Unconventional Bali Christmas

So this Christmas was a little unconventional. I'm still abroad and I've been able to meet the wonderful Gailey family. They invited me to go to Bali with their family for their Christmas vacation. This last week or so was a whirlwind: study for finals, take finals, pack to move out, pack and go to Chiang Mai, got back to Rangsit to grab my stuff and take it to the Gailey's, unpack from Chiang Mai, repack for Bali and then I was on the plane the next morning. (hence why it's taken me a few weeks to update the blog). John, Ron, Laura and I flew to Bali a day before the rest of the family. We got there and headed out on a 3 hour drive to get to the other side of the island to an area called Tulamben. We stayed at a dive resort called Mimpi. We settled in and wandered around a little. The next morning we woke up, got some breakfast and went for our first dive. We dove the House Reef, it was a bunch of metal welded to look like a plane and sunk that is now covered in coral and all sorts of little creatures. Just before our second dive of the day Heidi, David and Mandi got there. We then went to do a wall dive which was amazing. We saw a baracuda, a HUGE sea fan, octopus, bright blue starfish and so many other things. The next day Laura's ear was bugging her a bit so we decided to take the day off from dives and just hang out. The next morning we did a wreck dive. It was a ship from WW2 I think? It was called the Liberty and it was pretty much just sunk to get it out of the way. It was really neat to see how everything was growing in and around the ship. That night we went on a night dive that was really exciting. You can literally only see where you flashlight it pointing. I've discovered that I love night dives.

Christmas morning we woke up and went for a dive all together. There weren't any gifts exchanged but we all spent time together playing card games (5 Crowns and Trash) and that night we all decided as a gift to each other we would all share something we liked or appreciated about each person. It ended up being such a good time together and was a good reminder of what Christmas is all about and reminded us to really appreciate those around us. I missed my family, but I also felt right at home where I was. Later that night after they Gailey's had gone to bed came my family time.

Skype, it is a wonderful invention. My family has a tradition, absolutely no one is allowed downstairs until mom and dad have been woken up, gone down and gotten the camera set up. Then the four of us stand on the stairs in our PJ's, smile for a picture and then proceed to our stockings. We were determined that this tradition shouldn't change so despite the time difference, I got on skype and was there with my siblings as we walked down the stairs, I smiled for the pictures and watched them get into their stockings. I'm so grateful that I was able to be with them, even just through skype, on Christmas morning.

(I also got a wonderful surprise e-mail that made me smile)

So although unconventional, it is definitely a Christmas to remember. I'm so grateful for this time a year and the way it brings people together. I'm so grateful to the Gaileys for adopting me these past few months and for inviting me to be a part of this special Christmas. I'm so grateful for the gospel and that I know what this holiday really celebrates and that I have found so much comfort and knowledge from my faith. I'm also so extremely grateful for my family. I miss them so much, but they have been so good at supporting me on my adventure these past few months. I can't wait until my parents get here so I can share a little bit of this adventure with them. I love you. Merry Christmas!