December 2022 Newsletter

A Note From The Publisher
The holiday season is a special time to think about giving to others. Even if you don't have much yourself, there is always someone less fortunate than you and there is an easy way to help out. Do a little clearing out of those items you no longer use and ring up one of the charities to come pick them up. Could it be any easier? For some children (and adults too), the only type of gift they will receive for Christmas will be be something purchased through one of the wonderful charities listed at the link below. Times are hard and shopping there is all some people can afford. Be mindful of those less fortunate than yourself and please help out. Those toys your children no longer play with will be excitedly received by some other child who would otherwise have nothing under the tree this year. Yes, you can go out buy new toys to give and that's great, if you can afford it, but donating what you no longer can use, is a free way to help out.
Click this link for info and schedule your pickup soon!
8 Charities That Offer Free Donation Pick Up - Moving.com
If you live in Destin proper and receive Destin Life newspaper, look for my article every month titled "Ask Destinites."
Patricia Lee, Owner: www.Destinites.com Destinites, Inc. (TM)
Creator: www.Facebook.com/groups/Destinites Est: October 2018
The holiday season is a special time to think about giving to others. Even if you don't have much yourself, there is always someone less fortunate than you and there is an easy way to help out. Do a little clearing out of those items you no longer use and ring up one of the charities to come pick them up. Could it be any easier? For some children (and adults too), the only type of gift they will receive for Christmas will be be something purchased through one of the wonderful charities listed at the link below. Times are hard and shopping there is all some people can afford. Be mindful of those less fortunate than yourself and please help out. Those toys your children no longer play with will be excitedly received by some other child who would otherwise have nothing under the tree this year. Yes, you can go out buy new toys to give and that's great, if you can afford it, but donating what you no longer can use, is a free way to help out.
Click this link for info and schedule your pickup soon!
8 Charities That Offer Free Donation Pick Up - Moving.com
If you live in Destin proper and receive Destin Life newspaper, look for my article every month titled "Ask Destinites."
Patricia Lee, Owner: www.Destinites.com Destinites, Inc. (TM)
Creator: www.Facebook.com/groups/Destinites Est: October 2018
*** If you are interested in being a sponsor or article contributor, contact Patricia: [email protected]

Shopping Off The Calories:
Story shared by Lori Leath Smith, Publisher - Life Media, Inc. Destin Life community newspaper
The holidays — twinkling lights, fun events, parties with friends, gifts, family gatherings, and yes, a lot of shopping. Usually, at this time of year, I’m not pleasure shopping, I’m a woman on a mission.
But then, I found out that shopping burns calories; and lots of ‘em! Is that possible? Yes, it is, I found out. Actually, everything we do burns calories — breathing, sleeping, standing and all of the active pursuits we enjoy (and some we don’t).
That means I can offset a little of my holiday party “taste-testing” and Christmas Day food fests with some heavy-duty shopping — kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. That means I can have a bite of those cute little pecan pie treats, a small handful of puppy chow (a favorite tradition at our house), a little apple cider or a glass of red wine. After all, no one wants to miss out on enjoying the holidays. And, by thinking of this “shopping” thing a little differently, I figure I can shop the calories off and, hopefully, offset any added pounds.
Through research I found out a 150-pound person can burn roughly 100 calories in 38 minutes of shopping, or approximately 160 per hour, according to sparkspeople.com!
Though the amount of calories you burn while shopping depends on your body weight, the average person can burn almost 400 calories and cover almost three miles on a shopping trip in 2.5 hours of browsing in stores, according to a study commissioned by Debenhams, a British multinational retailer. That’s the equivalent of a piece of carrot cake or two large glasses of red wine! Just two hours could work off the 283 calories in a typical latte coffee, based on an average body weight of 175 pounds, walking at an average speed of 3 mph.
According to Nutrition ATC (nutritionatc.hawaii.edu), an easygoing shopper can accrue about three miles of walking during a three-hour period. Add standing and looking at merchandise or standing in line to make purchases to the equation, and it can add up to roughly 400 calories for a 100-pound person, 750 calories for a 200-pound person, and 1,100 calories for a 300-pound person. And those stats are conservative. A more aggressive shopper might be able to walk as many as five miles in a three-hour shopping spree. And if he or she is doing a lot of fidgeting, reaching for merchandise, and waving at friends, a 100-pound person on average can burn 500 calories and a 200- to 300-pound shopper up to 1,000 calories or more.
Women take an average 7,305 steps each time they head out to actively shop, almost three quarters the 10,000 daily number recommended by the National Health Service (NHS) of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Add to that the weight of bags full of bargains and you have a work- out worthy of the gym.
Therefore, I’ve calculated that my shopping burns approximately 160-165 calories per hour. And, my leg muscles benefit most (from all the walking) and arms also get a good workout from carrying shopping bags.
Here’s some perspective for comparison if you’re counting calories: If I shop for three hours, I can burn off approximately 495 calories. If I hit the shops for six hours, I can burn off some of the “day of” meals. That means I can enjoy some of the following holiday favorites!
8 ounce cup of Eggnog – 340 calories; spiked with 2 ounce rum = 470
1 cup (a few handfuls) Puppy Chow, a homemade holiday treat made with Chex cereals, melted chocolate, butter, peanut butter and powdered sugar.
Pecan Pie (1/8 inch of 9-inch diameter = 456)
Apple Cider (1 cup = 120 calories)
Turkey (6 ounce serving = 240 calories)
Dressing (1 cup = 400 calories)
Ham (3 ounces = 210 calories)
2 by 4 by 1⁄2-inch slice fruitcake = 450 calories
Sweet Potato Casserole (1 cup = 239 calories)
Green Bean Casserole (1 cup = 142 calories)
Perhaps this year a little “shop ‘til you drop” mentality is in order—not, WHAT shopping I must do, but what shopping can DO for me.
Story shared by Lori Leath Smith, Publisher - Life Media, Inc. Destin Life community newspaper
The holidays — twinkling lights, fun events, parties with friends, gifts, family gatherings, and yes, a lot of shopping. Usually, at this time of year, I’m not pleasure shopping, I’m a woman on a mission.
But then, I found out that shopping burns calories; and lots of ‘em! Is that possible? Yes, it is, I found out. Actually, everything we do burns calories — breathing, sleeping, standing and all of the active pursuits we enjoy (and some we don’t).
That means I can offset a little of my holiday party “taste-testing” and Christmas Day food fests with some heavy-duty shopping — kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. That means I can have a bite of those cute little pecan pie treats, a small handful of puppy chow (a favorite tradition at our house), a little apple cider or a glass of red wine. After all, no one wants to miss out on enjoying the holidays. And, by thinking of this “shopping” thing a little differently, I figure I can shop the calories off and, hopefully, offset any added pounds.
Through research I found out a 150-pound person can burn roughly 100 calories in 38 minutes of shopping, or approximately 160 per hour, according to sparkspeople.com!
Though the amount of calories you burn while shopping depends on your body weight, the average person can burn almost 400 calories and cover almost three miles on a shopping trip in 2.5 hours of browsing in stores, according to a study commissioned by Debenhams, a British multinational retailer. That’s the equivalent of a piece of carrot cake or two large glasses of red wine! Just two hours could work off the 283 calories in a typical latte coffee, based on an average body weight of 175 pounds, walking at an average speed of 3 mph.
According to Nutrition ATC (nutritionatc.hawaii.edu), an easygoing shopper can accrue about three miles of walking during a three-hour period. Add standing and looking at merchandise or standing in line to make purchases to the equation, and it can add up to roughly 400 calories for a 100-pound person, 750 calories for a 200-pound person, and 1,100 calories for a 300-pound person. And those stats are conservative. A more aggressive shopper might be able to walk as many as five miles in a three-hour shopping spree. And if he or she is doing a lot of fidgeting, reaching for merchandise, and waving at friends, a 100-pound person on average can burn 500 calories and a 200- to 300-pound shopper up to 1,000 calories or more.
Women take an average 7,305 steps each time they head out to actively shop, almost three quarters the 10,000 daily number recommended by the National Health Service (NHS) of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Add to that the weight of bags full of bargains and you have a work- out worthy of the gym.
Therefore, I’ve calculated that my shopping burns approximately 160-165 calories per hour. And, my leg muscles benefit most (from all the walking) and arms also get a good workout from carrying shopping bags.
Here’s some perspective for comparison if you’re counting calories: If I shop for three hours, I can burn off approximately 495 calories. If I hit the shops for six hours, I can burn off some of the “day of” meals. That means I can enjoy some of the following holiday favorites!
8 ounce cup of Eggnog – 340 calories; spiked with 2 ounce rum = 470
1 cup (a few handfuls) Puppy Chow, a homemade holiday treat made with Chex cereals, melted chocolate, butter, peanut butter and powdered sugar.
Pecan Pie (1/8 inch of 9-inch diameter = 456)
Apple Cider (1 cup = 120 calories)
Turkey (6 ounce serving = 240 calories)
Dressing (1 cup = 400 calories)
Ham (3 ounces = 210 calories)
2 by 4 by 1⁄2-inch slice fruitcake = 450 calories
Sweet Potato Casserole (1 cup = 239 calories)
Green Bean Casserole (1 cup = 142 calories)
Perhaps this year a little “shop ‘til you drop” mentality is in order—not, WHAT shopping I must do, but what shopping can DO for me.

Cruising Is Back! By Jessica Fricke, Associate: Travelmation
When the pandemic hit in 2020, perhaps no part of the travel industry was hit harder than the
cruise lines. But, good news everyone, CRUISING IS BACK! And no masks or testing are
required. It is estimated that nearly 32 million travelers will have cruised in 2022, and that
number will be even larger for 2023.
Why do so many people love cruising? Value! All-Inclusive Options! The ability to see many
destinations in a single trip! And for us here in Florida, the biggest draw may be the fact that we
can quickly jump on a cruise ship from any number of ports throughout the state and nearby
areas, oftentimes with a discounted Florida resident discount.
Let’s take a quick look at just a few of the cruise options out there:
Traditional family friendly cruise lines such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian,
Celebrity, Princess and the like have options from short weekend getaways to yearlong
voyages around the world and include floating shopping malls, jaw-dropping shows,
water parks, ice skating rinks, movie theaters, and more. You can visit private islands,
icebergs in Alaska, the Greek islands, or any other destination you dream of on most of
these lines.
Disney Cruise Line offers a floating theme park at sea! Dine with Disney characters, get
princess make-overs, amazing firework shows, private island experiences, and more.
The newer Virgin Voyages offer modern ships for adult-only get-aways like none other.
Choose from itineraries featuring over 100 destinations and dine on Michelin-star
curated menus.
Emerald Cruises offer luxury yacht cruises on itineraries throughout Europe, Africa,
South America and the Caribbean coastlines.
For something a little different, try a river cruise on a smaller vessel with personalized
service. Lines such as Viking River Cruises, American Cruise Line, AMA Waterways, and
American Queen Voyages are all great options.
And, there are so many more! If you’ve been contemplating a cruise, now is a great time to
book. End of the year specials are running, deposits are low, and ships are filling up! I would
love to help you plan your dream sailing.
When the pandemic hit in 2020, perhaps no part of the travel industry was hit harder than the
cruise lines. But, good news everyone, CRUISING IS BACK! And no masks or testing are
required. It is estimated that nearly 32 million travelers will have cruised in 2022, and that
number will be even larger for 2023.
Why do so many people love cruising? Value! All-Inclusive Options! The ability to see many
destinations in a single trip! And for us here in Florida, the biggest draw may be the fact that we
can quickly jump on a cruise ship from any number of ports throughout the state and nearby
areas, oftentimes with a discounted Florida resident discount.
Let’s take a quick look at just a few of the cruise options out there:
Traditional family friendly cruise lines such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian,
Celebrity, Princess and the like have options from short weekend getaways to yearlong
voyages around the world and include floating shopping malls, jaw-dropping shows,
water parks, ice skating rinks, movie theaters, and more. You can visit private islands,
icebergs in Alaska, the Greek islands, or any other destination you dream of on most of
these lines.
Disney Cruise Line offers a floating theme park at sea! Dine with Disney characters, get
princess make-overs, amazing firework shows, private island experiences, and more.
The newer Virgin Voyages offer modern ships for adult-only get-aways like none other.
Choose from itineraries featuring over 100 destinations and dine on Michelin-star
curated menus.
Emerald Cruises offer luxury yacht cruises on itineraries throughout Europe, Africa,
South America and the Caribbean coastlines.
For something a little different, try a river cruise on a smaller vessel with personalized
service. Lines such as Viking River Cruises, American Cruise Line, AMA Waterways, and
American Queen Voyages are all great options.
And, there are so many more! If you’ve been contemplating a cruise, now is a great time to
book. End of the year specials are running, deposits are low, and ships are filling up! I would
love to help you plan your dream sailing.
AREA EVENTS! <-- Please click the picture to view some of our local events for the Destin area. Monthly Calendar. OR also check out www.ToDoInDestin.com |

Volunteer Opportunites: Posted from the Destin City website at Volunteer Opportunities | Destin, FL - Official Website (cityofdestin.com)
Volunteer Opportunities City Boards/Committees (details)
Board of Adjustment
Harbor & Waterways Board
Harbor Community Redevelopment Area Advisory Committee
Local Planning Agency
Public Works/Public Safety Committee
Parks and Recreation Committee
Town Center Community Redevelopment Area Advisory Committee
Youth Council
Leisure Services
Basketball Referees
Christmas Parade Volunteers (December)
Computer Class Instructors
Fall and Spring Youth Soccer Coaches
Fall and Spring Youth Soccer Team Moms
Fall Fest Volunteers (October)
Fall Tackle Football Coaches
Fall Tackle Football Equipment Managers
Fall Tackle Football Team Moms
Fall Youth Cheerleading Coaches
Family Independence Day Celebration (July)
Founders Day Volunteers (May)
July 4th Fireworks Volunteers
Pinfish Youth Fishing Tournament Volunteers (November)
Run With the Dogs Volunteers (March)
Winter Youth Basketball Coaches
Ongoing: Community Center Volunteers
Ongoing: Parks Volunteers
Ongoing: Seniors Programming Volunteers
Volunteer Opportunities City Boards/Committees (details)
Board of Adjustment
Harbor & Waterways Board
Harbor Community Redevelopment Area Advisory Committee
Local Planning Agency
Public Works/Public Safety Committee
Parks and Recreation Committee
Town Center Community Redevelopment Area Advisory Committee
Youth Council
Leisure Services
Basketball Referees
Christmas Parade Volunteers (December)
Computer Class Instructors
Fall and Spring Youth Soccer Coaches
Fall and Spring Youth Soccer Team Moms
Fall Fest Volunteers (October)
Fall Tackle Football Coaches
Fall Tackle Football Equipment Managers
Fall Tackle Football Team Moms
Fall Youth Cheerleading Coaches
Family Independence Day Celebration (July)
Founders Day Volunteers (May)
July 4th Fireworks Volunteers
Pinfish Youth Fishing Tournament Volunteers (November)
Run With the Dogs Volunteers (March)
Winter Youth Basketball Coaches
Ongoing: Community Center Volunteers
Ongoing: Parks Volunteers
Ongoing: Seniors Programming Volunteers

Avoid A Clark Griswold Christmas! By Paul McArthur - Owner: Agape Home Pro
Holiday Safety Tips For A Disaster Free Christmas!
Christmas wouldn’t be complete without seasonal decorations, such as Christmas trees and
twinkling lights. These accessories make the holidays more joyful, but not being cautious when using
them can lead to dangers. Following some simple holiday safety tips can ensure your celebrations
avoid incident. According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), there are twice the number of fires on Christmas Day than on any other day of the year. Also, decorations account for an average of 800 home fires
and nearly $4 million in property damage in the US annually.
Follow these holiday safety tips to prevent fires and other accidents in your home during the
holidays.
Christmas Trees:
Looks great. Little full, lotta; Clark Griswold
Consider choosing a flame-resistant, artificial Christmas tree instead of a real one. Make
sure the tree’s label says “fire-retardant”.
If you opt for a real tree, choose a fresh one with green needles. Water your fresh tree daily
to improve the tree’s resistance to fire.
Place your Christmas tree at least three feet away from heat sources, such as radiators,
fireplaces, and candles. Nearly half of holiday decoration fires happen because decorations
are placed too close to a heat source.
Ensure the tree isn’t blocking any doorway.
After the holidays, never burn real Christmas trees in the fireplace or wood-burning stove.
Holiday decorations: ;Mom? This box is meowing; Rusty Griswold
Use holiday decorations that are flame-resistant or flame-retardant.
Move breakable decorations where children and pets can’t reach them.
Keep exits clear of decorations, so nothing blocks escape routes.
Keep matches and lighters away from children’s reach and sight, preferably in a locked
cabinet.
Use battery-operated candles instead of lighted ones. Two of every five holiday fires are
started by candles.
If you use lighted candles to decorate your home, keep them in secure holders at least one
foot away from curtains, decorations, and other combustibles.
Never put lighted candles in your Christmas tree.
Don’t leave candles burning when you leave the room or going to bed. Always supervise
them.
Make sure children and pets are always watched when candles are lit.
Holiday Lights;Dad, you taught me everything I know about exterior illumination; Clark Griswold
Inspect holiday lights for frayed wiring, loose connections, cracked sockets, and broken
bulbs before displaying them. Discard damaged sets.
Use extension cords carefully. Never plug more than three sets of lights into one extension
cord to prevent the cord from overheating.
If you use extension cords to light up multiple indoor lights, consider plugging them into a
ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) for extra safety.
Securely fasten outdoor lights to trees, gutters or other parts of the home that are not too
close to windows and doors. Use roof clips or insulated staples (NOT nails) to fasten the
lights and prevent the wind from whipping them and damaging the lights.
Other Holiday Safety Tips ;Well, I'm gonna park the cars and get the luggage, and well, I'll be outside for the season; Clark
Griswold
Have a fire escape plan. Tell your house guests about your family’s fire escape plan. When
staying overnight at other people’s homes, ask about their escape plan. This is especially
important when children are permitted to attend “sleepovers” at friends’ homes.
Unattended cooking is the number one culprit behind most cooking fires. Always stay in the
kitchen when you have something on the stove. Turn off the stove if you must leave the
kitchen even for a short period of time.
If a pan catches on fire, never pour water on it, as this may cause burning oil to splash and
cause injuries.
Have your fireplace and chimney inspected and cleaned by a professional. Place a
protective screen around the fireplace to prevent embers from popping out onto flammable
materials.
Keep a fire extinguisher that is rated for all types of fires on all levels of the home.
Make sure your smoke alarms are working and test them monthly. Change the batteries
yearly. A good rule of thumb is to change them with Daylight Savings Time. If you haven’t yet
changed them this year, do it now. Also, replace your smoke alarms every 10 years.
If you’re planning a holiday trip, check out our driving safety tips for holiday
travelers and how to keep your home safe while you’re away.
Have wireless security camera (like a Ring) installed to thwart porch pirates.
Follow these holiday safety tips to enjoy a disaster-free holiday season with your loved ones – even
Cousin Eddie!
Afterall, in the immortal words of Clark Griswold;Nobody's Leaving! Nobody's walking out on this
fun old-fashioned family Christmas! Noooo, No, We are all in this together!
From our Agape Home Pros family to yours, have a Blessed and Joyous Christmas!
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and
his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” –
Isaiah 9:6
Holiday Safety Tips For A Disaster Free Christmas!
Christmas wouldn’t be complete without seasonal decorations, such as Christmas trees and
twinkling lights. These accessories make the holidays more joyful, but not being cautious when using
them can lead to dangers. Following some simple holiday safety tips can ensure your celebrations
avoid incident. According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), there are twice the number of fires on Christmas Day than on any other day of the year. Also, decorations account for an average of 800 home fires
and nearly $4 million in property damage in the US annually.
Follow these holiday safety tips to prevent fires and other accidents in your home during the
holidays.
Christmas Trees:
Looks great. Little full, lotta; Clark Griswold
Consider choosing a flame-resistant, artificial Christmas tree instead of a real one. Make
sure the tree’s label says “fire-retardant”.
If you opt for a real tree, choose a fresh one with green needles. Water your fresh tree daily
to improve the tree’s resistance to fire.
Place your Christmas tree at least three feet away from heat sources, such as radiators,
fireplaces, and candles. Nearly half of holiday decoration fires happen because decorations
are placed too close to a heat source.
Ensure the tree isn’t blocking any doorway.
After the holidays, never burn real Christmas trees in the fireplace or wood-burning stove.
Holiday decorations: ;Mom? This box is meowing; Rusty Griswold
Use holiday decorations that are flame-resistant or flame-retardant.
Move breakable decorations where children and pets can’t reach them.
Keep exits clear of decorations, so nothing blocks escape routes.
Keep matches and lighters away from children’s reach and sight, preferably in a locked
cabinet.
Use battery-operated candles instead of lighted ones. Two of every five holiday fires are
started by candles.
If you use lighted candles to decorate your home, keep them in secure holders at least one
foot away from curtains, decorations, and other combustibles.
Never put lighted candles in your Christmas tree.
Don’t leave candles burning when you leave the room or going to bed. Always supervise
them.
Make sure children and pets are always watched when candles are lit.
Holiday Lights;Dad, you taught me everything I know about exterior illumination; Clark Griswold
Inspect holiday lights for frayed wiring, loose connections, cracked sockets, and broken
bulbs before displaying them. Discard damaged sets.
Use extension cords carefully. Never plug more than three sets of lights into one extension
cord to prevent the cord from overheating.
If you use extension cords to light up multiple indoor lights, consider plugging them into a
ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) for extra safety.
Securely fasten outdoor lights to trees, gutters or other parts of the home that are not too
close to windows and doors. Use roof clips or insulated staples (NOT nails) to fasten the
lights and prevent the wind from whipping them and damaging the lights.
Other Holiday Safety Tips ;Well, I'm gonna park the cars and get the luggage, and well, I'll be outside for the season; Clark
Griswold
Have a fire escape plan. Tell your house guests about your family’s fire escape plan. When
staying overnight at other people’s homes, ask about their escape plan. This is especially
important when children are permitted to attend “sleepovers” at friends’ homes.
Unattended cooking is the number one culprit behind most cooking fires. Always stay in the
kitchen when you have something on the stove. Turn off the stove if you must leave the
kitchen even for a short period of time.
If a pan catches on fire, never pour water on it, as this may cause burning oil to splash and
cause injuries.
Have your fireplace and chimney inspected and cleaned by a professional. Place a
protective screen around the fireplace to prevent embers from popping out onto flammable
materials.
Keep a fire extinguisher that is rated for all types of fires on all levels of the home.
Make sure your smoke alarms are working and test them monthly. Change the batteries
yearly. A good rule of thumb is to change them with Daylight Savings Time. If you haven’t yet
changed them this year, do it now. Also, replace your smoke alarms every 10 years.
If you’re planning a holiday trip, check out our driving safety tips for holiday
travelers and how to keep your home safe while you’re away.
Have wireless security camera (like a Ring) installed to thwart porch pirates.
Follow these holiday safety tips to enjoy a disaster-free holiday season with your loved ones – even
Cousin Eddie!
Afterall, in the immortal words of Clark Griswold;Nobody's Leaving! Nobody's walking out on this
fun old-fashioned family Christmas! Noooo, No, We are all in this together!
From our Agape Home Pros family to yours, have a Blessed and Joyous Christmas!
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and
his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” –
Isaiah 9:6
BOOKS WRITTEN BY GULF COAST LOCALS!
Find these on Amazon or other book purchase avenues. They make great gifts!
You may reach out to these authors on Facebook.
Find these on Amazon or other book purchase avenues. They make great gifts!
You may reach out to these authors on Facebook.

Travel & Day Trips Around Florida
There is a website you might enjoy called, Florida Back Roads Travel. Here is a link to one of their pages where you can find day trips by theme; for example: amusment parks. Check it out! https://www.florida-backroads-travel.com/florida-day-trips-by-theme.html
There is a website you might enjoy called, Florida Back Roads Travel. Here is a link to one of their pages where you can find day trips by theme; for example: amusment parks. Check it out! https://www.florida-backroads-travel.com/florida-day-trips-by-theme.html
Okaloosa County Master Gardeners: Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OCMGA
If you want to know what to plant and when, check out this Planting calendar on the OCMGA website. https://www.ocmga.org |

Christian Corner: by Patricia Lee
Hebrews 13:16: “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
Was your income particularly good this year? Did you get a raise? Well, congratulations, if you did. I sure hope you will consider sharing a little of that fortunate blessing with someone or some organization in need. So many times you hear people talk about who all they would help, if they won the lottery. You don't have to win the lottery to share with others, though and it isn't a "sacrifice," if it's easy to give away. Here is a little example about giving and sacrificing. One day I asked a friend to make a donation to a particular nonprofit but she said she couldn't afford it. This was a close friend and I happened to know that she stopped at a fast-food place at least 3 times a week after picking her children up from school. I nicely asked if she would consider giving up one of those days each week for a few months to save that money she would normally spend then, give it to the nonprofit. I pointed out that it would be a great lesson for her children and how they could even tell their school mates what they were doing to hopefully get others onboard. She decided it was a good idea, so each week they saved and had a good amount to give at the end of 6 months. She and her children felt great about their deed and from that day forward, were more conscience about the importance of giving. So many people like to say the small amount they have to give wouldn't matter and just use that as an excuse not to give. Every giving deed of any kind is significant no matter how small it may be. Every little bit helps and remember, God knows your heart.
Hebrews 13:16: “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
Was your income particularly good this year? Did you get a raise? Well, congratulations, if you did. I sure hope you will consider sharing a little of that fortunate blessing with someone or some organization in need. So many times you hear people talk about who all they would help, if they won the lottery. You don't have to win the lottery to share with others, though and it isn't a "sacrifice," if it's easy to give away. Here is a little example about giving and sacrificing. One day I asked a friend to make a donation to a particular nonprofit but she said she couldn't afford it. This was a close friend and I happened to know that she stopped at a fast-food place at least 3 times a week after picking her children up from school. I nicely asked if she would consider giving up one of those days each week for a few months to save that money she would normally spend then, give it to the nonprofit. I pointed out that it would be a great lesson for her children and how they could even tell their school mates what they were doing to hopefully get others onboard. She decided it was a good idea, so each week they saved and had a good amount to give at the end of 6 months. She and her children felt great about their deed and from that day forward, were more conscience about the importance of giving. So many people like to say the small amount they have to give wouldn't matter and just use that as an excuse not to give. Every giving deed of any kind is significant no matter how small it may be. Every little bit helps and remember, God knows your heart.

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