Volume 5 - Issue 8 October 2009
Sophie
Josh’s Featuring:
Exciting, Casual, Dining Experience
Photo Courtesy of Shawn Geiser Photography
Wo ma n ’s M a ga z ine
In This Issue:
*Survivor’s Stories *Preparing A Flower Girl *Treasure Investigator
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Call or email today to find out more about this STERLING Opportunity.
y t r a P e Com s! We U h t i W and the Staff As
e borah D pening of n i o O d J n a r the G Cele brate
d n 2 2 r e ctob O , y a d s r u Th pm 7 l i t n u 4pm
Nibble and sip the evening away as we unveil our array of new products: hand painted glass serving pieces, fabulous home decor items, new Vera Bradley, festive seasonal products, unique works of local artisans, and tons more selected for YOU!! Goody bags and discounts for all attendees! Scrumptious Hors D’oeuvres will be provided by Village Kitchen.......Yum! Entertainment will be provided by Nathan Hefner...Fun!
We’re having a party and it won’t be the same without you!!!
Deborah’s Gracious Gifts Formerly Crabtree & Evelyn
2111 Catawba Valley Blvd SE, Hickory, NC 828-328-5599 www.deborahsgifts.com
T R A
Message From The
HE
By Judy Smith, Editor I truly believe we can find hope even in our struggles. The problem is that we don’t always look. Now I know there are many times in our lives that things hit us right between the eyes and we didn’t see it coming and we can’t understand it. I also know that when someone says they know what you are going through, yet they themselves, haven’t been there…well let’s just say that they mean well. The month of October is breast cancer awareness month and it seems like this horrible disease affects so many women and men. Yes, I did say men. We don’t think about it being a man’s disease but it can happen to them as well. I have been very fortunate that I have not had to personally deal with this but I know lots of women who have. I can’t completely understand nor can I know what feelings have to be dealt with. One thing I know for sure is there are amazing stories of hope and fulfillment all around us. These stories come from women who have had to struggle with Breast Cancer. Read their stories….no….hear their heart! Find the hope that they have found. Maybe their stories will make you cry or make you smile, but I know they will make you think about the important things in life. What are the important things to you? Think about that for a moment. A kiss and a hug from my children and grandchildren are worth more than gold to me. If cancer strikes tomorrow, I hope I grasp the hope these women have found. They are not looking back. They are looking at the moment with hope and gratitude for what lies ahead. Ralph Waldo Emerson said “This day is all that is good and fair. It is too dear, with its hope’s and invitations, to waste a moment on yesterdays”. I have a quote in my office that says “Everyday holds a possibility of a miracle”. I don’t know who said it but I know that is the way I want to live my life. Thank you ladies for sharing your hope with us!
Fighting Breast Cancer, One Step At A Time.
NC Foothills
1 Mile Funwalk & 5K Run/Walk Saturday, October 17th, 2009 Lenoir-Rhyne University Hickory, NC
Ways To Register: • To Register Individually Or To Form A Team For The Susan G. Komen NC Foothills Race For The Cure®,Visit Their Website At www.komenncfoothills.org or call 828-781-CURE (2873). • Volunteer And Sponsorship Opportunities Are Also Available. • Team registrations will also be accepted on the day of the race at Lenoir Rhyne University.
Schedule of Events: • 7 AM Registration • 7:15 Survivor Breakfast • 7:30 Team Photos • 8:25 Survivor Photo • 9 AM 5k Run/Walk • 9:45 1 Mile Fun Run/ Walk • 10:15 Award Ceremony
Events begin at 7:00am
828-781-CURE Visit our website at: www.komenncfoothills.org Oct 2009 Page 1
Contents Message From The Heart......................................................Pg 1 A Life Changing Diagnosis...................................................Pg 3 Girlfriends in God.................................................................Pg 4 Josh’s Journey........................................................................Pg 8 When The Music Stopped...................................................Pg 11 Fly Lady...............................................................................Pg 14 Running From Myself.........................................................Pg 17 Dinner Diva.........................................................................Pg 19 Front Porch..........................................................................Pg 20 Treasure Investigator...........................................................Pg 22 Workin’ It Out......................................................................Pg 23 Preparing A Flower Girl......................................................Pg 24 Brenda Delee’s Story...........................................................Pg 30 How To Foster Your Child’s Talent....................................Pg 32
Sophie Woman’s Magazine, LLC. 3354 16th Ave SE, Box 1 Conover NC, 28613
Editor: Richard Smith, Judy Smith Sales: Judy Smith, Sherry Sigmon, Debbie Benge Distribution: Richard Smith Graphic Design: Scott Hansley
Final Advertising Deadline For The Next Issue:
October 14
How to place an ad: Call our office at (828) 466-0122 and leave a message. One of our sales representatives will return your call as soon as possible. You may also fax material to (828) 466-0124. We reserve the right to refuse to run any ad we deem to be controversial or in bad taste.
Thanks To Our Distributors Hwy. 127 Jagged Edge Salon Windy City Grill Cafe Gouda Davinci’s 29th Ave Golden China Frankie & Johnnies Spring Arbor Sandy Ridge Rd. Captain’s Galley Sub Station II Springs Rd. Oriental Express Liberty Hair & Nails Curves China Moon Sakura Japanese Primetime Video
Food Lion Galaxy Shell’s BBQ Tate Blvd. A Woman’s View Baby In Me Graystone Eye Hickory Family Phar. Frye Care Catawba Women’s Ctr. Piedmont Cardiology Carolina Orthopaedic Grayston Ear, Nose & Throat Hildebran Korner Cafe Hildebran Medical Clinic Turning Heads Salon
Connelly Springs Tex’s Fish Camp Icard Granny’s Kitchen Valdese Valdese Hospital Styles Shimmer & Shine Giovanni’s Pizza Myra’s Mr. Roberts Hair Affair Drexel Spicers Restaurant Drexel Medical Practice Morganton Cloud 9 Salon Great China Buck’s Pizza TCBY
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Page 2 Oct 2009
Dealing With A
Life Changing
By Phyllis Esler
Diagnosis
“You have breast cancer.” Those four little words changed my entire life in an instant. The person I was before I heard those words was suddenly gone and replaced by someone that, at times, I don’t recognize any more. The reality of it is that as many as one in eight women in the United States will hear those words during their lifetime and it has become the epidemic proportions that make us realize that it is no longer a matter of “if” but a matter of “when.” Most people have a difficult time copping with change, any kind of change. But when the change has the potential of being as devastating as this one, it gives one’s perspective of life a whole new meaning. The moment after I heard those words, I know that the doctor said a few more things that I recalled later, but at that time the things he said came through a fog. First, I began to wonder if I would be a survivor or a statistic. Second, I wanted to know what my doctor would do about it and how soon. Third, I consider what to tell my family, my boss, and the people I work with, my friends, the people at church and other support groups. Then I begin my journey. For me the journey itself took me by surprise. I developed into part of something that was much larger than myself and became acquainted with an incredible group of people whose purpose was to help me become a survivor. The concerns I had at the beginning were soon replaced by feelings of well being as if all things would be taken care of in due time. I learned that it takes a special person to be an oncology nurse or physician, a surgeon, a radiologist, and a huge gambit of similar people with the special skills necessary to aid me on my way to success. When I told the people I worked with about my diagnosis, I made sure to let them know I did not expect, nor even want, sympathy. I told them to keep on making me laugh, keep my spirits up, and continue being the friends they had always been to me. They did. My friend who drove me to and from my chemotherapy became a mentor of positive thinking. Sitting on the floor when the oncology office ran out of places to sit, she brought trivia games and jokes and kept up lively conversation about subjects that we had in common. The attitude of the nurses that administered the drugs that fought the “beast within” was incredible. The subtle little things that they did that, I’m sure they thought went unnoticed, were evident with every trip there. For example, there was the male nurse who refused to leave my side when the rate of infusion was increased so that I wouldn’t have to sit an additional hour. We discussed his recent vacation to Maine while he kept an eagle eye out for any change in my condition. As the results of my tests improved each time, we all rejoiced together. Even when it was discovered that the cancer had later returned and metastasized, the plan was laid to work positive
Phyllis with her husband Ronald and Lady.
results, and positive results happened. I was on my way to being a survivor. Would I ever be, again, the person that I was before I heard those words? No, but I have learned to become someone better. I learned that it was more important to spend some time with a fellow “onmy-way-to-being-a-survivor” and becoming one of those incredible people that helped me through that change. I’ve learned the true meaning of the various words that are often applied to cancer patients, hope, faith, love, and courage. HOPE, for example, is not just a word expressed in a moment of despair, but it is an attitude, a way of life. A word not used for coping with a life changing moment, but for a whole new beginning. FAITH believes in the resulting confident smile of the physician’s assistant when I asked her if I could live long enough that my infant granddaughter would remember who I am. LOVE is the man I’ve been married to for thirty plus years who sees my scarred and surgically battered body and tells me that I’m beautiful. COURAGE, rather than being a word that I recognized in myself when people applied that word to me, became known as part of the make up of the millions of men and women who dedicate their lives to making a difference in the life of a cancer patient. Life changing? Yes. Life ending? No. It doesn’t have to be. I see it, now, as an opportunity to make a difference. Phyllis Esler is the owner of “Thistle House Bed and Breakfast and Wedding Place.” She is a cancer survivor, wedding consultant and runs an accessory business in Granite Falls. Reach her at 828 313 3989 or email to: manager@thistlehousebb.com Oct 2009 Page 3
nvited Ladies, You are invited to join us for this exciting, energetic networking group. Meeting every second and fourth Monday of each month. Meetings will start at 6pm at the Mosteller Mansion in Hickory on the Main Level.
Our Mission
“To Provide An Environment Where Business Women Empower and Support Each Other’s Growth, Success, and Visions!” Be Our Friend on Facebook
Today’s Truth
Mixed Messages by Sharon Jaynes
“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters [and girlfriends] this should not be” (James 3:9-10 TNIV).
Friend To Friend
Catherine and I set out for a lazy summer stroll through the neighborhood just before the fireflies emerged to celebrate the setting of the sun. We chatted about raising boys, working husbands, and decorating dilemmas. When we arrived back at her house, she invited me to come in and look at some fabric swatches for a new sofa. Before I knew it, a few minutes turned into a couple of hours. “Oh, my!” I exclaimed. “It’s ten o’clock. I’ve been gone for over two hours! I bet Steve’s worried sick. He doesn’t even know where I am. I’d better give him a call before I start back home.” When I dialed the number, the answering machine picked up. After I listened to my sweet Southern greeting, I left a bitter message. “Steve, I was calling to let you know I’m at Catherine’s. I thought you’d be worried, but apparently you don’t even care because you won’t even pick up the phone!” Click. I said my goodbyes to Catherine and left feeling somewhat dejected. I’m wandering around in the dark all alone and he doesn’t even care, I mumbled to no one in particular. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I noticed someone coming toward me. It was Sir Galahad riding on his steed...his bicycle! “Where have you been?” Steve desperately asked. “I’ve been riding all over the neighborhood looking for you! Do you know what time it is?” “Oh you do care,” I said with a grin, giving him a big hug. “What are you talking about?” he asked. “Oh, nothing. Let’s go home.” I answered. When we got back home, I quickly erased the message on the machine before Steve could hear my reprimanding words. “Whew,” I thought, “That was close.” A few days later, Steve called me from work. “Sharon, have you listened to the answering machine lately?”
“No, why?” “Well, I think there’s something on there you need to hear.” We hung up and I reached for my cell phone to call my home phone. The message on the answering machine went something like this. (The voice of a Sweet Southern Belle) “Hello, you’ve reached the Jaynes’ residence. We’re unable to answer the phone right now... (enter the voice of Cruella de Vil) “I was calling to let you know I’m at Katherine’s. I thought you’d be worried, but apparently you don’t even care because you won’t pick up the phone! (Return of Sweet Southern Bell) At the sound of the beep, leave your number and we’ll get back with you as soon as possible.” Beep. “Oh, my goodness!” I screamed. “How did this happen! How many people have heard this over the past three days?” I called the phone company and they explained that sometimes during a thunderstorm (which had occurred three days prior), lightening strikes the wires and answering machine messages get scrambled. The old message somehow got attached to the greeting. I was mortified. It sounded like Dr. Jekyll and Mrs. Hyde reincarnate. “Lord,” I prayed. “This is so embarrassing.” “Yes, it is,” He replied. Well, He didn’t really say that in so many words. It was more like this. “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water” (James 3:9-12 TNIV). “OK Lord, I get the message.” I prayed. But unfortunately, so did a lot of other people. As women, I am amazed how quickly we can flit back and forth between blessing and
belittling, praising and putting-down, cheering and critiquing - all in a matter of seconds. God has given us incredible power in our sphere of influence, and it begins with the words we speak. Few forces have as powerful an effect as the sounds that pass our lips. Our words can spark a child to accomplish great feats, encourage a husband to conquer the world, fan the dying embers of a friend’s broken dreams into a flame, encourage a fellow believer to run the race set before her, and draw a lost soul to Christ. My devotions for this month will focus on our words. I invite you to explore one of the mysteries of the feminine mystique - the power of a woman’s words. Are words powerful? Yes! Just how powerful? We’ll learn together. Let’s take a look at one of God’s most incredible gifts to mankind and consider the potential we have right under our noses...words.
Let’s Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, oh how I have a difficult time controlling my tongue! I pray that you will put a guard over my mouth. Help me to think before I speak. I pray the Holy Spirit will take control of my words and use me as an instrument of encouragement. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Now It’s Your Turn
A word has been described as the smallest unit of meaningful linguistic communication. But that little tiny entity has great potential. Read James 3:2-6 and answer the following questions. How is the tongue like the rudder of a ship? Who is the ship? (There is not necessarily a right answer.) On any given day, there are many travelers on our ship (our families and friends) or people we pass on the waterways of life. How do our words carry people along the same route we are traveling? How do our words maneuver or bump into those that are passing by?
More From The Girlfriends
Today’s devotion is taken from Sharon’s book, The Power of
a Woman’s Words and The Power of a Woman’s Words Bible Study. There is great power in the words we speak and the people we impact. If you would like to learn more about how to harness this powerful resource and use your words for good, this book will be a great resource. Why not get a group of girlfriends together and learn about The Power of a Woman’s Words together! Seeking
Oct 2009 Page 5
March of Dimes Names New North Carolina State Director RALEIGH, NC, August 31, 2009 – The March of Dimes has named Teresa M. Wolf as the new State Director for the North Carolina Chapter. Cited in a 2008 Gallup poll, the March of Dimes Foundation holds the position as the second most recognizable charity by moms in the nation and also in 2008, launched a major re-branding campaign to broaden and energize its 70 year-old image for a new generation of women and moms. Wolf will build on the Foundation’s branding initiatives and will lead the North Carolina Chapter in cultivating volunteers and donors while diversifying its revenue portfolio to fund innovative research, wellness programs and advocacy efforts that help more moms have full term pregnancies and healthy babies. Wolf will oversee North Carolina’s chapter operations of one of the nation’s leading agencies dedicated to pregnancy wellness and infant health. In this role, Wolf will lead all functional areas including fundraising, programs, public affairs
DOS AMIGOS
and marketing. “In a national report card on the state of our babies, North Carolina recently received a failing grade for its growing rate of preterm birth. Our work is critical, and we’re enormously confident in Teresa’s solid record of leadership and effectiveness to deliver better outcomes for North Carolina’s moms, our babies and a dedicated legion of volunteers and staff,” says Matt Ayotte, March of Dimes Board Chair. Wolf comes to the March of Dimes from Curamericas Global, Inc., where she served as Executive Director of the international non-profit with public health programs in Bolivia, Guatemala, Liberia and Haiti. There, she developed a comprehensive fundraising and marketing plan which steadily increased and diversified CGI’s funding. She brings more than 20 years of management, nonprofit and high-level fundraising experience to the March of Dimes. Prior to Curamericas Global, Wolf was Executive Director of the Valley Medical Center Foundation in San Jose, CA. Before that she served as Chief Development Officer for the YWCA in San Jose, CA. In that Position, she managed the well known Professional Women’s Luncheon, which raised more than $1.4 million dollars under her direction.
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Page 6 Oct 2009
She also held the position of Manager of Annual Giving for the El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, CA, and, as Capital Campaign Director for Peninsula Volunteers Inc. in Menlo Park, CA, where she raised more than of $3.5 million in major gifts in one year. The March of Dimes has $4.8 million in active mission investments in North Carolina in 2009. From searching for interventions for birth defects such as Fragile X Syndrome, Down Syndrome and abnormal heart development to improving treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity, scientists are working to improve the health of babies. Funds raised by the upcoming March for Babies supports research, local community grants, NICU Family Support, and education projects across the state. The March of Dimes is investing nearly $3.6 million in research in North Carolina in 2009 to support research at Wake Forest University Medical Center, University of North Carolina
American Red Cross
New State Director: Teresa M. Wolf at Chapel Hill, Duke University and Carolinas Medical Center. The March of Dimes NC Chapter awards more than $310,000 each year in community grants and awards to support projects that work to reduce infant mortality and morbidity throughout the state. The staff and volunteers conduct Advocacy Day at the NC Legislature each year to advocate for all women and children to have access to health care and prevention services. The March of Dimes and UNC Healthcare have partnered to offer the NICU Family Support Project, which provides comfort and information to families with babies in the neonatal intensive care unit at NC Children’s Hospital. In addition, the March of Dimes NC Chapter is a partner in the NC Folic Acid Campaign. Fewer NC babies are being born with serious birth defects of the brain and spine due to folic acid fortification in food and the Campaign’s efforts to increase folic acid consumption through multivitamins. Between 1994 and 2004, North Carolina’s neural tube defect rate decreased by 40 percent. The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.
Convenience, for many people, turns out to be the deciding factor whether they give blood or not. The American Red Cross works closely with companies, community groups, military bases, churches and synagogues, colleges, universities and high schools to organize blood drives at places most convenient for donors — the places where they live, work, worship, and play. In fact, 80% of blood donations made through the Red Cross are made at blood drives rather than fixed donor centers. Blood drives need sponsors — an organization that can provide the appropriate physical space and a coordinator from the organization to educate, motivate, and recruit donors and work with the local Red Cross. Why do organizations sponsor drives? It is both a simple and a powerful way to serve your community and allow employees/colleagues or members to get involved. Whether your organization is large or small, you can make a difference!
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Oct 2009 Page 7
Josh’s
Exciting, Casual, Dining Experience
Since the age of 15, Josh knew he wanted to be a chef. Josh’s passion is to not only own a restaurant, but with his open kitchen, his enjoyment is to see and feel the excitement of the culinary experience of his guests. His Culinary teacher in high school peaked his interest, leading him to apply to the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York where he earned his Bachelors Degree in the culinary art. His journey took him to several places to perfect his skill. After Josh found the perfect location, it took only 29 days for him and his family to renovate the place themselves. Now Josh’s is open and ready for you to experience. Located on Union Square in downtown Hickory, it is easy to find. You may dine in or if you prefer, enjoy your meal outside on the square. With its Southern hospitality feel, guests receive fine dining food at casual dining value. From the moment you walk in, the tone is set…from greeting of the hostess, continued on by the setting, the atmosphere and the entire staff. As having dined there myself with m y husband, the memories of the wonderful experience we had has lingered for days. Judy Smith Owner Sophie Woman’s Magazine
---Hours-----Lunch--11:00 am - 2:00 pm Monday - Friday ---Dinner--5:00 pm - Until Monday - Saturday ---Brunch--11:00 am - 3:00 pm Saturday & Sunday
www.joshsonunionsquare.com Page 8 Oct 2009
828-324-JOSH
The
Journey
Chef Josh Phillips’ reputation is built on a goal of culinary perfection. He grew up in a family of many culinary talents. This consisted of his grandparents which taught him the value of dinner with the family. This also continued to grow with a few special talents from his parents. Mom with her style of southern comfort food and Dad with anything goes, and of course his special sauce.
Photos Courtesy of Shawn Geiser Photography
As he attended the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY, in 2001, he sharpened his talent and skills with a flavor of his own. This love and passion continued with stops in New Orleans as an apprentice at the Red Fish Grill and The Commanders Palace. Most recently at Zink and Mez in Charlotte, NC which both concentrated on fine dining and comfort food. Chef Josh chose to provide Hickory and the surrounding areas with the best of both, fine dining and comfort food with the exciting casual dining atmosphere at a value for all. “Come As You Are” “The Journey Continues” God Bless Chef Josh Phillips
Book Talk
Daniel Barefoot
When The
MUSIC Stopped
For those who are unaware, at a Military theater, the National Anthem is played before every movie. This is written from a Chaplain in Iraq : I recently attended a showing of ‘Superman 3’ here at LSA Anaconda. We have a large auditorium we use for movies, as well as memorial services and other large gatherings. As is the custom back in the States, we stood and snapped to attention when the National Anthem began before the main feature. All was going as planned until about three-quarters of the way through The National Anthem the music stopped. Now, what would happen if this occurred with 1,000 18-22 year-olds back in the States? I imagine there would be hoots, catcalls, laughter, a few rude comments; and everyone would sit down and call for a movie. Of course, that is, if they had stood for the National Anthem in the first place. Here, the 1,000 Soldiers continued to stand at attention, eyes fixed forward. The music started again. The Soldiers continued to quietly stand at attention. And again, at the same point, the music stopped. What would you expect to happen? Even here I would imagine laughter, as everyone finally sat down and expected the movie to start. But here, you could have heard a pin drop. Every Soldier continued to stand at attention. Suddenly there was a lone voice, then a dozen, and quickly the room
was filled with the voices of a thousand soldiers, finishing where the recording left off: “And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave, o’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave.” It was the most inspiring moment I have had here in Iraq . I wanted you to know what kind of Soldiers are serving you here. Remember them as they fight for you! Pass this along as a reminder to others to be ever in prayer for all our soldiers serving us here at home and abroad. For many have already paid the ultimate price.. Written by Chaplain Jim Higgins LSA Anaconda is at the Ballad Airport in Iraq , North of Baghdad
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Oct 2009 Page 11
&Beauty
Truth
Find More Beauty Tips By Visiting Our Site At sophiewomansmagazine.com
Q. My hair always feels dry and damaged. I use expensive hair products, but nothing seems to help. What can I do to get shiny, healthy hair? A. First you must determine the reason for your dry, damaged hair. Have you over processed it by multiple color processes or perming? Do you blow dry or use heated styling tools everyday? Once you have decide upon the culprit, you must remedy it. If it is over processed from color, ask your stylist to only color the roots to give the hair shaft a break. Use only a color gloss on the ends. The gloss will help seal the hair and give it a nice shine that will last about 4 weeks. If you color and perm, you must choose which is more important to you and just do that one process. If you shampoo everyday, STOP!!! It isn’t necessary. Hair should only be shampooed when oily or dirty. For some people that’s only once per week while others must shampoo everyday. I suspect, since you have dry hair, you should only shampoo once or twice per week. In the morning, if your hair is all over your head (so to speak) and you look like you could enter a Don King look-a-like contest. Just blow dry hair back into shape. Blow dry just as if your hair was wet. Only do it on your dry hair. This will style it back into place without the excessive drying time and damaging effects of blow drying freshly shampooed hair. This will not only save you time and money but your hair also. Be sure to use good salon shampoos and conditioners. Shampoo in cool water, this will help seal the cuticle and give the hair a nice shine. Always remove as much water as possible from your hair before you apply conditioner. Think of your hair as a sponge. If it is sopping wet with water, it can’t soak in the condition. So keep a towel handy and towel dry hair before you apply your conditioner. This will allow your hair the ability to drink in the much needed condition. Before blow drying apply a leave-in conditioner and use a styling product with a heat protecting ingredient and also use a silicone based styling gel, this will help hold down the frizzy’s and make hair appear sleeker.
Please submit questions to Teresa Pope @ A Caring Touch, 1626 Tate Blvd. S.E. Hickory, NC 28601.
Teresa Pope
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Page 12 Oct 2009
❁Flowers ❁Plants ❁Balloons ❁Anniversaries ❁Sympathy ❁Get Well ❁Birthday
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K n o ck ! K n o ck ! K n o ck ! By The FlyLady, Marla Cilley Here it is that time of year again when we are faced with the threat of evacuation from our homes. We never know when we this could happen because of fire, tornadoes, storms, floods or hurricanes. It is up to us to be prepared! Don’t wait think this can’t happen to you. We have seen power outages from ice storms and raging fires down under. Please take this plan and pull it together to help keep you calm in a storm. 1. PEOPLE: Have a plan for getting out of the house and make sure everyone knows it. Have an emergency bag of food and water for your family. Include wholesome snacks and treats for the children: dried fruit, nuts, peanut butter, crackers and granola bars. 2. PETS: Keep pet carriers and leashes readily available to lead pets to safety. Also take pet food with you. 3. PICTURES: Keep negatives or CDs of pictures in a lock box or at a family member’s home. Have picture albums in one place ready to grab and go at a moment’s notice. 4. PAPERS: Have all your important papers in a lock box at a bank and only keep copies at the house. This keeps you from panicking. If you have them at home then put them in a folder that you can easily grab if you have to move fast. Color code it so you can find it! 5. PRESCRIPTIONS: Take your medications with you. Don’t forget the ones that have to be refrigerated like insulin. Have small ice chest and cold packs readily accessible to pack and go. If you have babies; remember their formula or medications. 6. PURSES and PETRO: This is where you keep your identification, credit cards and cash. Keep a stash of cash for emergencies and grab it. You may not be able to use an ATM in the event of a power outage. Make sure your car always has a half a tank of gas. 7. PROPER CLOTHES and COMFORT ITEMS: According to the weather conditions; gather up a change of clothes along with outer clothing: coats, rain gear, boots, gloves and hats. If you have babies remember diapers. Remember to grab your children’s favorite blanket, stuffed animal or toy. A game or a deck of cards could keep them occupied and calm too. 8. PLANNER/CALENDAR/CONTROL JOURNAL: These documents have all the information you will need from phone numbers, insurance numbers and important dates. They are small and filled with things you don’t have to try to remember.
Page 14 Oct 2009
9. PERSONAL PROTECTION: Many of us still have that time of the month. Be sure and grab a box of your preferred protection. It may be
Your Home Is
BEING EVACUATED!!
hard to find if you have been evacuated. Stress can cause our bodies to do strange things too. So be prepared. Take medication for cramps too. 10. PHONES, RADIOS, FUEL FOR THE CAR: Many of us have cell phones now. Always keep them charged up and have a charger in the car or an extra battery. They may not work in the event of power outages, but then they might. Know which local radio station has emergency bulletins. Keep your battery powered radio tuned to that local station and have plenty of batteries for it. Also keep a old type regular phone that does not operate with electricity. GAS PUMPS don’t work without power either. You can’t leave if your car is on empty. So keep your car fuel tank topped off when it hits a half of tank. This way you will have gas to drive at least a couple of hours. Evacuation routes are usually bumper to bumper traffic. Having a tank filled will keep you less stressed. 11. PATIENCE: This is one of the most important things to pack. Keep it inside of you so that you have a clear calm head. Having your P’s to Preparedness list guiding you will keep you patient. In the event of an evacuation there will be lots of displaced people. Being patient will make things less stressful. Your children need to see you calm and collected. This will help keep them calm too. We can FLY in the face of Danger and Emergency if we are prepared. Don’t wait till you are being asked to evacuate. Everyone thinks that it could not happen to them. Well it could and it is up to you to make sure you are prepared. Don’t wait! DO IT NOW! For more help getting rid of your CHAOS, check out her website and join her free life coaching at www.FlyLady.net , listen to her channel www.blogtalkradio.com/flylady show or read her books, Sink Reflections published by Bantam and her New York Times Best Selling book, Body Clutter published by Fireside. Copyright 2009 Marla Cilley Used by permission in this publication.
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Oct 2009 Page 15
THE COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER AT CATAWBA VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER
Our new Trilogy linear accelerator is not just an Investment in Technology, it’s an Investment in You. As the area’s preferred* cancer center, Catawba Valley Medical Center invests in that role seriously with a commitment to taking the leading role in prevention, diagnosis, treatment and recovery. Part of that commitment is staying on top of the latest technologies and treatments, which is why we recently installed our Trilogy linear accelerator. This technology allows us to provide higher doses of radiation more accurately than ever by use of its Image Guided Radiation Therapy system (IGRT). And another feature, called RapidArc, delivers those doses while constantly moving, which can cut treatment times by as much as 80%. In 2000, Catawba received accreditation for its cancer program from the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer, the first in the area to achieve this designation. The Trilogy, with IGRT and RapidArc, is just one example of the building technology you’ll find only at Catawba. Da Vinci® Robotic surgery provides exacting precision in minimally invasive surgeries. The use of High Dose Radiation Catheter Treatment for breast cancer, prostate cancer and more is available in this area only through Catawba, as is the Dosimeter, a device for measuring radiation doses. We introduced digital mammography and SIRspheres (liver cancer treatment) to our area. We were the first to offer 64-slice CT scanning capabilities, MammoSite computer mapping, and Catawba has the only mobile mammography vehicle performing digital mammography on site for area employers. Technology is more than keeping up with trends and new equipment; it is a commitment to striving for the highest quality care we can provide. And while that commitment is sometimes physical equipment, it is often extensive training or continuing education. It is whatever is necessary to be the leader in our community’s fight against cancer. *2008 National Research Corporation
Trust Experience. Trust Technology. Trust Catawba. Cancer is such a devastating disease that fighting it requires a full commitment. A commitment to advanced technology. A commitment to the latest treatment techniques. And a personal commitment from everyone on our staff involved with the disease. Nothing less will do. Which is why when people are facing cancer, so many of them trust us to be right there with them, using our experience and expertise to fight with all we’ve got.
32nd MagneT HOspITal In THe naTIOn TwO-TIMe award recIpIenT
www.catawbavalleymc.org 828/326-3000
Running From Myself, I Unexpectedly Ran Into God!
by Kim Fletcher Life Coach, Mentor, Author
There is a reason why Lorrie Lawrence is so excited to be part of the Awakening the LORD’s Generation Conference coming to Hickory in November. Lorrie has become a passionate ambassador of Jesus Christ and she is living proof that He is able to bring deep inner restoration and set anyone’s life on the Ultimate Path. She now lives that reality every day. But that was not always her story… At the age of four, Lorrie experienced a devastating incident that would shape her identity in a powerful way. A deep withdrawn shyness and severe Inferiority were at the heart of the label she placed on herself. This label lasted well into her teen years, where she found it hard to ‘find her place’ or to like herself. Today, as Lorrie shares her story, she is quick to link her ‘broken and incomplete identity’ to a chain of poor life choices. She chose relationships with men to define (or to redefine) her. Her ultimate escape
from her painful reality was into the military. While she was running from herself, she unexpectedly ran ‘into’ God. Also unexpected was her first pregnancy while still single. When death sounded like a better option than life, the Lord used Lorrie’s new born son to bring hope and joy back into her heart. Simply put, the Lord captured this young woman’s heart during the loneliest and hardest years of her life. She now boasts of His goodness and recognizes that God used those lonely years to set her apart for Himself. While Lorrie had grown up in ‘the church’, she credits long hours sitting by the bay in San Francisco as her most powerful ‘church services’ where God sat and spoke with her intimately and personally. The Word Himself had come to be her teacher and to reshape her future. Lorrie believes today that the Lord wants to speak to each of us in this
way, and will often do so outside the boundaries of the traditional church in order to guard us from religiosity and man-made rituals that can hinder a true relationship with Christ. Her release from the military was soon followed by relocating to North Carolina where she found herself on a new journey, but still somewhat alone. Disillusioned, she distanced herself from God. Then the Lord whispered, “It is time for you to come back to me”. Immediately after God extended His invitation to her, a man proposed to Lorrie. It is important to learn from her story that when God speaks, the enemy is close at hand, ready to offer a powerful counterfeit that will steal our destiny and further distort our identity and purpose. Those early labels she placed on herself caused her to make decisions by sight rather than trusting the heart and voice of God to guide her. While she had come to know God, she had not yet been freed from the broken identity that resulted in poor decisions. She still longed for validation so much that she ignored the warning signs and married this man, a marriage that would ultimately end in an unwanted and painful divorce. Again, Lorrie proclaims that a good and gracious God used her greatest mistakes to teach her lessons
about humility, coming under right authority, faith and what true love is. Lorrie has not kept these lessons to herself. Today she can be found ministering to hurting and broken women, imparting Jesus’ purpose into their lives. She shares what she now lives: •True identity lies in who God says you are and what He has established as your destiny, not in externals. Release your labels and allow God to identify you. •As a child of God, you are an heir of salvation and of His promises. •The greatest fulfillment in life comes by following the path God sets before us more so than any path we could ever seek on our own. Please join Lorrie and her five other friends at our conference in November. There, Lorrie will share a passionate message born out of her own experience. No matter what course your life has taken until now, God can translate you into a new and glorious existence. It may feel too late for you or someone you love, but it is never too late for God!
Life Compass International presents...
AWAKENING the LORD’sCGeneration! onference
Judy Siegle
Skeet Savage
Lorrie Lawrence Mercy Hope Maryanna Young
Hosted by LCI Director, Speakers info online at: lifecompassinternational.org/speaking
KIm FLetCHer
Registration $55 Student rate (22 and under) $35 Pre-registration is required! (A limited number of scholarships will be available to attendees.) For event and scholarship information, call Kim at our Life Compass office: 828 327 6702
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BAKING
BREAD
By Leanne Ely CNC
I am one of the lucky ones I guess. I’ve lost over 60 pounds and have kept it off (with a little slipping up and bringing it down again) for over 4 years. Someone asked me what I did so today I’m going to tell you the stuff that what most important. Taking it off isn’t as hard as keeping it off! And because I went from a super tight size 18 to a size 10, I wanted to give the number 10 it’s due. Here’s my top 10 list of hints from a woman who admits she’s over 40, had two children back to back (okay, so they’re teenagers now) and LOVES to eat (I write cookbooks for living for heaven’s sake!). Here you go—the Top Ten Ways This Middle Aged Woman Got Her Groove Thing Back, starting with number 10-10) Reality Check #1. Oprah always says, “This I know for sure,” and then goes on to say something profound but simple that clicked with her. Here is my “this I know for sure”: eating in the car, eating over the sink and eating standing in front of the fridge, really does count. You can’t fool your digestive system and consequently your thighs. Everything that goes in your mouth counts! 9) Reality Check #2. Write it down. Yeah, yeah…I know what you’re thinking! “I already know what I’m eating.” You THINK you do, but when you write it down, there comes a moment (for most) when you find out some of the food you’ve been eating has been the result of an unconscious decision. You actually ate and you didn’t know it! Writing it down makes every bite accountable because it’s in black and white on paper and looking back at you! That’ll make you think twice before snarfing down a Little Debbie in the car. 8) The Potion of Portion. When you apply portion control to healthy eating, that’s when the magic begins. Regardless of how healthy something is, if you’re eating too much, you’re not going to lose the weight! You must be absolutely aware of how much you’re eating. For example, a deck of cards is the right size for a portion of protein. An ounce of cheese looks like a pair of dice, and so on. Keeping portion size in mind will keep it OFF your behind! 7) Waist Not, Want Not. When I go out to dinner, they almost always bring me way more food than I need. I ask for a doggie bag immediately when it’s served and make sure I get the food halved into the container and sometimes, I’ll put even more in my little bag. The old adage, out of sight, out of mind applies big time. 6) The No Bag Rule. I’ve made a rule for myself and that is to NEVER eat out of any bag anything was purchased in. On the off chance that I would actually have potato chips in my pantry (it happens occasionally), I will transfer some of those chips into small, zipper topped snack size bags and only two of them. That will take care of my need to eat crunchy, salty food without sending me to the confessional to own up to a chip binge. 5) Plate Proportions. I make sure my plate is 1/3 salad, 1/3 veggies (at
DINNER DIVA least two different non-starchy kinds) and about 5 ounces lean protein (doesn’t quite make up a third of the plate, but you get the idea, I’m sure). This visual helps me anywhere—at home, a restaurant and at a buffet. 4) Don’t Slack on Snacks. Your mom told you not to snack between meals; I’m going to tell you to do just that. When you’re watching your portions, you are going to get hungrier, but not to worry! Food is always just a little way away. Having snacks means never having to say, “I’m hungry.” It’s a good thing, as long as they’re healthy and yes, portion controlled. 3) Thirst is First. One thing that was absolutely essential to my weight loss was the consumption of a lot of water. I constantly have a water bottle with me and I am now to the point that if I don’t drink enough water, I get really thirsty. Water helps slake not just thirst though; it helps to calm a rambunctious appetite as well. 2) Smaller Sizes. If I found a pair of pants I liked, I would buy those pants and buy them in one size smaller. I would hang that pair on the back of my bathroom door and look at them everyday. I would tell myself I would be in them in X amount of time as I laced up my running shoes. I kept those pants in my head too, as I ran. Made a huge difference in how much cardio got accomplished! 1) Use White Out. In other words, get the white out of your food. White flour, white sugar all spell disaster. There are much healthier alternatives, like whole wheat flour and xylitol (www.xylitol.org) out there! That’s it—pretty basic, you’re probably saying. But put these principles into action and they’ll change your life. I’m living proof! For more help putting dinner on your table check out Leanne’s website www.SavingDinner.com or her Saving Dinner Book series (Ballantine) and her New York Times Best Selling book Body Clutter (Fireside). Copyright 2009 Leanne Ely. Used by permission in this publication. Oct 2009 Page 19
The
Front Porch
By Judy Smith Can it really be October already? Maybe I am a re-incarnate of Rip Van Winkle but to be fair to that sweet old man, I guess I should say Judy Van Wrinkle. Seriously, I think I must be sleeping thru days or even weeks at a time. I just barely remember getting flowers for Valentines. Or…did I get flowers for Valentines? I am going to have to talk with my husband about that. Maybe it’s a conspiracy with the time keepers of the world. My calendar says October, my watch says October, my computer says October, so alas, it must be October. That means Christmas is just two months away. As tired as I am, hopefully I won’t go to sleep and wake up Christmas Eve to find no “stockings hung by the chimney with care”. October is a fun month though. It surely was a fun time when all my kids were little. We didn’t really worry about all the bad stuff that could happen. Even when I was a tiny goblin, going from house to house, I never thought about tainted candy or apples. Kids just dove right in their treat bag to devour whatever happened to be there. Most of the time it was homemade candy apples or cookies. I think it might even be against the law to do that now. No one has to fret about that with me though…I don’t cook. My husband and I used to be very creative during Halloween. Not only did we help out with some of the organizations that held haunted houses for fund raisers, we sometimes would do our own for our kids and their friends. One year my husband even built an old wooden coffin. You know the kind you see in old western movies. He painted it black and hinged the lid and sits it in the middle of the
basement. After we hung up all the black cloth and other items… skeletons, heads, ghosts, bats and other creepy things, our basement was transformed into the Smith Haunted House on the Hill. Then he would dress up and I, in my very superior witches costume, would guide the kids down the mausoleum stairs, one at a time. Slowly, we crept down the stairs, evading the webs and flying things, bit by bit past the laughing head and then we heard it. Slowly squeaking, stopping us in our tracks till, bam, a vampire with green eyes would sit straight up, trying to lunge for us. Run, Run, Run, as fast as we can, screaming up the stairs to waiting but not so willing future victims. How fun is that? I am just having a blast thinking about it. Don’t worry though, the psychotherapy did not cost us that much. Plus the added advantages we had. We could leave any gifts we bought for Christmas in that basement and never had any anxiety about the kids going down there snooping around. October is a good month even though it is here way too soon and as long as I don’t go to sleep with sugar plums dancing in my head and wake up and its Valentines.
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Workin’ It Out! by Sharon Rashidi
I will never forget my 18th birthday. My parents bought me the most wonderful present, a gym membership to a popular club in Southern California where I was born and raised. I took my first aerobics class, and I was hooked. From that point on I exercised 5 days a week, taking different classes, from my first step class to kickboxing. The only time that I stopped exercising was when I was pregnant with twins in 1989 and put on bed rest for 3 months. And I have to admit, that I would sneak out of bed every now and then and put an exercise DVD to tone my legs. I moved to Charlotte North Carolina when my twins were just 3 years old. My husband and I packed up everything and drove 2,000 miles far away from the home where I grew up. We left our jobs behind and set off on a new adventure. You would think that I had a lot on my plate to worry about, but my most pressing concern was where was I going to work out at? What gym will I be able to belong to? I had to give up the gym membership my parents bought me, since they did not have a location in Charlotte. I found the local YMCA to be the best bet at the time. In 1996 I gave birth to a son, and this time I was able to workout the entire pregnancy. Yes, no bed rest! I took exercise classes and walked up until the day he was born. In 1999, we moved to Newton North Carolina due to my husbands business. Immediately, I joined the local YMCA. On the very first visit, I was offered a job teaching aerobics. I was thrilled, and jumped at the opportunity. Over the next few years I became certified in Group Fitness, Zumba, Pilates, Step, Medicine Ball, Turbo Kick, Resist- a ball, and Kettle bells. Soon I developed a following of people who loved my classes. I taught at three different local YMCA’s while working part time as a COA and Lasik surgical technician. Then in 2004, I developed pain in my neck. After undergoing various tests, I soon was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer and had to have my thyroid removed. The next step was treatment with Radioactive Iodine and isolation for 10 days. Now without a thyroid, nor medication, and a pulse rate down to 53 I was extremely hypothyroid. I was determined to keep moving and stay strong so I continued teaching my classes right up until the day before treatment. My doctor was amazed that I was even able to get out of bed, let alone teach aerobic classes. I am a fighter and a survivor! Fighting the cancer, keeping a positive attitude and staying strong through teaching, I soon had a large following of people who said that I was their inspiration to stay fit. August 2008, I was able to open up my own gym due to the people who I inspired. People followed me from the YMCA, believed in me, and soon the word got around and business was off to a great start. November 2008, after self breast examination, I felt a lump. This led to 3 surgeries from November to March, including a right mastectomy
Sharon Rashidi with reconstruction. The doctor told me to take at least 6 weeks after mastectomy to recover; I was back teaching classes in 3 weeks. I owe my quick recovery to being fit, strong willed and a fighter. Not once did I think that I would have to stop teaching my classes. It never even crossed my mind. Currently I am undergoing chemotherapy. Although the cancer has not spread to my lymph nodes, I am undergoing a “short” course of treatment in case of a single cell floating around in my body somewhere. Having one more treatment to go, I can testify that being fit, both physically and mentally has allowed me to continue teaching my classes. I have not missed teaching one class. I have Chemotherapy on Wednesday and I am back to teaching Pilates on Friday, Zumba on Saturday, and Turbo Kick on Mondays! I am a fighter and a survivor! Fighting the cancer, keeping a positive attitude and staying strong through teaching classes, I now have a large following of people who say that I am their inspiration to stay fit.
Sharon is the owner of The Perfect Workout located in Downtown Newton. If you would like to contact her, the number is 828-465-4055. Oct 2009 Page 23
Preparing A
Flower Girl
“Wedding & Reception” By Nicki Heskin When a young girl is asked to be a flower girl at a wedding, it’s not only an important responsibility for her, but for her parents as well. My six-year old was a flower-girl at a New Year’s Eve wedding for my husband’s brother, so I thought I’d share our experiences. Here’s some insights on preparing your child for the wedding day – for my experiences on the many pre-wedding jobs and events of a flower girl and her parents, see my related article Preparing a Flower Girl – Before the Wedding (in related links below). Preparing for the Wedding Ceremony No matter how excited your flower girl, it’s important to remember that she may get intimidated when concept becomes reality. For my little one, the anxiety set in when she was waiting on line with the bridesmaids and the bride at the rehearsal. She had been practicing her step-together-step (so cute!) and had her basket of silk rose petals,
Sophie’s Bride Of The Month Joy Davis Photography
Congratulations To Our SeptemberWinner
Shannon Austin Shannon will receive prize packages from Chloe and Ella Blu. She will also be entered in the Sophie Bride of the Year contest and eligible to win fabulous prizes from our 30 participating local vendors. To enter, simply send a picture along with a short story about why you should be chosen to win. We will post the stories online and announce the winners each month on our website and in our magazine.
Send your submission to: bride@sophiewomansmagazine.com Page 24 Oct 2009
and she was wearing her little heels. I worked out with the wedding planner to wait with her in the hall, walk her in to the room just a bit and crouch down by the door as she continued in, then go to my seat in the back row (where my sister was already sitting with my 2-year old) only when the flower girl had progressed down the aisle and no one was looking at the back of the room anymore. The most important thing is making the wedding day stress free. Leave way more time than you need, and plan quiet time into the day. We actually practiced curling her hair a couple days before so that she would have a sense of what sitting still while I did that meant. We got to the hotel early enough to make it fun and relaxed to get her ready before photos. Between the photos and the wedding we took the dress back off (brought an outfit that went on from the bottom without messing her hair) but left on her shoes and let her practice coordinating her walking along with spreading the rose petals, and practiced the size of the handfuls to still have some petals left at the front. The she watched a movie until it was time to touch up her hair again for the ceremony. The trick is to keep it stress-free and still give her the preparation she needs to be confident. We told her that when she walked in, people would probably ooh and ahh, and they’d all be thinking about how beautiful she looked and what a wonderful flower girl she was, so she could just smile back at them. We let her know about the photographer and videographer and that she could just ignore them. Ultimately, we let her know there was nothing she could really do that was wrong, just to keep heading toward the front and if she got nervous just focus on Daddy (the best man), her Uncle (the groom) or her Aunt (a bridesmaid). After she reached the front, she was able to sit down with Grandma and Grandpa – expecting a flower girl to stand through the ceremony without becoming a distraction is probably a mistake. Make sure your flower girl will be able to stand though to see the bride coming in – she’s earned it! When it all came down to it, our flower girl did just wonderfully!
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The Reception We had told our daughter there was one big rule for a flower girl – she wasn’t allowed to ever say no if someone wanted to take her picture, and she had to smile (no sassy faces!). This definitely paid off at the reception. She removed her flower garland, and we stopped worrying about the dress or shoes getting dirty – she had a great time dancing out of the dance floor with the bridesmaids (and sometimes alone) and spent lots of time with grandparents and the bride and groom. She loved everyone telling her what a good job she’d done (we reminded her to say “thank you” when people did that!). The dozens and dozens of photos will make lovely memories for her and for us. Since this was a New Year’s Eve wedding, it went past midnight, and made for a very tired flower girl, who started to break down just after midnight. We had given her a rest in the afternoon, but if your wedding goes past bedtime, be aware that excitement and adrenaline only last for so long. Being a flower girl can be a memorable and confidence-building experience for a little girl. The right preparation can make all the difference in ensuring that all goes well. For our little girl, it was a source of enormous enjoyment and pride, and the memories for her, as well as the deepened connection with her Uncle and her new Aunt will last a lifetime.
Weddings Anniversaries Business Meetings Social Clubs Birthday Parties
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Oct 2009 Page 25
The
LARGEST By Nancy Adams, Professional Organizer
S S E
M
Let me tell you about my junk drawer. It is a treasure trove of items forgotten, broken, and useful all in one small space. There are memories stored in that little drawer. Puzzle pieces, Legos, buttons, and tiny toys from my son’s childhood which make me smile since he is now grown up. In this drawer there are five screw drivers. A pink one I received as a gift, a brass one which was my dad’s, a very short stocky one, and two that have interchangeable tops. I’m not sure of the names of the other tools in there. Then there are: matches, twist ties, dog clippers, paint, markers, push pins, flashlights, batteries, 3 scissors, screws, keys, rubber bands, wire, and more. When I dump it out to clean it and put things where they belong, I’m amazed at how much can fit into one small drawer. Almost all of my organizing clients have a junk drawer and most of them feel the same way when we dump it. We have found lots of very important items in junk drawers. The best of which was 4 Disney World tickets believed to have been lost forever. I believe junk drawers are a necessity, but alas, one has to make room for new memories and new junk. Now multiply your junk drawer times 100 to make the space bigger and what have you got? Your garage. It is one of the largest under utilized, unappreciated, trashed room in the house. In the
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PRACTICAL AND
WONDERFUL!!
Take control of papers & clutter to save time and money. Live simple. Be happy.
Organizing Solutions Unlimited Nancy Adams, Professional Organizer 828-256-8832 www.organizingwithnancy.com Call for your free initial consultation. See you soon! Page 26 Oct 2009
beginning we built them mainly for storing our car. Before the 1950’s they were mostly built away from the house because people thought the car had the potential to explode. Now they are attached to our house which makes them much more convenient for storage. We use them for storing everything from tools and toys, to extra groceries and well, ...junk. Our 100 junk drawers have been amassed in one space and there is no room for even one car. Autumn is the perfect time to take control of your garage (or your shed or storage unit), even if it is only a little cluttered. Start by thinking about how you would like to utilize this space. If it is currently used to keep old baby furniture, toys, etc. you may want to re-envision the space as a place to keep equipment for your new found hobby or sport. Once you have a vision of how you would like it to be, plan a day to get started. Have a rain date in mind because when you are cleaning a garage/shed you will need dry weather to move things out of this space. Gather empty cardboard boxes, trash bags, cleaning supplies, large plastic boxes for storage and new shelves if needed. Hardware stores sell durable plastic shelves which are good to store paint, chemicals and groceries. There are also garage organizers for hanging things if you prefer. As you take things out of the room, seriously consider whether or not you need the item. If not, then donate, trash, or recycle it. Sweep and clean the space before bringing items back in. Set up “zones” or “centers” (gardening, tools, groceries, painting, sports, car accessories, Christmas, etc.) and store similar things together. In order to keep the space organized you need to have a good system so make sure you label storage boxes and shelves. In one garage the kids made parking spots for each bike by using colored tape on the floor. Keep the most used items easily accessible and the winter skis up high. Your garage/shed is a great space so make the most of it this fall! For more information on Nancy Adams and Organizing Solutions Unlimited call 828-256-8832 or visit www.organizingwithnancy.com
Are You a Hidden Leader?
How easily can a picture tell you a story or spark an emotion inside you.
There has been a debate from the beginning of time over whether leaders are born or made. I believe that some people have leadership qualities which are part of their makeup. Evidence of this can be seen when watching children play together. There are those boys and girls that the other children are drawn to and want to follow. These “leader” children tend to decide the games to be played, the rules of the game, who will be on which side and who the eventual winner is. Naturally their team is almost always the winner. These boys and girls have not been taught to be leaders through any parental or classroom techniques. They are naturally gifted and the most amazing thing is the other kids recognize it as well. In fact, I have seen situations where the natural leader is not present, and while the play time continues, it is not as energetic and the other children ask when the natural leader is going to show up. While this is not a true scientific test by any means, I think it shows evidence of natural talents of leadership in early childhood. However, I believe there are large numbers of leaders in our community who are not acting on their talents. This is because we tend to not see our own strengths and abilities. Through negative experiences when we were growing up, we have convinced ourselves that we can’t do certain things. We use excuses of I’m not smart enough, good enough, big enough, fast enough, didn’t go to the right school, have the right friends, have enough education, etc…. All of these excuses rob you and the rest of the world from your greatness. Think back to when you were a kid. Were the other children turning to you for leadership? Do people try to get you to lead activities at work or church or other social groups? If so, they may be seeing and sensing in you something that you have suppressed. Let it come out and try small leadership positions. Do you have a vision for your business and your life that gets you up in the morning excited to take on the new day? Are you disciplined enough to take the actions needed to reach your goals? As I stated earlier, I believe that people are born with certain leadership qualities, these abilities are sensed by others and even if you have had them suppressed, they are inside of you wanting to come out. I bet they wake you up at night. Deep inside of you, you know that you have the ability to do something special. I want to encourage you to do it. We only have one life to live and it is up to us to make our lives the best we can. Go for it and surround yourself with people who will support and believe in you. I do. If I can help you to discover your greatness, I would consider it an honor to work with you. Jody Williams, MBA Action Business Coaching 828-466-2279 jodywilliams@actioncoach.com www.actioncoach.com/jodywilliams
To find out more about this exciting new publication coming to our area, or to submit your pictures, please visit the web site below.
Shutterbuggerz.com Oct 2009 Page 27
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hat makes you come alive? Think about the last time you were enthused, enlightened, or energized by your circumstances. Your sight was magnified. Your ears heard things they never heard before. You tasted life richly. As a result of your experience, you hungered for more. Fully alive in the moment you felt sure you were in the right place at the right time. You couldn’t wait to engage in this work again. You think, “Work? That wasn’t work. I loved it!” Something about this experience brought you into a tingling state of aliveness. You knew you were operating in your giftedness. I long for people to be alive, alert, and awake to their giftedness. I believe at my core that every person on the planet intuitively knows they are gifted in original and creative ways. Yet these gifts lie dormant. Our gifts get little attention because our busy lives are pulling and pushing us in so many directions. We go for long spans of time yearning to be filled with energy that can only come from an intention and attention to our daily endeavors. To have a vibrant life, it is mandatory to showcase our giftedness. Individuals can come alive. In fact, when we are alive in our gifts, we awaken to the opportunities around us and become alert to the possibilities in our future. In this state, we enter into our own form of personal genius. This requires a quest to own our genius. Let’s get started. Genius is misunderstood. Many believe to be a genius you must have an over arching intellect that is far superior to others. Actually, genius manifests simply by being completely conscious of our gifts. Feeling alive always involves a sense of strength. When we demonstrate strength people pay attention. So should we. To capture our gifts and their strengths we’ll need to start an anthology. An anthology is a collection of written works about us. It may be a collection of short stories, anecdotes, memories, or excerpts of someone’s opinion of us. An anthology is a structure. In coaching, I ask clients to engage structures for the purpose of heightened consciousness which inevitably leads to learning. Begin your quest for a vibrant life by catalog-
Alive, Awake, and Alert
by Nicole Greer
ing the comments you receive from others, the commentaries that play in your own mind, and noticing your energy levels. Over the next 30 days, in the evening, answer the following questions: • What positive comments did I receive from those around me? • What did I do today that I loved? • When did I have the most energy? In these questions, lie the seeds of potential of our personal genius. Now let’s venture out. Let’s see what others see. Often others see plainly what brings us to life. We need simply ask for their opinion. I find people are thrilled to give an opinion. Let’s surprise those around us by soliciting an honest response to how we show up in this life. On purpose, with great curiosity, let’s ask for observations from those who contend for our success. Choose a group of seven individuals who interact with you in your many different and varied life roles. These are the roles that are pushing and pulling at you each and every day. Ask them the following questions: • How do I show up? • Tell me about a time you thought I was strong. • When did I contribute effectively to an outcome? • Name the gifts you see I possess. • What do you see in my future? Once you have captured this wealth of information and thanked your friends and family, it’s time to come alive. As Dr. Howard Thurman stated, “What the world needs is people who have come alive.” Ask yourself, How will I begin to own my personal genius? Succinctly… “Go to it.” Nicole Greer, PPCC is a professional life and business coach. She received her PATH coaching certification through the PATH Coach program and serves the Laurie Beth Jones Company as part of the National Training Team. At its deepest level, working with a coach frees you to indentify your birthright gifts, discern your deepest passions, and fulfill your highest purpose. A coach can pry you off dead center. As Principal Coach for Vibrant Coaching and Workshop Leader for The Lydia Group, LLC, a collaboration of individuals focused on work, life and spiritual growth, Nicole is on a mission to impact, energize, and influence people to lead a Vibrant Life by engaging the possibilities. As a life and business coach and workshop leader, Nicole views her role as a conduit to release all that you want to achieve. Join me on the PATH to move forward with authenticity, skill and confidence. www.thevibrantcoach.com/nicole@thevibrantcoach.com/www.thelydiagroup.com
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Longer Lasting Shade
828.381.2349 Page 28 Oct 2009
Yesterday I was feeling quite triumphant because I was able to get a lot of housework done, and so, having wasted an hour with Savannah surfing Youtube, we were getting kind of bored. It was then that I was struck with the inspiration to attempt to take my children to the park. We have a great park here that has an awesome playground on the outskirts of a 1.19 mile walking track. In my delusional mind, I figured I could walk around the track a few times, let the girls play for a bit and then be home to make dinner for my husband while channeling Mrs. Cleaver. So, I loaded up the kids and we were on our way. When we got to the park, I was refreshed by my brilliance; it was the perfect day! There was a cool breeze in the thick air, and the trees were shading most of the walking track, so I felt confident that we would be able to at least walk two or three laps. I also had the excellent idea of parking about five miles away from the playground to ensure that I got at least a semi-good walk in. Then I strapped the girls into the double stroller and we were off. As most things do, it started off well at first. I’d brought some toys to entertain the girls while I worked out, but apparently Addison has a fascination with gravity, and so I found myself picking up toys every three feet. But, I kept on walking at a pretty good pace, thinking to myself that it wasn’t too bad, it’s just picking things up. At least I was getting to walk, I told myself. And then, the screaming started. Savannah was too hot, and who knows what was wrong with Addison, but there I was, pushing a cart of screaming children. By the way, kids screaming is a great inspiration for running; I was about 1/2 mile from the playground and ended up having to run the whole way there. When we reached the playground, I unbuckled Savannah and told
her to take off before settling in under a shady tree with Addison. No sooner than my cheeks touched the seat I looked up to see Savannah at the bottom of a slide with a weird grimace on her face and her feet twisted around each other. “Mooooooooom?” No, I thought, surely not! But as Savannah stood up and I saw the wide, wet circle of evidence on her pants, my stomach sank. I thought if I could just get her to the bathroom, clean her up a bit then maybe, just maybe, I could get her to the car without anyone noticing. So, I tucked her under my arm and ran for the restrooms. I tried to console Savannah as she screamed in the bathroom, tried to reassure her that everyone has accidents, and then pulled up her pants and towed her out into the parking lot. I kept telling myself that if I could only just get to the car, if I could just get to the car....and then that’s when I noticed the walkers on the track slowing down and gaping at me. Then a car slowed down and the driver was smirking just a bit. I knew I was sweaty but, I had no idea I looked that bad! I turned around to tell Savannah to hurry up and that’s when I saw. Savannah had taken off her pants and was working on pulling her underwear down! Trying not to scream myself, I asked Savannah if she thought she could make it to the car, which seemed further and further away. The response was incoherent wailing, which I took to be a no. I ended up having to call Chris and wait for him on a park bench, because there was no way Savannah was going to make it the mile to the car. I guess I won’t be parking quite so far next trip, then.
Mandy’s Misadventures
by Mandy Thomas
Let’s talk about whether Essure is right for you. Call our office today 828-264-5464.
Oct 2009 Page 29
HER STORY
BRENDA TELLS
I was 42 when my OB/GYN discovered a lump in my right breast. I said to myself, this can’t be true. I was just here last year, not to mention I had a mammogram last year and nothing showed up. My doctor said not to worry because it could be anything, but that she would go ahead and schedule a mammogram and ultrasound to be on the safe side. When I had the mammogram - just like before – nothing showed up. However, the ultrasound showed something totally different. There were 2 areas that raised some concern. I never thought that I would ever have breast cancer. You see, I have always thought of breast cancer as disease that Caucasian women had. Everything that I had ever seen - television commercials, pamphlets, and news reports have all been about Caucasian women. To me an African American woman with breast cancer was very rare. Over the next 2 weeks I found myself in a surgeon’s office discussing biopsies and other medical tests. On January 8, 2008, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. My doctor said that it was between Stages I and II and that it was operable. Even though I was told that it was operable, all I could remember hearing was the word “Cancer”. After that, things became a blur. Thank God that I had a friend there with me to help comfort me. Once it sank in that I actually had breast cancer, I started doing research. I read books, magazine articles, and participated in Internet forums. Everyone seemed to have a different story and the more I read – the worse I felt. Within a week of being diagnosed, I was scheduled for an MRI. It showed that I had 3 tumors instead of 2 and suspicious activity
Page 30 Oct 2009
in a lymph node. I had to have another biopsy and ultrasound. My doctor told me that all 3 tumors were close together; therefore, it was possible to remove all of them at one time. He told me that I had needed to make a decision about whether to have a lumpectomy or a mastectomy. We discussed the pros and cons of each. After much thought, I decided on the lumpectomy. My surgery was a success and my cancer had not spread into the lymph nodes. I was then advised to have a Positron Emission Topography (PET) scan and an Oncotype DX test. These things were done to help my oncologist decide whether or not to do chemotherapy. I waited 3 weeks to get my results. My PET scan showed no signs of the cancer spreading and the Oncotype DX test showed that I had a 5% chance of a reoccurrence. Based on that information, my oncologist told me that going through chemo would do more harm than good. I cried – this time it was because I was happy. I knew that radiation was going to be a part of the treatment process so I was expecting that. I was scheduled for 6 weeks of radiation treatments. After each treatment, I would always say “Thank God, I have one less to do.” After my radiation treatments were over, my surgeon and oncologist suggested that I have a genetic test done. This was to determine whether I carried a cancer gene or not. I thought to myself – another test. I waited 3 weeks to get the results. Those 3 weeks seemed like 3 months. Thank God the results of the test were negative. I did not carry the gene. When I look back, I know that if it had not been for God and the support of family, friends, and co-workers, I would not have made it through that ordeal as well as I did. Brenda DeLee is a board member of the NC Foothills Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for a Cure and a member of the Catawba County Breast Cancer Coalition. She will be working with both groups to tailor breast health classes for African-American women. These Sister to Sister parties blend fun with important information for women. To book a Sister to Sister party or any other breast health educational program, please contact Brenda Putnam, coalition coordinator, at 828-326-2176.
Free Expression,
A Home Built For Not For Good
Impressions
By Sonya Schweighardt Our family is not what you would call the typical American family. You might say we jumped out of one of those large family reality shows. The only difference is that when the TV goes off, it is still our reality! We are the Schweighardt family…one set of parents, eleven children, two dogs, two cats, a hamster that is running loose somewhere in the house, a few lizards, snakes and any other little creatures that can make its way into our home! I guess you could say that we are a little unusual compared to most families. The thing that makes our family different than the reality shows is the way our family was formed. Our family was formed in what some might call an unconventional way. We have children that were born under my heart and children that were born in my heart. So when someone asks me if “they are all mine”, my answer is always “absolutely yes!” With a household our size, there is never a dull moment. Since we have children who range from five to thirteen you can understand why we borrowed the motto “homes are for free expression” from the movie Yours, Mine and Ours. We try to keep a more relaxed environment and try to stay away from the rigorous pace of society. With a family of thirteen, we do everything bulk sized; from meals, to laundry, to the vehicles we drive. Everything is in bulk. But we are not so big that we forget who each of us is individually. Each of our children is very important to my husband and myself and we make sure they know that. Our children are not just another number, they are each an intricate part of this family. Without just one of them, our family would not be complete. In our home we have an actor, a dancer, a ballerina, a drummer, a soccer player, a crocodile hunter, a princess, a singer, a clown or two, a tap dancer, a violinist, a guitar and banjo player…I could go on and on, but the point is, each one has discovered their own talents on their own accord. When one is playing soccer, the rest are encouraging and supporting that sibling. We are raising our children not just to be siblings, but to be lifelong friends to one another. Our home is full of what I like to call joyful chaos. From the laundry that is piled up to the ceiling, to the bandaged knees, I could not imagine myself in any other place. As I sit here, I see ten scooters that are lined up next to the house, along with the eleven bikes. There are bicycle helmets, roller blades, knee pads and skate boards spread out all over the front porch. And then there is my porch swing; the place where I sit and read out loud to anyone who will listen.
The Schweighardt Family
828-466-0122 Oct 2009 Page 31
How To Foster Your Child’s Talent (StatePoint) Childhood is a time of dreams and possibilities, so it’s important parents encourage their children’s innate talents to help them develop and build self esteem, say experts. Whatever your child is good at -- music, art, writing, sports, science -- fostering that talent can make a big difference. And who knows, you may have the next Mozart, Shakespeare or Picasso on your hands! “I truly believe everyone has an incredible story to tell,” says Taylor Joseph, the 16-year-old author of the new teen mystery, “Allison Investigates,” which is her second published novel. “I was eight when I first began writing. When I was 13, my dad encouraged me to pursue an idea I had for a book. I spent the next year researching and writing, and then he helped me send it to an editor and get it published.” Taylor’s debut novel last year at age 15, “The Crossing,” tackled illegal immigration. Her new novel, “Allison Investigates,” is about how four friends, each 15, seek to use their sleuthing skills to investigate a rash of auto thefts that involves the unique skateboarding subculture. The teens learn about teamwork, courage, and pursuing their passion. Now, thanks to her father’s help, Taylor’s two novels are available in bookstores like Barnes & Noble and Amazon, she has her own blog at www.taylorsjoseph.com, and has promoted her books with a 15-state tour, doing book signings, speaking at schools, holding library
“Did Someone Say Treat?”
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readings and presenting at fairs. Fostering a child’s talent, as did Taylor’s father, is about providing the tools to succeed, along with an upbeat, nurturing environment: * Locate Strengths: Observe your child to locate talent. Being interested in something is not necessarily enough. Let kids sample everything, but it can be cruel to encourage a child to pursue dreams in which only failure lies ahead. Gently persuade your child to build on best abilities. * Provide The Tools: Make sure your child has what it takes, such as art supplies, an instrument, a computer with proper software, or science or sporting equipment. * Teach But Back Off: Formal instruction can be great, such as piano or art lessons. But creativity needs space, so know when to back off to let them explore. Don’t overdo it on rules. Have enough to be safe and to develop, but not so many the activity no longer is fun. * Set Realistic Goals: Most kids aren’t going to churn out the great American novel on the first try. Set goals they can reach and that keep them advancing. * Criticize Constructively: Praise them for the things they do well and don’t be overly critical. Consult their teachers and coaches on how to offer constructive criticism and in which areas they need improvement. * Don’t Live Vicariously: Know the difference between your dream and that of your child’s. Make sure you aren’t pushing your own desires. * Make Sure They Socialize: Don’t let kids become social hermits, engrossed only in their burgeoning talent and not in their social scene with friends. For her part, teen author Taylor believes it’s important for young people to follow their dreams and assert themselves early-on. By pursuing her passion, she hopes to promote literacy among her peers and interest a new generation in reading. “My daughter may have published novels, but we work to ensure she’s just a regular kid and doesn’t spend all her time writing. She enjoys martial arts, soccer, basketball and time with friends and family,” stresses Larry Joseph, proud father of Taylor.
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