HEM Support Group News- July 2005

by: Mary Nix

``````````````````````````````````````````````````````` HEM SUPPORT GROUP NEWS - July 2005 ``````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ~JULY'S HIGHLIGHT ~ISSUES TO WATCH ~COMMUNITY SERVICE ~CONFERENCES ~WEB UPDATES ~HEM RESOURCES AND MORE ``````````````````````````````````````````````` JULY'S HIGHLIGHT ``````````````````````````````````````````````` This month's highlight is Valerie Bonham Moon and her website, The Military Homeschooler. Valerie Bonham Moon homeschooled her three younger children in Europe from 1990 until 1998 while her husband served there with the United States Army. She now lives near Kansas City with her husband. Valerie's sense humor, excellent wit and wisdom are evident at her Military Homeschooler Web Site -- http://www.militaryhomeschoolers.com/ . Each month Valerie offers new information at her site and The Military Homeschooler presents a wealth of information to not only the military homeschooler, but for all homeschoolers. Here is the interview: Mary: Valerie, thank you for agreeing to discuss Military Homeschooling. When did you first create "The Military Homeschooler" website? Valerie: "The Military Homeschooler" was first uploaded in September of 2003. I played around with the website program for a few months before I felt that the site was decent enough to put out in public. It's still fairly simple with no bells or whistles, but since text is so 'small' I can get more information onto the server than with a technically fancier site. Mary: What prompted you to create the site? Valerie:The main questions asked by military homeschoolers don't change that much, so the same answers were given out each time new members joined any of the email lists. It seemed easier to provide a URL to the information than to send out the same kind of messages each time a new person subscribed. Also, military homeschoolers have concerns that I didn't see addressed on other homeschooling sites. NHEN has good military information, but the breadth of information needed by military families exceeds NHEN's home education bounds. Parents want to know about shipping pets overseas, dealing with deployments, and whether it's better to live in government quarters or 'on the economy' (which means you live in a civilian neighborhood). Mary: Does the Armed Forces have an opinion about those in the Armed Services home educating their children? Valerie: No. According to the DoD Education Activity (DoDEA) in their 6 November 2002 policy memorandum on home schooling: http://www.dodea.edu/foia/iod/pdf/02OD002.pdf, "It is DoDEA policy to neither encourage nor discourage DoD sponsors from home schooling their minor dependents. DoDEA recognizes that home schooling is a sponsor's right and can be a legitimate alternative form of education for the sponsor's dependents." The services have no opinion on whether a family uses a public school system in the U.S., or the DoD dependent schools overseas, or chooses to pay for private schooling. In the same vein, homeschooling is just another educational choice. Mary: What makes homeschooling in the military different from civilian homeschooling? Valerie: I don't know because I never homeschooled as a civilian. What's it like?One guess as to how the two differ is that each military homeschooling parent must depend on herself for homeschooling support more often. Because families may be joining servicemembers at a remote area with few other military homeschoolers, and perhaps without even an English-language community nearby, they may need to make do with fewer resources and to improvise. Mary: Can you point out the benefits of homeschooling while in the military? Valerie: * New field trip opportunities with each move * The possibility of foreign travel * Consistency in education because schools around the country vary not only in size, but also in curricular content and delivery. * No loss of learning time during a transfer from one assignment to the next, and the move itself is instructional. * Smoothing of some of the ups and downs of military life. After a deployment a family can reintegrate the returning parent into the everyday life of the family at their own pace and can eliminate outside interruptions if they want. Also, if a parent has a job in which he or she travels often, the children can 'do school' while the parent is away, and take a break when the parent returns. Mary: Can you point out some of the challenges of homeschooling families in the military? Valerie: * Moving from an 'easy' state to a 'hard' state. Military families usually don't have a yes/no choice when orders to move arrive. Servicemembers fill out "dream sheets" stating where they would prefer to be assigned but, as always, the needs of the service are paramount. If the service needs you to move from Ft. Sill, Oklahoma to Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, then that's what you do. * Deciding what to keep before a move. The weight of household goods is subject to limits based on the servicemember's rank. The weight allowance is nothing new, but the addition of schoolbooks to families' household goods has undoubtedly enriched the selection of items at installation Thrift Shops during the summer PCS-season. [PCS = Permanent Change of Station, ie, a move] Mary: What is the biggest challenge a spouse faces when the other spouse is deployed? Valerie: The problems are probably similar to those of other single parents such as finding 'alone time' when you're on-call all day, and all night. When do you take a shower? Another problem is 'logistics.' A half-inch of milk in that lonely milk carton in the refrigerator isn't going to magically become three half-gallons in the evening when The Other Parent comes home from work. Planning and scheduling can be helpful, but if a baby has you up all night long, all the foresight won't keep you from feeling wrecked the next day, while having to get up and put one foot in front of the other. For families who will be facing deployment, a good informational website is: http://www.hooah4health.com/deployment/familymatters/emotionalcycle.htm Other deployment information is at: http://home.kc.rr.com/milhmschlhq/military_deployment.htm Mary: How does having a parent in the military while homeschooling affect the children in these families? Valerie: For Brats (as children in military families are affectionately called sometimes), military life is normal. At the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis I lived away from any civilian town with jets screaming over the housing area, and having to sit in our stopped car at a 'plane crossing' (instead of a train crossing) to wait for B-52s to take off. All the dads wore uniforms. In 1977 during the military exercise REFORGER, our older son watched columns of tanks rumble down the road of the German village where we lived near the East German border. All the (American) dads wore uniforms. Our younger kids showed their ID cards at anti-terrorist checkpoints to get into our housing area in Munich during Desert Storm (and took homemade cookies to the guards) while their brother served in Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Ninety-nine percent of the Dads wore uniforms, and some of the Moms did, too. Except in times of crisis, military 'stuff' is background noise to Brats. Now what all those anonymous civilians with no nametags on their clothes or houses get up to, that's a big mystery. And did you know that in civilian theaters The Star Spangled Banner isn't played before each movie, and the entire theater doesn't stand to attention? Weird. Mary: What is the biggest challenge the children face when their parent/parents are deployed? Valerie: Besides television news? The feeling of powerlessness to change the situation, and worry about the safety of their parent can be overwhelming for children. A surprising problem is feeling happy. One mother said that her daughter was devastated to find, after a month or so into the deployment, that she'd 'forgot' her dad and was laughing with her friends. The little girl wanted to keep her daddy in her thoughts at all times. Some children have to be told that it is good for them to be happy and have fun while Daddy is deployed, because when that child's happiness is sent to Daddy in letters and pictures, Daddy feels better. Deployed Dads (and Moms) are safer when they aren't distracted by the welfare of their families. Mary: If they wish to, what can other homeschoolers do to support Military families who might live near them? Valerie: Be a friend. It's the simple, everyday things that can be a pebble in the shoe that gives rise to a blister that can't heal; an everyday thing such as getting the mail. During one five-month separation while my husband attended a school in America, I remained overseas with 'twinfants' and a ten-year-old (who was old enough to be helpful, but not old enough to babysit). To do anything outside our quarters (including laundry, since the building's washroom was in the basement) I had to carry one baby, while wearing the other in a backpack. Going anywhere entailed a trek down the stairs from our 2nd-floor quarters. For errands I had to walk to the on-street parking, bundle the kids into the car, drive to where I wanted to go, find a space in the always-too-small parking lots on the installation, wrangle the twins into both their strollers if my son was with us, or, if I was by myself, wear one in the pack and put the other in the stroller, and then repeat everything to get home again. To get mail, I had the additional steps of signing-in to a controlled-access building (with stairs) - with the kids - and picking up the mail from the unit mail room. I was spared this (at least for getting mail) because a kind sergeant in my husband's office brought me the mail every day on his way home. His help was a godsend and that was one pebble out of the shoe. Mary: Is there anything else others wanting to offer support could do to help? Valerie: Seriously? * Offer to mow the grass. Every week. * Offer to babysit during the day so Mom gets out for a little while. * Have the family's kids over to play in the back yard. * Stop by to see if Mom needs anything from the store. * Ask if there's any necessary maintenance work Mom needs done around the house or with the car. * Be close enough to the family so the kids feel comfortable being left when Mom has to go to the emergency room with (the inevitably) injured child. * Bring meals. Mary: Is there anything others wanting to offer support should not do? Valerie: I threw out this question to members on one military homeschooling email list and the following are some of the responses: Laine: Sometimes the best thing anyone can do for any spouse of a deployed servicemember, not just a homeschooling one, is to talk about the weather! Sometimes we just want to chat about something OTHER than the fact our husband is overseas, and we're home trying to hold down the fort till he can come home again and do his normal duties around the house, and we won't have to do his and ours anymore--until the next deployment comes along. Jessica: Don't show up expecting that Mom can run out for coffee at the drop of a hat. A friend may think that Mom 'needs' to get out of the house, but someone's got to watch the kids. Cindy: Don't say, "How do you do it? I could never do this. It's impossible!" It is fine to say, "I am impressed with how you are doing -- amazing!" Positive comments are fine, along with offers of help, but don't get tears in your eyes when some child says daddy is in Iraq -- the child will notice and it does not help. Mary: What do you feel was the best advice you were ever given about home education? Valerie: The reassurance from all the writers in Home Education Magazine, that, "Yes, you can do this." When I began homeschooling in 1990 I was the only one I knew who was trying such a stunt. Two years into our homeschooling we moved from Munich to Heidelberg, and still there were no other homeschoolers. Slowly, though, homeschoolers arrived at the local installation and I met one, then another, and we supported each other. A group grew and, for about a year, I had homeschooling friends. Then we moved to Belgium, and I was back to being the Lone Stranger. Throughout that time my subscription to HEM kept the magazines arriving at the unit mailroom with the message that, "Yes, you can do this." Mary: What do you feel is the best advice you can share with new home educators? Valerie: Know thy regs. Wherever you are, you will have greater confidence in what you're doing if you have a solid understanding of the rules in place around you. Mary: What do you feel is the best advice you can share with veteran home educators? Valerie: Pass along your collective wisdom to new homeschoolers through mentoring. Mary: Finally, what was the benefit for your family to have the choice to home-educate available to you? Valerie: Memories. Our eldest son was publicly schooled because I didn't hear about homeschooling until he was a senior in high school. After he graduated from high school he joined the military, just like his dad, his mom, his granddads, his grandmothers, an aunt, uncles, some cousins and probably more people in our family than I know about. He was sent to Saudi Arabia and Iraq and, through the wonders of technology, I was able to sit in my Munich living room watching the live-feed CNN broadcasts from Saudi Arabia patched into the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service. [note to families with a deployed servicemember: do not try this at home - stress, stress, stress]. As I sat there with his by-now-homeschooled siblings wandering around our quarters, I wondered where his school years had gone. What happened? Yes, we'd had evenings, weekends and summers together but, during most of that time, what had he done (besides go head-to-head with me and his dad during the teen-culture-wars)? Where had he been? As I write now, his younger brother and sisters are the same age he was during the Gulf War, and I know exactly where their school years went. We had a family life, not just a passing acquaintanceship as we all grew older and became involved in activities away from each other. Just like their big brother the younger kids had friends and teen adventures, and went to rock concerts (Pukkelpop, anyone? No, nothing to do with upset tummies, it's just the name of a rock fest near the Belgian town of Hasselt). Kids are supposed to grow up, leave and have their own adventures. That's life. But it sure is nice to really know them before they go off on their own. Mary: Thank you Valerie, your words ring so true. I suggest folks bookmark your site for out of the country and general homeschool information, wit and humor. Valerie: You're welcome. ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ISSUES TO WATCH ~ Access to public school programs for homeschoolers ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` Homeschooler access to public school programs has been a controversial issue for many years. Recently the subject has been in the news again: CNN.com - Should home-schooled have access to public school programs? - Jul 1, 2005 http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/06/30/colb.home.school/index.html Homeschool Athletic - Rules Even though the State Supreme Court upheld the ban on homeschoolers in public school athletics, there are still are a few ways they can participate Posted 7/8/2005 http://www.statejournal.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=3814 Homeschoolers seek access Charlotte Observer, NC Jun 13, 2005 http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/living/education/11881126.htm A-Z Homescooling offers a list of sport programs for home educators at: http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/explore/sportsprograms.htm And finally, here are some thoughtful articles on the subject from the Home Education Magazine Archives: Why the Question of Homeschoolers' Playing Public School Sports Affects All Homeschoolers - This article by Larry and Susan Kaseman was originally published in the May-June 2000 issue of Home Education Magazine: http://www.homeedmag.com/HEM/173.00/mj_clmn_tch.html One Problem... And One Possible Solution - This article, by Peggy Daly-Masternak, was originally published in the July-August 1997 issue of Home Education Magazine: http://www.homeedmag.com/INF/FREE/free_sprts.html ``````````````````````````````````````````````` COMMUNITY SERVICE ``````````````````````````````````````````````` Would you like to get involved in a community service project, but you need some ideas? Here are a few sites to visit that might be of help: * Homeschoolers Educating, Assisting, & Reaching-out Through Service - During the months of July and August, home educating families with H.E.A.R.T.S. (Homeschoolers Educating, Assisting, & Reaching-out Through Service) will be gathering school supplies for donation to local children in need. Hundreds of homeschoolers throughout the United States are expected to participate in this project in their own communities. Supplies- such as paper, notebooks, book-bags, lunch boxes, and filled pencil cases will be donated, collected, and delivered. Donations will be made to benefit children in homeless shelters and domestic violence shelters, as well as through other agencies assisting children in need. Past school supply collections have found home educators hosting very creative events such as backyard fetes - and "Tye Dye for School Supplies" events. For more information on this project please visit the H.E.A.R.T.S. website at: http://www.h-e-a-r-t-s.org/SchoolSupplies.html ****************************************************** H.E.A.R.T.S. is also encouraging participation in Pinwheels for Peace. Here is a link to the Pinwheels for Peace page on the H.E.A.R.T.S. website: http://www.h-e-a-r-t-s.org/PinwheelsforPeace.html Homeschoolers throughout the country, under the auspices of the H.E.A.R.T.S. program, are joining the international Pinwheels for Peace project. Locally, home educators plan to create pinwheels and to "plant" pinwheel gardens with messages of peace at libraries, churches, and other gathering places in celebration of International World Peace Day. Pinwheels for Peace is an art installation project started by two art teachers, Ann Ayers and Ellen McMillan, as a way for students to express their feelings about what’s going on in the world and in their lives. The Pinwheels for Peace website points out that "Peace doesn’t necessarily have to be associated with the conflict of war, it can be related to violence/intolerance in our daily lives, to peace of mind. To each of us, peace can take on a different meaning, but, in the end, it all comes down to a simple definition: a state of calm and serenity, with no anxiety, the absence of violence, freedom from conflict or disagreement among people or groups of people." All members of the community are encouraged to join this project. For more information on participating with H.E.A.R.T.S. (Homeschoolers: Educating, Assisting, & Reaching-out Through Service) in the Pinwheels for Peace project please visit the website at: http://www.h-e-a-r-t-s.org/PinwheelsforPeace.html * Community Service Ideas from 4-H * Roots and Shoots * ASPCA If your group is involved with a project and you'd like others to know about it, or to make it available for others to participate, email me at groups@homeedmag.com and please put "Community Service" in the subject line. ``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` WEB UPDATES, ANNOUNCEMENTS AND RESOURCES ``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` Kudos and a warm welcome to Daryl Cobranchi who has joined Home Education Magazine with his blog: Home Education & Other Stuff: http://homeedmag.com/blogs/heos/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Like the Pheonix, VAEclecticHomeschool rises out of the cyber-ashes and becomes VAEclecticHS! The VAEclecticHS List is the rebirth of VAEclecticHomeschool, which was a large, active list for in-depth discussion of issues affecting homeschooling, and for news about media articles and programs, proposed legislation, research, conferences and other information of interest to Virginia homeschoolers. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VAEclecticHS/ VAEclecticHS-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kudos to Noelle Scelina, Sam Weldon, Brianna Marasco, Tar Marasco, Jeremy Whitson, Jacob Whitson, Mieks Steven, Alli Steven, and coach Teresa Steven, all members of the inclusive Ohio HEART support group who recently received a TOP AWARD at toy challenge national SHOWCASE. They were one of 300 teams that participated from across the country and they went on to tie for second place at the TOYchallenge Final Judging and Awards Ceremony held on June 27 at Hasbro's headquarters in Pawtucket, R.I. with their innovative game called "Trash It". Trash it is designed for those 8 and up and encourages recycling. Again, congratulations to each of you! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Military Homeschooler was updated--7 Jul 05 As your read in this month's highlight, The Military Homeschooler is not just about the Military, but it also offers a wealth of information on homeschooling outside of the United States and General Homeschool Information. Read the articles, with linked references, at: http://www.militaryhomeschoolers.com/ ``````````````````````````````````````````````` CONFERENCES ``````````````````````````````````````````````` The Learning In Our Own Way Conference August 12 - 14, 2005 Crowne Plaza Hotel, Woburn, MA Voice: 781 - 395-8508 Fax: 781-874-1053 www.learninginourownway.com The 9th National Rethinking Education Conference is September 1 - 5: Labor Day Weekend "To Thine Own Self Be True" www.rethinkingeducation.com HURRY - REGISTER by July 15 and save $20 per person! Visit HEM's Conference Calendar at http://www.homeedmag.com/blogs/calendar to find other conventions coming to an area near you. If you are having a conference, seminar or perhaps a getting started homeschooling meeting, here are some FREE resources from Home Education Magazine: · Getting Started: http://www.homeedmag.com/gettingstarted.html · Questions and Answers: http://www.homeedmag.com/wlcm_hsinf.html · HEM’s Free Information and Resource Guide: http://www.homeedmag.com/ORD/mtrlst.html · Home Education Magazine Resources: http://www.homeedmag.com/HSRSC/hsrsc_gn.html ``````````````````````````````````````````````` UPCOMING HIGHLIGHTS ``````````````````````````````````````````````` August- Annette Jurczyk and her National Charter Schools Watch (NCSW) list September- Midsouth Eclectic Homeschool Network and its founder Jeanne Faulconer October- Shay Seaborne and Amy Wilson share the history of their grass roots victory in Virginia! ````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` HEM RESOURCES, HEM BLOGS and MORE ````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` Home Education Magazine's Editorial Blog: The weblog of Helen Hegener, co-publisher and managing editor of Home Education Magazine: http://www.homeedmag.com/blogs/editorial/ Home Education Magazine's News and Commentary Blog: Homeschooling in the national media, with commentary by Ann Lahrson Fisher. Also provides space for continued commentary and discussion of news items by the weblog readers: http://www.homeedmag.com/blogs/newscomm/ Home Education Magazine's Support Group News Blog: Ongoing encouragement and resources for support group volunteers, including a monthly newsletter, coordinated by HEM Support Groups Liaison Mary Nix: http://www.homeedmag.com/blogs/groupnews/ Home Education and Other Stuff: Cyber-charters are NOT homeschools, Daryl Cobranchi's HEM blog: http://homeedmag.com/blogs/heos/ Home Education Magazine's Resources Blog:Learning resources reviewed and described, with space for comments by homeschoolers who use the resources, and links to the company web sites: http://www.homeedmag.com/blogs/resources/ Home Education Magazine's Conference Blog: A listing of conferences, conventions and other events, with contact information and links: http://www.homeedmag.com/blogs/calendar/ HEM's Online Newsletter: http://www.homeedmag.com/wlcm_hemnewsltr.html AHA Weblogs Blog - The AHA's blog showcasing homeschooling weblogs: http://aha.typepad.com/weblogs_blog/ Subscribe to Home Education Magazine: https://www.homeedmag.com/ORD/_frm_order.html ``````````````````````````````````````````````` ``````````````````````````````````````````````` Thanks for taking the time to read this month's newsletter. Be sure to bookmark Home Education Magazine's Support Group page, which can be accessed at: http://www.homeedmag.com/wlcm_groups.html Listing your group on the HEM Support Group web pages is a free service provided by Home Education Magazine. To list your group, fill-in the form at http://www.homeedmag.com/groups2.html Looking forward visiting with you all next month! Mary Nix HEM's Support Group Liaison http://www.homeedmag.com/groups.html http://www.homeedmag.com/wlcm_groups.html Subscribe to HEM SUPPORT GROUP NEWS here: http://www.homeedmag.com/news/ This service is available free. Read the newsletter at: http://www.homeedmag.com/groups/groupnews.html © 2005 Home Education Magazine (All rights reserved). This newsletter is provided as a free service of Home Education Magazine. Readers are encouraged to forward this newsletter in its entirety, including headers and footers, to others who might also find its contents helpful. About the author: Mary Nix lives in Ohio where she enjoys living and learning with her family. Circulated by Article Emporium

Heartache Hurts - God Do You Hear

by: Kacy Carr

What is heartache? It is pain. There are two kinds of pain, one where you take a tumble, cut a finger or bump your head. This type of pain can be eased with the help of a band aid or ointments, but heartache is not an easy task to remedy. For a broken heart there is no cure I would say a great many of us has suffered heartache where we have endured pain over the kids family even work colleagues. This form of heartache is just a minor tremor to the earthquake of sorrow that forces it self on some people Take the mother who outlives her child, what could be more agonizing for mummy to be at the bedside of the baby she nurtured from birth only to have that child taken from her. Then we have the poor unfortunate heart broken fathers who lose their children all because mother thinks it is in the children's best interest to be without a dad (In some cases this action is necessary) but for many dads who still want to be part of there children's lives, I ask moms to think again for the kids sake. How many times has an engine been turned on with a hose to the exhaust which daddy uses as an inhaler to end it all, and in some sorry events taken the kids with him? The heartache when informed a loved one was killed in battle. It is painful when it is time to say goodbye to mum/dad, when they leave to make a new life in land beyond the sky. Lord hear the prayers of the world to put a stop to these 21st century atrocities that is causing so much heartache. Tsunamis, Tornadoes, Earthquakes, and Hurricanes, what on earth can you possibly have up your sleeve to spring on some poor country next? They say God works in mysterious ways and have his reasons. We understand you may not be happy with the sinners of today like the muggers and murderers walking the streets, but why on earth do the poor unfortunate innocent people have to suffer because of the actions of others. We need construction not destruction in our lives There is no turning the clock back as the damage is done, so many people have had there fair share of pain and suffering and it needs to stop. It would take a miracle to sort out this whole sorry mess that the world is in today. You gave focus to the blind you even rose from the dead, and we all know miracles are made in heaven. So we ask you God for the last time for one more miracle and that is to turn back the hand of time. About the author: Do not suffer in silence, talk to someone if you have had the misfortune of losing a loved one or traumatised by some of the worlds disasters. My information page has helpful resources. http://www.benidormbeaches.com Circulated by Article Emporium

Handling Weather Emergencies. Part 2; Home Security, Evacuation and Emergency Kits

by: Graham

Introduction Part 1 of this article on preparing for weather emergencies discussed forming an emergency plan to reduce the stress and worry of facing a full blown weather crisis. The focus was on safeguarding your family by planning well in advance of any threat. This, the second half of the article, looks at two things. Preparing your home to survive severe weather, and securing it in case you have to leave. Coping with evacuation or temporary isolation, and assembling one or more emergency kits. Home Security Some forms of weather related emergency are capable of destroying your home no matter what you do - floods, tornadoes and Category 5 hurricanes come to mind. But long term preparation and a clear plan for when severe weather is approaching can do a lot to protect your home from damage or destruction. Or to protect you if you are inside. So put together a plan about securing your home and loading valuables and essential supplies into your vehicle in case you have to leave quickly. Such tasks are made easier if you have been able to assemble suitable tools and equipment well before the problems arise. Long term plans could include adding roof ties or even strapping down your house if strong winds are likely, or reinforcing an interior ground floor room to provide refuge from destructive winds. Between a threat developing and dangerous weather arriving, there is usually some time to add protection to your home. Boarding up windows if faced with strong winds, or cutting back flammable vegetation and cleaning gutters if faced with a wildfire are worthwhile tasks if you have the time. And as a last minute job, store outdoor furniture securely - apart from the probability of loss, a strong wind can turn them into effective missiles that could be directed at your home. Finally, know how and where to turn off utilities - water, gas, power - and make sure other family members know it too. Emergency Kits An Emergency Kit is a pre-packed container which you can grab instantly if faced with a threatening situation. It should hold everything you will need if you are cut off from utilities and supplies, and should be kept separate from products and tools which you use everyday or for recreation. It is also worth considering permanent kits for your car and workplace, but let's focus on those kept at home. Depending on the types of threats you may face, you could need two sorts - one if you have to leave and another if you are staying. They should be designed to meet the particular needs of you and your family in the sorts of emergency you are most likely to face. For more information, visit the FEMA website, and check out their excellent manual at http://www.fema.gov/areyouready Here are a few suggestions. If you have to evacuate, your destination will probably provide food and shelter. Clothing and special needs - baby and infant needs, prescription and basic medical supplies - are the most important. Include extra warm clothes - heating may not be efficient. Food treats and special toys will make things easier for children. Some basic food and a couple of gallons of bottled water are always worth including just in case. A "keep your hands off" supply of emergency cash is also a great idea. Alternatively, if you are likely to be isolated and unable to leave your home for a while, assemble a kit which will keep you supplied for at least three days. Assume you will have no power, heat, water or waste disposal. The essentials are plenty of water - allow 1 gallon (4.5l) per person per day, of which half will be drinking water. Commercial bottled water is a good choice. Include non perishable food, preferably low salt, and don't forget a manual can opener. You'll need a battery powered radio and a flashlight, both with plenty of extra batteries, and a first aid kit. A camp stove and gas bottles are a great addition, and you'll need some cooking gear and some matches in a water proof container. Make sure you have enough infant or special needs, plus any necessary medication. And warm clothes should be included, plus strong shoes. Now much of this gear will be in your house anyway, but the point of this kit is that it can double for an evacuation kit, and will be ideal if your destination is somewhere other than relatives or an emergency shelter. And Finally..... OK, you've given up some of your valuable time and made your plans for all likely eventualities. Chances are you'll never have to use them, but things happen, and the hundred year flood may turn up next year. You can now relax and know you've done your best to protect your family and your home. One more thing. Include in your plans some time in a year or so to review everything, to make sure everyone understands the plan, and to go through the emergency kits and replace anything that's damaged or out of date. It won't take long, and you'll be ready for anything. About the author: ©2005, Graham McClung. This article is adapted from a free special report on weather emergencies. It can be downloaded from http://www.home-weather-stations-guide.com/tyvm.html While you're there, check out the rest of the site for more information on dangerous and spectacular weather. Circulated by Article Emporium

Guide to the Greek Orthodox Wedding Ceremony

by: Emmanuel Mendonca

The wedding service in the Greek Orthodox faith is an ancient and beautiful ceremony, which has been celebrated in its current form for centuries. The wedding ceremony is full of symbolism and is a great experience if you have never attended one before, because it is likely to be quite different from other weddings you have attended in Western Europe. The service is also rather unique because the bride and groom do not make vows to each other – their presence together in the church is taken to mean that they are serious about getting married. The Beginning of the Wedding In most cases the wedding guests will wait with the groom outside the church until the bride arrives (a few sneaky wedding pros will go into the church early to secure a good seat). In the Summer, when most weddings take place, it is not unusual for ceremonies to be arranged back to back, so the guests attending a marriage will often stand around with those who have just attended the previous wedding as they prepare to leave. Wedding dress commentators among the crowd will get to consider and discuss at least two brides and maybe even a third as they leave the church – bargain! Meanwhile, the nervous groom waits for the bride at the entrance to the church, often holding her floral bouquet. He hands it to her as they meet and they then go inside together followed by the guests. There is no separation of the guests into guests of the bride and guests of the groom – everyone sits together and in the case of small churches, many people prefer to stand in a spot where they can get a good view of the proceedings. Service of Betrothal The wedding ceremony itself is in two parts: the Service of Betrothal and the Ceremony of the Sacrament of Marriage. The exchanging of rings is the focus of the Service of Betrothal. The priest blesses the rings by holding them in his right hand and making the sign of the cross over the heads of the bride and groom. The rings are then placed on the third fingers of their right hands. The “Koumbaro”, the couple’s religious sponsor, then swaps the rings over between the bride and groom’s fingers, three times. A number of rituals in the ceremony are repeated three times and this symbolises the Holy Trinity: God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Ceremony of the Sacrament of Marriage This Ceremony consists of several key parts. First, several prayers are said and then as they come to an end, the priest joins the right hands of the bride and groom. Their hands remain joined until the end of the wedding ceremony, which symbolises the couple’s union. The Crowning The bride and groom are crowned with thin crowns, or “stefana”, which are joined by a white ribbon and have been blessed by the priest. The crowns symbolise the glory and honour that is being bestowed on them by God, and the the ribbon symbolises their unity. The “Koumbaro” then exchanges the crowns between the heads of the couple, three times. The Common Cup The crowning is followed by a reading of the Gospel, which tells of the marriage of Cana at Galilee. It was at this wedding that Jesus performed his first miracle, changing water into wine, which was then given to the married couple. Wine is given to the couple and they each drink from it three times. The Ceremonial Walk The priest the leads the couple, who are still wearing their “stefana”, three times around the altar on their first steps as a married couple. The “Koumbaro” follows close behind the couple holding the “stefana” place. At this point the couple (and anyone standing nearby) is usually showered with rice, which was earlier handed out to the wedding guests. The priest will often make use of the bible he is holding to give himself some protection! The Removal of the Crowns When the Ceremonial Walk has ended, the priest blesses the couple, the crowns are removed and he then separates their previously joined hands with the bible, reminding them that only God can break the union which they have just entered into. Wedding traditions Much of the information available on Greek Orthodox wedding traditions is a little outdated and contains generalisations that give the impression that certain traditions are followed by everyone who gets married. Some of these traditions are set out below - Rolling a baby on the marital bed to encourage fertility. - The throwing of money onto the marital bed. - The pinning of money onto the bride (and sometimes also the groom) at the wedding reception. Although these rituals are seen as traditional, fewer and fewer young people marrying today are following them, because they are seen as old-fashioned. Many people do not wish to put their guests through the ordeal of other people being able to see how much money they pin on the bride, for example. Although money is still a very common, as well as practical, wedding present it is often given to the couple before the wedding day or to a third person at the wedding reception, for safe-keeping. Greeks living in the more remote parts of Greece and abroad, who will naturally feel more strongly about doing things the traditional way, are more likely to follow these traditions than those living in Athens, for example. Like weddings everywhere, Greek weddings are changing. At the time of writing, there is a growing fashion to go and get married on an island and I recently heard someone say that he was looking into getting married in a ski resort. He was wisely advised by a friend “You had better first ask the priest if he wants to perform a marriage up a mountain”! About the author: Emmanuel Mendonca moved from London to Athens in 2004 and is getting to grips with life in Greece. Emmanuel publishes Greece travel and living articles at http://www.athensroom.com/greece_travel_guide.html Circulated by Article Emporium

Guide to Easy, Affordable Baby Shower Decorations

by: Jessika Ryder

Great baby shower decorations are more about using your imagination than your pocketbook! You can create a wonderful party mood with simple, high-impact arrangements. This article details some of the best ideas for baby shower decorations. Use balloons artfully Balloons make it feel like a party! Always have balloons at your events. Here's a money-saver tip -- your local 99¢ store will usually have balloons at a much lower price than most party stores. A basic use of balloons is to create color spots around the room or area where you're holding the baby shower. Tie a bunch of helium balloons to an anchor. Use baby items like booties, soft toys or baby bottles filled with water as anchors. Always use an odd number of balloons in a bunch. If you have multiple tables, get a few baby items like shampoo, lotions, bottles, diaper packs, wipes, refill packs, baby formula packs, soft toys, etc and place them in the center of each table. Tie a bunch of balloons to them. Each table now has a color spot. If you have large gifts like strollers or cribs, tie balloons to them to create a special look. Choose balloon colors according to the sex of the baby. If that’s not known, use both pink and blue balloons. Use balloons to decorate mommy's chair. Tie balloons in bunches to her “throne” and treat her like royalty! Also add streamers, satin bows and ribbons to her chair to give it a special look. If you're using a specific table for gifts, make sure it has several balloon bunches floating over it. That helps to create a focal point for the gifts. How to use tubs and umbrellas for baby showers decorations Use baby tubs as a punch bowl. Get one of those tubs that look like a whale. Fill it with clear punch and put in a small rubber ducky. The tub makes a wonderful present for mom-to-be after the shower. Here's another way to use the tub -- fill it with individually wrapped presents. That can include diapers, shampoos, lotions, washcloths, etc. For an added effect, put some balloons into the tub too -- they will look like floating bubbles! And fix a rubber ducky atop one of the balloons using ribbons. You know what's a perfect fit for any baby shower? Umbrellas. After all, it's a shower, right? Here's how you can use them. Collect several different umbrellas from your home. Open them up, fix streamers in various colors (not just pink and blue, though those are fine too) to the umbrellas. Next, fix the umbrellas so that they hang upside down from the ceiling, and the colored streamers flutter above your heads. This makes a great sight! You can also fill up umbrellas with balloons or even yarn in pastel colors. Hang them upside down at strategic points. More baby shower decorations that enchant Here's a centerpiece idea that's perfect for these celebrations -- baby shower cakes. Not sure what those are? Baby shower cakes (also called diaper cakes) are essentially diapers arranged in multiple tiers to look like a cake, with many small baby products tucked into them. They're very eye-catching gifts, just right for baby showers. Place one on a table as a centerpiece. Here's how to make your tables more appealing. Place small boxes of different heights on them. Drape baby items like receiving blankets over them. Your tables will end up with a more interesting look and feel thanks to varying levels. Spice up your tables by sprinkling confetti on them that says "It's a boy" or "It's a girl." If the baby's sex is not known, use both. Instead of piling gifts onto tables, try using a large item like a stroller or a baby crib to display gifts. This is just right for a baby shower! Another tried and tested idea is to string a clothesline across the room. Use wooden clothespins to hang cute baby items from the line. Use diapers, baby clothing, booties, socks, bibs, hats, toys and other such items. These products make excellent gifts to mom-to-be after the shower. Alternatively, hang disposable diapers on the clothesline and using permanent marker, spell out the baby's name. If the name is not known yet, just write 'BABY SHOWER'. Clotheslines with names and baby items on them are quite common at showers, yet they invariably become a conversation piece -- they look quite cute! If you're having a baby shower around Christmas, try this one. Buy an artificial Christmas tree and decorate it with little baby items. Like diapers, clothes, booties, socks, small bottles of lotions and so on. Use twinkle lights as well. This is a wonderful centerpiece for the room. You can even do miniature trees on each table, similarly decorated. It creates a lovely effect. There are no limits to the number of ways you can create dazzling baby shower decorations. Combine the above ideas, add your own twist and create an unforgettable shower! About the author: Jessika Ryder is a successful writer and party enthusiast providing valuable information on hosting baby showers. See more articles at: http://www.baby-showers-advisor.comfor party planning tips and other useful insights. Circulated by Article Emporium

Guide to choosing toddler toys

by: Eugen Lisov

The play has many more functions for toddlers than for adults. For toddlers, play is not just a way to relax but it is also the best way to learn and perfect skills like walking, balance and controlling the hands. Through play, the child discovers the objects and their functions and learns some social behaviors. For him, the play is similar to the work of the adult: the toddler imitates the work of his mother, father and grandparents. He repairs the car like his father and he cleans the house like his mother. His work “tool” is the toy. If for the little baby the toy is mostly a decorative object, for the toddler who is just starting to walk and talk, toys are absolutely necessary. The parent must make sure to offer his child adequate toys to his age and skills level. The most indicated toddler toys ( http://www.child-toys-guide.com/toddler-toys.shtml ) are the functional ones, who develop and stimulate different processes and mental activities (knowledge, inventiveness, imagination). In fact, we can consider as toys all the objects that help a toddler’s play, many of which can be found in our house. Moving games are one of a toddler’s preferred activities. It is very good if near your house is a park with a designated place, with special structures for toddlers. Small sized slides, wooden or plastic material cubes, arranged in a pyramidal shape helps toddlers develop their musculature and agility. If it is possible, the family members, using non-expensive materials, can make these arrangements in the backyard. The children will use them until they will grow older. Another open-air game for toddlers that requires manual skills is sand play. This game requires the toddler to make different sand shapes and even complicated constructions. At the sand box, the toddler uses different plastic shapes (stars, cookie), shovels, little buckets, toy cars and kitchen vessels. Don't hesitate to let the toddler play in sand just because he might get dirty or because sand play is a germ source. Dress the toddler adequately and keep a watch on him not to put something in his mouth during the play. Sand play is so important, that I advise parents to arrange a sand box inside the house! If you don’t think you can find a box good enough to be used for this purpose, or sand to fill it, you can also buy one. A toddler also requires toys to play inside the house For the interior, the most important toys for toddlers are the cubes. They are used by the toddlers as load for toys trucks. These cubes will later take part in construction games that help develop hand maneuverability, the capacity to concentrate and the imagination. Toddlers, both boys and girls, love animals and dolls made of different materials. It is a mistake to believe that at this age dolls are specific only to girls. Dolls help toddlers to identify the role of the mother and father in the family and learn the different body parts that a person has. From the list of toddler toys, we must not exclude books. For toddlers, beautiful colored books, with few images but well outlined, help enrich the vocabulary and verbalizing perception. As a parent, you can create short stories based on these images, using words that the toddler can understand, with similar activities and experiences to the ones the child has experienced. After showing him the images and explained what they are, we can ask the toddler “What is this?” “What does it do?” This way you test the things he learned. The child likes this because he can see the satisfaction a parent has when he answers correctly. Besides enriching his vocabulary, this game wakes up in him feelings of trust and security. You can find the original article located at http://www.child-toys-guide.com/toddler-toys.shtml About the author: Eugen Lisov is the creator of http://www.Child-Toys-Guide.com, a site that helps parents worldwide to choose the best toys for their children. Please feel free to browse my site; it will only help you when choosing toys for your child. Circulated by Article Emporium

Great Keepsake Ideas for a Christening or Baptism

by: Sara Haese

A baby’s christening or baptism is a very special occasion. It is the very first step in their spiritual life so there should be as many keepsakes of the day as possible. Since the baby won’t have any first-hand memories of this special day, it’s up to the parents, godparents and family members to create lasting memories for them. There are always the popular items that make treasured keepsakes, but there are many other ideas that might get overlooked. For instance, are the invitations just for inviting guests to the celebration and providing all the important details? That is their main purpose, but saving just one of them to be framed or placed in a memory album/scrapbook will create a lasting souvenir of the occasion. Here is a list of some more obvious and not-so-obvious items that make great baptism or christening keepsakes creating lifetime memories for the baby. • Gown or Outfit – Choosing heirloom quality fabric and taking the proper storage measures will help preserve the gown or outfit for future generations or just for a lasting remembrance. • Accessories such as shoes, socks, bib, blanket, bonnet, towel, headband, boutonniere - They all add an extra special touch to the gown or outfit and make great mementos. • Favors – These are perfect for showing appreciation to guests and giving them a take-home token. Many types of favors can be personalized. • Certificate – This is a great way to create a written record of the baptism or christening that can be framed and displayed. • Bracelet – What could be more precious and beautiful than a baby bracelet adorning the infant on her special day? • Personalized Gifts – These are normally items designed specifically for a christening or baptism such as a photo album, photo frame, Bible, cross plaque, doll, prayer bear, or candle. They are extra special because of the personalization. • Share of Stock with Framed Certificate – This is a gift that will educate and grow with the child throughout their life and the personalized frame will commemorate the date of their baptism or christening. Godparents, in particular, should really consider giving their godchild a keepsake gift since part of their responsibility is to help the child grow in their spirituality. Since their baptism or christening is the beginning of their spiritual life, it should always be remembered. There are special godchild, goddaughter, and godson gifts available that can be personalized with the baby’s name and the date. Keepsakes are a wonderful way to honor the memory of a baby’s christening or baptism through the years as they grow, both physically and spiritually. About the author: Sara Haese is the owner of http://www.baptism-and-christening-keepsakes.comwhich is your premier online resource for everything you’ll need to make a baptism or christening memorable including gowns, outfits, invitations, favors, personalized gifts, accessories, godparent gifts, etc. Circulated by Article Emporium