Jack Frost Nipping

Sing it with me now --- "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire....."

This song always reminds me of Christmas movies, snowy nights, cozy rooms, and candles.  Don't ask me why.  I also never knew anything about chestnuts or why you would roast them. Do they smell good? Do you eat them? Who REALLY roasts them, anyway?  Well, Tomas and Maria do!

This couple invited my friends Pablo and Judi for an evening of roasting chestnuts. This evolved to an evening of fun for a group of 13 of us: roasting chestnuts, eating popcorn and apple cake and other cookie-ish delights, washing it all down with a warm cup of coffee.  We sang Christmas carols and gave thanks for Tomas and Maria and their hospitality. This was a blessing, because Tomas and Maria are not believers in God. As a matter of fact, the majority of our group were Christians -- young people from the USA who are here on a mission for 6 months. So it was kind of a big deal that we were able to sing songs about Christ's birth and then pray for them before we left.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the chestnut -- it is soft and more delicious when it is hot. I, personally, found the first few to be scrumptious but then they kind of became bland.  But it was fun to sit and peel a hot chestnut and think about Christmas anyway.

It was a delightful evening and now I will always have a real-life scenario in mind when I hear that song.