Normal...for now anyway

I am almost late for my promised once a month post. Things have been a bit busy since October 1st. To save time and preserve my desire to share details in person I will make a list.

Since I last wrote here are some things I've been involved in:

2 Community Service projects
Chile Getaway
Recital
Somalia/World Vision Fundraiser
Thanksgiving Getaway

In addition to the above add the usual day to day activities that happen once life starts to feel normal. Normal, this is the word I feel like explains where I am right now with life in Peru. I feel pretty comfortable in my surroundings and not nearly as awkward or overwhelmed. Spring has sprung which makes my walks to and from school, and just about anywhere else, super enjoyable. The birds are chirping, butterflies a fluttering, and the songs have been coming back into my heart. I know I am truly happy when there is always a song in my head. For a while there was only silence and no music. I am thinking in songs again...and this is a good thing. I have a couple of tunes and songs that are always on the play list and they have come back into rotation.

I am in full swing for Christmas Concerts and Musicals in the last 2 weeks of school and then I am back in Los Estados Unidos por Navidad. I can't believe the 1st half of the school year is almost over. I feel like I blinked in July and ended up in December.

The song that has been in my head the past couple of days is "Where Are You Christmas?" from the movie "How The Grinch Stole Christmas". This is pretty remarkable since I have never seen this movie and haven't ever really sat down and listened to this song. It is amazing how my musical brain works that way. When I think of the song I actually hear Faith Hill singing it in my head, I can even visualize it. Weird...I know.

So, today I sat down and actually listened to the song because I thought it might help me  move on to another song. Once I listened I realized why it was in my head. I watched the youtube video with the words scrolling so I could figure it out. The phrase "...my world is changing, and rearranging, does that mean Christmas changes too?" kept sticking out to me. This is why I had the song stuck in my head. My world has been changing and rearranging for almost a year now. I spent my first Holiday away from family at Thanksgiving. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be thanks to Jeremy and Rachel Hollie and the wonderful house in Cieneguilla, Peru. It was weird to be by a pool getting sun burnt and it being 70 degrees. Back to the song...I have been evaluating my feelings and thoughts on why Holiday's, and most specifically Christmas, are so special and magical. It is magical because of people. Most specifically Jesus...the most important person. Trees, twinkle lights, presents, carols, gingerbread houses, snowmen, holiday movies, parties with friends, special holiday meals, Christmas cookies, 102.9 playing all Christmas songs beginning in October, festive greetings, White Christmas (the movie). All of these wonderful harmless things mean absolutely nothing compared to the fact that God sent his son Jesus as a baby to make a way for me to know my creator God. That my friends is magical and all the Christmas I need. I want to feel magical about that every day and not just in December. While I miss the festivities and decor of the season I am grateful that this is a lesson I have learned. To be content no matter the circumstances or the decoration.

I am still going to enjoy the season and festivities when I return for Christmas, I haven't turned into the Grinch. I am happy about the trees, twinkle lights, and special time with family and friends, but my heart has changed with the way I see it and the place it holds.

It was magical today seeing all the flags representing countries our students are from at ICSL. It was magical hearing a Japanese family sing a song about Jesus, in Japanese (and the most wonderful family harmony I've heard). After, the Gospel was shared to the whole school encouraging our children to allow themselves to be used by God to take Jesus to their countries. That was magical and it had nothing to do with Christmas.

Blessings and Merry Christmas!