Women of Worth

Three Granny Tales

A grandmother was telling her little granddaughter what her own childhood was like: “We used to skate outside on a pond.  I had a swing made from a tire; it hung from a tree in our front yard.  We rode our pony.  We picked wild raspberries in the woods.”  The little girl was wide-eyed, taking this in.  At last she said, “I sure wish I’d gotten to know you sooner!”

My grandson was visiting one day when he asked, “Grandma, do you know how you and God are alike?”  I mentally polished my halo while I asked, “No, how are we alike?”  “You’re both old,” he replied.

A grandmother was sitting on her porch watching her grandchildren as they played in her yard.  Suddenly, a fire truck zoomed past.  Sitting in the front seat of the fire truck was a Dalmatian dog.  The children started discussing the dog’s duties.  “They use him to keep crowds back,” said the oldest grandson.  “No,” said the other grandson, “he’s just for good luck.”  The granddaughter brought the argument to a close.  “They use the dog,” she said firmly, “to find the fire hydrant.”

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Noah’s Ark

Everything I need to know, I learned from Noah’s Ark.

ONE:           Don’t miss the boat

TWO:          Remember that we are all in the same boat!

THREE:       Plan ahead.  It wasn’t raining when Noah built the Ark.

FOUR:         Stay fit.  When you’re 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.

FIVE:          Don’t listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.

SIX:            Build your future on high ground.

SEVEN:       For safety’s sake, travel in pairs.

EIGHT:        Speed isn’t always an advantage.  The snails were on board with the cheetahs.

NINE:          When you’re stressed, float awhile.

TEN:           Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.

ELEVEN:     No matter the storm, when you are with God, there’s always a rainbow waiting.

Safety Tips for the Medicine Cabinet

What essentials should be in my medicine cabinet?

Medicine cabinets should be stocked with pain relievers, allergy and sinus relievers, cold and flu medications, antacids, anti-diarrheals, and first-aid items.  A recent study indicates that the following were among the three most important items in Americans’ medicine cabinets:  pain reliever/fever reducer (74%), bandages (65%), and cold and flu products (41%).

What should I consider when selecting over-the-counter medication?

OTC medications pose some risk.  Important information to look for on OTC medication labels includes active ingredients and purpose, uses and indications, warnings and side effects, dosage information, significant product changes, and expiration date.

What should I do to ensure my medications are properly used?

Medications stored in their original packaging keep the expiration date and dosing instructions accessible.  If taking multiple medications, be sure to check for possible interactions between ingredients.  If you have questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.  Always use the dosing device that accompanies the product.  Store medications as directed on the label.

Are there specific rules for disposing of medications?

There are no federal regulations for disposing of expired medications.  States offer varied recommendations for disposing of pharmaceuticals.  Until regulations are available, contact your pharmacist for assistance about the safe disposal of your medications.

Today, as I prayed for our nation, I felt distressed.  I likened the turmoil we currently face politically, socially, economically, morally and spiritually to a rushing stream.  I felt our great country drifting down turbulent waters, scrambling, without finding even a protruding branch to grab onto for safety.

And in that instant, when in prayer I gazed at the banks looking for something to hold onto, the Lord impressed me with this thought.  “The stream is in my hand.”

Peace rushed in where concern swirled moments before, and I laughed out loud.  First, because it’s amazing God cares enough to meet a simple human being in a time of prayer.  Second, because it’s so true.  His plan has been established since the beginning of time and He measured the oceans in the palm of His hand.

Written by Lori Wagner

Stages of Grief

No two authorities agree on exactly which stages of grief widows must go through. 
 Most agree that the number, type and severity of stages differ from widow to widow, depending on many individual factors. All agree that grief is a job that must be done before healing can occur.

Although it’s true that grief loosely follows a pattern, moving through progressive stages, erratic symptoms often appear without respect for those stages. In addition, there is no predictable timetable. 
One doesn’t get over grief in a specific amount of time, as one does the chicken pox or mumps. With time –and work– grief changes its nature
 and its intensity, becoming more tolerable and less frightening. 
Eventually one’s new life begins to play a more important role than grief itself.

Each widow’s grief is different, depending on her age, her 
financial resources, her personal independence, her spirituality, her family’s and friends’ support network, her emotional stability, her education and training, her cultural heritage.  Another essential factor 
is the way her husband died and her presence or absence at the death.  An 82-year-old woman who nursed her husband for three years surely
will experience grief differently than a 30-year-old mother of three whose husband died of a sudden heart attack in bed beside her. 
Suicide, death by violence, auto accident, fire, terrorism or war
 all set a widow up for very different grief patterns than most of us can possibly know.  None of us should judge another widow. Only she knows her own situation.

Ten Stages Most Widows Experience

                      Shock / Numbness

                      Confusion / Disorientation

                      Denial

                      Bargaining

                      Anger

                      Guilt

                      Depression

                      Cockiness

                      Anxiety

                      Acceptance

How Much is a Serving?

Tips for Healthy Eating

If you are like a large percentage of those who make New Year’s resolutions, “lose weight” will be somewhere on your list.  Many of us, however, do not understand portion size.  Health articles tell us to eat several servings of fruits and vegetables each day, but how much is a “serving”?  The following will give you a general idea of what constitutes a serving:

FRUITS

• 1 small to medium piece of fresh fruit (apples, oranges, nectarines)
• ½ cup canned or fresh cut fruit (the size of a computer mouse)
• 4 ounces of fruit juice (a small Dixie cup)
• ¼ cup dried fruit (a handful the size of four dice)

VEGETABLES

• ½ cup cooked vegetables (the size of a computer mouse)
• 1 cup raw vegetables (the size of a standard light bulb)
• 4 ounces whole vegetable juice (a small Dixie cup)
• ½ cup tomato soup or marinara sauce