In Need of Time Off

We sure did get back into the swing of things! But I'm afraid I did it too soon. We just moved! I'm still trying to get things back in order for the house and we have several boxes unpacked. I haven't hammered a single picture up to the walls yet and it looks very sad to me. We do have a map of the US up though! I thought that would be good for school. ;) The World Map is next. Ha! Listen to me! Before I get family pictures and decorations up, I'm putting up school maps. What a teacher am I, right? We have been enjoying the winter season and Christmas activities. The kids have made Santa hand pictures (oh, how I wish I could post pictures right now!), lots of snow flakes, lots of sweet treats, snowmen, and we've wrapped Christmas presents. I'm thinking about taking time tomorrow to make some general Christmas cards and then find a nursing or assisted living home for the kids to take them to. I read that idea today and thought it would be good to help the kids think of others right now. We've had a lot of "me, me, me" and "I want, I want, I want."
For me, Christmas is a season that I get to see other people light up! I love to get together with family and friends and see other people smile and laugh! I love to sit back and watch it all unfold. All of it. I'd rather watch the madness of opening all the presents than to open those given to me. Oh, don't get me wrong, I open them and I'm excited about that part too. It's fun to see what others put into their thoughts about us. But I enjoy the laughter and squeals of excitement.
This is a season that so many dedicate to Jesus, his birth. I'm so thankful that God sent Jesus to earth for us. I'm so thankful for that night that Mary gave birth to our Savior! We have definitely started talking about the tree and what each part of the tree represents for us. We never did that while I was growing up. We didn't emphasize Jesus at Christmas time. I understand why my parents did that and it makes sense to me. But at this time in my life, it is important. The approach we take on this flows in the following manner:
1. We put up the tree - talk about what the tree is. It has wood (among other things). But we get to the wood part. We talk about the cross, it was wood and came from a tree. We talk about Jesus and his life and what he did for us at the cross.
2. We talk about the lights. Jesus is the light of the world. Jesus lives in us and so we are lights too. All the small lights represent Christians and the star at the top represents Jesus because his light was the ultimate light for us all.
3. Then we get to the ornaments. We talk about all the special moments in our life and how God has blessed us with those moments and memories. Each ornament has a story behind it and we spend at least a few seconds on each one.

This year I have noticed that perhaps I'm not spending enough time on thinking about others. As of today, I am going to change that. Cards tomorrow, treats for others at the end of the week, and other things to come.

Christmas, I love it! We were definitely in need of some time off. We jumped right back into school immediately after arriving at our new home and haven't quit. Monday was a day that I had the "I do not want to teach!" feelings! I want to get things in order! I want to have time to do all of these projects! Christmas is here - it's time for a break!