Daily Archives: December 25, 2015

Christmas Delights

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…while many of you are busy preparing for Christmas dinner I’m having a little down time

Our big Christmas celebration took place last night on Christmas Eve. My husband has long enjoyed the German tradition of opening gifts on the 24th since we first met 42 years ago. Now that our children are grown and have significant others we only prepare Christmas dinner every other year and this is that year. Later today we will be driving to Hamilton to enjoy a dinner prepared my daughter and her husband.

I thought I would take this time to share some of the highlights of this years Christmas season. As many of you know I’m a teacher librarian/art teacher. I essentially teach every student in the school for library and I have four classes that I do art with.

The week before Christmas I started receiving gifts from students and their families. There’s always one gift that stands out for me and this one brought a huge smile to my face and I couldn’t wait to share it with my colleagues and friends.

One of my grade one students brought me a small box that he had clearly wrapped himself and very proudly handed it to me. When I unwrapped the paper I discovered that the box was from Juicy Couture. IMG_7136 When I read the name out loud, T very quickly declared that the box had nothing to do with what was inside. When I opened the lid I couldn’t help but smile for inside the box lay an angel that he had clearly made himself.IMG_7137

He used masking tape, paper and marker to create this little gem. Today it sits prominently  on my Christmas tree, just below our angel tree topper. Aren’t kids wonderful?

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Hopefully I’ll have more stories to share throughout the week.

Merry Christmas to all and happy holidays.

Carol

Tonight my heart and thoughts are in Syria

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Please read this very insightful post about Syria. Peggy from Where to Next? has lived and travelled through Syria and knows from personal experience the devastation that Syrians have encountered over the last several years.

leggypeggy's avatarWhere to next?

indoor campfire Damascus Syria Christmas around a campfire in a tent in Damascus, 2009

Christmas always makes me think of Syria, and this year the thoughts are stronger than ever.

Today my heart is breaking for Syria and her citizens, but it wasn’t always that way.

I first visited Damascus in 1977, and then moved there in 1980 after Poor John and I married in Jordan (must tell that story one day). Our first daughter, Libby (who lives in Paris now), was born in Damascus in 1981 and had her first Christmas in that once beautiful city.

That year I bought an artificial Christmas tree and a variety of simple decorations at the small shop that was around the corner from our flat. I still have all the decorations but, a few years ago, I gave the tree to my dear friend, Maggie.

We were back in Syria for Christmas in 2009. That was…

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Daily Post: Three Wishes for Our New Prime Minister

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…..today’s Daily Prompt is Generous Genies

Remember those lovely genies who grant wishes? Well, you’re one and you’ve just been emancipated from your restrictive lamp. You can give your three wishes to whomever you want. Who do you give your three wishes to, and why?

My three wishes go to our newly elected Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. Even though he won a majority government he has his critics and many are watching and waiting for him to make a mistake.

  1. My first wish is that you keep your promise to bring 25 000 Syrian refugees to Canada. If you can’t keep your promise to have them here by the end of February I’m okay with that as long as they arrive no later than May.
  2. My second wish is that you stay cool and calm under difficult and stressful situations, because you will face many in your term as Prime Minister, and not make hasty or rash decisions when under pressure.
  3. My third wish for you is to maintain a normal and loving relationship with your wife and children while you are in office. I know there are times when you will be apart but make the best of the times when you’re together.