Phineas turns fourteen today, and by one of those magical gifts that can only come from the hands of a Father of heavenly lights, he will awaken to a few scant inches of freshly fallen snow. The flurries began yesterday afternoon, and continued on through the evening, most melting as they hit the still autumn-warmed ground. But when darkness fell, the snow continued. This morning, there is just enough clinging to the grass and trees in the still-darkness that I can surmise my birthday boy’s first request: “Outside? Snow?”
A little snow is the perfect end to Phin’s thirteenth year, and the perfect beginning to his fourteenth. Like snow in the south, 2020 with Phin was a little unexpected, but not unwelcome. It was different, neither the clear skies that are the norm, or a thunderous, rolling storm. It was unique and beautiful, something you wanted to pause and drink in as it happened. There were changes. The landscape looks different now. But oh, how good it felt to see something new taking shape.
We’ll mark the day in our usual fashion of bringing home a Christmas tree. Years ago this became our tradition, and it’s Phin’s favorite part of his birthday. He loves Christmas— the lights especially. I used to worry that he was being cheated out of a day specifically set aside for him, fretting over the plight of those with December birthdays, which are so given towards being overrun with holiday activities and wrappings. It turns out neither he nor Simon (whose birthday is immediately after Christmas) mind one bit. They both find a special sort of beauty in having their days so closely aligned with the trees and lights and candles and music. It’s a relief, and also a lesson for me in not borrowing trouble where none exists.
Thursday is our final CC Community day for the year, and I admit that it’s been a little hard to focus on the Civil War and human anatomy when my heart is thinking “Christmas!” I’ve moved into our holiday schedule already, with our nightly picture books added to the current read-aloud selection (Christopher is reading Justin Morgan Had a Horse). While we will continue on with math, reading, the bulk of our time has shifted over to other enjoyments. Yes, there will be gingerbread houses made, and cookies baked. I’m putting together our annual Amish Friendship Bread starter today.
We also began an Advent art devotional from A Humble Place called God With Us that I absolutely cannot recommend enough. The printed guidebook and high quality print set were only $14.99, a fabulous price for this resource. There are links to both recorded and sheet music for the songs included (most of which were unfamiliar to me), and gorgeous poetry and Scripture reading passages that bring the art itself alive. I picked the second set merely based on one of the pieces (I am partial to Jan van Eyck) but next year, I will buy the original set because I am absolutely in love with this resource and am enjoying the deep stillness and pause it brings to my family’s day.
The main component of our holiday schooling month begins today, and is coming from All Creation Waits: The Advent Mystery of New Beginnings. This is a new-to-us book, and while the reviews for the printed version all raved over the woodcuts interspersed in the text, I opted for the audio version. It was only $4.99 on Amazon, and will offer me a bit more flexibility in set up each day. The text focuses on twenty-four animals and their winter survival skills, pointing back to God and the greater story of Jesus. We will use it as a springboard for looking more deeply studying the Scripture and character traits of God outlined, as well as making daily entires in our nature journals and learning more about the animals.
I’m also using The Rooted Childhood’s Christmas Collection as a source of fun stories, crafts, and recipes. I’ve never used it before, either, but so many of the ideas seemed like things I had done with my older kids and never repeated with the youngers, or hadn’t tried in twenty years of homeschooling. Why not?
As a family, we have bigger plans afoot. These are just the things I will be doing this month with the younger crew, reveling in the season and planting the seeds for a joyful celebration all month long. So far we’re off to a great start. Snow and a birthday. What more can anyone ask for?