Barefoot Day – Ahhhhh Feels So Good

By Diane Forrest

Footprints in the Sand

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.

Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.

In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.

Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,

other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed

that during the low periods of my life,

when I was suffering from

anguish, sorrow or defeat,

I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,

"You promised me Lord,

that if I followed you,

you would walk with me always.

But I have noticed that during

the most trying periods of my life

there have only been one

set of footprints in the sand.

Why, when I needed you most,

you have not been there for me?"

The Lord replied,

"The times when you have

seen only one set of footprints,

is when I carried you."

I hate shoes!  The second I walk in my house, off they come.  I wouldn't even wear them outside, but my feet are so tender that I have to.  I’m also very ticklish, which is an inconvenience when you are barefoot, and you have family around who wants to torture you.  I love the summer, because you can wear sandals and flip flops and its almost like being barefoot.  I don't like the term barefoot and pregnant though, because that makes me think that women are only useful if they have babies and stay at home.

Today is National Barefoot Day.  It serves two purposes.  It allows people like me, who hate shoes, to be free of them for a day without feeling the guilt of not wearing shoes.  It also puts the spotlight one people who don't wear shoes because they have none.  There are approximately 1.4 billion people in the world who don't have shoes.  This day is being promoted by Soles for Souls, an organization that helps to provide shoes to those who are without.  There are weeklong activities such as marathons, shoe drives, fun runs & walkathons, retail trade-in events, concerts, festivals and more.

How you can participate is to donate shoes you no longer wear, and if you are in the need of new shoes, I would like to suggest TOMS shoes.  For every pair you purchase, they donate a pair.

So today, relax, kick off your shoes and go barefoot, but keep in mind those who don't have any shoes, and check out this site for more information on ways you can help.  http://soles4souls.org/why-shoes 

(Images from Google) 

World No-Tobacco Day – 2013

By Terry Orr

(Former smoker of 20+ years)

America and most of the world has known for more than 50 years that smoking is hazard to our health and subsequently the dangers of second-hand smoke – yet it is still legal to smoke despite the dangers – not only to the individual smoker – but those folks near them being attacked by second hand smoke. The cost associated with smoking-related health in America exceeds $150 Billion Dollars – and I believe this figure is probably grossly understated. Between 5.4 and 6 million people die each year due to smoking-related health issues.

Just the Facts (Source: CDC):

Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body.  Smoking causes many diseases and reduces the health of smokers in general.

Smoking and Death

Smoking causes death.

The adverse health effects from cigarette smoking account for an estimated 443,000 deaths, or nearly one of every five deaths, each year in the United States.

More deaths are caused each year by tobacco use than by all deaths from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, suicides, and murders combined.

Smoking causes an estimated 90% of all lung cancer deaths in men and 80% of all lung cancer deaths in women.

An estimated 90% of all deaths from chronic obstructive lung disease are caused by smoking.

Smoking and Increased Health Risks

Compared with nonsmokers, smoking is estimated to increase the risk of:

Coronary heart disease by 2 to 4 times;

Stroke by 2 to 4 times;

Men developing lung cancer by 23 times;

Women developing lung cancer by 13 times; and

Dying from chronic obstructive lung diseases (such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema) by 12 to 13 times.

Smoking and Cardiovascular Disease

Smoking causes coronary heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States.

Cigarette smoking causes reduced circulation by narrowing the blood vessels (arteries) and puts smokers at risk of developing peripheral vascular disease (i.e., obstruction of the large arteries in the arms and legs that can cause a range of problems from pain to tissue loss or gangrene).

Smoking causes abdominal aortic aneurysm (i.e., a swelling or weakening of the main artery of the body—the aorta—where it runs through the abdomen).

Smoking and Respiratory Disease

Smoking causes lung cancer.

Smoking causes lung diseases (e.g., emphysema, bronchitis, chronic airway obstruction) by damaging the airways and alveoli (i.e., small air sacs) of the lungs.

Smoking and Cancer

Smoking causes the following cancers:

Acute myeloid leukemia

Bladder cancer

Cancer of the cervix

Cancer of the esophagus

Kidney cancer

Cancer of the larynx (voice box)

Lung cancer

Cancer of the oral cavity (mouth)

Pancreatic cancer

Cancer of the pharynx (throat)

Stomach cancer

Smoking and Other Health Effects

 Smoking has many adverse reproductive and early childhood effects, including increased risk for:

Infertility,

Preterm delivery,

Stillbirth,

Low birth weight, and

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

Smoking is associated with the following adverse health effects:

Postmenopausal women who smoke have lower bone density than women who never smoked.

Women who smoke have an increased risk for hip fracture than women who never smoked.

Conclusions

The World Health Organization, Cancer Organizations, and many others continue to implement and encourage countries and individuals to quit smoking. Quitting is NOT EASY – but with your personal support team – including your healthcare provider and family – it is doable! So please – start today – thank you.

Worldwide - 6 million people die each year from tobacco and 600,00 die from exposure to second-hand smoke.

Mother Nature's more peaceful side – Part One

Awesome Photographs from Email

FACES OF NATURE

  

Nature will have her way —

The Kiss

God is WATCHING YOU

WHO UNDERSTANDS THE FORCE OF NATURE?

THE BEAUTY OF NATURE

Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month 2013

By Nurse Diane

My Father-in -law was self-employed.  He was one of the first in his community to write programs for the computer for companies for their billing.  He was also great in computer repairs, which was all very unusual since he had never been trained or studied any type of computer technology.  He taught himself by trying different things, and when he found something that worked, he would load his stuff in his van and go from town to town selling his ideas.   He drove an old emptied out work van, no seats or frills like air conditioning.  During the hot Mississippi Summer he would ride with his window down and his arm hanging out.   After many years of this he developed a small spot on his arm.  It was an unusual shape; it concerned him so he visited his doctor to get it checked.

He was fortunate.  He was diagnosed with a skin cancer, had it removed, the area healed, and he had no other problem.  He also started wearing long sleeved shirts or applying sunscreen when he went out in his van.

Although summer doesn't officially start until June 21, the temperatures are already soaring in some states, and hibernating people are once again outside enjoying the fresh air and fun.  This is the perfect time to remind you of the possibilities of skin cancer, and ways to prevent it.

To detect a possible Melanoma or skin cancer, there is a checklist that follows the abc's.

A:  Asymmetry, where half of the spot is different from the other half

B:  Border, where the mole is irregular, scalloped or poorly defined.

C:  Color, where the mole has different shades of tan, brown, black, and sometimes white, red or blue.

D:  Diameter, where the mole is larger than the size of a pencil eraser

E:  Evolving, or changing in size or shape.

More than 3.5 million skin cancers are diagnosed annually in more than 2 million people. There are simple measures you can take to prevent getting skin cancer.  Staying out of the sun, wearing protective clothing if you are out, and use sun screen all the time you are outside.  If you do notice a spot or mole pop up, get it checked by your doctor right away; early detection is the key for a quick recovery.  So have a great summer, but stay safe too!

(Images from Google) 

Older Americans and National Senior Health and Fitness

By Terry Orr

Older Americans Month

The Older Americans Act of 1965 (Pub.L. 89–73, 79 Stat. 218, July 14, 1965) was the first federal level initiative aimed at providing comprehensive services for older adults. It created the National Aging Network comprising the Administration on Aging on the federal level, State Units on Aging, and Area Agencies on Aging at the local level. The network provides funding - based primarily on the percentage of an area's population 60 and older - for nutrition and supportive home and community-based services, disease prevention/health promotion services, elder rights programs, the National Family Caregiver Support Program, and the Native American Caregiver Support Program. (Source: Wikipedia)

Programs created to support OAA (Source: Wikipedia):

• Administration on Aging (AoA) established under the Department of Health and Human Services as the federal level advocate for the aging population, and coordinator for service delivery to the elderly
• National Eldercare Locator Service a toll free hotline for identifying community resources
• Support Services to promote independence with regard to transportation, home care, legal aid, case management, and adult day care,
• Nutrition Programs including congregate and home delivered meals
• National Family Caregiver Support Program to provide respite services, education, training, and counseling to seniors providing kinship care, and to the caregivers of seniors
• Health Promotion providing educational services, counseling and consultation
• Aging and Disability Resource Centers to facilitate the dissemination of information on available resources
• The Community Service Senior Opportunities Act (OAA Title V) which works with the Department of Labor to provide employment opportunities for seniors
• Grants to Tribal Organizations
• The Long-term Care Ombudsman Program
• Elder Abuse, neglect, and exploitation public education services

National Senior Health and Fitness Day

National Senior Health & Fitness Day is honored on the last Wednesday of every May as part of Older Americans Month and National Physical Fitness and Sports Month activities.

The goal: To promote the importance of regular physical activity, and to showcase what local groups are doing to help improve the health of older adults in their communities.

Regular physical activity is essential for healthy aging. Adults aged 65 years and older gain substantial health benefits from regular physical activity, and these benefits continue to occur throughout their lives. Promoting physical activity for older adults is especially important because this population is the least physically active of any age group.

The benefits of physical activity include:

• Helping to maintain the ability to live independently and reduces the risk of falling and fracturing bones;
• Reducing the risk of dying from coronary heart disease and of developing high blood pressure, colon cancer, and diabetes;
• Helping reduce blood pressure in some people with hypertension;
• Helping people with chronic, disabling conditions improve their stamina and muscle strength;
• Reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression and fosters improvements in mood and feelings of well-being;
• Helping maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints; and
• Helping control joint swelling and pain associated with arthritis.

In the meantime, here are some simple health tips from Healthfinder that will help keep you aging well:

• Keep your body and mind active
• Choose healthy foods
• Get regular checkups
• Take steps to prevent accidents

Always consult your doctor before starting an exercise program, or drastically changing your diet. It is also very important to take an active role in preventing sickness.

References and Links:

http://www.aarp.org

http://www.olderamericansmonth.acl.gov

http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/index.aspx

(Images from Google)

Hurricane Preparedness Week 2013

By Terry Orr

It is that time of year once again – Hurricane Season starts this Saturday and time to review your emergency plan and replenish your supplies (water, food, blankets, flashlights, batteries, first aid kits, radios, et al.).

Please do yourself and family a world of good – download this Preparedness Guide – print it – read it – and keep it handy.  Thank You! http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/hurricane/resources/TropicalCyclones11.pdf

Then, please follow this link http://www.ready.gov/hurricanes - bookmark or add to your favorites after reading this excellent information to help you prepare for hurricanes and other sever weather.

 (Images from Google) 

Memorial Day 2013

By Diane Forrest

Every last Monday in May I head down the veteran's cemetery here in town.  It is a beautiful heartwarming site to see all the flags waving, but they also serve as a reminder that the flags were placed there because someone gave their life while fighting for me.  These people who didn't even know me fought so that I would have certain freedoms and a safer life.  It always brings tears to my eyes, and makes me so proud.

Memorial Day started after the end of the Civil War.  Then it was called Decoration Day.  There are many stories about the beginning of this holiday, but the town of Boalsburg, PA claims to be the first to practice the decorating of the soldier's grave.   According to wikepedia.com, on May 5, 1868, in his capacity as commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic - the organization for Union Civil War veterans - General John A. Logan issued a proclamation that "Decoration Day" should be observed nationwide and annually. It was observed for the first time on May 30 of the same year; according to folklore, the date was chosen because it was not the anniversary of a battle. According to the White House, the May 30 date was chosen as the optimal date for flowers to be in bloom.

Today the day is spent having cookouts, listening to political speeches, going to car races or golf tournaments.  It marks the beginning of summer and the end of school.   The name, Memorial Day was first used in 1882, and the original date of observance was changed from May 30 to the last Monday in May to allow for the 3 day week end and in compliance of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act established in 1968.  There have been some efforts to move the observance back to the original date of May 30, because people believe that the 3-day weekend celebration takes away the meaning of the day.

However you plan to celebrate this day, please keep in mind the countless veterans who gave their lives in battle so that you can have the rights and the freedoms that you have today.

(Images from Google) 

Inventors

By Diane Forrest

Have you ever come up with an idea and thought..."Wow" I should invent this, and make a lot of money?

My father has told me many times that he had thought of roller blades long before they hit the big time - he always beats himself up over the fact that he missed this golden opportunity.   I have always kept the secret from him that I had seen the same skates in a museum many years ago and were famous long before my father was even born.

This is National Inventor's Month.  It was changed to May from the original month of August to better align with the academic calendar.  To get in all the ideas before the end of the school year in other words.  Recently I was reading about a young inventor on yahoo.  The story is enclosed below:

A teenager from Saratoga, California took home one of the top prizes at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair late last week after showing off her invention, which can fully charge a cell phone in 30 seconds or less. Eesha Khare was given the Intel Foundation Young Scientist Award and a $50,000 prize for being runner-up in the competition, which was won by a 19-year-old who unveiled a new spin on self-driving car technology. Khare’s battery technology requires a new component to be installed inside the phone battery itself, and Intel notes that it also has potential applications for car batteries.

I have always heard that Invention is the Mother of Necessity.  This month is your chance.  If you have any ideas that would make a part of your life a little easier or better, get started on it.  Here is a site where you can check into ways on how to start your invention:  http://signup.inventionhome.com/invention-full.asp?source=g-ih&campaign=s-invention-d&group=invention&term=inventions&ad=24184736402&placement=&network=g&match=e&pi_ad_id=24184736402&gclid=CJH-isLIrbcCFYJi7AodqhoArg

(All images from Google)