December 2013 - South Aurora Magazine

December 2013

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CONTENTS SOUTH AURORA MAGAZINE

southauroramagazine.com

In This Issue South Aurora

Magazine

December 2013 Volume 5 Issue 12 Publisher Mike Waid mike.waid@waidpublishing.com

Editor Pamela Waid pam.waid@waidpublishing.com

Ad Sales Tiffany Grizzle tiffany@waidpublishing.com 303-805-9455 xt 14

7 11 13

Holiday Time Management

Hope and Healing, Close to Home

Bookends: Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

11

Graphic Designer

South Aurora Magazine is published 12 times per year by Waid Publishing (www.

WaidPublishing.com), a division of Mike Waid & Associates, Inc. (www.MikeWaid.com), 19751 E. Mainstreet, Suite R-18, Parker, CO 80138, 303805-9455. South Aurora Magazine is available online at www.southauroramagazine.com.

South Aurora Magazines is a trademark of Waid Publishing. All rights reserved. The views, opinions and/or statements made or expressed by individuals and/or entities, are not necessarily reflective of the views and opinions of Waid Publishing. No part of this publication may be reproduced without explicit permission from South Aurora Magazine. Copyright 2013 South Aurora Magazine - All rights Reserved.

Also in this issue...

From the Publisher: Harry Samora Memorial Toy Drive.......... 5 Local Author Spotlight.............................................................. 14

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December 2013

Adrienne Brust adrienne@waidpublishing.com

FROM THE PUBLISHER D

December 2013

uring this time of year, it is easy to get wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays and forget to take the time to think about what the holiday season is really about. Pausing, even for a moment, to appreciate your family and friends and the little bits of joy that can pop up in your day when you least expect it.

There are few things more joyful than seeing the holidays through the wonder filled eyes of children. Children, no matter their circumstances, manage to constantly remind us that the holidays are a truly a magical time of year. For the last seven years, patients at Children’s Hospital have had a more magical holiday thanks to the generous contributions of the community and the tireless efforts of Mia Samora, who organizes Harry’s Annual Toy Drive in memory of her son, Harry Samora.

Harry was a good friend of my oldest son, Christopher. I can still

5 SOUTH AURORA MAGAZINE

remember the day when my wife called me as Christopher and I were going into King Soopers with the news of Harry’s passing. Having to explain to a seven year old that he would never be able to see his friend again was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.

Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get.

We make a life by what we give.”

Harry’s time on this earth was entirely too brief, but his legacy of joy lives on, year after year, bringing smiles to the faces of those brave little warriors at Children’s Hospital. We should all strive to have as meaningful a life and make as profound a difference in this world as Harry Samora. By honoring Harry’s life and making a contribution in his name we are all embracing the true meaning of the holidays and in that act of giving, we are reminded of how lucky we are to be able to share in the spirit of the season.

To donate, bring new, unwrapped toys (Harry especially loved race cars) for children newborn-18 years or a monetary donation between December 3rd-December 21 to our office at Waid Publishing, 19751 E Mainstreet, Suite R-18, Parker, CO, 80138. v

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HOLIDAY TIME Management

December 2013

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h, the holidays! The lights, the sounds, the smells, the memories. We look forward to them every year. Then suddenly they are here, and we find ourselves wishing for more time!

December is a month of expectations. These expectations come in many forms; gifts to buy, parties to attend, having the perfectly decorated home, and you still have to work and take care of family. With the proper time management and a few key reminders, you can sail through December and all the stress that tends to come with it.

First, remember expectations come from other people. What you should remember is that it is ok for your focus to be on your priorities. Ask yourself, “Do my priorities line up with what others are asking of me?” If the expectations threaten to overtake your priorities, take a step back. Rethink making commitments to others if you cannot fully appreciate what they are asking. The key to time management and maintaining your sanity during this holiday season is to learn that it is ok to say NO. And you can say it guilt free. Claudia Black has said, “Saying no can be the ultimate self-care.”

Step two in any organizing project, including time, is to remove all unnecessary items. Saying yes too much can cause stress and burn out. We begin to resent all we are saying yes to! We find ourselves trying to do too much and in the process we lose ourselves and what is most important to us and the needs of our families. Feeling resentment to the unnecessary tasks that we have taken on will be felt in all we do and everyone we interact with.

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by Christa Johanson

Another key aspect to holiday time management is scheduling. First, you must maintain your current schedule. This time of year may also bring changes to sporting events for kids, work projects and even school. Be sure to update your schedule accordingly. Keeping your schedule accurate on a paper calendar or your phone gives you a chance to visualize where you are putting your priorities and where you are saying yes to other’s expectations. Be sure to write, or in these days type, your schedule. When your schedule is on a calendar you are more likely to complete your tasks.

The third step in organizing is to designate zones. In applying this to time management this means when items such as errands will consume our time we can consolidate. Make a list of what you need to do each week. Run errands that are in the same general location each day. Consider things like the weather. Also consider your home schedule. Laundry needs to be done, dinner needs to be made. We can consolidate home tasks with meal planning and chore assignments.

Proper planning and time management of your priorities will help alleviate your stress and bring back the joy of the holidays. Remember what is important to you and those you love.

From the Peace Together Spaces family to yours, have a very joyous holiday season! v Christa Johanson, President of Peace Together Spaces, has been restoring O.R.D.E.R. to homes for 8 ½ years. Christa may be reached at 303.563.9377 or online at www.peacetogetherspaces.com.

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HOPE AND HEALING,

December 2013

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ith new radiation therapy services, local residents have access to a broad spectrum of cancer care without traveling for treatment When you’re facing cancer there are a host of considerations and decisions to make, but what matters most from a medical perspective is the availability of a full spectrum of care and expertise. You want a highly skilled medical oncologist to drive your treatment, a surgeon who is in-tune with the latest oncologic procedures, access to promising new interventions through clinical trials, and a skilled radiation oncologist directing your radiation therapy. With the addition of this final component — a new 10,000-squarefoot radiation therapy center that opened this fall — Parker Adventist Hospital now offers full-service advanced cancer care close to home for residents of Parker and nearby communities.

BRINGING CARE HOME Until now, residents of Parker and beyond had to drive 20 minutes or more to receive radiation therapy. Since radiation is often needed daily for four to six weeks, that meant a lot of driving and a lot of stress. For patients who did not have access to transportation, it could have even meant going without. The new radiation therapy center at Parker Adventist Hospital provides a much-needed service for this fast-growing region. “We’re a convenient, comprehensive, multidisciplinary center where 11 SOUTH AURORA MAGAZINE

Close to Home

physicians have the ability to communicate and work very closely together because we’re all on the same campus,” says radiation oncologist Darlene Bugoci, MD. “This allows patients to get all of their cancer treatments in one location.”

SPREADING HOPE A full range of advanced cancer care treatment options isn’t all you’ll find at Parker Adventist Hospital. Caring here is also about giving hope. “It’s been proven that patients have better outcomes when hope exists — within themselves and in their care environment,” says Connie Wood, director of oncology and medical imaging at Parker Adventist Hospital. “We’re working hard on training staff around hope and the healing arts, including music, massage therapy, and other adjunct offerings to help our patients along this journey.” These extra programs are fully funded by the Parker Hospital Foundation through donations from the community and proceeds from sales in the hospital gift shop.

Parker Adventist Hospital’s cancer program is accredited by the Commission on Cancer (CoC). Parker Adventist Hospital received eight commendations from the CoC — a remarkably rare achievement for a new program.

To learn more, go online to parkerhospital.org/cancer-care.

Cancer Center Main Number: 303-269-4975.

December 2013 WWW.SOUTHAURORAMAGAZINE.COM 12

BOOKENDS Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

From 1854 to 1929 trains carried thousands of orphaned children from the East Coast to farmland in the Midwest in hopes of finding families for abandoned boys and girls.

Some would find loving homes but many were chosen to provide hard labor and tedious jobs. In this story we meet Vivian, a ninety-one year old lady that is living a quiet life in Maine. As a young Irish immigrant she was placed on an orphan train when she was only nine years old. She has put her past behind her until a troubled seventeen year old Molly comes into her life. Molly has to serve fifty hours of community service and has volunteered to help Vivian organize all the clutter in her attic. What the two discover among the trunks and boxes will change both of their lives.

wife did not. The wife was an unhappy individual in general and seemed to almost enjoy picking on and making fun of Molly. We have read other books that give glimpses of different foster situations and I’m sure there is a wide range of “normal” foster families in reality. Molly does point out to her foster family that they must enjoy the money they receive to keep a foster child, alluding to the fact that her foster parents are involved only for the additional income. Did you feel that the author was attempting to begin a discussion about the foster system?

BECKY: The characters in this story are fictional but the story was sparked by a non-fiction book that the author found at her in-laws’ house. I did not have previous knowledge of this period in American history and am curious if you have ever heard about the orphan trains?

BECKY: She definitely planted a seed in my head and a discussion regarding this topic could go on and on. I wonder what experience, if any, the author has with the foster care system. There was no direct insult of the system per se but the author did not paint a pretty scene regarding foster caregivers. As Molly becomes involved with Vivian she starts to make a physical transformation, “she wears her Goth persona like armor”. What do you think about this change in her appearance?

PAM: I had never heard of the orphan trains before reading this book, but found the topic (and the fictional characters) very interesting.

The book tells us about the lives of two characters: Molly and Vivian. Did you enjoy the author’s style of developing both stories, while bringing them together?

BECKY: It seems like we read many stories that weave the past and the present together.

Although I enjoy that style of writing, in this story I found it hard to connect with Molly. I preferred the development of Vivian’s tale and often looked forward to returning to her side of the story. Did you feel drawn to one timeframe or character?

December 2013

PAM: I agree, Becky. I was also drawn to Vivian and her story and felt that her character was much more developed. Added to her character, was the recounting of the orphan train and the time period. This was very intriguing to me and I found myself looking forward to these portions of the book, as well. Vivian had a large impact on Molly’s life. Did you feel that Molly had an impact on Vivian during their time together?

BECKY: Although it wasn’t as big of an impact, I do believe that Molly brought a special connection and friendship to Vivian’s life. Vivian lead a solitary life so I felt that reliving her stories helped to validate her past. I think that Vivian not only enjoyed sharing her life story but knew that she was giving hope to a struggling teen. The two share a number of similarities, the biggest is that they have been abandoned by their parents and thrust into care by others that don’t truly love them. Do you think that the author gave a realistic portrayal of Molly’s foster situation?

PAM: Molly’s foster situation was difficult, since the husband wanted her, but his 13 SOUTH AURORA MAGAZINE

PAM: When Molly started to spend time with Vivian and get to know her, she was able to be herself (something she had not been able to do for quite some time). She was afraid to just be herself at her foster home and her new school.

She needed her “armor” to protect herself and her feelings from possible rejection. However, once she began to become close to Vivian, she realized they had many things in common and it was OK for her to let her true self show.

Molly’s boyfriend was her only friend at school. As she became closer to Vivian and more comfortable in her own skin, they began to have some disagreements.

Did you feel this was significant in the story?

BECKY: While he did not have a big role in the story, he was the catalyst that brought these two women together. His mother worked for Vivian and was against Molly coming to help. It was for the love of her son that she introduced Molly to Vivian. For me that was the endearing part of this relationship. We have Molly who has no connection to a loving parent and her boyfriend has a mother that is willing to do anything for her only child. If you are interested in this story I would suggest buying a paper copy as the author included some photos from the past and I don’t think that my electronic version gave them justice. Did you like the extra information at the end?

PAM: I loved the photographs of the actual orphan trains and the children that were taken out west. The additional historical information was very interesting and I would love to learn more about this subject. Next month we will read The Shoemaker’s Wife by Adriana Trigiani. v

SOUTH AURORA

LOCAL AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT Pawsitively Bunnie: The Adventure Begins by A.C. Rose

A. C. Rose and M. M. Rose are adults that never grew up inside.

They love to read childrens’ books, watch animated movies, and play as much as possible.

They hope you enjoy reading about Bunnie as much as they enjoy writing about her and drawing her. v The Pawsitively Bunnie books are available online as E-readers at www. smashwords.com/profile/view/pawsitivelybunnie You can also find more online at pawsitivelybunnie.blogspot.com/

December 2013

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n her first book, Pawsitively Bunnie: The Adventures Begin, we see how Bunnie came to be a big part of a family’s life. This is actually based on a true story. In fact, the ‘nice man’ was really a young husband who knew that his wife hadn’t had an Easter basket for many years of her childhood. So he gave her one, with the cutest bunny she had ever seen on it, for their first Easter together.

Bunnie has had many adventures over the years, and author A.C. Rose looks forward to sharing them with you.

Written by local author A.C. Rose and illustrated

by M.M Rose, the Pawsitively Bunnie series are imaginative children’s books written with fun and inspiration.

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