It began a couple years ago, as a way to make Christmas fun and unique. Snowflakes, each one is unique and so the tradition was born. In 2006 we had a paper snowflake contest, and each year the competition is turned up a few notches. In 2007 word went out to create a unique snowflake and win a prize. Brandon, Rachael, Josh and Madeline each brought their own creations and the voting resulted in a tie, broken by a debate and the money was handed out.
And so that everyone would be included that visited, Snowflake pajama’s were given out to one and all. Thanks to everyone that came over, called, played, and sang!
Here’s a group shot of the kiddo’s:
This year once again my wife Kathy created a new snowflake contest and in less than a month, we’ll gather and check out all the entries, vote, and someone will walk away with some extra cash!
What unique and special or weird traditions does your family do?
This is from my archives, originally posted November, 2005. Happy Thanksgiving.
Attitude. It really makes all the difference. I spoke with a Doctor client of mine recently and she told me how she is making less and less due to health insurance cutbacks. That may be a reality but there is a silver lining to that storm and I hope she finds it. Everyday I come across folks with a great attitude and those with a rotten attitude. It makes no difference how much money they make, or what they drive, or any of those external circumstances.
Now, I must admit, that I am generally positive but can develop a bad attitude at times. The key is to be able to see the silver linings, and realize that you have the power to change. And the rest of the power is in God’s hands. (It’s always better to work with God, not against Him).
Kathy and I were talking this past week about laughter and how important it is in our lives. I urge you to fill your lives with a little laughter, it’s wonderful for your heart, soul and attitude.
Life has not been easy for Josh, but despite it all he has a strength that lives one day at a time with an eye on the future and a heart for others.
A couple years ago when I turned 50 about 3 weeks after Josh turned 25 it was a time of reflection for me as I looked back on all that I had been thru since I was his age and I was excited for both of us.
Wondering what the next 25 years will hold.
To give you a sense of who he is, here’s a brief video from a few years ago:
I wonder if teenage rebellion has been around forever?
December 11, 1972 is when I officially became a teen.
For some reason I thought that the 1960’s or 1950’s were the decades that it all started.
I was wrong.
It has been a part of the growing process since the beginning of time.
Having been a Dad to 3 plus Stepdad to 2 more, I’ve learned that when those times come, hang on.
Hold your ground as a parent, but let them spread their wings too.
You don’t want to become their BFF (Best Friend Forever).
They need a grown up to be the support and foundation.
One day, they will look at you with fresh eyes and you will not be the “scum of the earth that ruined their life”.
You’ll be the grandparent, or the adviser, or parent/adult/friend that loves them despite all their screw ups and they will love you back despite all your screw ups too.
Now there are no guarantees that they will stop rebelling as some never do, but it’s a two-way street and if you try and hold them too close, they’ll always try and break free.
For some that rebellion starts at age 2… for some it ends at age 50…
But even in those darkest hours, I’ve discovered while they won’t say it to your face, they still love you and want you as Mom or Dad.
29 years before I was born, Donald Fredrick Howard was born in Maine. The 2nd son and third of four children to my grandparents whom I never met because they both passed away before I was born.
In 1998, he passed away after a short battle with cancer. He was 67 at the time.
In those 37 years that he was my Dad, he had his principles. And just like the rest of us, he made his mistakes. But he is remembered more for the impact on the lives of those who knew him.
He was patriotic. He served in the Navy. He took me to parades on Memorial Day and the 4th of July and passed along a respect for those who served and for the country that they served.
I’m not sure what he would say exactly if he saw the mess we are in today.
I know that he would be disgusted by the self-serving, lying politicians that are either in office right now, or who want to be in office.
And I echo those sentiments.
I realize that there are plenty of sincere people wanting to serve as elected officials. But it’s hard to know who is who sometimes.
All we want is truth with a minimum of distortion.
Different points of view are fine, different solutions are fine, but the spin on the truth that occurs on all levels of politics from my city to my country and around the world…
Please stop.
Next week we will have elections in my city for Mayor and other city and county offices.
The sad fact is that so many people who have the power to elect the office holders for the next four years know very little about the candidates, what the role of each office has, and how it all fits together. It is the political advertising, and to a lesser extent, debates and commentary that will persuade the voters to select one candidate over another.
I’ve only done slightly better. I have done a decent job of paying attention to all of my choices for Mayor and have spoken with 2 of the 3 who will be on the ballot next week.
I do my best to listen to as many sides of an issue as I can find and look for nuggets of truth.
There are two other notable birthdays later this month. On November 16th my friend Ron turns 70. He is surprised to have lived this long as he has now outlived his parents.
The day before, November 15th, my son Jon will be celebrating his 27th birthday, which I find hard to believe.
The future for me, my kids and their kids is in all of our hands. Each of us has an impact on others.
Seek truth in your lives for everyone’s sake.
(Picture was taken when I was 7 years old with my Dad)
This year once again my wife Kathy created a new snowflake contest and in less than a month, we’ll gather and check out all the entries, vote, and someone will walk away with some extra cash!
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