Alex

I'm in the fight with you, Alex. Every. Single. Day. You can count on me. I can't wait to see you at Christmas!! xo Miss K.

"...we have two options, medically and emotionally: give up, or Fight Like Hell.”
(Lance Armstrong)

Merry Chrismahanakwanzaka

"Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveler, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home!"
(Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers, 1836)

Happy Christmas!

In just 10 days, I will be arriving back in Chicago, with a suitcase overflowing of gifts and stories of travel and adventure. It is impossible to recap all that I have experienced since first landing here on 1 August... only pictures can begin to tackle a fraction of the memories.

It is difficult to believe how grounded I feel here. I never thought I'd find a "home away from home," or friends as dear to me as those already in my life. I can't believe the amount of love and support I have found here... both personally and professionally. There are no words to describe the "cool factor" of the people I have met, and continue to meet. I am so lucky.

Stockholm was beautiful last weekend. We toured the Palace, met the locales, pubbed it at O'Connell's, shopped a Christmas market, ate dinner at Tiffany's, slept on a yacht hotel, iceskated in the centre, circled the island in a guide boat, and took a bus, plane and train to and fro. Monday morning and 8 year olds... ok I'm focused again!

Christmas always stirs an emotion of coziness in me. It's one I like to be able to share with those I am with. Between the travel opportunities with friends; Drew, Karen, Jennie, Kathryn, Carmen and Katie, (in respective order) and the moments created in between those travels, I am certainly feeling humbly grateful for the cultural opportunities opened to me on a regular basis. As Mrs. Pepping once told me about the many blessings in my life, "you know this is not normal!"

As I continue to try and make sense of this fascinating world around me, I realize this is quite the lofty goal! In a previous post I said, "It seems that the more I travel, the less I know!" It's because once I seem to make sense and give reason, it all goes bust and I'm back at square one trying to figure it all out again! Ever the eternal optimist, I'll get it one day!

My NY's decisions this year will come in different compartments; personally, professionally, & culturally.

• Personally, I would like to become brave enough to open my heart again.
  
• Professionally, I would like to determine the importance of what I do, and pinpoint what I value most as an educator.
  
• Culturally, I would like to begin intense German language courses and become capable of conversing at ease with the people around me.

Carpe Diem and God Bless you this New Year!
k. xo