Time Flies Way too Quickly

Craziness...that is all I can say. Hard to believe it has been a whole year since I last blogged. Unacceptable, I say. The past year has been a year of ups and downs. A year of great events and a year of a great loss. Where to begin...hmmm...last Christmas?

Christmas 2009 was different than previous years. Kendra was living in South Africa and far away from us on Christmas day. Also, Grandma W was having more difficulties due to her age which prevented us from having her to Mom and Dad's for Christmas. Still, the rest of us celebrated Christmas in true Hallman form...way too much food, noisiness and lots and lots of laughter. Oh yeah, there were definitely lots of presents and a phone call to Kendra.

The weekend before Christmas, the Listowel Mennonite Church presented Marketplace: An Advent Journey. When it stated back in the 1990s, it was held each year but now it is every other year. Each of us has been a participant at some point through the multiple productions. This year was the first year Liam had the opportunity to see what keeps Grandma so very very preoccupied the month leading up to Christmas. I was the lucky one that got to take Liam on his first advent tour. After waiting for two extremely long hours in the Church Auditorium, it was finally our turn to celebrate the "First Noel".

We travelled back in time and meet some very old biblical characters. We meet the Prophet Isaiah who foretold of Christ's birth. Mary and Elizabeth rejoiced in their shared excitement of being with Child. Then it was time to be counted by the Census Taker as we were approaching the "Little Town of Bethlehem". After a few moments of rest and relaxation at the Inn where we were informed that there was "no more room at the Inn" and that a young couple was being situated "Away in a Manger", we were then off to pay our taxes and enter "Royal David's City".
And what to our wondering eyes in the marketplace were shops galore bartering everything from nuts, to rope to frankincense to olives to fish weavings. With our bag of 50 coins, we were able to peruse the marketplace looking for treasures resembling those from that time period. Mom was the organizer of the marketplace section of the tour. It was here that Liam decided that he was entitled to the "family discount" at the Weaving Shop. Man, did he try to barter. Shepherds came in search of a baby and guided us to the Manager where the young couple known as Mary and Joseph had just given birth to Jesus complete with sheep and Spanky the donkey, what "Friendly Beasts" they were. What a great way to celebrate the Christmas story. Liam went back on the Sunday evening and had just a great a time then as he did in the afternoon.

Winter flew by and before we knew it, spring had arrived. With spring came a great loss to our family. Grandma W, who was my last remaining Grandparent passed away. I can't believe it has been many many months since that last week of April when we said our last goodbyes to her. She is very much missed. Hard to believe that we can't pick up the phone to call her and tell her what we have been up to and to see how she is doing. As much as it was difficult for all of us here during her visitation and funeral, it was even more difficult for Kendra who was still living in South Africa. Thankfully, we were able to make a phone call to her about 12 hours before Grandma died and that she was able to share one last conversation with Grandma. I am ever so thankfully to have had 34 years with such a wonderful Grandma.

Seven people + two vehicles + whole bunch of maps= family vacation. Kendra was returning from South Africa to Akron, PA at the end of July and we, the entire family ventured down to pick her up. The family vacation was two-fold: pick up Kendra and to do some travelling around Pennsylvania and to Washington DC. Let's just say it was definitely challenging coordinating seven peoples' moods, needs and wants. Pennsylvania is the first North American ancestral home for both my mom and dad's families. The Webers(mom's side) arrived from Switzerland approximately in 1717 and the Hallman's arrived shortly thereafter from Germany. While the Webers settled close to the Lancaster Area, the Hallmans situated themselves closer to Philadelphia. On our trip, we were able to connect with my mom's cousins and their families in New Holland, PA and spent a wonderful evening of fellowship at the original Weber Farm. We were also, able to visit the family cemetery that day.

After spending several enjoyable days in the Lancaster area, home of the Amish and the best food around, we ventured off to Washington DC. What a contrast from the slower paced Lancaster County to the increased speed of the large metropolis of DC. Horse Buggies vs. Washington Metro...no comparison. Two days was not enough time to thoroughly soak in the history and vastness of the city. Yes, I paid homage to Lincoln and Washington, tried to visit the Obama's(they were not home or maybe they just didn't answer the door when I knocked), played an anthropologist with my mother at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and had to make a tough decision to cheer for either the Washington Nationals or the Philadelphia Phillies at a ball game. I got to see the gorgeous Hope Diamond, walk the National Mall in the rain, and last but not least, give a witness statement to the Washington Metro Police and Maryland Police. I wonder what ever happened to the cabbie.

On our way home, we were making another family pilgrimage to Trappe, PA...the home of Hallmans. Anthony Hallman, the first Hallman in North America, was part of building the first Lutheran Church in North America. We were in for a real treat that Sunday afternoon. The original church building is only used for services in the Summer and for Christmas Eve. As we arrived after the morning service, we had the opportunity to check out the interior of the Church. It was pretty amazing.

Family vacation over, time to settle into the last half of the year. Work, work and more work. Again, the months have flown by and now Christmas is on our door step yet again. It seems the older one gets, the faster the months fly by. Is it because we understand the concept of time, unlike young children who are oblivious to the 24 hour clock? Or is it our fast paced, jam packed lifestyle that we fall victim too that causes us to wish our time away. The complexities of being an adult in an ever increasing fast paced global community. We try to cram too many activities into too short a time span. No new hours have been added to the clocks yet we continue to add more and more activities to fill the time. So much gets lost in our fast paced shuffle. Oh to be a child some days.

As busy as the Christmas season is, I think that Christmas is a season of rejuvenation, hope, joy, peace, thanksgiving. and above all else love. We need to take some time for ourselves now because as soon as January 1st hits, we will be inundated with our New Year resolutions. Going to the Gym, finding a new hobby, refocusing priorities at work and family obligations. Christmas falls on the heels(more so for our American Neighbours) on Thanksgiving. I think the feeling of being thankful should extend year round but it seems the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, great focus is given to being thankful. What are you thankful for this year? Thankful you still have a job. Thankful you have good health. Thankful for your family and friends. Thankful that you have food to eat and a place to call home. Just listen to Josh Groban's song "Thankful" and you will be reminded how very "thankful" we should be. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2M0GQOgYGg&feature=related We are truly blessed to live in one of the most affluent countries in the world.

My challenge to you, is to reach out to someone in need and share your thankfulness at being so blessed. I, myself, am going to volunteer through work with the Salvation Army and participate in packaging up toy and food hampers for the less fortunate here in London. I am a little apprehensive yet excited to be doing this. Apprehensive because I have been warned how heart wrenching it is to see so many families that need this assistance. Excited because I know how generous Londoners are with donating toys and food for this program. This is my meagre way of giving to those less fortunate than myself. Step outside your comfort zone and share your gifts, talents and time. Think of all the Joy, Hope, Peace, Love and Thankfulness you are going to provide to others in this holiday season. What a truly wonderful world we live in and contribute to.

Let the countdown begin.....the Christmas countdown that is!

Wow, it is hard to believe that Christmas is less than 3 weeks away. Time, surely, is going to fly by between now and the best day of the year. But it is not the one day that is special, it is the entire Christmas season. For some people, the Christmas season starts November 1st. As they take down their Halloween decorations, they replace them with Christmas ones. For me, that seems to long to be focused on Christmas. Rather once December 1st hits, then it is time to bring out the decorations and start listening to Christmas music. Let the Christmas spirit take over and create a season of peace and joy for everyone.

Christmas conjures up many wonderful memories and traditions in my life. Some have evolved over time and some are brand new. One of the newest traditions in my family is for my mom, sisters and I to exchange Christmas ornaments. It is so much fun to seek out the perfect ornament for the others. Some of the more creative ones have poured their heart and love into creating beautiful homemade ornaments. Others have been bought at places like Bronners in Frankenmuth and The Pottery Barn and Ten Thousand Villages. My tree has some beautiful decorations on it. This year, we will be doing the ornament exchange in July when Kendra returns. She has informed me that she has purchased her ornaments at the Christmas Bazaar at the school she is working at in South Africa......do they make Christmas giraffe ornaments....lol I guess I will have to wait and see....man, July is a long time to wait and I am not very good at waiting. Yikes, what am I to do?

Christmas baking.....hmmmm.....I can smell my mom's kitchen now. Gingerbread, Finnish butter cookies, Pecan crisps, Sugar cookies, Peanut butter tassies, and so many more. My father enjoys the job of being the professional taste tester, a position, I am sure, he relishes. My sisters and I also contribute to the baking with some cookies and squares. I, myself, have always liked doing a cookie exchange and seeing what wonderful treats that I receive from the others participating. I better figure what cookies I am going to bake this year. Lots of time browsing through the multitude of cookbooks and cooking magazines I have.

Now Christmas would not be Christmas without the annual viewing of the "National Lampoons Christmas Vacation". As silly as the movie is, it is one of highlights of the Christmas season. This past week, it has been on TV every night and sometimes twice. It is a movie that never gets old....lol. Every year, I ask my dad if he is going to watch it and every year he states he is not watching that "ridiculous movie" and he has already seen it and only watches movies once. Without fail, he ends up watching it and laughs and laughs and laughs. No worries, I have secured a copy of this movie on DVD, so there will always be an opportunity for him to watch this movie if it ever is not aired on TV. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZx6Xg6KJDw

Music, whether traditional carols or contemporary Christmas songs, always make "the season bright". When taking piano lessons, the highlight of the year was learning new Christmas songs to play on the piano. The Readers Digest published the best and most concise Christmas Songbook. I wish I could find another copy as my mom's copy has been so battered and finds itself in pretty fragile state. In elementary school, back in the day, when it was ok to celebrate Christmas, we had carol sing a longs in the gym. Participating in the school choir, also, gave us the opportunity to learn less traditional Christmas songs. While a participant in the High school choir, we spent a day travelling from one elementary school to another to another and so on and performed a Christmas concert for the students. It was at one of these concerts, that my friend Athena discovered a very cute guy...lol.....she was in elementary school and he was in the high school choir. The ironic twist to all this, is that guy happens to be the brother of one of our other good friends, Cindy. It was funny when Athena found out the connection. Maybe for Athena, this is a good Christmas memory...lol.

I know that there is so much more I could relay in this blog about Christmas but I will wrap it here for now. I will in the next few days or weeks blog more about the best time of the year. I think that is appropriate that I end this with the following set of lyrics. I feel it sums up everything so perfectly. As a fan of "Christmas Vacation", I could not resist. LOL.....I can hear you all humming/singing a long.

It's that time, Christmas time is here

Everybody knows there's not a better time of year

Hear that sleigh, Santa's on his way

Hip, Hip Hooray, for Christmas Vacation

Gotta a ton of stuff to celebrate

(jing-a-ling-a-ling-a-ling-ling)

Now it's getting closer I can't wait

(jang-a-lang-a-lang-a-lang-lang)

Gonna make this holiday as perfect as can be

Just wait and see this Christmas Vacation

Happy Birthday Dad!

It certainly has been a long time since I wrote my first blog entry. So I thought it was about time I got back into blogging. So for today, I am going to blog about my dad as it is his birthday. That's right...he is the big 62. Now where do I begin writing about my dad as there is sure to be lots to say.

My dad is incredibly unique, in a good way though. There is no one quite like him and if you have meet him, I am sure you will agree. He always has a lot to say in a very animated way. He is bound to bring laughs to those he is attempting to entertain. When I know one of my friends is having a bad day and needs a laugh, I know that a story about my dad will be the fix for her. One moment that comes to mind happened not that long ago. My mom's cousin Don, his wife Dianne and their son Danny stopped by for a quick visit. My dad had just arrived home from working for the day at a friend of his. Apparently, my dad's hearing loss got the better of him that day. Clarence, his friend, had placed a flower pot out on his lawn. My dad thought he understood that Clarence wanted the pot taken to end of the laneway. So my dad took the pot to the end of the lane and came back to find Clarence looking for his flower pot. What Clarence really wanted my father to do was to check for the newspaper that lands there when it is delivered. One just had to hear the way my dad described the event. Everyone had a great laugh at my father's expense and he didn't seem to mind. My father certainly has a gift for telling a story, some maybe short but most are tall tales.

Well, for some strange reason, flower pots seem to have a way of finding a spot into my father's life in a comical manner. Although, I can assure you all, my father, would not see it quite the same as I do.
Many many years ago, when I was about 8 or so, my parents had purchased 5 tickets to the Garden Brothers Circus at the KW Aud. My sister Kris, my cousin Melissa and I were going to be in for a big treat that day. This was the day that my father, inadvertenly, unbeknownst to himself and those around him, joined the circus. After watching the trapeze artists, the horses, elephants and lions, tight rope walkers, it was time to bring the clowns. No, my dad, did not become a clown. As much as my father can get rather silly on occasion, he is hardly clown material. Rather, what did occur, involved my father's interaction with one the clowns. With the spotlight on him for all to see, the rather jolly clown, asked my father to get up from his seat and stand in the aisle. The clown proceeded to hand my father a big flower pot to hold while the clown sat down and his seat and pretended to have a conversation with my mom. The flower pot was to be a gift for my mom. The clown stood up to get the flower pot from my dad and then the comedy began. The clown and my father played a game of tug of war with the flower pot. To a few little girls, this was exciting stuff. Who would have ever thought their dad/uncle would have been in such a public spectacle.

He, also, could be considered the "Tim the Toolman Taylor" of Listowel minus the tools. For some reason, he finds the oddest ways to end up in the Emergency Room at the hospital with the weirdest of the injuries. These incidences as scary as they are, always have some humourous moments. The last time, he went to the hospital for a black eye he received from tripping over a bucket on a digger, he ended up being hooked up to a heart monitor and they wanted to keep him over night. But leave it to my dad, he insisted that he was fine and he was capable of driving the 5 blocks home as he was not drunk. Not really sure why he advised the nurse that he was not drunk....but that is my dad...lol

What else can I say about my dad......well, he is a bit of an outsider in our family. He is the lone Montreal Canadiens fan. Not sure what he is thinking by cheering for "Les Habitants". It should be the old blue and white that he should be cheering for. We, the rest of the family, seem to find ways to help him with the cause by supplying him with Canadiens memorbilia along with teasing him at the same time. Liam, my nephew, is an avid Leafs fan and finds it quite a hoot when the topic of the Leafs and Canadiens comes up. Also, he is the lone male in the family, other than my nephew. I think that might be the reason the dogs we have had in the family are male. He needs someone on his side. You have to give him credit though for having to put up with 5 females. Maybe having four daughters has been a good thing for my dad. We allow him to show his emotional side from time to time. I recall that when my sister Kris and I left for our Choral Tour to Europe, my father had tears in his eyes as we broaded the bus for Pearson Airport. On the other hand, my mom was so excited, I think she just about hopped on the bus to go with us. Around holiday time, my dad gets really sentimental and wants all of his family at home. I think that he got this trait from his father. My grandfather was huge proponent of holidays and family togetherness.

I don't want everyone to get the impression that my dad is always a comedian because he certainly has moments of seriousness. Actually many moments of seriousness. When one of us girls comes to him with particular matters such as car problems, he goes at them with a vengenance. Sometimes we think, he doesn't care but the next thing we know we are getting a call from him with his advice/instructions on what should be done. He was even one of the few dads that actually went on school field trips with us back in the day. He was a chaperone on a trip to a newly renovated dairy farm for my grade five trip and he went on a grade eight class trip to the Sky Dome with Kendra. He also likes to impart his wisdom on life in general to his daughters whether it is wanted or not. I strongly believe that he does this from the bottom of his heart and that is he proud of each one of us for our accomplishments. He may not say it in so many words as he is not one to share it with us. But each of us girls knows how important we are to him and how also important he is to each one of us. All of us has our favourite moments we have shared with him and look forward to sharing many more of these moments especially those with laughs involved. Thanks Dad for adding so much to our lives. And on that note, "Happy Birthday Dad"!

Firsts

Ok, so I am not really sure what exactly I am doing by blogging. Not really my style....but it may be an easy way to share what is happening in the world around me. Maybe it is more so, to keep Kendra, my little sister, current with the happenings of the family. Kendra has just left for an 11th month stay in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, where she will be working with MCC(Mennonite Central Committee and Project Gateway). I know that she will enjoy every moment she is there. I hope that she is able to take in so many wonderful experiences and in turn share them with her family and friends. I am looking forward to seeing many many pictures and to hear countless stories of her adventures. You can check her blog out at http://southafricanzuluadventures.blogspot.com/. Or maybe the real reason for blogging is to help my mom with her blog. Kendra was were technical assistance when it comes to things of this nature. So to be able to help my mom, I figured I better figure out how blogger works and what better way of doing so, then starting my own blog.

Since this is my FIRST blog, I thought I would tackle the concept of first. It is such a commonplace word. To many people, first has many meanings. For me.....I am the first born, the first daughter and the first granddaughter in my family. An important spot to be....I think so. I was the first to go to school. My birthday is in the first month of the year. I was the first to graduate highschool. Sorry Kris, my name comes before yours alphabetically.

Firsts for many new parents are exciting....the first time your child does something is incredible(just a bit of an educated hunch). I am only an observer in the world of parenting as I watch my sister and close friends raise their children and witness some of these firsts. I chuckle as I recall the first time, my friend gave her little 18 month old a bit of a tangy dill pickle. The moment was indeed priceless as we watched the little puckering of the mouth and the wince in the eyes. My friend and I stood back and continued to watch as Ayla proceeded, puckered mouth and all to finish her piece of pickle. And then, to our amazement, she wanted more.

My nephew Liam, who is 10 sometimes lets us, his family share in many of his firsts. And let me tell you, as an avid sports fanatic.....he is extremely competitive and for him, it is all about winning. I know it is not always about winning but for a kid, it is a very hard concept to grasp. First is so often classified as being the "best" and being a "winner". And what kid doesn't want to be the best or a winner? Certainly not Liam. This year, is the first year that Liam has played baseball. And what a summer it has been for him. His first foray into the world of ball has been astounding. He has gone above and beyond in helping his team garner first place in his league. He was invited to participate in a Recognition Game for the Niagara Mosquitos League. My parents and I made the trip to Niagara Falls to watch the game. And yes, Liam's team won.

Not only do we see firsts with little kids but adults as well. I recall a few months back, while visiting my 86 year Grandma at her nursing home, I showed her my cellphone. The look on her face was of pure astonishment. "How can that possible be a phone?" she said. Her concept of a phone is what she has in her room sitting on her nightstand and plugged into a phone jack. What amazed her even more was when I proceded to take her picture and then showed it to her. The other night, my mom and I visited her and were telling her about Kendra's adventures and how we along with Kris and Kendra had a conference call on Skype. For the life of her, my grandmother could not fathom the idea that all four of us could be in different cities and have a conversation via a computer all at the same moment. What I really waiting to do, is to have my Grandma participate in a conversation with Kendra via the computer. I am sure that this may confuse her somewhat but life is always full of firsts.

Now back to Kendra. She may not be the first born, or even the second or third born in our family. She is, however, the first to move overseas to live. That is a great accomplishment. So often, growing up, I think she may have gotten a little lost in the shuffle and I know for a fact tormented by her older sisters. Rest assured, she may have brought some of that torment on herself. Now, we can sit back and watch her many firsts. Firsts that not a single one of us can ever take away from her. Way to go Kendra. I am so thrilled for you. Wish I could be there too.

First, as commonplace, as it may be, is also rather unique. It has been the very essence of all historical events. It is the start of something that can become a major force in our world. Take the first airplane flight by the Wright Brothers. Where would air transportation be if the Wright Brothers didn't take the chance to be the first? Think about some of the firsts in your own life. Some are momumental while others are minor. They all hold meaning of some nature. So take time to enjoy your first cup of coffee in the morning or the first star you see at night. As I conclude this blog, I am looking forward to many more firsts in my own life and as well as being an observer to many firsts in the lives of my family and close friends. It is a wonderful experience.