Keep in Touch

Good Wednesday morning!

The Gallery Pics today are of Sparkle. One of the lists I'm sharing from Real Simple Magazine is entitled "5 Things You Can Learn From Your Pet," so, of course, I felt the need to include the dogs. (As usual, Copper didn't feel like cooperating!)

DON'T FORGET! DON'T FORGET! DON'T FORGET! - I've added yet another inflatable to The Twelve Days of Inflatables on my sidebar.

RANDOMNESS #1 - I found this cute Christmas story yesterday. Enjoy!

While working in a store as Santa Claus, I had lots of boys ask me for an electric train set. "If you get your train," I would tell each one, "you know your dad is going to want to play with it, too. Is that okay?"

The usual answer was a quick yes, but after I asked one boy this question, he became very quiet. Trying to move the conversation along, I asked what else he would like Santa to bring.

He promptly replied, "Another train set."

Smart boy.

RANDOMNESS #2 - As promised, below you will find a LIST from Real Simple Magazine I found interesting... "5 Things You Can Learn From Your Pet."

1. Celebrate everything. (This is a good one. I can just walk on the deck or drive into the driveway and Copper and Sparkle are beside themselves with excitement. Mike and the kids... not so much.)

2. Just being present is enough. A pet never says "the wrong thing" when you are upset or sad. What matters is showing up.

3. Brain size doesn't matter. Most pets are very clever in their own way, and they have many of the same emotions we have... happiness, anxiety, etc. (And in Sparkle's case... female mood swings.)

4. Don't try so hard. (This references cats as being quirky and independent thinkers. They are true to themselves and resistant to outside influence. It is indeed a good trait to have... Just be yourself.)

5. You can get along with anybody. (I thought this one was a little odd because Sparkle and Copper do NOT get along with cats, rabbits or slow, low-flying birds. But the author goes on to say, "It's quite surprising how animals of different species can be friends as long as they are raised in a warm and loving environment." I would have to add the word "together" at the end of that statement. And even taking the above into consideration, I don't necessarily feel I could get along with EVERYBODY. Adolph Hitler comes to mind.)

Wednesday Wisdom - I've gathered just a few quotes about Christmas for today's Wisdom section.

"Once again we find ourselves enmeshed in the Holiday Season. That very special time of year when we join with our loved ones in sharing centuries-old traditions such as trying to find a parking space at the mall. We traditionally do this in my family by driving around the parking lot until we see a shopper emerge from the mall. Then we follow her, in very much the same spirit as the Three Wise Men, who 2,000 years ago followed a star, week after week, until it led them to a parking space." Dave Barry

"Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall." Larry Wilde (I love this one!)

"Christmas is a time when everybody wants his past forgotten and his present remembered." Anonymous

Keep in Touch

Today's "tradition" is straight from Family Fun Magazine. My family is extremely blessed because we live close enough to each other to visit everyone during the holiday season. However, if your family is scattered across the United States, or even across the globe, here are some ways to stay close this Christmas season AND all year long.

1. Skype. This is a free internet-based video-calling program. Using Skype is very similar to using the telephone... except you get a live video of the caller on the other end.

2. Share a Phone Story - One mother sent a copy of the same book to the two grandmothers in her family (all three families lived in different states). Each grandmother scheduled a time to read to the children every other week over the telephone. The children would follow along in the book. The next week at the scheduled time, the other grandmother would pick up where the story left off.

3. Make an Annual DVD - Each year, this family creates a personal DVD for relatives all over the United States. It features a year's worth of family photos, video clips, scanned copies of the kids' artwork and a personalized message... all set to music.

4. Mail Your Musings - This family addressed a large envelope to the relatives, and then invited family members to slip in short messages and other items. It worked well (even for kids with short attention spans) because they could include pictures, notes, school papers, etc. Anything and everything they wanted to show off. When the envelope was full, they sealed it up and dropped it in the mail... and immediately started the next large envelope.

Have a wonderful Wednesday! I have to tell you, the Blog Linkage I'll be sharing Thursday is a must-see for all readers who LOVE decorating for Christmas. I also have a fun date, another inflatable to add to The Twelve Days of Inflatables and so much more.

Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda