50th Morgan County Habitat for Humanity House Dedication

50th Morgan County Habitat for Humanity House Dedication

If you have never been to a Habitat for Humanity House Dedication, you are truly missing a blessing.

Today was Morgan County Habitat for Humanity House Dedication. What a huge mile stone for the Morgan County Community.

The dedication was more than just a home being given to the Baker family, who are the recipient. This home was built in honor of Cindy Szinegh who had a great admiration for the Habitat for Humanity program.
What makes this such a wonderful story is, this is a story of how one family's tragedy, touched the lives of so many people.

The house design is named "Chantal", who is Cindy and her husband, Alex daughter. Chantal, in herself, is a marvelous miracle.

It truly was amazing to see how the power of a community can come together and build such a beautiful home.

Sponsor's for the home were Exit Realty and Eaton Corporation Decatur, Alabama.

Builds like these take the hard work and dedication from not only volunteers and the homeowners, but from money raised from the various donations just to make it happen. Stephen Baldwin was even on site to help.

Aaron and I had the opportunity to be at the house when it was still under construction and while Stephen Baldwin was there. The amount of wonderful people that we met was absolutely moving to say the least.

There is no doubt that Cindy, a much loved wife, mother, friend to many, and Realtor with Exit Realty, lost her battle with Breast Cancer in 2008.

I will be writing more about this house and continue the powerful story of these truly remarkable people, who selflessly give of themselves to touch another person's life.




In the mean time, you can visit your State's Habitat for Humanity web-site by doing a Google search. See how you can help your local community.

To read more of the story behind this house, visit Morgan County Habitat for Humanity.

Until next time....

Touching lives one minute, one day, one flame at a time.....

Ria Wallace is Master Chandler and owner of Ria's Collectables-A Soy Candle Company. Her mission in life is to Touch peoples lives one minute, one day, one flame at a time..... She is also the Author of Ria's Pay it Forward, and My-Our Old House where she shares real life stories and how the little people impact the every day life of many.

September 11, 2001 - Where Were You

September 11, 2001 - Where Were You

Alan Jackson sang the song, "Where Were You" as a tribute to the World Trade Center Tragedy. To this day, I still remember.

I was working, on the phone with my counterpart from Pembroke, New Hampshire. Several of our sales team had just left our facility there and were on flights back to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Tony was barely a month old and in the hospital with Parafluenza, Aaron was just barely 18 months old.

I will always remember that time of silence - watching the second tower get hit. The fear that overwhelmed me as to where everyone was, where they OK? Was anyone on the flight headed towards the Pentagon? Or what about the flight to Pennsylvania?

Hours felt like days. Tears rolled like raging rivers coming from mountain tops and composure was out the window.
The memories of somberness hit as I remembered what we had all gone through during the Oklahoma City Murrah Bombing.

I will never forget the feeling of anger as the thoughts came to mind, not on American Soil, not again. The devastation that the town of New York felt was an all too familiar feeling - one which had taken years to heal and there it was, six years later only on a larger scale.

Today's remembrance is about Gratitude. A gentle reminder to never let the last words you speak to anyone be words of anger. Never leave your loved one without the words, "I love you" , always be grateful for the moment as it might be the last.

Here is a hug from me to all the people affected by the tragedies of both the Oklahoma City Bombing and the World Trade Center.

Swine Flu - Thoughts to Consider

When the Swine Flu hit our area earlier this year we had schools shut down for a couple of days, with one school being closed for a week.

Recent news in our area has disclosed that the new Swine Flu Vaccine is now in place and school officials are happy due to the fact that they will not have to close if children are vaccinated.



As with any live virus, adults and children that have any form of PIDD (compromised immune systems), or heart conditions need to be cautious of the potential effect that this vaccine could have on their health.

Sam Adkins, is a professional Homeopathic and a member of the Australian Register of Homeopathic, who has written the following article to help us make an informed decision regarding the vaccine:


Feature Article: 6 Reasons to Say NO to the Swine Flu/H1N1 Vaccine


When we want to protect ourselves and our loved ones, sometimes it's hard to know which way to turn for information regarding important things like Swine Flu vaccination. I have been closely following all the hype and information regarding the Swine Flu vaccine that will be hitting all our shores in the next 4 weeks, and I want to share the information that our govenments and politicians are not being open about.

Firstly I have to put my stake in the ground regarding vaccination generally because Homeopaths world over are known to most often choose to NOT support general vaccine use. There are many reasons for this stance, but one of the most important, is that vaccines by-pass the immune system's normal defenses. When you catch measles for example, it is a droplet borne viral infection and the mucous membranes in your upper respiratory tract respond first. When we stick a vial of live or infectious agents (that have been rendered less potent) straight into the blood stream, we are asking the body to mobilise its immune system at its deepest level immediately, without all the natural immune pathways that come first.

It has not been proven at any stage that vaccines actually STOP people catching the infectious agent...rather it has been shown that vaccines stimulate antibody production in the blood. We know that our immune system is much more complicated than that and antiobodies are just one part of it.

Many of my patients vaccinate themselves and their children and many do not. I support whatever my patients want to do, but I find that I treat vaccinosis (chronic ill-health after vaccination) often. But this Swine Flu vaccine is crossing all kinds of health boundaries and so here are my Top 6 Reasons NOT to have this Vaccine.

1. Predictions of Pandemics are notoriously inaccurate
In the Uk for example, there have been 31 deaths so far attributed to the H1N1 virus compared with the normal 8000 people that die most years of 'normal' flu (source The Week Issue 726).
in 1976 another Swine flu pandemic was feared and never materialised. In the early 90s a measles epidemic was predicted and did not happen either. The most recent Bird Flu pandemic never occurred.
Almost all the deaths so far across the world from Swine flu have been due to complications such as pneumonia. As it is highly unlikley that you will die from the influenza, then the best way for a normally healthy person to protect themselves is to have a healthy immune system in the first place.

2. It is likely to contain highly toxic Mercury.
There are 3 main pharmaceutical companies manufacturing the vaccine: Baxter, Glaxosmithkline and Novartis. Thimerosol is the commonly used Mercury preservative that was removed from many of the standard children's vaccines in Australia (please note, it is still used in adult vaccines),and around the world due to the link with vaccine reactions and public outcry. It has been said that the Swine Flu/H1N1 vaccine will contain mercury. Read here for more mercury toxicity information.

3. Flu vaccines are highly ineffective.
In a review of 48 reports including more than 66,000 adults, "Vaccination of healthy adults only reduced risk of influenza by 6% and reduced the number of missed work days by less than one day (0.16) days. It did not change the number of people needing to go to hospital or take time off work." Reference: "Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy adults." The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 1 (2006).

In a review of 51 studies of the flu vaccine in children 6-24 months it was decided that it was not more effective then a placebo and asthmatic children who get the flu vaccine [Flumist in activated flu vaccine - Ed] are more at risk for hospitalization than children who do not get the vaccine." Reference: The American Thoracic Society's 105th International Conference, May 15-20, 2009. (Thanks to an excllent resport by Dr tenpenny.com for this data).

4. They contain highly dangerous substances such as adjuvants.
These are substances added to allow faster manufacturing of the vaccine and to 'boost' its action. If they work I ask myself...why do we need to 'boost' them? Novartis and Glaxosmithkline are both using an oil based adjuvant called Squalene in their H1N1/Swine flu vaccine. (ALL oil based adjuvants have been categorically shown to be toxic to rats).

Squalene is a substance present in our body in the nervous system but when we inject squalene into our bloodstream from an outside source, the body attacks it as something to resist and consequentially, attacks the squalene in our own body. This is why vaccinations appear to cause auto-immune diseases such as MS, lupus, Guillan-Barre syndrome and Rheumatoid Arthritis. See this excellent Mercola post for more information about squalene.

5. The last Swine flu vaccine in 1976 was a health disaster!
Swine flu broke out in a military base in 1976 and people were vaccinated with a hurriedly prepared "Swine Flu Vaccine". The result has been catalogued and reported as an unmitigated health disaster. People dropped dead soon after the vaccine was given and many suffered paralysis. The vaccine was withdrawn and there was no pandemic! More here.

6. Normal vaccine SAFETY procedures are being by-passed!
The US government has recently given the vaccine manufacturers leave to expediate the manufacture of this vaccine by by-passing normal safety tests and procedures that are in place to protect YOU. The adjuvant Squalene will not be tested in spite of knowing that in tests on rats it caused ALL rats to develop an MS-like disease that left them crippled, dragging their paralyzed hindquarters across their cages. The vaccine itself is currently being tested in several nations including Australia, the USA and the UK on our children. They will be given the vaccine and then follwed up with blood tests afterwards. This is too LATE for your child if they have a serious reaction. This is what a report 5 days ago in The Lancet said:"Many national regulatory agencies have set-up fast-track approval processes for the H1N1 vaccine, which means that a vaccine might be licensed without the usual safety and efficacy data requirements. Vaccine safety will therefore have to be monitored through post-marketing surveillance. But some fear a repeat of the 1976 H1N1 outbreak in the USA, where mass vaccination was associated with complications, which stopped the campaign and led to the withdrawal of the vaccine." (The Lancet, Volume 374, Issue 9687, Page 358, 1 Aug. 2009.)


This article was brought to you by Sam Adkins The Homeopathic Coach who teaches families about healthy living and natural remedies using homeopathic medicine. An internationally renowned expert, her helpful articles are regularly syndicated online. She publishes the ezine Homeopathy@Home to provide free Homeopathic tips, tools and resources to educate and inspire you to use Homeopathy at home. http://www.thehomeopathiccoach.com/





Please let me know what your feeling are regarding the Swine Flu Vaccine

School Has Started

With school starting all over the country, now is a good time to start organizing our thoughts and schedules.

You know, PTA meetings, parent teacher conferences, after school activities etc. Now is also the time to start thinking about your child's teacher's gifts for the upcoming holidays. I know, it's hard to think that the holidays will be here before we know it.

Some of that thinking ahead comes from our business and I have to admit, every time I start thinking that far in advance (two holiday season's), I can not help but think about my dear friend Marcia. You can read her blog here and you will understand what I am saying, if not, I will tell you why later.

Another friend of mine who is a "skipped generational" parent as I am found a web site that had all kinds of ideas for teacher gifts. As luck would have it, my friend attempted a comment to this site and actually saved it. I have replaced my friends name with "Anonymous"

The reason for sharing this is because it truly is good food for thought and I can see both sides of this fence, my friend was hurt and because I know her, I know why she was.

Let me know what you think.

Mom to Mom
Great Gifts for Teachers
http://parentzone.babyzone.com/momtomom/stories.asp?mcid=72&pg=2
"I am an elementary school teacher, and I have been teaching for 10 years.

The best gifts a parent can give a teacher are:1. Respect. We are highly trained individuals, not glorified baby sitters. Many of us have master's degrees and doctorate degrees. We each spend many hours outside of our work day involved with professional growth classes and other continuing education. Please don't second guess our every decision. We really do know what we're doing.
2. Be a supportive, involved parent. Spend quality time with your children. Read to them. Listen to them read. Turn off the TV, unplug the Game Cube, and send them outside to play. Teach them right from wrong and how to take responsibility for their actions. Help them when they struggle. Get them the help they need, whether that is medical, emotional, or academic help.

These are the things we would most like to have our parents give to us. However, those things aside, I know that kids and parents like to give tangible gifts to their teachers for special occassions and holidays. Here are some tips on what to avoid:
1. Not all teachers drink coffee. Most of us have boxes and boxes of "cute" mugs we will never use.
2. Candy might be a fantastic thought for those rail-thin teachers who burn off calories just looking at a piece of chocolate. Most of us would rather not have the temptation. It's hard enough to find time to go to the gym.
3. Please, no more lotions, soaps, and candles. While teachers do like to pamper themselves, most of us have a huge surplus of these items because the bath and body type stores push them as "great teacher gifts." My husband has put a moratorium on lotion and candle buying - I have too much of the stuff as it is. I will be well moisturized and freshly scented well into my next life.
4. "Apple" themed gifts should be outlawed! Oh sure, there are a few teachers (and I do mean "few") who enjoy the stereotypical apple/teacher ornament, but the majority of us would rather pass. Our homes are not decked out in apple motifs, and neither are our classrooms. This is one cliche that has outlived whatever usefulness it once had.
If you truly do want to show your teacher, in a tangible way, how much you appreciate him/her, find out what he/she really does enjoy. Maybe she's not a coffee drinker, but loves Diet Pepsi - buy her a 12 pack! Is he a workout fanatic - get him a free month at his gym. Find out what your teacher collects and add to their collection.
Some fail-safe ways to thank your child's teacher:
1. Everyone has to eat--get her a giftcard to a restaurant.
2. Teachers love books, and often spend their own money on books for their classrooms. Pick up a giftcard to a bookstore so the teacher can buy some books for herself for a change.
3. Most female teachers would love the gift of a manicure or pedicure. We like to look nice, too!4. We like to relax--get us movie tickets!
5. So you say you really love this teacher and want to get her something fabulous--a massage at a local spa would doubtfully be turned away!
My point is this: if what you're really trying to do is show your child's teacher how much you appreciate their hard work and dedication, take the time to actually make a thoughtful purchase. Teachers do not expect gifts. We'd rather have you be your child's best parent possible than to receive another Snoopy mug filled with candy. So, if you are inclined to buy a gift, keep these tips in mind, and your child's teacher will really feel special and appreciated."

Kimberly Massie

Here is my friends response that was never posted or I should say, the comment was not allowed by the moderator of the blog:

"Your comment about Candles and Bath Gifts from students I find to be amazing and actually thoughtless to the children who love their teachers.
More so, I find it very offensive. Parents spend quite a bit of money supplying school supplies for not only their children but for others as well.
Many parents see to it that every fund raiser the school has, they're children not only participate, but excel at sales also.
Yes, teachers have degrees, and many today have Master's Degrees. Parents also have these degrees.
Although your long list of what you would call an appropriate gift for a teacher is grand, I think you need to remember that many children today come from single parent homes, skipped generational homes, foster homes, and the list goes on. Most of these parents share in the joy their children have making their own choice as to what gift to give the teacher. The reason why is because it comes from the heart of that child.
Most importantly, most of these parents I am sure would love to be able to have that extra $25-$150.00 to put food on the table or clothes on children’s backs.
For any teacher to complain about a gift that comes from the heart of a child because it was not, what? good enough? Maybe you need to re-evaluate why you became a teacher to begin with.
I have been raising children for over 30 years and I must say, between my children and grandchildren alone, you are the first to have such an ungrateful attitude about what a child gives a teacher.
There are many teachers I have come to know in the past 25 plus years, not one of them ever complained. As a matter of fact, I know many teachers that love and keep all of the "treasures", regardless if it is something they would not use.
Most importantly, I would love to see the look on a child’s face when their parent says, "Johnny, I do not think you should buy that candle for your teacher, she wants a trip to the day spa instead and we simply can not afford it".
I would not want to be the parent with a child going to school on a special day without a gift for a teacher when that child only wanted to give from the heart.
This article provoked so much thought, I am going to distribute it to all of the family's that we know.
At the next PTA meeting, I will most certainly rally to find out how many teacher's within our community schools feel the same way you do and will also advocate for those students that want to purchase teacher's gifts, to place what ever penny's they have saved up to do so, in a bank account.
Then maybe, if children stopped giving to the teacher, and started putting that money away they will have a nice start on a college fund.
There is this new concept today, it is called re-gifting. There are many people in homeless shelter's, Battered Women's Shelter's. If you truly do not appreciate what children give to you from the bottom of their heart, why don't you take the gifts that are collecting dust in your home and give them to these shelter's. They would most definitely appreciate the thought, and kindness that someone else gave to you.
Most importantly, they would not care you did not like it, because they would be to grateful to have it.
Or, possibly you could have a garage sale and collect enough money to buy that trip to the Day Spa, or lunch wherever you would like, or that movie ticket.
Be grateful that you have a job; many children's parents do not. Be grateful that "Johnny" thought enough of you to want to buy you a present. Chances are, you came before his parents.
Regards,"
"Anonymous"

Looking forward to hearing your comments

Touching lives one minute, one day, one flame at a time.....

We Are Changing

Over the next several weeks I will be making some changes on the blogs.

Ria's Collectables Blog will be our main focus by sharing with you many events that affect our every day life.
Here you will find links to blogs that I find of interest mainly because they also affect every day life. You will also find an area that will focus on Reviews of products and just about anything else.
So, if you are looking for help with decorating, cooking, organizing, new candle fragrances, or just want to say hi, I am glad that you took the time to stop.

Touching lives one minute, one day, one flame at a time.....
Ria

Where do Affiliate Responsiblity's End?

I am like many people, I enjoy reading, being responsible, and try to stay up on the legislation that may effect small business owners.

In a recent blog article by Brian Clark, a Pro-Blogger, he had a very interesting post regarding bloggers disclosing their affiliate relationships and how the FTC is going to regulate this.

Within this post Brian does have affiliate links and he does disclose that he is an affiliate. Where things can get hairy for anyone who blogs or endorses a product, is if the product is not delivered. Worse yet, what would happen if the contact information, if the product does not deliver, does not work? Case in point is a link that this blogger actually re-blogged about for a product.

In addition to his post, I would add the following:

Before publishing, or "re-publishing" any Affiliate Link as the "Desperate Buyers Only", that you make sure that the link is good. Make sure that your affiliate that is compensating you regardless of the "pennies" is producing the product as they state. Most importantly, make sure that the contact information is correct so that anyone who would possibly click that link could take care of anything that may arise from a product not being delivered.

As in the "Desperate Buyers Only", if purchased, you pay your money, the link is not delivered to you to down load the product, you are referred to an email account, you send an email and no one responds. My opinion only, this reflects negatively on anyone who actually has an association with any affiliate link where product is not delivered as "promised". I am not sure I would want to be tangled with that.

Very good lesson however and it would be very interesting to learn how much of an impact this actually has on anyone who is supporting an affiliate that does not deliver the product, whether they actually know about it or not.

I personally do have affiliate relationships, Google runs adds on my blog, I do link to my business, I do share links that I feel are of interest or may be helpful to others, the links I share may or maynot have items for sale by the people who are affiliated with them, and I do try to take responsibility when it comes to making sure things work properly, after all if I do not, it is my reputation on the line.

For the record, no, Brian did not pay me to say this, nor do I have an affiliate relationship with him; these are my opinions and I welcome other's opinions as well, just as long as I do not have to be responsible for them.

What do you think?

Pregnant, Organized, and Loving it

Marcia is one of our Ria's Pay it Forward recipients and also is a very special friend. Well guess what? She is about to embark on one of life's many blessings, she is pregnant with twins!
See how she actually practices her own methods of organizing by using her own advise to stay organized while getting everything ready for the babies.
I love her encouragement!

Credit Card News

For year’s credit card Company’s have dangled the old "you can have what the Jones have", in front of people; and for the most part it worked and they have profited from it.
It is a tragedy to say the least to have any consumer pay in excess of reasonable interest rates. I knew of a family that missed one payment, (first ever) and their interest rate went from 8.99% to almost 23%. The only way to totally put an end to the abuse from the lending institutions is to do as Dave Ramsey does and take the credit cards and cut them up.
Go a head and close the credit card. Yes, you will have to repay it but you were paying it anyway. Put extra money, or find extra money each month to totally pay it off. In the long run, you will be the one coming out on top.
In this week’s newsletter from The Budget Stretcher there is a great link to another website called Credit Card Law regarding recent changes within the credit card industry that is worth reading.
I will admit that I am quite biased regarding the use of any credit cards but that is because I no longer use them which is a personal financial choice and one I have not regretted in 6 years since I cut mine up.
With today’s economic situation finding value for your dollar and making it stretch just a little farther is what we are all striving for.

Creating Empty Bottle Moments

Creating Empty Bottle Moments has finally hit the store shelves.

This recipe is from the Cooking with Clive Blog, this is very easy to make and is absolutely wonderful!

Thank you Clive for your talents

Chicken CARIBBEAN
Ingredients	Serves: 8
1/2 c chopped onion 1 clove garlic, minced 1-tablespoon veg oil to sauté onion and garlic, plus oil to brown chicken later, quant. 2 Hot Peppers, minced, seeds and stems removed 1 c fresh orange juice 1/2 c fresh pineapple juice 1 c chicken broth 1 tbl white vinegar 1 tbls dark rum (optional--..) 1 tbls sugar 1 tbls orange zest 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 1 fryer chicken, about 3 pounds, cut into serving size pieces 1/2 c diced pineapple, preferably fresh
Method Sauté onion and garlic in 1 tbls oil until soft. Add the chilies, orange and pineapple juices, broth, vinegar, rum, sugar, orange zest, cinnamon and cloves. Stir well and simmer this sauce 20-30 minutes until slightly thickened. Dredge chicken pieces in flour and brown well in vegetable oil. Transfer browned chicken to a baking dish. Pour the sauce over the chicken and add the diced pineapple. Bake uncovered until the chicken is done (about an hour, maybe a little less). Baste chicken occasionally with the sauce as it cooks.

Touching lives