A Christmas message
18/12/2005

After going down to Caitlin's place on Wednesday so I could attend an important stressful appointment with her Mum, my daughter-in-law Cherece. I slept over so I could look after Caitlin on Thursday while her mum went back to work after a few weeks off. Caitlin and I worked together on a project, which is a Christmas present for Cherece "can't tell it's a secret!" After we finished, we decided she could catch the bus with me and come back to my place for a couple of night's sleepovers. Lucky her Mum and Dad agreed.

Out shopping on Friday morning, we called into an op shop, (thrift shop) and there she found a baby doll she bought straight away for $1.00 paid for out of her money. Then she found to her delight a lovely horse that sells in the shops for $30,00 it was also $1.00. Then her face lit up as she spotted hanging on the end of a rack a very beautiful tiny pink dress with butterflies on it and said " can I buy this for my baby sister?" I knew she was wondering if she had enough money for the $1.50 dress and was thinking she may have to put back the horse to buy the dress for the sister who is not due till late march 2006. She did have enough money and was thrilled with her purchases. While she didn't have to say anything, I knew she would have chosen the dress over her favorite things at the moment horses in all forms including unicorns.

What she didn't realise is, a week ago I would have talked her out of this, as we were still waiting for doctors reports as to the health of this baby and only found out last Wednesday that things are looking much brighter then they were a week ago. On Saturday when she showed her Mum her purchase it was a very special moment. Cherece had not allowed herself to become very attached to this baby she is carrying. This moment and this dress will always be so special for two generations of Bowden women and one little girl and her baby sister.

Presents are not about how much you pay - $1.000 couldn't have bought this special $1.50 present hanging there in a thrift shop for a little girl to find just at the right time.

I think this is what has been lost so much from Christmas, the personal touch of making something or finding something not to impress the person you are giving it to or to prove how much you love them, but simply finding something you can afford, that it is the perfect gift for someone you love.

Before Caitlin left on Saturday, as she sat on my lap at the computer, I showed her     The Promise Club    for the first time. Her first reaction was surprise when she realised there was a unicorn on the front page. On the second page she knew it was One Mind One Voice written upside down in the reflection. Next expression was sheer joy when she realised    Actionist    the unicorn was running and looking for her and the children of the world. Then amazed when she spotted the picture of her thinking about the unicorn and said " I really was thinking of the unicorn". Then lovingly looked at the picture of her tiny hand holding on to her dads finger the day after she was born I didn't read her the     promise    I made to her, she will read that herself when she is old enough.

But I read her the the       Irish promise    from Kathleen as it mentions unicorns. She then asked, "what is our unicorns name?" I told her "Actionist".

The biggest thrill for her and I am sure it will be for other children, was the fact    Actionist    remembered her name. she loved peace and dove and laughed when she discovered Huggy again and gave me and herself a hug

So from Caitlin and Granma Kerry have a wonderful Christmas however you celebrate it. We have 30 people coming for Xmas lunch. My 85 year old mum will have her five children all here for the first time in mnay years. So while I know it will be a lot of work, it will be worth the effort just to see her happy.

This is the last newsletter for the year. The guest start arriving from tomorrow and I have a lot of cooking and catching up to do.

I will be checking my emails, so if you have a promise for the children of the world please send it. Remember promises to children don't stop over the holidays! and always remember…

This being, that becomes…… have a wonderful week, I will finding just the right present for...? " can't say its a secret" - we are having a secret santa so we just buy one gift for one person picked out of the hat and have a limited amount to spend.

love and hugs
Granma Kerry