Our kids have never really been into Santa. This year Alina wanted to leave sweets for him. I don't think she expected any gifts from him––not even in her stocking. She just wanted to leave him something to eat.
Her note to Santa said:
Dear Santa,
These cookies and milk are for you.
Do not take the dishes.
Love, Alina and Sam
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Serving Christmas
This year we wanted to do something different for Christmas. Instead of simply giving money to an organization, we agreed as a family that we wanted to spend time touching lives. So, we did. We found an opportunity to spend time at a nursing home while dinner was being served to the residents.
It sounds "nice." It was extremely hard. Some residents were able to attend dinner in the main dining room, and some even had family who came and ate with them there. That isn't the dining room we were assigned to. We were assigned to two small dining rooms. The two where many were not coherent. Of those that were coherent, most were suffering from dementia.
We were encouraged over and over by the staff how much the residents loved having us there. That it really meant a lot to them. I had to trust them, because it didn't seem to make a difference.
Jean and Sam spent time in one, Alina and I in another. After 45 minutes we teamed up and went table to table as a family. Christmas day showed me once again just how compassionate Jean's heart is for people. Her smile was contagious, and her caring words did make a difference in that place of little hope. She is so gentle, loving, and kind. She is great example to me and our kids. What takes great effort on my part seems effortless to her. Jean was the ray of warm sunshine in that place Christmas day.
It sounds "nice." It was extremely hard. Some residents were able to attend dinner in the main dining room, and some even had family who came and ate with them there. That isn't the dining room we were assigned to. We were assigned to two small dining rooms. The two where many were not coherent. Of those that were coherent, most were suffering from dementia.
We were encouraged over and over by the staff how much the residents loved having us there. That it really meant a lot to them. I had to trust them, because it didn't seem to make a difference.
Jean and Sam spent time in one, Alina and I in another. After 45 minutes we teamed up and went table to table as a family. Christmas day showed me once again just how compassionate Jean's heart is for people. Her smile was contagious, and her caring words did make a difference in that place of little hope. She is so gentle, loving, and kind. She is great example to me and our kids. What takes great effort on my part seems effortless to her. Jean was the ray of warm sunshine in that place Christmas day.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
The Second Gift of Christmas
Yesterday when I returned home, Jean's mom told me that a package had arrived and that she put it on our bed. I thought that perhaps it was a shirt that I had ordered for Alina with her school's logo on it. Instead, and even better, it was a red Captain Canada t-shirt from none other than Kevin Baker. That gift brought a big, big, big smile to my face. Today, I am wearing it with Canadian pride.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
The First Gift of Christmas
My mom had some of her Super 8mm film converted to DVD for me to have as a Christmas gift. I loved seeing me as a baby. I cut and pieced together some segments from the DVD with me in them to form the clip below. The first woman you will see is my Aunt Jan. The first man, my dad. The woman holding me tightly, my mom. The dude at the end wearing the "too much information yellow swim suit"––no clue.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
People of the Second Chance
Mike Foster talks about being People of the Second Chance. In his recent blog post he says,
"As People of the Second Chance, here are a few of my suggestions:
1. You have so many words that you can share in a day. Decide whether they will be about blessing or cursing someone.
2. When someone is caught in a scandal, I visualize two buckets that I can fill. I can add to the “Shame Bucket” or the “Second Chance Bucket.” Sometimes my first/easy/fun/human nature response is to fill the “Shame Bucket” so I have to work harder not to do that.
3. For all you online peeps…write your articles, blogs, tweets, and comments as if the person in crisis (and their family) were reading it. Why? Because they do! And the jokes, snarky comments, sloppy facts and flippant remarks hurt people. Instead, devote your computer keyboard to the restoration of people.
4. Refuse to participate in the gossip session around the water cooler. Or better yet, jump in and turn the conversation towards grace and second chances. Btw, just plan on being called a “buzz kill” and not invited back to any more social functions.
5. Realize we are either part of the judgment problem or the grace solution. But we can’t be both. So choose wisely."
I am thankful for the Second Chance People in our lives:
• Johnny and Angie
• Kevin and Kari
• Brian and Karen
• Anne and Andy
• David and Heather
• Kurt and Kelly
• Tim and Cole
• Steve and Molly
• Howard and LindaJo
• Terry and Roxanne
• All of the mountain biking guys
Each of you are indeed the People of the Second Chance!
"As People of the Second Chance, here are a few of my suggestions:
1. You have so many words that you can share in a day. Decide whether they will be about blessing or cursing someone.
2. When someone is caught in a scandal, I visualize two buckets that I can fill. I can add to the “Shame Bucket” or the “Second Chance Bucket.” Sometimes my first/easy/fun/human nature response is to fill the “Shame Bucket” so I have to work harder not to do that.
3. For all you online peeps…write your articles, blogs, tweets, and comments as if the person in crisis (and their family) were reading it. Why? Because they do! And the jokes, snarky comments, sloppy facts and flippant remarks hurt people. Instead, devote your computer keyboard to the restoration of people.
4. Refuse to participate in the gossip session around the water cooler. Or better yet, jump in and turn the conversation towards grace and second chances. Btw, just plan on being called a “buzz kill” and not invited back to any more social functions.
5. Realize we are either part of the judgment problem or the grace solution. But we can’t be both. So choose wisely."
I am thankful for the Second Chance People in our lives:
• Johnny and Angie
• Kevin and Kari
• Brian and Karen
• Anne and Andy
• David and Heather
• Kurt and Kelly
• Tim and Cole
• Steve and Molly
• Howard and LindaJo
• Terry and Roxanne
• All of the mountain biking guys
Each of you are indeed the People of the Second Chance!
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