By: Canaan Nonnemacher

By: Canaan Nonnemacher
The smell of balsam fills the room, as colorful lights begin to bloom. Red and green on every street, and candy canes for a sugary treat.
We hang stockings by the fire, as the snowy drifts grow even higher. The kitchen hums with holiday cheer, the best and brightest time of year.
The reindeer fly across the moon, to classic, catchy Christmas tune. Wrapped in ribbons, gold and bright, waiting for magic of the night.
So grab a scarf and join the fun, with joy and peace for everyone. The silver bells begin to ring, for all the wonder Christmas brings.
By: Canaan Nonnemacher
The air is cold, but the sun is shining brightly. We all get together as the daylight starts to fade. The food smells warm and amazing, it feels like a cozy, happy, autumn day.
The window glass looks frosty and cold, like the season’s rain has finally been washed away. Everything feels calm and peaceful inside the room, getting rid of any bad feelings the winter might bring.
We take a moment to think about all the things we’re thankful for: like our home, our friends, and lots of other stuff. We share laughs and stories around the dinner table, just pausing to enjoy how happy we are together. We remember the strong, quiet love of our family, which you can see in everyone’s eyes. We’re thankful for people who helped us and cared, and for all the good times we’ve had.
We appreciate the food that came from the farm and everything the earth gives us to eat. We see the steaming dishes and the perfectly baked crusts it’s a moment made of simple love and trust.
It’s just a simple meal, and a simple moment of thanks, but love fills this comfortable spot. We eat and talk until we’re finished, knowing it was a wonderful day. We hang out for a long time, even when it gets late, with a bond of love that will last forever. And when we finally say our goodbyes, a sweet, thankful feeling stays with us.
By: Daniel Kendle
Hey gang! My name’s Samuel Sand, and today I’m here to talk to you about sand. Say – have you ever had an interaction like this occur?

Fig. 1 – “An ugly ‘sediment.’ Heh.”
Truly dreadful. But wait a minute: “pound sand?” Why, what could that phrase even mean? Well, as someone who never finished college could tell you, they don’t actually know. I, meanwhile, graduated from Oxford with honors!
Sand has its origins billions of years ago amidst the creation of Earth’s crust, but no one really cares about that stuff. Instead, I’m here today to list the “Top 5 Genius Uses for a Jar of Sand (For Geniuses)™.” With this list, the next time a bullying brute slanders your title, any sand-related insults can be deflected with sophisticated sand facts from yours truly.
Well, I hope you’ve been, er, inspired by today’s lesson guys. Jars and sand combined form a wonderful tool for…um…
*Sighs* Screw it. What am I doing here? Talking about fricken sand like it’s some kind of…never mind.
My wife, my kids, all gone. I left behind a perfect life…for THIS?! I just…I can’t. I messed up.
I…
I need a sign to change. A new job too, at that. I need something, some-ONE, to hold…
I need a jar of sand.