Advent.

We haven't written in a while, though I have composed a whole set of blog posts in my head while walking through Lupeni, of course... they just vanish when I try to write them down.  So in lieu of some sort of profound reflections about our life in Romania right now, let me just post a few pictures.  Of our Christmas decorations.

Now, in my defense, we have never gotten to decorate for Christmas before.  This is our third Christmas as a married couple, but so far, nothin'.  The first year we were packing up to move to Romania, and anything that couldn't fit into four large suitcases was already boxed and in our parents' basements... including decorations.  I think I remember drawing a Christmas tree on a piece of paper and taping it to the wall that year.  And sticking a few fallen pine boughs in a vase.  But that was it.  Other things -- packing, namely, but more importantly soaking in our last few weeks in the States with family and friends -- seemed more important.  And they were.

Last year, we went back to the U.S. at the end of November, missing Advent in Romania entirely, returning on January 2, just in time to watch the rest of town take down their decorations.  We got our fill of beautiful and festive staying with family and friends for the season in the States, but our own apartment stayed the same.

So this year, we're not leaving Romania until December 15, which means we're here for half of Advent.  And I am determined to not miss it.  So today, on this first Sunday of Advent, Jack and I put up our tiny assortment of, um, decorations.  (Not much has changed from year 1, actually...).  We have a Nativity set I received as a gift after doing an IMPACT training in Haiti.  (We conveniently placed our star-shaped lantern overhead like a big red paper "star of Bethlehem...")  We have a homemade Advent wreath with four candles from the supermarket taped to a plate, entwined with fallen pine branches, which I collected from the debris of a recent logging operation near the ropes course on Straja.  The rest of the fallen pine branches have been stuffed into the dirt of a pot once holding lettuce plants (now dead), and form a makeshift Christmas tree.  We had to use sticks to hold them up, and the decorations are limited to 1 string of lights, a piece of red string, a handmade paper star, and a few gaudy silver earrings.  The earrings were brought to me a few weeks ago by the girls from girls' group -- they were part of a recent charitable shipment of used clothing from Iceland, which was given to members of our church -- who (oops!) don't wear earrings because it is frowned upon in this branch of Pentecostalism.  I still wear earrings (though not usually to church) so the girls figured I might be able to use the collection, unwanted by the rest of the church ladies.  The dangliest, gaudiest ones now adorn our tree.

So... yeah.  It might not be classy, but it's cozy.  And I love it.

 The Nativity under the guiding star.  And lights in the avocado plant, yes.

  The coolest Nativity ever -- with a coconut for a stable!  Thanks, IMPACT Haiti.

 Our Advent wreath, in front of our Christmas... tree... bush... thing.

We were interrupted from decorating by fireworks directly across the street, launched from the park there.  (You can faintly see the smokestack and the church on the left of this picture.)  It was a great surprise, presumably for tomorrow -- December 1 is Romania's equivalent of July 4.

 And here is the lovely tree.  Hee hee.  :)