Pentatonix is an American a cappella group of five vocalists originating from Arlington, Texas. Their work, mostly in, but not limited to, the pop music style, consists of covers of pre-existing songs … Wikipedia
Megan McCormick 6 hours ago
Last year I visited the Free Clinic at the Capital District Rescue Mission.
https://talesalongtheway.com/2013/07/25/giving-hope/ Things have changed dramatically in that there is a new, larger space for the clinic. There is now an actual waiting room instead of waiting in the hall. 
A free on-site medical clinic at the Mission is staffed and administered by an experienced Nurse Practitioner and over 50 volunteer healthcare professionals to address episodic, primary care for the poor and uninsured.
From this tiny medicine room to this:
Sarah Schoof, FNP, is available on Tuesday and Friday from 10:00am to 3:00pm.
Doctors for special cases are available 3 times during the month on a rotating schedule.
There are over 100 volunteers and Sarah Schoof is still the director. There are doctors in the wider community who rotate to see patients on a regular schedule. The following is a email sent from a volunteer’s husband to his address book after going to the Christmas party.
As you see the mission still has challenges. Sarah told me that the patients being seen are up 30 % and the cost of medication, mostly generic is up 70%. This is very difficult for her budget. Please consider making a donation for these neighbors in need in the capital district. The Rescue Mission turns no one away from their “inn” at Christmas or during the year. Sarah’s contact information is at the bottom of the page. |
During my teaching career, no matter the grade, we celebrated Hanukkah and I am thinking of those children this morning. I felt it important to have the students either in New York or Arizona experience some celebrations from other cultures. We would compare and contrast Hanukkah and Christmas. . . . a celebration of a miracle, gifts, songs, food and family gatherings. Such a simple way to encourage an understanding of our differences, while hearlding the similarites in people all over the world. I would read the story of the Miracle of the Festival of Lights, eat latkes, sing and play dreidel and receive gelt or chocolate coins as prizes.
I found this silly Adam Sandler song from Saturday Night Live a few years ago. Happy Hanukkah!
I spent 10 hours at the coNSERNS-U Christmas Store shopping with parents who were there for one purpose and one purpose only. They wanted to find some gifts for each of their children to have on Christmas morning . A volunteer walks around with the client , navigates and encourages, but the choices within the parameters of age and number of children and number of gifts, is theirs. ( Each eligible child gets 2 presents and 3 pieces of clothing, 2 age appropriate books, 3 pieces of warm clothing. . . hats, gloves , scarves), stocking stuffers, and a game or two for the family. There were even bikes that were donated as gifts.
For the volunteers this was an early, priceless gift . For us seeing these dear souls with excitement in their eyes and words, experiencing the gift of Christmas by choosing gifts for their children. It was their early Christmas morning!”It is more blessed to give than receive.”
Please watch the video from Chanel 13 News in Albany. Yesterday, there was coverage by the 3 local stations. CoNSERNS-U is the only charity that does a Free Christmas Store where the clients shop for their children.The others have volunteers shopping for a family or adopting a family.
A baby, poverty, gifts, a special free gift, wise men. . . . . Christmas . . . . . Love!
I was tired but I felt blessed to have had a part in this powerful event.
Merry Christmas!
http://wnyt.com/article/stories/S3650388.shtml?cat=300
Another of my favorite places in India. . . inside a walled garden tucked away in a narrow, windy street in Amritsar, Punjab. . . . . . .
A garden is a peaceful place for relaxation, rest, and contemplation. It can also be a meeting place. Such it was in a garden, Jallianwala Bagh, in Amritsar, Punjab on Sunday, April 15, 1919. The day was one of the Punjab’s largest religious festivals. During this historical period, there was unrest and protest against the British who out of fear forbade Indian people the freedom to move around the country or meet in groups.This, too, was the case of slaves in the South before the Civil War. Plantation owners feared revolt. Slaves were not taught to read or write and could only congregate on Sundays at church. And these pronouncements in India were published only in…
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This film is one of the Bell family traditions each Christmas. . . watching it over, and over, and over again. It seems never to become tiresome! It is not to be missed, if you are not familiar with this classic. Enjoy the teases. . . . . .
Every year, I force my family to watch A Christmas Story before we fall asleep on Christmas Eve. My brother always protests that we’ve seen it a million times, but that doesn’t matter. The cheesy, goofball nostalgia has a way of making everyone feel like a kid again. The movie snuggles you up and fills you with hope that the perfect gift might be hiding under the tree for you this year.
Though as many times as I’ve made my family sit down to watch it, I didn’t know even half of these cool facts from behind the scenes. Can you imagine Jack Nicholson yelling at the Bumpasses’ bum dogs?
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Netflix has an interesting way of releasing their made for TV serials. . . . all are released at the same time which allows for binge watching! Last night we watched 3 and this afternoon 2 more episodes.
I love historical pieces and I know little of ancient China and the Moguls. Interestingly , the Moguls of Marco Polo later became the Mongols of India who contributed to architecture, culture , art , and religion of India which we enjoyed ever so much during our time there.
Obviously, we are enjoying “Marco Polo” and I recommend it to you. It shows excesses of royalty, the poverty to the common people,and struggles of fathers and sons. Sadly many of these remain unfulfilled struggles today. Here are some quotes for the dialogue that I really liked. . . .
“I must become the father I always wished my father was, but wasn’t.”
“The struggles to serve and fulfill your duty inspires strength in others and in you . ”
And I think my favorite is the dichotomy of this one:
“Pain purifies and leads to peace.”
Your thoughts?
In the midst of all the controversy about education in the United States, have you heard of this ? I really hadn’t and find this quite revealing. It is the complete opposite from the “helicopter parents,” of which I am most familiar. I just wonder how something so precious as having children has become so complicated?
I would love to hear your thoughts, experiences, and/ or have some debate!
TalesAlongTheWay 