Posts Tagged: holiday

Last Minute Gifts of Comfort & Joy

December 22nd, 2017
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Holiday Present

It’s the Friday before Christmas and it’s a good bet that you may have finished buying gifts for everyone on your list.

But there’s still time to think about buying one more gift.

This year you may want to put a special twist on your usual gift giving by buying a present for a loved one or friend who has died.

On the face of it, the idea may sound a little strange not really.

I saw this wonderful idea recently tweeted by Grief Compass in a series called the 12 Holidays of Grief and thought I would share it … Read More

Give Yourself A Break

December 11th, 2016
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Giving is fun. Whether it’s something you meticulously made with your own hands or something you spent a long time searching for, giving to others is a wonderful feeling. I sometimes feel that giving a present to someone is more exciting than receiving. Watching the other person’s reaction while they are opening your gift is part of the fun and contributes to that good feeling of giving and letting them know they are special. During this holiday season, which can easily turn frantic as we get closer to the time of celebration, I think it is also important to give… Read More

Thankful Hearts

November 24th, 2016
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Wherever you happen to be gathering today, may you be with people who have thankful hearts and giving spirits. The diversity of Thanksgiving menus offered today reflects the healing powers of food, love, family and friends gathering with one celebration in mind.  Lasagna, Vietnamese soup or a traditional roasted turkey with all of the imaginable sides.  Today has been set aside on the national calendar to give thanks for the food and other gifts that are served and shared as a sign of gratitude for the many blessings we have received. While I recognize our desire to be thankful today,… Read More

Oh Fallen Christmas Tree

December 21st, 2015
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I was working on the computer this past weekend when I heard a sudden “thud” upstairs in the living room. As I ran up the steps to see what had happened, I had a sick feeling in my stomach that I knew what had fallen to make that sound. When I came around the corner and reached the living room, I found I was unfortunately right about the origin of that dull thud on the wooden floor. My beautiful Christmas tree had fallen.  With all of its lights and ornaments on it. And it was laying partially across the living… Read More

Parking My Heart

December 18th, 2015
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Hey there Resilient Readers! Today’s post may seem at first to be just a simple story about a bike shop in my hometown of Washington, DC. But it’s really about so much more. I want to share this wonderful story with you because it reminds me of the compelling message found in the classic Frank Capra Christmas movie, It’s A Wonderful Life: one person really can make a difference. Today’s bike story is a real life example of what happens when one person gets involved in their community and the difference they can make for others who are looking to… Read More

The Ever Expanding Thanksgiving Table

November 23rd, 2015
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For as long as I can remember, Thanksgiving in our family is about reaching out and sharing. During our childhood, my parents always reminded the six of us that we could invite anyone that we knew who might not have a place to go and might possibly be spending Thanksgiving alone. And they meant it. The Cranston Thanksgiving table always had room for more people.  For friends who couldn’t make it home to their families, for people who had no where else to go and for elderly relatives who had paid their dues in preparing Thanksgivings past and now needed… Read More

I Heart Chocolate

February 14th, 2015
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Happy Valentine’s Day!  I hope love and romance totally fill your day! For those whose sweetheart is no longer with them, I send you hugs and hope that great memories of your time together may warm or mend your precious heart. For myself, no romance or flowers are in sight today (maybe next year!), so I intend to have a good time and in that spirit, this post falls into the category of laughing at life, enjoying what I have and focusing on something else associated with Valentine’s Day: chocolate! Chocolate is healing?  Check. Chocolate is therapeutic? Check. Chocolate makes… Read More

Helping Teenagers With Grief

December 19th, 2014
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We are deep into the season of celebrating the holidays and messages of merriness are everywhere. Photo Courtesy of Huffington Post But what happens to teenagers when they are trying to cope with school and social pressures and then the parent of one of their friends dies? Or someone in their family dies? Adults are busy tending to shopping, decorating, cooking and organizing so it could be fairly easy to miss that the teenagers in your life might be having some difficulties at this time of year.  Are they spending a little bit more time by themselves or are they… Read More

Ways To Change the Holiday Menu

December 3rd, 2014
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I was a very fat baby.  A happy baby but also an overweight baby. I have this theory that all of those fat cells from my infancy are still with me, lying dormant, and whenever I decide to indulge in all things buttery and/or sugary, those same fat cells immediately wake up because they instinctively know it’s a chance to plump up again. It doesn’t take much for me to change my eating habits from good to bad, slapping those extra pounds back on and over Thanksgiving break I could feel it was beginning to happen to me again. It’s… Read More