Azerbaijan

This week we hosted our first guest in our new condo, our dear friend Murad.

Murad, a native of Azerbaijan, studies at the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. We first met him in 2011, when he moved to Tulare, California for an exchange year. His host parents brought him to youth group and we became fast friends. We hung out with Murad again this past summer when he came back to California for a visit.

We have been wanting to connect with him for months (since we live so close!) and Christmastime seemed to be perfect.

In addition to joining the Hay and Golay family festivities, Murad has also been very helpful as we settle into our place. He has carried innumerable boxes and used his genius to figure out our engineering dilemmas. He also met our first neighbor!

As expected, being home for Christmas was lovely. We spent time with family and friends and we hosted people at our condo. I was spoiled yesterday to see two of my best friends, who live far away, as they passed through the city! 

While life has yet settle down, we feel at home in Indianapolis. We are slowly making the city our own. Not just the place where I grew or the place where our family lives.

 Bananagrams on Christmas morning

We have created a monster!

Santa's Grab Bag aka John's Junk!

Silly sisters!

Silly brothers and new sis!

The Golay gathering