"Scare Your Pants Off" Evening Carelink Meeting (10/9/12)

Just want to start this blog off with a shout out to Lisa F. for getting another great Evening Carelink meeting off to a great start. She opened with prayer and announcements. Jodie R. had their baby and a meal sign-up should be out soon.

The 2012-13 Mom's Carelink pictorial directory was handed out. Remember how many of you totally skipped out on your own personal photo shoot opportunity last month? Well, for the rest of us who ended up have our pictures taken “on location” that night, you can put a name with a face.

Pastor Brent was our honorary devotional speaker. His devotion focused on our deep love for our children and how God’s love for His children, us, goes beyond our own comprehension of love. Can you imagine? Pastor Brent took us through five things that he hopes our kids will remember forever. (Disclaimer: it's not magic and you may have your own list.)

1. Jesus loves me. Pastor anchored this with the bible verse in Zephaniah 3:17, which reads: "The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
2. Love God, love others.
3. Life’s not fair, stop whining.
4. Don’t quit.
5. Tell people about Jesus.

Our October guest speaker …. hmmm… as you may recall was Officer Tim Reynolds He shared his police expertise and educated us on personal safety and keeping our kids safe. This night might have been more appropriately named “Scare-your-pants-off-night.” Several handouts were provided. (We have extra copies if you need them.) Here are a few of the personal safety tips that stood out to me.

Personal Safety:

• Always be aware of your surroundings – ATMS, walking to a car by yourself at night. Make sure you have your keys out and ready. Don’t stand by your car digging in your purse for your keys.
• Be Prepared.
• Get a smaller purse - large purses can appear to be big gold mines to a criminal.
• CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design – this means we should plan landscaping to have clear views of windows & walkways. As well as patronize business that put this concept into practice – i.e., good lighting (Q-Trip), Strip Malls with lots and lots of big and open windows. (ha ha)
• If you are walking or jogging, try to do so in numbers. If you are alone, be aware. Don’t put both earbuds in your ears. Keep one ear available to listen.
• Walk with purpose and assertiveness. Make sure someone knows where you are at all times.
• Fight, scream and yell.

Child Safety:

• Teach your children the basics – phone number, their name, mommy and daddy’s full name.
• Teach them that they are to check first before going anywhere.
• Teach them it is okay to tell someone “no.”
• Teach them they should always tell an adult they trust if someone tries to touch them or vice-versa.
• Teach your children the correct names for their body parts.
• Know your children’s friends and their parents.
• Practice safety with your children.
• The concept of Stranger Danger is being changed – Stranger is a very confusing term for our children to understand. They think strangers are people who are ugly or mean and this is not always the case. We should be teaching them that it is okay to tell a trusted adult when someone makes them feel sad, scared or confused.

Just a reminder: How can we expect our children to know what to do in case of a fire or tornado if we don’t practice this with them? Will they know how to get out of the house or where to go if there is a fire? Will they know to go to the basement if there is a tornado? Will they know not to move if they get lost? Will they know who they can go to if they need help? Will they know that they should stay away from someone in a car asking for help finding his lost puppy?

Linda's group (white) will be bringing snacks for our November 13th meeting.

UPCOMING DATES

October 23, 2012 – Women’s Ministries Fall Connection Event. At the FMBC Activity Center – 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
November 13, 2012 – Joan and Brent Wakrentin – 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Biblical Marriage
November 27, 2012 – “SOCIAL” – Coffee/Dessert at Mead’s Corner (Douglas and Emporia) – 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. – no childcare… mom’s night out.

Until we Blog Again – Your Evening Carelink Blogger (ECB) – Kendra R.