Dec. 17th, 2006, in front of the uncomplete parish Church of Saint Michael, in Wadi Benehlay, Shoof. From left to right Tanios Badaoui, Halim Antoun and Mousa Mousa.
Pic. was taken by me, shortly before the 40 memorial Mass for Latifi Rookoz.

This is a photo of Antoine Halim Antoun, my cousin. The famous Antoun Antoun, lost about 1985 and not found yet Dec. 2006. The LBCI brodcasted a special program about him, trying hard, but in vain to trace back his steps in Europe and find him. His family in Ein El'Remmani, Beirut, Lebanon are still awaiting for him.
Please, anyone who could help find Antoine A., contact us @ bouna_z@hotmail.com Thanks in advance & God bless.

This is the only souvenir picture, I still have from my 1st solemn communion, in the parish of Saint Maron, Ein El'Remmani (E.R.), about 1977. Myself, my twin brother Miled and my bro. Bassam received for the 1st time to Holy Sacrament together. My youngest brother Fadi, was dressed up as an angel!
My family moved out of Wadi Benehlay (W.B.) in Shoof to live in Beirut about 1975, then because of the war in Beirut surrounding between Lebanese and Palestinians, then Christians and Mulsims, we moved back to W. B., then back to Ein El'Remmani also because of the war between Druze and Christians, then we run away to Jebeil (Byblos) from 1982-1992, then back to E.R., then back to W.B. in 1995.

About Oct. 14th, 2006, in Hazmieh, East Beirut, Lebanon. Wedding party of cousin Grace Halim Antoun.
From left to right: My father Halim, my mother Therese, my sister Claude, my brother Fadi, and my brother in law Philip.
Pic. taken by me after few Scotsh on Rocks drinks.

فيما يلي ورقة تحتوي ثلاثة قصائد لجدي المرحوم نعمة يوسف لحود، وجدتها نوال امرأة خالي انطوان، بين اغراض بيتها في فيطرون، كسروان، واعطتني اياها يوم الاحد 10 كانون الاول 2006، بعد تناولي طعام الغذاء عندهم وهذا نص القصائد:

بالشوف
بالشوف كِنّا بيوتنا على حسابنا
وللضيف كنا مشرعين بوابنا
الله هبط فينا ولهون جابنا
ومش هيك كنا عاملين حسابنا
عم نشتغل ومنتعب كتير لنجمع فلوس
وما في ليرة عم تصل على جيابنا.

وادي النحلة
وادي النحلة بقلب الشوف
إسمها من أربعة حروف، يا اربع حروف من نور. واعي وغافي بصليلها مهما يمّر عليها دهور الدر استحلى يحكيها.
أوّل حرف "واو": الورد فيها متلّي الدور
ثاني حرف "ألاف": أحسن منها مش موجود بكلّ الشوف،
ثالث حرف "دال": الدور الفها كلها نور.
رابع حرف "ي" يا يسوع يا شفوق، يا رحوم يا مخلصنا يا حنون.

حكمة الحياة

الانسان مهما يعيش مرتاح وغني،
وعلى قد ما يجمع فلوس ويغتني
ولو كان مستولي على عرش السلطتني
ولو كان معو كنوز كثيرة مخزني
ما بينفعو الانسان إلاّ عمايلو
كنوز الدني بتضل باقي في هالدني.

Saint Barbara (Halloween)
Did you know?
About 21 hundred years ago, a Halloween Tradition was initiated in Ireland, as a memorial celebration for the departed.
Like Lebanon, Ireland is a mountainous country, wherein people spend summer time high in the mountains, then travel back to their seashore towns in winter time. This annual moving out ritual is a hard time on the physical and emotional levels, often leading to sickness and death especially for old people. Gradually, Irish people correlated the fact of the increasing death rate among them, and the moving out season, which occurred in early November. To prevent death, pagan Irish priests encouraged their people to put on ugly, scary masks and outfits and go out dancing to cast away the spirit of death, which was believed to hover above them during that moving time.
As Ireland got Christianized with Saint Patrick in the 5th century, the Halloween tradition was Christianized also, and associated with All Saints Day, which the Catholic Church celebrates on Nov. 1st.
Saint Barbara, celebrated in the Maronite tradition on Dec. 4th, is the equivalent of the Irish Halloween if you want. It’s a time for us to remember with proud our martyrs, and ask for their intercession to remain faithful to the gift of faith their suffered to deliver to us sound and safe. Saint Barbara’s heroic life and death († 235) witness for God’s love, and inspire us to defend our faith and the truth of Jesus until death.
For more info about Saint Barabara go to www.maronite-heritage.com, click on the Maronites link, then Synxarion, then Dec. Go to www.pauline.org , then “A Saint A Day”, March 17th, for more info about St. Patrick.
God bless & have a blessed happy Saint Barbara Day.
Picture: Kindergarten children @ NDL School, dressed up for the occasion of St Barbara (Dec. 4th, 2006), watching a play about St Barbara. (Pic. taken by Nathalie Nasr, 2in1 studios).

Occasion: Lebanon Independence Day, Nov. 22nd.
History: During about 100 years of Frensh Mandate (1840-1943), the state of Lebanon was shaped, governed by a sectarian political regime that proportionally distributed the country's power and resources among its main cultural groups: Christian Maronites, Melkites and Orthodox, and Muslim Sunnis, Shiites and Druze.
Context: This pic. was taken by Nathalie Nasr, NDL photographer, in front of the Maternelle (Preschool) building. Rev.s N. Khalil (Sch. Superior) & Z. Antoun (NDL Eng. School Director) appear surrounded by the Kindergarten children.
Lebanon's flag appears on the hats: a green cedar tree, that symbolizes eternity and divine blessing, on a white background that symbolizes Lebanon white snow (wherefrom the name of the country Lebanon), surrounded by red color, that reminds us of the many martyrs who died for Lebanon's independence and wellbeing.