TISSUES FOR YOUR TEARS – WITH LOVE

There really are no words to say to those who have been forever changed by the tragedy in Newtown, CT.  I know, because I’ve been through this before.  I’ve been standing at the kitchen sink cleaning up from lunch, when the local news flashes a bulletin across the screen saying a shooting has just been reported at your child’s school!  From that moment on, you hear almost nothing except for the ramblings of your own mind.  Fear takes over every shred of common sense that once controlled your thoughts.  Visions enter your head that you think are the most horrifying you will ever see...until you see the reality!

And the reality is that nothing will ever prepare you for what you are now experiencing.  No amount of planning or training, as a parent or as a professional, can truly ever prepare you for this.  The one most important thing to remember is that you are not alone!  There are others with the same helpless feelings – questioning why?  Wondering how such a loving God could let something so cold and heartless happen to such innocent children and the ones guarding over them.

I want to share with you a poem, written by Emily Dickenson called “I Shall Know Why”. Ironically, this very poem was being taught to a class of Westside Middle School students on the morning of March 24, 1998 – just hours before their tragic school shooting occurred.

                             "I Shall Know Why"

                              by Emily Dickenson

                I shall know why when time is over,

               And I have ceased to wonder why:

               Christ will explain each separate anguish

               In the fair schoolroom of the sky.

               He will tell me what Peter promised

               And I, for wonder at his woe,

               I shall forget the drop of anguish,

               That scalds me now, that scalds me now.

As parents and educators, you now have the daunting task of helping to heal the survivors – while yet; you are trying to heal yourself.  Although it may seem impossible, we all know that anything is possible with the help of God.  So don’t hesitate to pray – don’t hesitate to share your feelings with one another.  Let the children express how they are feeling, and write their feelings down in stories and poems, or even song.  Let them draw pictures and make cards to send to grieving parents, or to place on the empty desk of their fallen classmates.  There is strength in numbers, and this is certainly a time to utilize the strength of you family, your church, your friends and your community.

As the outpouring of love comes in from the world around you, take it all in.  Let yourselves be comforted by the loving thoughts from all of us, to all of you – and let our prayers be tissues for your tears!

DON'T LET THE GRINCH STEAL YOUR CHRISTMAS!!

CYBER SHOPPING - A THIEF’S CHRISTMAS WISH!

Cyber shopping for the holidays has become very popular.  The ease of shopping from your kitchen table, still in your pajamas with your coffee mug in hand seems to be the perfect answer to a busy parent’s nightmare.  With no leaving the house, no fighting with a crowd, no waiting in the check-out line, nearly $22 million dollars will be spent this holiday season for online shopping – and thieves love it!!

The Grinch that may be stealing your Christmas doesn't even wear a mask to cover his/her face.  In fact, more and more are pulling their cars right into your driveway and casually loading your parcel, just delivered by UPS, FedEx, or USPS into their vehicle in broad daylight.  As seen in the surveillance camera footage here, this Christmas crab looks right into the camera as he loads the box into his car.

Some are even more brazen, as they search through parking lots of busy shopping malls, looking for cars and SUV’s loaded down with gifts.  Just today, WENN.com reported that “Duran Duran star, Simon LeBon is fuming” after thieves bashed in the back window of his vehicle, stealing all of his gifts, while he was parked at Cadogan Place car park in London.

So here are just a few tips to help protect your shopping treasures, and keep your holiday spirits bright!!

• When shopping online, use a delivery service that offers tracking.  Make sure to keep up with your package, and know when it will be delivered.  Have a neighbor pick it the package as soon as it is delivered – or if that isn’t possible, have your delivery man leave your package in an area that is not easily visible from the street.
• When you’re out shopping for gifts, always put your packages in the trunk of your car, or under a locked bed cover of your pickup.  If you drive an SUV, try to place packages under the seats or place them in an under-floor storage compartment.  The idea is to keep them being visible as people walk by your vehicle.
• Another tip for the shopping mall is to keep your wallet close to your body.  Pick pockets call pull a wallet out of your back pocket without you even knowing it, and thieves love to see women carry those big open purses.  Crowded check-out lines make it very easy to reach in and grab your wallet that may carry all your cash and credit cards – even your check book and ID’s.
• Also, once you arrive home and wrap those presents to put under the tree, make sure they are not near a big window with the curtains open.  Thieves scoping your house will watch until that stash of gifts fills up, and then wait for you to go off to that office Christmas party, as they treat themselves to all your holiday treasures!

So keep the Grinch out of your holidays, and have yourself a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy Hanukah!