Itsenäisyys juhla and Bethlehem

On Friday we celebrated our 20th annual Finnish Independence Day party.  We invited some friends over, cooked up a whole mess of Finnish food, and Nathan even donned his haalari (his jumpsuit from his days at Tampere University).  It's our favorite meal of the year and I have been enjoying the leftovers all weekend.

Classic Adana.  This was her "bathroom cleaning" outfit on Saturday - a fluffy robe, head phones to groove out to Christmas music, and a santa hat.

Saturday evening was one of my favorite local Christmas traditions.  The Rolling Bay Presbyterian congregation puts on a drive-through Bethlehem each year.  Everyone is costumed and in character as participants in the Christmas story.  There are shepherds of all ages, Roman soldiers, inn keepers, tax collectors, merchants ....  Periodically as you drive through, they stop your car and ask, "Where are you going?  Do you seek the babe in the manger?"  We in the car are expected to play the part of travelers seeking the Christ child.  In the distance, we can see a large star lighting the way.  And at the end, a beautiful manger, with Mary, Joseph & baby Jesus.  It is simple and homespun, and I love it!