From Veronika, Belarus

 

Hi everybody!
I was absent just for couple of weeks, but already missed you all!
New Year, Christmas... then there was my birthday and an exam at last...All this drew me in...

The most pleasant in this chain was sure my birthday and the most pleasant about my birthdays is that my mom and I have it on the same day :)

 

This time I was absolutely happy, because we celebrated it together at last. We haven't done it for 5 years since I entered university and went to Minsk.

From Jan, Bulgaria

 

Hello to all of you!
Today I keep telling you about Bulgaria. This time the story will be about my New Year vacation at the ski resort, which name is Bansko. By the way, this is my sister Kate on the picture!

 

From Jan, Bulgaria

 

Hello to all of you!
Today I keep telling you about Bulgaria. This time the story will be about my New Year vacation at the ski resort, which name is Bansko. By the way, this is my sister Kate on the picture!

 

There was once a hard-working and generous farmer who had several idle and greedy sons. On his deathbed he told them that the would find his treasure if they were to dig in a certain field. As soon as the old man was dead, the sons hurried to the fields, which they dug up from one end to another, and with increasing desperation and concentration when they did not find the gold in the place indicated.

But they found no gold at all. Realizing that in his generosity their father must have given his gold away during his lifetime, they abandoned their search.

The following story is a true experience that Catherine Ingram had while in India...

Over twenty years ago, while staying in Bodh Gaya, India, my friends and I began hearing rumors about a boy who had allegedly been found among wild dogs. The rumor in town was that his seemingly canine behavior, lack of speech, inability to walk upright or to eat with his hands indicated that he had probably been raised among the dogs.

We were intrigued, so it was with enthusiasm that I accepted an invitation to see the boy at a private gathering with the Dalai Lama, who had expressed an interest in the child.

 Silent Night

Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight,
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavely hosts sing alleluia;
Christ the Saviour, is born!
Christ the Saviour, is born!

Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

 Angels, From the Realms of Glory

Angels, from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o'er all the earth;
Ye, who sang creation's story,
Now proclaim Messiah's birth:
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the new-born King.

Shepherds in the field abiding,
Watching o'er your flocks by night,
God with man is now residing;
Yonder shines the infant Light: Refrain

Sages, leave your contemplations,
Brighter visions beam afar:
Seek the great Desire of nations;
Ye have seen his natal star: Refrain

Saints before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear,
Suddenly the Lord, descending,
In his temple shall appear: Refrain