Is it that time already? JUST ABOUT. I love Christmas music but I am pretty selective about my tastes. I own probably 20 odd Christmas albums but I find myself repeating the same few over and over and over again. And now that I’ve recently learned (yes, I am behind the times) about torrent downloading, I’ve been able to track down some pretty classic Christmas music. That’s neither here nor there, as I try best I can to pay for music and support artists, my current fleet of Christmas music genius (including but not limited to) are the following albums and songs, # 1 on the list being my all time favourite. Please, get with me in the season and post a comment with your own favourite Christmas music/songs… I could always use some more:
1. Sarah McLachlan’s “Wintersong” album. My. Favourite.
2. Paul Brandt’s “A Gift” album.
3. ”Christmas Song” by Dave Matthews Band (This song has so many glorious Christmas memories from Calgary for me, it gives me chills every time I listen to it.)
4. “Maybe this Christmas” by Ron Sexsmith (First heard on The O.C.)
5. Boney M’s “Christmas Album” album.
6. “Baby it’s Cold Outside” by Bing Crosby (I think that’s the best version? Leanne?)
7. Garth Brooks’ “The Magic of Christmas” album.
8. Casting Crowns’ “Peace on Earth” album.
9. “12 Days of Christmas” carol as sang by my DAD.
10. City on a Hill’s “It’s Christmastime” album…most noteable: “Manger Throne” by Third Day. (This cd stirs my heart and my desire for snow, hot chocolate, and a fireplace).
11. Sheree Plett and Eisenhauer’s “Lights Used to Shine” album.
12. Jewel’s “Joy: A Holiday Collection” disc.
Also, apparently Chris Tomlin has a new Christmas cd out so that might be a dream come true… who knows. Anyways, give me some stuff to add to my library… yes!
Check out the pumpkin I carved, it’s Dwight from ‘The Office’!
But no ‘Office’ would be complete without Kevin… so here’s Luke’s:
The pair:
All four… Darcy’s wolf and Celine’s Moon/Bat combo:
Happy Hallowe’en!
Perks of home — spending two weeks back in Penticton made it the perfect time to pick up the “necessities” that I deem crucial to my quality of life:
Cherry Hill COFFEE
This is not crucial but it is delicious:
Naramata Nut Brown
Along with the salsa mom and I made, I also loaded up on her homemade apple chips which I can’t post a picture because I ate them already.
On a sidenote digression, a number of years ago I had a little Christmas baking day where my dear friend Leanne brought me a Christmas cactus (who since has gone by “Curtis the Cactus”). Leanne told me that these plants are supposed to bloom at Christmastime and some times Eastertime so every year I have waited for flowers off of Curtis to no avail. When I moved to Victoria, I consulted my personal plant expert Chrissy on how to essentially force Curtis to grow and bloom. Even though she gave me stellar advice (some of which I still haven’t taken), my dang Cactus remained flowerless that Christmas and Easter and subsequently the Christmas and Easter the next year.
I left Curtis with my ma when I came back to Victoria this fall under strict instructions to baby the little guy. I wondered if maybe the climates of stagnant, frozen, bitter Calgary or wet, humid, mild Victoria were hindering the little guys’ progression. Then, lo and behold, I went home at Thanksgiving and this is what I saw:
Moral of my story? Two things: Curtis is not a feminine-enough name for all that pink. Second, my mom is a rockstar.
Cheers!
Well, I’ve finished my two weeks…. and I am not looking for a career change. What do you think…success?
If the last two weeks are any indication, I am anticipating a very interesting and funny and dramatic life as a high school teacher. Ohhh the stories, and it’s only been 9 days.
Fall has set in and I’ve been waiting for it. In Victoria, fall is unlike the autumns I am used to so it is such a treat to be in Penticton where scarves and mittens are as evident as the cold puffs of air I breathe. October never feels quite right until my windshield is frostbitten, the afternoon disappears with my mind in a good book, and the season changes right before my eyes.
Need someone to think about? How ’bout me? As always, my time home or time in Alberta serves to be anointed where I spend more time with my heart and noisy mind than while I am in the throws of my everyday life. I’m facing a couple of impossible decisions right now and as the everchanging leaves of fall, my mind is everchanging over these matters in my heart.
And in finishing my first week in secondary school as a person of authority, I am all over again overwhelmed by the responsibility I am getting myself into. How do I teach students while being real yet not making oh-so-obvious my inadequacies as someone to learn from. Can I? High school is interesting… being back there reminds me of my own time as a student and the five thousand ways that I was immature and brave and curious and obnoxious and selfish and scared. I hope I am removed enough from my own experience by now — the positivity of my own high school years threatens my compassion towards these students’ experiences. The simple reality is that I may struggle understanding them because my existence has been pretty easy. It’s a huge responsibility. I am excited but I wish I could look at myself in the mirror and say that I would trust me with the task. But I am honestly not sure.
A couple things to think about –
When we know that what we are doing is something we’ve been continuously prepared for, how do we fight the fear that we might not be good enough for it?
If a battle for me is a breeze for you, will you tell me how you approach the world and its acceptance of you with grace and trust that it does love you regardless of who you are and where you’re at? How do you own that?
How do you make your impossible decisions?
How long does it take and how far do you go before you openly admit you are struggling? Do you ever? Can you read between my lines?
Finally, when can our hearts meet over coffee? I am aching for the company of a friend.
I could really use some help.
Like the changing season, I feel like I should be changing too…
’cause in the dark, I can’t find my feet
Built my world on promises, colourless and cold
I’m short of breath, I’m sure
Gone, let it wash away the best I had
Gone, and when I disappear
Don’t expect me back, don’t expect me back
Here’s a foreshadow of an update to come:
You are a terrible teacher, Ms. Stam.
Hmm. I wasn’t even teaching?
Two things to consider in this moment:
A. Saying Well I think that’s a terrible shirt you’re wearing but that’s the thing about filters, they stop us from saying the things we shouldn’t.
B. Walking away and crying in the library discipline room.
Needless to say, I have one overriding realization from my first three days: grade ten is a whole, alternative species to the human race.
Since you’ve come along this far (or maybe just beginning on my journey now), I wanted to invite you even further into my world for the next couple weeks… my first two weeks as a student teacher. I am getting ready to go into the classroom on Tuesday and I am beyond excited and slgihtly nervous. The first two weeks are designed as an opportunity to familiarize myself with my mentor teacher, the school layout and operations, the staff/admin, and policies. This way, when I come in April, the unknown will only be limited to the profession itself, not the geography. If you find yourself thinking of me from October 13 – 23, then that is probably why — I can use all of the prayers or support I can get. This is where my mind and heart are overwhelmed with the reality of how blessed I am.
I mean, it’s not every day we are aware that we’re living our dream come true … right?
Go out and buy this book. Do it. And if you can’t buy it, like I couldn’t, order it off of Amazon and check out the blog link on my list to your right for grace is for sinners. I will lend mine after my bursting preggers sister gets her hands on it but she might be wanting to lend it out herself. I am re-reading it so I will give my full account and feelings once I have a chance to fully devour it the second time around but it is important, its message is important, and grace is the most important of all (next to love anyhow). Take my word for it:
One review:
If we are still sitting in judgment of one remorseful believer’s failures over and against our own with no posture of restoration, it can only be because we ourselves have not found the profusion of healing that God aches for us to take from His scarred – over hands. Perhaps we are still cowering from our own guilt, covering it up by pointing at the decoy of others’ guilt. Grace levels the playing field. Redemption is meant for all.
Grace, in short, is for sinners.
Excuse me while I digress – I’ve had a long and difficult day. Some would attribute it to the fact that I messed up the cinnamon buns I was making (apparently I killed the yeast – who knew?) while others might think it’s because of my constant efforts to become Makenna or Elias’ favourite second cousin (or whatever I am) only to be batted and pushed away, literally, in the face. I am struggling.
But the truth is about this dang personal profile letter I have to write to my pending mentor teacher at the school I am going to be student teaching at. I have such a hard time selling myself and since it is supposed to be about confident and brave and smart and intelligent and admirable Kate, it’s very difficult to write when I screwed up a recipe, had hurt feelings by the people in my life that are less than two feet tall, and misused not one but three words over the course of the weekend which are probably making the other members in those three said conversations question themselves on whether or not I should even be teaching English.
WHERE IN THE WORLD DO I FIND CONFIDENCE IN THAT?
Ergo, you all need to contribute to my statement. Consider this your opportunity to compliment me profusely in the comment section of this post. Kind of like those blog contests you see on the Pioneer Woman or something where the best answer to the contest question receives a prize. Only in this case there is no prize per say, just your own confidence in knowing you played some role in advancing that masterpiece that will eventually be labelled “Kate’s Career”… so if you’d be so obliged:
Why do you think I would make a good teacher? Why do you think the teaching profession is the one for me?
And OBVIOUSLY if you disagree with my career choice and me in it, feel free to comment on that as well… heck, it’ll make everything a lot more interesting. Nothing is going to make me feel any worse today. (Trav, if you feel the need to contribute to this, please remember that sarcasm is dead in written form so please be careful with my oh-so-fragile self esteem).
5-4-3-2-1… comment!
| Main Entry: | authentic |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | real, genuine |
Synonyms: |
accurate, actual, authoritative, bona fide, certain, convincing, credible, creditable, dependable, factual, faithful, for real, legit, legitimate, official, original, pure, reliable, sure, true, trustworthy, trusty, twenty-four carat, valid, veritable |
| Notes: | genuine means not fake or counterfeit – or sincerely felt or expressed, while authentic means conforming to fact and therefore worthy of belief and trust
Who wouldn’t want to be that? I’m trying. |
