Vacation Bible School at the Castleton United Methodist Church

June 16, 2008 8:00 am

to

June 20, 2008 8:30 pm

Mark your calendars TODAY for the children’s event of the summer! Vacation Bible School will be June 16-20, 2008 from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Castleton Worship Center.

Who Can Come? All children age 4 through 5th grade (grade completed as of 2007-08 school year).

How Do I Sign Up? Registration began April 27 and will continue through June 15.  $15 per child ($35 maximum per family) Child care will be provided for all volunteers’ children from infants through 3 years old.

Requirements: You must have the ability to smile, give hugs and, of course, love kids.

We realize how incredibly busy everyone is over the summer with summer camps, band practices, ball games and scout meetings, so start planning now! This week will not soon be forgotten.

This year’s theme is a visit to a theme park. The choices we make in a theme park will determine the kind of day we will have. But the big and little choices we make every day will determine what kind of lives we will have, our relationships with those around us and ultimately our relationship with God.

At SonWorld Adventure Park Vacation Bible School, your kids will meet various people who encountered Jesus and discover how they responded to Him.

• Day 1: Choose to Act ~ The Blind Man ~ Jesus is the savior that God promises (John 9)
• Day 2: Choose to Believe ~ The Ten Sick Men ~ Jesus cares about each person, not just those whom everyone likes (Luke 17: 11-19)
• Day 3: Choose Forgiveness ~ The Paralyzed Man ~ Jesus will forgive us if we ask Him to (Mark 2: 1-12)
• Day 4: Choose to Obey ~ The Rich Young Ruler ~ Jesus wants us to obey Him in all our choices, not just when it is easy
• (Luke 18: 18-27)
• Day 5: Choose Jesus ~ The Disciple ~ Jesus died for us but lives again and guides us every day (John 20: 19-20)

Remember at SonWorld Adventure Park there is no height requirement, the lines are short and everyone gets a good view of the parade. But hold on to your hat and glasses because it is sure to be a life-changing ride!

Remember to register today! If you have questions contact: Barb Sibbing, 250-3340 or barbsibbing@gmail.com, or
Monique Gillespie, 826-4855 or moniqueandskyler@aol.com.

Summer Survival Guide for Parents: When Can You Leave a Child at Home Alone?

Now that summer break has arrived, do you ever wondered, “Are my kids old enough to be left home alone, and can they be trusted to stay out of trouble?”Here are some things to consider before leaving a child at home alone: Is my child mature enough to stay home alone and follow my rules? How would they handle a problem, if something comes up?

After years of coaching and teaching CCD at church, I have learned how to deal with children. Let me give you some tips that I have learned over the years.

You need to make sure you give your children the tools they need to make appropriate decisions and fend for themselves while you are away, whether it’s for a few minutes or several hours. Here are some basic rules/guidelines you should always have in place before you leave a child home alone.

• Create a written plan for your child; include all of the information they need while you are away. Include details!
• Make sure they understand what they are allowed to do and not to do while you are gone. Define rules for television, computer and phone use.
• Have a full list of contact phone numbers if an emergency occurs or if they need help of any kind. Call regularly to check in.
• Make sure your child knows what to do if a stranger shows up at the door. What about playing with friends?
• To avoid accidents, make sure you have food ready, so children do not need to cook for themselves.

While Indiana does not have any laws that govern the age at which a child can be left home alone, generally, it is not recommended that a child under the age of seven ever be left alone, even for a short time. Children ages 8-12 may be mature enough to handle being left alone for a few hours, but never overnight. It is generally not a good idea to leave a child under the age of 12 alone for extended periods of time, such as all day while you are at work. Objectively evaluate your child’s maturity level and personality before making a decision, as age alone is just one factor to consider. Visit www.latchkey-kids.com for more recommendations.

Once you have a comprehensive plan written out, review it with your children and go over your expectations. Remember to use positive reinforcement, rather than negative. Children will respond better to this! If your child ignores your rules by choice, make sure there are consequences to their actions.

By writing this plan out, there is no way for your kids to make different interpretations of your directions, and they will have something to refer to if they have a question. You also can review your written plan with your children later to let them know where they stayed on track and where they need to improve.

Now that you have gone over the guidelines, make sure they know that you will check in on them. Don’t tell them when, just that you will. If you set up expectations for your children and stick to the rules that apply, most kids will learn to follow the rules. Your child will learn that he or she is trusted and viewed as a young adult, not just your child. If you do this, your children will respect you!

Children of all ages do not like to be told what to do. Give them options, and come to an agreement. Learning to compromise will help you build a better relationship with your child.

35-30 or Fight

Have you seen my pants lately?

I mean my 35-30 pants.  That’s not a brand name, like 501 jeans; that’s my size. Yes, I have a 35-inch waist and two 30-inch legs. Now you know.

I am not proud of this. I didn’t aspire to it (except when I was a 37). But I’m not unhappy with it, either, although I’d rather be a 34.

Now, I ask you again: Have you seen my pants?  No, not the ones I am wearing, even though I’m beginning to think that they were the last 35-30s made in America. I’m looking for another pair of 35-30s. Where have all the 35-30s gone?

Every Saturday morning, I head out the door to look for pants. I’m either wearing my last pair of 35-30s, or I’m scrunched into 34-28s. Or waddling around in a pair of 38-32s.

First, I go to Macy’s to look for pants. Man, do they have pants. Plus, they have some really great sizes: 38-33, 42-28, 42-35, 40-34, 35-28. And that’s just the beginning. The entire rack of clothes is a testimony to the myriad and wonderful ways that God works. Imagine creating humans in so many sizes!

But God, in his omnipotence, should have seen that making men with 35-inch waists and 30-inch legs was unnecessarily cruel. God should have known that 35-30 men would never find pants. Men like this are destined to walk around Monument Circle naked.

If God doesn’t believe me, he’s never been to Macy’s, or T.J. Maxx or Kohl’s. Even at Wal-Mart, where you can get kitty litter made for one cat, two cats or multiple cats, I can’t find 35-30 pants. Where are they all?

I look through the other sizes, hoping that some 35-30 who forgot his credit card may have squirreled away his size so he could return the next day and reclaim his treasure. Maybe there’s a 35-30 in between the 44-30s and the 32-28s. That’s where I once hid a pair of 35-30s.  No luck. Let me tell you something: You can hide some of your income from the IRS in a bank in Switzerland, but you can’t hide a pair of 35-30 pants. Trust me, I’ve tried.

So what is the explanation for this? Is the size so rare that they don’t manufacture very many? No way. True, you’re more apt to see a 40-28 at the State Fair or a 32-32 at the Mini-Marathon, but I see 35-30 bodies all day long: lawyers, doctors, plumbers, bus drivers. All 35-30, all apparently happy and well-adjusted. But I can see it in their eyes…and the way they walk. They can’t find 35-30s, either. It’s so tragic.

The real explanation is that 35-30 is so common that stores can’t keep the size in stock. I know that when I see a pair of 40-29s, they are going to be there for a while. You see, men who are 40-29 won’t admit it.  They are probably trying to squeeze into my 35-30s. There oughtta be a law.

You might be saying to yourself, “What a whiner. He’s really a lucky guy. He doesn’t have to go to the Small Man’s Shop or the Big Man’s Shop. His size is easy to find. He probably just double-parks his Suzuki in front of L.S. Ayres, runs in, grabs a 35-30 off the shelf and is back in his car in five minutes.

Yeah, in my dreams.

No one cares about 35-30s. We’re a dime a dozen. We are normal around the middle, average from crotch to cuff. There is nothing distinctive about us. Except that we don’t have any pants.

Of course, if you are a 48-30, or a 34-25, you probably read this entire column and are now saying to yourself, “I don’t find this whole thing very funny.”

Well, neither do I.

Pain In The Neck? Alternative Healthcare Options Help Heal, Give Relief

Everyone deals with body pain at one point or another, but when a small pain in the neck or back evolves into a constant annoyance, it can become a deterrent to a productive life. Most people follow the traditional steps of calling a family physician, at which point specialists are recommended and medications are prescribed.

Many pain sufferers are finding that non-traditional pain treatment, or alternative healthcare, can be the perfect compliment to traditional medical avenues. This can include chiropractic treatment, acupuncture, or other complimentary techniques like Pilates, massage therapy and egoscue.

Chiropractic Medicine
Chiropractic medicine is usually the first choice for those seeking alternative healthcare, yet many don’t really know much about it. In fact, if you ask your friends what they think about chiropractors, they might say, “I don’t believe in them.”

“Saying you don’t believe in chiropractors is like saying you don’t believe in cardiologists,” says Dr. Shawn Pala, of Pala Chiropractic in Noblesville.
Pala explains that chiropractic is not a belief system or religion, but is a practice based on science. According to a study by Web MD:
Chiropractic cut the cost of treating back pain by 28 percent, compared to those who did not have chiropractic care. Back surgeries were reduced by 32 percent (one in every three people) when chiropractic treatment was in place. The satisfaction rate for those using chiropractic treatment was at 98 percent.

Chiropractors (also known as doctors of chiropractic or chiropractic physicians) diagnose and treat patients with health problems of the musculoskeletal system and treat the effects of those problems on the nervous system and on general health. Many chiropractic treatments deal specifically with the spine and the manipulation of the spine. Chiropractic medicine is based on the principle that spinal joint misalignments interfere with the nervous system and can result in lower resistance to disease and many different conditions of diminished health.

Dr. Shawn Benzinger, of Indy Spinal Care Center, says that alternative healthcare is an effective way to go. “Alternative treatments are safe, first and foremost,” he said.

Benzinger explains that treatment includes concentrating on three main areas:

• Diet — The swelling of tissues, fatigue and overall physical wellness can be improved by eating the right types of foods.
• Emotional state — If someone is depressed, angry or in an unstable emotional state, it can effect weight, stress levels and pain severity. Therapy is strongly recommended if this is an issue.
• Biomechanics — Positional issues of the neck and spine can be addressed, along with things like posture, the type of chairs used for work and other areas that are causing body misalignment.

Chiropractic can also treat patients complaining of: hypertension; migraines; joint pain; gastrointestinal issues; tissue damage; spinal wear and tear; nerve damage and muscle changes due to injuries.

In addition, many pregnant women are turning to chiropractic treatment for the reduction of labor time, easing stress on the fetus, relaxing the muscles and complimenting the care of obstetricians, Pala said.

After being encouraged by a friend, Beth Johnston of Noblesville tried chiropractic care when she was six months pregnant with her fifth child.

“My labors had always averaged at least 10 hours for each child,” she said. “I thought if I could shave off maybe an hour, that would be great.” After regular visits to Dr. Pala, her final labor, from start to finish, was three hours. “I have no doubt that it was the treatments that made the difference,” she said.

Another pain sufferer that found relief with chiropractic treatment is Sharon Murphy of Kirklin, Ind. Murphy was diagnosed with fibromyalgia over five years ago. She was experiencing extreme fatigue and general muscle pain, without finding any relief.

“I was at the end of my rope,” Murphy explained. After seeking chiropractic treatment — and through regular adjustments, exercises, supplements and dietary changes — she has seen a dramatic difference.

“My energy level has increased dramatically, my pain has lessened considerably, and although my condition will never go away, I have seen great improvement,” she said.

Although chiropractic care is one of the first options for those seeking alternative healthcare methods, there are a variety of other treatments that might prove helpful.

Acupuncture
Studies have shown that overall pain can be reduced by 33 percent with the use of this treatment. Acupuncture literally means “needle piercing,” the practice of inserting very fine needles into the skin to stimulate specific anatomic points in the body (called acupoints or acupuncture points) for therapeutic purposes.

Along with the usual method of puncturing the skin with the fine needles, practitioners of acupuncture also use heat, pressure, friction, suction or impulses of electromagnetic energy to stimulate the points. The acupoints are stimulated to balance the movement of energy (qi) in the body to restore health.
Additional Methods
Pilates, message therapy, and egoscue are other methods that patients can use to find pain relief. Not as widely know, egoscue is based on a series of stretches and gentle exercises designed to restore full, natural function to muscles and joints. It treats chronic musculoskeletal pain without using drugs, surgery, or manipulation.

“The most important thing to remember is that alternative healthcare treatment can be a vital element in overall good health. We as practitioners are part of an integrated approach, including family physicians and specialists, that can help a patient find relief and live a happy and healthy life,” Pala said.

Injury Prevention Checklist

Preventing injury in the first place is the best way to avoid pain. Consider these tips before you workout, exercise or perform physical activities:

• Wear appropriate gear for your sport or activity, including helmets, pads, shoes, sunglasses, gloves and clothing.
• Warm up: Make sure you warm up slowly and properly before engaging in a strenuous activity. This is particularly important in activities that require quick, full-body movements like soccer, football or volleyball. Also, be aware of proper posture or techniques before engaging in a new sport or activity.
• Get help. If you are not sure if your weight-lifting techniques or body movements are appropriate, consult a personal trainer, certified instructor or a coach for that activity.
• Pay attention. Listen to your body and pay close attention to pain, which is often a warning sign of injury.
• Don’t overdue it. Build up to a specific sport or activity. Train appropriately, and give yourself time to build up endurance.

Openings Still Available for HSEF Golf Outing June 9

June 9, 2008

The 7th Annual Hamilton Southeastern Schools Foundation Golf Outing is Monday, June 9, at the Hawthorns Golf & Country Club. The event includes lunch, dinner and a variety of prizes.

Proceeds help fund student scholarships for HSE seniors and educator grants that support activities to enrich classroom learning.

Some openings are still available for players or sponsors. For more details, go the Foundation web site at www.hsefoundation.org or call 317-594-4100.