NYE KL

"May you and I be challenged to trust God more, to believe Him better, and to know Him deeper.  His heart is good, His love is pure, His plans are magnificent.  Whether we feel it or not, it doesn’t cease to be true."

Christmas

I should take pictures of all the cards I have gotten and keep them in one place. There will be days when I will need them to remind myself that all of this is worth it.

It's a little early to be reflecting on the end of the year, and I'm sure I'll do more of that later. But I just want to say that as tired and overwhelmed as I feel right now--and MORE to do before and after Christmas!!--I am so thankful for everything I've learned in the last few months. I am also very thankful for friends who have been there for me, and who have listened to me talk, talk, talk about things that matter and things that don't. The next time I'm down in the valley, do remind me that I have often found life to be so amazing. (Notice, I'm not saying that life is ever easy. Hah. I've long set aside that illusion.)

I'm so thankful for the conference Timothy organized for our school, and for inviting me to participate in it. I was very glad to be on the second panel of the first day of the conference. I wasn't among the first to start, but I would still finish early too! That said, the first panel was full of white philosophers talking about white philosophers and I was on a panel of white speakers speaking mostly about visual art. And there I was talking about why race still mattered. Talk about hostile and alienating. I thought I wouldn't get a single question from the audience.

But God bless the other speakers in the audience who do know what it means to be gendered and racialized, especially Nicole, a more senior academic. There was so much generosity in the room, and even the philosophers (all white) made it a point to compliment me and to engage me in conversation. Interdisciplinary work is hard.

So, many many blessings in so many areas of my life.

But it doesn't change the fact that I'm extremely tired now and I still have so much to do. Poor Timothy who has been juggling so many balls, and has been so kind and generous, must be burned out. Luckily, he has a lot of vacation time coming up soon, and he deserve it. I have some time off, but not a whole lot, which is fine. I know what I want for Christmas, and it is not vacation time......

I still feel anxious about work, and I have to keep reminding myself to trust God, trust His provision, and trust in His timing. Without God, I cannot.

Memories

My maternal grandmother didn't have much money because she spent her life working in the home. But she always tried to give me gifts even if it was a couple of handkerchiefs she bought at the wet market behind the house.

I received this souvenir from Brugge. It's not the kind of thing that I would have bought myself but it reminds me that God has always sent people into my life who love me. Kaz and Carm are part of how God softens my heart because we are so different in personalities and gifts. How did we become friends?

post-teaching fun

Hiked to the peak and dinner with the faculty fellowship. So thankful for brothers and sisters on campus. I can't believe Harry and Ora will retire at the end of the year.

Dec again

It's cold, gray, and we're grading. 'Nuff said.

I'm sure December isn't our busiest month of the year, but it always feels that way. Maybe it's because I just want to rest and feel Christmassy. But here we are, facing down deadlines....

I don't usually miss being in the US, but today I do, and very, very much. I miss my friends there even if everyone now lives all across the US.