sunlight through the windows as i worked on lesson planning.
this advent season has been different for us again. of course.
i am doing december as a teacher. that encompasses all kinds of shenanigans. parties and programs and secret santas and such. we had our program at school last thursday evening. it went well and was very festive and fun. maddie and isaac played a trio with their band teacher. their music was wonderful!
and they played again at the main county school last night. and they'll play again at the other country school in the county on thursday evening.
i've been incorporating december poetry and favorite christmas stories into our mornings and our language arts studies. this part of teaching is my favorite. i love sharing words and stories and ideas that strike a chord with me. i love watching my class, diverse as it is, get into reading a story, get into writing their words and thoughts, get a math concept, see the connection between the book we are reading aloud for fun and the study of where all it is taking place on the map. and while we have the maps pulled down and the globe out, let's see where these countries are in relation to each other. and in relation to us. and wow! russia is big! and it's on two continents! but the ussr was really, really big! and now, this is some history, too.
and as i look at the countries of the world, and think about the little bit that i know about what is happening now, and as i listen to my own kids and my other two students, i know that the reality of advent, the waiting for the light of the world to come and to dispel shadows with his great might and love, i know that i am living in advent. i am waiting for the arrival. and while i wait, i will do my best to shine with his light. to share joy. even when my flesh is weak. i have a safe and comfortable bed in which to rest my weary body. not a bed of hay. not a pile of rubble. not a refugee tent. always, joy and light come with the practice of gratitude.
this advent, the light is coming to me in the beautiful skies of early morning and midday and as evening falls in brilliant colors. i light candles. we have two strands of lights in our living room. no tree this year. the first year since ben and i have been married that we haven't put up a tree. but our home still feels festive. there is no snow on the ground, yet we are still merry and bright.
we are in this new place. this new town. this new state. nine hours of driving to our closest family members. so this year, we will drive. drive to my parents. drive to ben's parents. drive to our siblings' homes. drive and drive. and visit and hug and see and connect. and drive some more. two full weeks of goodness. two full weeks of not our usual christmas time. i have had mixed emotions about this. about not putting up a tree, about not being in our own home for any of the days surrounding christmas. but really, my home is wherever the four of us are together. and everyone we visit will have a tree and all the trimmings. and i am really looking forward to driving off, car full of little gifts for our family, just embarking on a little adventure.
i hope that this advent season is merry and bright and full of goodness for you, my friends.
go gently and be wonderful.
~e