Above is a photo of one of our students doing the Advent Spiral.
It is a tradition of mine to walk the Advent spiral before I clean it up and pack it away for the next year. In quiet and solitude, I walk the spiral: spiraling inward, lighting my candle, and then spiraling back out.
If you haven’t done it before, I encourage you to try it someday. It is similar to walking a labyrinth, yet also very different. Holding a lit candle while you walk naturally slows you down. Your attention focuses on the flame, and your body follows the curve of the spiral. In that simple movement, the spiral centers your mind and heart. It is such a simple act, yet it is profoundly grounding and powerful.

Restore. Reflect. Renew.

This time of year invites reflection. We look back on what has been and begin to imagine what is yet to come.

It is also a time for restoration. Nature rests, and so must we. Fields lie fallow, trees lose their leaves and become dormant, and animals slow down. Rest is not a pause from life; it is part of life.

And it is a time for renewal. The sun reaches its shortest day, and then, slowly, the light begins to return; each day a little longer than the last.

So how is this season of reflection, restoration, and renewal going for you?

Have you taken a moment to reflect?
Allowed yourself to rest?
Do you feel ready for what comes next?

If you answered no to any of those questions, it’s okay. It’s not too late. It’s never too late. And there is no such thing as “too little.” Every small moment of reflection matters. Every bit of rest counts. Each effort makes space for the next one.

Restore and Reflect

Typically, for my family, the first three weeks of December are full and joyful, busy and alive. When the 25th arrives, everything slows. We turn inward, move gently, and savor time together. Gradually, over a week or two, life picks up again as the new year unfolds. I cherish that rhythm: restoration, reflection, renewal, each in its turn.

This year, though, was different.

As the holidays approached and the year drew to a close, the effects of a year packed with change and growth became tangible: I was exhausted. My body was clear in its message: restoration begins on the 20th, not the 25th this year. I had no choice but to listen.

I slept.
I moved slowly.
I tended only to what truly mattered: my body, my family..

In keeping with our cultural tradition of reflecting at this time of year, I reflected, even in my tiredness. And I discovered that reflection shaped by exhaustion, loses clarity. My thoughts felt heavy and hopeless. They didn’t sound like me. Intuitively, I knew I needed more rest. As the days passed, my body began to release what it had been holding (congestion, green stuff and all, was a clear signal of that letting go). And something else happened too: space opened. Light began to return to my heart. Restoration was underway.

With rest, reflection softened. It became clearer.

Renewal

In nature, renewal follows rest. In California, dry summers are followed by rain, and then new growth. In Wisconsin, snow lets plants and critters rest before spring brings new life. Sometimes fire clears the way for what comes next.

Can renewal happen without restoration?

I’m not sure. But I do know this: for me, this year especially, restoration is essential. It is the doorway to honest reflection and the foundation for any true renewal. So for now, even on the first day of 2026, I am still reflecting (and yes, I am also still congested). I am gently moving toward renewal. I am honoring my need for more restoration before deciding what I will focus on in the year ahead.

As you step into this new year, may you trust your own timing. Whether you are ready to renew or still need to rest, both belong. Reflection asks for no urgency, only honesty. Whatever pace you move at, it is enough.

December Nature School Highlights

How can you study geology without exploring a cave? On December 15th, we took a field trip to Black Chasm Caverns in Volcano, CA.  Black Chasm Cavern is one of the few caves that contains not only stalactites and stalagmites, but also helictites. Of all known caves on Earth, perhaps only 5% contain helictites.

Wednesday, December 17 was our Thanksgiving meal.  Each of the four classes prepared something to contribute to our communal meal. The first and second grade class, along with myself, cooked tribally caught salmon over an open fire. Our third graders made blueberry cobbler, roasted bananas and homemade whipped cream. The fourth graders cooked chili, and our middle schoolers made chips and salsa. All meals were cooked on campfires! It was a delight to gather in the big meadow and share a meal we had all cooked together.

We celebrated our inner light with the Advent Spiral Walk on December 28.  The children made candles and carved apples. We shared a potluck feast, and I told a story about Solstice Prayer Sticks. The afternoon ended with the children walking the spiral as the sun set.

We are having a wonderfully rainy, warm fall. This is the kind of weather mushrooms love! In honor of the abundance of fungi, we invited local fungal expert Ian Bright to lead a fungal foray. We found an incredible variety of mushrooms. Afterward I cooked a mushroom feast. Hands down, the kids’ favorite way to eat mushrooms is “mushroom bacon.” Simply slice oyster mushrooms and cook them in butter or ghee. Once cooked through and the pan nearly dry, splash in a bit of soy sauce and let it caramelize. Even mushroom ‘haters’ will love them prepared this way.

December was full of hands-on/making projects: pencil and crayon rolls, centerpieces, origami, clay ornaments, rosemary wreaths, orange pomanders, pinecone bird feeders, rope-making, wood ornaments, and more.

This year, we had a booth at the Nevada City Victorian Christmas. Students were encouraged to make and sell their creations. They got to keep 100% of their sales. Of the ten or so students who participated, most sold out! This was such a powerful experience.
Making things builds creativity, skills and tenacity.
Selling requires children to interact with strangers and builds confidence.
These are big skills that will serve them well in the future.

As part of our growing understanding of geology, students drew maps of the world. Next, we’ll add tectonic plate boundaries to their maps.

DECEMBER’s Featured Rock

Clue #1: It is born in, pretty much, only one famous place.  While tiny occurrences exist elsewhere, gem-quality examples of this stone come almost exclusively from a single region in the world: California, in the Diablo Range.

Clue #2: Not sapphire. Not tanzanite.  Yet, its blue glows with an electric intensity, often described as neon, steely, or luminous.

Clue #3: It glows in the dark.  Under ultraviolet light, this stone fluoresces bright blue to chalky white.

Clue #4: Its crystals often form sharp, triangular faces (an unusual shape that hints at its hexagonal crystal structure).

Clue #5: It formed under unusual geological conditions.  This stone required a rare combination: high pressure, altered oceanic crust, and boron-rich fluids moving through serpentinite. Not many places on Earth can check all those boxes.

Clue #6: It has official recognition.  This mineral isn’t just admired by collectors; it holds a title of honor bestowed by a U.S. state.

Clue #7: this is what it looks like.

Can you guess what is it?

The Answer: Benitoite. Discovered in 1907 near the San Benito River, benitoite is the official state gem of California. Its rarity, vivid color, and extraordinary geological origin make it a favorite among mineral collectors and gem lovers alike.

Restore. Reflect. Renew.