Family Bond Paper™

Source: Parenting  (1994). Published with no editing. No mosquito bites. It gets dark earlier, so nine o'clock bedtime doesn't seem so bad. Flannel pajamas (with feet). Snow days (an ordinary winter) Hot chocolate with tiny marshmallows. Roaring fires in the fireplace. Holiday toys aren't broken yet. Writing your name on a steamy window with your finger. It's easier to fake a cold.  A clean slate with Santa Claus (St. Nicholas, St. Lucia, etc.) Getting to stomp through slush puddles. No skinned knees. Ice-cream cones don't melt on the way to the car. You don't have to mow the lawn.

Before you sell items to an out-of-town thrift store (smiles), What to do with them? Recycle holiday cards by saving the decorative side. Then, when ready to use, attach card stock paper on the other side. Recycle Christmas trees. Use artificial Christmas trees for other holidays, too. Donate holiday decor to local classrooms in your community. Can it be used for your hobbies? Save items for a family-reunion yard sale. Review non-profit wish list at stores or view their current newsletter. Save for a large, family-bonding party event. Surprise bags for guests who come to visit your unique household or family business. Donate new and gently used books, video games, DVDs, cookbooks to your community library. Ask a teen if they can use item instead of simply giving the item to them. Fine jewelry can be made into other items at an additional expense.

Each year, for the holidays, my company theme is Global Christmas Traditions of Americans.  It is an opportunity to introduce or reintroduce family traditions of your ancestors with the younger generations in your immediate household--your international side of you. For unison, I always invite families from other countries to participate in the theme as well.  I have discovered that most countries around the world share one common tradition behavior: lighting of candles. Amazingly, the definition of light and lighting of candles vary by community. Apparently, so does the climate.  In warmer climate communities instead of light as a holiday symbol, light-colored paper decorations are used. Austria - Light is a symbol of the eternal light God gave man in the Christ Child: "Christ is born." Three candles are lit during the holidays: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. Belgium - Candlelight religious services. Brazil - Lighting of candles by faith belie...

From the Editor July's hosted event theme is Global Islands Month (Transportation and Sports). Please take a moment to download family-entertainment funsheets and more at the family portal, www.sherleneonline.com  I hope that each unique household, in every one of our states, has a blessed Independence Day! Did you know that the actual historic event took place on July 2 instead of the Fourth? My presidential campaign slogan is "It is you. It is your family. 'It'...is America." The New Monday Show The lecture discussed having balance in everyday life, and the importance of defining what "independence" means to your unique household. Each unique household can take steps to changing the lack of freedoms if there is an absence of such choices. First, though, there must be a show of cooperative actions taken in making your goals a reality. Let's talk Poem: The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I co...