Five important words

 I was so pleased this Christmas to receive a book from my Grandson Nathan. It is A Promised Land, written by former President Barack Obama. I am a huge fan of Obama. I was just into a couple of chapters when he wrote something so important. 

Obama said throughout his younger years he struggled to find the thing to convince him that he was on the right path, or at least moving in the right direction.  He was not entirely sure. His mother had taught him the importance of thinking about others and the importance of the civil rights movement. He also experienced racism when he worked to help poor people to get ahead in Chicago. 

Then he wrote something so important. He said he came to believe in "the basic decency of people". Wow. That is a generous thought. I wish more people would see that. Thank goodness that important people still believe in things like that.

I am so happy to have this book.

Yes, winter is here in Sudbury

 I get a kick out of seeing Jennifer work so hard as your typical mom and housekeeper.

I snapped a photo recently of Jenn in her jammies cleaning snow off the porch after the first big snowfall in Sudbury. There was a time that Jenn seemed shy about being the subject of my photographs, but these days I think she just accepts that I always have a camera handy for when I see good things happening. 

The best visit

 So Christmas is approaching, but this year things seem just so different. I haven't put up a tree or anything like that, but thank goodness that Jennifer has. She has two trees up at the house; one in the living room and one in the rec room. She has also put up a tree and many decorations at the camp. It's nice.

I was so pleased that Neil visited us last week from Vancouver. It was just the best visit ever.   We spent a week laughing, drinking, eating great food and enjoying each other's company. 

Jennifer invited both of us to head to camp for an evening. I was surprised at how much fun it was, especially with a fabulous salmon steak dinner. I enjoyed listening to Jenn and Neil discussing the best ways to cook the salmon, the asparagus and the little roasted potatoes.  It is so amazing -- and entertaining -- to think about how my little kids became such brilliant adults. I take no credit. But I love seeing them, listening to them, being with them.