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May 2017 Newsletter
brought to you by
Contents:
What's New for May -
Bill DaGiau Homemade Popsicles for Summertime Fun!! -
Abby O'Neil Lucas Helping Hands & You Matter Too -
Heather Donnell 5 Principles of Reiki -
Paula Hogan Annie's Angels Program Information
What's New for May
Bill DaGiau
 Welcome to another month of making a difference through caring and giving. This month we have already met some amazing families. The first family we met was Emily's family. Emily is a 10-year-old girl from  Manchester, NH. When she was born, we learned that she was missing the majority of her brain and likely would never leave the NICU and if she did, she would never see her first birthday. That birthday rolled around and we were told she would never see her second birthday… once she turned 3 years old, the doctors stopped guessing – her neurologist told us that she is clearly writing her own book and we are all just here to read along and learn. Emily has quadriplegic cerebral palsy (meaning it affects both arms and both legs), Epilepsy, restrictive lung disease with scarring from multiple pneumonias. She also has 2 separate feeding tubes and receives nothing by mouth. She is nonverbal and non-mobile but her smile — there is nothing like it! She giggles, she coos, we know when she’s happy and we know when she needs something. We are hoping to raise money for a wheelchair van for a couple of different reasons. The least important of the 2 is that it’s becoming nearly impossible for me (her 130lb, 5’2” mother) to lift her 67-pound body in and out of her car seat. She has the head/body control of a newborn… a 4’4” tall newborn. The 2 nd
reason, and the biggest one – Em cannot control her secretions when she is sitting up, which she must do in her car seat. We cannot leave with her unless there is someone available to sit in the back seat and suction, nonstop, to keep her oxygen up and her airway safe. This is an issue she doesn’t have when she is reclined in her wheelchair. This van would give her a safe way to be transported and add so much to our quality time as a family. Drives out of state for Dr’s appointments would no longer be dreaded. Trips out of town to visit family would not need to be turned down every time. It would give Em the mobility and comfort she deserves to travel and enjoy family time outside of our home – which is not possible right now. To help "Emily's Van Fund" join us on Emily's page at AnniesAngels.org
 The next family is Dawn's family. Her fund is called "A New Dawn". Here's her story... I am a veteran of the United States Navy. My time with the military was shorter than most but I faced some challenges along the way. I am really struggling to overcome the issues that resulted from those challenges. I am diagnosed with PTSD resulting from MST. I have decided to purchase a Belgian Malinois, Eve, to train as my personal service dog. I am looking for support to assist with training my puppy. She is doing well with the basics but is ready to move on to more advanced classes. To help Dawn realize her "New Dawn" visit her page at AnniesAngels.org
To our Annie's Angels families, friends, sponsors and supporters, I thank you for allowing me to continue to make such a difference in our community. As fiscal sponsor for the 40th Annual Walter Burns Fishing Day for Kids with Special Needs, I invite you to come see some of what your dollars are producing. Join us on May 19 at Sanderson's Pond, 682 Post Road, Greenland for this fishing tournament! Come see the smiles you can make. Finally, I would like to invite you to join our monthly giving group. It's easy, just visit AnniesAngels.org
and make a donation. During check out click the box that asks if you'd like to make your donation recurring monthly. No amount is to small, no amount is to great. We need your continued support. Thank you.
Homemade Popsicles for Summertime Fun!!
Orange - Banana Smoothie Pops
Ingredients
- 1 container Greek yogurt (we use plain)
- .67 c. thawed orange juice concentrate
- 2 large bananas
- Zest of 1 lime
- 1 tbsp. fresh lime juice
Directions
- Puree one Greek yogurt, thawed orange juice concentrate, bananas, lime zest, and fresh lime juice in a blender.
- Pour into six 3-ounce molds. (We used mini baking tins with Popsicle sticks, but you can also substitute paper cups.) Freeze until smoothie pops are solid, about 4 hours.
- To release pops, dip molds into hot water until pops loosen and slide out. If using cups, peel away paper.
Easy Fudge Pops
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup chocolate hazelnut spread (or you can use any chocolate nut spread or even peanut butter)
1 1/2 cups Almond Breeze Chocolate Almond Milk
Directions:
- Place chocolate hazelnut spread in a medium sized bowl. Add 1/2 cup of chocolate almond milk and whisk until smooth. Gradually whisk in remaining almond milk. Pour into ice pop molds, add sticks, then freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Ginger, Hibiscus and Minty Watermelon Pops
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons dried hibiscus flowers
- 1 inch fresh ginger peeled + finely chopped or grated for more flavor
- 1/4 cup honey
add 1-2 tablespoons more for a sweeter pop
- 1/4 cup fresh mint you can also use basil
- 4-5 cups fresh watermelon
- the juice of 1 lemon
Instructions
- Bring the water to a boil in a medium size pot. Remove from the heat and add the hibiscus flowers, ginger, honey and mint leaves. Cover and let steep for 20 minutes. Strain into a blender and discard the used hibiscus flowers, ginger and mint.
- To the blender, add the the watermelon and lemon juice. Blend until smooth. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer/sieve or into a bowl lined with cheesecloth. Squeeze out all the juice and discard the watermelon pulp.
- Pour the mixture among 8 popsicle molds. Place the molds in the freezer and freeze for 1 hour. Remove and insert popsicle sticks. Return to the freezer and freeze until firm, about 4 hours. To remove the popsicles run the mold under hot water for 10 seconds and then pull the popsicles out of the molds. Store in the freezer.
*I buy my dried hibiscus from Amazon. Recipe from halfbakedharvest.com
Looking of a way to help the whole family live healthier and make healthier lifestyle choices? Looking for some education on living health? I am always open and available for free consultations.
Cheers to healthy living mind, body, and soul!
If you would like to find out more, follow or message Abby on Facebook
 Save the Date! Saturday, May 27th at The Crow's Nest, Plaistow A concert to benefit Chris Pets for Vets Scheduled to perform: Dr X Tribute to Queensryche Sygnal to Noise Hellen Kella Tester Eden's Lie 181 Plaistow Road, Plaistow, NH For more info call 603-974-1686  Save the date! The 3rd Annual New England Country Music Festival
presented by The Harbor Agency returns to the Redhook Brewery on August 6, 2017!
This all-day, family friendly event will features both regional and nationally touring acts with a combined FIVE Number One songs on country radio.
Line up includes:
Frankie Ballard; Michael Ray; William Michael Morgan; Casey Dirham; Timmy Brown; Jimmy Connor; Paige Davis; DJ Mikey Fletch (in between acts)
Tickets are non-refundable and vary from $15 to $85. Rain or shine. Children 12 and under are free.
No outside food or drink.
Gates tentatively scheduled to open at 12:15 for VIPs, 12:45 for PIT and GA.
(Subject to change)
A portion of proceeds will be donated to Annie's Angels
REGISTER TODAY!
for the 21st Annual Rye By The Sea 5K and Duathlon - Saturday June 3, 2017 Presented by Urban Tree Service-
To find out more registration details or sponsorship opportunities visit the RBTS website
today! be one of the first 250 to register and get a RBTS T-shirt! Please consider bringing a NEW, UNWRAPPED stuffed animal to check in to help us collect a record number of stuffed animals to bring this summer to Boston Children's Hospital!
Do you shop online? Why not help support Annie's Angels by using Amazon? Just click the logo...easy peasy!
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5 Principles of Reiki
Just for today, do not be angry
Just for today, do not worry
Just for today, be grateful
Just for today, work hard
Just for today, be kind to others.
Dr. Usui, who re-discovered Reiki in the mid 1800's, believed that in order for anyone to practice Reiki and transfer positive energy to others, they must have first taken responsibility for their own health and well-being. He developed five principles which he taught to his students as strategies to live by.
1. Just for today, do not be angry.
Anger can be a vast destructive force; it hurts others as well as ourselves. Anger closes us off from love and compassion.
Try to detach yourself from situations you feel may provoke any feelings of anger; do not just suppress the feeling. Chances are good it will only return another time. Constantly remind yourself that anger is not your real nature and it will pass. Try to acknowledge it, witness it and then let it go forever.
Remember the opposite of anger is calmness. Do your best not to engage.
2. Just for today, do not worry.
Worry, like anger will diminish your vital energy. While anger deals with past and present events, worry deals with perceived
future events and happenings.
We want to disregard thoughts of future events and circumstances, where we have no ultimate control.
The source of worry is fear of change, which is one thing we don't always have complete control over.
3. Just for today, be grateful.
We want to be grateful and show appreciation for the many blessings that fill our lives, especially when times are difficult. If we can be grateful, we can eliminate worry.
If we live in a state of gratitude, appreciating and giving thanks for the many blessings we have, we can help transform negative attitudes and thoughts into positive ones.
When we are grateful for all that we have received, and when we believe that we will continue to receive blessings, then we will attract abundance.
4. Just for today, work hard.
We want to work to the best of our ability each day. There is no job that is too humble that it doesn't require our full effort.
Through work we learn and grow. Our whole day can be filled with an effort to work hard and honestly in everything we do. Pride and confidence will grow through working hard.
5. Just for today, be kind to others.
We want to try to show kindness to our fellow men. We must honor all living things and be tolerant of the way others choose to live their lives.
It's important that we realize and accept that being kind and friendly to everyone must include ourselves. How many of us are generous, respectful, and considerate towards others, but can't seem to treat ourselves in this manner? We ALL deserve kindness and respect, and practicing on yourself makes it much easier to treat others in this manner.
Even if you don't practice Reiki, let me suggest you choose one of these Principles, and practice it as best you can for a whole day. The next day, choose a different one, and practice living with that in your heart for the entire day. Try this for a week or so, choosing a different Principle each day. Some will be easier than others, and I think you'll find that with each day, you may find yourself developing small, new habits. It just may be easier than you think, and at the very least, you may learn something about yourself.
Peace and Light, Paula Hogan Certified Reiki Master Teacher True Harmony Reiki, LLC www.trueharmonyreiki.com
603-479-4324
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Thanks to our local business owners for their contributions to this newsletter. If you have something to contribute email bill@anniesangels.org
for consideration
If you have an expertise that could help a local family struggling financially through a life threatening disease, illness or disability and would like to share your time, talent or treasure simply email bill@anniesangels.org
.
If you found this newsletter helpful or inspiring and would like to donate OR to find out more about Annie's Angels Memorial Fund visit www.anniesangels.org
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