filled with these wonderful young missionaries!
They filled our home with lots of laughter and such a wonderful spirit!
They left our home and were ready to make and receive Christmas phone calls with their own families...we remember those special Christmas calls ourselves.

Our guests left around 4pm, and then it was time to open our gifts to each other. Our Christmas was mostly our trip to Hawaii and items purchased for our move here to Poland...but we still enjoyed sharing and giving a few items to each other. 

Ever since purchasing our new computer prior to coming to Poland, Mark has wanted a wireless mouse...he has one now and he is happy!

I received another new hat...we wear hats almost daily here so I know this will get a lot of good use.

We purchased a special light that is often used in higher latitude areas to simulate

natural sunlight....hope it helps.

Here is Mark testing out the light...you can use it for 1 1/2 hours a day...I think Mark will take it to his office though he would like me to use it here at home too.

We spent the rest of the evening making connections with family, one of our most favorite activities...though the Picketts were scattered abroad this year, we loved making our family connections via the computer, Skype and phone. 

We miss our friends and family but...we have had a good first Christmas in Poland! 

2nd Day of Christmas...

In Poland, the day after Christmas (Dec. 26th) is always a public holiday...it is a day set aside for relaxing, eating left overs and visiting with friends.

We received an invitation to the flat of one of Mark's co-workers....Kasia. She was so kind to invite us to visit with her, her mom and daughter Rose. We took the Metro, walked and arrived at her flat in the afternoon. She welcomed us with Polish treats....poppy seed cake, gingerbread and chocolate and cheese cake. 

 Here is a picture of little Rose, Kasia and her mom.

Here are Mark, Rose and me after playing games, play dough and visiting with this sweet little girl.
Kasia was so kind to invite us into her home on this Polish holiday...she has always been so friendly towards Mark and me, and though I don't work with her she has been a model of kindness.

We have created some new memories and routines and have enjoyed experiencing the holiday season in Poland this year.
Mark returns to work tomorrow and I return to my routine... our home will stay decorated with holiday and Christmas cheer until January 6th...another special holiday in Poland!
Happy New Year 2012.....Szczęsliwego Nowego Roku 2012!