In the bleak midwinter

This was the Christmas card we got last year from Means Rest in Pleasant Valley, Maryland. It was taken of part of Dee's parents' farm.

Also, about this time last year we got the good news that son Lee was chosen for Teach for America following his imminent graduation from the UW-Madison.

I searched the web for something about teaching and Christmas, and found this: http://www.schooltube.com/video/01820ede195a4db0978b/PS22-Chorus-In-The-Bleak-Midwinter

It seemed appropriate.

The teacher in the video even looked something like Lee.

Then Lee graduated and got his first assignment, teaching math to 5th grade girls in Houston.
Here he is in action: http://vimeo.com/13806379

Family raccoon readers will want to play these two presentations, and probably marvel over the similarity between the two young teachers, both teaching classes of eager students.

On teachers like these rests the hope of the world's children.