Christmas In 1B by Lisa Poston
It’s Christmastime! Anyone who has spent even a little bit of time with me knows that I am crazy for Christmas! Ever since I was a young girl, it has been my favorite time of year. I was the kid that would beg my parents to get a tree the day after Thanksgiving! Growing up, I decorated the house, the tree and even hung the lights on our cabin home. I started collecting Christmas decorations when I was five and have added to my collection every year since! Even as I write this, I look around my Christmas house and I find items that bring back sweet memories from my childhood.
Our family traditions passed down through generations also make Christmas extra special: advent calendars, craft fairs, Christmas Eve Chow Mein, Russian tea, candlelight service, new jammies…just to name a few! Oh, and did I mention that I got married December 12th?! My husband and kids have no choice but to embrace my Christmas crazy. We have Light Day devoted to putting up our lights, the tree is of course found at a local tree farm the day after Thanksgiving and white lights are everywhere! Some traditions include my amazing friends. On December 23rd, a group of us get together to make cookies at my best friend Lisa Patterson’s house and we bake until we can’t bake no more! Christmas Eve Eve, as we lovingly refer to this special day, is one that we all look forward to every year.
As a teacher, I am able to bring my love of Christmas into my classroom. I get to decorate, put up a Christmas tree and enjoy our classroom traditions. I get to use the word ‘Christmas’ and read Christmas stories. I get to wish students and parents a Merry Christmas and not just ‘Happy Holidays’. Most importantly, I get to share the true meaning of this wonderful holiday with our students: the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. What a blessing, privilege and honor! Many schools do not get to do these things and I do not take this lightly. I truly believe this is one of the most important parts of my job as a teacher here at Baymonte. In fact, I never have considered this merely a job. I truly feel that this is a ministry that God has chosen for me. It has shaped who I am and has helped me to grow in Him.
During this amazing time of year, I pray that all of you enjoy your special Christmas homes, your traditions and the people that you love. Also remember God’s love, that is so abundant, that He sent His only son to us as a tiny baby to give us the greatest gift of all! Merry Christmas to my Baymonte family!