A Slow December in Korea 🇰🇷 | Friendsmas & Christmas Abroad

January, I can't believe how quickly time flew by. After our Thailand trip, we didn't travel at all in December, not even a quick trip to Seoul. And honestly, it was exactly what we needed. December became our month of slowing down after a year full of travel and adventure. No packed itineraries, no rushing, just rest, routine, and being present. So let's take a look back at what our December looked like. I received an early Christmas present from Chad, and it was such a thoughtful one. He got me a scalp treatment package to help with my thinning hair. The head and scalp massage alone was incredibly relaxing. But what made it even better is that the package includes 6 months of weekly treatments. It felt really nice to invest in self-care and do something just for me. December was full of little moments like this. Quiet, intentional, and grounding. It reminded us that it's okay to pause, recharge, and simply enjoy where we are before the next adventure begins. What I love about here in Korea is the amount of trust here in the community. It's like, you know, everyone can have like a convenience store, a really nice and clean convenience store like this without getting robbed. I'm just grabbing some popcorn and some other something yellow for this end Christmas exchange gift with a friend's lady. Spending the holidays far away from the family has become our normal as a military family. Over time, we've learned that family isn't just defined by blood, but by the roots you build and the people who show up for you. We're truly blessed to have incredible friends here in Korea. Friends who have become more than family to us. Holidays spent abroad aren't so bad after all. This year, the Clark family hosted our friend's mass gathering. This was potluck style, of course. After dinner, we played some games and things got surprisingly competitive. The Manchester's, that's a song. Describe. First one. Things you get for Christmas. Things you give during Christmas. Yes. Present. Yes. Okay, December 31st, what do you celebrate? New Year's Eve. Wow, Andrew. Okay, Caroline. We also did a color themes gift exchange, which made it even more fun and light-hearted. Oh, black. Something purple. Mine is like a leopard underwear. Oh, you get three? It was such a great night filled with laughter and memories. Chad's batteries start running low though. It was way past his bedtime. I'm definitely showing. Moments like this remind us how special this season really is. We started our Christmas Eve with breakfast at one of our favorite spots, the Old Days Bakery. The gloomy cold weather outside made everything extra cozy and truly Christmas-y. We spent the rest of our Christmas with the McKendry family. We've known each other for over a decade now, through Texas, Washington, and now here in Korea. It's pretty special to have friendship with girls and move with you through different chapters of life. Janelle and Charles hosted a wonderful dinner. We exchanged gifts, played games, and even painted Christmas cookies together. Simple moments are the kind that stays with you. In the storage closet. On Christmas Day, we came back again since it was a long weekend to hang out one more time. We played board games, ate good food, and just enjoyed being together. It wasn't a loud or extravagant Christmas, but it was warm, meaningful, and filled with people who feels like home. He's doing you a favor, but... But I'm not.