Like many around here, I’m working right now.
Yeap. It’s December 24th, I live in a South American country – Bolivia, to be more specific, and yet, I’m at work – but not for much longer, I dream… We’re all hopefully waiting for some good news from above, letting us know we may go home. and get ready for Christmas eve. At end, in a latino country, it’s more than expected. Large family meals, moms will be cooking all afternoon for the well-deserved supper.
Oh, forgot to mention: I’m also the mom, right… the one who should be at home, cooking a feast, at this very moment! 😮

But it’ll get done. Sent my dear husband on a ‘shopping mission’ (did I mention he is not working today?). I’m sure he’ll find everything I’ve asked him to search for. And once I’m home, there’ll be some cooking!
Now, talking about Christmas ghosts. My ghosts of December 24th are all sweet little creatures. All my past Christmas memories seem to be filled with happy moments, even the ones who were somewhat challenging, due to family difficulties… The ghosts in my life are lively and loving.
December 24, 2012, last year. Our first family Christmas at our new Bolivian home. Our household effects [aka stuff being held hostage by the moving company] had arrived. We decorated the house. We had a lit Christmas tree and our bundle of joy had their first Navidad Paceno.
December 24, 2011, we’re in Fortaleza, Brazil. Got to spend Christmas eve with my parents, my brothers, their wives and my niece. Chaotic as any Brazilian holiday should be. Every one talks over each other, and nobody can really hold on a conversation. But life’s still good. Kids running around, screaming… some crying here and there. My parents giving us unsolicited advice on how to raise our children [cause, you know.. we really don’t know how to keep 3 children alive, move around every so often, adjust to different countries/languages/cultures…]. And we listened to the advices, while mentally preparing our grocery list for the next day… 😮
December 24, 2010, we’d arrived in Recife, Brazil, a couple of months prior. We’d also welcomed into our lives our youngest baby girl, our only child born in Brazil, like her mama. Not much of a shut-eye, restful holiday, especially with a new born, but the ghosts of Christmas were merciful, and allowed our family of 5 to enjoy the season… At the end, after being gone from Brazil for almost 10 years, I was back…
December 24, 2009, welcome to the Foreign Service Family! The Washingtonian ghosts of Christmas were applauding, secretly smiling while setting out their plans for our soon-to-be a full-time nomadic troupe! And we got trapped home, thanks to the East Coast Snowmagedon! 😮
December 24, 2008, family, now with 4 members, came back to DC, after our tour in Africa. Christmas with the in-laws, and plans for the future.
December 24, 2006-2007, our family of 3 celebrated the holidays with the the colorful Mozambican ghosts of Christmas, our first overseas post as a family, as it’s dearly called ‘a hard-to-fill assignment’.
December 24, Â 2005, the Lima-Miranda couple enjoyed the lovely sleepless nights, while rocking our first-born. The cold DC weather brought us the ghosts of Christmas as a family. Between bottle feedings, changings and lullaby singing, the ghosts held our hands and kept us on our toes!
December 24, 2004, husband and wife are reunited, after the man-of-the-house came back from a temporary-duty at a far land… Does this sound familiar to anyone? 😮 The ghosts of Christmas past made sure he’d come home safe and sound, with a nice gift to his dear wife!
December 24, 2003, we just got married [a couple of months back, but still!]. Plans for the future, naive minds, ideas of how good we’d be as parents… 😮 The ghosts of Christmas made sure our newly joint bank account would have enough for a decent holiday season… And we were grateful to them…
As I started this post by saying, the ghosts of Christmas past have been nothing but nice to us. As a couple, as a beginner family, as a traveling serial expatriate bunch. We’re working well together – the ghosts and us…
Merry Christmas to you all! May your December 24, 2013 be merry and bright. I’m sure mine is!
And for the ones who are still at work… the time is coming! The clock keeps ticking, and soon, we’ll be back home… enjoying our Christmas Eve feast! 😮
Thanks for the inspiration!
- Weekly Writing Challenge Response (December 23rds) | starlightfire
- This time last year… | Home’s Cool!
- As you grow older, your Christmas list gets smaller; the things you really want for the holidays can’t be bought | Never Stationary
- A Year Ago Today | Broken Light: A Photography Collective
- Weekly Writing Challenge: Ghosts of December 23rds Past | hippiebitch420
- Weekly Writing Challenge: Ghosts of Years Past | A mom’s blog
- A Theeivening to remember | booksdragonsanddietcoke
- Recruiting Minors Insults My Intelligence | Bumblepuppies
- Christmas B & E | Fish Of Gold
- The Year I Turned 18 and Met the Messiah | jackiefoxdotnet
- Family Ghosts on Roots Day | humblegenealogy
- ‘tis three days before christmas | Musings of a Random Mind
- Ghosts of December 23rds Past | On Being a Homegirl
- Ghosts of December 23rds Past – The Poetic Take | writingequalspassion
- Emily’s December 23rd | emilykarn
- Ghosts Who Sing | My Play Nook
- Ghosts @ HX | HX Report
- Weekly Writing Challenge | December 23, 2003 | House of Farts
- Ghosts of December 23rds Past | I’m a Writer, Yes I Am
- Christmas in the Pacific Northwest – The Christmas Tree – 2012 | Chasing Rabbit Holes
- One Year From Today | lifewithgreeneyes
- Festive Reflection | Getting Nowhere Fast
- Weekly Writing Challenge: Ghosts of December 23rds Past | imagination
- The Day That Changed Her. | Babbleogue
- The December Twenty-thirds of My Dis-belief | A Wild One Within
- Weekly Writing Challenge: Twas the night before… | Life of a Fallen Angel
- Chapters of Christmas Past | Mary J Melange
- Weekly Writing Challenge: Ghosts of December 23rds Past, Or: The Christmas Cancellation | polymathically
- Galloping Through the Mists of Time | Perceptive Pot Clueless Kettle
- Stock taking on Dec. 23 | Minnesota Transplant
- A Good Date (Weekly Writing Challenge: Ghosts of December 23rds Past) | Mod with Love
- Ghosts of December 23rds Past (WW Challenge) | Ruminations & Observations
- Ghosts of December 23rds Past (Or, Boy Do I Love My Life) | Laughing Through Life
- December 23, 2005 | johnautry24
- Weekly Writing Challenge: Ghosts of December 23rds Past | Stories for the Heart
- ghosts of december | yi-ching lin photography
- there are decembers | y
- 23 Desember 2 atau 3 tahun lalu | semangat! (coba-coba)
- My Other Blog | Ghosts Of Christmas Past – 1965
- How I Love Christmas Eve … | Life with Tess
- Christmas week, a year ago and today | We Live In A Flat
- Ghosts of December 23rds Past | The Nameless One
- The History of my 23rd and 24th of Decembers | TechnoTom
- of ferocity « Anawnimiss
- Ep. 4 – Joyride To Egypt: My Passive Agressive Mother’s Report | Aisha’s Oasis
- And A Very Unusual Christmas To You Too! | An Upturned Soul
- WWC: Ghosts of December 23rds Past (1991) | Caitlyn McConnell
- Ghosts Of December Past | ☥ Venom’s Blog ☥
- Years In Review… | Sincerely, Ms. Roberts
- December 24th(s): A reflection of Silent Nights | classyasfemme
- DP Challenge: Ghosts of Christmas Past | Making Life an Art
- Ghosts of December 23rds Past | Beezy Beez
- Claude and Fraud Do Something 1U | Keigh Ahr
- Nine Decembers – Joy and Woe
- Christmas in Connecticut | Kosher Adobo
Your babies are adorable. Merry Christmas!
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Thank you!
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Hapoy Christmas to you and your lovely family Raquel ♡
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Thank you, Gilly! Have a Very Merry Christmas, as well! 😮
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