On the 3rd day of Christmas...

I've debated whether or not I should post this part, but I've decided to post it as a record for myself (since this is the only journal I keep now). I don't seek recognition.
Several months ago, my brother, Matthew, encouraged me (in the family letter) to be more thankful. I found a way for me to feel more thankful and express that through daily blogging. Soon after, he challenged me to be more charitable.
I believe Matt to be much wiser than his years. I think his spirit is much older than mine and older than many on earth. I thought about this challenge a lot. One day the thought came to me: I'd like to give to an orphanage. I didn't know of any around here and a search online yielded no results. I thought about it for a couple more days. Then one day I saw my German neighbor outside with her husband (who speaks English--the subject matter is more difficult than my limited German would allow). I went across the street thinking it was a great opportunity to ask them if they knew of any orphanages in the vicinity. They are such kind people and she told me she would look into it and let me know.
A week later she told me she'd contacted a priest/minister/reverend/pastor at a local church. He knew of a family who was really poor and in need. This family includes grandparents, children and grandchildren living in a small farmhouse. They are often transient, trying to make money wherever they can.
My neighbor also decided to help. Her family collected coats, shoes and other clothing.
So, Christmas Eve started out with Emily and me going on a shopping trip to the commissary. Julie stayed behind to sit on the phone with the airlines trying to find their luggage. Jer slept in.
The four of us met up with my neighbors and followed them to the church to pick up the pastor, then we all went to the farmhouse.
It was an awesome way to start Christmas.

We came back home hoping Julie's and Emily's luggage would be on the doorstep, but it wasn't. We left a note to leave the bags there just in case they came while we were gone. Julie had been assured they would arrive that day.
We decided to take a trip up to Burg Nanstein in Landstuhl. While we were planning and Emily was wrapping presents, Julie thought she heard something outside. Their luggage came! The couriers didn't ring the doorbell. They dropped the bags off on the doorstep and left (the note was still on the door). Hallelujah! It had been 4 days since they'd seen their luggage. It was a Christmas miracle!
Julie and Emily changed their well-worn clothes and we all headed up to the castle. It was the foggiest day I've seen here, and quite cold, but a lot of fun! We first stopped to take a picture with the castle, then with the welcoming snowman perched on the patio of a castle-friendly pub. We had a fun time goofing off and wandering the castle grounds. The trees had shed their leaves and the ground was cold and hard, but it was not eerie. The fog brought with it a sense of peace.
Everything closes on Christmas Eve in Germany. It was weird to drive through the deserted heart of Landstuhl.
Back home we put on Christmas music and I got started in the kitchen. A couple of weeks before Christmas I decided I wanted to start a new Scheuffele tradition--something that is uniquely ours now that we live so far away from family. I decided I will make wassail punch every Christmas Eve. I'd looked at many recipes online until I found one that seemed perfect.
Oh, the wonderful aroma escaping from the crock pot lid! It was heavenly!
I also wanted to make divinity. The taste is in the name. It is the best candy! Emily said she didn't like divinity, but she kept eating it! Julie too!
We ate 15 bean soup for dinner on my Christmas dishes and drank wassail punch. Scrumptious!
It was a wonderful, happiness-filled day!