HALLOWEEN CANDY WARNING

This was confirmed on Snopes with the CFIA sending out a notice as recently as October 8. The candy was said to have only been distributed in Canada, but it's good to know.

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With Halloween fast approaching comes a warning to parents and kids regarding Sherwood brand Pirate's Gold milk chocolate coins imported from China. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning the public not to eat, distribute or sell the candy. It is sold across Canada by Costco and may also have been sold in bulk packages or as individual pieces at various dollar and bulk stores. The chocolate contains melamine which is the same chemical responsible
for killing several babies in China, and sickening thousands more.

http://www.snopes.com/food/warnings/coins.asp

As always, it's been a busy month. We are helping Max transition from public school to St. Edward the Confessor Parish School - Go Monarchs! He's in Miss Schreiber's first grade class and so far so good. I am especially fond of him in his collared shirt and vest, his Friday mass uniform.

Pia had her first try at cheerleading through a clinic and performance at San Clemente High School. She liked it a lot and cheers in the car now and around the house. She is a finicky girl, so we'll see if it sticks . . .

Ed's sister was a gorgeous bride and the whole lot of us enjoyed celebrating her marriage to Eric. Max and Pia have a new cousin, Ashland. The verdict is still out on whether or not she's as crazy for them as they are for her!

We are preparing this weekend for a visit from my Dad and stepmom. They have been traveling the US in an RV since October 4. That is not my cup of tea, but they seem to be loving it. Stops that I know of include an air museum in Iowa; Cody, Wyoming and Spokane, Washington. Clearly there have been more since they've been gone almost a month, but they are enjoying their time together and I just check in periodically to be sure they're safe and to gauge when they're headed for San Clemente. You never know where our gang will be on any given day!

And, of course, Halloween is our next big thing. Be on the lookout for photos of Sleeping Beauty and a Star Wars fighter, guy, thing . . . Have a great weekend!

Halloween will be super scary this year!!

A funny from my friend, Laura. I thought we could all use a laugh going into the weekend.

I’ve been feeling a little sorry for myself this week because I have “too much on my plate”. I don’t know about your world, but in mine (particularly in the office) that is said a LOT. The current state of the real estate industry and the general plight of the economy makes working for a financial services company a little more tense than usual. Add to that picture that my boss, and very good friend, has temporarily moved to the UK to handle some family business leaving me to run a Department that was already overloaded.

Poor me, right? Not even. I force myself to remember just how good I’ve got it.

My husband and I are genuinely happy to be married to each other. We have two of the most beautiful, funny, charming children EVER. We have a warm, comfortable home with a bed for everyone. We’re blessed to have two cars to drive, clothes to wear and food to eat. We have an amazing support system in our families and friends that we treasure. And most of all, we have each other and every day together to cherish.

My Mom’s good friend, Cherie, recently her 18 year-old son in a tragic car accident at the end of September. Her husband died of a heart attack exactly two weeks later. I sent her a sympathy card this week and was so struck by how there was NOTHING I could say or do to make it better. If I were in her shoes the only thing that would make it better for me would be to have them back. I pray for her peace every day and for her two surviving sons.

If you’re like me and you can barely muster the energy to smile some days. Please take five minutes to remember why you’re lucky. You may have to stop and physically force yourself to think of it, but I know from my own experience you’ll be glad you did. From a toast that my brother-in-law gave at his wedding this weekend . . .

“Tomorrow is a blessing. Today is a gift, that’s why it’s called the present”

God Bless you and yours. Please keep those less fortunate than you in your prayers.