Despite my last post about theft, I am still optimistic enough to think that most people are good, and that the number of good people outweigh the bad. I even like to think that the thieves might be desperate and have just fallen on hard times and be forced into their actions. That might be a little naive, but if it is I hope I stay that way.

I work a lot with collaborative agencies in this county and the neighboring ones and none of us are getting rich by working in the non-profit field. (Contrary to popular belief with some local citizens) I am not sure that I would do what I do for free, but I have proved that I almost would as I was an AmeriCorps*VISTA for three years for the same agency I know direct and that is a living allowance at poverty levels. I love what I do and look forward to work almost every day. The exception is when a big grant report is due or a large grant, but even then it is a challenge and I love challenges.

The old saying that you should find what you love and make it your life’s work is so true. If you can find something you enjoy and get paid to do it it is the best situation in the world. I love collaborating with people and finding the good people who want to help the world -one person at a time. I used to think that outside my family I could not make a difference, then I thought that about my community. Now I believe in the power of ONE and feel that if you really want to and you build a team you can do anything and the ripple effect can be felt in your self, your community, your country and your world. If that sounds like the 4H pledge it is! How How to all those people that believe!!

I had an unfortunate event happen to my family last week. The first ever matching patio set of table and chairs that I have ever owned was stolen off my back deck when no one was home. I can tell you that I am hoping someone was literally starving and needed it to sell! Somehow that would make me feel better. Otherwise I hope they get what they deserve as I am a firm believer in “What goes around, comes around!” and the Golden Rule. The thing that upset me the most is that my daughter was thoughtful enough to give me the lounge chair to match the set as a Mother’s Day gift last year.

When I am running around like a chicken, as I usually do for work and with my kids I have a visual of myself sipping a cool drink (with or without little umbrella), leisurely reading a magazine with a floppy hat on my head to protect me from the sun. It barely ever happened this last year, but I can dream can’t I. Now my dream is sans lounge chair which is not quite the same thing.

I know in the scheme of things this is not a huge loss, but it is the principal of the thing and does upset a families emotional tranquility. I felt that our home had been attacked and it was a disturbing feeling. I am thankful that my family are healthy and that we are weathering the economic downturn better than most, but a feeling of being unsafe in a world with no ethics is disturbing to say the least. I never expect to see these items again, but I did report the theft and it seems that theft is definitely on the rise in Hampshire County and surrounding areas. I know the police are stepping up patrolling past my home and I am thankful for those who serve in order to try to restore our piece of mind.

To the person who stole my stuff, if you needed some money there are safer and better ways to get some. Give me a call at 304-822-5787 at the Resource Network and I will try to get you in touch with the local social service agencies.

I grew up in Somerset, England and I don’t know where this was taken, but it really reminds me of many of the quaint coastal towns in that area. Great shot! As the mom of a photographer I really appreciate photography at its best.

The fifth annual AmeriCorps Week, taking place May 21-28, 2011, provides the perfect opportunity for AmeriCorps members to demonstrate AmeriCorps’ impact on critical issues, bring more Americans into service, and thank the community partners who make AmeriCorps possible.

Velma Ragsdale, AmeriCorps VISTA Leader with the Eastern Regional Family Resource Network is celebrating AmeriCorps week by partnering with First United Methodist Church in Romney on establishing a toiletries pantry. The toiletries pantry will provide hygiene and household products that low-income individuals and families are unable to access through other income subsidizing programs. First United Methodist Church has been a pillar in Hampshire County for several years, providing spiritual and social support to those in need. A few years ago they started a food pantry that provides two to four week supplies of nutritious foods to low-income individuals and families. The toiletries pantry will be a perfect addition to this great service.

People can make donations to the toiletries pantry during the week of May 21-28 at Anderson’s Corner on Main Street and throughout the year at the Eastern Regional Family Resource Network on High Street; their office is directly above the Literary Hall Cafe. Suggested items include deodorant, detergent, dish soap, feminine hygiene, floss, lotion, paper towels, shampoo, conditioner, soap, toilet paper, toothbrushes, toothpaste, towels, and anything else along this line. Please donate unopened and unused items to ensure that people receive items that are safe to be used. For more information contact Velma Ragsdale at (304) 822-5787 or erfrnvistaleader@aol.com.

Thank you Anderson’s Corner, Christine Bowker, and Roberta Miller for your support.

If you think this post will be about teenage angst, you will be surprised. I am actually meaning another type of date entirely. This weekend I was able to drag my homebody husband out for dinner with my kids on Mother’s Day and with one of our older daughters. He loves to be at home and reads constantly and is truly a very smart man, but resists going out and hates crowds especially.

The date I am referring to is what happened after dinner, my hubby took our youngest daughter on a date to see Rio the Disney movie at the local theater. They both had a blast and I can honestly say that my daughter could not stop talking about it all the way home. She not only loved the movie she loved sharing it with her dad just the two of them. Apparently he laughed until he cried and really enjoyed himself. I hope this will become a trend that will continue.

Daddy’s should take their daughters out alone on a special “date” as often as they can. I remember the special feeling of holding my father’s hand as we went out for “tea” or on a lunch date in England when I was small. My dad was the consummate English gent and never left the house without a crease in his pants and a shine on his shoes. I was always so proud to be with him and he was a quiet humble man, but he took pride in his appearance and mine so I was always dressed up on these occasions. I loved hanging out with him even at home and would often go out and play in my garden shed “house” a corner of which was all my own. He planted primroses down the path to the shed and put a sign over the door that read “primrose cottage”. I loved to play with my dolls while the door was open and he was out digging over his flower beds, cutting grass or trimming bushes.

Obviously it is just as important for mothers and sons to have the same memories and so make time for each of your children so that each parent has some special time with each of them and make some memories together!

Wanted to invite everyone to come out to a community event for Child Abuse Prevention. Children’s Memorial Flag Day is an event that remembers children lost in the community to preventable causes and we hold the program at Taggart Hall opposite the new Judicial Center in Romney at 11.30 a.m. on April 29th. The DARE choir will be singing for the program and there will be certificates given to groups that have gone above and beyond for the safety of children. Join us and if you would like to nominate someone email me at ukbeve@hotmail.com

April is Child Abuse Prevention month and you should see blue and silver pinwheels up around all the local counties in “pinwheel” gardens. If you want to become involved in our efforts please let me know.

I wanted to do a quick blog about something I learned this weekend and found it shocking. My husband has always used something other than sugar in his coffee in order to try to loose weight. I have always used sugar as the one thing I can’t replace in my cuppa or cup of tea. I have yet to find any kind of sweetener (with the exception of honey) that does not have an after taste. I use honey in some teas, but in black tea I guess I am just indoctrinated from years of use, but brown sugar or white when I can’t get it are my taste preference.

The scary thing about the other artificial sweeteners is that they actually work as an insecticide. Yep, Splenda will kill ants and other household insects. I have not tried this will Equal yet, but I am assured that this brand will also kill ants. I was told at a conference this weekend that Splenda was actually developed as a pesticide before being approved for human consumption as a sweetening agent.

Some people may not be concerned that what they are putting into their drinks (or buying already in there as a artificial sweetener for diet drinks) kills things, but I assure you it makes me a bit nervous. I think I have finally proved my point with my husband and he agrees that maybe the calories accrued by brown sugar or honey are preferable to having ant killer in his system. Who knew??

I had a great time last week at an event I would like to tell you about. The WV State Treasurer’s office staff was in town last week providing a wonderful program called “Get a Life”. This is a financial literacy game used as a hands-on training to encourage the students to pursue their education. The treasurer’s office staff gives the young adults a “life” card and they are assigned a high school diploma and a blue collar job on the first tour around the booths. They must pick a house, car and make a budget within the guidelines of that income. It is soon apparent that it is very hard to make ends meet in their family budget! The second time they are able to gain a college education and therefore a higher paying position. Under these new circumstances the 7th graders realized it was a little easier to not only have enough money for their budget, but also possibly upgrade their living arrangements. Pat Ramsburg, NetWorth Project Regional Coordinator, sponsored by the Treasurer’s Office was very complementary to the staff at the school about the positive behavior that she had witnessed at the program. Aaron Hendrickson School Counselor at RMS and Bruce Kibby School Counselor at CBMS organized the respective events. Bev Evert and her staff from the ERFRN were also impressed by the students’ good manners and orderly conduct. Well done Hampshire County 7th grade!

The Eastern Regional Family Resource Network with funding provided from the Healthy Families Healthy Children Coalition by the WVU Extension helped with refreshments for the many volunteers at both events and also gift bags for the students who participated. The bags had a warning message regarding the dangers of sharing prescription drugs and included not only prevention literature, but a student calculator and other study related gifts. The Healthy Family Healthy Children Coalition in Hampshire works with many organizations to aid in parenting, relationship and financial literacy trainings for various populations. Please contact the ERFRN for more information at 304-822-5787 or email erfrn@atlanticbbn.net

We had several snow days and I for one hope we don’t have any more, but just in case or to save you some stress next year I have compiled a few tips. If you aren’t a stay-at-home parent, snow days can wreck havoc on your schedule. One of the smartest things you can do is to have a plan in place should school be canceled. Find out what sort of policies your company has regarding last minute personal days and see if you can telecommute. If you can’t and your children aren’t old enough to stay home by themselves, you’ll need to make arrangements for child care. If you are lucky you may have family close by, or perhaps a neighbor you know and trust, or maybe you can call the parents of one of your child’s friends. It you have a babysitter that you sometimes use, this might be an option. Get the plan set up before you need it in an emergency to relieve your stress level.

If you do stay home you will need a plan of action too. You can start by playing outdoors in the snow, making snowmen, building snow forts, and sledding. Playing outside is fine, but most kids eventually get cold, wet or just bored with the snow and especially if you have several kids then have a plan for some indoor fun. There are endless sites full of crafts for kids: Families.com has recipes for making homemade play dough, paper plate snowmen and tons of great crafts from everyday items found around the house. Save some magazines for the kids to cut up for collages. Google “winter crafts for kids” and you will have a huge list of options. Parents.com has links to a number of projects that will keep your kids learning while having fun. There are projects that take a few minutes to make and others like planting an herb garden, which will provide fun and learning for weeks to come. Again a little planning ahead can make the day run smoothly.

Snow days are great for reading. You don’t need a collection of books at home if you have visited your local library. If your child is too young to read, look for picture books or make up a story together. There is no substitute for reading with your child snuggled close, but if you have to work then get some books on tape and try working on your laptop with your child sitting close to you while they listen. Don’t forget to take a break and play a board game or two.

Cooking something simple like soup isn’t just a good way to spend time with your child; but helpful in teaching good nutrition. www.foodnetwork.com/cooking-for-kids is a great site for healthy recipes. Let them fix you lunch while you supervise. Cleaning up after themselves is a good way to teach responsibility. The trick, experts say, is to make clean-up time fun by turning chores into games.

Comments or questions email ukbeve@hotmail.com or call 304-822-5787