What happened to the Betors?

I've been a very bad Frau.  It has been ages since I have posted, and I apologize.  So much has happened over here, but things are finally slowing down. 

We threw ourselves into the Christmas Chaos at church, and loved every minute of it.  We joined the choir at church, but had no idea that many of the members that we met only come for the Christmas performing season, then they return to their homes up to 100 km away.  We performed "Lessons and Carols" with 20 songs at our church twice, once in St Gallen, and once in the historic district of downtown Zurich.  Each performance was standing room only, and one was in a cathedral that sits over 600.  I felt like we were back at Duke Chapel.  The music was hard, and Tom really took one for the team and learned all the Tenor parts, even to hymns that he has been singing 20+ years.  We loved the challenge and the comraderie that comes with a effort like this.  We had some magical Christmas moments across Switzerland. 

Our first concert was in St. Gallen (eastern Switzerland), a beautiful old Catholic Cathedral with gold and murals on the ceiling.

and we emerged from the cathedral to a soft blanket of snow...

This particular snow was unexpected and placed a poignant end to a great concert.  Or maybe it was really special because of the spiced wine. 

The next concert was at the Augustinakirche, off the famous Bahnhoffstrasse in Downtown Zurich.  This street is something I hope to take our visitors to, because the window shopping is second to none. 

Those little lights make it look like it is snowing all the time.  Or maybe it's because it IS snowing all the time.  On the way home, in the main train station, Swarovski has decorated a christmas tree.  It has 7,000 Swarovski crystals (the annual star ornaments) hanging from the branches, and it is truly spectacular. 

Just another little unexpected pleasure of Christmas in Switzerland (other than the spiced wine, of course!)

The girls had their own Nativity Play at church.  OMG, it was a major production.  There were 60 children, custom costumes, solos, lighting, all with music written by the director.  There was every character that you could think of, and some you would never image would be in a children's play.  We had angels, roman soldiers, shepards, wise men, Angel Gabriel, Joseph, Mary, sheep, Augustus Caesar, Mary's friends, and of course, Samantha, shining like the north star herself...
 

Here's a little taste of the theatrics...

And our two little shepards, who were dissapointed not to have a solo, but they have been promised special parts for next year, which makes them very happy.

Stay tuned for the Austrian Family Betor!