Grandchildren and Christmas

I had almost forgotten the joy little children can bring at Christmas. That all changed five Christmases ago. Since then five grandchildren have come into our family's celebration. The magic is back!

Shopping for kids is so much fun. I love the games section. All the old games are there! From Candyland to Shoots and Ladders to Trouble (by the way Emma beat in that game the other night!)

I love the way the little ones take in the sights and sounds and the excitement of being together.

We have a whole photo album that is for Christmas. Christmas Pasts are in it. I am pulling it out this morning. It is full of memories going back 45 years right up to this past Christmas. We'll be adding to it again.

This is the most wonderful time of the year!

Its That Time of Year

The fading in of the season of Christmas always pleased me. While we are still eating leftover turkey, out come the first of the Christmas Decorations, at least that is what happened here last night. While the ham cooked on the rotisserie, Emma and I decked the halls- well at least we got some of it got done.

My nephews went and got more potato bugs for their newly acquired Venus Fly Traps. We ate ham and baked yams and drank sparkling cider and laughed and talked. It was wonderful having Lucy at the table with us. We missed her. Due to the jet lag Emma had not seen her grandmother since she arrived home from China earlier in the week. It was a glad reunion.

Emma summed up our feelings about our home yesterday. When she pulled up she said, "This is my favorite place." Her cousin Marlee had just said that about Target which was their last stop before arriving here. When we were pulling out the decorations, Emma exclaimed, "I love this house!" I concur.

Veuns Fly Trap and Thanksgiving

I am a very nostalgic person. One dear friend recently described me as a little bit of a mush. He was right.

Several weeks ago I was in Shop Rite. There was a family of boys checking out something in the floral department. It was a Venus Fly Trap. Before long one was in my cart. My brother, Mark, had one when we were kids growing up in the wonder filled town of Bellmore, Long Island. I can still see where it sat in the living room. I didn't realize it but he had one in his home as an adult. Since his untimely passing his boys and daughter spend Thanksgiving with the Mancinis. The kids are adults nearly themselves but I am still Uncle Larry to them- always will be.

Stephen and Mike were delighted to see I had bought this plant. Yesterday they hunted for bugs in my backyard. This carnivor went crazy gobbling up their find. They even wished it Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a wonderful day yesterday. My daughter Tina outdid herself. She set a beautiful table for all 27 people! We ate. Tonya and James made appetizers and a ham. Theresa and Mike made incredible pies. There was a turkey and loads of other delectables as well.

We played Carom and Skittle Bowl and I won every game! Its fun to beat those youngsters! Of course as I explained to James I have been plyaing this since I lived in Bellmore!

We had a family football game to start the day at 9am in the park where Jackson's Celebration was held last month, It was grand. Three football games as well as a family breakfast took place there. I love the way my kids included the grandkids in the football fun.

I am still thankful this morning. My children have settled here and I and given me 5 sweet grandchildren. I get to be a pastor to an incredible group of people for my life's work. In spite of all my flaws they love me! I live in a place, on an Island I love. Surrounded by an ocean and salt water air I am grateful for God's Creation (Even the Venus Fly Traps!)

Life is good, very good!

The Biggest Travel Day of the Year

Tomorrow, the day before Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of the year. I have been through the city twice on this day and it is crazy. Once through Penn Station and once driving friends to catch a plane. I took in the sights and sounds of each.

Last night I took Lucy out to dinner at a favorite place of ours, the Bonwit Inn. Speaking to the owners afterwards we wished them a Happy Thanksgiving. When I asked if the restaurant was closed he said, "Oh no sir, it is our busiest day of the year!"

Americans for hundreds of years have been gathering at November's fourth Thursday and celebrating something uniquely ours. It is Thanksgiving! In the store yesterday I told a clerk helping me about Grandma's Corn Souffle'. I told him how the recipe was close 100 years old and had been in our family that long. I told him about Nana's Broccoli and Bread Crumbs and the Creamed Onions. Al these will be part of the feast here in Bay Shore. We make these things on the special day called Thanksgiving.

Our family traveling in are on the way now. This morning, this evening and tomorrow will be filled with my brother's kids arriving to join in an a great time.

May all you have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Welcome Home, Lucy!

Lucy arrived at 7:45 last evening after 24 hours of travel and layovers in Asia. Since 10 overseas flights came in within minutes, I had to wait two hours for her to come through customs and immigration. Of course it was worth the wait. :-)

I am in awe at the international travel Kennedy sees. As I drove in my mind went back to so many time I have been there. I spent the first few years of my life just across the street from it! Several trips to Israel have taken place from there, as well as my trip to China. I have picked up many many people from all over the world there, Africa, Russia, Asia. South America,

When we were kids for entertainment on Sunday afternoons my dad and mom would drive us there and we would watch the people come through customs. Now it is done privately.

Last night as I approached the parking, a huge British Airways Air Bus was taxing on the overpass as I drove under. What a site for this big kid at heart! I love my life. I love New York and I am thankful to be an American!

Blessed Thanksgiving!

Thankful For Everything

I just returned from the best run I have had in years. Before the sun rose here on Long Island's South Shore, with the Radio City Christmas Show Music playing in my ears, I was running. What made this one so special was I did the whole non stop. What a great feeling! I cannot describe how good feel after these runs but this morning was added with elation because I broke through a barrier. Just the other day I was dreaming about it.

As I write this several people come to mind.I am forever indebted to them. Jim Murrin, my Junior High Coach at Jerusalem Avenue, said to me in the 8th grade, "Mancini, how come you didn't go out for track?" I said, "I don't know." (Actually the thought never even entered my brain). He then said, "Go out for the team." That is how I first began to run.

When I got to Mepham High School, Paul Limmer, became my coach. In fact he still is! When I began to run again I asked him the questions. His answers lined up with the same ones I got from my son-in-law, James, who was a Physical Therapist and is now a fine young doctor. Last but not least is my friend, John Foster, who when I was his pastor, encouraged me to begin again and with some breaks from that time I am now regularly out there.

I doubt if I will ever run in a race again. I had my share in my youth. What I enjoy most is to out there in the morning or evening just running through my beloved neighborhood I lived in for 25 years now. Running just for fun has been a dream of mine for decades. I am living the dream. Thanks to the LORD Who gives me the strength and those men who are on my team!

What a beautiful sunrise we are getting on Sunrise Highway right now!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Insomnia

It's 4am as I write this. I can't sleep. For most people it is anxiety or fear or even the fact they can't sleep and are trying to that keeps them awake. Sleep has never been a problem for me in that way.

The cause of my insomnia are happy thoughts. My cup overflows. I am loaded with blessings. The more apparent ones right now are these: After a month and a half of being away in China, my darling wife, Lucy, is returning home. She arrives at Kennedy Sunday night. I am so thankful she got to be with her family there. Then Tuesday, Mike, my nephew, arrives for Thanksgiving. The next day his brother, Stephen, comes in from Philly. Marlee, my niece, will make her appearance as well. When we lost their dad, my dear brother, Mark, a number of years ago, they decided they wanted to spend Thanksgiving with the Mancini Family. We are so glad to be with them.

On Thanksgiving Day we will go to my daughter, Tina's. There will be around 30 of us (all family) there. While my grandkids live right here being together on that Day is wonderful.

Because I am a pastor I am preparing to speak two times on Thanksgiving before the day itself. This Sunday Morning and at a special Thanksgiving Service on Tuesday Evening I'll share with the congregation. I have always enjoyed this.

There are many many other blessings which are all around me. I am incredibly rich with friends. I have enjoyed serving in the same church, living in the same house in a place I love for 25 years. New York City and Long Island's beaches (not to mention all the food we enjoy here - bagels and pizza and the Diner to name a few) are where I was born and grew up. I've been all across the country and around the world but this is the place in my heart. What a blessing it so with my three daughters, their husbands and my five grandkids.

Speaking of country, I am thankful for it. It is my country. I love America. I am glad I am a American. I am thankful for the men and women who keep us free and safe. What a blessing to know some of them and pray for them! God bless you who are away from family this Thanksgiving so we at home can enjoy ours. Your sacrifice is not going unnoticed!

Every good and perfect gift comes down from our Father in Heaven. I am so thankful to the LORD Who has blessed me with all these wonderful things and many many more- much too numerous to mention. Let me finish this piece with just one.

One of my dear friends is Rudy Migliore. It was my pleasure to have dinner with him and his beautiful family in their home a few weeks ago. His daughter Stephanie is a few years older than my granddaughter, Emma. She has been passing all kinds of fun stuff onto me that my grandchildren enjoy when they come. Books, toys and videos have transformed the family room into a playroom extraordinair. Last night, my daughter, Tina, called and asked if I wanted to hang out. My schedule permitted me to stop over for a bit. Four of my grandchildren were there. I brought my little bag of books. In it was Dora's Bedtime. The kids had never seen it before. I read it about 5 times. Lili loved it. On the way home I began to think about these gifts that have come from Stephanie and her family. I woke up early this morning, thinking about last evening and days ahead. I couldn't fall back alseep so I started the coffee and began to write. Thanks for letting me do so and for reading the ramblings of one happy insomniac!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!