Lit With Hope

It's simple today.

In a big, gigantic hurting world like this one, there is sometimes nothing more comforting than coming home to your very own place.  I walked out of my school tonight with a pile of papers, through the flurries, through the traffic, and straight home to peace.  Pajamas, a candle, my fireplace, the tree.  I am delighting in Advent at home.

I have a lot of papers to grade tonight, but I took a minute to just enjoy that I am safe and warm and that even when I have that one last push of work, that one last stack of papers to grade, I can still settle in to the mystery that is Christ.  Emmanuel, God with us.  He even sits with me while I grade.  

We need Him so deeply, and today I feel it.  Distinctly, a heart ache and a hope, and a light in the darkness.

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices. 

Cadence

I don't intend for life to be heavy on this blog.  Sometimes when I begin it feels this way, but maybe that just being honest.  Or maybe it's the poetry stuck in my throat, dislodged by the clickety clack of typing. 

Or maybe heavy is sometimes really goodness considered from all sides.

Mercy Love of Old

It's hard for me to write to anything lately, at least anything meaningful.  I am full to the brim with unpolished thoughts.  Today I'd just like to share this song, and it's a good one.  And lyrics are poetry and music, and that really helps.  Ellie Holcomb's 'Place My Hope' is beautiful and comforting and some of the realest stuff of my life.  Enjoy.

White Winter, Rich and Full

Snow and winter and winter and snow.  
I like today. 
It is blissfully quietly introverted time. 
Just flannel. 
Just the quintessential 'Winter Song'. 
Just a little white cup of coffee, and on it the letter 'j'. 
Just one white candle which somehow blends the scents of mint and winter.  (MAGICAL THING.) 
Ticking clock. 
Cozy home. 
Day full of challenges suited to my calling. 
Challenging, for sure, but interesting and purposed nonetheless.

Changing Winds

November has arrived, and I welcome it. 
(See related post in previous Novembers.   This is an unapologetic trend.)

Every year I feel a relief in this month, because the world quiets down.  I find my cadence as a teacher, and the days move seamlessly.  I can take a breath.  I remember my place.  

Sometimes at school it's astonishing to me that it takes so long for everyone to find this rhythm to life.  Other times it's astonishing that it all comes together so fast.  It's only been a few weeks (of reckoning moments, awkward moments, brilliant hopeful moments, tiring moments, confusing moments....etc....) with kids, and now they are my people.  I know what need.  They know what I mean.  Relief.  

Joy, Small and Holy

Let me tell you a story about something small and refreshing in this world.

Last week I was visiting my sister and brother-in-law in Texas, and I was inspired at Chipotle.  We had the best time. (I mean, in general on that trip...outside of Chipotle too.)  On the Chipotle bag, there are now Cultivating Thoughts.  It's some good, thought provoking ideas getting magnified in concise and interesting ways. 

My Twin

So. Wow.  This week I discovered a blog called 'Love, Teach'.  I'm inspired.  There is someone out there who is creepy similar to me in all things teacher. 

Reasons why....