The Simple Story

The Christmas season hasn't sneaked up on me this year. Perhaps it is because for the first time in three years, I am not staying at school for exorbitant amounts of time and perhaps I've been a little more intentional about keeping up with what is going on in the world. I also may have been tipped off by the Christmas music and Christmas trees that where up in the stores before Halloween had gone and passed.

With the start of Advent occurring this past Sunday, it marks the official start of Christmas in the church. Like the exams that I am waiting to write, Advent is a period of waiting and watching. Waiting in darkness for the Christ-child to come. We wait by putting up Christmas decorations, trees, lights, ornaments. My parents have an Advent calendar with a book that they used to read every night at supper, telling us what each day meant. When E and I got older we used to read from the book once or twice a week or whenever everyone was home for supper. We have since lost that tradition. Maybe its because we all have our own lives now. My dad quite frequently has to work at night, my brother doesn't live in the city anymore and my mom and I perhaps don't have the time either. We're always running around to different activities or she is teaching piano or too tired from working. I think that this has not stopped E and I from remember what my parents have instilled in us. To watch and wait.


* This is a picture of me and my friend Beans. Its not her real name. We just call her that. Ask her about sometime if you meet her. It's a funny story. Anyways, the shoes I am wearing in this picture are the offenders that have been causing me grief and pain all semester. My back and my feet hurt whenever I wear them and now I have to go to the physio. to fix all of it. They're going in the garbage now. I refuse to give them to the Goodwill so someone else can be subjected to their pain.*


Yesterday was the last day of classes of my first semester at the U of A. It feels good. Like a well-fitting, comfortable shoe. To mark the occasion my friend A and I went out for lunch yesterday. It just so happens that we went to the same restaurant we went to the first day of the semester. It also just so happens to be one of my favorite restaurants in Edmonton. The Highlevel Diner opened on December 5th, 1982. I may not have been born yet but my family has sort of a long history with the place. My mom and her very good friend D go there for coffee monthly and it was also the place that my family went for supper after my great-uncles funeral around Christmas time many years ago. I perhaps didn't appreciate the Highlevel Diner as much then because of the "weird" food they had. However, my tastes have changed. They offered champagne for the occasion.

Yesterday just made me remember the celebrations that will be happening all month. My family celebrates three birthdays and Christmas this month. I think we are prone to forgetting about Advent because of it. Perhaps these are all signs. Signs of God who is busy, who is making preparations. Signs that God is bringing light to the world.