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It's the most wonderful time of the year.... or is it? This time of year is tough because everyone assumes that everyone is happy and that is not necessarily the case. Life marches on and doesn't know that the holidays are around the corner. Families can cause stress to make it the perfect picture. I have some memories of Christmases that fell short of perfect, some by a lot (like the year that fiancée #1 broke it off on December 23 – that was one for the books and I
was accused of "ruining" Christmas that year.) But they also hold special thoughts of how things worked themselves out. (I didn't marry him lol)

One of my family’s traditions is a holdover from the days of being a family business where we were open until late on Christmas eve so we went out for a special dinner on Christmas eve, mostly because no one was home to cook. One year, my parents got a gift certificate for a dinner at an expensive restaurant and we used it for that dinner. I was so sick I couldn't taste the food and I was upset about missing out on the deliciousness but I do remember the table next to us that spontaneously burst out in song (with a man at the table that I'm sure was an operatic baritone from somewhere) and I still think about that special moment.

So, whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Yule, Diwali or Kwanzaa, keep the thoughts of spreading happiness foremost in your mind- make someone's day brighter through a good deed or action. You don't know if they are alone, lost a close family member or fur-baby, or can't buy themselves a decent meal for the holidays so maybe that's why they are a scrooge but we can help with a smile, a kind word or action. And why save this for this time of year –
let’s try to spread good cheer all year long. Along this line, this is why we do community quilts – it spreads good will and lifts spirits. I know that there is nothing like the feeling of being blessed or by providing the blessings for someone. Embrace that feeling and know that you made someone's day.

Oh, and if you need holiday cheer and don't mind barking dogs, bleating sheep, bellowing donkeys and potentially singing children (okay young adults) you are always welcome at our house for company. Have a holiday that makes you happy,

Meegan

January

  Wed. 15 Guild Meeting: Topic to be determined.

Freedom Plains United Presbyterian Church on Route 55                                           in Lagrangeville.                     

Fri – Sun 17 – 19 FDQ Annual Retreat, Interlaken Inn in Lakeville, CT.           

 

Coming in December

          Wed. 18 FDQ's Meeting                                        

          Wed. 18 Sheri Cifaldi-Morrill will present Aurifilosophy

 Location:     

                        Freedom Plains United Presbyterian Church

                         1168 Route 55 in Lagrangeville

    Weather Cancellation Policy
If Arlington schools are closed because of winter weather, the FDQ meeting will be canceled.
School cancellations are at http://cancellations.com/ .

In addition, a meeting could be canceled
due to nasty weather late in the day, after school hours.

If a meeting is canceled, it will be posted on the website on the  Home and Activities pages .  

Also, we will try to send out an email, and/or an old-fashioned telephone tree.