November Birthdays and Anniversaries!

Happy Birthday to our November Birthdays!
Happy birthday!! We hope your day is filled with lots of love and laughter! May all of your birthday wishes come true. God Bless!
1     Mary Dubois
3     Ed Allender
26   Nikki Hendricks
27    Dylan Johnson

Congratulations & Happy Anniversary to Our November Couples!
Sending anniversary congratulations and best wishes for the years ahead to all those celebrating wedding anniversaries.
4     Dan Wilshire & Karen Cullen

Continuing an Attitude of Gratitude Beyond November

    It is vital for our spiritual and mental health to pause, reflect and give thanks (and not just on the 4th Thursday of November). Here are some reminders on why and how we can have an attitude of gratitude.
-Gratitude helps us stay in the present. When we’re focused on things we can give thanks for today, we’re not living in the past or worried about the future.
-Gratitude helps us avoid negative thinking, which when left unchecked, leads to negative emotions. You can’t be grateful and envious at the same time.
-Gratitude increases our resistance to stress. Grateful people tend to bounce back more quickly from adversity.
-Gratitude increases our sense of self-worth. Grateful people recognize the contributions others have made to their lives, and this transforms the way they see themselves.
-Three ways to cultivate gratitude
1. Keep a gratitude journal. According to one report, “People are 25 percent happier and more energetic if they keep gratitude journals, have 20 percent less envy and resentment, sleep 10 percent longer each night and wake up 15 percent more refreshed, exercise 33 percent more, and show a 10 percent drop in blood pressure compared to persons who are not keeping these journals.”
2. Count your blessings on a regular basis. Similar to keeping a gratitude journal, without writing everything down. This can be done in the morning, in the evening, and all throughout the day. It’s the application of the “give thanks in everything” verse.
3. Use visual reminders. This might seem like the training wheels of gratitude, but it can be quite helpful. We tend to take things for granted. Worse, we tend to take God for granted. Simple reminders, like putting Scripture verses in places we’ll regularly see them, can prompt us to be grateful. Some people like to drop notes of gratitude in a “gratitude jar.” And simply seeing friends and loved ones can remind us to be grateful. The point is to do whatever helps us recognize and appreciate our many blessings.
Take time to count your blessings and name them one by one. You will be thankful that you did.
Giving thanks for each of you,
Karen

Happy Birthday to our October Birthdays!

Happy birthday!! We hope your day is filled with lots of love and laughter! May all of your birthday wishes come true. God Bless!
1     Jessica Paschal
2     Carol Nissen
9     Richard Fawcett
17   Tim Osorio
26   Valerie Hite
31   Glenna Allender
31   Karen Davis

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. If you’re age 40 or older, join the millions of women who get mammograms on a regular basis. National Breast Cancer Awareness Month educates women about the importance of early detection. More and more women are getting mammograms to detect breast cancer in its earliest stages. As a result, breast cancer deaths are on the decline. Encourage the women in your life to get mammograms on a regular basis. Since the program began in 1985, mammography rates have more than doubled for women age 50 and older and breast cancer deaths have declined.
This is exciting progress, but there are still women who do not take advantage of early detection at all and others who do not get screening mammograms and clinical breast exams at regular intervals.
According to the experts, if all women age 40 and older took advantage of early detection methods – mammography plus clinical breast exam – breast cancer death rates would drop much further, up to 30 percent. The key to mammography screening is that it be done routinely – once is not enough. So if you are a woman age 40 or over, get tested, and if you are not, tell them women in your life that it is important.

Happy Birthday to our September Birthdays!

Happy birthday!! We hope your day is filled with lots of love and laughter! May all of your birthday wishes come true. God Bless!
1              Lynn Hendricks
2              Alex Lorenzen
5              Teresa Stefanoff
9              Doug Herzog
11           Jordan Groom
16           Sara Wadia
18           Beverly Schutte
21           Breanna Kolodziej
21           Steven Flowers
23           Paul McPherson
23           Judy Thorndyke
27           Christine Paschal

September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance

The September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance is the culmination of efforts originally launched in 2002 by the 9/11 nonprofit MyGoodDeed with wide support by the 9/11 community and leading national service organizations. This effort first established the inspiring tradition of engaging in charitable service on 9/11 as an annual and forward-looking tribute to the 9/11 victims, survivors, and those who rose up in service in response to the attacks.
In 2009, Congress designated September 11th as a National Day of Service and Remembrance under bipartisan federal law, and charged the Corporation for National and Community Service with helping to support this effort across the country.
On the anniversary of the September 11th attacks, Americans will unite in service in the same remarkable way that so many came together following the attacks.
As in years past, it is anticipated that there will be service and remembrance activities in all 50 states, at which there will be opportunities for hundreds of thousands of volunteers to paint and refurbish homes, run food drives, spruce up schools, reclaim neighborhoods, and support and honor veterans, soldiers, military families, and first responders.
I would encourage you to make time to give of your self in service to others on 9/11 and remember those who perished that day. And then in the spirit of faithfulness and humility, make selfless service a year-round habit, as we seek to follow in Christ’s steps.

Blessings,
Karen

August Birthdays and Anniversaries

Happy Birthday to our August Birthdays!
Happy birthday!! We hope your day is filled with lots of love and laughter! May all of your birthday wishes come true. God Bless!
2              Betty Lou Baker
4              Connie Andrews
8              Jeff Peterson
9              Greg Davis
14           Eliena Lee Fawcett
14           Liliana Rios
14           Michael Johnson
15           Jennifer Kolodziej
15           Darrell Allen Paschal
24           Natalia Osorio

Congratulations & Happy Anniversary to Our August Couples!
Sending anniversary congratulations and best wishes for the years ahead to all those celebrating wedding anniversaries.
8              Eddie & Vanessa Rios
20           Greg & Karen Davis
24           Bob & Bonnie Deering
31           Mary & Bob Dubois

Make time to Connect and Communicate

Life can be hectic, and we can become distracted by many things – including those very things that are designed to “simply” our lives, i.e. electronic devices. Despite the fact that society has advanced, making time to communicate with others is still as essential now as it was 2,000 years ago. As summer winds down and children are heading back to school, and families get back to routines, it is important to make maintaining good communication a priority. With slight wording modifications, these questions can work with children of all ages, and with some adaptation, can also be appropriate for conversation with a spouse or another adult family member.

1.    Tell me about a moment today when you felt excited about what you were learning.
2.    Think about what you learned and did in school today. What’s something you’d like to know more about? What’s a question you have that came from your learning today?
3.    Were there any times today when you felt disrespected by anyone? Tell me about those moments.
4.    Were there times today when you felt that one of your classmates demonstrated care for you?
5.    Were there any moments today when you felt proud of yourself?
6.    Tell me about a conversation you had with a classmate or friend that you enjoyed.
7.    What was challenging about your day?
8.    What do you appreciate about your day?
9.    What did you learn about yourself today?
10.    What are you looking forward to tomorrow?
11.    Is there a question you wish I’d ask you about your day?
Take time to turn off electronic devices and have a conversation with those around you. It will be good for you (& them). It is a great opportunity to learn something about your family and friends, and about yourself. And remember to talk with God as well. God is listening and wants to offer each of us hope, joy and peace.

Great Turnout for FCCG-AA Open House!

Literally hundreds of children, adults and eager supporters came to see the artwork on display, listen to music and learn more about the FCCG-Art Academy. Many thanks to the teachers and volunteers that helped to make the night a huge success. Watch the FCCG website for the next session of classes.

July Birthdays & Anniversaries

Happy Birthday to our July Birthdays!
Happy birthday!! We hope your day is filled with lots of love and laughter! May all of your birthday wishes come true. God Bless!
3     Stephen Lopez
8     Bob DuBois
9     Eric Giron
14   Shirley Herzog
15   Nancy Farley
16   Desirae Sandoval
21   Jen Hendricks
22   Sebastian Osorio
23   Eddie Rios
24   Eddie Rios, Jr.
24   Mallory Norviel
31   Mary Helen Lewis

Congratulations & Happy Anniversary to Our July Couples!
Sending anniversary congratulations and best wishes for the years ahead to all those celebrating wedding anniversaries.
25        Ella & Gary Peterson
27        Jordan & John Groom