NANA SAYS CHILDREN NEED MAGICAL MOMENTS

Childhood can bring a belief in the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus. Is it right for little ones to think there is something magical? I think so. It helps to believe in things beyond ourselves. Like any faith group, that prays to a diety-to believe. With the Christmas season upon us, Santa Claus is huge. To see the expectations of children, believing is joyful for this Nana. I loved playing Santa when my children were little. For those less fortunate, we all can help make the magical moments happen by our toy and food contributions to our favourite local charities. Magical! Helping people believe! Unfortunately, older children may want to spoil the magic for the younger children in any family. Teaching them to respect the little ones' beliefs can take creative parenting! The magic of Christmas with the birth of the Christ child! Telling the story over and over again! Having a creche children can touch and play with the figures! Creating magical moments in your home! Inside all of us is the child wanting to recapture those magical moments! By being part of the grandchildren's world, knowing the magical moments can help children lead to a stronger faith in life and people. When there are tough moments, recapturing those memories of childhood can carry a person for a lifetime. Even as an adult, when love happens again and for example, an opportunity to marry later in life becomes a magical moment! What are your memories of childhood beliefs? Who created the magical moments for you? Are you the one that makes those moments happen for your family? My magical moments come with the love of family and the opportunity to be around little people! How about you?

LETTERS TO OUR ARMED FORCES

One of my annual Christmas commitments each year since the first Gulf War in 1991 is to write to our troops wherever they are serving in the world. This year there were 13 letters. Some of the missions are closing and our service men and women are coming home. I have a collection of responses I have received over the years from a few of the people serving. Insight is gained into the activities they are doing. It is easy to get the addresses from the National Defense of Canada site. There is a way to email the troops that takes very little time if you are interested. Before September 11th, I would send small packages but now only family members can do that. Since my letters go to any Canadian Forces Member, only postcards are allowed but I fold my letters with tape holding the sides for mailing so they are accepted. You can peek in the sides! My energy is low this year so I almost talked myself out of doing it as there are dirty corners in my house to be cleaned. But the job is done! Pushed myself and hope that the greetings from the Di Mambro family may help someone somewhere! Here's to our Armed Forces and the families! May God Speed and keep you out of Harm's Way!

MONDAY BLUES?

Facing Monday after a productive weekend, is always easier than feeling nothing was done. Sometimes I go to work to relax. I have just one job there. At home, like all working people there are layers of work. General tidy-up, total room clean, yard waste bagging, continue to tidy the garage, cooking and of course tending to the grandchildren. With those with young children, lessons!! And only two days to do it! This time of year decisions on Christmas shopping, putting the lights up and party planning-start to take some energy.
Finding time to go for a power walk with my camera captured  more of the fading Fall images. I like to feel there is some creativity happening too.

Knowing that being outdoors can continue with the cooler weather. It is manageable. I must say I do not like that the days are getting shorter. It really does start to affect our moods. There is something about light and dark. Leaving home  and coming home for most people means driving in the dark both ways. Saps some energy for all of us.

Finding ways to keep energy levels up with low light is always a struggle at this time of year. Did you have a productice weekend? Are you finding the low levels of light challenging for your mood? What are some activities you do to keep your energy going?

A POSTCARD FROM NOVA SCOTIA

I had the opportunity to see some of Nova Scotia when my sister and her husband lived there in 1973. They were is the Wolfville area about an hour from Halifax, the captial. My husband Adolph came through Halifax in 1959 when he immigrated from Italy. The port- Pier 21 is now a historic museum commemorating the soldiers who left there for the two world wars, the war brides who came to Canada, the immigrants and other significant historical events.
Cape Breton  at the northern end of Nova Scotia is a beautiful region in Canada and home to a wonderful singer-Rita McNeil.

My brother Reed was working in the Maritimes in 1964. He visited Peggy's Cove- an area that enthralls not only artists but droves of tourists every year. Reed wrote: "Hi All": Welcome to the above. Right now I am sitting in a Mustang in Amherst N.S. It's Saturday. Had nothing to do, so John and I came over to take some pictures. No word on when I leave Moncton. However: I will be home for Christmas no matter what.Will leave Dec. 23-1964 by Air Canada if not sooner. Love Reed dc VE2AES"
Of course the people are very friendly.
If you want a postcard featured here, email me at abdm@rogers.com and I will send you my address so you can send me a postcard.

GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

When faced with a crossroad in our lives, it can be a difficult decision to go in the right direction. With experience we learn that we can start down one road and if it is not taking us where we want to go, stop turn around, retrace your steps and take another road. Sometimes it is simply like  being lost on a car trip and needing to go back and ask for directions or read a map. Life should come with a map! Or even the wrong direction can create some opportunities for learning. Have you ever gone in the wrong direction? Did you learn anything?

11/11/11

It would be a fun day to have a special event like the birth of a baby. Why are we fascinated with numbers? We have superstitious one- like the number 13! Others cultures have their own lucky numbers! Things come in 3's! Our birthday numbers! Nicer to be 39 than 40! Little children will say I'm 4 and ahalf! Do you like the day with the special- 11/11/11? Are you planning anything special? Do you have a special number? Do you avoid a number? Math plays with numbers and equations all the time. Do you like math? It's my 13th blog for November- I see it as a positive sign!

REMEMBERING

To those that served throughout the generations- thank you. To Ernie, Ellie, Parkin, Norman, Jim- people in our family that honoured Canada with their service- from World War One to World War Two to the Afghanistan mission!
Do you have someone in your family that served in our armed forces? Do you have someone serving in our emergency services? Remember to say thank you!