The process of thought, time and effort that goes into Christmas shopping, well it’s just ridiculous for someone like me. I do not want the idea of hanging around shops in the freezing cold, remain stuck in huge queues behind old biddies buying feather dusters, so I decided that this year I do all my shopping Christmas. . . ONLINE! I started with great articles that I need to buy for people like my child, for example, although he deserves something special because I’m the only one to see for a few hours, fifteen days and I need this as a token, or a kind gesture to let him know that I’m still his father. So I conducted research on the World Wide Web for gifts. I looked at various different Web sites all claim to have “big money” or “unbeatable prices”. Now I know what you think the money should not be a problem when it’s for my kid, but it’s just the point of paying excessive prices for large business enterprise that I can tolerate. Then I began to notice a lower price on a piece of paper to find the least expensive, but it took a lot of time. After doing this for an hour or two, I began to feel really sick of it and very UN-light hearted. But then I came across a website called Plobit, www. plobit. co. United Kingdom. “Do not Just Buy, Plobit!” Was the motto of this site, it was a site for comparing prices. Well, bingo! Was exactly what I needed, so I started to type in toys, games that I cared about my kid and my great joy to all prices of different stores appeared before me, all on one page with all the posted prices, and not only that, but there was even an area where the discount codes you get for example 10% discount in some stores. This has been a god send, I bought all my Christmas shopping through this comprehensive and registered about 600 pounds and so that, hours of recorded time. Plobit is the most useful website I’ve ever met and I really will use it whenever I need to shop online. Plobit compares prices for anything and I mean something ranging from women’s underwear all the way to children’s toys, DVDs, game consoles, to the big screen plasma TV. If you do not have much time to lose, but at the same time unwilling not be rushed into paying well over the odds for products this Christmas, then look no further than www. plobit. co. United Kingdom, it is really a fantastic site to save time and money.
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Give the Gift of Decorative Time
Out of the millions of homes in the United States, there is one item that continuously makes an appearance in some form or another. Every household displays at least three to five clocks within a home. Since clocks serve the very important function of alerting the current time, it is a plus when they magically transform the décor of any room. This is why clocks make perfect gifts for any occasion, including birthdays, Christmas, graduations, and commemorative moments, such as weddings and anniversaries.
Since the start of ancient civilizations, humans have come up with ways to tell time. Over the past 4,500 years, the methods and styles of time telling have become quite advanced to the point that with a click of a button, an assortment of never-ending clock ideas and features located across the World Wide Web is ready for the choosing. While improving the accuracy of timekeeping devices has been an important goal, the majority of clock styles on the market are created to mainly elevate the décor within a home.
Today, we no longer depend on primitive sundials and water-operated fountain clocks. We thank the invention of coiled springs in the 1400s, which allowed the creation of smaller clocks. Without the genius of Christiaan Huygens in 1656, the pendulum clock (with weights and a swinging pendulum) would cease to exist.
Decorative Clocks
Since clocks are responsible for a rather important everyday task, and have become quite the popular decorating elements – they make exceptional gifts that easily turn into memorable keepsakes. This includes wall selections, tabletop pieces, elaborate wrought iron creations, and even options that withstand Mother Nature, as seen with indoor-outdoor clocks.
The flower lover may enjoy the Boutique Roses Wall Clock, which comes with a classic round shape, antique finish, and Roman numeral face. The antique bouquet of roses accent can uplift a kitchen or add charm to a sewing room. With the Carl Jorgen Wall Clock, a more futuristic design emerges, which is great for a teenage décor or bar room. Western-themed décor would benefit from the Cowboy Wall Clock or Boots Wall Clock from Home Furnishing Boutique. When looking to give the gift of novelty, the Gear Wall Clock offers a different appeal to a hallway or foyer.
Specialty Clocks
When it comes to celebrating a special occasion, these particular moments call for a specialty clock that serves as a constant reminder for the achievement of a graduating college senior or the admiration you hold for your parent’s 25 solid years of marriage. The anniversary clocks offered at Home Furnishing Boutique provide the perfect gestures to honor ever-lasting love. With the Dominion Solid Brass Gold Plated Anniversary Clock, the cozy round shape shines with solid brass and gold plating. Customization is possible on the interior or exterior of the clock lid.
With the Executive Walnut Finish Plaque Anniversary Clock, the attractive solid hardwood with a classic walnut finish easily adds a memorable touch to a desk, shelf, or mantle. With this customizable clock, receivers of this gift readily enjoy the additional medallion and brass nameplate that accompanies the display. However, the whimsical Jubilee Brass with Glass Dome Anniversary Clock makes the perfect accompaniment for a fireplace with its appealing brass finish and metal casing. Additional features sealed within the glass dome include the brass pillars, and a pendulum that delicately sways with Swarovsky crystal and a two-tone diamond cut dial ring – a complete eye catcher.
Want to pair a keepsake clock with a photo of the grandkids? Consider the Desk Portrait Solid Brass Desk Clock, which allows Grandma and Grandpa to greet their grandchildren when telling the time. Other clocks that make great anniversary gifts, includes the Lord Baltimore Solid Brass Pedestal Clock and the lantern-style looking Wentworth Brass Finish Carriage Style Desk Clock.
USA Wooden Clocks
Home Furnishing Boutique also supplies a collection of fine, handmade wooden clocks fashioned in the U. S. A with mantle and wall styles to consider. Have you ever walked into the home of a relative and noticed that their fireplace seemed a bit bare? In order to add to their décor, consider an attractive wooden mantle clock of solid cherry, white maple, or colored oak.
With the Crystal Seville Ball Pendulum Mantle Clock, the solid cherry wood cabinet and warm cherry finish showcases a mesmerizing Swarovsky crystal ball pendulum surrounded by twisted brass pillars and a diamond-cut rose pattern found on the dial. The Seville Solid Cherry Glass Window Mantle Clock offers a round, open dial of brass and silver and cathedral windows – joined by Roman numerals. You also have the choice of clocks that not only display the time, but also emit single and dual chimes.
As for wooden wall clocks, the fascinating display that a pendulum clock delivers can create a completely different look to a room. A classic style wall clock can make an attractive addition to the newly remodeled bathroom at your best friend’s house. Perhaps Grandma would enjoy the Carlisle Oak American Classic Replica Schoolhouse Wall Clock with an oak cabinet and finish for the kitchen. Overall, wooden wall clocks have the power to add character and charm to any room in a house with an array of dark antique finishes and traditional styles.
Ten Tips to Help Your Elderly Loved Ones at Holiday Time Enjoy the Season
As a general rule, festivities at holiday time, provide for a joyous season. Although it can be a particularly difficult time for many seniors, who may be remembering those dear to them that are no longer here to be with them to celebrate. Many seniors also exhibit behaviors of depression, and have increased anxiety and agitation due to feeling overwhelmed. Holiday stress can also increase their physical and mental issues to further complicate the season. Here are some tips to help your elderly loved one at holiday time:
1. Encourage remembrances of wonderful memories: Old photos, family movies and old-time music through photos, family videos and music from yesteryear. Stimulate memories to encourage our elders to share their remembrances.
2. Plan ahead. To encourage participation for the senior, plan ahead so that you have someone rested to have the stamina to enjoy the planned activities, party, etc.
3. Create a senior friendly environment: If you plan on taking your loved one out to celebrate at another person’s home, then be aware that this environment needs to be a safe one for the senior. For instance, remove accent rugs that could lead to a fall.
4. Be a good listener, take clues from them. Comment as appropriately as you can, as this can be a sensitive time.
5. Create new traditions. We all need something to look forward to. As our elders age, they may have lost old-time friends and dear family.
Family may be scattered, not able to come home at holiday time.
6. Encourage them to give. Increase their self worth by giving of themselves or providing gifts for others. Sharing their memories or cherished keepsakes with people close to them may provide a true joy.
7. Be thoughtful and include the senior. They are most likely lonely, which can lead to depression and resentment. They have many years of suggestions they will gladly pass on for others. Involve a senior center, religious place of worship or other senior venue to “reach out and touch another someone, someone who may not have family of their own”.
8. Find new modes of entertainment to stay active minded. Activities for the holiday season are important. Keep your senior cognitively busy. Beat the “Holiday blues” and “Depression.
9. Maintain a happy environment. Maintain brightness in these special festive days, despite the sense of loss they may have of loved ones who are no longer here to partake of the holiday with them.
10. Monitor medications and alcohol. Be aware of their alcohol intake during the holidays at gatherings or in the privacy of their own home. You don’t want the alcohol to interfere with medications.
Give the gift a senior most wants! Time, companionship and visits from their friends and loved ones will be their most treasured gift. Seniors will typically relish the seasonal gatherings. This is the time to have patience, have compassion, and provide a safe and wonderful new memory, for them to reflect back on throughout the coming year.
Accent on Seniors, A FREE State Licensed Senior Living Referral Service, providing personalized information about senior living throughout California. Call 888-954-6637 to obtain a detailed listing of places for your loved ones and friend or go onto the website at www. AccentOnSeniors. com.
Copyright © 2008, Accent on Seniors Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form or by any means, including electronic or mechanical is not permitted.
Making Bath Time Special
Bath time is the perfect opportunity for parents and children to really get to know each other and spend quality time together. How you view “bath time” is up to you. Many parents choose to treat it as a chore and dread the evenings – as do their children. In many homes, bath time is about as boring as brushing teeth. You, however, can choose to turn bath time into something special, which both you and your child will look forward to every day. For a child, bath time should be a transition between the noisy, busy world of day and the peaceful, cosy world of bed. With very little effort on your part you can make it a magic time for both of you. How do you inject some magic into bath time? Firstly, by prioritizing it. Fix a time for baths that works around meals, cooking, welcoming home your spouse, making evening telephone calls and relaxing – and establish that time for both you and your child. If the phone rings, leave the answer machine to pick it up. Try to do a quick tidy-up with your child before bath time, so that you aren’t faced with a horrible mess afterwards – that way it becomes a transition between day and evening for you too. Make sure that you set aside enough time so that you aren’t rushing and nagging your child to hurry. Now, to make bath time fun! Here are some suggestions for adding magic. Bubbles: Have an assortment of bubble baths suitable for your child. As long as you don’t choose anything too harsh, you don’t have to stick to children’s products, which can have very unnatural scents and colors. Include basic baby bubble bath and some therapeutic bath salts for energetic, sporty days. Display your different bottles and make a show of choosing which bubbles you will use each night. Perhaps if your child has been helpful tidying up, they can choose? Essential Oils: Two drops of lavender or chamomile essential oil (no more!) added to the bath and stirred in well will soothe and calm a fractious child after a long day. For variation, and to be sure that the oil disperses well, you can also add the drops to a cup of milk before adding to the bath. We sometimes use an unscented mild bubble bath with the essential oil. Candle light for special occasions: This is obviously only suitable for well-supervised bath times – but kids really do love the atmosphere of a candle lit bath. We would suggest that candles are lit only when the children are in the bath, and are extinguished before they climb out to be completely safe. Warm towels and pyjamas: Especially pampering in the winter months, children love to get out of the bath into a warmed towel and pyjamas! Little touches make all the difference. Poetry night: In our household, every Friday night bath time was poetry night. We chose Friday night because we often had other children round to play on a Friday afternoon and that meant that our kids were often over-tired and irritable when it came to bath time. We found suitable poetry in the library and on the internet, stored any printed pages in plastic file folders to keep them splash proof, and tried to introduce an interesting variety of poems to the kids. In reality, we read the same favorite poems over and over again! Bath toys: Rotate bath toys ruthlessly so that there is always something interesting to play with! Every so often you can raid the kitchen for suitable implements too – children love playing with sieves, whisks, measuring cups and jugs. Our kids would play endlessly with a plastic funnel, plastic bottles (some with holes punched in them) and a couple of plastic jugs. If you don’t want to use your own kitchen equipment, you can find these things very cheaply at garage sales and dollar stores. A plastic colander doubles as an excellent storage basket. Fun foam toys: You can buy fun foam shapes in buckets, or you can buy the foam at the craft store and cut your own shapes. Perhaps you could change your shapes to match holidays and seasons – flowers for spring and summer, Christmas trees at Christmas, bunnies and eggs at Easter? There are many possible learning activities too: cut pieces to teach colours, shapes, numbers or the alphabet, and practice matching, grouping, sorting, ordering and so on. Shaving foam sculpture: Squirt a few large blobs of shaving foam onto the side of bath or into your child’s hands (warn him to keep it away from his eyes) and let his imagination take over! Music and story tapes: Bath time is a good opportunity to introduce music of all kinds or to listen to a special story on tape or CD. Blowing bubbles: For a special treat, bring some bubble blowing mixture into the bathroom. Make sure that it doesn’t get into anyone’s eyes! Colorful baths: A few drops of food coloring will transform the bath into something exotic! Try orange or green at Halloween, red or green at Christmas, red for Valentine’s Day and so on. Keep the bottle well out of children’s reach! Language night: A friend used bath time once a week as “language night”, teaching her kids French by listening to French tapes and singing French songs. She decorated the room with small colorful posters, made by cutting up old exercise books or printing pages off the net and laminating them, which she stuck around the bath with sticky-tack. Any bath toys used that night were objects that could be named in French (plastic vegetables from her child’s shop, plastic boy and girl dolls, and so on). Finally, remember that in a few short years the whole ritual of bath time will be long gone and your children will be old enough to shower or bath on their own – resisting any attempt from you to interfere! Have you noticed how eagerly a grandmother runs her grandchild’s bath and splashes and plays for much longer than necessary? If you asked her she would tell you to make the most of bath time while you can. Whatever you do now to make bath times magic will be repaid a thousand times in memories for you and your children in the future!
Magical Presents for a Magical Time of the Year
There’s no denying that Christmas is a truly special time of year and with so many Christmas presents to buy and wrap, all that catering and family entertaining; it seems unlikely that we’d ever get through it all without some sort of miracle. But the real spirit of Christmas lies behind the eyes of those who truly believe in its magic; and you don’t have to dress up as Santa Claus to get the party started. Spread the Christmas Spirit early this year with a set of handmade Christmas Cards. Ideal for getting the younger kids involved, they bring a real personal touch to the festive season. Whilst they’ve got the pens out, you could also get them to write out those all important letters from an official ‘Christmas Letter to Santa Kit’. These charming Christmas presents come with pre-addressed envelopes to the big man himself and are sure to heighten that magical feel. One of the greatest traditions on Christmas Eve is leaving out some Christmas presents for Santa and Rudolph in the form of a mince pie, sherry and perhaps a couple of carrots (who eats what should be clear). For the ultimate in magical Christmas presents this year, why not invest in a ‘Dear Santa Mince Pie and Carrots Plate’? Not only does it leave a lovely little message for him but it makes a nice addition to the Christmas decorations too. But the magic of Christmas is not exclusively for the little one’s; Christmas should be a special time of year for the whole family and for some really magical Christmas presents, why not make someone’s dreams come true? Perhaps you know someone who has always harboured a desire to drive a Ferrari, do a bungee jump or even parachute out of a plane? Well, making those dreams come true can be easier than you think with a choice of experience day Christmas presents. For something a little bit more relaxing then you could treat someone to a day of pampering at a health spa, or how about a professional makeover and photo-shoot? If the real idea of Christmas magic is spending time with your family then you could also invest in some Christmas presents that you can all join in with. From paintballing fun to a day at the races, these Christmas presents are a great way of making sure that Christmas doesn’t have to be over by Boxing Day. Perhaps you know someone who has always had a particular ambition or dream, such as being a premier league football player or a famous movie star. Well, the magic of Christmas can at least help you along the way with a selection of personalised Christmas gifts. With the personalised calendars, all you need to do is supply the recipient’s name which will appear in a number of spectacular images, one for every month. It will appear as though their names are on the back of a football shirt or written as the star attraction outside a West End theatre or perhaps just spelt out in the stars; these Christmas presents make for some truly unique keepsakes to be enjoyed all year round. The best magic tricks are those where the real secrets are never fully revealed and there are a number of Christmas presents you could give this year that will astound and confuse. You could bring back Andy Warhol with a personalised ‘Andy Warhol Style Popo Art Print’ – simply send in a photograph of the recipient and they will appear in the images that were made most memorable by the likes of Marilyn Monroe. You could even put someone in the headlines with a ‘Personalised Mirror Spoof Newspaper’ – these Christmas presents are a hilarious way of making your loved one a celebrity for the day. Why not let the Christmas magic sparkle this year with some shiny Christmas presents? For some truly unique gifts you could engrave a number of Christmas presents for that ultimate personal touch. From carriage clocks to photo frames, cufflinks to Wine Bar Sets; you could out-do Santa Claus this year and give someone a very Merry Christmas. Engraved gifts can be treasured forever and therefore make great Christmas presents for younger children too. With all those magical Christmas presents under one tree you’ll be able to give Harry Potter a run for his money, but then wouldn’t be a proper Christmas without any Wizzard now would it? Everybody…. “Oh, I wish it could be Christ-mas every-daa-y…”
Christmas Ornaments – Comedy Time
Giving ornaments as a Christmas gift is a tacky thing to do according to Brandon Vestal.
Make Christmas Ornaments in Your Spare Time
Christmas also brings along relaxing vacations. You should try and utilize this time in making beautiful home made Christmas ornaments. This goes especially for young school going kids. Help your parents with Christmas ornaments. This will make you more creative and generous. Also, when parents involve children into festivity traditions, they in turn, inculcate their values and traditions into the child. Take them along for festivity shopping. This is how the legacy goes on. If your child will notice certain customs today, only then shall he be able to put them in his children. This is the best way to keep our future generations, in touch with our customs and values. Kindergarten kids learn very fast. Don’t think your child is too young to learn. Christmas ornaments can be decorated anywhere in the house. You can even put them outdoors. Adorn your front door with beautiful Christmas ornaments. Decorating the entire house can be very strenuous. I have observed that people make outdoor decorations only for night time. Glowing lights look mesmerizing at night. Make some more decorations visible during the day. Adorn your trees. Christmas comes only once in a year. Festive season must never be kept dull. Celebration brings home more joy and prosperity. Hand painted glass ornaments look splendid on Christmas trees, doors and dining tables. You can also paint pines and shells to make your own ornaments. Try to make some great beaded ornaments this time. Collect beautiful beads all through out the year. This can be fun. You will find, every time you come across beautiful beads, Christmas ornaments would be the first thing you would ever think of! This also distributes your Christmas expenses. Use things like metal foils, sticks, and colored papers to make Christmas ornaments. Choose a chocolate theme for your Christmas. Make chocolate candies and cookies. Make home-made chocolates and wrap them finely. Put chocolates and candies into cute baby socks and adorn your Christmas tree with them. Angel Christmas ornaments look pretty. Paper stars are very economical and look stunning. Sprinkle some cotton flakes to give a snowy effect to your house. Choose to decorate your Christmas tree with a theme. Design your Christmas ornaments according to your chosen theme. Our region and nativity plays a significant role in our Christmas celebration. Try and experiment, to make your festival more vivacious. Leave your comfort zone and show some zest for the festival.
Christmas Time – a Season of Memories
CHRISTMAS TIME â A SEASON OF MEMORIES By Eva Fry
Ecclesiastes 3:1
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
Christmas is one of the happiest seasons of our life. It gathers us together as families, where we create special loving traditions and so many loving memories. We all have special remembrances of Christmasâs past. I would like to share with you some of my memories.
Christmas has changed for me through the years. I am a grandma now and enjoy
special Christmasâs with my grown children and their families. I watch them create lasting memories for their little ones. I am reminded of those happy times when my precious children were still home with us and of the Christmasâs we had
Together. How I miss those special times.
My song âChristmas Wishâ says what is in my heart.
If I could have one Christmas wish, Iâd go back in time,
When our children all were young and they were home with us.
Weâd decorate the house with lights, put up the Christmas tree,
Bake cookies; sing Christmas carols in the neighborhood.
Make gifts for the ones we love; wrap them really nice,
Laugh, kiss and hug a lot, weâd have so much fun.
Iâd read the story of Jesus Christ, born in Bethlehem
In the manger weâd carefully lay the Savior in.
Christmas Eve weâd hold them tight, our hearts filled with love
Give thanks for our family, our special gift from God.
Weâd tuck them safely into bed, fill the stockings full,
Peek in at our sleeping babes; angels without wings.
Eyes would sparkle Christmas mornâ when Dad turned on the lights,
Santa left so many gifts; cookies and milk were gone.
Opening gifts was the best of all; parcels ripped apart,
Finding their special wish, jumping up and down.
Iâd bake the turkey as they played with the toys they got,
Weâd feast together on food and love, what a heavenly day.
The memories of those special days many years ago
Seem like only yesterday; life was filled with joy.
If I could have one Christmas wish, Iâd go back in time,
When our children all were young and they were home with us.
Not only does Christmas bring back memories of my precious children but also
memories or my dear mother who passed away October 18, 2002. She was
86 years old and life had not been easy for but she did her best to make our lives
Happy. The most favorite memories of my mother were the wonderful
Christmasâs she created for my brother, sister and I. She always made Christmas
beautiful and exciting, in spite of our alcoholic father who played havoc with our
Lives, whenever he got drunk, especially at Christmas time.
My mother seemed to have a mission to make things right for us each Christmas.
Every year she would open a charge account at Zellers, to buy us gifts. My
father gave her no money. We were poor because of his addiction. She bought us
needed things like socks and underwear but always something special. I
remember the red leather loose-leaf binder she gave me when I was 10. We kids
did not know it then, but for the rest of the year mom paid off her charge account
with cash she could squeeze from her food money. Each new season she started
over with another Christmas charge account.
Mom did not let us see the tree before Christmas morning, an old family tradition.
My kids now have their tree up at least two weeks before Christmas. But never the less, when I was young the first viewing of the tree was glorious.
One Christmas Eve, when my dad was drunk, he took a Christmas tree from a lot,
which had closed for the night, and hauled it home, dragging it behind him. We
lived in Canada and the tree was frozen. When he brought it into our house to
thaw it out; my mother was made aware of why no one had purchased it. The
tree had only a few branches. My mother sent him back for another tree, which
was equally as bare, so they tied the two together.
Mom would stay up all night carefully decorating the tree and wrapping our gifts.
She always had a knack of doing things perfectly. She made a special effort to
choose the most beautiful paper she could afford and each gift had a bright
ribbon and bow. She was dedicated to bringing excitement to our eyes,
Christmas morning, when she turned on the lights to our gorgeous tree, laden
with so many gifts from Santa. Her reward came when she saw the enjoyment we
had as we ripped open each treasure.
Often our father was too hung over to get up with us to open gifts and would later
head out the day to be with his buddies but our mother made sure out
Christmas was special. We always went to grandma and grandpaâs house for a
turkey feast with all our relatives.
This Christmas I am especially grateful for my loving mother who sacrificed so
much for her family and created Christmas memories and traditions, which I see
being passed down to my grandchildren. I will miss her dearly.
In all of our own lives we have special Christmas memories and I have one more
which I will never forget.
I call it âThe Miracle of the Pinecones. â
Just before Christmas, several years ago, my five-year-old grandson, Jesse, and I
were in Julian California where my husband was completing a job.
As we wondered below the spectacular pine trees we saw pinecones lying on the
They were large and magnificent. My grandson loved them and wanted to
Take some home, so we gathered them up.
I wondered what we could create with them. As I held one up and turned it upside down, I realized it looked like a perfect Christmas tree, only brown. I found my
Christmas snow and sprayed it white. Right before our eyes the pinecone turned
into a tree, covered with a blanket of snow. We then decided to decorate it. I
When we touched them to the snow they stuck. The
pinecones became jewel covered Christmas trees.
Jesse and I had so much fun making trees that we encouraged my mother, his
great-grandmother to get involved and we spent an afternoon making beautiful
trees. What a wonderful memory I have of my mother and grandson working
together creating multicolored treasures. I took a picture with my heart.
We had so many trees and wondered what to do with them all. We gave some to
family members and recruited them to go Christmas caroling in the
neighborhood. I took another picture with my heart, of little Jesse singing âAway in a Mangerâ and then and then proudly giving his precious tree to a smiling neighbor.
We still had trees to give and I wondered what to do with them. That year I taught the 16-year-old Sunday school class at my church. I wondered if I could combine my teenagers and the trees into a service project that would bring the spirit of Christmas to these young people. There was a senior care home across from our Church. I inquired if they would allow me to bring my teenagers in to sing Christmas carols to their residences and distribute the remaining Christmas trees. The home gave me their approval and thanks. When I presented my idea to my students I was not prepared for their response. Some of them were not excited about the idea. Actually, I think, many of them were just embarrassed to sing in front of each other. But I assured them it would be a nice thing to do and armed each one with a tree, the boys as well as the girls. We set out on our mission.
When we stepped into the first room of the care home, my young people were a
little timid but did sing a weak verse of âSilent Nightâ, except for one big boy who
stood in the back of the room and would not sing. One of them handed their tree
to the grateful patient and we left.
As we worked our way from room to room the teenagers gradually warmed up,
when they saw the smiles and tears on the faces of those dear old souls, except
for the boy in the back. Their singing got louder and more in tune and they
couldnât wait to rush to the next room. I will always remember the 95-year old man,
who had been confined to bed for several years, accepting his Christmas tree
from a group of excited teenagers. I took another picture.
When we had given out the trees the young people were satisfied and happy. They
felt the Christmas spirit and didnât want to leave. They knew the joy they had given
the patients.
We finally headed for the door. Along the way we met a sad little lady sitting in the
hallway in her wheelchair. When she spotted those noisy, laughing teenagers a
smile came across her toothless face and she held up her feeble arms hoping to
give them a hug. My wonderful teenagers formed a line and each one of them
bent down and give her a big hug. Another picture!
When we got outside the building, we discovered that the teenage boy, who had
stayed in the back of each room and would not sing, was missing. I went back
into the building to find him and it was then that I took the most memorable
picture, with my heart. There, in the hallway, was the big muscular boy, on his
knees, in the arms of that dear little 100-year-old lady. He had his strong, but
gentle arms rapped around her frail little body. Tears were streaming down both
their faces. On her lap was the pinecone Christmas tree he had carried
throughout the home and had been too embarrassed to give.
That year love came in the form of a pinecone tree.
We all have so much to be grateful for as we create Christmas memories and
traditions within our families How blest we all are.
This Christmas we have more reasons to look for the good things of life and be
thankful for all we are blessed with, in spite of events of the world. We must
remember that Christmas is a season of giving and of gratefulness.
I wrote a song to help encourage all of us and help us know what we can do
this Christmas to make a difference in our world.
What Can I Do To Help?
Thereâs so much sadness and so much pain. What can I do to help?
Thereâs so much anger and hatred. What can I do to help?
I can cherish my freedom, in this country I love.
I can bring comfort to someone. I can do all that I should.
Thereâs so much hurt and confusion. What can I do to help?
Thereâs so much sorrow and worry. What can I do to help?
I can love my brother; I can do a kind deed.
I can care for another; I can get down on my knees.
Thereâs so much sadness and so much pain. What can I do to help?
Thereâs so much anger and hatred? What can I do to help?
I can fight against evil and the suffering it brings
I can always to Godâs will, so peace can come to our world
I can always do Godâs will so peace can come to our world.
Thank you for letting me share my special memories of the happiest season of my
life. I pray we will all remember the reason for our Christmas Season and do all
We can to bring peace and happiness to our families and to our world.
We can enjoy our own traditions and be grateful for this Christmas, a season of
Memories.
