Georgia Sunset

Madison took this photo on the way to piano class tonight, going across the bridge over Lake Lanier as the sun was setting.  It's a nice picture, and fitting in some ways for a day like today.  

The weather started out much colder for us - in fact, we've had our garage door stop working and we'll have to get someone here to fix that up, but in the meantime, we're parking in our driveway, and suddenly remembering the glorious feeling of getting into a freezing cold car and having to wait until all the frost gets off the windshield before going anywhere.  One gets spoiled having a garage and a garage door!  This morning, Madison and I sat shivering in the car for a few moments, waiting for the defrost to really kick in!

But soon we were off to school, this after prayers, breakfast and the morning photo.  She had a good day today, back to art class for this semester.  In fact, she spent much of tonight working on a self portrait she drew up today.  She's done a few of these over the year, one per year in fact.  She had those others out tonight to see her progress in her abilities.  I think the nose is the one challenge she still faces - she's not quite sure how to draw a nose.  I think that's everyone's challenge.  There are different ways to do that, so we'll see what she learns.

She had PE again, and she likes that class now.  And the other classes too, such as science where she's learning about matter.  What's a matter?  I don't know, what's a matter with you?

This afternoon she was back in her Live to Give meeting after school, the first one also on the first day of the year.  There's going to be a drive for kids and families to donate jackets, which sounds like a great idea, particularly with all this cold weather coming.

Also, there was Georgia studies earlier today, where they were studying the battle part of the Civil War, which seems kind of appropriate for today.  There were a lot of people up in Washington protesting, and once again, we had riots.  It's interesting to see people upset about this though, as if the entire last year didn't actually occur.  I mean, didn't we see riots and looting day after day after day for several months last year?  Entire downtown areas devastated and burned and millions of dollars lost and stolen?  Why are people so suddenly shocked about this now?  To be clear, none of this is good, or right, but compared to last year, it's not even close.  Anyway, it's not a good day for America.  Again.  

But there is ministry amongst the pain, and a desperation that comes for God and His presence that only comes when under duress.  Such has been a time for all of us now, and as such, I think that perhaps we will look back upon this season with a different perspective of gratitude. It's an unusual type of gratitude to be certain.  But it's there nevertheless.

We had piano class today, the first of the year.  She's moving forward, and of course there was the school, and that went well.  One of her friends is back in school with her and that will certainly brighten the atmosphere as we continue on with eighth grade.  We had spaghetti tonight, and then popped in the most recent version of "Around the World in 80 Days," which still seems like such a fun idea to me.  It was the Jackie Chan movie this time around, and we do like this one as well, although it is quite a bit different from the book.  We might as well finish up the theme and watch the Pierce Brosnan version next, right?  I remember that one being more accurate, but we may have to take a look at it again to see.  One year, Mom got me a Jules Verne themed Easter basket, which was amazing, and yes that movie was in there, along with the other classics.

Mom and Nana were getting firewood from the yard today, but I don't think that will be tomorrow, as it will be significantly colder.  There's also talk of snow later on in the week, but we'll see how that goes.  We don't get our hopes too high in Georgia, and that goes for the weather too.  We sort of aim for the middle ground, as in, "Well, maybe a light dusting will be here, and that would be nice."  Or, "Maybe the Braves can make the playoffs."  But we've been conditioned not to expect anything actually further than that.  I suppose the same thing can be said for our expectations of government.  We have some new folks going in to office, but we're not expecting much from them, because that's the way we are in Georgia.

We prayed tonight, and it was a short prayer.  We got to bed later tonight, as Madison was in a moment of artistic passion, working on the completion of her self-portrait a little later into the night.  That's completely okay, and we certainly didn't want to interrupt the inspired frenzy of the artist!  But we did go to bed later tonight, and no reading.  

I felt okay about this because Madison had her small groups tonight.  Camille, even with the virus, hosted the group for the girls, and they all were there online just as they have since last spring.  It's a sacred, special group of kids, plus Lauren their co-host.  They'll keep on doing it, playing games, and learning too.  Tonight, they learned about fasting, and about Esther.  We may read that book of the Bible next.  But it was good for Madison, who as always takes notes and competes very hard for each weekly prize.  

It's cold outside, and we were under those nice warm blankets. The fire in the fireplace has been perfectly nice, and it was quite easy to settle down and drift to sleep under the warmth of those blankets.