The season has a reason.

This week we had the privilege of studying the book of Revelation. The students are finishing and turning in their assignment today, then we have a lecture on Proverbs Wednesday and a few things Thursday then it is Christmas Break! We are so close to being done for the semester and it’s the perfect time for a much needed vacation.

I love that we do Revelation right before Christmas because the story is all about Jesus. Revelation is a book that describes the revelation of Jesus Christ that God blessed John the apostle with. I feel like studying it in December reminds us of the purpose of the season we are in. We can get wrapped up in the presents and time with family or the college football bowl games on TV, but the thing we should get wrapped up in is Jesus. We are nothing and have nothing with out him. Our celebrating Christmas will be in vain, if we don’t lift Jesus up and celebrate the love, forgiveness and hope that he brought with him when he came to earth. And how he offers those things anyone who will call on his name and put their faith and trust into him.

I am writing this mostly for myself because I am one who doesn’t necessarily get “in the Christmas spirit.” I’m not the biggest fan of Christmas music or tinsel, however I do love the Christmas movies. I am writing this to remind myself to walk through this December with a purpose to remember that Christmas is supposed to be a celebration of the birth of my Savior. It’s a time where I need to be motivated to worship and praise Jesus for the salvation he brought, instead of retreating to watch Toledo and Utah State play a meaningless football game. I want to be more purposeful with how this Christmas is experienced and not get caught up in gifts and greed that can seep in.

Merry Christmas you filthy animals! (You can’t write a blog about Christmas without adding a Home Alone quote)

Novembeard.

Today is a sad day. It’s December 1^st, which means the great month of Novembeard has come to an end. Novembeard is the month where any and all facial hair is worn without condemnation. It is a time when men can dream about what could be and have the freedom to just go for it. It is a time where manliness is at an all time high and where mouths everywhere get a little bit warmer due to the growth of their lip blankets.

Over the past three years Novembeard has come a callin’ and I have faithfully answered (and I say three years because that is when I was able to really start sprouting the good stuff). This year has been one for the record books. Mustacheo was out with a vengeance this year. He came to fight crime and protect the integrity of facial hair.

There were four of us at the ESBS who took full advantage of the Novembeard freedom and I think that it brought us closer together as a unit. We laughed and celebrated the good times, but also consoled one another when the time came to say goodbye. Some of us struggled letting go more than others … I don’t know if I should admit this, but I had attachment issues to my flavor saver.

For me it was a process to let go. I had to watch an instructional video (How To Kill a Mustache). I had to be reminded that this was a good thing. This was an actual conversation I had with fellow staff member and Novembeard connoisseur:

(10:35 am) Me: I can’t do it … I can’t shave it off

(10:35 am) Caleb: Keep it

(10:36 am) Me: But I am ready to shave … I just don’t want to hurt him

(10:37 am) Caleb: He will not be dead … just sleeping awaiting the next call to the battlefront.

(10:37 am) Me: There are going to be tears

(10:38 am) Caleb: Yeah … but the ladies will get over it.

(10:47 am) Me: It gone

(10:48 am) Caleb: R.I.P.

It was fun while it lasted and I have returned to looking 17 again. I feel like I have lost respect in the mountain man community for letting a good man go, but the time will come to call Mustacheo back from the depths to return to greatness.

Here are pictures to remember the good times. 

Out looking for crime and solving cases