Remember what it was like to make a snow angel? You plopped backward into a snow pile, then moved your arms and legs up and down in the snow. As carefully as you could, you stood up, trying hard not to disturb your angel in the snow you just created. Then, after standing, you turned around to enjoy what you made.

Ever day, you create something just as delicate and magical as a snow angel. How often do you turn around to really admire it? Today, take time to enjoy your life’s snow angels. In our comments section, share what and when you’ll admire.

Share in our comments section for a chance for you to win a Movie Madness gift pack, which includes all you need to enjoy an at-home Movie Night. During We Break for Winter!, we’re giving away a gift pack a day. And, when you share, you’ll also be entered into a chance to win one of our grand prizes.

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Join me for three-week classes that help you manage your caregiving experience. Our school is about you and your caregiving experience, to help feel better where you are right now.

Our classes conveniently take place over the phone (“teleclasses”). Teleclasses are a great way to learn, share and support—without leaving your house. In this winter school session, we’ve got three courses from which to choose. Register for one, two, three, as many as you’d like.

You can participate in our classes by registering for one for a cost of $47. Or, purchase a CarePASS and you have access to all the classes you’d like. Purchase a CarePASS, which begin at just $10 a month for unlimited classes, here.

To register for an individual class, sign up via the registration form at the bottom of this page. After you register and pay, we’ll email you the class phone number and access code as well as any homework to complete before our first class. The cost of each class is $47. In addition to the cost of the class, you’ll also incur the cost of a long-distance phone call (whatever rates your long-distance carrier charges).

Space is limited so register early to guarantee your space.

Here’s what participants say about our teleclasses:

—I so enjoyed the course from both a professional and a personal standpoint.
—This was phenomenal!
—Denise, you have such an exceptional manner in leading the discussion and your visualization exercise was the best I’ve ever encountered!
—I feel better today. I highly recommend the phone class.
—I just completed a (multi-week) training course for family caregivers; I learned as much in your one-hour presentation as I did in that (multi-week) course.

Our curriculum follows; I’m your leader for each class:

1. Rise ‘N Shine: Start your week with an early morning class focusing on meditation and inspiration. This class is a great way to start your week right. This is a three-week session; a one-hour class each week for three weeks. Cost: $47 plus long-distance phone charges.

Class Day and Time: Mondays (February 13, 20 and 27). Choose from two times: 9 a.m. ET (8 a.m. CT, 6 a.m. PT) OR 11 a.m. ET (10 a.m. CT, 8 a.m. PT)

2. Three-Word Journaling: You’ve probably heard this many times: Journaling can be a stress-reliever. So, you buy a journal only to stare at its blank pages. Where to start? What to write? In this three-week class, you’ll have three words to write about every week. We’ll meet on the phone to talk about each week’s three words and then you’ll be assigned three more words to write about until the next class. The class also will help you find the right time to write in your journal. At the end of three weeks, you’ll have a habit that rewards you with insights and comfort. This is a three-week class; a one-hour class each week for three weeks. Cost: $47 plus long-distance phone charges.

Class Day and Time: Wednesdays (February 15, 22 and 29) at 10:30 a.m. ET (9:30 a.m. CT, 7:30 a.m. PT) OR Fridays (February 17, 24 and March 2) at 11 a.m. ET (10 a.m. CT, 8 a.m. PT)

3. The Caregiving Years for Family Caregivers: Our three-week session opens your journey to its meaning. The caregiving journey can seem like a journey of questions (Why me? Why now? What now?). In this class, we’ll help you find your answers. We’ll talk about the stages of the experience, which will help you understand where you’ve been and, more importantly, where you’re headed. The clarity you gain will help you understand your journey’s purpose. This is a three-week session; a one-hour class each week for three weeks. Cost: $47 plus long-distance phone charges.

Class Day and Time: Wednesdays (February 15, 22 and 29) at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT or 5 p.m. PT) OR Saturdays (February 18, 25 and March 3) at 11 a.m. ET (10 a.m. CT, 8 a.m. PT)

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Where’s there winter, there’s snow. We shovel it, play in it, hope it arrives on December 24. We love it, until we have too much of it. Then, we want it to melt.

So, what in your life needs melting? Do you have a cold heart to a family member? Toward yourself about an incident or episode in your past? Do you need to melt so you’ll consider other possibilities because a current option no longer works?

Today, how will you melt?

Share in our comments section for a chance for you to win a Movie Madness gift pack, which includes all you need to enjoy an at-home Movie Night. During We Break for Winter!, we’re giving away a gift pack a day. Congratulations to Paula who won yesterday’s basket for sharing where she’ll take her ski lift.

It’s February, which means it’s We Break for Winter. During our seasonal breaks, we take time to reflect on what’s going well in your caregiving role and what needs tweaking.

We’re also making our celebration a chance for you to win a Movie Madness gift pack, which includes all you need to enjoy an at-home Movie Night. During We Break for Winter!, we’re giving away a Movie Madness gift pack a day. For a chance to win, just post an answer to each day’s We Break for Winter! question.

So, here’s our question for today. A ski lift, if you think about about it, is quite a handy device. You wait in a specified spot, it comes up behind you, picks you up, and delivers you to your destination. To catch the ride, you just need to be in the right place.

Consider where you are today. Do you feel like you’re standing in a place of Despair? Frustration? Resentment? Loneliness? Worry? Work?

Now, think about where you’d like to be. Would you like to be transported to Peace? Acceptance? Love? Compassion? Hope? Support? Forgiveness? Play?

For me, today, I would like to be transported from a place of doubt to a place of complete faith. And, when I reach my destination of complete faith, I will take the next big risk (i.e., ski the bigger hill).

In our comments section, please share where the ski lift picks you up and then where it delivers you. Be sure to tell us what you’ll do when you reach your new destination.

(Note: Our ski lift exercise can become a helpful visualization for you. When you’re feeling stuck in an emotion you don’t want, visualize the ski lift coming to get you and dropping you in a better spot. When you reach your destination, enjoy how it feels to be there.)

Reminders: Enjoy our Open House today! Details are here.

If Caregiving.com were a house, I imagine it would look like this one. Hope to see you February 5!

We’re holding a Open House on Super Bowl Sunday. Stop by Caregiving.com throughout the day to enjoy a taste of what we typically offer throughout the month. Our Open House kicks off with a 15-minute meditation at Noon ET. Other free events include:

—Solitaire Showdown, from 1 p.m. ET to 3 p.m. ET: Visitors have two hours to top the Leader Board; high score at 3 p.m. ET wins $50. Visitors can practice here.

—Three Steps to Feeling Better, a 20-minute webinar, 1 p.m. ET: I’ll share three steps family caregivers can take to feel better about their caregiving role.

—Three-Word Journaling, a 30-minute teleclass, 2 p.m. ET: Journaling can be a wonderful stress-reducing exercise. Except if you buy a journal only to stare at its blank pages. Where to start? What to write? In this class, I’ll help you begin their journal by simply writing about three words.

—Your Caregiving Journey talk show, 4 p.m. ET: Bette and I will co-host this 30-minute Internet talk show. Listeners can call in to the live show and share their answers to this question, “How do you beat caregiving’s cabin fever?” The first caller will win a gift.

—#Carechat on Twitter, 8 p.m. ET: I’ll moderate a one-hour chat on Twitter. Family caregivers are invited to join in and talk about the best way to manage their caregiving stress.

In addition, anyone who cleans their caregiving closets can place a free 30-day ad to sell supplies and equipment you no longer need on SharingStore.com.

Super Sunday also starts a week-long event on Caregiving.com called We Break for Winter. Throughout the week of February 5, I’ll pose questions so you can reflect on what’s going well in your caregiving roles and what needs tweaking. Visitors will have chances to win daily prizes.

Be sure to mark your calendars!

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G-J gave Abrah a run for her money with scores of 587 and 584.

Thanks so much to all who played! Our next Solitaire Showdown is Sunday, February 12.

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And, this time, winner will take $50 plus bragging rights! In order to win, you must join our Solitaire Showdown group. With our group, we’ll be able to chat and “talk smack” throughout the Showdown. You can join the group here. Once you join, click on Forum, then Solitaire Showdown, January 15, to post messages to the other group members. (Not a member of Caregiving.com? Become a member so you can join the group.)

On January 15, play our Solitaire game any time between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. ET (Noon and 4 p.m. CT, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m PT). The winner with the high score at 5 p.m. ET (4 p.m. CT, 2 p.m. PT) will win $50. More importantly, you’ll win bragging rights. You have until Noon on January 15 to practice. At 1 p.m. ET (Noon CT, 10 a.m. PT), I wipe the Leader Board clean and we begin the battle.

Good luck!

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Swati won yesterday’s gift (look for an email from me). The following who won our parting gifts and grand prize:

—Kristin won The Caregiving Years, Six Stages to a Meaningful Journey;

—Francine won Take Comfort, Reflections of Hope for Caregivers;

—Jane won Take Comfort, Too, Reflections of Hope for Caregivers;

—Roaringmouse won Good Morning! Sunny Reflections to Start Your Day;

—GJ won Take Time, a Journey and Journal Toward Greater Happiness;

—Jenny won the a $15 Amazon gift card from SandwichINK;

—NJ won an autographed copy of Forever a Caregiver by Trish Hughes Kreis (our own Trish!)

—Kaye won Take Comfort, the book and CD set;

—Amy won our grand prize: Three coaching sessions with me.

Congrats to our winners. (If you won a book from me, look for your book to arrive early next week.)

And, a very special thank you to Santa’s helper who organizes our daily prizes. You are a gift and a prize!

Enjoy!!

Reminders: We chat on Twitter tonight (December 11 at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT, 5 p.m. PT). To join us, just go to tweetchat.com and enter our hashtag: carechat. And, our live call-in show airs on Tuesday (December 13) at 7:30 p.m. ET, 6:30 p.m. CT, 4:30 p.m. PT. We’ll continue our conversation about managing the holidays and caregiving. Our first caller wins!! Listen live and download the podcast here.

Today’s the last day for a chance to win our daily gift and to be entered into a chance to win one of our end-of-the-party gifts. For a chance to win, simply share a comment on our site. Thanks so much to all who visit and share. We love to hear from you. You’ve truly made our Holiday Progressive Blog Party a special event.

And, today, Holly, who cares for her husband, joins me on Your Caregiving Journey for Table Talk at 10 a.m ET (9 a.m. CT, 7 a.m. PT). To listen live or download the podcast, visit here.

Finally, be sure to send a message of welcome to those who have just joined our site:

—mustang79 cares for her spouse and a parent;

—nanaroo cares for her spouse and her mother;

—mramstad cares for her husband, mother and mother-in-law.

Thanks, everyone, for all you do!!

Reminders: We chat on Twitter on Sunday evening at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT, 5 p.m. PT). To join us, just go to tweetchat.com and enter our hashtag: carechat. And, our live call-in show airs on Tuesday (December 13) at 7:30 p.m. ET, 6:30 p.m. CT, 4:30 p.m. PT. We’ll continue our conversation about managing the holidays and caregiving. Our first caller wins!! Listen live and download the podcast here.

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Wanna win? Just post a comment today for a chance to win our daily gift and one of our end-of-the-party prizes.

Be sure to visit the sites participating in our Holiday Progressive Blog Party. See you at the party!

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