Hanukkah,

I found the history of Hanukkah on-line and wanted to share. There is a link at the bottom of the post for a short video - I enjoy learning new things about people and our world; I hope you do too.

Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days and nights, starting on the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar (which is November-December on the Gregorian calendar).

In Hebrew, the word "Hanukkah" means "dedication."

The holiday commemorates the rededication of the holy Temple in Jerusalem after the Jews' 165 B.C.E. victory over the Hellenist Syrians. Antiochus, the Greek King of Syria, outlawed Jewish rituals and ordered the Jews to worship Greek gods.

In 168 B.C.E. the Jews' holy Temple was seized and dedicated to the worship of Zeus.
Some Jews were afraid of the Greek soldiers and obeyed them, but most were angry and decided to fight back.

The fighting began in Modiin, a village not far from Jerusalem. A Greek officer and soldiers assembled the villagers, asking them to bow to an idol and eat the flesh of a pig, activities forbidden to Jews. The officer asked Mattathias, a Jewish High Priest, to take part in the ceremony. He refused, and another villager stepped forward and offered to do it instead. Mattathias became outraged, took out his sword and killed the man, then killed the officer. His five sons and the other villagers then attacked and killed the soldiers. Mattathias' family went into hiding in the nearby mountains, where many other Jews who wanted to fight the Greeks joined them. They attacked the Greek soldiers whenever possible.

Judah Maccabee and his soldiers went to the holy Temple, and were saddened that many things were missing or broken, including the golden menorah. They cleaned and repaired the Temple, and when they were finished, they decided to have a big dedication ceremony. For the celebration, the Maccabees wanted to light the menorah. They looked everywhere for oil, and found a small flask that contained only enough oil to light the menorah for one day.

Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days. This gave them enough time to obtain new oil to keep the menorah lit.

Today Jews celebrate Hanukkah for eight days by lighting candles in a menorah every night, thus commemorating the eight-day miracle.

http://www.history.com/content/hanukkah/watch-video

Kim Duclos

Coldwell Banker Wardley

(888) 949-2890

www.CallKim.net

The History of Kwanzaa

Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor and chairman of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach, created Kwanzaa in 1966. After the Watts riots in Los Angeles, Dr. Karenga searched for ways to bring African-Americans together as a community. He founded US, a cultural organization, and started to research African "first fruit" (harvest) celebrations. Karenga combined aspects of several different harvest celebrations, such as those of the Ashanti and those of the Zulu, to form the basis of Kwanzaa.

The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase "matunda ya kwanza" which means "first fruits" in Swahili. Each family celebrates Kwanzaa in its own way, but celebrations often include songs and dances, African drums, storytelling, poetry reading, and a large traditional meal. On each of the seven nights, the family gathers and a child lights one of the candles on the Kinara (candleholder), then one of the seven principles is discussed.

The principles, called the Nguzo Saba (seven principles in Swahili) are values of African culture which contribute to building and reinforcing community among African-Americans.

Click here for the principles.

Kwanzaa also has seven basic symbols which represent values and concepts reflective of African culture. Click here for the symbols.

An African feast, called a Karamu, is held on December 31.
The candle-lighting ceremony each evening provides the opportunity to gather and discuss the meaning of Kwanzaa. The first night, the black candle in the center is lit (and the principle of umoja/unity is discussed).

One candle is lit each evening and the appropriate principle is discussed.

http://www.history.com/content/kwanzaa/history

Information retrieved 12/23/09 from History.com

History of Christmas

I came across and article on History.com about Christmas and thought I would share it with you.

Christmas has had a long and varied history. It has been celebrated for centuries by different people, at different times, in different places, and in many different ways. Here you will find links to information about the different ways that the holiday we know as Christmas has been celebrated, or not celebrated, over the years.

Watch video about the history and origins of Christmas.

Enjoy the Holidays and stay safe!

Kim Duclos

http://www.callkim.net/

HANDBOOK 2010

Health:

1. Drink plenty of water.

2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.

3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants..

4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy

5. Make time to pray.

6. Play more games

7. Read more books than you did in 2009 .

8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day

9. Sleep for 7 hours. . . .

10. Take a 10-30 minute walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:

11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.

14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.

16. Dream more while you are awake

17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..

18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.

20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the
lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

23. Smile and laugh more.

24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree...

Society:

25. Call your family often.

26. Each day give something good to others.

27. Forgive everyone for everything..

28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.

29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

30. What other people think of you is none of your business.

31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:

32. Do the right thing!

33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

34. GOD heals everything.

35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..

36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

37. The best is yet to come..

38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.

39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy. Last but not the least:

40. Please Share these words of wisdom with those you care about

Take advantage of all there is available to you in real estate in 2010! Real property is a good investment!

Call Kim @ (702) 521-3939 or

toll free @ (888) 949-2890

www.CallKim.net

Government Announces Short Sales Guidelines

The U.S. Treasury Department announced new guidelines this week designed to make short sales go more smoothly.

To qualify under these new guidelines:
The property must be the home owner’s principal residence.
The home owner must be delinquent on the mortgage or close to defaulting.
The loan must have been made before Jan. 1, 2009, and be for less than $729,750.
The borrowers’ total monthly mortgage payment must exceed 31 percent of their before-tax income.

Under the plan, borrowers will receive $1,500 from the government for selling homes for less than the amount of their mortgages.

Mortgage-servicing companies will get $1,000 for each completed short sale.

Second-mortgage holders can receive up to $3,000 of the sales proceeds in exchange for releasing their liens.

Investors who hold the first mortgage can collect up to $1,000 from the government for allowing the payments.

Borrowers who complete a short sale under the program must be "fully released" from future liability for the debt, according to the guidelines.

Source: Associated Press, J.W. Elphinstone (11/01/2009) and The Wall Street Journal, Ruth Simon (11/01/2009)

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Thank you,

Kim Duclos CRS GRI ABR

Coldwell Banker Wardley

Feng Shui Your Home for the Holidays!

Hello friends and neighbors! I was reading an interesting article by Karen Rauch Carter on Feng Shui your home for the Holidays! Whether feng shui is for you or not, it is an intersting read. Please find her article below.

Feng Shui Your Home for the Holidays
by Karen Rauch Carter

The holidays are the time of year you can temporarily add all kinds of chi-enhancing items to your home. Start by introducing yourself to the bagua (the feng shui road map) so you know where all of the key places in your home are.
Next, decide what your priorities are. For instance, do you want to have a harmonious family gathering this year? Add wood, such as a wreath or a Christmas tree, to the "family" area -- the left, center of your home or room.
Do you want to improve your health or someone's health in your family? Add fire or sparkling objects, such as stars, twinkling lights or ornaments to the "heath" area -- the center of your home or room. Or are you interested in getting more help from people around you? Add angels to the "helpful people" area -- the left, front area of your home or room.
Here are nine different ways you can make a difference in your life -- just by adding your favorite holiday decorations. Just decide which area (or two!) needs the most help:
Career
Family
Respect
Health
Children and Creativity
Money
Helpful people
Wisdom
Romance

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