Christmas Eve -- my first post

I have been thinking a lot about changing my website to make it easier on myself. It is Christmas Eve and I find myself at home contemplating Christmas and life. Here in Moscow, it's technically not Christmas as Russians celebrate Christmas on Jan 7, so it doesn't really feel like Christmas. I spent some time in prayer tonight and was reminded that it doesn't really matter what Christmas is supposed to "feel like" -- the message is still the same. We celebrate it as the birthday of our Savior. In the States we say that it "feels like" Christmas because of all the effort that we put into preparing and decorating. I have one little tree in my room that took me all of 10 minutes to decorate. But does it really matter? In my soul I celebrate the fact that Jesus was born into this world as a human, and in so doing changed the destiny of mankind forever. There were not Christmas trees or decorations or lights or tinsel in the stable that night. I am sure that Mary and Joseph were only focused on their new child -- that truly was the important thing.
It is strange not to be around people tonight -- I did go out to lunch today with one of my students and then to dinner with one of my Russian friends. But this evening I have spent talking to some friends in the States, updating my various websites, and getting on my face to thank God for His glorious gift. Tomorrow I will send the day with a family from school. Christmas is not about "feeling", it is about fact -- the fact that our Savior was born for us, the Prince of Peace, Emmanuel "God with us."

Here are some pics of my 6th graders this past month -- some were taken on the playground and some at our Christmas party:

My wonderful 6th grade class!

We had a "snow person" decorating contest.

Kian, Artyom, Matt, and myself

Grace, Rachel, Jin, Joy, and Alison

Eun Chong

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!