MAKE A NOTE!! -- December 7th, 2005

CIRCULATION - 37,153 (From Around the World! :-)

WEB SITE VISITORS - 108,193

A Free Twice Monthly (1st and 3d Wednesday of each month) Ezine with (Hopefully) Useful Info on a Wide Variety of Topics

NEXT ISSUE TO BE PUBLISHED ON/ABOUT DECEMBER 21ST, 2005

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In This Issue:

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Use Their Name!

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What to Know for Kindergarten (& Other Grades)

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Hot Tap Water Warning

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You Last Cleaned it When?

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Recipe: Monkey Bread

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Back Issue Treasure: February 1st, 1999 Issue (Gift Ideas for Everyone, Making Holidays Less Lonely, & more)

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Missing People: Diana Gama

bulletFinal Words (Joke, Quote, Contact Info)

NOTE: Each entry has a suggested "POST IT..." location at the end. We recommend that you print out the ezine, cut out each entry, & post it in these locations to make it easier for you to find when you need it. And if you like what you read, be sure to pass it on to someone else who can use it.

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My Favorite:     Books 

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Use Their Name!

There is just something about using someone's name that makes them feel special. Just imagine someone greeting you with a "Hi" or "Merry Christmas," compared to hearing, "Hi Mary!" or "Merry Christmas John!" Maybe it's because it seems more personal, or you think they care enough to add your name. Whatever it is, it does make a difference. So make an effort to greet people with their names when you see them. Not only will it make them feel better, and more appreciated, but it will also return a more positive response back to you. This applies in personal relationships, as well as in business, the children in your neighborhood, or even the employees at the local store you visit. An added plus would be to use someone's name to someone else when that person is present, as in..."Hi John, Mary was just telling us the funniest story."

POST IT...near your calendar (where you might be posting social gatherings as well).

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What to Know for Kindergarten (& Other Grades)

Ever wonder what your child is supposed to learn in each grade? This info could help parents to help their children to work towards those educational milestones. Well, the people at Cedar Valley Publishing are off to a great start towards helping parents AND their children to do just that. Their first book in the series is called, "Let's Get Ready for Kindergarten." It is designed for children with beautiful, colorful illustrations, friendly characters, and even has sections designed to be used with dry erase markers. Many experts, including teachers, school administrators, curriculum specialists, AND parents and kids, were consulted about the content. Topics covered in kindergarten include the alphabet, numbers, animals, seasons, addresses, and so much more than I could ever include here. This would be an ideal gift for any child (and their parents) who is, or soon will be, attending kindergarten. Get a head start and make the transition a little easier for the child in your life. You can also pre-order their book on the First Grade, and we hope that many more books will follow. This is a great idea and we love the format. For more information, or to order, you can go to... http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933476001/qid=1133899599/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-1918192-9080738?n=507846&s=books&v=glance/makeanote  Or you can just go to Amazon's main page and enter in the title. You can also go to the publisher's website for more info, www.cedarvalleypublishing.com  While I think the book is a little pricey, I do think the info and the way it is presented is worth the price. But through the generosity of the publisher, Make a Note readers can order the book and receive FREE shipping until 12/31/05, a savings of $4! To receive the discount, orders must be placed by phone to the publishers at 920-994-9906. Tell them that Sharon from the Make a Note sent you, and they will send you the book, along with an invoice to pay by check upon receipt. Sorry this offer is not available on credit card or international orders. Order soon and it'll arrive in time for Christmas!

POST IT...on your gift list for the kindergarteners you love.

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Hot Tap Water Warning

Most water companies will tell you, that you should let the cold water run for a minute before using the water for drinking or cooking. This helps you to avoid drinking impurities that may be in the water from sitting in the pipes all night, esp. first thing in the morning. But you should also avoid drinking hot water, or using hot water for food, straight out of the tap. It is better to use cold water, then heat it up in the microwave or stove if needed. Ever wonder why? Get a large clear container, go to your hot water heater spigot, and fill up the container with hot water directly from the tank. Use hot pads and take precautions not to burn yourself. It is also a good idea to keep the water heater set only as high as you need it, to limit the chance for burns and cut down on those electric bills. Let the container with the water sit on your counter for a few hours. Chances are you'll see cloudy water, and by the time everything settles, you'll also have a mineral grit at the bottom of the container. The heating elements in a standard water heater become encrusted over time with minerals, and these minerals do get into the water a bit. Most experts recommend that you drain off a gallon of water at that spigot every month, to help drain off the impurities, and to help your water heater to work better, and last longer. Once your family sees the sediment, it'll probably cure them of using hot water direct from the tap for consumption.

POST IT...on your calendar.

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You Last Cleaned it When?

Especially at this time of year, when viruses abound, and company is coming and going, consider the things you don't always think of cleaning. Doorknobs, telephones, cupboard handles, steering wheels, car door handles, light switches, cupboard handles, closet handles, favorite pens, faucets, computer mouse & buttons, and appliance handles. On most items you can just spray a disinfectant on, wait about 10 seconds, and wipe off. On special things like electronics, in some cases you can spray disinfectant on a cloth and wipe the item down. But be sure to check with the manufacturer of the product you are disinfecting, for the safe way to disinfect your particular product. Never apply disinfectant without checking with the maker to make sure what you are using, and how you are using it, is safe for that product being disinfected.

POST IT...on the calendar and try to disinfect on a regular basis.

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Recipe: EASY Monkey Bread

This is one of those favorite recipes that we've had so long, that I can't believe I haven't shared it with our readers previously. A great one for breakfast when company comes over, and so much fresher than the store bought.

bullet3 large cans of biscuits (12 oz cans)
bullet1 C butter (or margarine)
bullet1 1/2 C brown sugar
bullet2 tsp cinnamon
bullet1 C chopped nuts (usually walnuts or pecans)
bulletPreheat oven to 300 degrees.
bulletGrease a bundt pan.
bulletCombine butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, & nuts in a medium bowl and microwave on high until butter is melted (can also be done on a stove top), then stir well.
bulletCut each can of biscuit dough into fourths. Put half of pieces into the bundt pan.
bulletSpoon half of butter/sugar/cinnamon/nut mixture on top of the pieces.
bulletPut the remaining biscuit pieces on top of that, then the remaining butter/etc mixture on top of that.
bulletBake for 45 min.
bulletRemove from oven & let sit IN PAN for 5 min.
bulletTurn bread in pan over, onto a serving plate.
bulletWill be easier to cut if you let sit an additional 5 min on the serving plate before cutting.

POST IT...in your recipe box and on your shopping list.

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Back Issue Treasure: February 1st, 1999 Issue (Gift Ideas for Everyone, Making Holidays Less Lonely, & more)

Yes, we are recommending a Valentine back issue, for two reasons in particular. The first is a great article on gift buying, and the best way to get someone what they REALLY want for Christmas. The second is an article that asks those who are feeling alone during any holiday, to reach out to others who might feel the same. We can't make someone remember us in a special way, but there are a lot of people around us that we can help to have a special celebration.

To retrieve this back issue click HERE.

POST IT...by your computer.

MORE BACK ISSUES

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Missing People: Diana Gama

Diana Gama (13-yr-old, white/Hispanic female, black hair, brown eyes, 4'2", 100 lbs) was abducted from Fullerton, CA on 11/23/05 by Hermillo Morales (34-yrs-old, white/Hispanic male, black hair, brown eyes, 5'6", 185 lbs). She was last seen at her jr. high school at 1:20pm, wearing blue jeans, a white jacket with blue sleeves, and a pink shirt with a blue stripe. Morales may be armed, and caution is advised. Diana may be pregnant, and may still be in the local area. For photos and posters to print, go to... http://www.ncmec.org/missingkids/servlet/PubCaseSearchServlet?act=viewPoster&caseNum=1032668&orgPrefix=NCMC&searchLang=en_US  Or www.ncmec.org , Then click on "More Search Options," then enter her name and click enter.

POST IT...in your car or business, esp. if you are in the Fullerton, CA area.

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Final Words

JOKE

"If a husband says something, and his wife isn't around to hear him, is he still wrong?"

--Unknown

QUOTE

"Faith's way of walking is to cast all care upon the Lord and then to anticipate good results from the worst calamities."

-- Charles Spurgeon(1834-92)was England's best-known preacher for most of the second half of the nineteenth century.

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It may be more reasonable than you realize. And check out the other free helpful ezines offered at

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AT&T's Community Port

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Thank you to Pastor Wilson & Gary Foreman for all they do for the Make a Note.

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