Christmas in 29 degree weather

Well, it’s been quite a week. Memories from Christmas’ past keep popping up. This morning in church the one and only carol we sang (pooh- I was so disappointed with Oasis - who wants to sing “I could sing of your love forever” on Dec. 19! No Christmas sermon, no advent, no nothing!) was Silent Night, and I realized I was singing the harmony part, and it brought tears to my eyes. Why? Well, last Christmas, Jamie and Claire taught me how to sing harmony using Silent Night (it’s still the only song I can do, though, I just don’t have the ear to pick out the right notes without following someone else). Anyway, it brought back warm memories of the three of us gathered around the rickety old piano bench in the middle of our little Ruth St. house. When it was happening, I remember having one of those ‘step-outside-the-moment’ times, and realizing that it was one of the best times of my life, and I would probably never again feel so safe, secure, carefree and settled. Luckily, I had the foresight to grab my camera, and the resulting picture is one of my favourites, even if it is a little yellow and blurry from the lack of flash.

Thank goodness we have pictures! I have all the Nova Scotia Christmas shots from the MyFamily album as my screensaver, and it also brings back wonderful memories of the real tree with the old decorations, the fireplace, scampering up and down the stairs ( a real treat for us apartment-raised kids) and the candle-light services at Southampton church.

Now, don’t get worried. I’m not all homesick and depressed. Unfortunately I’ve had very little time to think about my Christmas because of all the work for the Christmas performance at school. I’ve gotten lovely Christmas cards from Kathy, Christine, and two of my cute grade 6 students, and they are all arranged around my new flowers, the nativity, and my lovely smelling winter candle from Ikea. I was at Tesco this weekend, and I picked up some things for my stocking – just in case my gifts don’t make it from my family. We’re having a dinner with all the Foresight English teachers, which might be fun. There’s also a pot-luck open house at my church, but that sounds horrible – I hate having to go to things like that alone, it’s too much stress. I need a twin for such situations.

Finally, if you think of it, pray for me this week. I’m doing the Christmas story with all of my classes. (We did “Twas the Night Before Christmas” last week, just to give equal time to Santa and Jesus). I do have an incredible opportunity to be able to share about Jesus with the support of the administration of the school, and I’m really hoping that my rapport with the students will give me a basis for getting to present the Christmas story.