Merry Christmas 2012

Merry Christmas everyone! Happy Holidays to those who do not celebrate Christmas. A lot of churches have wonderful Christmas Pagents so we do not forget the reason for this wonderful season: Jesus Christ was born to be our Lord and Savior.

This time is also a time to gather families together from far and wide to enjoy each others company and make new memories. It is also a good time to mention all the happy memories of our family members who are no longer with us.

Talking about memories, this year Dallas, Texas had a White Christmas!

Are there any Elves in your home?

What is your Elf Name? The first letter of my first name is:

A – Perky..... B – Nipper..... C – Bubbles..... D – Happy..... E – Squeezy..... F – Sunny..... G – Merry..... H – Tootsie..... I – Kringle..... J – Puddin..... K – Cookie..... L – Tinker..... M – Twinkle..... N – Buddy..... 0 – Elfie..... P – Jingle..... Q – Snowflake..... R – Jolly..... S – Elvis..... T – Sugarplum..... U – Peaches..... V – Gingerbread..... W – Frisbee..... X – Evergreen..... Y – Pinky..... Z - Tinsel

The month I was born in is:

JAN – Angel-Pants..... FEB – Floppy-Feet..... MAR – Plum-Pants..... APR – McJingles..... MAY – Peppermint..... JUN – Toe-Bells ..... JUL – Superplum..... AUG – Sugar-Socks..... SEP – Pickle-Pants..... OCT – Sparkley-Toes..... NOV – Monkey-Buns..... DEC – Pointy-Toes

12/24/12 Elf names brought to you by www.daveswordsofwisdom.com

I invite you to follow me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/janpolk

Merry Christmas and safe travels from my family to yours.

Jan Polk and Jim Polk

AKA Puddin Toe-Bells and Puddin Floppy-Feet

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! Thankful to God for family, friends, servicemen and women and the privilege to live in the United States of America. Remember, you find what ever you look for. There is good in this world and there is bad.... focus on the good....and do your best to leave this world a better place than you found it. I invite you to support small businesses with Made in America products: http://www.janpolk.com/cart/products.asp

Nov. 11, 2012 Happy Veterans Day

Thank you to all veterans who have served our country. May God always be with you and protect you.

9/11/2001 We Remember

Remembering those we lost on 9/11/2001. Our prayers are with them, their family members and our nation. We are a Christian nation where all religions have the freedom to thrive. Is that true for any other religion or nation? As free people, United We Stand, Divided We Fall.

Our enemies blew us up and knocked us to the ground on 9/1/11; it made us stronger and more united! Our capitalistic system (which they hate) is what allows the cream to rise to the top. As Christians, we take care of those who cannot take care of themselves. Everyone in America is guaranteed freedom to work as hard as they want and to reach as high as they can dream. Our cherished way of life depends on honesty, civilized behavior, the rule of law, and the right to own property. As long as we can trust each other and stand united as one nation under God, we will never be defeated. May God continue to Bless America.

Note, in any disaster, the first people on the scene are We The People, not the "Government." We could make it without the "Government" but the "Government" could not make it without us (because we elect them from among ourselves). Know that the lessons we have learned from 9/11/2001 is to trust in yourself, value the brief time you have together as a family, be honest and let no one divide us as one nation under God.

No matter how likeable someone is, you must use your own common sense and the facts to decide who is lying to you and who is telling the truth. www.ayearofgoodmanners.com Good Manners are Empowering!

"Baby Baby Boom Boom" Baby and Kid Exp on September 9, 2012, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. Kids are free!

The second annual "Baby Baby Boom Boom" Baby and Kid Expo will be held in Sharonville, OH at:

Elements Conference and Event Centre, 11974 Lebanon Road, Cincinnati, OH 45241

This is a Mommy social you don’t want to miss! Your FREE ticket allows you to be part of the Baby Baby Boom Boom Exp on September 9, 2012, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. Kids are free!

This event is for parents and parents-to-be with over 50 vendors specializing in nutrition, ultrasound, face paintings, bounce houses, party entertainment, financial advice, invitations, cleaning services, massage, prenatal care, postnatal care, skin care, practical pregnancy products, family travel, fitness, photography, infant and children clothing, baby planning, baby shower ideas, photography, plastic surgery, baby registry, breastfeeding specialist, safe home for baby, market research specialist, first aid, car seat installation, baby signing, Mommy jewelry, diaper bags, children’s education, children arts and crafts and great gift ideas for mommy, daddy, grandparents, children and baby and much more!

Visit us on facebook at Baby Baby Boom Boom for details to the free seminar times from the experts: Ashley Brown-Combs owner of Blue Cocoon-Lactation Boutique, Dr. Mandell-Brown and the “Mommy Make-Over,” Baby Safe Homes, Jen Molitor-Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, Jan Polk – A Year of Good Manners, Child/Infant CPR and Car Seat installation.

Don’t miss the opportunity to meet local professionals that specialize in prenatal and beyond.

Jan Polk will be speaking on "A Year of Good Manners" by Margery Sinclair and Jan Polk. Good Manners are a Good Legacy and the best gift you can give to your child. Don't underestimate the "likability factor." AYOGM is destined to become a treasured, family heirloom. This book will have a special event price so you will want to buy several copies. Use it as a birthday book to remember birthdays and anniversaries year after year; as a journal (One grandfather said he was going to journal in it every day for the first year of his newborn grandson's life and then give it to him on his first birthday. What a treasure to receive - family values, grandfather's handwriting and his thoughts about his grandson, along with autographs of family members on their own birthdays and anniversaries!); use it as a guest book; or as an etiquette tip reference book (365 tips written by Margery Sinclair and a reason to use each one. When the reasons change, it is time for the rules to change.)

Tickets are FREE if you order them on line: www.babybabyboomboom-es2.eventbrite.com/?rank=1 Use Promo Code: baby boom 2012 Kids are always free. Tickets are $10.00 at the door.

The first 250 moms will receive a gift bag. There will be door prizes and lots of fun activities for the kids. We will look forward to seeing you there!

If you can't join us in Sharonville, OH, you can securely order your copies of "A Year of Good Manners" by Margery Sinclair and Jan Polk ($28.00) at http://www.janpolk.com/cart/products.asp Free shipping within the contiguous USA states on orders over $50.00. While you are there, be sure to look at the beautiful GAFC note cards (images featured in the book) and other note cards from original paintings by Jan Polk. These are special note cards for special people. $16.00/box of Six blank cards and 6 translucent envelopes; one image per box. Each clear box is wrapped with a gold loop bow ready for gifting.

First Man on the Moon dies.

Neil Armstrong, 82, passed away on Saturday, August 25, 2012. (1930 - 2012) May he rest in peace. May many of our young people look at his legacy for inspiration as an explorer.

Respect and Good Manners are empowering!

Good Manners don’t work unless you use them. If you don’t know them, you can’t use them. If you know good manners, you then have the choice to use them or not. The whole point of respect and good manners is to make you feel comfortable and safe. Respect and good manners make it possible for individuals to be civil to each other even if you disagree with each other and don’t even like the other person. You develop personal dignity and self respect when you know good manners.

When you know good manners and show respect to yourself and those around you, you have power. When you know the reasons for the rules, you can make a logical choice to use your good manners or not. When the reasons change, it is time for the rules to change. You become empowered when you have the ability to make good decisions on your own without someone telling you what to do. You are never a free person as long as you are dependent on someone else or the government. You could never relax if you have to depend on yourself for everything...it would be too time consuming to do everything.

In the United States of America, we each are guaranteed freedoms yet each of us has a civic duty to behave as honorable, civilized, law abiding citizens when living in densely populated areas such villages, towns, cities, etc. We like to live in large cities because of convenience, safety, and entertainment. We all succeed when we all work together for the good of all. In a civilized society, we all depend on each other to be honorable citizens who do no harm to those who are younger, weaker, or smaller. We are expected to learn this as children.. As adults, we then learn to give something back to our country and our communities for the privilege of living in the Greatest Nation on Earth where we each can have hopes and unlimited dreams if we are willing to work for them.

Here is a good example of how respect and good manners can be empowering:

How loud is too loud to play music? Even if we told you a certain decibel level, this would change according to each situation. A kind, considerate, civilized person who knows how to make good decisions without being told what to do, knows exactly what to do. According to “A Year of Good Manners” by Margery Sinclair, “Noise heard outside the property where it originates is usually too loud.” If you are in your car and the radio can be heard two blocks away, it is too loud? Yes. Because you will soon go deaf and because it annoys people outside of the property where it originates. You are responsible for your own health and well being and to be a reliable, safe, considerate person to be around regardless of your age or any other factor you would like to apply.

Good Manners are the tools that enable you to develop common sense, good self esteem, and a back bone. No one can give you this but yourself. Others can give you this information but nothing happens until you make the decision to take action.

Look at your life and decide, could good manners possibly be the just the tools you are looking for to make you stand out above the crowd? They will definitely make you feel like you fit in. Take charge of your life and Enjoy Life..... don’t just exist and let others be in charge! Enjoy being known as an honorable, civilized, law abiding citizen.

“A Year of Good Manners” by Margery Sinclair and Jan Polk, $27.95....offers 365 tips written by Margery Sinclair and a reason to use each one. Jan Polk’s GAFC “respect series” floral images remind you to treat yourself and others with respect. These are the tools which keep us safe at home and at school. These are the basic skills employers expect you to have before you are hired.

Order AYOGM on line: http://www.janpolk.com/cart/products.asp