getting ready for christmas

With the holiday season approaching, I find myself looking for ways to "get ready."

This doesn't just include the physical sense of readiness ... As in a cleaned and decorated house, wrapped presents, sent Christmas cards, or baked goods and the like. For me, at least this year, it also means a spiritual sense of "readiness."

I have said it many times before that I am truly blessed.

I have a wonderful, supportive husband, an adorable little boy, a family that loves me endlessly, indescribably awesome friends, a healthy body and mind, a warm home, and a good job (during which I can stay at home with the aforementioned adorable little boy). Truly, I don't think that things could get much better ... And I don't know what I did to deserve it!

So, this Christmas, I really wanted to get in the mood spiritually. To truly envelope myself in the feeling of the season, and what it really means to be Christmas.

No, it doesn't mean presents or gift giving.

Or delicious food.

Not even time for family and friends and fellowship.

Rather, Christmas means the coming of Christ into the world and into our hearts.

I have friends who are preparing for this most joyful of occasions by selflessly offering up their gifts for an even greater cause.

I read blogs where giving to those who are less fortunate is at the forefront of the season.

All around me, I see people becoming "ready" for this holiday by giving back in true Christmas fashion ... So, this year, I wanted to participate.

In my own attempt to "give back," I decided to donate my hair to Locks of Love this year.

It's something that I've always wanted to do, but never got around to really pursuing ... And, for once, I knew I could make it happen. My hair was getting long. Probably a little too long. It was time to just make the change and get it cut.

Short.

I honestly can't remember the last time my hair was this short.

If I had to guess an age, I'd have to say that I was around four years old ... And that was only because my hair was finally growing out (I looked like a boy until I was about three).

Ten inches is a lot.

It's both an adjustment and a big deal for me ... I'm totally outside of my comfort zone! But I know that it will be an even bigger deal to the little girl that gets "hair" this Christmas.

And that's what makes the whole experience worthwhile.

Even if it is completely crazy to reach back and feel my bare neck instead of a pony tail ...

what a difference a week can make

Just last week I began composing a post about how Malcolm is content to "walk" around the house on his knees (instead of his feet). I didn't get very far, but figured I'd have some time to iron it out ... The kids seemed like he was in no hurry to figure out the whole walking on two feet thing.

He was happy doing his little knee shuffle.

Not anymore!

This week, things are different.

Very different.

The usual 70/30 distribution of knee to feet walking has completely flip-flopped. Now, instead of shuffling around on his knees for a majority of the time, he is walking full force ...

Two footed.

Just going for it.

Sure, he still slips and falls or basically belly flops onto the carpet, but he's definitely getting the hang of it. And you can tell he's loving every minute of it.

Once he figures out how to stand up from a sitting position without the aid of a piece of furniture (or a wall, or a toy, or a person) we are in so much trouble ...

'tis the season

My husband and I are Christmas tree people.

Real Christmas tree people.

There is just something about a living evergreen taking up half of your living room that says the holidays are here!

So, this past weekend, we bundled up the boy and headed out to locate our tree. We kept it simple, opting to go to a nearby Lowe's instead of a "cut your own tree" farm or nursery. The selection wasn't spectacular (nor were the prices), but there was just enough for us to pick something that could make the long haul to Christmas and into the new year ... I insist on keeping our tree up until the Feast of the Epiphany, which happens twelve days after Christmas, and marks the end of the Christmas season (at least as far as the Catholic church is concerned ... Have you ever noticed that stores seem to mark the end of the Christmas season before December 25th has even passed? But that's not the point of this post ...)

Last year, Malcolm slept right through the tree-selecting festivities.

This year, he was wide awake and agreeable, as always ... You never would have guessed that he was bundled up in two pairs of pants and various other layers! He really seemed to enjoy himself as he clapped, pointed, and squealed his way through the aisles of trees in his stroller.

Shark Hat: The Children's Place ($6.50)
Mittens: Old Navy ($5.00 for a hat/mitten set)
Coat: Little Me (thrifted for $5.00 as part of a coat/pants set)
Jeans: The Children's Place (thrifted for $2.00)
Socks: Old Navy (gift)
Shoes: Stride Rite (thrifted for $3.00)

His happy little face brought me right back to the outings my own family would take when we picked our real tree each year ...

My sisters and I would run through the aisles of trees, running our gloved hands across the needles (to make sure they weren't too prickly), and shouting back to my parents when we found the "perfect one." My Dad, upon inspecting it himself, would take it by the trunk and hold it out an arm's length for us to investigate. If it passed the test, it would be strapped to the roof of our car and proudly brought home. After a day or two outside, it would be lugged into the house and adorned with the biggest modge podge of lights and ornaments you ever did see.

No, there will be no artificial tree for us, either ...

Just the 100% real (pine-smelling, sap-sticking, water-leaking, needle-dropping) thing.

We're not quite sure how a nearly-walking toddler is going to fit into the equation ... He won't be strapped into his stroller when we are in the comfort of our own home! But we'll make due.

Hopefully, when all is said and done, we will all be left with some pretty great memories.

validation

To quickly set up this post, I need to first explain the levels of organization at my virtual school ... At least as I have come to understand them.

Each student that enrolls in the high school is set up with their classroom teachers, a guidance counselor, and an adviser ...

Classroom teachers (like me) are the people that are responsible for running the courses, teaching the lessons in an online format once a week, grading assignments, and basically communicating with students and their families as often as possible.

Guidance counselors, much like those at traditional schools, help the students with their course schedules and force them to look beyond high school at the bigger picture ... Will they attend college? If so, which one? What graduation tests are required for admittance?

Advisers, although they also work with students, focus more on the parent end and keep track of a student's attendance and overall performance in the virtual school ...

So, all of that to say ... As my work day wrapped up on Friday, I received an email in my work inbox from an adviser that is assigned to one of my students. The email itself was super short.

Merely three sentences long ...

But the message inside was so, so much bigger:

Hi Emily. I spoke with student's mom today and she gave you a big compliment. You are the best teacher student has ever had.

That was it.

Short and syrupy sweet.

It's hard to explain the feeling that swept over me.

While I was (and still am) extremely humbled, I couldn't help but feel sort of undeserving at the same time.

I've only been "teaching" at this school for a little over two months.

I don't ever see these students face to face ... I am lucky if I get to work with them during a live, online classroom session or if I get to speak to them by telephone once or twice a month.

I can't say that I've ever seen this student at any of those online sessions.

I've never spoken to this student on the phone (although I talked with the student's mother at length before our Thanksgiving Break).

All I have done is answer a couple of questions through the school's email system. I have extended deadlines and offered alternate assignments to bring up grades.

I have done nothing that I would consider remotely above or beyond ...

To top it off ... THIS STUDENT ISN'T EVEN PASSING MY CLASS!

And yet, to this mother, I am the best teacher her child has ever had.

It's honestly small moments like these that pull a teacher through tthe doldrums that often encompass the educational system. It's moments like these that validate all the hard (and often unforgiving) work.

It's moments like these that tell me I've truly chosen the right career.

Maybe I'm doing an okay job, after all.

lucky shot

It almost looks like he's saying "cheese."


That is, if he could talk.