6:33 Late Thursday Evening (25 December 2008)   Jesus, Saviour and Lord of All I am often embarrassed to be a Christian. There are a lot of people out there saying they are Christian, with ideas that I find immensely offensive...but I hope that we all, Christian or atheist or Hindu or anything, can some day realise that we are all people and we must all love each other or this world is going down in flames (not that it isn't already). I appreciated the gifts that I got, especially the microscope allowing me to explore the world around me in detail (I can't wait to look at different soils under it when I get back to work!), the woolen shirts and socks that will keep me warm this winter, and the gift cards that will make my life a little easier in the coming year when I need to make purchases when my own money is a little bit on the tight side... but next year I think I'll ask people to donate to the food bank or the Salvation Army or to the World Wildlife Fund instead - after inspiration derived from my uncles incredibly touching Christmas devotional. This trip has been really interesting - I learned how to do a cable in knit, saw Harry Truman's house, spent a breakfast with the V's eating sweet potato pancakes with curry powder (the oldest V kid made me hot cocoa in her favourite mug!), received a card congratulating my impending marriage from my great uncle, and got to spend a lot of quality time with my favourite auntie and uncle (same uncle who did the devotional). It's been a really good visit with my family - a lot better than expected. Despite a few political arguments, things have been rolling smoothly. Played Settlers of Catan, Cranium, and Bananagrams with various relatives...and got to pass around my poor boyfriend to meet my crazy famdamily. It's been an excellent Christmas. I hope peace rests upon the world today and always.