A Christams Blessing from ceep gmom

[Guest guest]

Dear Brave Souls of our Grad family, post-ops, pre-ops, lurkers and posters

alike:

No matter what one's spiritual beliefs, this is the time of year we note and

celebrate the return of the Light to the darkened world. We too have returned

from a dark place via the choices we have made for better health than ever

before.

Whether you are lighting candles for Chanukah, or placing the little statue

of Light of the World Baby Jesus in the manger, or sighting the new light of

the moon commemorating Muhammad's divine enlightenment for Ramadan, or

celebrating the return of the Light during Winter Solstice, and any and all

other

practices that celebrate the existence of Love on earth.....I hope this holiday

season has laughter and good memories for you; that something of the Light is

lit

again within you too as you walk into the new year ahead. That you are

renewed in remembering 'your one wild and precious life.'

A reminder just in case too, though any of us can feel forced to become two

years old in a split second under the right/wrongg circumstances during family

gatherings, we can also resist entirely-- by turning away with a kind word, or

just a nice smile and no word at all. We are all allowed to refuse to accept

any poop on a plate, no matter who offers it, no matter how crude or fancy the

plate, no matter how prettily arranged the poop.

Also I think it is good to remember that when God was making mean people,

drunkards, and impolite and high-strung and sullen people, he made sure each

family had at least one, or all, of such persons, in order to test whether we

can

truly grow in love as time goes on.

Also, there is a saying that when God was making fools, he made too many. He

had so many left over that he had to create one whole village for them. In

some parts of the world, this village goes by the name " my family. "

But do not despair, just act in a way toward all, that AFTERWARD you can feel

you acted with honor--then all will be OK within yourself and power you hold

highest.

For me personally, it is at times like this holiday that I sorely miss having

a kind and darling mother and father to receive love from and to dote on. For

those who still have their elders, and who care for them and are cared for in

return, you are special blessed and I hope you will make many memories with

one another that are good and rich.

For all who have during this old year, braved the waves of appetite, carbs,

gnawing emotions, depression, economic fears, problem relatives, heartache,

loss, righteous anger, anxiety and all the other things most everyone deals with

in different proportions during a lifetime, never forget, you reached for the

gold ring, you reached hard and went through much--0and you claimed it. You

took an almost unspeakable risk with your life in order--to truly live. Nothing

of your new lease on health and life ought be wasted; you deserve all good

things--and I pray you will guided to the people, places and things you truly

belong to, those that nourish and support your wonderful, brave selves to the

utmost.

Ceep usually ends by saying this is her two cent's worth. But in terms of

wishing you to know some of the meanings of Love during this season of the

returning Light, it is my ka-jillion cent's worth.

This comes with love and peace for your greatest heart, your most shining

dreams-- may you have dominion over as much of your life as possible. in order

to

make those dreams come true..

ceep g-mom

The Night Before The Night Before Christmas, 2003

[Guest guest]

Bless you Ceep, Thank you for the warm, uplifting words for

Christmas. They are great reminders during this busy season. I

second your words about our parents as I have been without mine for

some time now and miss them sorely every day but especially during

the holiday season. Thank you for returning to us. Have a blessed

Christmas and a Happy, joyous New Year.

Diane

LAP RNY 9/99

> Dear Brave Souls of our Grad family, post-ops, pre-ops, lurkers

and posters

> alike:

> No matter what one's spiritual beliefs, this is the time of year

we note and

> celebrate the return of the Light to the darkened world. We too

have returned

> from a dark place via the choices we have made for better health

than ever

> before.

>

> Whether you are lighting candles for Chanukah, or placing the

little statue

> of Light of the World Baby Jesus in the manger, or sighting the

new light of

> the moon commemorating Muhammad's divine enlightenment for

Ramadan, or

> celebrating the return of the Light during Winter Solstice, and

any and all other

> practices that celebrate the existence of Love on earth.....I hope

this holiday

> season has laughter and good memories for you; that something of

the Light is lit

> again within you too as you walk into the new year ahead. That you

are

> renewed in remembering 'your one wild and precious life.'

>

> A reminder just in case too, though any of us can feel forced to

become two

> years old in a split second under the right/wrongg circumstances

during family

> gatherings, we can also resist entirely-- by turning away with a

kind word, or

> just a nice smile and no word at all. We are all allowed to refuse

to accept

> any poop on a plate, no matter who offers it, no matter how crude

or fancy the

> plate, no matter how prettily arranged the poop.

>

> Also I think it is good to remember that when God was making mean

people,

> drunkards, and impolite and high-strung and sullen people, he made

sure each

> family had at least one, or all, of such persons, in order to test

whether we can

> truly grow in love as time goes on.

>

> Also, there is a saying that when God was making fools, he made

too many. He

> had so many left over that he had to create one whole village for

them. In

> some parts of the world, this village goes by the name " my family. "

>

> But do not despair, just act in a way toward all, that AFTERWARD

you can feel

> you acted with honor--then all will be OK within yourself and

power you hold

> highest.

>

> For me personally, it is at times like this holiday that I sorely

miss having

> a kind and darling mother and father to receive love from and to

dote on. For

> those who still have their elders, and who care for them and are

cared for in

> return, you are special blessed and I hope you will make many

memories with

> one another that are good and rich.

>

> For all who have during this old year, braved the waves of

appetite, carbs,

> gnawing emotions, depression, economic fears, problem relatives,

heartache,

> loss, righteous anger, anxiety and all the other things most

everyone deals with

> in different proportions during a lifetime, never forget, you

reached for the

> gold ring, you reached hard and went through much--0and you

claimed it. You

> took an almost unspeakable risk with your life in order--to truly

live. Nothing

> of your new lease on health and life ought be wasted; you deserve

all good

> things--and I pray you will guided to the people, places and

things you truly

> belong to, those that nourish and support your wonderful, brave

selves to the

> utmost.

>

> Ceep usually ends by saying this is her two cent's worth. But in

terms of

> wishing you to know some of the meanings of Love during this

season of the

> returning Light, it is my ka-jillion cent's worth.

>

> This comes with love and peace for your greatest heart, your most

shining

> dreams-- may you have dominion over as much of your life as

possible. in order to

> make those dreams come true..

> ceep g-mom

> The Night Before The Night Before Christmas, 2003

[Guest guest]

Ceep

That was truly beautiful. May all that you have wished for us return to you

many more times over.

To all out there who have in so many ways helped so many others on this

journey (whether you know it or not), happy, healthy New Year.

Sandy

Boca Raton, FL

postop ~ 03/27/02

265/114