In late November, our sweet girl said, “I can’t wait for Christmas school.” While I love that way of putting it, I’d say we celebrate advent—the weeks leading up to Christmas. During that time, we remember and experience the Christmas story through faith, music, books, poems, crafts, and festive fun with loved ones.

School curriculum-wise, we finished our first term before break. We take December off. It’s a glorious break that would have seemed like too much to me before we started homeschooling, but it’s just right. The kids have been learning and working diligently all term. We’ll begin our new term in January and have a shorter summer break, but we think it’s worth it.

Here are snapshots of our home, holiday cooking, a few favorite Christmas presents, and more.

The miracle of Christmas feels like a million-sided diamond. You can peer into it from so many perspectives and it will leave you feeling the most wondrous awe. It defies reason as only the best things can. It defies reason like Joy, Peace, Hope, and Love. The beauty of the holiday belongs to children as much as any man or woman. This month’s efforts on my part (and the masterly inactivity for my fellow CM homeschoolers) is my attempt to arrange, not the light, itself, as that’s infinitely beyond me, but the meeting between my children and the light Himself.

Merry Christmas, friends.