Comments on: The Functionally-Challenged Family Holiday Presence Guide

By: fivecats

fivecats — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 18:15:23 +0000

my parents have been going out to a local chinese restaurant for the past many chirstmases. sadly, they’ve never gotten my “fa ra ra ra ra” reference.

after reading your Word for the Year posting, thinking about it long and hard to choose my own word and then posting about that process myself i found that i was also thinking a lot about your blog. you put such a strong sense of positive energy into it that i’m sure it must take a lot of your time and effort.

however, reading the responses you get i’m sure you get all that energy back and then some.

thanks for doing what you do.

…

By: Christine Kane

Christine Kane — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:43:28 +0000

thanks helen! yes, the one great thing about the stressful stuff that happens is that it calls on us to be more conscious in our lives!

kay – thank you for sharing that poem. very lovely.

David – you’re welcome. it’s a great game – so i’m happy to share.

hi michelle – let us know how the NOW watch works for you! (and the game, too. i’m curious!)

marilyn – aw c’mon, you can do it!

thanks sue! i was just talking with someone about this very thing yesterday – and how you have to eventually get to a place when you realize that your parents are just people doing the best they can – and that they didn’t need to be any different.

m – it’s good to be easier on yourself. i used to make all my cards too. (and i used to not have a career as a songwriter, blogger, teacher, etc.)

By: m

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 11:49:50 +0000

right I@m already downcaling my xmas effort – bought cards not homemade!

By: Sue

Sue — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 18:27:08 +0000

Love all the tips!! Number 4 and 6 really hit me. Without having the words for those at the time, I think it is what I tried to do in some way for the last 3 years my father was alive. Despite many ‘reasons’ not to, I tried to really see him for who he was at that time and just love him and attempt to accept love from him. Once I let go of all my fear about doing so, and just tried to remain open, amazing things happened! It brought me peace and good memories and many of those frozen in time moments with him. Thanks for reminding me of that. I will try that this year as well when the whole big family is together!Thanks Christine and everyone!

By: Marilyn

Marilyn — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 16:46:38 +0000

I’m sorry, but we engage in #5, there would be no point to our family gatherings… Great tips!

By: Michelle

Michelle — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 15:00:59 +0000

Gab to Go and the Now Watch. What great ideas from your readers to compliment your post. I so will be getting a NOW watch when they come out with a woman’s smaller faced one. The irony is it can mean two things. NOW as in do it NOW or what it is intended for NOW – as in live in the NOW. The time to be alive and present is NOW.

Always thank you for being so inspiring and nice.

By: David

David — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 03:33:02 +0000

Hi Christine – thanks for the “cool gift” mention of Gab to Go! It’s been a great week – we also got featured in the Cary News http://www.carynews.com/enterprise/story/7781.html

Thanks for the continued inspiration of your blog and music!

By: Kay

Kay — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 23:40:54 +0000

Thanks so much Christine!!! Your last 3 posts have all been Christmas gifts!! Wanted to share a Christmas poem from a card sent years ago from a dear friend. Although it doesn’t directly address the family issues from your recent posts, it certainly seems filled with much of what you have shared with us.
The card said:

This Christmas

Seek out a forgotten friend
Share some treasure
Give a soft answer
Encourage youth
Keep a promise
Find the time
Listen
Apologize if you were wrong
Be gentle
Laugh a little
Laugh a little more
Express your gratitude
Welcome a stranger
Gladden the heart of a child
Take pleasure in the beauty
and the wonder of the earth
Speak your love
Speak it again
Speak it still once again

By: Helen

Helen — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 20:29:43 +0000

This post – and comments – made me cry – out of joy and relief. Isn’t it great to think about all of the efforts being made all around the world, just for the sake of love ?

By: Christine Kane

Christine Kane — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 19:57:07 +0000

hiya mark p – that’s a very funny description of the prayer moment. yea – it takes some courage to attempt a little depth in these situations – but i always find that most people will pull you off to the side and let you know that they appreciated what you did!

chrissie – thanks for your thoughts! and i love all those old movies – and rankin bass christmas stuff.

stacey – my husband and i actually cracked up at how many times we caught the same snippets of the christmas story last year.

thanks adam! great idea!