The school year is over. I must, here, pay respect to everyone who works in education because you are sorely under appreciated. Today is the 12th of December and it is weird to think that Christmas is going to be upon us in less than two weeks. It is harder still, when i am currently putting sunscreen on so i don't burn when i go outside. Although the school year is over it does not mean that i am on vacation quite yet. We have meetings all of next week for the upcoming mission trip that will take place in the beginning of January.
Today we have graduation for the 8th graders at 8 pm. Brian is playing the flute in the ceremony, it should be a lovely experience. After the graduation, we are going to a despidida, or going away party, for the ChACErs at their house. It will be weird seeing them all leave. It is even more strange thinking that we will also be here to say goodbye to the new ChACErs as well. The event should be a lot of fun, but it is also mixed sadness, knowing that another page in your life has turned.
On the topic of people leaving, we will also be saying goodbye to Michelle for a spell. Michelle, our roommate for the last three months, is going to go home for the holiday season. She will eventually be back for a couple of days then she is off traveling for a while, but she will be back after about a month of travel. It will be interesting changing back to our original arrangement of just Brian and I in our house. She leaves Sunday, so we will have a little luncheon for Michelle before she leaves states side.
Today it was kind of sad. I went to drop off materials to one of the kids that i tutor and he wouldn't open the door. He lives a block away and seems to be under strict instructions not to open the door for anyone. This made me sad, that there are people afraid to open their door during broad daylight. I understand the caution, but it still pains me knowing that we live in a world that is that genuinely afraid of letting anyone in. It might be due to the prevalence of drugs and theft, but it still forces you to wish for a better life. A life in which there are no locks or barriers, but being a realist i understand that we are not quite there yet.
I finish this note with a request. My French grandmother, Ced's grandma, is very ill. I hope that you all will keep her in your prayers and hopefully that her last days here are not filled with pain and suffering, but with peace. I hope that all of you are in good spirits and that you will enjoy the upcoming holidays.