The other day I was thinking about all the changes at Connex247 in 2006, the year in which I also turned 65, and at one point some months ago, had considered maybe closing down the site. I was having a bad day!

My good friend and associate Edward Carl reminded me of my earlier musings about the future of Connex247 not too long ago, and even though I am now officially a 'senior citizen', the thrill of hope will keep me at it a bit longer! Edward, of course, is one of the major reasons that Connex247 has enjoyed its greatest year since I founded it in 2000!

As many of you know, Edward brings everyone we feature, and all those he contacts, into the Connex247 family. On my recent trip to California, P. Michael Perez told me that Edward was one of the major reasons he did an interview with us. "He made me feel so welcome," Michael said. These comments are echoed by so many in emails we receive.

And let me share something else with you about Edward's role here. In early May, I told him  we had to find someone who would help us take the site to the next level. Canadian supermodel Ryan LeBar had certainly established the presence of Connex247 over the previous two years, but he was becoming very busy with his other interests in early 2006.

Within a week he was back to me with a link to a young model on Myspace, telling me I had to check out "Leighton."

So I did, and within moments it seemed, Ed had given me Leighton Stultz' phone number, and the rest, as they say is history. Leighton agreed to join us, and over the past six months has become the host of the site and on a daily basis brings huge amounts of traffic to Connex247.

Leighton, who is becoming a much sought after celebrity now, also provides us  with great insights into directions we should take to improve the site's content and appeal.

To Edward and Leighton then, you have certainly ignited the thrill of hope in me this past year, and I thank you so much for being the persons you are, and for all you have done for me. You have certainly been VERY instrumental in the renewal of Connex247

And there would be no Connex247 without Shawn Pritchard who has been part of the evolution of Connex247 into its present shape since Day One more than six years ago. In 2006 Shawn was responsible for undertaking the total redesign of the site and the introduction of new features. On more than one occasion Shawn has kept the thrill of hope alive!  Thanks Shawn.

There have been so many others who have become part of Connex247 that if I tried to list all of you, I would assuredly miss some so I will not begin -- other than to thank Jason Borish and Brian Johnson for producing The Thriller DVD series and helping us launch the Connex247 store.

When I decided to write a bit about the thrill of hope, I asked my good friend Bruno Serato, the owner of the Anaheim White House restaurant to provide me with some photos. And, the photos  here were all provided by Bruno. After receiving them I sent him an email telling him he must have read my mind.

My friend Bruno works to bring hope to children in his part of California daily. Here is an excerpt from a Los Angeles Time story by David Reyes, Times Staff Writer on December 11, 2006.

"... one evening while his Italian mother was in town, Serato visited the Boys & Girls Club with her.

"She looked at the kids playing and knew they were hungry and said, " 'Bruno, if they don't eat at nighttime, you are responsible to feed them' … and when Momma says something, you have to do it," Serato laughed.

"Serato said he crunched the numbers, and, with his mother's admonition fresh in his mind, decided to feed the club's children. Each night a van picks up enough pasta from the restaurant to feed 70 children at the club, roughly 30,000 meals a year.

"Let me tell you about one night over at the Boys & Girls Club," Serato said. "I gave a plate of pasta to a little girl and she came back two times, and then three times for more pasta, each time asking, 'May I have more?' I knew no one little girl could eat so much, and I had tears in my eyes realizing that that girl was starving. It was heartbreaking."

God bless you Bruno for indeed you are bringing the thrill of hope into the lives of many children!

And so, for me it has been a year of great blessings, mostly because of the wonderful people in my life who make each day one in which I can sing on the beach across from Bruno's place in California, no matter that as I write I am back in Canada during a snowstorm. But, the thrill of hope of meeting my friends Leighton, Danie and Bruno in California made even being on the bus with no heat travelling through the Canadian Rockies endurable!

As many will know, I took the thrill of hope from that lovely Christmas carol 'O Holy Night'. In it the weary world rejoices, and it is my most sincere hope that at this time of year, the thrill of hope will be ignited in your life, and you will become part of a world that brings people together, full of peace and joy and love. 

AND NOW... it is Edward's turn!!!!

Hello my dear Connex readers! Well, here we are again living this special moment of the year. When Michael  asked me to write a Christmas message, three things came to my mind: family, childhood and love. To a south American guy like me, the spirit of Christmas always had this meaning: stay together with my dearest people. Since I was a little child I always believed that only love can really makes the world a difference and this is what I really feel here.

Connex247 is like my 'second family' It has been a special year for me and I believe for all Connex247 crew too. The reason of Connex247 success is that we live as a family, no matter how far we are (LOL and I am located in a very distant country. BTW, why are you waiting to visit the best place around the world uh? LOL LOL LOL!!).

I wish you my best wishes for this Christmas. Not only for this special season of the year but for a great 2007 too. God bless you all. May the love and peace be in your minds and souls forever!!! Ho! Ho! Ho!

Or in other words...

FELIZ NATAL E UM SUPER 2007 PARA TODOS VOCÊS. QUE O AMOR E A PAZ ESTEJAM SEMPRE EM SUAS MENTES E CORAÇÕES. E VAMOS EM FRENTE!!!

Do brasileiro e santista
Edward Carl
http://www.vivasantos.com.br  (my hometown!)