Surprise Kiss

Archive for the ‘Family’ Category

Yesterday I talked about our family tradition of lighting the candles. After everyone has eaten and we are more stuffed than the turkey could ever be. We will sit down to watch a wonderful Hallmark movie of a courageous woman and her son. This is based on an incredible true story set in 1944 during World War II.

The mother and son are in an isolated cabin in Germany’s Ardennes forest. Three American soldiers and three German soldiers are forced to confront the realities of war, face to face, person to person. What they discover is the true meaning of courage and true spirit of a blessed night. What I enjoyed so much was how undaunted this woman was no matter what was thrown at her. She stood her ground.

The name of the movie is “Silent Night” You may be able to pick it up at your local Hallmark store or I got it at: www.amazon.com

If you are looking for something a little different to watch, I highly recommend that you get this and cuddle up with your spouse and family to watch this wonderful movie.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2009 – 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Thanksgiving is only two days away. Grocery shopping, cleaning house, cooking and setting the table, it is the beginning of the holiday season and festivities. I enjoy this time of the year even though it can get a little hectic. It is a time of family traditions, love, spending time together and being thankful for what we have.

Some families always go to one specific house and have the same recipes every single Thanksgiving. Then they sit down to play games, watch football on TV or a movie.  While others will do something different every year, we are more like the latter group. Last year I served ham and this year it will be a turkey. One year we even served lasagna thanks to my mother. Too many hours and too much stress at work to have to worry about Turkey and all the condiments. This year we won’t have the usual stuffing. I plan on fixing a butternut, sweet potato stuffing with toasted walnuts that I seen in the November Southern Living Magazine along with some stir fried green beans with mushrooms and butter. We will have pumpkin pie homemade by my 87 year old mother. They are always delicious.

Even though we change the food and sides every year we still have our traditions. I try to set a beautiful table with candles at each plate. We gather around the table to say a Thanksgiving prayer before we head to the buffet table to pile our plates. Once everyone has sat down I will start our family tradition that I heard about a while back after hearing a Christian speaker talk about her family tradition of the candle ceremony. Her name is Emily Barnes and she has written many books about organization, family and prayer. Look her up on www.amazon.com. You may want to try this tradition.  I light the candle of the person who is setting to the right of me and say why I am thankful to have them in my life. The lighter is then handed to that person and they will light and say something that they appreciate about the person next to them. Around the table as each candle is lit there is a smile left on the person who has received the thankfulness from the person to their left until all the candles are lit. There is a glow and peacefulness that is felt by everyone there and it isn’t totally coming from the candle light. Thank you, Emily, for a wonderful way to show your love and thankfulness during this season.

This is a nice tradition when there aren’t that many people at the Thanksgiving table but when there are too many people and you can’t always sit together. If you have time before the big day sit down with your family and have them help you write a one liner about why you are thankful for each person who will be dinning with you. You will be teaching your children to look for the good in a person. Your kids will feel good about themselves because they are saying something nice about someone and everyone will feel loved by your family.

What ever you do whether it is going to grandmother’s house or out to dinner take time to be thankful for what you have. Your wonderful family and each of their differences it is what makes them special. Most importantly don’t forget to be thankful for your spouse.

After everyone is gone why not have your own candlelight ceremony with your spouse. Leave a little card in your spouses underwear draw in the morning. Men can write on the card, “I’d like to show you how thankful I am to be with you tonight by lighting a glow inside you.” Ladies can write on the card, “I’d like to show you how thankful I am to be with you tonight by lighting your candle.” Ah, the traditions of love and Thanksgiving.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2009 – 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Yesterday I wrote about the importance of having an emergency kit in the event there is a flu disaster. I started to think about it. What happens when the kids are sick and you need to stay home to take care of them and there is no date night! You can’t even have a babysitter come in to help you. So why not have a “Family Date Night Kit?”

Have fun with idea and be prepared. Most of these ideas you can pick up when they are on sale so it shouldn’t cost too much. This “Family Date Night Kit” could also be used if you are stuck in the house because of bad weather.

1. Get a couple of new games that the whole family can play. When everyone has been stuck in the house and they are bored pull out one of the games and get down on the floor and have fun.
2. Have new pajamas that you can give as the person starts to feel better. Nothing feels better than putting on something new even if it is just pajamas. It will help them feel better. Or you could give everyone new pajamas one night because you have all been stuck in the house and have a fashion show.
3. Get two or three new videos that you can pull out when the kids are saying there is nothing to do.
4. If you have a fireplace and it is cold outside roast marshmallows and have hot chocolate.
5. Get new bottles of bubble bath and let the kids play with some new bath toys if they are young enough. For older kids and mom and dad get some nice bath salts and lotions. I always feel better after a long warm soak in the tub.
6. Make plans for next summer vacation. Decide where you would like to go before you are stuck in the house. Purchase a travel book, maps and get ideas from the internet on your destination and have everyone sit around the table and decide what they want to do and see. If you have AAA you can get some of these things for free!
7. Have coloring books, story books, puzzles on hand too. My daughter liked to do crossword puzzles and find a word books. I tried to keep new ones on hand when she started to feel better.
8. Take turns with your spouse to grab the other kids who aren’t sick and go for a walk, to the museum or playground. Get some fresh air and try to make the best of it.

Remember it is important for you and your spouse to keep your sanity. Try to give each other a break, even if it is closing the master bedroom door and taking a long bath and reading a good book for an hour or so. What would be even nicer is if you can have the other go out alone for awhile and the other spouse takes care of the kids. You could take turns doing this.

And of course, try to make time for each other while all of this is going on. After the kids are asleep play your favorite music, have something nice to drink and relax together.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2009 – 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

A couple of weeks ago I TIVOed Dr Oz and he talked about the importance of keeping your family safe from the swine flu. He gave a list of what we can do in the event there is a flu disaster and told everyone to pass it on to friends and family. I also found an article from www.whnt.com that I liked and wanted to pass on to you.  We need to be prepared for the worst-case-scenario.

No matter were you live we are always being told to have an emergency kit and plan for an impending disaster. Do you have an emergency kit and plan in case the swine flu ends up being a disaster? So far the flu has been fairly mild and can be kept at bay by washing your hands and staying home if you or your children are sick.

Family is important and if you want to keep you and your family healthy why not have a swine flu emergency preparedness plan.

1. School closure plan:

Have a plan if your kids school closes. Who will stay home? Can a relative watch the kids? Plan ahead and know how you and your spouse will handle this situation.

2. Have a stash of medical supplies:

Extra tissues, over the counter cold and flu remedies.

Try to get one month supply of your prescription and vitamins your family uses regularly. If you can’t get an extra month supply because of your insurance company policy then get refills as soon as you can. You don’t want to be down to your last pill when the crisis comes.

Have Fluids with electrolytes, they can help keep sick people hydrated properly so they can get better quickly and with fewer complications.

Make sure you have alcohol-based hand sanitizer on hand.

Fever reducers for children.

Surgical masks just in case you’re taking care of someone in your home with a highly-contagious flu.

3. Have a stash of food and household requirements that would last you for two weeks:

Businesses might close and you don’t want to be caught without toilet paper in the house. You want to be self-sufficient.

4. Keep up with health news:

Your local health department and schools may be able to add you to a list to receive email alerts in your area. The CDC has a website with an overview of the current nation-wide situation:  www.cdc.gov/hln1flu/

5. Stay home if you’re sick, and have your kids stay home if they are sick:

You and your children will recover faster when you stay home and rest.

6. Prepare to care for sick family members at home:

The CDC recommends caring for kids with the swine flu in a separate room with good air ventilation. Open the window if you can keep the room warm. Check the CDC’s website for up-to-date recommendations.

7. Wash your hands! Make it a habit!

Research confirms that by far the best way to avoid infection of any virus or bacteria is to wash your hands often. Make sure your whole family does this. Always keep alcohol-based hand sanitizer in your purse, car and in your desk at work. Have your husband and kids do the same.

I am not trying to panic you but it makes sense to be prepared just in case. I am not a doctor so please talk to your doctor about this list. I am sure he or she could add things to it.

Most importantly, love yourself and your family. Stay healthy!

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2009 – 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Do you ever wish that you could create a website for those special moments in your life together that your family or friends could look at? Well there is a website that helps you tell a life story of milestones and memories to be treasured for generations.

You pay a one time fee of only $55 or $5 a month for 12 months. Once full payment is received the website will remain online forever.

It is a unique way to celebrate those special moments. The website categories that are available are:

• Birth of a baby
• Wedding anniversary
• Birthday
• Life Story

Your website will be assigned a unique Internet address which includes the name of the person who the website is dedicated to. The site can be accessed directly by using the internet address. You can choose to keep your website private with a password you select or make it public for all to see. It is up to you. It takes approximately two minutes to create the site. Afterward, you will be able to add and edit content at any time.

Check out their website: www.celebration-of.com

I have not used this website but thought it is something you might be interested in. It is inexpensive and unique and would make a memorable gift that lasts forever.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2009 – 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.