For the past two weekends a group of us have gone to Wal-Mart to sell Greek baked goods and sing Christmas carols to raise funds for our monasteries here. It has been so much fun and such a nice experience for the children.

It literally brought tears to my eyes watching all of the people walk past smiling and singing and thanking us for being there. I couldn't believe it! I wasn't sure how the general public would react to carolers, they're such a thing of the past here where we live but it was truly beautiful.
People were singing and dancing in the parking lot and the kids who walked by, just stared at us with enormous smiles on their faces.

Originally the children were the ones who were supposed to carol but they needed too many hot cocoa breaks so the adults started to fill in. Soon, we were the only ones caroling! The kids just held the sign and the can. They got a kick out of collecting the money!

Here are some pics:

Me wearing the sign that the kids were supposed to wear but after a few hours I found it abandoned. :)
Drosoula wearing the sign now (ha! ha! It's your turn now!) ;)
Ace, for some unknown reason, would not hold the can without a bow on his head. Hey whatever works, right?
We sold lots of baklava, kouroumbiethes, finikia and koulourakia and wrapped lots and lots of presents!

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I also want to wish all of you a Blessed & Joyous Nativity celebration! May we enjoy all of the many blessings we receive from our Lord and Saviour; our family, our health and the blessing of seeing another year.

Christ is Born! Glorify Him!