Welcome to the Wild and Free Podcast, episode 29.

I'm Ainsley Arment, and this week you'll hear an interview with Rachel Kovac about making time for handcrafts,

finding a way to enjoy math, and learning all about the Waldorf pedagogy.

You'll also hear a conversation with Elizabeth Ensor, all about being a homeschooled homeschooler.

So grab a cup of coffee and join us on the front porch.

Let's almost December.

I mean, weren't we just welcoming fall?

I'll confess, I always get a little mixed up this time of year.

I still have pumpkins on my doorstep while newly strung twinkle lights adorn my mantle.

In a similar way, my heart isn't sure how to feel.

I haven't quite caught the spirit of the coming season. Don't get me

wrong. I'm enamored with the magic of Christmas. Always have been. As a little girl, I basked in the

spirit of the season as we trimmed our tree, decorated cookies and decked our halls. I fell in love with the

nutcracker and danced in the glow of candles after bedtime when no one was watching. The music of

Chakosky still playing in my head. But growing up and becoming an adult can steal a bit of that enchantment.

You only have to go to a shopping center between Thanksgiving and New Year's to know what I'm talking about.

If the traffic doesn't frustrate you, the long lines at the grocery store certainly

will. And don't get me started on the social pressures. Taking photos, buying gifts, doing crafts,

attending gatherings, and even observing Advent can often feel like another thing to do rather than a way

to celebrate. Hear me out on this. If no one has given you permission to skip all of the seasonal pressures to help care for your heart, can I be the one to let you off the hook?

We don't need to send everyone cards this year. No one expects us to give them a perfect present.

And we don't have to attend every party we're invited to. Perhaps by stripping away the unnecessary things, we'll discover

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