National Hug Day

Sorry Friends-Seems I have missed a few days. I never really thought folks would want to hear what I had to say. I recently have had a few hints, a few HEY ANGELA!!! remarks that I thought I should start "talking" again.

Life has been moving at the speed of light. Since my last post the children have grown 6 inches each. Looking at pictures its amazing me to see how much they have grown. Scott has gone tdy come back, deployed come back and is due to go again.  Alaska is receiving record snow. This Southern belle is learning all about using a snow blower, shoveling and what it is like to have snow up to your hips! I am so blessed to have a strong son who is willing and kind to help his dear mother with these tasks. My sweet green eyed girl pitches in too. She looks thin but can wield a shovel full of snow like a champ. As of last week the snow totals were up to 92 inches for South Central Alaska. Now that doesn't mean all that is still on the ground. All of that has fallen, but some has blown away as we had some terrible wind storms, some has melted, but 3-4 feet of that is in my yard. We have had about a week and half of no snow. However, we dipped into subzero temps during that time. Our highs have been around 10 below zero Fahrenheit. Luckily this week we are having highs in the teens. With that will come more snow. I will keep you posted if we break the record from the 1950s for total snow fall in a winter.



I missed National Hug day this past Saturday, January 21, 2012. I am such a hugger that I can't believe I missed that day. In the South we hug for everything. When we greet, when we leave, to say I care, to say I am here for you. We talk with our hands, by putting them on your arm to show we are paying attention. As a breastfeeding counselor I believe touch is essential to development and growth of children. This aids in making them adjusted adults.

   * National Hug Day or National Hugging Day is an annual holiday occurring on January 21. The holiday was founded   on January 21, 1986 in Caro, Michigan, and has since spread to Canada, England, Australia, Germany and Poland.A hug is a form of physical intimacy, not necessarily sexual, that usually involves closing or holding the arms around the neck or waist of another person. Hugging has been proven to have health benefits. One study has shown that hugs increase levels of oxytocin, and reduce blood pressure. Hugging is not particular to human beings, as there are many species of animals that engage in similar exchanges of warmth.

Saying that you would think as cold as it is up here in the great white North we would be really close all the time. Nope. I haven't found many huggers up here. I was visiting a friend's church who happens to be the pastor there. During the peace I am accustomed to hugging and was caught in the dilemma that I find myself in up here lately... hug or shake hands. Looking around, I noticed all were shaking hands. I smiled to myself and shook hands with the folks around me.

I think everyday should be hug day. Hug your spouse, hug your children, hug your animals and hug yourself. If hugging increases oxytocin in your brain and lowers your blood pressure hug away. And if you see me...Hug me :)

With love my friends,
Angela- I won't let it be so long next time.