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Weinachten, part 2

 Christus ist geboren! Verherrlichtet ihn!

The temperature neared 50 today under mostly cloudy skies. It's been warm like this for a few days, now.

Yesterday morning we had our Nativity Liturgy, then went over to the monastery for a celebratory dinner. Pictured here is the end of the dinner, when Fr. Gregory, who is originally from the UK, brought out the homemade, traditional English Christmas pudding, all aflame. In the photo, one of the guests is checking to see if it was still burning when they put the lights back on. Fr. Gregory and Fr. Samuel invited all of us stragglers who didn't have families to celebrate with them. At the table England, the US, Russia, and Germany were represented. The menu also reflected the diversity. England was represented by the Christmas pudding, the US by my cranberry sauce, Russia by their version of tiramisu, and Germany by Sauerbraten, a traditional Christmas dish. There was so much other food from UK and German cuisine. I noticed as we were eating that the Europeans eat with the fork in the left hand, and the knife in the right hand, and that they don't cut and then switch the fork to the right hand as we do in the US. It was all so delicious, and the fellowship was great. I'm glad we got to experience a Christmas in Germany.

On the way to the bus, I got what I call a 'treat' from nature. I heard a melodious, sweet bird song up in the trees. I was just thinking I would like to know what bird sang so beautifully, when a European robin flew down into a bush at my face level only a few feet away, looked at me a few seconds, then started singing again. I felt blessed.

Today was also a public holiday, the third day in a row that all the stores and businesses are closed (except a few restaurants, mainly run by Middle Easterners and Asians). It was Boxing Day, which we don't observe in the US. Everything is usually closed on Sunday, so from Sunday until today it was especially quiet. Today I went for a walk around the Baggersee, and wasn't the only one. Every age was represented, as people used their leisure time to walk off their Christmas dinners, as I was doing. There were few birds, as this is the dead of winter, even if it didn't exactly feel like it. I had to take off my jacket halfway around the lake as I was overheating. When we first came, I had to sit down frequently, and didn't always finish the loop. Lately, I've taken the entire thing from leaving to returning without needing to stop or sit down, a 50 minute walk. Now that's progress!

Tomorrow I need to get a few groceries. I stocked up last week, knowing that for 3 days I wouldn't be able to buy anything. Groceries are so expensive in the US, and I think I'm going to suffer sticker shock when I get back. 

Christ is born! Glorify Him!

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