Dear Atria,
Do you remember how your life was when I was a part of it? I do remember and I cherish these memories. I miss you so much... What helps me get through the day is knowing that one day I will see you again.

23 Things to Always Remember And One Thing Never to Forget) - I found this on the Internet and I think it is very true; if we could only implement it in our lives we would have been much happier...
Remember my dear Daughter...

1. Your presence is a present to the world.
2. You're unique and one of a kind.
3. Your life can be what you want it to be.
4. Take the days just one at a time.
5. Count your blessings, not your troubles.
6. You'll make it through whatever comes along.
7. Within you are so many answers.
8. Understand, have courage, be strong.
9. Don't put limits on yourself.
10. So many dreams are waiting to be realized.
11. Decisions are too important to leave to chance.
12. Reach for your peak, your goal, and your prize.
13. Nothing wastes more energy than worrying.
14. The longer one carries a problem, the heavier it gets.
15. Don't take things too seriously.
16. Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.
17. Remember that a little love goes a long way.
18. Remember that a lot goes forever.
19. Remember that friendship is a wise investment.
20. Life's treasures are people together.
21. Realize that it's never to late.
22. Do ordinary things in extraordinary ways.
23. Have health and hope and happiness.
24.. Take the time to wish upon a star.

And don't ever forget ... For even a day ... How very special you are.

Dear Atria,
Couple of weeks ago I visited Woburn Safari Park and had an opportunity to stroke an elephant. It was part of a short presentation about elephants. The skin of an elephant is much softer than I expected. It looks very ruth, but actually is not that thick, except around the back and sides. It also had some hair and it felt a bit like touching a brush. I was amazed as I thought it will be rock hard. It wasn't. It was nice to touch.
Things are often different that we imagine them and believe them to be. The best way is to experience them yourself and find out the true nature of things yourself. The truth may be surprising like my recent experience with stroking an elephant.

Hurry up to love people, they pass away so fast
Only shoes and silent telephone remains
Only what is trivial lags like a cow
The most important is so beautiful that occurs suddenly
Afterwards natural silence therefore unbearable
Like purity born straightforward from distress
When we think about someone, remaining without them

Don't be sure that you still have time, because certainty is vague
It takes away compassion like any joy
It comes simultaneously with pathos and humour
Like two passions still weaker than one
They go away fast like thrush falling silent in July
Like sound a bit awkward or emotionless bow
To see decently they close their eyes
Though greater risk is to be born than to die
We still love too little and always too late

Don't write about it often but once and forever
and you will be like a dolphin gentle and powerful

Hurry up to love people, they pass away so fast
And those who perish, not always return
And we never know talking about love,
Is the first the last, or is the last the first?

Dear Atria, this is a very beautiful and true poem by Jan Twardowski.
Hurry up...

Dear Atria,
I wish you a very happy 2013 Valentine's day. I hope that you enjoyed a memorable time with your friends and admierers.

Dear Atria,
One of the Christmas presents I received last year from Anna was a bear she made for me. I promised to write how it was done, so you can make your very own teddy bear if you only want. Anna took pictures all the way through the process and she explained everything to me, so hopefully I will be able to provide you with an accurate information. If you have any problems or questions just let me know.
I guess the first thing will be to tell you what is needed for the bear. You will need a pattern (I will put a pdf with the pattern at the end for you to download), a piece of fluffy fur-type material, a small piece of dark brown fabric (felt) for the paw pads, stuffing, threads, leg joints and some sort of eyes and nose for the bear. All these items can be purchased from any craft shop selling fabrics and dressmaker’s materials. They are not expensive; you can also use old blanket or furry clothing. When you ask you Mum she will surly help and advise you. If you want just write an email to me at dad2atria@gmail.com and I will send you everything you need for the bear to the address you give me. Ask  your Mum. She will also make sure of your safety while making your teddy bear and also could help you if you get stock with something. You will need to use scissors, needles, pins and thread. 
Now you can begin making your very own bear. 
First cut out all of the paper pattern pieces. Before the templates are positioned on the back of the fabric it is important to notice which way the pile is lying. Stroke the fur to feel which way feels smoothest; the direction you would stroke a cat. This is the direction the pile is lying and all the templates need to be placed on the back of the fabric with the arrows following this direction. So you can now place all the templates that need to be cut out from the fur onto the back of the fabric as close together as possible so that the minimum amount of fur is wasted. When you are sure they all fit draw around each piece with permanent marker (I forgot to tell you that you will need one). Make sure you transfer all the important information, all the letters, joint and eye positions, openings for turning and stuffing the bear. Once this is finished you can do exactly the same with the felt and foot and paw pad templates. The next job will be to carefully cut out all the pieces from the fabric. Take great care when cutting out the pieces, ensure your safety and also try to be as accurate as possible and follow the templates you have drawn. It is worth taking your time as effort now will help you make a far better bear.

So now when you know about the stitching it is time to start stitching your bear. We start from the head. The head is made in two stages: first place the two head pieces furry sides together and pin along the front steam from point A to B. Leave the rest of the head unpinned as this will be sawn together in the next stage. Oversew along this front steam to hold it securely in place ready for seam stitching and then remove all the pins. Starting at the top of the steam carefully stitch down the front curved edge from point A to B following the 6mm seam allowance.
Now you can insert the head gusset. This is probably the trickiest part of making any teddy bear but it is not really that difficult. Take the head gusset and pin it to the head with the right sides together at the tip of the nose (point A). Tuck the fur to the inside with your pins as you work, then insert the next pins at points C, which are on both sides of the head gusset near the eye positions. Finally place the next to pins at the points marked as D. Once the head gusset is held securely at these key points you can oversew the head gusset to the head to hold it in place ready for stitching. Remember that the bottom straight edge must be left open so that the head can be attached to the body a little later. Carefully follow the 6mm allowance and stitch the head gusset in place, taking particular care around tip of the nose. When the sewing is finished attached the eyes . There are marks on your pattern when the eyes should be positioned. If you buy the eyes from the craft shop, as Anna did, you need to insert them from the right side (which at the moment is inside the head) and close with the supplied washers. You can just use two nice buttons for the eyes instead if you prefer. Once the eyes are in place you need to insert a nose. Again, you can buy one from the craft shop or just use a nice button. Then you can turn the head right side out and make ears. Ears are very easy to do. Each ear is made from two pieces of fabric sewn together. Oversew around the curve edge of each only, leaving the bottom straight edge open to allow the ear to be turned right side out when ready. When you turn the ear right side out tuck the raw edges of the straight edge to the inside and ladder stitch the opening to close. So now you have a head and ears. Time for legs and arms!

There are 3 pieces to make up each arm: an inner arm, an outer arm and a paw pad. First the paw pad has to be attached to the inner arm. Matching points M and N on the straight edges of the inner arm and the paw pad , place the felt paw pad on the top of an inner arm, keeping the straight edges level. Pin the pad in place tucking the fur pile to the inside as you go. Then oversew along the straight edge and remove pins. Now stitch across the straight edge 6mm from the edge of the fabric. Unfold the paw pad to show the completed arm shape, pressing the steam upwards towards the top of the arm with your fingers. Place the completed inner arm on the top of the corresponding outer arm, right side in, and pin in place. Then oversew the edges together to hold them securely in place and finally stitch the arm pieces together remembering to leave the opening as marked on the pattern for turning and stuffing. Now you can insert arm joints. Inside the arm, locate the arm that indicates the position of the joint and make a small hole with a knitting needle. Place the joint inside the arm and push the stem out through the hole. Once the joint is in place the arm can be softly stuffed with your stuffing. When you are happy with the feel of the arm close the opening with the ladder stitch. Repeat the whole process with the second arms.

So now you can start making the legs. The legs are constructed differently from the arms as there are only two pieces to bring together. Take one of the leg pieces and fold it in half with right sides together. Pin carefully around the curved shape of the leg, making sure that the bottom straight edges are level. Oversew from point I to J and from point K to L, leaving the opening between points J and K clear, as marked on the pattern. Remove the pins and stitch the leg. Don’t turn it right side out yet as the foot pad has to be inserted next. Position the foor pad with point L on the foot pad lining up with point L on the leg. Pin the pad to the leg, then oversew and finally stitch. Then turn the leg right side out and look inside to locate the mark for the joint position. Make a small hole there and place the joint inside the leg pushing the shank out through the hole you just made. Now you can stuff the leg with your stuffing and close the opening with the ladder stitches. And again you need to repeat the whole procedure with the second leg.

When all the limbs are in place you can stuff your bear. When you are happy with the firmness and shape of the bear, close the final seam with a ladder stitch. Finish by attaching the ears. 

Now your own bear is ready!

If you decide to make one surely it will be some work to do, but it will be very rewarding as this will be the only teddy bear in the world like that, your own, hand made! Anna gave the one she made to me and it is one of the best presents I have received as i know how much work, patience and love went into making it. You can consider making a bear for your Mum or your best friend? Let me know if you decide to make your own bear and ask any questions and if you want me to I will send you all the materials. Enjoy my dear Atria.