The eighth grade Christmas memories did not disappoint. They shared many wonderful thoughts of childhood holidays with me, and wrote well. With the permission of the author, I share some of an essay that both made me laugh and impressed me.
     "...My sister and I always caused some kind of trouble when we were together.
     During Christmas break, for many years, we would play with one nativity. It included Jesus in the manger, Mary and Joseph standing around Jesus, the wise men bearing gifts, two praying girls, and an angel we believed to be Gabriel watching from above. Being the odd children we were, my sister and I would also use a sheep ornament from our Christmas tree. Looking back now, it makes sense why the sheep didn't match the rest of the nativity.
     One particular memory I remember is the infamous Hotel Bethlehem. The hotel motto was, "When there's no room in the manger, there's always room at the Hotel Bethlehem." Baby Jesus and Mary would ride around in a Barbie Jeep, and the hotel was our dollhouse. Joseph was always missing, and we never made up why. The three wise men, the angel, and of course, the sheep stayed at Hotel Bethlehem to see Jesus. My sister and I would play for hours on end every single night ..."
     I love the creativity and imagination that my middle school students express, and pray that their writing futures hold many gifts which they will share with family, friends, and the world.