Ethan and Ehlana:
This has been a quieter day for us, but just as busy; since we worked at the lab or archives after school and then worked in the office with Mom and Dad after dinner. We had a dusting of snow this morning, but that melted by this afternoon; and didn’t get in the way of our academic adventures – though we did stay indoors for Tai Chi and had a hot breakfast before heading off to school. We were glad to get back to playing with our books or beakers today, but don’t expect to start anything regularly again until the New Year because we’re just going to be too-busy through to after the holidays. We also didn’t get a lot done this afternoon as Ehlana got back up to speed on research that has been going on without her over the past few weeks and I mostly planned out what I’m going to work on over the next few months and caught up on other projects including archive restoration work on documents that are in need of repair or replacement.
The work in the office after dinner and the teen-led clean-up included some charity projects and helping out with some family business management; Mom also multi-tasked a Magi lesson with us; and we used time phasing to get more done before wrapping up at ten-thirty. Mom sent us upstairs after that; and we’ve been dealing with our bedtime computing and twin chat fun while also listening to Christmas music videos. On the world news front, the Ukraine peace talks in Russia with U.S. officials lasted for hours yesterday, but probably didn’t really change anything; and while the politicians talk past each other; the Russian military continues to destroy Ukraine and the Ukrainian army while Ukraine continues attacks on ‘soft’ oil-industry targets in and near Russia – attacks that only risk escalation in the destruction of their own country. Russia has warned them about this – including recent threats to expand the conflict to include taking over the entire Black Sea coast of Ukraine and the main port city of Odessa. The Russian army is making serious progress along the frontlines of the conflict; and there are more reports of significant desertions among the Ukrainian soldiers – along with other reports suggesting that all newly drafted or press-ganged soldiers are being sent straight to the frontlines without any real training at all. To be blunt, that is just a death sentence for those soldiers and a total waste of the country’s human resources.
Ukraine and Venezuela news is keeping stories about the Palestinians out of the headlines, but we can report that nothing good is happening for them in Gaza or the West Bank. We did see one story about Israeli casualties from a military operation they conducted in Syria, but then that is just another horror story for the Syrian people who are suffering too while western leaders and media claim that the new, former-terrorist leader of Syria is now a good guy and friend while he helps to loot and destroy the country with the help of Turkey and Israel. We could write a book about the ongoing destruction of the Middle East, but won’t do that tonight.
We need to get some sleep now; so let’s wrap this up. Our third Christmas video pick is a Christian music favorite; and the world needs the reminder of what this season is really celebrating. We could all use a bit more hope too – along with the promise of light even during the darkest of moments in your life. Ehlana and I are going to take that light and love with us into dreamland; and we will do that starting right now.
The Hope of Christmas – Matthew West
Until next time, live with love, fellow Magi of the Light!
