The holidays are in full swing here in our cozy Istanbul home.  Our tree is trimmed, stockings are hung, cookies have been decorated and Chestnut, our sweet and mischievous little Elf, even found his way across the world to us. 

Initially the thought of spending the holidays here, in a country that doesn’t really celebrate Christmas, given that the majority of the population is Muslim, was a depressing one to me.  To say I love Christmas, is putting it mildly.  The decorations, lights, festive treats, and even every cheesy song played on repeat during the month of December, well, I can’t get enough of it.  I’m one of those people who keeps that station on ALL month long.  Guilty.  And though, since losing my dad, Christmas, nor any holiday for that matter, won’t ever be as bright or nearly what it once was, now that I have little ones, experiencing Christmas through their eyes is it’s own kind of special.

While I’m still missing being close to family and friends, and get a lump in my throat when I think about the reality that I’ll be spending my first ever Christmas away from “home,” I have to say the holiday season here has had some nice surprises. 

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