Grateful Friday

 Well, Christmas time is the best when gifts are your love language.  I love thinking about and shopping for gifts.  I love gift idea lists (although I usually don't use anything on them--I still like looking).  I love getting gifts!  I love knowing someone thought of me.

When Emma and I were decorating the tree, the song, "All I Want for Christmas is You" was playing.

I don't care about the presents 

Underneath the Christmas tree

She said, "I guess you can't relate to this song."

No indeed.

It can also be a fraught time when gifts are your love language and you overthink everything.  (Also me.)

Yesterday I took gifts for my teammates and also for Jamie.  I went into her office to give her gift to her and the other coach, who shares an office with Jamie, was also there.  I couldn't exactly back out and pretend it never happened, or pretend I didn't have a gift for Jamie and not the other coach.

It was super awkward.

I think the other coach is great!  I really like her.  But Jamie is my she's been to my house several times and I've been to hers friend. She gave me some of her soup yesterday so I could try out the new recipe she discovered. (It was pickle soup! It was surprisingly good!)

Anyway.  I felt weird about it.  I didn't think about the whole sharing an office thing....

Then there are the gifts from my students.  They make my heart sing.  So sweet.  

Something like this:  a Diet Coke with a handwritten card is pretty much peak present for me from a student.  I don't want anything expensive, but their thinking of me makes me feel loved.

This was inside another card (she had also painted me a picture of a snowman).

I try to strike the balance between my appreciation and celebration of their efforts and not making the other kids feel bad.

They don't need to bring me a gift!  I cringe a little inside when they ask me what I want for Christmas.  

Yesterday a few students brought things to my desk and I thanked them and I noticed one girl looking over, kind of downhearted.  It was early morning when they were doing brain bins and she and another girl were playing with dominoes.  She came over to my desk and asked, "Teacher, what is your favorite color?"

I said, "Red."

They went back to their table and started speaking Spanish, which is the best way to be stealthy around me.

A few minutes later, they came back to my desk, all smiles.  "Teacher!  We made something for you!"

First they proudly showed me the T.

Then this, which confused me at first until I realized it was Mis Davis written backward (I don't know why it is backward).

They hugged me and I hugged them right back because I loved their gift.

It was a Little Drummer Boy kind of moment.  We all have gifts to bring when we give love.

Pa Rum Pum Pum Pum.