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Christmas 2006
Dear Friends,
Garrett, Ashley, Gavin, and Kinsey Glanz
Gavin is now 8 and in the third grade, and Kinsey, 5, began kindergarten this year. The first week of August Garrett and Ashley asked me if I would babysit for six days while they went to a concert in Chicago. I flew to Portland first to celebrate the first birthday of Owen Gawlik, my newest little grandson, and then drove with a client friend to Seattle. The minute the kids shut the front door to leave, Gavin jumped up and hollered, "LET THE PARTY BEGIN!" I knew right then that I would have my hands full! ;-) We did all kinds of special things - went to see "Bug World," spent a half day at a farm, swam at a client's home, read lots of stories, went to parks and a birthday party, and did the "Build a Bear" workshop.
One of the fun projects I did with them was to create an "I Remember..." book as a gift for their parents. Every morning after breakfast, I asked them to think of three things they remembered about their lives. Gavin could print himself, and I wrote for Kinsey. Then they each drew a picture of what they remembered. By the time their parents came home, they each had 18 pages. We made a construction paper cover, three-hole punched it, and tied it with ribbon. Some interesting learnings occurred from this project. First, I discovered that they did not remember BIG things like Christmas and vacations. Rather, it was little things that were important. Then, there was quite a difference between a boy and a girl. Gavin wrote things like, "I remember when my Dad first taught me to ride my bike," "I remember my first skateboard," and "I remember my second grade teacher." Kinsey said things like, "I remember when I first met my parents," and she drew a baby and "I remember when Aunt Gretchen let me use her Easy Bake oven." She wanted to say, "I remember my parents‚ wedding," but Gavin said that was "dumb - because she wasn‚t even there!" So we wrote, "I remember the story of my parents‚ wedding," and she drew a bride. We had lots of fun doing this, and it gave us many things to talk about as well as bringing back happy memories.
Several weeks later when I returned from my trip to Ireland, there was a big envelope waiting for me. Ashley had had the kids make an "I Remember Fun with GrannaBarbara" book, just for me. What a treasure these precious little books are! I hope perhaps you can use this idea with your children, nieces and nephews or grandchildren. My babysitting experience was a delightful one, but I must admit I now know why we have our children when we are young - I was more exhausted keeping up with them than when I fly all over the country and speak to thousands of people! ;-) However, we made some special memories, which, after all, is the one thing no one can ever take away from us.
Gavin loves math and science and Legos and X-Box and soccer and at age 8 has read all the Harry Potter books. Kinsey adores tea parties, dressing up in "pretty things," playing babies, and horses. They are darling, spirited, loving children. Garrett continues in his challenging work for Microsoft, and Ashley is a wonderful stay-at-home Mom. They are all thrilled with a new puppy named Sophie!
Gretchen, Randy, and Owen Gawlik
Owen is the joy of the family as everyone loves having a little one around. He was a year old in August and is walking, running, and getting into everything! One day a few weeks ago when I was talking to Gretchen on the phone, she yelled, "I have to go - Owen is in the dishwasher!" They are coming for Christmas, so I am going to have my hands full baby-proofing my condo. ;-) He loves puzzles, cars, his own recliner chair, his tricycle, and books, and he goes to swimming lessons and story hour at the library. Gretchen and Randy are wonderful parents, and it is fun to watch them learn how much life changes with a little one around. Ramona, the dog, and Rerun, Shadow, and Maisy, the cats, keep things exciting at their home in Portland.
Randy is the webmaster for Boyd's Coffee (he designed my website,too: www.barbaraglanz.com), and he has his own skateboard design business on the side. Gretchen, besides being home with Owen, does the maintenance on my site as well as designing my Powerpoint slides. They have been working hard on improving their home this year.
Erin Glanz
Erin is finally settled in a place of her own in Portland and continues to be Owen's second mother! She is in her final year and a half of Fashion Design at the Portland Art Institute and is amazing us all with her talent. She has had straight A's, so has found her passion at last. She continues to work part time at the Blue Hour restaurant, one of the best in Portland, and soon will start part time with Adidas. It is a joy to see her happy and feeling good about herself. She will be coming for Christmas, too. I really miss having her closer but am glad she is near Gretchen and Garrett.
Barbara's News -- Travel
It has been a wonderful but hectic year with lots of travel and many new, precious clients and friends. I have traveled to Ireland, flown many times across the country from California to Rhode Island, and have had special visits with my children in Seattle and Portland, my aunt and uncle in San Diego, and an old friend from Illinois in Pennsylvania. I was blessed to attend the Veteran Speakers Retreat in Virginia in October with many legends of the speaking industry as well as the Board of Directors annual meeting for Ken Blanchard‚s "Lead Like Jesus" ministry in Dallas. One of the highlights of the fall was a trip to Des Moines, Iowa, to film a movie about Johnny the Bagger which will be available on my website in January.
New Books
In June my eighth book came out, 180 Ways to Spread Contagious Enthusiasm. Then in the past three months, I have completed all the final permissions and page proofs for three new books, all of which will be out after the first of the year: The Simple Truths of Appreciation - How One Person Can Make a Difference; What Can I Do? Ideas to Help Those Who Have Experienced Loss; and CARE Packages for Your Customers - An Idea a Week for Customer Service. Check them out on my website.
First Speaker to Speak on all Seven Continents
I am busy preparing for my exciting trip to Antarctica in January when I will be the first speaker on record to speak on all seven continents. We will fly to Buenos Aires for three days where we will take a Tango workshop (NOT preparation for "Dancing with the Stars!" ;-). Then we fly to Ushaia, the southernmost point in South America, where we board the boat for the cruise which is sponsored by the University of Kansas. The ship will travel to a number of the surrounding islands as well as the coast of Antarctica where we will see Shackleton's grave. After 11 days at sea, we will return to Buenos Aires and then fly on for three days to Iguazu Falls on the border between Argentina and Brazil which is MUCH larger than Niagara Falls.
We are allowed only two bags of 30 pounds each, so especially for me, the over-prepared traveler, this will be quite a feat, particularly since we are going from the Antarctic to the rain forest! We have been asked to bring waterproof pants and knee high rubber boots because the penguin guano can be a foot deep in places where we will land. After the zodiacs return us to the ship, they will hose us off! The tour supplies each person with bright orange parkas, so that at least will save a great deal of packing space. Everyone I have talked with has loved this trip, and they say the wildlife and scenery is absolutely amazing.
Personally, I have made many new friends in Sarasota and I continue to date, although I need to stay home longer if I want a serious relationship, my friends tell me! ;-) I have had the best year ever with my business, and I feel overwhelmed with blessings. Thank you for being a precious part of my life.
I wish you a year of Blessings, Peace, and Joy,
To read Barbara's 2005 Christmas letter/family update, click here.
 
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