Hibbets' Happenings

Well, it's only Dec 17 for a few more minutes -- I'm up late again. But not for too much longer. David's up watching TV and I've been working on some things online. My eyes are getting sleepy and I'm going to bed soon. But I thought I'd write first, since I'm behind. Yesterday in the middle of the day David and Jayden went to the tailor's in Kowloon to pick up his suit and order some more shirts for gifts. If I'm remembering correctly, David also went into our new favorite store here, Bossini, and got a pair of jeans. When they got back, Jayden fell asleep and took a really good nap. We waited on her to wake up to leave for the church and for us all to get out for a while; we hated to disturb her she was sleeping so good. Barney came on TV while Joshua was watching; it was a Christmas episode and he was apparently so excited to see it. He laughed and laughed. It was so funny. Then some other kids' shows came on (British, I think), and the next thing I knew he was asleep in his chair. After Jayden woke up we left to go to the Baptist Church in Kowloon for their Christmas program. It was close to 6 before we were able to get away, and the program started at 7:00. We got there right at 7:00. They had already started, but just barely. It was nice; I would describe it as a traditional Christmas cantata. It reminded me of something Rowland Road would have done a few years ago, except there was a song or two in Latin, and Bro. Wayne wouldn't have done that. There was a handchime song; I enjoyed that. There was no drama or children's choir; just singing. There was a ladies' ensemble on two songs. In the middle the pastor, Harry Lucenay, gave a brief message. Towards the end I had to leave with Jayden, but I got to see most of it. Afterwards we stayed in the lobby and visited for a little while. We got to meet the pastor and his wife; they have ties to "our neck of the woods" -- not Louisiana, but Texas and Mississippi, I believe. Actually, his wife may be from Louisiana. They are probably 50s. We also met a young couple about our age, Leah and Aaron. They've been in Hong Kong 3 1/2 years; she teaches English (1st-4th grades, I think), and he is beginning a photography business (landscapes and city views). Maybe we'll get to visit with them more before we leave. One of them is from South Dakota; the other is from Minnesota. We left the church about 8:30 and decided to go to Mong Kok (still on Kowloon side, but on the way home from the church) to do some shopping. This is also where the Ladies' Market is, but last night we didn't go to the Ladies' Market. We had a good time shopping, but we didn't buy anything; the only thing we bought all night was some bread at the bakery near the MTR station for the church. We were thinking the busses to Braemer Hill stopped running at 11:30, so we got to the bus stop at 11:00 -- but read the sign and it was 10:30! So we took a taxi from North Point home. The busses from Causeway Bay run later, so next time we should get off at Causeway Bay and take one of those busses home. Oh well, no big deal, and now we know. So we were home late and then got to visit with David's family on the phone. Then I was up early, before 7:00, to start getting us ready for church. I decided to make the banana pancakes for breakfast again. They turned out better today; I used our other skillet and put a little more butter in the recipe. We got to the church a few minutes after 9 -- so still a little late. But better than last week. We went back to ICA, the A/G church in North Point, to see their Christmas program. We figured we'd get to go to both churches and see both Christmas programs if we did it this way. The ICA Christmas program was very upbeat, very modern, very nontraditional but yet included mostly traditional Christmas songs. In fact, I think I knew every one but one, and it was one that was pretty easy to pick up. There were several solos, drama, interpretative dance, etc. It was very different than the one last night, but that was neat, too, to see two very different programs and enjoy both. I think ideally my personal tastes are somewhere in between the two programs. But I guess that's nice, too. Jayden made it until the message began and then I had to leave with her. I took her to the cry room behind the sanctuary, and Rachel and Ethan (I know the baby's name now) were in there already. So we got to visit again. I gave her my email address and she invited us to the home group Christmas party on the 26th. I think we'll be able to go. After church we found a little restaurant; it was early but we were already pretty hungry. We were a little disappointed because they were still serving breakfast food, not lunch, so we didn't get "real Chinese food" for lunch. I ordered oatmeal and tuna fish bread; it was actually very good. The oatmeal was very runny and milky, but good (we usually make ours thick); the tuna fish bread was like two pieces of sandwich bread grilled together with tuna fish in the middle. David ordered an egg and toast served with a piece of chicken. It was also served with "sausage" (there was a pork choice with each, so David just picked one to leave on his plate) -- but the "sausage" was basically what we would call a hot dog. Ha! I thought that was funny. Then we walked around the market in North Point. We did a lot of looking, and a little bit of buying -- we all ended up with something except Joshua. We looked for him but never saw anything we liked enough to buy. David got two pairs of pants: a pair of jeans and a pair of casual, around-the-house type pants for US$4 each. I found a pair of pants and a skirt; my deal wasn't quite as good -- US$13 each. For Jayden, I saw the cutest Christmas outfit -- and I'm a sucker for Christmas stuff. It was just under $10 -- but it will make a nice hand-me-down or we can sell it and probably get our money out of it. I guess she needs to wear nothing but Christmas this next week. It's hard to believe it's almost Christmas! It both feels like and doesn't feel like Christmas at the same time. I'm excited about our Christmas parties, though; I think that will help it feel like Christmas. Right about now Dad and the RR choir are preparing to sing their Cantata. I hope it goes well! I'm thinking about you all. Let me know! And tonight David's mom and brothers and youth group are doing their Christmas program. We're thinking about you guys, too -- hope it all goes well! Let us know! I guess we'll have four more days of Christmas, the 23rd - 26th. I'm looking forward to it. Tonight I've been working on my grocery list. Miranda is taking us all to the big grocery store in the morning. It seems like it's just a few more days and it will be time to go. That's a bittersweet thought to me. This is a really neat place and we're having a good time. Not getting much sleep; not eating really well; and doing a lot of shopping -- but having a good time! I'm planning on baking another loaf of bread tomorrow. I would have tonight, but I was missing two ingredients. So I have to wait until after going to the store tomorrow. For some reason I'm not being able to check my email tonight. That's frustrating. Maybe they're just working on the system and it will be up again soon. I hope so! (Mom, if you're able to call and let me know, please do. And hey, when do Adam and Angela get home?) Merry Christmas! Aleecia