BRETHREN HOUSING EVENTS

Brethren Housing

June 2013

 Friday, June 7th, Newsletter Community Support Meeting Afiya 1062 Main , Springfield, OR 97477 3:00 – 4:00 PM Shelter Care shelters and supports families and individuals,

Wednesday, June 12th providing each an opportunity to live the fullest life possible in Mindfulness Meditation an environment that fosters well-being and success. 1:30 PM

 Thursday, June 13th Winco/Wal-Mart NAMI Walk Outing 2:00–3:30PM by Angela

On Sunday, May 19th, we went to Portland for the 2013  Thursday, June 20th NAMI walk. Along our walk we were joined by James, Birthday Party Justin from Safe Haven, Brethren Housing volunteer Kelly, 2:30-3:30 PM Kelly’s mother and a friend of Kelly’s mother. We walked five kilometers around the and over Friday, June 21st the Steel . There were a lot of people walking for Consumer Council different reasons. We stopped at the Saturday Market 2:00-3:30PM and ate local food. It helped heal parts of our lives. In

my life, from Wednesday, June 26th my view, Mindfulness Meditation the 5k walk 1:30 PM helped me

with my Wednesday, June 26th past. Outing

2013 NAMI Northwest Walk

NAMI Oregon (The National Al- liance on Mental Illness of Ore- gon)’s mission is to improve the quality of life of individuals liv- ing with mental illness and their families and loved ones through education, support, and advocacy.

NAMIWalks is the largest and most suc- cessful mental health awareness and fundraising event in America. Through NAMIWalks' public, active display of support for people affected by mental illness, they are changing how Ameri- cans view persons with a mental ill- ness. This is leading to ensuring that help and hope are available for those in need. This year’s walk took place on Sunday, May 19th in Portland. This Eugene/Springfield contingency of Brethren representatives enjoyed a re- freshing cloudy Oregon day of walk- ing.

Hi! My name is Haley and I am a new intern at Brethren Housing. I am a senior at the University of Oregon studying Psychology and Sociology with an emphasis on family and gender dynamics. In my spare time I love to read, scrapbook and golf (but only if the weather is nice). I’m very ex- cited to have the opportunity to work here with everyone! Pop into the office and say hello! Elizabeth spends a healing spring day making art in nature, at Delta Ponds

May is almost gone and summer is almost here

May is almost gone and summer is almost here. My plan's for this summer:

It may seem like a tall order but I know I am able to do it; by the end of May I am going to stop smoking.

(I just found out our wonderful manager Kimberley will be leaving us here at Afiya Apartments; I got a chance to get to know her; it saddens me to lose such a good manager).

Back to my plans for this summer: I will start riding my bike; I’ll start out riding for a half hour work up to an hour etc.

My big plan is to save enough to fly my son here. I have not seen him for five years. I will have him stay with me for a week. He is now 17 years old and I really look forward to getting to know him. Last but not least, I am going to volunteer some of my time at Humane Society.

~ Bob Lakes ShelterCare’s Consumer Council’s Alternative Modalities for Recovery, May 17th

Gardening Panel Speakers: Jen Anonia, Food for Lane County Gardens Program Manager; River Kourt consumer & gardener, Anthony Ireland-Martinez; and avid gardener Doris Sy- phers with her Service dog, Sadie.

This little poem is for my friend Fearless Trust who was born a year ago.

Her name is Pure Laughter.

Fearless

Take a technicolor daydream Let your mind and soul unwind You can make a mile up in a minute Because there's that much still to find Be your Mind See Your Mind There’s a great trip to find Be yourself You can regain all your health Know your health Love your mind Just care with all your time And your reward will be a quiet mind

by Mark S. Wallenbrock

Memory or Dream

I'm listening to a good music mix Thank You Angel I hear this song called the Dance I'm thinking of our love I am lost without our romance Again I'm trying to make a deal with God "C'mon please just give me a chance" Please, please Lord, Please Mother of the Earth

I thought you were being torn apart when you gave our daughter, and in some ways me, birth I was so scared, then you said look sweetheart she's ours “You are alright?” I said, trying to keep the fear from my voice Then I kissed you and you said was there a choice? Most of my friends have no idea what they believe in I believe in you You may not be 46 kilos soaking wet But I KNOW by all that is good and holy and belongs to love I looked in your eyes and like a child I said I can't believe we aren’t done yet You looked so beautiful as I pulled your soaking wet hair out of your face and kissed you ALMOST forever in your hospital bed But you started crying and told me "Don't leave me, my man, not even for a second” You had been through so much "I would do anything for her,” I reckoned Then you whispered "swear to me you will ALWAYS take care of us" I kissed you then held your hand and got down on my knees I swear my Angel, always Then my sweet, beautiful, gentle kind lady said “I would never hurt you, no, not meaning to” "But baby don't be upset, it's glorious; the time will be like a speck of dust" "Do you believe in me? Then you believe in us" "An Angel is with us and she is taking me but I begged her for a few minutes to hold you " I held her kissing away every tear, then I noticed she was gone I mean her soul I ran and got a nurse then a doctor Then the Doctor came out and said I don't know how she delivered the baby but she is gone now I heard music and ran to my new daughter I kissed her gently as I could and said, my baby it's just you and me now But I knew my wife was in my daughter somehow, STILL A daughter without her mother Without even a sister or a brother I slept next to my daughter until we went home I told you little Heather I will give you everything beautiful and loving It's always been like that baby, call or come by Or maybe I'll find a magic lamp and start rubbing I see love, caring, everything I tried to give you and much more Thank You little one I miss you Magdalena Sure I see you in my mija Que lastima, but I will try to see your Headstone in Spain So I can be true I have sooo much I have to tell you God knows I miss you Oh God Please

by Mark S. Wallenbrock I just know it's gone all wrong I can't live my life from out of a song It seems I'm lost somewhere along the way You can’t see This hurt is real So don’t go on and make it a big deal But I guess I'll write words with no melody today I thought you saw me coming Just because I saw you running and suddenly your touch became too real You see it’s been my worst of years You don’t care about my tears I’m not going down your again But in my mind yes I was running running to meet you all the way Its true I prayed that you were coming But I wanted the woman before you resorted to your speed I have enough problems to take care of your needs Maybe the life you should be living is deep inside your weeds But you must admit there’s something wrong I won’t even give you a song Just a poem that I doubt will take care of your needs Hurt me once it was you I wont let it get to two I will not give or take credit for your greed To see you go will be just fine I can have a rocking in my mind We can both be in a place Where co-dependence has no face So I’m telling you what’s true There’s no love here for you blue And I’m fading away See you in a dream

by Mark S. Wallenbrock Community Voice

What is one of the most important activities you have planned for the summer?

“Financial freedom and a permanent house and job; reliable transportation.”

“Shopping.”

“Swimming.”

“Rock ‘n Roll.”

“See some friends.”

“Get out and walk more.”

Personal Successes

“I’m inundating the job market!”

“Getting my apartment the way that I want it.”

“Coping with myself.”

“Trying to be more assertive and to control my anger.”

“I walked.”

“Getting help with straightening up my apartment.”

“I’m going to the doctor to get tested.” Thank you!!! to those Consumers who have chosen to volunteer, lending their time, energy, skills, and talents to the enrichment of this Community!

We deeply value your contributions. Kevin McGehee Elizabeth Lennen Rick Houston Angela Hendricks Bette Bergstrom Bob Lakes Kelley Syphers Patrick Williams

and to those who choose to be anonymous!

Submitted by Kelley R. Syphers A Springfield Walking Tour, submitted by Kelley R. Syphers What Men Find Attractive: Women, Biology and Fashion

Submitted by Michelle Hoff

Most of us are curious about what Thanks to the fashion industry, drives sexual attraction. According American women have spent 50 to the latest research, men all over years discontented with their body the world biologically prefer curves, size. Bad or unsuccessful diets plus and not the "Twiggy" figure the an unhealthy food market have fashion industry has been throwing given them less of the right kind of at us for the last 50 years. The fash- fat and more of the wrong ion industry set up this different kind. Also, their DHA levels are not model of beauty so they could as high as women from other coun- make bigger profits on clothes -- tries who have higher levels of you know, a more slender "straight" omega 3's in their diets. At present, figure means less material used, in academic ability American chil- faster assembly, etc. But it turns out dren score 31st out of 64 nations. men like hourglass curves more High scores come from places like (playmate size) and here's some Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore reasons why. with very high omega 3 diets and low obesity. Scientists say the attraction is bio- logical for more successful births and healthier babies. Humans get This is general information on the subject. specific fats, like an important For more details go to: omega 3, needed for big brains www.psychologytoday.com/ from their mother's thighs. Women articles/201206/eternal-curves with bigger thighs tend to have smarter babies and be smarter 'Psychology Today' is a respected magazine themselves. Small waists seem to that has been in circulation for many years. mean that babies won't grow too big for the birth canal. Even now, 1 out of 10 women loose their lives during childbirth without access to obstetrics. Taller women too, like playmates, have more room for their internal organs, and conse- quently have smaller waists and therefore easier births.

DID YOU KNOW? ShelterCare’s Supported Employment Program (SEP) collaborated with 11 local businesses this year to enable clients to return to the workforce.

Dear Brethren residents,

Just a note to make you aware that Jessica and Leonie have enabled me to get the monthly newsletter by email. The May newsletter was awesome -- great resident submissions!

~ Michelle Hoff

Editor’s note: If you like to submit an article or feedback, or to receive the Brethren newsletter by email, just let us know!

If you would like to contribute to the Brethren Housing Newsletter and/or if you have questions and /or feedback that you would like to share, please contact us at:

Brethren Housing 1062 Main Street Springfield, OR 97477 (541) 726-8125 email: [email protected]