I love apples

Previously, I posted my thoughts regarding teacher crap with apples on it. I might have gone as far as to say that I hated apples. Well, a student gave me two bags of apples as a gift. And it turned out okay.

I sat in front of a movie yesterday skinning and chopping all of the apples for homemade applesauce. I've never made it before. The recipe is simple (this is for a large Crockpot):

1. Peel and core apples
2. Slice them into thin slices
3. When the Crockpot is half full, sprinkle a teaspoon of cinnamon across the top.
4. Finish peeling, coring, and slicing.
5. When the Crockpot is completely full, sprinkle another teaspoon of cinnamon over the top.
6. Dump in a cup of honey
7. Dump in a 1/2 cup of water
8. Cook on low for the night

I grew up watching Monday Night Football with my dad. In the colder months, he would sit and make applesauce. I don't remember him making it at any other time. It's possible, but I only remember the football games. Like I said before, this was my first time trying to make applesauce. It smells good. But I don't know if I did it right. It tastes all right (or so says mom on the way to the airport at 4:30 this morning), and it's kind of hard to mess up Crockpot recipes. So who cares? I cooked something.

But more importantly, it's a fun memory of my dad on another Christmas without him. My life has been quite a bit like Crockpot applesauce, not knowing what I'm doing at times but trying my hardest to follow my dad's recipe. Sometimes it feels like I'm wandering through this life, shooting goals and hopes and dreams into a dreary, foggy landscape. It would be nice to at least ask my dad which way to aim. But it's not in the bag of apples I've been given. And it doesn't matter whether or not I like it. It just is.

I look forward to breakfast this morning, fresh dutch babies and hot applesauce. It will turn out alright, Christmas, applesauce, and life...thanks to God's provisions. So here's to memories, gifts, and traditions. Merry Christmas everybody.

Christmas Cheer

I hate Christmas shopping. There's really nothing good about it. I have to spend money I don't have to buy things people don't need from a store who's employees don't care.

No wonder my mother-in-law scrooged me. (You know the I've been elfed thing? Yeah...not me)

And as a teacher, why shouldn't I be scroogey? For what ever reasons, teachers are seen as these great public servants making great sacrifices for our future; that is until one's child isn't an A student or receives a zero on an assignment or makes a simple mistake entering grades into the computer, and then the teacher becomes some lower-class filth not worthy of respect. Irony at its greatest. Bah humbug.

Get over yourself Jacobson. I realized last night that school is out, so I shouldn't (and in all truth, don't) care about conflicts happening regarding my classroom. It's not about what I spend or what I buy. The fact is, my wife feels valued and loved when she knows that I'm going out of my way to buy something special for her (with a cheerful attitude I might add). I praised God when I was in and out of the store in less than an hour on a Saturday afternoon before Christmas. And now, I'm actually excited for Christmas. I don't care what I'm getting, it's probably coal anyways.

And I think that's what people miss out on--I know I have for the past couple of years. I've been so busy that I stumble on Christmas in a haze. And amidst all the busy-ness, I've lost out on the idea of gifts. God gave us his son as a gift. Christ gives his grace. The holy spirit grants spiritual gifts. I don't want to offer church cheese balls here, but there's something to be said about celebrating the giving of gifts.

God has given me a beautiful wife and a loving family, a warm house, a sweet-up dog, a fulfilling job, a spot in grad school, a heart for people and relationships, a love of literature and examining the human experience, and countless other things. But most importantly, He has given us incredible friendships that draw us closer to him.

And I haven't even opened presents yet. How cool is that?