Christmas is Coming, The Goose Is Getting Fat

It's been a peaceful Advent season for Matt and me. Our church has led us to rethink Christmas, which has made this December somber, meaningful, and beautiful. We are so thankful for this. So thankful.

And on that note, a survey.

1. What kind of tree do you have?
We have a noble fir that we chopped down ourselves. (Actually, I stood there taking pictures while Matt worked. I did make sure to move the saw myself a few times just so I could say I helped. Which was hardly helpful of me.) In the past, we've always had a doug fir, which is lovely and all, but once we got out to the tree farm and compared the two... well, there's just no comparison. I'm in love with our tree right now, and I'm so sad it's almost time to recycle it.

2. What is your favorite Christmas movie?
Top 3: Home Alone 1, Elf, and Love Actually.

3. What is your favorite Christmas holiday food?
I hate how my family serves ham and only occasionally turkey. I HATE HAM. We usually have a delicious Christmas eve meal, though, like roast or soup. My mom also makes french toast Christmas morning, and my dad makes super crispy bacon, so it makes up for the ham fiasco. And as far as the sweets go, I love Snickers nutcrackers. Seriously, Snickers are infinitely better when in the shape of something. The lady at Target agrees with me.

4. Do you use wrapping paper or gift bags?
Here's where I'm torn. I love love love wrapping gifts and making them all pretty, and I also love ripping the paper off, but OH MY GOD. It creates an alarming amount of trash, and most wrapping paper cannot be recycled. I feel a little bit sick on Christmas morning picking up all the paper and filling two garbage bags. So it is better to use gift bags, but gift bags are way lame.

5. Do you have a nativity scene in your house?
Yes! And I love it! My parents got it for me last Christmas, and I was so excited to use it that I put it out on Thanksgiving. I stare at it a lot. Baby Jesus makes me happy.

6. What is your favorite Christmas song?
I feel silly that I don't have one favorite Christmas song. I love the ones that make me reflect. I have a chill Christmas mix that I have to listen to every day. Matt and I also do a fantastic duet to Baby, It's Cold Outside. And I can't hear Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas without laughing and dancing and thinking of Natalie, Katy, Amy, Mel, Mandy, and Brad.

7. What was the most memorable gift you received as a child?
One year in high school, my parents gave each of us kids something that once belonged to them. I got my mom's cross she had since high school, my sister got her ruby ring, and my brother got a baseball signed by someone cool from my dad. They each wrote us a letter explaining the significance. By far the most meaningful Christmas morning I remember.

8. What was the worst gift you ever received?
I don't remember. I usually like the gifts people buy me. I'm not picky, I suppose.

9. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
How unspiritual Christmas can feel. I read an article the other day in which an atheist said he feels completely comfortable celebrating Christmas because it has nothing to do with Jesus anymore. That bums me out.

10. Favorite thing about this time of year?
Family. My church. Jesus. You know, the good stuff.

Merry Christmas, everyone. I hope you feel peace and God.

Baby, It's a New Day

Oh, hi. You know when you're trying to come up with a really great introduction to some really great news and all you really want to do is just blurt it out and have everyone toast to you and praise Jesus for some mighty fine providing skills?

I got a job! HELLS YEAH.

That's right, folks. I'm totally a high school English teacher. (I'm still so tickled to say that.) I have keys to the classrooms, a desk to call home, and 100 names to learn. Last week was my first week teaching, and it was hard and overwhelming and awesome. And I love it. This is what I get to teach: creative writing (already fantastic), literacy (very challenging), and classic world lit (surprisingly a lot of fun). I'm very thankful.

I'm creating most my curriculum, which is fun but also a ton of work. So here's my request: to all my writer friends and English majors (and anyone else, please!), any excellent creative writing ideas you remember that you'd like to pass my way? I'm trying to channel Mrs. Kirk in class, but I'm afraid she's way too good to be channeled.

Also, I must decide between Macbeth and Hamlet. Thoughts?

And finally, everyone must know how incredibly grateful I feel right now. It's a new day.