Thursday, December 13 – Fa ra ra ra ra

Aren't they lovely? Some are mine, some were done by the students. Either way, it's the closest we'll get to snow here...
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It's my first tropical winter (if you can call it that), and with Christmas approaching, I'm finding it difficult to remember that Christmas is, in fact, approaching at all.

Even though Christmas lights and decorations are up at the school and everywhere else, and although we start every school day singing Christmas carols, it's still strange to think that Christmas is just a couple weeks away.

I remember last semester hearing something about the Winter Olympics and thinking, Where is it cold??

Part of our Christmas decor, our little nativity set even has its own hovering angel! But she doesn't sing much. I think she's shy.
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The constant warm weather can really screw with your head. If I didn't put the date on our whiteboard every day, I think I would regularly forget what month it is! Probably the only reason I'm even able to remember that it's autumn is because it's the rainy season.

Perhaps you're thinking, What about the different seasons? Don't you miss them? Yes, sometimes I do. Last semester, when my sister was describing all the lovely changes typical of the onset of spring, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy.

With weather like this, how can I be expected to remember that it's December??
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I'll tell you what, though, I don't really miss the biting cold temperatures of wintry days in Ohio. But aren't I fortunate? I get to experience them anyway in just a week's time, as I'll be going home for a few weeks at Christmas. I'm sure I'll be in double-layered sweaters and toe-socks the entire time!

Last week, I taught my students how to make six-sided snowflakes like my mom taught me when I was growing up. Though they're difficult to master, the kids really enjoyed it, and my oldest student has already become quite creative with her designs! Thanks for teaching me, Mom. And now I've passed it on to the next generation! :-)

My Bible study group had a Christmas potluck (or "potbless" as they call it) over the weekend, and during the course of the evening, I described to a few people the part of "A Christmas Story" where the family has to go out to a Chinese restaurant for Christmas dinner, and the waiters are all singing, "Deck the harrs with boughs of horry, fa ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra..."

They didn't think it was nearly as funny as I do. (Was that culturally insensitive?)