Show rnnyn'yi plniiifiyn By Kathy Meeting school day challenges In a couple of eailier columns I’ve discussed how I managed to keep my sanity while shoving my kids out the door to school I gave you five precepts to keep in mind: (1) Anticipate problems before they arise (2) Maintain a sense of humor (3) Keep a notebook in your purse or pocket (4) Tape a series of charts around the house and (5) Hang a “planning” calendar I also told you about what I did in the afternoon I want to end the series by being when they all came home specific about managing what I like to call Morning Turbulence Morning Turbulence The biggest hassle my family faced in the early morning was the fact that nobody had a private bathroom They all needed at least an hour to shower shampoo and ponder the meaning of life (at one point we coped with one bath- hours room for 10 people) Besides anticipating problems maintaining a sense of humor and keeping a notebook you should remember that writing things down is a real sanity saver My fourth precept requires charts One of my most essential charts was the Bathroom Use Chart Such a chart decreased the screams of “Make her get out! I still have to brush my teeth” and “He’s been in there popping pimples for an hour and won’t let me have any shampoo” The Bathroom Use Chart changed periodically as the number of users increased or decreased but in general it broke the morning intol5 minute or half hour sections Everybody received a section based on when that person had to be where For instance at one point 16 year old Eric’s time was between 6:00 and 6:30 am because he had to be out the door by 6:50 On the other hand big brother Gary Willis whose schedule didn’t require much before 10:00 chose from any time after 8:30 Each person had first claim on his or her time slot but could trade with someone else as long as the trade was MUTUALLY AGREE ABLE Not only did the Bathroom Use Chart stipulate when it outlined certain rules somebody could use the bathroom for that use The chart posted beside the mirror began with “Flush!” and “Wash Your Hands” proceeded through “Wipe Out The Sink” and ended with “Pick Up Your Underwear” and “Turn Out The Lights” the kids actually read the charts and (less Sometimes often) followed one or two of the directions I Don’t Have Any Decent Clothes! Another problem area in the morning was the Great Debate The Great Debate usually degenerated into “He’s wearing my sweater without my permission” and “Linda kicked me for coming in the girls’ room but she goes in the boys room all the time!” another chart delineated certain ground rules Therefore Stuff’ about clothes I didn't usually post an actual chart unless we endured a particularly big number of fights but the kids knew: “Nobody touches anybody else’s clothes without permission” This little rule applied to Mom’s and Dad’s clothes too — although filching from parents never seemed to be a sin of as “borrowing the same magnitude without asking” from a sibling taped a “Forget Anything?” by the front door It consisted of large red letters which read “BREAKFAST? BOOKS AND INSTRUMENTS? BED MADE? TEETH? FIELD TRIP? COAT?” MEDICINE? I also insisted on certain rules that facilitated getting out the door in peace like “No TV or computer games in the morning” Plus I asked each child to tell me when they went out the door so I didn’t run up and down three flights of stairs looking for somebody who’d left 10 minutes ago Such rules reminded me as well as the kids I frequently Iht jPause-Ih- Eggleston By their flowers you know them But members of the American Legion Auxiliary represent more and they do more than sell paper poppies in May The auxiliary is the women’s arm of the American Legion Members consist of Gold Star mothers who have lost a son in time of war yeomen nurses and wives of men who have served in foreign wars “We honor the men who were in the war and the ladies as well” says Shirley Higham Gunnison American Legion Auxiliary Post 104 secretary “The American Legion was started after World War I The women’s auxiliary began shortly after My mother was a member and now my is the president of our auxiliary” Nedra Stewart past president and this year’s program chairman Gunnison auxiliary was in the of charge of the Veterans Day prothis year “Firs't and foremost gram we support our husbands We have a great deal of love and appreciation for what they have done” says Stewart wife of Dr Lamar Stewart who served in the Army in France and Europe during World War II The women in Gunnison have made crafts and quilts to support Girls State since 1966 and they have given 67 scholarships to col- lege bound students since 1965 Theymeetatthesametimethemen do and hold dinners throughout the year Centetfield Post 105 Auxiliary held a Veterans Day program at the Gunnison Elementary School The group makes handcrafted quilts and items to sponsor a Christmas project that provides funds for several families each year The auxiliary has also supported the Special Olympics and installed display cases at the Gunnison Middle School to hold patriotic memorabilia Secretary and treasurer Phyllis Cowley of Centerfield feels her activity is important because her husband Richard and their boys have all served in the military Two of her grandsons have recently turned from Iraq Laneice Stott of Manti Post 3 Auxiliary says “We have 70 members of which are young auxiliary girls who are invited to join as freshmen” The auxiliary’s Spirit of Youth scholarship is given to high Refreshes By (and most important) I made sure everybody prayed together before they left Praying together kept us on an even keel more than all the rest of the activities and lists put together It’s hard to continue yelling at your sister for wearing your earrings when she’s just knelt with you Enjoy the hassles and challenges of school days with your before you know it your house will be grandkids decide to spend the night ss BRUCE Legion Auxiliary president Kay Henningson Cox with a activity certificate school junior girls each year “My husband Don served in the Pacific” says Stott “We married in 1943 and we’d just had a baby when he left in 1944 knew he was going to be gone for two years so I know how hard it is for those going through the same thing now" Besides supporting their spouses the Manti auxiliary sends five girls to Girls State each year They also make about 300 pairs of (left) lost their lives in the service of our country It reminds me to be glad I live in America and of the freedoms that have have traveled abroad enough to know that am mighty glad to come home to America every time and see the Statue of LibCox has been active in the 11(11)6 The children learn about veterans and help sell the poppies” says poppy chairman Dorothy Stoddard jOUgllt ' --- of Ephraim Edda Cox ft slipper socks for project Toasty Toes These are sent to the veterans’ hospital in Salt Lake and overseas to the troops “We help put the flags up in the cemetery That is such a beautiful sight” shares Stott “We also At have dinners and a Christmas we take baskets full of a turkey and food to families in need” Kay I lenningson and her husband Dale of Manti take an active roll in the Legion Kay Henningson is president of the women’s auxiliary She will be presenting the second activity certificate Thursday night to Edda Cox “What I need above all comes veteran child welfare program that helps children get glasses shoes and medical care “It is a busy agenda We assist veterans and their families by providing gifts for the gift shop so veterans can select gift for someone special” says Cox “I was thrilled to do the Gold Star mother’s tea for women who lost their sons or their husbands in the service It is always so tender” The auxiliary is for all women not just spouses Shirley Peterson of Sterling enjoys being active in the American Legion Auxiliary Serving as a yeoman in the Navy during the war she did office work and received her discharge papers at Treasure Island Airbase by San present its second play of the year this Wednesday through Satura production of Robert day: John Hales Staff writer EPHRAIM— The College theater department Srow will sively in Truvy’s beauty salon m Natchitoches La where several of the local women gather to not only get then hau done but to hear (and divulge) the latest gossip Harling’s “Steel Magnolias” The play takes place exclu your st Jk wr v JOHN HALES MESSENGER PHOTO Members of the cast of “Steel Magnolias" prepare for the Snow College dramatic production Pictured are Heather Myers as Clalree Mary Armstrong as Annelle Lacee King as M’Lynn and Leslie Williamson as Truvy COPYl PHOTO presents Edda arid those who have lost their in the service of our country l L MESSENGER poppies by hand The money made from poppy sales goes to veterans and youth projects “Each year a special program is provided for the fifth grade at the Ephraim Elementary School erty” 77 We JldflOT tllOS6 WflO RIET Francisco She later married Dale Peterson who was also in the Navy “As a small group we just do two projects: Girls State and poppies” says president Rachel Jensen of the Ephraim auxiliary Veterans who are in the hospital make the as we stand in silence for a few minutes at each meeting” says Edda Cox “We honor those who have fought and those who have v I VAN DER and Laneice Stott (right) nd Wayne died She has been in charge of Girls State and enjoyed hearing Megan Lund Jessica Peterson and Crystal Call report about their experiences in the auxiliary’s Saturday meeting Nedra Stewart invites all veterans and their spouses to become involved with the American Legion “We need more and Auxiliary young people in our organization We would love to have the younger veterans from the Vietnam Korean and the Persian Gulf wars as well as those fighting now to be a part of the American Legion” Stewart worries that if the younger veterans do not join the American Legion “There won’t be 'anyone to carry the flag and do the honors for all the veterans who pass away in the future” Snow theater production of ‘Steel Magnolias’ explores women’s relationships and gossip Finally kids Lin Staff writer By Corrie Lynne Player Your More than flowers In remembrance Heaven Help Us “Put Away A5 Sanpete MessengerGunnison Valley Edition Wednesday November 17 2004 L ifciA The play reveals the women’s friendship through friendly jests and frank barbs at one another and also shows their “steely” strength as they support — without coddling — each other through difficulties Of this element of the play director Ivo Peterson says “the fiiendship between these women is something to be emulated They come trom different stations and backgrounds yet they form a bond that transcends their differences” The play is filled with emotional ups and downs as comedy alternates with drama with almost no transition time from one to the other Central to the story is Shelby a diabetic woman just getting mamed as the play opens and who tries to establish her independence from her protective mother M’Lynn Peterson says “ ’Steel Magnolias’ is not a play for children they would not understand what was going on” But for teens and adults the play offers a rich dramatic experience “I hope that audiences will come ready to learn about themselves and open to new in- formation” he says |