Have beautiful times with your family

Click on the picture to play a matching game. I will see you in January! Enjoy all your December moments. Love to you.

Teaching Kids Manners :-)

I found a website that talks about ways to teach manners to your children. I thought this was timely for the holidays. Click Here and tell me what you think :-) Feel free to leave comments on this post with ways you've taught your children manners that have and haven't worked, you might just help someone out! :-)

christmas boomwhackers

Your kids will love this one.

Music and the dying

The following is from a newsletter I receive from the Music for Healing and Trasition Program. They have a program that is a dream of mine to someday be a part of, and to become a certified Music Practitioner and play the harp for the ill and dying. They print lovely stories from practitioners. To read another story, click here.

A Massachusetts snowstorm had arrived, complete with news warnings to stay off the roads. When I called to see if I could reschedule my appointment to play for a hospice patient until the next morning, the distraught wife said that she didn't think her husband would make it until then. I assured her I was on my way, and offered a silent prayer that I would get there in time. I finally arrived at the residence in the next town in near zero visibility. In the sickroom, the husband, unconscious, was breathing difficult, stertorous breaths. I quietly introduced myself, and began to play. After about 20 minutes, his breathing seemed to ease. About an hour later, the patient seemed relaxed and peaceful. He was breathing normally. My car crawled through the falling darkness, taking three times longer than usual to return home. The next morning, I received a call from the hospice. The gentleman passed away approximately an hour after I left his bedside. The wife wanted to express her thanks for the music that preceded his peaceful death. I was filled with emotion and gratitude for the privilege of being a part of this calling. I was the one who was truly blessed. Patricia Larkin, CMP, plays harp at the bedside for the Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice in Springfield, Massachusetts.

*** Simplify ***

"Raindrops on roses, and whiskers on kittens!" Have you noticed how much pleasure your toddler can find in touching a pansy petal to his cheek? ...or the fascination in the eyes of a three year old who has discovered a spider crawling on its web? Everyone who has a one-on-one relationship with a child can get "back to basics" in a blink of an eye. Even fuzz-balls under the fridge can capture a little one's interest. Think about the toys you or your child loved most.....probably a cuddly bear, a houseful of "little round people", wooden building blocks, Colorforms shape sets, or play pots and pans, dishes and some play dough "food". A two year old can still spend hours playing with soapy suds or digging in the sand. Remember the basics when choosing toys and there will be less frustration for you AND your children. No batteries, raucous electronic voices or beeps, software that disappoints, violent games, or lost pieces in the bottom of the toybox. A gift of a big plastic tub with snap-on lid filled with age appropriate art supplies and blank paper, a plastic drop cloth, and a collection of "stuff" such as tissue tubes, stickers, rubber bands, feathers, scraps of fabric and construction paper might be one of the best gifts you could give. But don't just set it down in front of your child.... "Let's see what we can make!" could be the magic words. Don't insist on conformity or beauty. Just the experience of construction can bring great satisfaction. There are some good books on home-made instruments for parents and children to make together, combining music and craft/art. Let me hear of your successes and/or disasters. We can all learn from each other!

Canon - Transiberian Orchestra

Fun holiday games

Here are some fun holiday games I tried. Can you identify the names of the Christmas carols titles here? And how well do you know your Christmas carols anyway? Tell me your score when you take the quiz here.