A Christmas Greeting and a Wish

Welcome back!

It’s here. That day that generates feelings and sentiments of love, joy and community – no matter your faith or personal philosophy. What a wonder that one day, one season, one story… has been able to have such a universal impact for such a long period of time.

As a global community we represent such rich and beautiful cultures, faiths and traditions – no one better or more meaningful than the other. Where I live there are hundreds of cultures and faith groups working and living together. Yet within all this diversity there is one constant tradition, behavior or mannerism, I have noticed that transcends color of skin or nationality. It is the instinctive human response to care and to respond with respect to another living being, another person.

I like to think of that as part of our common heritage, some bond that predates us and our societies and is present, even through some of our darkest moments in history and in the present. We have to remember that spirit is there…somewhere.

My gift to you is a blessing, a kind of wish that I found…from one cultural tradition to so many others…

The light of the Christmas star to you
The warmth of home and hearth to you
The cheer and good will of friends to you
The hope of a childlike heart to you
The joy of a thousand angels to you
The love of the Son and God’s peace to you.

Merry Christmas!

Baby It’s Cold Outside

This morning we received a literal truckload of snow. I love it! Made my husband a cup of coffee, put on my Christmas music and gazed out our bay window while the mister shoveled the driveway.

My kids are loving it too and are praying for a snow day tomorrow. For those with kids too young for school or who haven’t had the pleasure of a school snow day – this means no school and you better find something for your kids to do.

I had to shake my head. I’m sure we use to get much more snow back when I was a kid and there were no “snow days.” I know I’m sounding like everyone’s grandparent talking about how rough things were in the good ‘ol days, but what’s with this mass hysteria the minute we get some snow?

Yes it makes driving a little treacherous, so you take your time. Basically if you live in the northern part of our continent, that’s just life at this time of year (unless we’re having one of our heat waves that are due to global warming).

This morning I tried to watch my regular Sunday morning network news show and it was preempted so that we could stare at the Boston local station’s no-name news crew repeat no less than 450 times that it was snowing outside. Totally annoying!

Well one good thing about days like this is it puts us in the mood to do all kinds of “seasonal” things that we often only talk about, like:

• Arranging to meet with friends we haven’t seen in a while
• Baking cookies for those friends and families that will be coming over
• Sitting inside, TOGETHER, with family over hot drinks and good CONVERSATION, and
• Thinking over the past year and making plans for business and personal goals for the new year

The Gift of the Present

Lately I’ve been having very long days between work, kids’ commitments after school, family visits and then again more work. It seems I’m out at the crack of dawn and back well after the sun has set.

We put so much effort into getting our home all comfy and welcoming for Christmas, but we’re hardly enjoying it ourselves.

When things get like this I develop such a yearning to just hunker down at home with my favorite people and things.

I’d like to end one of my work schedules early one day, call everyone home, put a tray of my favorite shortbread cookies in the oven, make a cup of hot chocolate with nutmeg, put on some beautiful Christmas music, and relax with family.

Sometimes we’re so busy getting ready for the holidays and laboring at projects so that we can enjoy the holidays, that we “busy” our way right THROUGH the season.

So here’s a friendly reminder…extend your holiday enjoyment by taking time, as soon as you can, to enjoy and appreciate the blessings that are present before you: your family, friends, home…and a good merlot!

Diamond in the Rough

Whether you are a faith believer or not, there is no denying that things are different at this time of year. And I’m not talking about the buying frenzy. As a people and as communities, during the Holiday Season we are more focused on others than ourselves. Even better, many of us are more focused on those less fortunate and that focus can help to permanently change lives for the better.

One of the reasons I’m a new urbanism advocate is because of the impact of this movement on our day to day experiences, especially the experiences of our children. As a mother and as a human being I feel such grief when I visit a blighted urban area where children are surrounded by crime, neglect and sorrow.

There is too much wealth in this country to allow such decline–especially in the urban centers that helped to build this nation.

So when I read the recent series in the Columbus dispatch about rebirth and regrowth in one of Ohio’s grittiest cities–Cleveland–I had to share.

Cleveland is the fourth poorest city in the nation and has been in a steady population and jobs decline since the steel industry started to collapse in the 1950′s. The city is also in the top 10 for the cities with the most crime (it’s #10 right after Richmond, California). Throughout the 1990′s Cleveland’s public schools fell short on every state standard for minimum acceptable performance.

But the news gets better. Recently the U.S. News and World Report listed Cleveland and its surburban schools among the best in the nation. While Cleveland’s suburban area schools have always been at the top of national school ratings, this most recent report included four City of Cleveland public schools.

What made the difference – human initiative and heart.

One Saturday in November, educators from the school board knocked on 1,400 doors to talk to parents of every senior at risk of not graduating in the City of Cleveland public school system. This is not normal procedure but it speaks to the great effort of a community – those working there and living there.

There are many organizations and neighborhood groups in Cleveland working hand in hand with private companies and city government to attract new life to the city and to help bring back one of America’s greatest cities.

From the Columbus Dispatch:

“…Cleveland is no mistake on the lake, because there is so much from the past to glorify in the city where John D. Rockefeller built his oil enterprise, where early 20th-century Mayor Tom Johnson showed the nation a reform government that worked, where Bob Feller mowed down batters and Jim Brown ran over defensive backs.

In so many ways, Cleveland has remained a great city. Anchored by the Cleveland Clinic, it is fast becoming a beacon of wellness to the world. Its bustling airport and lake port provide access to global commerce. Its orchestra and art museum are world-renowned. Playhouse Square is a first stop for Broadway plays.

“When you think of that, when you think of all these amenities and you have all these people visiting here and you have transplants relocating here — they all fall in love with Cleveland because they see a gem,” said Mayor Frank Jackson.”

Diamonds in the rough…that’s a good way for us to think about our nation’s more challenged urban centers.

Win a Color Printer

This comes under the heading: better late than never.

If you’re the kind of person who likes contests and could use a new Kodak Easy Share All-in-One Color printer read on.

The ladies over at Two Moms in a Blog are sponsoring a contest to win this great printer. Most of the activities took place in November but there are still a few activities still open so enter now to improve your chances of winning.

Moms and tots…and teens

The moment I delivered my first child was fantastic, blissful, etc. But the moment I got control of my hips back and mastered the use of the convertible stroller, I was truly a happy mama.

I took her to places I liked to visit in the city…the lakefront, lunches with friends, her dad’s office, her grandfather’s office, the post office. We strolled everywhere and she loved it!

I found it interesting to read that an entrepreneurial mom in New York has made the cultural interests of moms with babes her business. Former Manhattan investment banker, Molly Snyder has traveled across the country promoting her now popular “Metropolitan Moms.” MM serves as a sort of event planning outfit coordinating all kinds of neat activities for moms with babies.

The thinking is that there are so few opportunities for women to maintain their interests while caring for newborns. According to Philly.com, these groups offer city activities like gallery tours, ghost-themed architecture tours and behind-the-scenes tastings at several chocolate shops. Mmmm!

The only drawback I see is the cost. Some of these events are pricey. For instance, I see the group offers a series of 4 weekly cooking classes for $220!

Of course there are so many more affordable ways that you can do something that is appropriate for a baby but still appealing to your adult tastes.

Do your own tour of the sites in your town (museum, gardens, local farms, etc.). Now that the holiday’s are here, there are special displays and markets, craft shows and any number mom networking groups at community centers and places of worship.  I know many moms still take their babes to book clubs they attended pre-baby.  Talk it over with the intended group.

I have teens now, but I still include my kids in my interests. I drag them take them to conferences that I’m interested in and I am always so overjoyed at how thrilled they are to take a day off school join their dear old mom at these events.

Let Your Light Shine

I never grow tired of looking at homes all decked out for the holidays. Conservation is important but you have to admit homes lit up with lights are a boost to the spirit!

Perhaps some of the blinking “Vegas type” homes are a bit much and may be missing the point of all of this, but you can’t fault folks for stepping out of the ordinary to celebrate just a little with their community.

Homes decorated with holiday trimmings are like a warm public greeting to people who pass by. Regardless of your religious affiliation or non-affiliation, the pure human desire to share good wishes, kindness and joy with each other at this time of year is a welcome change. I’m certain this all serves a good purpose that lasts long into the new year.

And just when we begin to forget the feeling we’ve generated, we get to repeat it all over again.