December Random
/
Sitting in
Starbucks.
Contemplating the
past few busy days.
Realizing that I
have not posted on this blog in a week and a half. (That must be some kind of
record.)
Wondering if
anybody is still out there.
Anticipating
what’s ahead.
Thinking a list
would be helpful right now.
So here we go:
1. I finished my first semester teaching in five years, and
I could not be happier with the outcome. Not only did God show me clearly that
I was exactly where He wanted me to be, but I also felt good about the job I
did. I felt like a rookie again, getting my feet wet in the teaching arena, but
for the most part it all came back to me pretty quickly. And I honestly felt
like this was one of my most successful semesters ever, probably because I
stopped being self-conscious and just started looking into the eyes of my
students to see what’s in there. And believe me, I learned a lot about my
students this semester.
2. Christmas is a week away. I’m feeling ready. Sort of. But
whether I’m ready or not, my family arrives on Thursday and I CANNOT WAIT!! We
don’t hold to many traditions, per se, but the one we do hold is that we will
all be together at some point over the Christmas holiday. I have a couple of
fun things planned for all of us, but, as one of my sisters told me the other
day, “We just love hanging out in your kitchen, talking, and being together.”
That’s what it’s all about for us.
3. Kids are home, which means lots of chaos, fun, and
activity. A group came over on Friday night for an impromptu dinner. About 30
high school kids came by last night for a progressive dinner. Saturday morning,
B and I were sitting next to the Christmas tree, IN OUR PAJAMAS, I might add,
when there was a knock on our front door. Two of Caroline’s friends stood there
all smiling and bright-eyed, ready to go shopping. AT 8:15!!! Needless to say,
they had to wake her up. But it’s so much fun to have these kids hanging out,
adding to the chaos and fun that is our life right now. We know it won’t last
forever, so we’re enjoying every moment.
4. Speaking of friends, last weekend we had a group of
Kate’s friends from college over for dinner—about 11 in all. I did a “Christmas
dinner” for them, complete with ham and Christmas jello. (One boy looked at the
jello and said, “What’s this?” Doesn’t anybody make jello anymore?) B told me
later than one of the girls sank into our comfy couch after dinner and said,
“This is my favorite couch in the whole world.” Now THAT makes this mama really
happy.
5. I really feel like I should clear something up from my
last post because people have actually said to me, “What do you have against
buffalo plaid?” I don’t necessarily have a beef with buffalo plaid. I like
buffalo plaid . . . when it’s used properly. L.L. Bean does not have to boycott
my blog. It’s just the pajama pants I had a little trouble with. That is all.
Now we begin getting ready for my family. But you know what?
If the basement doesn’t get cleaned, if the silver doesn’t get polished, if the
tree doesn’t get the cranberries put on it, Christmas will still come.
Here’s the cool thing about it all. Even if we don’t get our
act together. Even if we don’t write that book we’ve been meaning to write.
Even if we don’t head overseas to rescue orphans . . . Christ will still come.
And grace will cover it all.
And THAT makes this mama so happy.
