I love Christmas! I really do. No, not the emphasis on gifts, but the emphasis on THE GIFT that was given to us in the form of a baby around 2000 years ago. Because of that, I love to participate in things or attend events that focus on that element of CHRISTmas.

My husband, daughter, and I are all participating in our the annual Christmas program that our church puts on each year. I’ve done it once before, but it’s been several years. And…truth be told…I forgot how hard it is. This is not just some simple Christmas program. It’s one that has a cast and crew of around 800, takes months and months of planning, lots of rehearsal, and then will take place over 8 performances. Tonight was dress rehearsal, and going into it – I was worn out. I’ve actually picked up a little bug that I’ve been fighting too. So, between being tired and being sick – I really didn’t want to be there. I actually started questioning why I signed up for this in the first place and quietly scolded myself for always biting off more than I can chew. The program has two parts – one that is primarily secular and one that is biblical. I’m in the secular segment and haven’t really stayed around for many of the biblical rehearsals, because I didn’t have to. But, tonight…I stayed and watched the whole thing! I was moved – yet again – by the simple, but very profound message of CHRISTmas.

I was ashamed of myself for allowing thoughts of dread and regret to fill my head. So what if takes a little sacrifice on my part? It’s worth it if even one person that comes to see the program is changed by that message! Sacrifice…that brought a familiar passage to mind:

“But the king replied to Araunah, ‘No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.’ So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them.” 2 Samuel 24:24

Sacrifice. Is it really considered sacrifice if it costs you nothing? Maybe this week might cost me a little sleep and might cause me to fill a little run down. But, it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make. In the grand scheme of things – it’s nothing in comparison to THE sacrifice that God made for us in the gift of that little baby over 2000 years ago.

All I really need to know I did NOT actually learn in Kindergarten, but I learned some really cool things nonetheless! Recently, I was talking with someone (honestly, I don’t even remember who) about the fact that I still remember so much about dinosaurs from what I was taught by my Kindergarten teachers. Can you believe that? Seriously. I don’t recall reading another book, hearing another lecture, or watching another movie (other than Jurassic Park) about dinosaurs, but I still remember so much of that little Kindergarten lesson many years ago. That started my wheels turning…what other school days memories do I have? I began going through each grade thinking of a memory – some are educational, some are mischevious, and some are just purely delightful. But…I came up with one from each grade. I actually have several that I could have written for some years, but I kept my little log at just one memory for each grade. How about you? Do you have any school days memories that just really stand out?

Here’s a glimpse at mine:

Kindergarten – I’ve already named it above. Dinosaurs must have fascinated me, because of all the things I’m sure I was taught in Kindergarten – this is the only one I remember.

1st Grade – I remember my teacher putting the word K-N-O-W on the board and asking us to tell her how to pronounce the word. It was on the board all morning, and we kept guessing and guessing until FINALLY – right before lunch – some smart boy in my class finally pronounced it correctly. I guess we were starting a unit on silent letters. Who knows? Ha! Ha! Get it? Who K-N-O-Ws? OK – moving on…

2nd Grade – I had a wonderful teacher that let me work at my own pace in my math book, because I loved math (at the time) and always wanted to work ahead. I finished it before Christmas, and she let me go up to the BIG 3rd grade hallway and ask one of the 3rd grade teachers for a math book to use for the rest of the year. I was so scared to go up there and ask, because I was really shy then. But…I did it!

3rd Grade – We got to write letters to our favorite authors, and I got a letter back from Judy Blume and thought that was the neatest thing in the world! This was actually the year I fell in love with reading.

4th Grade – I memorized The Gettysburg Address for extra credit.

5th Grade – I told my teacher that I saw her driving her car and asked if it was a Fiat. She appeared rather shocked and told me most assuredly that it was a Porsche! I still don’t know the difference in cars.

6th Grade – I remember diagramming sentences over and over and over.

7th Grade – We dissected frogs in science, and I was the only one that got a female frog (full of eggs – yuk!).

8th Grade – This was a rough year. We moved to Florida, and my friends threw a surprise going away party for me. I ended up moving back 3 months later.

9th Grade – Driver’s Ed. Driver’s Ed. Driver’s Ed.

10th Grade – I remember learning absolutely NOTHING in Biology class…not a great teacher!

11th Grade – I played the role of Mrs. Paroo in the The Music Man.

12th Grade – This was a great year, and I have LOTS and LOTS of memories. Perhaps one of the best was getting to help teach Spanish to 3rd graders at the nearby elementary school as part of an assignment for my Communications class.