Christmas 2020 - Celebrating and Connecting with Loved ones During the COVID 19 Pandemic

Christmas 2020 was none like other before! For the past many decades, we have always celebrated this wonderful important season with our family members, loved ones and our church friends. We were wondering what would happen to this year's Christmas events.

It was wonderful that our church organized an online Christmas celebration via zoom. A committee was formed with some members ordering food, while another team delivered food right to our door step. 

The Christmas turkey dinner included soup, turkey and trimmings, plus a chocolate pudding for dessert! This was the first Christmas turkey dinner which I did not have to do anything at all 

We brought my 94 year old mother from her senior apartment and she was able to enjoy the dinner at our house so she would not be alone for Christmas.

On Christmas day, we were able to have my best friends with us enjoying our turkey dinner together.

We have known each other for over three decades but this was the first time we spent Christmas together. It was a blessing! 

In the past many years since our children were born, we were able to have spent Christmas with both of them, We thank God that as they grew up, finished university, they left our nest as they each started working and started their career path.

E, our first born has always come home and spent Christmas in Canada with us no matter where he is working/ living in the world.  We have always spent time with our big fat family each year.  However, this year, following the health department's guidelines,  we could not hold this annual party. 

However, we were grateful that, Joanne, the oldest cousin in the next generation took up the baton and organized a family zoom Christmas gathering on Boxing Day. 

There were family members from around the world taking part in this festive zoom meeting We spent time catching up with each other and it was the best way to end the year with family memmbers from far and wide.

We gave thanks to God for protecting us this year and blessing us with good health!

R.T.
Waterloo, Ontario
Christmas 2020

The American People Will Have Hope and a Better Country in the Next 4 Years!

l'll  be remised if I didn't mention in my blog about the Biden win in the recent 2020 American election that took place during the week of Nov. 3, 2020.

On the night of the election, my husband and I were watching it in Waterloo, Ontario. We were discouraged at the initial support for Trump and surprised at how tight the race was.

How could Americans ignore the huge challenges and unbelievable death rate facing them under the current Trump administration?

Never could we imagine that America, being one of the richest nations on earth, is leading the number of Covid19 cases and with the most Americans dying in this pandemic? And how could so many Americans and its current president have dismissed the seriousness of this disease?

America has reached a record number of over 11 million COVID cases. Canada is 1/ 10 of  the population of U.S. By the same proportion, we should have over 1 million cases. However, we have much fewer cases here, about 300,000 cases. Thank goodness! Unlike our southern neighbour, Canadians are more united and not politically divided as Americans. We do not politicize anything or everything such as wearing masks in public places. We trust our health officials' advice following their recommendations such as keeping our social distance, wearing masks and restricting our social gathering size, therefore, our infection cases are much much lower than our American counterparts.

Many Canadians have tremendous interest in what's happening in the U.S. as our economy is closely tied to each other. In addition, numerous Canadians have friends, relatives or family members living and working in the U.S. We simply could not believe what has been happening for the past four years in the United States such as the current U.S. Administration in the White House not conceding to Biden's election win and allowing a smooth transition process to take place.

It is  good to see Americans choosing a more honest, better and calmer person as their next president. There will be better things happening in the States. Though not easy,  the new administration in the White House will work hard to rebuild their alliances in the world, regain the U.S. reputation on the world stage. There will be hope that a better America will re emerge, rising from its tattered image as a unpredictable bully and be a admirable world leader again.

It is our prayer and sincere wish that the Biden/ Harris Team will have a smooth transition to the White House. Therefore, they will be able to access the important files and start the challenging work of bringing the virus under control in the U.S. leading the American society back into a normal life again!

All the best to the new American Administration, the new President and the American people in 2021!

From your southern neighbour,

R.T. in Toronto, Canada

 

A 2 Hour Program Schedule for An Autistic Young Adult

In Ontario, regular students are entitled to attend publicly funded schools until eighteen years old. For students with special needs they are given three additional years which means that they can stay in school until they are twenty-one years old. 

However, once when these students reach twenty-one years old, they face a bleak and empty future.  Incapable of work or independent living, these young adults have nowhere to go and stay home all day. Although the Ontario Government does provide some funding to these special needs adults, many of theses programs have been closed during the COVID 19 pandemic.

 Recently, I was asked by parents if I could provide a much needed program to their autistic young adult child. Having known and considered the needs of this particular individual for some time, I designed  a 2 hour program consisting of a variety of activities to help her develop the different skills. 

I was pleased that the morning went well and my autistic young friend did enjoy the activities and had a good time! Below was the two hour program I designed. 

Schedule for a 2 Hour Program

10:00 a.m.             Music - singing to relax and get ready for activities

10: 20                    Math & Language  - Geometric Shape Puzzle, teach vocabulary on shapes, colour        & number                        

10: 35                    Motor Skills -  Pick Up Beads game

10:50                     Life skills – Prepare a milkshake for a snack

11:10                     Physical Fitness – Walk and collect leaves outdoors

11:20                     Art & Craft – Learn to dry leaves, draw a face & glue leaves as hair on the drawn face

11:50                     Recap of activities

11:55                     Life Skills - Put away games and clean up

12:00                     Lunch – Walk to neighbourhood plaza and buy lunch

R.T.

Toronto

Preparing for My First Zoom Workshop for Parents!

 I have been attending zoom meetings since March, 2020 when the lockdown started.

Without dressing up to go out and getting stuck in traffic congestion, I enjoy my multiple weekly zoom meetings. However, I have not have to present one in a zoom meeting until today.

It was exciting preparing for this new experience. I was a little nervous and spent almost two days to get ready prior to my presentation. The following was what I did preparing for my presentation for my zoom meeting:

1. Prepare a good and interesting presentation on a topic relevant to my audience 

2. Prepare a PPT for my presentation with pictures and key words

3. Pick a location with nice background for the zoom meeting. I moved my computer around the different part of the living room until I was happy with the background.

4. Practise Practise and Practise - With help from my husband, I practiced my presentation in a zoom meeting with him.

There were a few technical challenges which I had to overcome such as getting a full screen view and learning how to share a screen allowing me to share my PPT with my audience. We practised two or three times on the first day until I got familiar with Zoom.

The following day, I called the host of the Zoom meeting and practised with her and going over my prestation slides

5. Setting Up the equipment ahead of time 

On the day of the presentation, I set up two computers on our dining room table a few hours prior to the zoom meeting. I had the extra computer as a back up. I tested both computers and send my PPT to my email address so that I could access my PPT from both computers should I need to. Then I tested everything again to make sure there was no technical problem.

I also set up a big mirror in front of me so that I would know how I look throughout the entire presentation and make adjustment to my outfit etc.

6. Dressing up for the event - An hour before my presentation, I picked an appropriate nice outfit and dressed up for the event.  Instead of lounge wear, it was fun putting on make up and looking nice for a change!

 When everything was ready and done, I was confident and ready to take the world by storm! The zoom presentation went without a hitch! We had an excellent turnout and  the feedback from my audience was positive and complimentary!

Mission accomplished!  

R.T. 

Toronto

4. 

Receiving Excellent Medical Care at the St. John's Rehabilitation Centre

 We have heard many horror stories about people getting sick in the U.S. with no medical insurance and end up spending a fortunate and bankrupting themselves in order to get medical care for themselves or loved ones.

 However, we are fortunate living in Canada, a country with free universal health care. One of my extended family members has recently had a car accident. T. has broken both legs and his arm in this auto accident. He went through some emergency surgeries to reconnect his broken bones and was hospitalized for a month in a hospital.

After his surgeries, T. was transferred to the St. John Rehabilitation Centre to continue his recovery. journey. During this COVID pandemic time, there are tighter rules for visiting patients at hospitals. In many hospitals, each patient is allowed only one visitor. 

Fortunate for us, T. is allowed two visitors each week. So, T.'s sister and I visit him each week.

T. has a busy schedule at the Rehab centre. Each day he has been scheduled physio therapy at 10:30am and Occupational Therapy at 2:30pm, six days a week. 

On top of that, he is served three good meals a day. At the beginning, T. received a sandwich plate for lunch but this is something he doesn't eat at home, therefore, he did not eat them at lunch. After we talked to the nursing staff, the hospital made some changes in T.'s daily menu and  now serves him a hot lunch each day instead. Wow! How considerate is the nursing care team!

When I visit T. I usually take him around the hospital. 

There is a chapel where patients can go in to pray or mediate and take part in its weekly service and activities. 

But unfortunately, due to COVID, both the Sunday Service and social activities have been cancelled.

The other day when I visited T. he showed me what the Sister from the Chaplain Office brought him - some reading materials, comforting messages and activities designed to encourage and uplift the patients.

The St. John Rehab Centre has a patient lounge where T. can watch movies or TV with other patients.  He has made a number of friends while staying at the Rehab Centre.

The Centre also  has a beautiful outdoor garden where patients are able to enjoy some fresh air with their visitors or other patients.

With three good nutritious meals daily, a caring and attentive nursing and medical team, T. is getting stronger, better and has gained five pounds since he has been admitted to the Rehab Centre. 

We are so grateful to be living in Canada, enjoying high quality and free health care!

We are extremely thankful for our government's unwavering belief in providing good quality and free medical care to all Canadians, regardless of their income and status!  I wish our neighbour to the south would learn a thing or two from Canada!

R.T.

Toronto,Canada

Singing for the First Time in Public at Lake Wilcox Park Since the COVID Pandemic

I have missed singing, especially singing in groups with my church friends! 

I have been attending church Sunday Services every week since I was ten years old. 

Sunday worship is a part of me, an integral part of my life.  

Since the COVID 19 pandemic started, we have not been to church as group gathering of more than 50 people has been banned in Canada.

As Ontario started to open up slowly, restrictions have been eased a little allowing small group gathering outdoors. 

Our  couples' cell group took advantage of that opportunity and we met once in September at Lake Wilcox Park.

We enjoyed the meeting so much that we planned another outdoor gathering in October before the cold Canadian weather comes upon us soon. 

How fitting it was for us to meet on Thanksgiving Monday by the lake to sing and thank God for His love and mercy? 

We met at Lake Wilcox for the second time on Thanksgiving Monday.

It was so good to meet our cell group members whom we had not seen for a long while. 

There was a reunion meeting planned at our house in March but it was cancelled due to COVID 19 restrictions.

At this meeting,  Stephanie and Tony led us singing Give Thanks and Above All. As we sang, tears swelled up in my eyes. 

O, how sweet was the sound of praise and thank you to God who has kept our families and loved ones free from the virus! 

Sisi shared the story of Abraham and Sarah and the mistakes they made when dealing with their faith in God. 

It was a good reminder that as a couple we would need to be united and come together in prayer when facing with difficulties and uncertainties in life.

After the singing and sharing part of the meeting, we had time for chitchats, catching up with each other. 

We were thankful and enjoyed our reunion meeting tremendously at Lake Wilcox Park!

We look forward to meeting our church friends again at this tranquil waterfront park in warmer days in 2021!

R.T.
Lake Wilcox Park

Oak Ridge Moraine, Ontario

p.s. The above pictures were all taken during our meetings in Sept. & Oct. at Lake Wilcox Park

Visiting Applewood Farm and a Thanksgiving Dinner Following Ontario Government's COVID 19 Recommendation

My mother is 94 years old; she loves going out especially with her grown children. Having been restricted in her own apartment for the past nine months, she has experienced much loneliness and isolation. 

This weekend was one of rare warm days of the fall season. We took advantage of the warm weather and took her out to the Applewood Farm to enjoy the fine weather.

We were not disappointed at all.  The Applewood Farm welcome many families with young children and there were many things for them to do.

Visitors were welcome to pick their own apples and choose their pumpkins.

There were wagon rides.

A playground and hay stacks for children to climb and roam around.

There were a few farm tractors on display and kids were climbing all over them.

A few small farm animals for petting.

 

There was a market stall for people who wished to buy instead of picking their own apples.

 We were so proud of our fellow Canadians who took our health and government's recommendations seriously by wearing masks in public places.

The Thanksgiving weekend is a big holiday in Canada. It is celebrated by millions of Canadians.  We visit friends and families, invite people into our homes and celebrate the good things we have in our lives. A lot of these dinners are big family get togethers. 

Unfortunately, due to the rising cases of COVID 19 cases, the Ontario government has recently issued restrictions for many business such as banning indoor dining, closing gyms and casinos. It also recommended that this Thanksgiving dinners be restricted to a small number with people living in the same household.

Prior to this announcement, we have already purchased our big turkey, a good quantity of fruits, vegetables, desserts and other grocery items needed for our annual family Thanksgiving dinner party. 

But heeding to the Ontario government's COVID 19 Pandemic recommendations and health guidelines, we changed our plan and decided we would only invited my mother who is alone living in a senior apartment to come and celebrate this important occasion with us.

Mom was happy that she was not stuck alone eating Thanksgiving dinner by herself. 

However, we could not invite the other family members we normally invite. Our family broke our own record enjoying the Thanksgiving dinner with three people only! The 2020 Thanksgiving dinner would be one which we would not forget!

We are thankful to God that we are all healthy and being protected under His protective wings!

R.T.

Applewood Farm,  Stoufville, Ontario