Mixed feelings...

Happy belated Feast of the Holy Family!  Prayers to all of you for your families!    Nothing much happening here... except with the hot to cold, then hot to cold again has taken its toll on many people, and some (like me) have a bit of a cough.  Oh well - not a big deal.  Lots to offer it up for.   We lost a few soldiers this past weekend.  I'm sure you have heard about them in the news.  Please keep their families in mind.  To lose a loved one at around this time of the year will change memories of Christmas for their families forever... especially for the young children.  One Chaplain commented to me that one of the fallen, whenever he would see the Catholic Chaplain in the field, would be very insistent in receiving the Blessed Sacrament.  Though I never knew any of them, I hear that they were good men.  May they rest in peace and may their families find healing and consolation in Our Lord.     A bunch of 'thank you' shout outs here... Thanks Danielle for posting on the blog and letting me know about Chiara... I am praying for her.  Please say hello to her for me.  Thanks J.L. for the socks and the 'snow in a box'!  We're planning to have the 'snowfall' sometime soon.  I'll try and take photos.  To the DLSCC - thank you for the package you sent me!  I was really happy to see the new brochure and especially to get that letter from the D. family!  To the M.-B. family... thank you for your letters!  I apologize for not having been able to write back, but I'm trying to fix that all this week.  To D.McC - I'll try and get down to an email to you as soon as I can.  Merry Christmas to you all!  You are in my thoughts and prayers.   Here's a pic of me in a nice cafe... believe it or not... right here in Theatre.  We have few places to 'escape' to.  Some nations try and build little 'oases' like these on base so we can feel like we're human for a little while, and are having a coffee in a place far from here.  Look at the pic... the only thing that would give away that the coffee bar (That looks alot like a Starbucks or a Second Cup) is the 'decor' in the background.  Can you guess what that wooden structure is and what function it serves?   Anyhow - New Year's is upcoming!  A small reminder to my students - there are only 2 Holy Days of Obligation (that don't fall on a Sunday) in the Canadian calendar.  Can you remember what those days are?  OK - one is Christmas, the other on Jan 1.  What is the proper name of that Feast Day and Holy Day of Obligation?  (I hope you remember!  Hint: It has alot to do with Our Lady... and a private school in Toronto is named after Our Lady using this title of this Feast Day).  Please remember to head out to Holy Mass on that day!  What way to best 'ring in the New Year' than in celebrating and offering it up to Our Lord at Holy Mass?  ;)  God Bless and talk to you soon!  If I don't greet you before New Year... Happy New Year!!!