A Year of Connections

So, here we are, the end of 2015 - 12/31/15, the 365th day of the year of connections.  And, it HAS been a year of connections.  I am so blessed to have amazing connections at home, at work, at church, in my community, even online.  I have really enjoyed this year's theme: Connections, and I have Dr. Nancy Tkacs to thank me for the inspiration.  Just think, it was three years ago, on NYE, and I was feeling a little overwhelmed by lots of things that, looking back, were not a lot, but at the time, they certainly were.  So, I thought, let me try to post a daily thought on Facebook stating why I felt Lucky that day (it was the precipice of 2013, Lucky 13 and all...)  And I made it a whole year and really enjoyed doing it.  Not only did it help me gain perspective on things, especially on rough days, but I was told (by others) that people enjoyed them as well.  And now we have done a Lucky Year, a Positive Image Year, and a Connected Year and I do not want to stop!  So, for 2016, I hope that all of my connections are reinforced, repaired (if they need it), and maybe even some new ones will be found.  But the theme for 2016 will change and we will turn the page, but just as I have felt Lucky and have tried to stay Positive in the year of Connection, I will try to continue those two and stay Connected in the coming year.  HAPPY NEW YEAR to all, and to all a GOOD NIGHT!

Phila. Zoo Connections

We have come to the penultimate day of 2015.  Day #364 of 2015, 12/30/15, was a great day.  We spent the first part of it (and a significant amount of time) at the Philadelphia Zoo.  Again I realized, as I have a lot this year, how lucky and blessed I am to live where I do and how wonderful some of the area attractions are.  I love the zoo.  I love the connections you can make with the animals as you observe them (and, often now, they you).  But I also love the connections the zoo has to my past. Even though the zoo has modernized and there are many differences in the physical structures, but, as I walked through the grounds today, I could not help but remember many of my prior trips with my family, with school, with summer camps.  I love animals and I love the zoo.  And I am really appreciative of the zookeeper who opened up a closed portion of the Small Mammal House (a critical light was burned out and there was a safety issue) so we could see the aardvarks (a current family tradition).  I also am glad that I was able to connect and share our trip with my mom via frequent FB updates.  I know there are a lot of controversies about zoos and other animals in captivity, but I think they do much more good than anything bad.  And I still miss the elephants.....

Connecting to Inspiration

12/29/15 was the last palindromic day of the year.  On day #363 of 2015, another movie must was achieved.  Sarah and I watched Invincible, which we have had from Netflix (yes, we still get the DVDs in the mail) for so long that our online account does not have it in our shipping history! Ironically, we watched this movie, which had a subplot of a charismatic college coach coming to coach the sad sack Eagles, on the day another charismatic coach was fired by the Eagles.  But, other than that connection, the connection I appreciated that was highlighted in this movie is the connection of the fans to the team.  Football is just a game.  But, for many, the Eagles provide hope when other things in their lives are not going well and, in Philadelphia in the 70s, this was really true.  All in all, it was a great story and, I have to admit, I got goosebumps at times as I made connections to the film and story as well.  I am thankful for the Winter Break when Sarah and I both have downtime to catch up on these and other films...and I am thankful for the Vince Papale story and its inspirational message.

Star Wars Connects

So today, on the 362nd day of 2015, I finally corrected a parenting wrong.  12/28/15 was the fourth day of Christmas and on this day we, as a family, completed the Original Star Wars movie trilogy.  We watched all three together this break, the last two tonight, and I loved seeing my kids' connections with the movie, asking the same questions that I had when I watched them for the first time.  Asking me what was going to happen (remarkably I remembered very little of the 3rd one) and enjoying the story and the music.  I also enjoyed the connection that the "Force " represents and that, in the end, the family connection was more powerful than evil.  I mean, I knew good prevailed, but, honestly, I did not remember the details and I think I enjoyed them more now than I did when I was younger.  Perspective helps, I guess.  Now we get to see the prequels (the girls want to know why Anakin turns to the Dark Side (I kinda want to know as well) and we can go see Episode 7 in the theaters!  GOOD NIGHT!

Great Grandma Connects

On Day #361, I was really happy.  Because we got to celebrate Sara Helen Weaver's 95th Birthday on 12/27/15.  And, as I sat in the room and watched all of the family that gathered for the celebration, I realized all of the connections that were rooted by her love, her faith, her persistence, her traditions. The room was filled with so much love and smiles that I could not stop smiling myself and feeling so thankful and blessed to have been able to be a part of her family, and the connections that this has brought into my life.

Family Game Night Connections

We spent a lot of time in a circle on 12/26/15, which is fitting because it was Day #360 of 2015!  Family Christmas Celebration in York, PA, and tradition means a lot of family games, with people in circles, laughing, playing, smiling, I love these holiday family traditions.  A good time was had by all and connections were enhanced and love flowed.  MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Family Movie Night Connections

CHRISTMAS - 12/25/15, the 359th day of 2015 and the start of the last week of the year.  This year we made a conscious decision to stay home and just chill out as a family.  We've been running a lot this season and it was nice to stay in our PJs and just watch movies.  Connecting as a family unit but also connecting to some of the classics.  For the season, Elf and the Grinch.  And for historical purposes, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Star Wars (IV).  RoJ and tESB coming up next week so I am looking forward to more connecting movie times, for the family and to the classics!  MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!!  LOVE, PEACE, HAPPINESS, and Good Night!