It’s a tradition in our house to have a Christmas puzzle on the table going at all times throughout the holidays.  Since my sister, Becky, and I were really young, momma always had a puzzle set up to keep our little fingers and minds engaged (cheap entertainment really!).  On my travels last summer, I picked up this vintage Norman Rockwell puzzle depicting his hometown of Stockbridge, Massachusetts (during Mr. Rockwell’s time) decorated for the holiday season.  Note:  The main upstairs window on the center structure where you see the Christmas tree was his original art studio in town.  So, as you can see, we continue this treasured tradition even today in our respective homes (and I look forward to working this puzzle soon).

While on walk-about today I noticed several classrooms with seasonal puzzles set up in workstations for Daily 5 activities.  When asking students about this, I received many incredible responses:

“Puzzles mean I don’t have to think so hard.”  🙂

“We do puzzles to practice our ‘fitting’ skills!”  🙂

“Did you know puzzles are a great way to do some problem solving?”  🙂

“I love doing puzzles because it relaxes me.”  🙂

These are just a few of the many reasons given by learners for why they enJOY working puzzles.  Obviously, our question today involves puzzles:  “What ‘puzzles’ you most about the holiday season and what can you do to change it?”  Remember not to get so caught up in the puzzling details of the season and forget to enJOY the abundant blessings of the season:  past, present, and future!  🙂