Changes in Lattitude 2

Christmas of my childhood>
When I was a child christmas was mysterious anticipation surrounding Santa Claus bringing gifts.(marking the Eaton's catalogue) We watched the christmas specials on TV. They seemed more special because they were not available all year. Mid night mass with my Aunty Joan and cousins we squirmed in excitement in the pew. We baked cookies with my mom and decorated the house. My mother started a tradition of making a marzipan ring tree after her friend in Germany passed on the recipe. She also made traditional Trinidad & Tobago christmas black cake.(soaked in rum before and after it was cooked) We dressed up for many parties at home and visiting family friends. We always went to company children's parties. Once a magician poured milk out of my sister elbow. We always went to the Rotary Club children's party. We dressed up for Christmas dinner and were allowed to eat in the dining room at the big table, the special plates, a glass of wine.(feeling very grown up) Christmas morning we had a light breakfast and then went to church(before opening gifts) After we had a really big breakfast - Sausages Back bacon,eggs, fruit, bread or pancakes. Then we opened gifts.
Christmas with my Young children>
The fun of visiting the mall Santa, sitting on his knee, tell that one special gift that is at the top of their list. We enjoyed going to breakfast with Santa at the community centers where I worked. I treasure the time I organized a christmas nativity play. (Cheryl was Mary) The chaos behind the scene makes me LOL today. I loved the school christmas concerts they were in. We had big informal Trinidadian family parties, with many turkeys and a few hams.(must have pineapple and cherries on top) A few christmas black cakes. (not all soaked in rum) Someone would make soursop, macaroni pie and another would make punch a crema - eggnog with rum of course!
The cousins would run all over and all night long the older ones taking care of the younger ones. Then the holiday movies are put on and the little ones would fall asleep with their blankies. The older ones played nintendo all night. That's nintendo original. I always enjoyed making gifts and ornaments with my children. Our christmas dinner at home was made by each of us taking responsibility for a dish, even when they were very young. A fun time was choosing a name for our turkey and choosing one of the children to give the turkey a special bath and then rubbed down with an assortment of seasonings.
Christmas eve we spent at home and would invite neighbours to drop in. (I needed to stay home and finish wrapping or putting some toy together) The kids would put out a snack(left overs) for Santa and a cup of eggnog or ginger beer. (Santa did not like cookies and milk by time he came to our house) we sent them to bed early hoping they would sleep. In the morning they woke up squeeling - allowed to open their stocking only - so we could stay in bed longer. Did not really work all the time. We would open gifts then eat our enormous breakfast together and then start to cook christmas dinner together and then...While stuffed the children would play and the parents would nap.
Christmas with my grandchildren>
Christmas with grandchildren has only begun to develop. I have a new generation of gift makers. Last year the two older ones made paintings, that included their foot prints. We have trips together to visit great grandma. We still each make a part of the meal. I think we have forgotten to name the turkey and give it a bath. A few years in a row we have played Settlera of Catan.(all night too) I'm now enjoying christmas shows at church with Evan and Arrianna and keshaun too. This year was the first school christmas concert and it was nice to see. I enjoyed Arrianna's ballet open house too. Making special memories together sharing agape style- that's what it's all about!
Christmas this year with my cousins,their families my family and their families > reconecting, catching up, making memories!
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOODNIGHT

Changes in Lattitude

It has been a blogless month for me. So, this one may be quite long - I appologize in advance.

I have been on a fast moving train of change. I believe that God is directing trafic but it seems that others are driving.
At work I know there is momentum forward but I don't know how I fit into it. TRUST GOD HAVE FAITH!!! I scream it to myself daily to block out any small doubt creeping in.
In previous post I mentioned moving. Well thanks to some great friends the move went well. What a diference living in the burbs. Not bad or good just diferent. I like being closer to my friends. I like my really big kitchen with many cupboards and pantry and big sliding doors. I like my big room and bright windows. Somehow I still miss my little apartment and fixing it up and walking home after work or to work. By summer I'll be over that when I'm not sweating buckets in it. When I soak in the tub I wont miss the shower. So it is all good change. Thank God for direction everyday.

I'm frustrated with the phone people. The phone is still not working. The world is tangled with lines and wireless is just invisible lines. I still have my cell phone.

I'm really glad for the varriety of communication devices we have in our lives. It eases the transitions of life. I think of how fortunate people who move far from family and friends are to be able to continue to share their lives on a daily basis. Long ago if you moved from your home to another city you might never see your family for years. Only able to catch up by a letter that would take weeks to arrive. You would think that our high tech communication would improve relationships and bring families together. Does it ? maybe the state of family life would be even worse without it. For me and mine it is a blessing.

I was almost (for a short time) an empty nester. Tanya by some not so great choices she made last summer found herself in a load of trouble which resulted in her being re located to her fathers care, in another city. She has since been on a straighter path and resolved and accepted responsibility for much of her troubles. I suddenly, for the first time in 29 years, was living alone. It was a shock for a week or so. Then it was okay. Then it was great sometimes and not so great sometimes. I'm not home that much. The whole experience lasted about 2 months. Then my son by some sudden changes in his life asked me to live with him so, after some thought and discussion, we made this huge move. No more empty nest!
It is not that great an experience when you don't have someone to share it. I have faith that God will resolve that issue too.

The theme of change continues. I was born in Quebec - I'm a Canadian! for now I can still say that I am Canadian. Will Quebec give me dual citizenship? if they choose separation from Canada. Mon dieu je prier!