| NEWSLETTER Spring - new life, everything in bloom, birds singing again, sunshine to warm the air......it's a great time to get out and enjoy the beautiful world God gave us. **************************************************************************** Our Family Care booklet of the month is The Gift of Hugging and Being Hugged. If you would like one, please call us at (574) 842-2082 or e-mail us at info@bonineodom.com and we'll see that you get a copy. ********************************************************************************* A Plan For Everyone Regardless of the size of one's estate, everyone needs these basic financial documents: A Will - A will lets you, rather than the state, control how your assets will be split among your heirs, and it allows you to designate the guardian of your minor children. Power of Attorney - A power of attorney names another individual as your agent. If you were to become disabled or seriously ill, a power of attorney allows your agent to pay your bills, deposit your checks, and make decisions on your behalf. Health Care Directive - Also called a living will or directive to physicians, this document states your wishes should you become terminally ill or permanently unconscious. Financial Inventory - Prepare a list of your bank accounts, other assets, income sources, insurance policies, mortgages, credit cards, and funeral arrangements. Include the name and phone number of your accountant, lawyer, doctor, and insurance agent. *********************************************************************************** For The Graduate It's that time of year again: graduation season. Chances are you know someone who is finishing high school or college in the month of May. Here are a few gift ideas the graduate will love. *A laptop carrier will keep any mobile computer protected. You can find a wide variety of designs (and prices). These can also be monogrammed for a personal touch. *An engraved money clip will help guys keep their cash in one safe place. *A toiletry case is great for the college weekend warrior or the business traveler. *An insulated drink holder is perfect for an early class or on the job. *A shower radio is sure to wake anyone up from their slumber. *Gift card possibilities are endless. Consider restaurant gift certificates, or help take care of the basics with cards from supercenter stores. ******************************************************************************************* Cheap Thrills 15 Family Fun Ideas for $5 or Less With March comes the scent of spring, infecting family members with the urge to emerge from the home-cave and pounce about. Ready for some fun-filled ways to spend quality time together but concerned about your cash flow? Fret not. We have 15 great ideas to help you burst into spring for $5 or less. - Family photo op. Grab a digital camera and go to various photo-worthy locations in your area to take snapshots. Or visit a picture booth at a mall and take funny photos of everyone crammed into the booth. - A Big Dessert. Go to your favorite restaurant, and order a family-size dessert to share. You may need to drink water to keep it under $5, but the time out and about will be a memory maker. - Kites Away. Head to the plastic kite section of a toy store. Buy, fly, and run around until you're all exhausted. - Scavenger hunt. Prepare a list of items, and have a scavenger hunt. You can do this at your home, in your neighborhood, or in any location where everyone can participate. Set a time limit and see what you can find. - State Park Stampede. Just need to get out of the house? Go to the closest state park. Visitors are usually required to pay a small entrance fee per vehicle. Take along bikes, hiking boots, or fishing gear and enjoy a day in nature with your Creator. - Street Concert. Toss a couple of dollars into a street musician's hat or guitar case, and enjoy a cheap concert for half an hour. - Thrift Store Games. Purchase board games from your local thrift store that are new to your family. Enjoy playing them on rainy spring days. - Walk a Dog. Visit your local Humane Society and volunteer to walk the dogs or play with the pets waiting for a home. Or visit a local pet shop that allows you to hold the animals. - Easy Baking. Use your $5 to purchase ingredients for cookies or other baked goods. Bake your item and eat it while it's warm. Then get out of the house and deliver part of your treat to a neighbor or friend. - Bread 'n' Fun. Take outdated bread from the pantry and any opened saltine cracker packs to a park. Throw pieces into a pond and watch the ducks gather. Or pitch the food onto the ground and watch squirrels, chipmunks, or birds show up for the party. - Cinema Classics. Check out films from your local library for free. Have kids pick out one and parents pick out another for the whole family. Pop popcorn and enjoy the show. - Dollar Store Action. Go to your local dollar store, and divide the $5 equally. Instruct family members or teams if your family is large to buy something the whole family can do together - a puzzle, coloring book, or game. Take the items home and partake together. - Music Video. Choose a song and create your own family music video. Create costumes from what you find in the closet or borrow from friends. Shoot your video at home or in various locations in your community. The bloopers only add to the fun. - Video Arcade. Spend the $5 playing video games at an arcade near you. Figure out ways to play the most games with only $5. - Easter Hunt. Grab a large, empty basket. Instead of an Easter egg hunt, fill the basket with items that remind family members of their relationship with Christ. Go to various locations and take turns filling the basket, explaining what your items mean to you. Give these frugal fun ideas a shot. Add a heaping dose of conversation and laughter, and help your kids see that you don't have to spend a lot of money to create memories that will last a lifetime. ******************************************************************************************* On the Lighter Side A burglar had entered a home one dark night and was proceeding to pick his way around the house to see what he could find. Suddenly he heard a voice say, "Jesus is watching you." Somewhat startled, he looked around but didn't see any one so he continued rummaging around. Then he heard the voice again, "Jesus is watching you." Startled again, he looked around and finally thought he saw a parrot on the other side of the room. "Did you day that?" he asked the parrot. "Yes." "What's your name?" he asked the parrot. "Moses" said the parrot. "Who on earth would name a parrot Moses?" "The same person who named the Rottweiler Jesus." **************************************************************************************** CELEBRATE So often in life we find ourselves looking forward to the next big thing: a vacation, an anniversary, a special event. But it's a series of great moments that make a great day. This month, celebrate moments. Instead of constantly looking forward to what's next, enjoy the everyday intervals of time. After all, these are truly the fabric of our lives. 1. Smile and say hello to everyone you walk past, even when you're not having the best day. 2. Give family members a special kiss goodnight. Leave a Hershey's chocolate on everyone's pillow before bed. 3. Pray for your best pal. Then send her a test message that simply reads, "I just prayed for you! Hope all is well." 4. Look at the sky. Really look at it. Isn't it amazing? 5. Don't underestimate the power of a hug. Give your husband a big one, and tell him he's your best man. ******************************************************************* Listen Here Listening opens powerful pathways for intimate, vulnerable, satisfying relationships. Through listening, God gifts us to move forward together in mutually satisfying, productive teamwork. It enables us to carry out His command to love one another and share that love with others. Here's what listening can do for you and your spouse: ~Listening prevents misunderstanding. It helps you understand what's being said, clarify the message as you receive it, and make sure the message you hear is the intended message from the speaker. ~Listening helps prevent emotional reacting. It provides a rational, logical, more structured way to respond. ~Listening can build trust. A lack of listening is both disrespectful and hurtful. ~Listening helps you make high-quality, joint decisions. From the smallest unit, such as a husband and wife, to the global Christian community, a need exists for Christians to understand one another. Listening helps you discover the mind of Christ and the dreams and goals you share. ********************************************************************** COMMEMORATING A LIFE Commemorating the life of a loved one is an extremely emotional and personal experience. When making funeral arrangements, families have unlimited options for services and memorialization. The most important things are to create a farewell event that is meaningful and satisfying to you and others who will participate, and to establish a means of permanent memorialization that best suits your needs and your loved one's wishes. Keep in mind that there is no "standard" funeral arrangement. So as you go through the arrangement process, make service and memorialization choices that provide comfort and meaning and that feel right to you. Ask your funeral director for more information on prearranging a funeral. You can also go to our Prearrangement Page to fill out and e-mail us your pre-arrangement form. |
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