Yesterday I got to take part in a variety of Christmas traditions in my hometown. These were not really family traditions, but more traditions within our church family and group of friends here.
I really enjoyed being able to go to my church here in Smithers. It was great to reconnect with some friends here. After the morning service was the annual lunch for post-high students (in the bulletin they listed it as 18-30+) at the Nanninga's house. The Nanninga's were involved with the youth when I was in middle school, and actually Elaine was my grade 3 teacher. I got a ride there with Sonia and we spent a couple of hours there with many different people. Each year it makes me feel a little older, especially this year when I saw at least one person there that I used to babysit - he is now a high school graduate. The afternoon was filled with visiting and a variety of delicious foods. I did not come even close to talking to everyone there, but it was fun to visit with different people.
Our evening church service on Sunday was our candlelight service. I enjoy being able to attend this special Christmas service at our church here. Through the years the number of candles used has decreased, but it is still a really neat service. There were eight candles on the organ, our advent candles, and eight candles leading up to the front door. These candles outside were actually in star shaped ice molds, which looked really neat. It was definitely cold enough outside to keep the ice frozen. The service was a combination of carols, special music, readings, scripture passages, and even video clips, which were all used to tell the story of Christmas.
After the service we stopped at home to pick up some goodies, and then headed to the airport to pick up my youngest sister, Janine. From the airport we headed to Lester's for the annual eggnog party. Jacquie makes a lot of great eggnog - some for the adults, and other for the kids - and everyone brings goodies to share. There are always a lot of people there, many of them are teachers from our school along with their families. Some of them were my teachers when I was in high school. The evening was a lot of fun, and until someone mentioned something about the time I had no idea how late it was. We left sometime after 11pm.
Sometime this afternoon, Janine and I will decorate some Christmas cookies. Mom already made the cookies, but we need them decorated for tonight. Tonight is another Christmas tradition that has very little to do with Christmas. Every year we have the Steenhofs over on December 24th for Chris' birthday. He is a teacher at our school, and the tradition started many years ago when my older sister Lynnea was in his class in 6th grade. This tradition involves good food, cake, visiting, and sometimes games.
Later this week, after Larissa and Bryan arrive, we will participate in another tradition - going out for breakfast on the day we open our gifts. We started this tradition when we were visiting relatives for Christmas. This gave us family time with just our family, and all of our family enjoys breakfast food.
I don't typically think of myself as having a lot of Christmas traditions, but these are all parts of Christmas vacation that I enjoy. I may also partake in some sledding and cross-country skiing while at home. I also plan to get together with some high school friends for tea at some point as well as play some hand and foot with Renee. I hope that you all have a wonderful time with family and friends this Christmas.
Monday, December 24, 2012
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Random Meeting
I should know to expect it, but I didn't. This morning, as I was waiting at my gate in Vancouver to fly north to Smithers, I met one of my friends, Sonia. I was standing up to head to the bathroom when she saw me, walked towards me and gave me a hug. We had both been in the same waiting area without seeing each other for a while. She had also already met up with another one of her friends.
It took some extra time to board because some unaccompanied minors had to be moved around, and some families were split up. It ended up that there was a little flexibility in seating once we got on the plane. Sonia and I were able to sit beside each other for the flight north, with her other friend right behind us beside an unaccompanied young girl. Sitting with a friend made the flight far more enjoyable. We were also at the very front of the plane, so we also chatted with the flight attendant.
Meeting up with Sonia was a pleasant surprise, and it was also fun to get to greet her family as well as my own upon arrival in Smithers.
It took some extra time to board because some unaccompanied minors had to be moved around, and some families were split up. It ended up that there was a little flexibility in seating once we got on the plane. Sonia and I were able to sit beside each other for the flight north, with her other friend right behind us beside an unaccompanied young girl. Sitting with a friend made the flight far more enjoyable. We were also at the very front of the plane, so we also chatted with the flight attendant.
Meeting up with Sonia was a pleasant surprise, and it was also fun to get to greet her family as well as my own upon arrival in Smithers.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Temperature Contrasts
We have now had frost three times! One time it was on the ground, and the other two times I only noticed it on the roofs. Recently I have been using my heat more than my AC. Despite the cooler weather, it only takes one day for it to go from cold (for here) to quite warm. It still seems wrong to me to comfortably wear shorts in December. With the extreme changes in temperature also come thunderstorms, we have had a few of them recently. Sometimes I get slightly annoyed when it warms up again to the point where I may need my AC, but then I am simply thankful that it was cool enough that I got to use my heat and enjoy colder weather.
This week is supposed to start warm and then cool off later. Even with it cooling off, I think I will have to adjust to winter temperatures when I go home to Smithers this weekend.
This week is supposed to start warm and then cool off later. Even with it cooling off, I think I will have to adjust to winter temperatures when I go home to Smithers this weekend.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
What do these two items have in common?
What do these two items have in common?
If you guessed that they were both gifts that I received today, you guessed correctly.
The first was a gift from one of my students this morning. The second was given to me by a student this afternoon. She was in my class at the beginning of the year, but switched back to Kindergarten. I saw her when she came along to pick up her older sister.
I love simple, thoughtful, and unexpected gifts. They have a way of brightening my day because of the thoughtfulness and love they present. These were definitely both a blessing today.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Snowflakes - Pictures
Here are the requested pictures of two of my snowflakes from earlier this week.
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| The first snowflake of the Season |
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| The Christmas Snowflake |
I have since been told by one friend that I don't need to make them a Christmas card, she would rather have a snowflake like the second one. Another just said 'ooh, I want one', while someone else offered to pay me to make some for her to bring to her family for Christmas.
This evening after Bible study I made a few more snowflakes - miniature ones. At this point they are decorating Sonbuchner's coffee table, underneath the sheet of glass covering the wooden tabletop. It makes for a festive table.
In case it wasn't clear, I love making paper snowflakes.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Christmas Wishlist Conundrum
Today my Room Mom from school emailed me and asked me if I had a wishlist for Christmas. I spent about an hour off and on trying to frame a reply. She asked if there were things that I wanted that maybe some of the parents would want to contribute to as a group. After reading that my response was, "um..."
There are many things that I can think of that I want, but nothing that I can think of that I need. So do I start emailing her ideas of all sorts of things that I want or that I would enjoy having? Do I honestly tell her that I don't need anything? Do I tell her what I think she wants to hear? Do I actually tell her that I don't want gifts but would rather have the money spent on something life the Gospel for Asia gift catalog? Am I truly willing to give up my Christmas gifts?
This situation, and the consumerism that surrounds Christmas raises a battle within me. There is the side of me that simply wants more things and is never satisfied. There is always something more that I could have. This side of me also knows that I will be getting gifts from parents at school and selfishly likes that idea. The other side recognizes that this world is temporary, nothing that the world offers can satisfy. This is the side of me that recognizes that I already have more than I could ever need and that maybe I should give it away. The two sides battle within me and this is the verse that comes to mind:
Matthew 6:19-21 "19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
I do not know why I was born into the privileged life that God has given me, and I may never fully understand. I do know that with blessing comes responsibility, and I have been greatly blessed. I also know that I would rather have my treasure be in heaven than on earth. Does this mean that I have completely solved this conundrum? No, it doesn't, but it has certainly made me think about what I value, and where I place my treasures.
There are many things that I can think of that I want, but nothing that I can think of that I need. So do I start emailing her ideas of all sorts of things that I want or that I would enjoy having? Do I honestly tell her that I don't need anything? Do I tell her what I think she wants to hear? Do I actually tell her that I don't want gifts but would rather have the money spent on something life the Gospel for Asia gift catalog? Am I truly willing to give up my Christmas gifts?
This situation, and the consumerism that surrounds Christmas raises a battle within me. There is the side of me that simply wants more things and is never satisfied. There is always something more that I could have. This side of me also knows that I will be getting gifts from parents at school and selfishly likes that idea. The other side recognizes that this world is temporary, nothing that the world offers can satisfy. This is the side of me that recognizes that I already have more than I could ever need and that maybe I should give it away. The two sides battle within me and this is the verse that comes to mind:
Matthew 6:19-21 "19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
I do not know why I was born into the privileged life that God has given me, and I may never fully understand. I do know that with blessing comes responsibility, and I have been greatly blessed. I also know that I would rather have my treasure be in heaven than on earth. Does this mean that I have completely solved this conundrum? No, it doesn't, but it has certainly made me think about what I value, and where I place my treasures.
Monday, December 3, 2012
Snowflakes
Today the high temperature was 79 F (26 C). It felt a little strange doing a little Christmas decorating for my classroom while the temperatures were so warm.
This evening I made paper snowflakes with Peter. Making snowflakes is a winter tradition that I resurrected around the time I was finishing high school. Snowflakes were a cheap way to decorate in college, and they made great shadows when the sun shone through them on the window. Today I made my first snowflakes of the year. My first one turned out really well. The second one was for Abby because she wanted one with a stable and manger, similar to one I already have in my apartment. After doing one like that for Abby, Susan wanted one as well. So I made Susan an angel, a stable with a manger, and a star above the stable. I don't consider myself an overly artistic or creative person, but I like to say that my creativity comes out when making snowflakes.
To finish the evening, I read Susan and Peter a 'bedtime story.' I read the book Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin. It is the story of Wilson Bentley who spent his life trying to capture snowflakes for the world to see. He photographed hundreds of snowflakes over the course of his lifetime. It has the main story with sidebars of historical fact. On the last page are three of the snowflakes he photographed, which fascinated and amazed us.
It was an enjoyable evening. It was fun to once again share my snowflake tradition with others - making snowflakes is more fun when done with friends.
This evening I made paper snowflakes with Peter. Making snowflakes is a winter tradition that I resurrected around the time I was finishing high school. Snowflakes were a cheap way to decorate in college, and they made great shadows when the sun shone through them on the window. Today I made my first snowflakes of the year. My first one turned out really well. The second one was for Abby because she wanted one with a stable and manger, similar to one I already have in my apartment. After doing one like that for Abby, Susan wanted one as well. So I made Susan an angel, a stable with a manger, and a star above the stable. I don't consider myself an overly artistic or creative person, but I like to say that my creativity comes out when making snowflakes.
To finish the evening, I read Susan and Peter a 'bedtime story.' I read the book Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin. It is the story of Wilson Bentley who spent his life trying to capture snowflakes for the world to see. He photographed hundreds of snowflakes over the course of his lifetime. It has the main story with sidebars of historical fact. On the last page are three of the snowflakes he photographed, which fascinated and amazed us.
It was an enjoyable evening. It was fun to once again share my snowflake tradition with others - making snowflakes is more fun when done with friends.
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