All I Want for Christmas Is You

Midday today I returned home to Prague after a rejuvenating four days at an ESI Thanksgiving Retreat in Dlouhy, Czech Republic. We stayed at a super cute retreat center that we had completely to ourselves, and the center really did become a temporary home for the 45-or-so of us from all over Central Europe.
We
-had adorable, "homey" rooms -- I got to share mine with Sharon (one of my summer roommates -- we were reunited!) and Emeshea,
-participated in 4 worship/devotional gatherings, attended 3 TEFL sessions of our choice (my choices? Teaching lower level students, How not to spend all of your time lesson planning, and Classroom Management),
-shared with each other during ministry seminars (I went to a special one on ministering to your adult colleagues),
-talked about culture adjustment/shock,
-ate delicious food (including homemade desserts -- I made my first pumpkin pie EVER, and it was delicious!),
-and had plenty of free time for rest (in many forms: naps, country runs, games of Skip-Bo, movie -- the inspiring Dead Poets' Society, massage-train marathons, Bible study, prayer, a football game, and a bazillion laughs.

We also were really fortunate to have two counselors visiting from California to give us free advice and counseling sessions, so many of us took advantage of their presence with us.

Then, on Sunday night, we had a talent show...but of course it was really just a laugh fest! I tried to reprise my performance with Karina during the training talent show this summer, though I think think I might have been a bit ambitious to try to achieve the hilarity of Heartless. Instead, I put together a rather sad attempt at singing a countrified Mariah Carey song (we all know pop music is not my forte!), and, while dawning my tacky Christmas turtleneck and an elf hat, tackled this tricky tongue-twister of a tune:


All I Want for Christmas Is You

I don't want a lot for Christmas
My heart's poll here is all agreed
I don't mind this rotten weather or
Miss Vail ski-runs I planned to ski
I just want my friends right here
To laugh and sing and drink Czech beer
Nothing can't compare
Jesus won't you please hear my...
Prayer

I don't want a lot for Christmas
My heart's poll here is all agreed
I don't mind this rotten weather or
Miss Vail ski-runs I planned to ski
I don't need my students writing
Perfectly every essay
Yankee food and drink won't do it
So no need for a big soiree
I just want my friends right here
To laugh and sing and drink Czech beer
Nothing can compare
Jesus won't you please hear my...
Prayer...Amen

I won't ask for much this Christmas
I won't even wish for home
I'm just gonna keep on skyping
Or text but when my phone's on roam
I won't email out an update
That hints at sending money, dough
Tomorrow work will call me back
Again to teach, and I'll say "heigh-ho"
'Cause I just want to feel alright when
I Facebook chat with you at night
All I want is friends...Jesus
Truly they are all my godsends

Oooo Lord
All the Christmas booths fill
Prague's each and every square
Candy, toys, books, sweaters
And every type of ware.
I smell those cookies baking
With mulled wine thirst is slaking
Kelly won't you call here the ones I really need
But -- I'm sorry -- football is still the scariest thing

Oh I do'nt want that much this Christmas
Just one thing after Baby King
Yes, you know I love my friends but
This time I don't mean Chandler Bing
I just want my friends right here
To laugh and sing and drink Czech beer
Nothing can compare
Jesus won't you please hear my...prayer

All I want for Christmas is...You

Jesus won't you please hear my ...prayer

All I want for Christmas is ...You

All I want for Christmas is you!

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Now playing: All I Want For Christmas is You (Black and White)
via FoxyTunes