tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5646057042588521392024-03-05T05:26:14.577-08:00Reality Check Inc.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Reality Check, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10031476385363578098noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564605704258852139.post-28770005756867086082014-09-17T11:15:00.001-07:002014-09-19T07:34:20.045-07:00PARENTS BEWARE - Social Media Apps<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bEmV4yyHJJA/U3JhcKI1ChI/AAAAAAAADK4/-eXMR87cocE/s1600/snapchat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bEmV4yyHJJA/U3JhcKI1ChI/AAAAAAAADK4/-eXMR87cocE/s1600/snapchat.jpg" height="60" width="60" /></span></a><span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> SnapChat</span></b> –<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>SnapChat allows you to send pictures or videos to a friend through the app for them to view for a set time (1-10 seconds), then the Snap “disappears” from the screen. This does not prevent screenshots being taken of the picture that was sent or received. Please read the terms and agreements in full.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These pictures do not “disappear”. Everything that you post through the app belongs to SnapChat, however they are not legally responsible for any illegal activity that could rise from the app or it’s content. Again, I urge you, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">read</i> the terms and conditions. </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8RVXOPCZD2o/U3JhbafVihI/AAAAAAAADKA/Lp8UQervhcA/s1600/kik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8RVXOPCZD2o/U3JhbafVihI/AAAAAAAADKA/Lp8UQervhcA/s1600/kik.jpg" height="60" width="60" /></span></a><span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Kik</span></b> – This is a private messaging app in which you can share text messages, photos, or videos. It is next to impossible to determine the true identity of the person with whom you may be chatting or messaging. Just by simply reading the “reviews”, you will clearly see that this is a sexually charged app promoting secrecy, anonymity, and sexting. Again, please read the terms and conditions of this app.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"> <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hVoV_cTRG5s/U3JhbB-j6vI/AAAAAAAADKE/nK7qWibzpDY/s1600/instagram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hVoV_cTRG5s/U3JhbB-j6vI/AAAAAAAADKE/nK7qWibzpDY/s1600/instagram.jpg" height="60" width="60" /></span></a><span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Instagram </span></b>– While seemingly innocent and safe, this is a potential venue for pornographic websites to prey on you and your children. It’s important that your profile be set to private in order for them not to gain access to your account. Beware of the “explore” section of this app, as it has been known to feature explicit content. Also, watch who your child follows. This is an app that’s purpose is to share pictures and, as we all know, not all pictures are appropriate.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ouAVAi1OdXA/U3JhZMlexuI/AAAAAAAADJ8/3yo7ByYDm3E/s1600/askfm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ouAVAi1OdXA/U3JhZMlexuI/AAAAAAAADJ8/3yo7ByYDm3E/s1600/askfm.jpg" height="60" width="60" /></span></a><span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Ask.fm</span></b> – The purpose of Ask.fm, both the app and website, is for <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">users to ask other users questions, with the option of anonymity.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">However, anyone…and I repeat <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">anyone</i>, can ask the user <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">anything</i>, even if they do not have an ask.fm account just by clicking the option to be anonymous. Ask.fm is an incredibly dangerous app and website. Between 2012 and 2014, this app and site became associated with numerous instances of </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyberbullying"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">cyber-bullying</span></a><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">, some of which led to suicides, particularly in teens.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uAKxbrnnGdo/U3Jhcbl0bmI/AAAAAAAADKY/LggBhVv_NN0/s1600/twitter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uAKxbrnnGdo/U3Jhcbl0bmI/AAAAAAAADKY/LggBhVv_NN0/s1600/twitter.jpg" height="60" width="60" /></span></a><span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Twitter</span></b> – Use caution, set all accounts to private, and do not open any direct messages with a link. Many pornographic websites and fake profiles troll this app and website. Change your password often, as accounts are easily hacked. </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wMGgO3MiNLw/U3JhZpPw-RI/AAAAAAAADJw/3f2CsyUGhnQ/s1600/facebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wMGgO3MiNLw/U3JhZpPw-RI/AAAAAAAADJw/3f2CsyUGhnQ/s1600/facebook.jpg" height="60" width="60" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Facebook</span></b> – Check and reset privacy settings often, as they can be changed without the users being notified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be aware that an individual can have more than one account.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Vine</span></b> – Vine is a video sharing app where users can view, create, and share videos that are no more than six seconds in duration and run in a loop. This site is infamous for pornographic and explicit content, and has very little privacy and protective setting capabilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Pinterest</span></b> – Description via app “With Pinterest you can:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: black;"> -Plan projects—home decor overhauls, car restorations, garden redesigns and other DIY efforts</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: black;"> -Dream up your next travel outing—outdoor adventures, road trips with friends, family outings and exotic travel</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: black;"> -Collect your favorite things—illustrations, ideas for tattoos, hilarious quotes, jewelry designs, the latest technology and inspiring art and architecture</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: black;"> -Save great ideas—articles to read, movies to watch, gifts to buy, art for your home, fashion and beauty how-tos, food and recipes to cook, fitness tips and great hair looks</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: black;"> -Get organized for a party—wedding decor, birthday themes, dresses for the dinner party and recipes for game day</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: black;">Use Pinterest today to discover things you you’re interested in, and let Pinterest inspire you to do those things. How it works: You organize all your ideas into collections (called “boards”) of visual bookmarks (called “Pins”). When you find something that looks interesting, all you have to do is Pin It!” While this app and website can hold much benefit, it is riddled with pornographic images and links. Many off these images are feigned “workout” pictures, others are just “in your face” porn.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="color: black; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0Yohf1OFL80/U3JhZM8UgDI/AAAAAAAADJo/v4DuqP99bIY/s1600/YikYak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0Yohf1OFL80/U3JhZM8UgDI/AAAAAAAADJo/v4DuqP99bIY/s1600/YikYak.jpg" height="60" width="60" /></span></a><span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">YikYak</span></b> – Via the app description: “YikYak acts like a local bulletin board for your area by showing the most recent posts from other users around you. It allows anyone to connect and share information with others without having to know them.” This app allows you to send updates that anyone in your area, set by GPS services, can see in a Twitter-like timeline or newsfeed. These updates are allowed to be no more than 200 characters. YikYak is an anonymous site. Basically, other users can know where you are but not who you are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H9LbU07p3dY/U3Jhb2TDbvI/AAAAAAAADKU/AwnIfX-Tb5Q/s1600/poof.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H9LbU07p3dY/U3Jhb2TDbvI/AAAAAAAADKU/AwnIfX-Tb5Q/s1600/poof.jpg" height="60" width="60" /></span></a><span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Poof </span></b>– This app has currently been pulled from itunes, google play, and other android app services. However many apps like it are popping up daily. These apps make text messages “disappear” or make apps “disappear” from parents. What the person doesn’t want others to see on their phone, they can make “disappear” or hidden, using these apps.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"> </span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--u3kOGuMQgA/U3JhbgHcHMI/AAAAAAAADKI/9KYxOSAhyAk/s1600/omegle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--u3kOGuMQgA/U3JhbgHcHMI/AAAAAAAADKI/9KYxOSAhyAk/s1600/omegle.jpg" height="60" width="60" /></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Omegle</span></b> – The slogan “Talk to Strangers” is by itself a red flag. This is an app that connects you to “strangers” to text chat or video chat with.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"> Via Wikipedia:</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: black;">“Omegle was initially a text-only chat that paired users at random to communicate as "strangers". However, in 2010, Omegle introduced a video mode to complement the text chat mode, which pairs together strangers who are using web-cams and microphones. The video chat also has a text window built in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: black;">In 2011, the beta version of a new feature, "Spy Mode", was introduced. In Spy (Question) Mode, users have two options; to be the "spy" and ask a question of two strangers, or to discuss a question with another stranger. As the spy, the user inputs any question for the two strangers to answer or discuss and is able to view the discussion as a third party, albeit without being able to contribute further to the conversation. The spy can quit at any time without ending the chat for the two other strangers. If a user chooses to discuss a question instead, as in normal text mode, the user is paired with another stranger and can discuss the question the spy has asked up until the point the other stranger decides to disconnect and/or move on to another question. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">In 2012, Omegle added a special new feature to the text and video modes, the option to input "interest" tags. Adding interests lets users be paired with a stranger who has something in common with the user. A user can input as many interests as he or she would like, and if no available match is found, the user is paired with a completely random stranger instead. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"> <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">In 2013, an unmonitored version of the video chat mode was opened, leaving the original content moderator-regulated video section open to anyone aged thirteen and up as long as the content of his or her video stream is clean. Initially, questionable adult content in the video section of Omegle was filtered using image recognition algorithms only. The newer unmonitored video section allows consenting adults over the age of eighteen the freedom to view, and share with one another, uncensored explicit video streams. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">In 2014, Omegle began experimenting with a "Dorm Chat" mode, which requires the user to provide an e-mail address ending in "</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.edu"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">.edu</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: black;">" to verify that they are associated with a college or university. Dorm Chat allows the user to chat with his or her classmates and colleagues on Omegle.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Parents, if that alone does not scare the ever living daylights out of you I don’t know what will. </span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lz_SzJDjaKQ/U3Jhd-r5TmI/AAAAAAAADKo/bBvO_6Vcm5o/s1600/whisper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lz_SzJDjaKQ/U3Jhd-r5TmI/AAAAAAAADKo/bBvO_6Vcm5o/s1600/whisper.jpg" height="60" width="60" /></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Whisper</span></b> – Via the app description: “Whisper is an anonymous social network that allows people to express themselves, connect with like-minded individuals, and discover the unseen world around us. With Whisper, you can anonymously share your thoughts and emotions with the world, and form lasting and meaningful relationships in a community built around trust and honesty. If you have ever had something too intimate to share on traditional social networks, simply share it on Whisper.” This app allows you to anonymously connect with other users through responding “whispers” or with free private messaging.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 7pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3PQ4YZMnvGo/U3JhaIkNNGI/AAAAAAAADJ4/LjuO-y3euz8/s1600/hotornot.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3PQ4YZMnvGo/U3JhaIkNNGI/AAAAAAAADJ4/LjuO-y3euz8/s1600/hotornot.jpeg" height="60" width="60" /></span></a><span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Hot or Not </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">– </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Via Wikipedia: “The purpose of the app 'Hot or Not' is to rate pictures of other people. When you rate somebody as hot, and they rate you as hot, then you become connections. When you're connected, you get to chat with each other. Users also receive a hotness rating out of 10 based on the number of people who rate you as hot, vs. those who don't.” </span>Via app description: "Hot or Not. Get in. Get seen. Get fans! Check out if you are Hot, find interesting people around you and chat with them. The hottest online community with over 190 million members!" This is clearly a sexually charged app. Parents, please, let’s all be smart about this…enough said.</span></div>
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<div>
<span style="color: black;"> </span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IKkQU7JoAJc/U3JhZEgCPMI/AAAAAAAADJk/COk4rmOdIxQ/s1600/down.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IKkQU7JoAJc/U3JhZEgCPMI/AAAAAAAADJk/COk4rmOdIxQ/s1600/down.jpg" height="60" width="60" /></span></a><span style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Down</span></b> – Formerly “Bang with Friends”. This app is linked through Facebook. It’s slogan is “Anonymously find people in your social network who are down for the night.” Via the app description: “1. <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Pick your hot friends anonymously 2. They pick you</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">3. We send you a private email hooking you two up</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">4. Go on your date or get down! </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Bang With Friends is now DOWN: We are the original and official way to bang your friends!” </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Once again, enough said.</span></span></div>
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<o:p></o:p><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"></span><span style="color: black;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"> <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"></span> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: black;"><b>Parents, it's time. It time to get our heads out of the sand on this one. We have got to be educated on this thing called social media and smartphones. The ignorance MUST stop! I have watched families, marriages, children, mothers, fathers, young adults, older adults, churched, and unchurched alike, being completely wrecked by this. Their lives forever altered with negative consequences that are far outreaching just them and their immediate families. I have looked in the faces of people I know and love, who have been wounded and hurt by the consequences of ignorance in this area. Knowledge is power. Get informed so that you can get involved helping not just your child, but yourself as well, set boundaries in this area. Our enemy prowls around like a lion seeking whom he may devour... don't let him in to devour your child, your family, or your home though a piece of technology that you can hold in your hand. It's YOUR RESPONSIBILITY!!! If you are a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, or sibling of a young person, or you have a young person that you care about in your life, it's your responsibility. If you own a smartphone yourself, it's your responsibility. Wake up. Stand up. Get informed. Get involved. <i>Stay</i> informed. <i>Stay</i> involved. And above all, lets love our children enough to hold them accountable and set boundaries for them, especially in this incredibly dangerous world that is social media and smartphones. It's time.</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">- Sara</span></div>
</div>
Reality Check, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10031476385363578098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564605704258852139.post-15468281897175914452014-06-23T11:00:00.002-07:002014-06-23T11:00:53.915-07:00Creating the Paradigm Shift<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Part of my summer agenda is to clean out old files, either
my desk or my computer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ran
across this today and though it was worth repeating.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Okay, it’s summer; you may be wondering what we are doing at
the office. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the work in the
schools is finished for the season, the training and programs continue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have been wrapping up the final
numbers, entering data from the school year, reviewing program impact and
assessing personal evaluations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
discuss, how effective have we been?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Where could we, as instructors, improve?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What have we learned that will move our program to the next
level of excellence, etc?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
during one of those sessions that we had a visit from a student who had
recently graduated from one of our local schools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He stopped by unexpectedly and stayed for a couple of hours
talking to our staff about the power and importance Reality, Check, Inc. had on
his life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He first began in our
program in the 8<sup>th</sup> grade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He was one of the students who slumped in his chair and acted like he
was too cool, or too sleepy, for the information.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 9<sup>th</sup> grand, he was the one with the chip on his
shoulder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In, 10<sup>th</sup>
grade, he made some personal decisions that caused him to have legal
consequences and spend some time in juvenile detention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His 11<sup>th</sup> grade year, he was
surprised to see Reality Check, Inc. at the alternative educational program he
attended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He even got chosen for a
“Backpack” visual about how negative choices add unnecessary weight to our future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This caught his attention and surprised
him as it began to refresh his memory and bring to understanding all of the
things he had learned from Reality Check, Inc. in the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His senior year, he was at a different alternative
school to help him catch up on credits he had missed, again Reality Check, Inc.
showed up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time he was eager
to not only hear the information but also to actively gain more knowledge by
engaging in discussion and seeking more information and mentoring outside the
classroom setting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The change and
growth in this young man has been incredible to watch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think the most powerful things he
shared with the instructors that day was the following: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Don’t
believe the student who pretends not to care</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said, “In eighth grade you planted a seed in my heart
that stuck with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You said I had
value, and that I was special, my choices matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one had ever told me that before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was only pretending not to listen,
after all, I had my reputation to think about.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">You
change more teens than you think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>He
said, “You didn’t make all the kids want to make better decisions about sex,
drugs, alcohol, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are
still some that may want to, but you are like a speed bump in the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When it comes down to it, they can’t
forget the information you share with them.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He recounted several instances of when his friends or he
made the correct choice because they couldn’t shake the truth of the knowledge
they had on how and why to make the positive choice for their future.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Don’t
underestimate the power of truth combined with caring.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He shared what a powerful impact that the
respect our instructors show each student has on their lives and futures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said, “When you teach us, you don’t
put your self above us as having something we can’t obtain in our life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are on our level, not in a
peer-to-peer way, but in an understanding way that you know where we are
at.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t judge us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You want to help us by giving us
knowledge and skills that help us succeed.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He paused for a minute and said, “No, you really but
yourself underneath us, and life us up to a higher standard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You lift us up to where you know we can
go.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You already know, there wasn’t a dry eye in the office by
this time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reaching teens is not
about having and using the latest technology.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It isn’t only about having that educational degree, or using
the latest teaching techniques, although those things can enhance to
experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It isn’t about the age
or gender of the instructor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
about the power of giving time, a pat on the back, a simple, eye-to-eye; “How’s
your day going?”, or, “I’m glad you’re here.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or most importantly, “Your choices matter because you
matter.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is about being
committed to care about this generation and having the passion to see them
succeed.</div>
<i>This doesn't just apply to instructors in a classroom. These three
principals can be applied in the home, in business, and in faith-based
organization. Take some time today to share truth with a caring
attitude, even if it is not well received in the moment.</i> Reality Check, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10031476385363578098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564605704258852139.post-55070060917934106262013-05-23T14:39:00.002-07:002013-05-23T14:41:30.343-07:00Social Media and Our Children <br />
Parents, have you heard of SnapChat, Ask.fm, Kik, or Bang with Friends? Are your kids on them? Are you sure? Have you checked?<br />
These are just a few currently popular, yet very dangerous social media outlets, that provide zero benefit for your child. I beg you, do your research. It's not nosy, it's protection.<br />
If you have any questions, or would like to have more information regarding the dangers of these apps, how to protect your child and help them set boundaries in this area, or of social media in general, please message me or email me at leesarawood@gmail.com and we can talk! Lets join together to put a protective shield around our children in this potentially dangerous world that is social media!<br />
<br />
<br />
<img src="webkit-fake-url://F1AC8738-80FE-4DC2-88C5-FD7626B8673E/imagejpeg" />Reality Check, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10031476385363578098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564605704258852139.post-25722686125578872472013-04-18T14:11:00.000-07:002013-04-18T14:11:53.088-07:00Little Project with Big Results
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<div class="MsoNormal">
My heart is bursting…
I have been so blessed today.
How great is the Father’s love for us! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m not sure what any of us expected back in January, when three
young men, from the Alternative School where our Reality Check office is
located, tossed this idea out. We
were working in the Life-Skills program room when one of the young men said he
would like to make something for someone else, since they had learned to sew
during the fall semester. They
wanted to give back to the community.
The idea was decided on to make bibs for the local nursing home. They didn’t want to leave anyone out so
the goal was set to make about 70 bibs.
Somehow over the next few months the project morphed to making
lap-quilts and pillows, as well as bibs.
What started out, as three young men’s idea soon became a project where
all of the students became involved and had a hand in creating gifts. Some cut material, matched up pieces of
fabric, sewed, tied quilts, designed pillows, stuffed pillows, made tags of
encouragement, laughed, learned, and built community and a family spirit. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today, about seventy young people, bearing 96 quilts,
pillows, and bibs went to the nursing home to deliver the gifts they had made
for the residents. What they
brought to the nursing home was far more than quilts and pillows. They brought hugs, warm smiles, and
sweet faces to give and receive kisses.
They brought kindness and love.
They left with full hearts, eyes filled with tears, and a call in their
soul to go back again. They
reached outside themselves, outside their generation, and found hands reaching
back bridging any age difference, just people giving and receiving
unconditional love. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Stepping outside my role of Director and speaking purely
from my heart. I saw the heart of
Jesus Christ on display today, and I know He was smiling.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He also has a gift for each of these people, both young and
old. His arms of love are reaching
out, when we reach out to Him, we find the gift of unconditional love,
acceptance, and reconciliation. We
find the heart of Jesus Christ, and we are forever changed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thank you young men and women for your attitudes and actions
today. Attitudes and actions that
brought honor, dignity, and respect, not only to yourselves, but to your
family, your school, the residents, and your community. I am so very proud of you.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Beth Bryant</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiojYcKOapHYebxBfasJC1FNBUgxguxbvfIQBDxTbw4DQJkbDH_a-n9LTXDezPq5QJrjLv1AFrLCkC-2CxYHp-A9TDPyFbmR4q4ltajbkUFwWUEathXVzSJxmxLo6Zsrwu6vFUDdGZcsjQ/s1600/IMG_4790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiojYcKOapHYebxBfasJC1FNBUgxguxbvfIQBDxTbw4DQJkbDH_a-n9LTXDezPq5QJrjLv1AFrLCkC-2CxYHp-A9TDPyFbmR4q4ltajbkUFwWUEathXVzSJxmxLo6Zsrwu6vFUDdGZcsjQ/s320/IMG_4790.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEPsEkt54tlykv3mB2_G8_3HHfkqe_YsQkFvSenl0vPIPKcsApse17mzf7Jflx9GR965xEKf6V8dBAjkiGBWc67P0JEVLLC7cfmmlZdRlDra3Ms-5x1WH8uro9DleqWpbMgUacyEUdqg/s1600/IMG_4794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEPsEkt54tlykv3mB2_G8_3HHfkqe_YsQkFvSenl0vPIPKcsApse17mzf7Jflx9GR965xEKf6V8dBAjkiGBWc67P0JEVLLC7cfmmlZdRlDra3Ms-5x1WH8uro9DleqWpbMgUacyEUdqg/s320/IMG_4794.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Reality Check, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10031476385363578098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564605704258852139.post-52256083755732180202013-04-05T13:29:00.003-07:002013-04-05T13:32:46.381-07:00Your Teen Wants to Hear What You Have To Say!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Monday we start after-school classes for about 23 middle school students. These teen's parents cared enough about them getting correct, powerful information that they organized a week of private Reality Check Classes in an after-school setting. I am so proud of their tenacity to work out details to bring this about. It is refreshing to know these teens have a strong support system that will help them navigate this important time in their development. Not every teen has this advantage unfortunately. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
One of our presenters just finished teaching an eight day program at a high school near by. Here are just a few cards that caught my heart. So grateful for our Instructors who unashamedly share this important message with teens. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7AHbizLe7fXIiLAMKJYWIxyD3qQdxAdbLzvaxArz6JD6lQGgnWZRSwxMk29uROshmMw2ySRKtJrU_M8M77apCiYMsMPVOCuiRQlhoP7JTd1FscOpQRNqmw2GTsvOE_A1RqIP8ZuHgTHI/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7AHbizLe7fXIiLAMKJYWIxyD3qQdxAdbLzvaxArz6JD6lQGgnWZRSwxMk29uROshmMw2ySRKtJrU_M8M77apCiYMsMPVOCuiRQlhoP7JTd1FscOpQRNqmw2GTsvOE_A1RqIP8ZuHgTHI/s320/photo+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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These three cards have shown us that most students do not have an adult in their life that has the courage to step up and talk about those "awkward" or "uncomfortable" things. The truth is, teenagers want information. They want to be "in the know." But, if they don't have trustworthy adults in their lives to talk about these things with them, they're going to look for it in different avenues.</div>
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Parents, it is important to TALK to your teenager. Don't let them be uninformed and then make decisions that they will later regret. </div>
Reality Check, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10031476385363578098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564605704258852139.post-3646246271515162222013-01-28T13:30:00.001-08:002013-01-28T13:34:24.934-08:00Reality Check, Inc. wants to thank James Yandell with Walmart International, Brazil, for speaking to the Extended Day and Crossroads students. He gave an excellent presentation and interesting Q&A session for approximately 120 students. Mr. Yandell spoke to the students regarding:<br />
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"How to be Successful in Life and Business"</div>
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1: Dependability: Be on time, keep your word and follow through.</div>
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2: Good Judgement: Look at your choices and consequences and developing the ability to choose wisely.</div>
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3: Trustworthy: Building honesty in relationships.</div>
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4: Communication: Learning effective clear communication.</div>
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5: Alignment: Learn to align your God-given talents and abilities with available opportunities. This involves knowing yourself, likes/dislikes, strengths/weaknesses, etc. </div>
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Thank you for sharing from your life experiences and insight. </div>
Reality Check, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10031476385363578098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564605704258852139.post-29220428481216463342013-01-14T13:38:00.001-08:002013-01-14T13:38:05.632-08:00
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I am so thankful for the men and women who have taken time
to volunteer when Reality Check, Inc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> has asked. </span>It is an honor to have you come and speak to the
students we work with in the Extended Day and Crossroads school. A word fitly
spoken does change lives.</div>
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Today, we had the privilege of having Greg Bohannan,
professional FLW fisherman, give his time and speak from his heart into the
lives of these young men and women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He shared Seven Steps to Success, using his life story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Always add value:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be sure to bring value into every relationship or situation
in your life.</div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Find what you are passionate about and go after
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t let the negativity or
discouragement of others sway you from your dream.</div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Be extraordinary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do something to stand out from the crowd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Work hard.</div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Find a good mentor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Iron sharpens iron.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Choose friends that will strengthen your values.</div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Know your finances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Develop the habit of saving for a rainy day.</div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Protect your integrity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your past will follow you, so guard
your integrity.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Be resilient. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything you do will have its ups and downs, persevere.</div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Thank you, Greg for
challenging us to follow what we are passionate about, and that we can be
anything we desire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Appreciate
these great life principles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>
Reality Check, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10031476385363578098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564605704258852139.post-25884829763033325852012-09-27T09:23:00.000-07:002012-09-27T09:25:46.006-07:00Deserving Honor<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbORiXcHDYQ4jL1bCLcT1TAJHCf7nBmpF0jkIK8RmQzuEsnAl3N4nva2NwKbgE8mU0gr5pVZJOsroy6x668BkHQFj_WNY-WY5GSQ2awTbtDvRIK-FJMyf2iQPv5jqzHnVFNlaGwfSOd0A/s1600/photo.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714660911860674322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbORiXcHDYQ4jL1bCLcT1TAJHCf7nBmpF0jkIK8RmQzuEsnAl3N4nva2NwKbgE8mU0gr5pVZJOsroy6x668BkHQFj_WNY-WY5GSQ2awTbtDvRIK-FJMyf2iQPv5jqzHnVFNlaGwfSOd0A/s320/photo.JPG" style="float: right; height: 239px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a>In reference to the question "What was the impact Reality Check program made on you the last couple of weeks?" this young man replied,</div>
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"Makes me realize that I'm not the only one that is saving sex until marriage. This class has encouraged me and made me feel good for making my choices from my heart and for who I am.</div>
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Job 31:1</div>
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Proverbs 31 woman</div>
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Ephethens [Ephesians] 5</div>
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P.S. Thanks man I enjoyed your speaking"<br />
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This is a young man that we here at RCI greatly admire! Here's why...</div>
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The Bible verse Job 31:1 says,</div>
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"But I made an agreement with my eyes not to look with desire at a girl."<br />
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Love this! I mean come on, what girl <i>really</i> wants to be lusted after anyhow?<br />
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%205&version=NCV">Ephesians 5 </a>:<br />
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To my ladies - </div>
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Now I don't know about you, but that card gives hope to this young woman! So often us ladies find ourselves wondering, "Is there any good, godly guy out there for me?" Don't lie, whether your married now, or single, we've all wondered it at one time in our life...<br />
The truth? There is! Sure, it may take a while for your Prince Charming, Mr. Right, or whatever you wish to call your future husband, to come. But I'm going to tell you, he will come. Be patient for the plan that God has for you! He is preparing an imperfect man for you, and when he's ready, and when you're ready, it will be played out perfectly by the orchestrator Himself.<br />
<br />
Playing the waiting game does not mean that you sit back and do nothing. Waiting is an active thing. Webster says: "Waiting; intransitive verb. 4a. to be ready and available." <i>Available</i>? I'm sure you're thinking yes to that! But, <i>ready</i>? Lets take a look at that, shall we?<br />
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If you haven't ever read about the Proverbs 31 Woman and have no clue what I am talking about, go ahead and read it for me by clicking <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs%2031&version=NCV" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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<b>(Reality Check Staff thanks one of our own "Single Ladies" for the above post. It is encouraging to watch a young person living out in power the same information and advice they share with teens. Modeling what she believes is powerful teaching!)</b><br />
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Reality Check, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10031476385363578098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564605704258852139.post-88978607424026214362012-09-27T09:16:00.002-07:002012-09-27T09:16:28.147-07:00Show Up & Participate
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Handwriting - Dakota";">“This class made me re-evaluate my
choices in school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to show
up every day and participate in my own future.”</span></b> – 11<sup>th</sup> grade
student</div>
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Have you ever been guilty of just “Going through the motions”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think we all have at one time or
another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a powerful day when
we get that wake up call to not just “show up”, but to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“show up and participate.”</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What needs re-evaluated in
your choices today?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s join
this young person by choosing no only to re-evaluate, but to be honest enough
to say, “I want to show up <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Every Day</b>
and participate in my own future.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>By doing that, I guarantee you will not only change your future, you
will also be impacting someone else’s future.</span>
Reality Check, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10031476385363578098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564605704258852139.post-6632851648914842842011-10-25T15:05:00.000-07:002011-10-25T15:14:57.925-07:00The Wisdom of Seventh Grade<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.seoconsultants.com/just-say-no/images/no-stds-100.gif"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 100px; height: 100px;" src="http://www.seoconsultants.com/just-say-no/images/no-stds-100.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <p class="MsoNormal">Seventh graders are such a mix of amazing maturity and naïve-innocence at the same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They keep me, as an instructor, totally on the tip of my toes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They can exhibit such maturity and depth of understanding and wisdom and then a split second later ask a question that makes you wonder if they have heard a word that has been said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I was introducing the day’s topic recently and explaining that we would be talking about STD’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A young lady quickly raised her hand and with a wise look around the room announced that she knew what that meant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She proudly informed the room that STD’s stood for “Stop The Dramas.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Oh how I wish that were true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The sad reality is that it is closer to meaning “Start the Dramas.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Just think how the drama stops when a person understands the importance of choosing sexual integrity, and saves their sex for their committed marriage relationship where faithfulness is practiced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The rate of STD’s would radically decline, so would the cases of cervical cancer, prostate cancer, throat and lung cancer, and according to recent studies, breast cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There would be a sharp decline in infertility, ectopic pregnancies, and babies with preventable health complication.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Depression and its accompanying health issues would decrease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Guilt and self-reproach would not be the rolling tape in the brain that causes one to seek relief in drugs or alcohol, plunging one into a ever deepening downward spiral. In fact, if sexual integrity were practiced, many of our social ailments would cease to exist or exist only in the small minority. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Can we dare to think sexual integrity might be the choice of this generation? Absolutely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This generation, armed with the whole truth about the power and importance of guarding their sexual and emotional health by guarding their sexual integrity, will bring about social change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Go Generation @.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We believe you can <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>“Stop The Drama”. </p>Reality Check, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10031476385363578098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564605704258852139.post-24745370014526597172011-05-11T13:46:00.000-07:002011-05-11T14:06:43.392-07:00Reality Checked<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheteYEMAr_q4XcTmq7AAi4fbkqr2M5O8LhyphenhyphenQtEMJLF4Fd7HcTec23oZ5T8cNpTz_eAi61RWCbvoMwyMTkzcpnFx1RvXieRc0disfSKzJaQy7ChTy-8F5q_Xx-n6bN5AgKjXUBv2e97pzg/s1600/realitycheckedblogindex.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 100px; height: 75px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheteYEMAr_q4XcTmq7AAi4fbkqr2M5O8LhyphenhyphenQtEMJLF4Fd7HcTec23oZ5T8cNpTz_eAi61RWCbvoMwyMTkzcpnFx1RvXieRc0disfSKzJaQy7ChTy-8F5q_Xx-n6bN5AgKjXUBv2e97pzg/s320/realitycheckedblogindex.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605567134675531762" border="0" /></a><br /> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <p class="MsoNormal">Dark eyes glistening with tears, he stands, and his chin quivers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He shuffles his feet, uncomfortable, and says, “Um, Mrs. Bryant, those symptoms for a girl, do guys have the same symptoms for that STD?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">My heart starts beating a little faster, dreading what might come next, I say, “You know, bud, we’ll talk about that tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We’ll get there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Tomorrow when you come to class we’ll discuss the impact of that STD on a male’s reproductive system… tomorrow.” </p> <p class="MsoNormal">“But, Mrs. Bryant, I need to know, like now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Would the symptoms be…” and He begins to list them one after another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>My heart sinks to the floor and I think; I want to pick him up and I just want to run with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I want to run back in time to when he was a little boy and he needed someone to stand with him and say, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>“You are loved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>You are so valuable. Your future is so important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I know you can make the right choices because you are too important not to.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I want to take him back in time to a place before he began looking for his value, significance or acceptance through his sex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I want to take him back in time to a place before his life was touched with this choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">He goes home and thoughts of this STD dominate his whole mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He prays all night, “God show me a sign I don’t have this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>God give me a sign I’m okay.” It may be the first time he’s prayed in years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He begs, “Please, God, let me know I don’t have this.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The next morning, he’s not in class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I’m wondering, “Where are you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Where are you… you needed this information.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He got into a fight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Because anger and pain, those are emotions he understands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He knows how to deal with those.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He started dealing with those years ago when his dad walked out on him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He’s dealt with that for so long that it’s become his comfort area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When you’re fighting, that’s something tangible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This new fear, this unknown “What if…” that dominates him, is an enemy he is not comfortable with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And so, he fights.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">They allow him to stay so I can talk with him after class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He is waiting, expectantly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I ask him, “Do you really want to go over this information?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He says, “Yeah, please, I need to know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What did you teach today?” I went line by line through information on a few more STDs and I watch as fear just sweeps his face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I began talking about one particular STD and he says, “Mrs. Bryant, are the symptoms this, and this, and this…” and I say, “Yes they are.” And again, I know in my heart, this young boy isn’t dealing with one, he is dealing with multiple sexually transmitted diseases. This is made more difficult because he’s also dealing with a whole host of emotional baggage that has been building because of the hopelessness of his perception that he has no one in his life he can talk to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He’s 14, he’s a little boy and yet he has man size issues and no man in the home to help him deal with that.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“But, Mrs. Bryant, I used a condom.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>“I know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I know, I’m sorry.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>HPV doesn’t care when it lives outside the area a condom covers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What does it matter if you don’t get it in one specific place, if you have it everywhere else?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">He’s going to the doctor, going to find out for sure. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He sits in class, that confidence, that swagger he had when he walked into class that first day, gone… in its place, sits a wiser but wounded child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Where are the adults who will help him walk through this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Who will step up and help him move forward?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Who will make sure that we are there to talk to him again next year to encourage him in his walk?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Because that’s part of what Reality Check does; gives kids that support, gives them that encouragement, gives them someone on their team that says, “I believe in you, I know you can make the wise decisions.” And then holds them to that standard, and encourages them when they fall down to get back up and move forward.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Does he live next door to you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Is that the boy you’ve seen outside throwing or kicking the ball against the house because there is no one opposite him to throw, or kick to?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Will you walk across your yard and put your arm around him and let him know you care about him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>You believe he matters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Will you be Jesus with skin on?</p>Reality Check, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10031476385363578098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564605704258852139.post-26824801672761538592011-04-12T06:35:00.000-07:002011-04-12T06:46:56.163-07:00Changing Generations<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ4dkYgn8halGcHXKhyVVIDDGLwTbmWBBcdBs4gSbBM3uX0Mfm9JSeOeEDyQtak_MrnY6NSa7fXXGtvbbpF4bo8FYOVkyBK1ne3mmikSqR1uum5XMWGVuwDJPmWAVdLw-bIlO7okmDJjg/s1600/IMG_0318.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ4dkYgn8halGcHXKhyVVIDDGLwTbmWBBcdBs4gSbBM3uX0Mfm9JSeOeEDyQtak_MrnY6NSa7fXXGtvbbpF4bo8FYOVkyBK1ne3mmikSqR1uum5XMWGVuwDJPmWAVdLw-bIlO7okmDJjg/s320/IMG_0318.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594692842563948034" border="0" /></a><br /><br /> <style>@font-face { font-family: "Courier New"; }@font-face { font-family: "Wingdings"; }@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoListParagraph, li.MsoListParagraph, div.MsoListParagraph { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }ol { margin-bottom: 0in; }ul { margin-bottom: 0in; }</style> <p class="MsoNormal">Friday, Reality Check, Inc. finished a 10 day program with the Rogers Heritage High School.<span style=""> </span>It was a pleasure to spend that time with about 90 students.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">A young lady stopped me after class on Friday, as I was transitioning to another location, and shared a little about her life and the impact this program has had on her.<span style=""> </span>She has been in the program for the past 6 years and credits it for helping her make and keep boundaries that have given her confidence and skills she had needed to succeed.<span style=""> </span>She said she wanted to help in any way she could so this program remains available for other teens like herself who had been through past child abuse.<span style=""> </span>She wants to go to college and then help provide programs like this in the future.<span style=""> </span>While she was talking, a young man passed us and then stopped and said, “I was looking for you.<span style=""> </span>I want to see if I can have your contact information.<span style=""> </span>I have some friends that I really want to help and I wanted to give them your information.”<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It is humbling to see the passion and desire of these teens to reach out to a hurting, confused generation with truth without regard to what might be required of them or how others might see them.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Why does that passion and desire to help someone just because you care become cold, or why is it seen as “suspect” in the adult world of “budgets and finance”, “what’s in it for me”, and “who gets the credit”? </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I am so proud to work with a group of people who carry that fresh youthful passion to share truth and impact lives, just because it is the right thing to do.<span style=""> </span>The reward of that kind passion is the knowledge you are changing generations. </p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family:Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> <span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">This gave me knowledge to </span><b style="font-family: georgia;">live my life to the fullest</b><span style="font-family:georgia;">, but not make decisions I will regret.</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;font-family:georgia;"><span style="">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-size:7pt;" > </span></span>These last two weeks have shown me that to be successful, I have to make decisions and set boundaries that reflect my values.<span style=""> </span><b style="">I choose my future</b>.</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;font-family:georgia;"><span style="">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-size:7pt;" > </span></span>The impact Reality Check left on me was strengthening the core values I already had.<span style=""> </span>I’ve had Reality Check previously, but for some reason <b style="">everything opened my eyes a lot mor</b>e this time-maybe it’s because I’m older?<span style=""> </span>Thanks you guys, maybe I’ll see myself on the future example video’s like the couples.</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;font-family:georgia;"><span style="">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-size:7pt;" > </span></span>It made me think about what lots of people go through because they made wrong decisions.<span style=""> </span>I pretty sure that <b style="">if they’d heard about this they wouldn’t have made some of those mistakes.</b></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;font-family:georgia;"><span style="">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-size:7pt;" > </span></span>I now view sex with more understanding and open eyes.<span style=""> </span>I now <b style="">want to help others</b> by passing on this knowledge because <b style="">I have made many mistakes with my choices and I don’t want others to.</b></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;font-family:georgia;"><span style="">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-size:7pt;" > </span></span>The impact that it made on me was I need to really respect myself.<span style=""> </span>I never say NO to people and that hurts me cuz it gets me into the trouble I don’t need to be in.<span style=""> </span>Especially say NO to my BF because he is the main reason I probably get in trouble like having sex, and I’ve learned about diseases.</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;font-family:georgia;"><span style="">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-size:7pt;" > </span></span>After the last 2 weeks, I have realized that I need to plan my future for exactly what I want.<span style=""> </span>Without goals and boundaries, life is not going to pan out like I want.<span style=""> </span>I already made a commitment to not have sex until marriage, but I need to set more boundaries.<span style=""> </span>PS thank you!</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent: -0.25in;font-family:georgia;"><span style="">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-size:7pt;" > </span></span><b style="">I have no other way to gain this information</b>.<span style=""> </span>Thank you so much.<span style=""> </span>In my life I do not have good examples.<span style=""> </span>I did not know what is needed in a successful relationship.<span style=""> </span>Thanks to you I now know.<span style=""> </span>I do not want to carry my family’s baggage of life around anymore.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">You can’t put a price on that kind of impact, but since we have to, $32.50 is a small investment with huge returns. What are you investing? </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>Reality Check, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10031476385363578098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564605704258852139.post-44765246284643994972011-03-31T15:36:00.000-07:002011-03-31T15:45:53.726-07:00GOODBYE<div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvAqMfkogUbZXSMWpBaMqIHH8goVo_0oRfx5vwg9zpJVRE5X8BTDOVUkQ1sLoQfIFMA7j_Zk5J6jCkIUYLoJboqM7u_VrnR1nZlSFmTkX63fWwZnTGD5q-ugsdKfUK8zyGGPQ2k53A97A/s1600/DSCF9013.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 255px; height: 191px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvAqMfkogUbZXSMWpBaMqIHH8goVo_0oRfx5vwg9zpJVRE5X8BTDOVUkQ1sLoQfIFMA7j_Zk5J6jCkIUYLoJboqM7u_VrnR1nZlSFmTkX63fWwZnTGD5q-ugsdKfUK8zyGGPQ2k53A97A/s200/DSCF9013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590378065765639682" border="0" /></a> <style>@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <p class="MsoNormal">March 31, 2011</p> <p class="MsoNormal">My earliest memories of You are you sitting in training, usually cracking a joke, making people around you laugh, getting me laughing and off my train of thought, but always eager to learn.<span style=""> </span>One training day in particular, I don’t even remember what we were studying, but in an instant your hand slammed down on the table shocking everyone silent.<span style=""> </span>Your face blood red you said something about how unfair it was that the information we were learning had not been given to teens before now.<span style=""> </span>Your passion for sharing healthy truths and your love for teens was evident from the beginning.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">You have given three years to Reality Check, Inc. but more importantly, you have given time, healthy principles, knowledge, and unconditional love and support to teens across Northwest Arkansas and beyond.<span style=""> </span>The impact you have made on their lives will be lasting.<span style=""> </span>Much of it will have eternal significance.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">You have changed generations.<span style=""> </span>Future generations will experience being raised in a stronger family because of the time you took to share with their parents - today’s teens.<span style=""> </span>You have given many teens Hope.<span style=""> </span>What a powerful gift.<span style=""> </span>Your family, your children, will reap the benefits of your faithfulness to your calling, and it is a sure calling.<span style=""> </span>That level of care for others comes from a desire or obedience deeper than most people care or dare to go.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">This week we said goodbye to you dear friend. <span style=""> </span>We wish you well as you go to the next adventure that lays before you knowing that your love for others, passion for your family, and obedience to God go before you.<span style=""> </span>We will not only miss you in the office but you will be missed in the classrooms as well.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thank you again for your years of service.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Your Reality Check Family </p>Reality Check, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10031476385363578098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564605704258852139.post-79705033747748401112011-03-17T15:02:00.000-07:002011-03-17T15:04:58.277-07:00Lives Changed<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3XUC0dE3w1Vrf-xSom1d2lzuDjJ4cWpB0WuT47ZKJaY2O_O9HbKx0__QQBrg34CkOIbsg9Ts96C5JNeiGoYgq2uvY_gnopmHv286NMIC7dlvcpqev7ZBjbDcNRHNUNRV6TlFwlCV46EU/s1600/MP900448515.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3XUC0dE3w1Vrf-xSom1d2lzuDjJ4cWpB0WuT47ZKJaY2O_O9HbKx0__QQBrg34CkOIbsg9Ts96C5JNeiGoYgq2uvY_gnopmHv286NMIC7dlvcpqev7ZBjbDcNRHNUNRV6TlFwlCV46EU/s320/MP900448515.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585173147515714178" border="0" /></a><br /> <style>@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }@font-face { font-family: "Handwriting - Dakota"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <p class="MsoNormal">It is exciting to begin a program at a new school, but it is more exciting to finish the program.<span style=""> </span>I love the day the Instructors come back into the office and share their <b style="">“stories of lives changed.”</b><span style=""> </span>I asked Chad today about a particular student impact card he was sharing with Cassie, here is his story:</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“This student sat in the corner all week.<span style=""> </span>Quiet.<span style=""> </span>Hood on his head.<span style=""> </span>Earbuds in, IPod on. Dozing on and off.<span style=""> </span>I would have told you that he had heard nothing that I or the class had discussed all week.<span style=""> </span>It even got to the point that I had to remove the earbud from his ear.<span style=""> </span>He said that he wasn’t listening to it, but he turned it off when the teacher took the IPod.<span style=""> </span>Kind of funny, actually.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">When I read his card, I was shocked.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" >“It made me think Saturday what I was doing and the risks I was taking, so I said ‘NO’.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I am reminded to never take any student, or their attitude for granted.<span style=""> </span>You may never know the true impact that your words, your presence, or your simply taking the time to say hello is having or will have in a person’s life.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Who’s life are you changing without even being aware and is it a positive change?</p>Reality Check, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10031476385363578098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564605704258852139.post-7801955612465747472011-03-10T13:30:00.000-08:002011-03-10T13:46:30.985-08:00Butterfly Effect<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcmSDRINDyZAnjt_NVwZQ_njA2BWNrolUbOmDkHOX6p6mAlwnzeLdBNQ3IgFIqqR1is3iJpFbMAFPQs8kpH40g1C6avcyvPSTBStcBR3H7r5bwbcNK3nFmi4xNJ6jpVO84NWQ6JTnqDzM/s1600/CIMG0889.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcmSDRINDyZAnjt_NVwZQ_njA2BWNrolUbOmDkHOX6p6mAlwnzeLdBNQ3IgFIqqR1is3iJpFbMAFPQs8kpH40g1C6avcyvPSTBStcBR3H7r5bwbcNK3nFmi4xNJ6jpVO84NWQ6JTnqDzM/s320/CIMG0889.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582570223101676066" border="0" /></a><br /> <style>@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }@font-face { font-family: "Handwriting - Dakota"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <p class="MsoNormal">I have been at the computer most of the day.<span style=""> </span>My eyes are strained and my back is aching but my heart is full and hopeful.<span style=""> </span>Two cards in particular stood out to me today.<span style=""> </span>One was from a 6<sup>th</sup> grade girl and the other from an 8<sup>th</sup> grade boy.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The girl’s card read- </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" >“I always wanted a baby but having this class really changed that.<span style=""> </span>I don’t want one right now.<span style=""> </span>I know it is healthier for me, the baby, and the people around me if I wait.”<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><u>Just in time</u></i>… How would this girl’s life been different if she had not received the critical information Reality Check, Inc. was able to share with her?<span style=""> </span>What if she would have chased that desire for a baby like several young girls I’ve met?<span style=""> </span>How would her parents’, the boy’s, his parents’, their siblings’, our community’s lives been impacted by this one choice?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Like ripples on a lake or like the butterfly effect the choices of one are profound on all.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The boy’s card read-</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" >“Reality Check, Inc. showed me about integrity.<span style=""> </span>Many people think integrity has to do with big things like stealing, but it also comes in place during everyday life.<span style=""> </span>I think these small times of integrity are the ones that really show if you are honest.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">What will his impact be on your life and mine?<span style=""> </span>It will affect us as a whole.<span style=""> </span>Reading his card, reading both cards, I am hopeful. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I am hopeful, one, because God’s timing is impeccable and two, because there are young people out there who are grabbing hold of truth and letting it sink deep into the fabric of who they are and will be.<span style=""> </span>It is building discernment that is so often lacking.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Reality Check, Inc. is a vital part of any teen’s education.<span style=""> </span>What choice will you make to ensure this program continues in your school?<span style=""> </span>Call your administration or school board members.<span style=""> </span>Let them know how important this program is to you and your family.<span style=""> </span>Start a ripple…</p>Reality Check, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10031476385363578098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564605704258852139.post-7147189159296055112011-02-23T10:03:00.000-08:002011-02-23T10:35:22.220-08:00Empowering GIRLS!<span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);">We have finished our eight days at J O Kelly Middle School. The 7th grade girls I taught were wonderful young ladies. They have a desire to succeed and change not only their life but the lives of those around them. I want to share some of what they had to say:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:lucida grande;" ><br />"This had a lot of impact on me because I was going through some of these things. I had a person pressuring me to have sex with them and I was going to because everything wasn't going right at home. But my family is a very religious family and we believe in Abstinence but from this class I am not ever going to think about having sexual activity."</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">"</span></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I'm going to set boundaries so I don't mess up my core values in life. I do hang out with the wrong crowd so I am going to try to change that. Especially for my friend who has cancer. Thank you for showing me I've been doing wrong. I liked that you were really real. You spoke the truth."</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><br />"I learned about how many mistakes I made in just about 4 months. I lost trust and respect. You made me realize that I need to change. Thank you. You changed my life."</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">"I learned to set boundaries. I always say I will save my sex but I didn't have any boundaries and I realized that if you don't set boundaries its pushing me to break my promise. My grandmother and my mom got pregnant during high school and so I am ready to break that cycle, So thank you Reality Check."</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);">"This class has impacted my life so much. I always thought about drinking because my parents did. I tried one sip once, looking back on it, I regret it, because I've seen what it has done to my family and friends. Now, I am not going to try it even when I'm 21 or above, but I will control myself if I do. Because my dad doesn't. I wish he got to be in this class. I can't thank you enough!!! I won't forget when I was in Reality Check, Thanks to you! </span><br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Wish everyone could catch a glimpse of what happens when simple life truth is taught and hearts open to hear that truth.</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);"> We have a generation thirsting for truth, love, and someone to care that they exist. Go tell a teen today that you are thankful for them.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>Reality Check, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10031476385363578098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564605704258852139.post-10636302401215923722011-02-14T15:05:00.000-08:002011-02-14T15:11:36.181-08:00What is Love?<style>@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <p class="MsoNormal">I walked into an all girls class today, February 14, Valentine’s Day.<span style=""> </span>The room was buzzing with giggles, about who got flowers or candy from whom and who didn’t.<span style=""> </span>They were all excited to talk about “Love”.<span style=""> </span>I even heard a girl quote the line from the old song, “Love is all there is.” I was just as excited to talk about “love”.<span style=""> </span>But I was excited about the opportunity to give them the truth, not the mush and mixed up message they receive through today’s media, peers, and society in general.<span style=""> </span>We are going on a journey of discovery that will end with these young women holding their heads up with confidence, empowered by the knowledge that:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><span style="font-family: lucida grande;">I have value and worth. I am here for a purpose. I can make decisions to reduce and even eliminate negative risk. I have skills to take positive risk for a successful future. I understand true love, honorable character and genuine integrity. I will not be manipulated or taken advantage of because I didn’t understand my unique design both emotionally and physically. I will dream and I will be empowered with skills to make those dreams reality. I can’t change the past, but I can take charge and change my future, and that future is bright.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">For me it is going to be a great two weeks.<span style=""> </span>But for many of those girls, it is the beginning of a great new life.</p>Reality Check, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10031476385363578098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564605704258852139.post-10166116203221019822011-01-14T12:47:00.000-08:002011-01-14T12:49:42.646-08:00Sustaining Passion<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background-color: transparent; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span id="internal-source-marker_0.8313087250571698" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">T</span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">he other day my husband, Randy and I were visiting about life and work, and having a passion for what you do and how to sustain that passion over time, and is it personality or is it choice, or what is it that continues to drive passion, etc. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">We were each quietly thinking our own thoughts when Randy looked at me and said, “You know, back before we got married, when I used to work at the furniture store…” I love those stories…He had my full attention. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Randy worked for a furniture store delivering furniture. The owner of the store would tell him all about a piece of furniture when it came in, especially the large dining room sets. They would examine the wood, the structure, and the craftsmanship. They would discuss its beauty. They would talk about what it meant to the customer who would purchase it. Randy said he remembered the first time he put one of those dining room sets on the delivery truck and how careful he was not to bump or nick the wood, how carefully he handled each chair and how carefully he placed the pieces into its new owner’s home. He remembered the sense of awe and relief when it had been delivered safely. His boss said, “I want you to remember how that feels, because there will come a day when you have delivered a hundred of these sets and if you are not careful, you will loose that awe. When that happens, something will get broken. You will start banging the pieces around and bumping into doorframes and walls. “ He would say, “To you it may become just another heavy set of furniture, but to that customer, it is something precious, something that will be where memories center around. It will see birthdays, Holiday gatherings, etc. They deserve your best.” So each time a new set of dining room furniture went out, he was reminded anew to take some time, examine the beauty of the piece before he begin the job of delivering it.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Maybe that is the key to sustaining a passion for what you have been called to do. Maybe it is as simple as examining the beauty of what you get to do each day. Realizing that while at times it may feel mundane or familiar to you, it may be an important part of someone else’s day, or life. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Thanks Reality Check, Inc. staff for always remembering to examine the beauty of what you get to do in delivering truth to young people every day. Thank you for being careful on how you deliver those programs. Thank you for making each presentation special because you understand that each student is receiving important truths and skills for their lives that will help them build beautiful memories. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Thank you Randy for reminding me.</span></span></span></div>Reality Check, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10031476385363578098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564605704258852139.post-34612958584256007712010-12-20T12:01:00.001-08:002010-12-20T12:01:49.752-08:00THE WOUND<meta name="Title" content=""> <meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <link rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/benalarid/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_filelist.xml"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">It’s not the big conversations we have as parents, but the little phrases spoken, the glances, or the refusal to make eye contact that carry the most power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Today I took a call from a young lady that is hurting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The physical pain a parent inflicts on a child is understood as out of control and devastating to that child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Most parents would never cross that line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>However, the blows landed by the power of a phrase or a look is many times even more devastating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Those are the hidden blows that don’t show in colors of black and blue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But they leave a wound deep in the heart and soul that may fester long after bruises heal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That wound left untended, and ignored begins to show its destruction in the choices that child makes and will continue to make until that wound in finally cleansed and allowed to heal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">A month ago I sat in my office and visited with a woman, dying of cancer, who’s biggest wound(and her wounds were great,) was caused by a short phrase uttered by her mom and reechoed in that woman’s heart for 29 years, “You are worthless.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This week I sat in the home of a 12 year old girl and watched that cycle repeat it self.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Careless words that come fast and slip weightless from the mouth of an embarrassed or angry parent fall like the weight of a building on fragile spirits.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Parents, our teens can and will frustrate us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Lets remember, please weigh carefully the weight of words spoken, or affection with held.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Chose to bless and not tear down your teens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Make your words of discipline a gift to help them succeed, not a wound of destruction. </p> <!--EndFragment-->Reality Check, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10031476385363578098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564605704258852139.post-74818088783071630012010-10-14T09:40:00.000-07:002010-10-14T09:59:37.460-07:00FOR $16.25 per student…<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u><br /></u></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYr2IJdkc8KnnSHGylFUZp39QteYpfCwZeU38Omdlk53ZfFphIemDGDD4JWN3MDCTAo937fQcxxgQpBPpan6hMLA6kO05Q6ykL_IHLUDqmnKTDsUpDlMvJuAc9ouD-EzeGHSTFIXR6L20/s1600/3Miscellaniouspictures334.jpg"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><b><p class="MsoNormal" style="display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span">FOR $16.25 per student…</span></p></b></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96xihNFMy3rroJInYVDDdV57IzACKC1AslteVh892h8Pu6umRgJ5GF5em0UKe-KKxMNOs7wUb4zh9fo9ndnLt8nW9y-UhUwcnhdPsrquyzMJPml63TISSc8hTllGa1Oq5ddQxeTVG3-o/s1600/100_0532.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96xihNFMy3rroJInYVDDdV57IzACKC1AslteVh892h8Pu6umRgJ5GF5em0UKe-KKxMNOs7wUb4zh9fo9ndnLt8nW9y-UhUwcnhdPsrquyzMJPml63TISSc8hTllGa1Oq5ddQxeTVG3-o/s320/100_0532.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527945786584784770" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><b><p class="MsoNormal" style="display: inline !important; "><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span">Your son will understand and have a new respect for himself, his potential and abilities.</span></span></p></b></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span">Your son will have the skills to succeed because he understands and applies the disciplines of delayed gratification, boundary setting, and establishing goals.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span">Your son will have an understanding that his choices today impact his choices or ability to choose tomorrow. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span">Your son will walk with confidence because he understands the true measure of being a man is not in the number of women he can conquer, but in the ability to conquer himself and love one woman for a life-time. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span">Your son will have a respect for women of all ages.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span">Your son will understand and establish his core values. Those values will define the direction of his life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span">Your son will have the courage to stand tall and defend his values. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span">Your son will understand how to be a husband and a father that truly lead his family in safety, power, faithfulness and love.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span">Your son will not be deceived or pressured into accepting less out of life and love than the very best. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYr2IJdkc8KnnSHGylFUZp39QteYpfCwZeU38Omdlk53ZfFphIemDGDD4JWN3MDCTAo937fQcxxgQpBPpan6hMLA6kO05Q6ykL_IHLUDqmnKTDsUpDlMvJuAc9ouD-EzeGHSTFIXR6L20/s320/3Miscellaniouspictures334.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527945790616340722" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><b><p class="MsoNormal" style="display: inline !important; "><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span">Your daughter will understand that beauty is about the whole person not just the external package.</span></span></p></b></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span">Your daughter will have the confidence in her abilities that gives her the permission to dream extravagantly. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span">Your daughter will blossom into womanhood without the scars that many moms carry.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span">Your daughter will have the confidence to say no to the pressure of the crowd.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span">Your daughter will hear your heart louder than the voices of media, peers, or hormones.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span">Your daughter will understand that her value and worth does not lie in her sex.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span">Your daughter will understand that past choices don’t define her future. Mercy is new each morning.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span">You daughter will not experience the difficulty of being a teenage mom.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBu0BmevmYy3gU9Fhp6-KmJbw6gT-KP8eHE0LDcLG75_YEB9KumXjbvia0KNyDpXmy6pWg2OOzxRY2aVcTq2rk6LwMoIjkaxkY4vZkzYLeLyrCKInbAo7i-7fT20ohAMaeuv0n4rkJR_s/s1600/109.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBu0BmevmYy3gU9Fhp6-KmJbw6gT-KP8eHE0LDcLG75_YEB9KumXjbvia0KNyDpXmy6pWg2OOzxRY2aVcTq2rk6LwMoIjkaxkY4vZkzYLeLyrCKInbAo7i-7fT20ohAMaeuv0n4rkJR_s/s320/109.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527947245547821010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></span></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><b><p class="MsoNormal" style="display: inline !important; "><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span">Your child will have the courage to open the closet and face their past and deal with their most frightening secrets.</span></span></p></b></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span">Your child will learn the importance of forgiveness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span">Your child will have a renewed passion for their present and their future.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span">Your child will be empowered to teach others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span">Your child will have the ability to give you healthy grandchildren at the appropriate time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span">Your child will realize that being different from the crowd will not make them weaker but stronger.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span">Your child will understand that their choices matter because they matter. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span">Your child will understand they have value and worth that no choice and no person can take from them.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></p></b></span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Reality Check, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10031476385363578098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564605704258852139.post-24657940199489024942010-10-05T13:03:00.000-07:002010-10-05T14:32:07.051-07:00You're Still "IT"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-lIFEmPI1G29_Zw46XBrHkx1YnqRovbF6IC3M6kXB6EZUjK1H0KsdMWGkTT6atFF7rPWCXnwaZRsc6is_JFjiw8zo2hh5FbYkx_Cri8sTqLSBJaz47nO2Tm_pFec0X6FNQTUu9fmJfCI/s1600/13759_512853192089_115800395_30525542_4878072_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-lIFEmPI1G29_Zw46XBrHkx1YnqRovbF6IC3M6kXB6EZUjK1H0KsdMWGkTT6atFF7rPWCXnwaZRsc6is_JFjiw8zo2hh5FbYkx_Cri8sTqLSBJaz47nO2Tm_pFec0X6FNQTUu9fmJfCI/s320/13759_512853192089_115800395_30525542_4878072_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524665289902946226" border="0" /></a><br />With Halloween coming up I have been thinking about the funny little outfits that kids wear or in some case what we MAKE our kids wear. That lead me to think about just dressing up as a kid. (I know my thoughts jump around pretty quickly!) I remember trying on my Mom's shoes, her scarfs, or anything else I could get a hold of at the time. I always thought the item fit me just right!<br /><br />I even remember sneaking into my Granny's bathroom and trying on ALL of her make-up (even that crazy shade of orange lipstick, which I will always be impressed she wore). That escapade I certainly got in trouble for though.<br /><br />As I got a bit older, I still borrowed my Mom's shoes (just my size) but took an interest in politics. My Dad was in the state legislature during the time and I swore up and down I was going to be governor one day. I got plugged into everything my Dad was into because I just knew I would end up in the political scene.<br /><br />Well, I can STILL fit into my Mom's shoes, which now has been flipped because SHE likes fitting into mine as well! Isn't it funny how we have such an esteem for our parents as we grow up. We want to dress like them, perhaps have a similar job. They are the "IT" grown-up!<br /><br />I think as parents we forget that about our kids. They may look older, talk older, and be bigger than you, but deep inside you're still "IT" for them. Maybe somewhere along the road, for some, peers have told them differently about you. That you're out of touch, can't relate, or too busy to care.<br /><br />This is what I LOVE LOVE LOVE about Reality Check Inc! We flip that on it's ugly head! We are seeing kids talking to their parents again. Kids excited about being around YOU! Reality Check Inc. programs are there to usher in that respect and redeem that esteem for you as a parent. Listen to these kids:<br /><br /> <style>@font-face { font-family: "Calibri"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <span style="line-height: 115%; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">"<span style="font-weight: bold;">I became closer to my mom because of the homework.</span> I learned how to <span style="font-weight: bold;">ask my mom personal questions</span>. I also made the decision to stay abstinent until marriage. This class made me realize a lot of important things about life!</span>" </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span> <style>@font-face { font-family: "Calibri"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <span style="line-height: 115%; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><br />"Knowing the facts on std's, this class has <span style="font-weight: bold;">impacted me to tell my mom what's going on in my life</span>.<span style=""> </span>My boyfriend and I have had sex and we promised to slow things down.<span style=""> </span>I've taken a lot from this class and it's helped me think about my future and my decisions." </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span> <style>@font-face { font-family: "Calibri"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <span style="line-height: 115%; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >"This class has lightened my path for the future.<span style=""> </span>It has shown me that my life it's my choice and if I live it with integrity, then it will turn out the best choices ever.<span style=""> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Along with my parents, Reality Check is a supportive organization that pushes me to be a great person.</span></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);font-size:100%;" >" </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span> <style>@font-face { font-family: "Calibri"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <span style="line-height: 115%; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><br />"Reality Check impacted me because I knew some of the risks that could happen if I have sex before marriage but I didn't know there were SO many things that could happen.<span style=""> </span>I promised my mom not to have sex before marriage and after learning all of this stuff <span style="font-weight: bold;">I am going to keep my promise to my mom and myself.</span></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >"</span><br /><br />Now the question is...<span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Will you live up to the esteem they'll bring?</span>Reality Check, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10031476385363578098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564605704258852139.post-44615087324567595142010-09-24T14:47:00.001-07:002010-09-24T15:19:38.199-07:00$16.50<div style="text-align: center;">So, recently I sat down and perused the internet with one price-point in mind...$16.50. What could I (or any of YOU) purchase? Let's see....</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42Q2mdXwEuu7JWZDkM3v9B54rPdDww1Z8Vdg7sEMq_7HkRk1LUcpr41iwT5w8DNnxfXbzT_I-WYSWvWpGKyGCVvMCuTCYmg7JKx2f7F3rbFGSxuaKeQZeYfezmtZr2DPgSoB_oZKjKCw/s320/AAtaA2A2.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 166px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520602687725684850" /><div><div style="text-align: center;">I could purchase 2 reserved tickets @ $8.00 a piece to see the Northwest Arkansas Naturals....I know it's 50 cents off, but let's count tax. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSfTQmXOudKA6UpRCsHxzIFw6HQdjxUtmsr0hmwvO5HDx9FTnsB9JIVBCTDHcaLfWy8TeR0MswOeVSqbUErKGt2_K5ma6iU7nWK36fo8bbQWuJBFUxP-Oz2HhopS4ET5MUtQ6nb5akzs/s320/malco.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520602971641482866" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 133px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">How about 2 movie tickets to see...a chick flick? $9.00 a piece, so yah, I little over $16.50.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUu2bJ4yktDQY3tP4xuVsx06sphQeMMc4f06iFoRw9MtZnk40qSzcXgaRBixevboLuVEtromo_mJDLSNe1xro3TAWqx8gfnPCtJazMmECJPmjD1bEyumFZ_GKTqILAoMEHmhGgFjHXSQ/s1600/soup_salad_breadsticks_6207.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUu2bJ4yktDQY3tP4xuVsx06sphQeMMc4f06iFoRw9MtZnk40qSzcXgaRBixevboLuVEtromo_mJDLSNe1xro3TAWqx8gfnPCtJazMmECJPmjD1bEyumFZ_GKTqILAoMEHmhGgFjHXSQ/s320/soup_salad_breadsticks_6207.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520603617963453186" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 169px; height: 105px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; ">Ok, here's where it's at!! Lunch at Olive Garden! (Soup, Salad, & Breadsticks....yum) $6.95 x 2 because you can't eat Olive Garden alone. That's about $16.50 with tax and tip!</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; ">But let's get REAL accurate.....</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxO__v0MosQSv-STSKKFEFgRH2sNoNqfRpNu62JSQ4TkITuGEtNjHuWYUta9Pbs29eUROelwzhrr5NFjfTLoddSTgFO3KdyB7d2dLp-cHfOyLTbjOaiuCrIhSdbCAviT0ePJfKXcQV20/s320/gap+polos.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520604207289683378" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 202px; height: 270px; " /></span></div><div>A boy's Gap polo, $16.50.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSfTQmXOudKA6UpRCsHxzIFw6HQdjxUtmsr0hmwvO5HDx9FTnsB9JIVBCTDHcaLfWy8TeR0MswOeVSqbUErKGt2_K5ma6iU7nWK36fo8bbQWuJBFUxP-Oz2HhopS4ET5MUtQ6nb5akzs/s1600/malco.jpg"></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQxtw52PLGvcXYEGpsgJnly5bFnqrCiBhks96O_Fo-llWWqn5LizPccjA_w5dMYiwN4RafulMNshvtsPrUjIdcIMbSs5UJkjtWxlNK-NSf0BOXUbUOaYZxd86YRphRH8HCrbaaEuJf-g/s320/200166.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520604524590541298" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Because EVERYONE needs a $16.50 Toy Story Alien plush toy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAiX-Ue2bO0VgH3OpOVYvIfZDOVQgeYprvnopQ4zSnPjvugxada2Ll_imigPtQQsJNsbHvvwereasAkl5O6emcb_Ky94LnrduubQv0VGvU1ltzgmCzMzymvqY0bgJbe2EYkDCVa-yYz9Y/s320/little+ceasars.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520604861682147058" style="text-align: center;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 89px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Breadstick again...yah. Little Ceasar's special.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU00fu56qhyphenhyphenST35o5K62siV6p9kh9CA4Yxd6I-JJPjZHegfYv7BqW2zG-Zu7eVj3XvS03eLtgYmH13kZfc_oPOwjeuTOf7hLUj4qRFNk4QPI-qBzv8D2VRXmnu6HFIQ6sJQEfjBriNPJ0/s320/s_auto_s2_090510.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520605205196310370" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 126px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Let's not forget the car...$16.50 will get me the basic oil change service at Sears.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now, some of these were clearly a joke! Some of them we purchase every weekend or more! (Gotta love the plush toy.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What if you could take $16.50 and change a LIFE? That's the cost for ONE student to get Reality Check Inc. programming. THAT'S ALL!! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"<b>That I am important! That made me feel committed to me.</b> This class told me things I need to know before I give away my sex. Told me the consequences I might have." - Middle School Students</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"It completely changed my mind about everything. I was confused before, but now its all clear to me. I know where Im going and I know what my boundaries are going to be. Reality Check really did a lot for me." - Middle School Student</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"I'm glad I got the chance to take this class. Taking this class made me want to talk to my mom about everything, so I did! We are a lot closer now because of this class :). Thanks." - Middle School Student</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">Check out the <a href="http://www.wix.com/realitycheckinc/reality-check-inc/student-comments">student comment cards</a> from <b>EVERY</b> year and <b>EVERY</b> school <a href="http://www.realitycheckinc.org">Reality Check Inc.</a> has had the pleasure of serving in.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">$16.50...hmm...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Reality Check, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10031476385363578098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564605704258852139.post-43241022571629360872010-09-16T12:57:00.000-07:002010-09-20T09:21:43.810-07:00LIVE from Coast to CoastReality Check Inc. got the opportunity to be heard from coast-to-coast this past Sunday! Beth Bryant, executive director, was asked to speak on the issue of bonding and how the brain creates a "bonding" experience through even a 20-second hug! This was televised LIVE on the internet. <br /><br />Below is a sample video of what she spoke on. For the complete video, log on to <a href="http://www.brandnewchurch.com/">www.brandnewchurch.com</a> and click on "past messages". <br /><br />POWERFUL!!!!!!!! <br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/14927951" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/14927951">Bonding</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1108148">Shannon O'Dell</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>Reality Check, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10031476385363578098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564605704258852139.post-8595369971099884772010-09-07T14:35:00.000-07:002010-09-07T15:12:11.263-07:00Marriage Wards off Craziness!<div><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 297px; height: 290px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJhRB18ZKCaX21zf2U45cJMpR3EJFgMQEeQoEcdABYtcYT_GLqgpY-7amCPq1Ds_m6y60OiDNg1XmJVW_NLD1mWBeicKWiiKavmu8B6KGfAmhwlapnL-MHMXyfjHPUULI3PAcOHEMgLh4/s320/elderly-couple-kissing.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514290691368039746" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px;font-size:12px;"><p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.25in;margin-left:0in; line-height:18.0pt;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">Recently I ran across this article about a study that finished in Dec. 09. The title was </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">"Marriage Good News for Mental Health...". </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">Naturally I was intrigued and I'm sure you are. :D I decided to post it here so you could see what they had to say. Great article.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.25in;margin-left:0in; line-height:18.0pt;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana, sans-serif;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">According to a major international study across 15 countries and 34,493 people, getting married is positive for the mental health of both men and women, resulting in reduced risks of the likelihood of most mental disorders such as depression, anxiety and substance abuse.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.25in;margin-left:0in; line-height:18.0pt;vertical-align:baseline;border-style:initial;border-color: initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial;outline- background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;background-position:initial initial;background-repeat: initial initialcolor:initial;"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">By contrast, ending marriage through separation, divorce or being widowed, is associated with substantially increased risk of mental health disorders in both genders; particularly substance abuse for women and depression for men.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:18.0pt;vertical-align: baseline;border-style:initial;border-color:initial;outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial;outline-background-image:initial; background-attachment:initial;background-origin: initial;background-clip: initial; background-position:initial initial;background-repeat:initial initialcolor:initial;"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">The wide-ranging study led by clinical psychologist Dr Kate Scott from the</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"> </span></span></span><a href="http://www.uow.otago.ac.nz/" style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial;background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial; background-origin: initial;background-clip: initial;background-position:initial initial; background-repeat:initial initial"><span style="border:none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">University of Otago Wellington</span></span></span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">is based on the WHO World Mental Health (WMH) surveys across developing and developed countries in the past decade. This world first study has been recently published in the UK journal Psychological Medicine.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:18.0pt;vertical-align: baseline"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.25in;margin-left:0in; line-height:18.0pt;vertical-align:baseline;border-style:initial;border-color: initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial;outline- background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;background-position:initial initial;background-repeat: initial initialcolor:initial;"><i><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">“There have been a number of international studies about the impact of marriage on the mental health of men and women and this is quite a controversial area because of the gender politics involved,” says Dr Scott.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></i></p> <p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.25in;margin-left:0in; line-height:18.0pt;vertical-align:baseline;border-style:initial;border-color: initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial;outline- background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;background-position:initial initial;background-repeat: initial initialcolor:initial;"><i><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">“But what makes this investigation unique and more robust is the sample is so large and across so many countries and the fact that we have data not only on depression, which has been much studied in the past, but also on anxiety and substance use disorders. In addition we were able to look at what happens to mental health in marriage, both in comparison with never getting married, and with ending marriage.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></i></p> <p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.25in;margin-left:0in; line-height:18.0pt;vertical-align:baseline;border-style:initial;border-color: initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial;outline- background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;background-position:initial initial;background-repeat: initial initialcolor:initial;"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">She says this allows much better contextualization of gender differences in the relationship between marital status and mental health than has been previously possible, and more sophisticated and detailed conclusions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.25in;margin-left:0in; line-height:18.0pt;vertical-align:baseline;border-style:initial;border-color: initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial;outline- background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;background-position:initial initial;background-repeat: initial initialcolor:initial;"><i><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">“One of the more important findings is that in recent years it has been asserted that marriage is better for men than for women in terms of mental health. This study does not agree with that position.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></i></p> <p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.25in;margin-left:0in; line-height:18.0pt;vertical-align:baseline;border-style:initial;border-color: initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial;outline- background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;background-position:initial initial;background-repeat: initial initialcolor:initial;"><i><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">“We found that compared to never getting married, getting married is good for both men and women in terms of most mental health disorders.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></i></p> <p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.25in;margin-left:0in; line-height:18.0pt;vertical-align:baseline;border-style:initial;border-color: initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial;outline- background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;background-position:initial initial;background-repeat: initial initialcolor:initial;"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">However the study did find that men are less likely to become depressed in their first marriage than women. The study comments that this may be linked to traditional gender roles in the home. Dr Scott says significant gender role differences in the home can have an effect on mental health problems for married women.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.25in;margin-left:0in; line-height:18.0pt;vertical-align:baseline;border-style:initial;border-color: initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial;outline- background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;background-position:initial initial;background-repeat: initial initialcolor:initial;"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">Other studies based on the WMH surveys have shown that as gender roles have become less traditional over time, for example as women have worked more and become better educated, female depression tends to fall.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.25in;margin-left:0in; line-height:18.0pt;vertical-align:baseline;border-style:initial;border-color: initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial;outline- background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;background-position:initial initial;background-repeat: initial initialcolor:initial;"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">The other gender difference the study found is that getting married reduces risk of substance use disorders more for women than for men. Dr Scott says that this may be explained by the fact that women are usually the primary caregiver for young children. A number of international studies have shown that women’s consumption of alcohol drops sharply when they become pregnant, and this restraint often continues into early child care.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.25in;margin-left:0in; line-height:18.0pt;vertical-align:baseline;border-style:initial;border-color: initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial;outline- background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;background-position:initial initial;background-repeat: initial initialcolor:initial;"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">On the downside, the University of Otago, Wellington’s new study shows that ending marriage can increase the risk of mental health problems. Being previously married (i.e. being separated, divorced, and widowed) is associated with increased risk of all mental health disorders in both men and women; particularly with depression in men and substance abuse (drugs and alcohol) in women.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.25in;margin-left:0in; line-height:18.0pt;vertical-align:baseline;border-style:initial;border-color: initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-style: initial;outline- background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;background-position:initial initial;background-repeat: initial initialcolor:initial;"><i><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">“What our study points to is that the marital relationship offers a lot of mental health benefits for both men and women, and that the distress and disruption associated with ending marriage can make people vulnerable to developing mental disorders”.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p> <span style="line-height: 115%; font-family:Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">This study has been funded in New Zealand by the Ministry of Health, the Health Research Council and the Alcohol Advisory Council and carried out in association with the WHO, Harvard University and a number of other organizations internationally. </span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://www.otago.ac.nz/news/news/otago006366.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#99FF99;">http://www.otago.ac.nz/news/news/otago006366.html</span></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Reality Check, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10031476385363578098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-564605704258852139.post-84009549961850088232010-08-23T12:33:00.000-07:002010-09-15T13:30:49.883-07:00Dancing w/the NWA Stars<div style="text-align: center;">The competition has officially begun!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Check out all of our fantastic candidates that are going to "BRING IT" on Nov. 6th!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Don't forget to log on to <a href="http://www.realitycheckinc.org/">www.realitycheckinc.org</a> to VOTE for your favorite STAR. Someone is already in the lead but I'm NOT going to tell you. You'll have to check out the front runners yourself. Hehehe.)</div><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our first STAR:</div><div style="text-align: center;">MARCUS ALEXANDER</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxuj_gYHqhZCVkZtwPaP3f0dQr6eacLrEw0HN_UJJIoWoduS0CJ155f0BqNhjIImyQjVsA15iJ2YCHoO8K-r7sPIvcv9sEY6CUDjuKgwyRDNTIN72HKKi_jQWc1IEmYOUNQ02zBduSEk/s320/marcusalexander.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508696287704900002" /><div style="text-align: center;">Marcus is the Golf Coach for Rogers High School as well as the P.E. teacher for Kirksey Middle School. He's a busy man with (self-proclaimed) "two left feet"...or does he?</div><div style="text-align: center;">
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<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Next....</div><div style="text-align: center;">ASHLEY KETZ</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.realitycheckinc.org/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeYL0BblX2GxVSAfkWThWEqveEzEboXEvvdMlKr-Uy2VmbVYtjaODadP9bFVqFj9dgBaVdrf1awx958RFnAxqFoHLttdOm3uqaObDONIGRuFrJ5il8-BF77g9Q_j4k9WZLxwi3Cflojv8/s320/ashleyknolan.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ashley is an anchor for local news station KFSM and in a competition twist, the WIFE of our next STAR! May the BEST NOLAN win?</div><div style="text-align: center;">
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<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">AARON NOLAN</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.realitycheckinc.org/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF6LFa6a_2xrB_VhE4FpQvtlmGoQpmZ_ODFxP87skz1SUdSRGDrQPTJ99wBCJw2YKX_TNao5h-nkGSVu8feLkv78fi9ZsADm-9-0Gx-be-5EM6iaMW8TuTa1ItjG1EXrewoi-0cvtllYA/s320/aaron.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Aaron is a reporter for local news station KNWA and the HUSBAND of our previous STAR. May the BEST NOLAN win?</div><div style="text-align: center;">
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<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Next we have....</div><div style="text-align: center;">MELODY MORRIS</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.realitycheckinc.org/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2aSvkZygDaPZ3FPCgvsJnWmSkDrnkCLvjgHQ7WWEIKxpA21aiJE5xx1B_kdZOzj9nLFneKYoIjtxizC_PEuwlHIxTI_S2gwdXzIcFw23a7gsP0yllVrXpVlHXLnwKDEUZ7BmnJl-0w98/s320/melodymorris.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Melody is the Vice-Principal for Elmwood Middle School. So beware, she has the authority to school all of the competition. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;">
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<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our final male is....</div><div style="text-align: center;">MIKE POWER</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.realitycheckinc.org/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLh2WwE41h9glYt7Q6wO7Ovwi_eGebqIar1WeUPFLCj3AKqDYcAYsApJtC2ONlu02TVUkf0dEHZ0MXWi5VdQyd21aw1nfeWscwHyWUFrIH7DkQrHkzJTv8dsucUn9bGp8BXakRgO-cCFg/s320/mikepower.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Mike is the Boy's Head Track Coach and the Assistant Cross Country Coach for Bentonville High School. Yah, he runs a lot!! Competition might not have the ENDURANCE to keep up!</div><div style="text-align: center;">
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<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our final STAR...</div><div style="text-align: center;">KELLY STAMPS</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.realitycheckinc.org/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFqC_jGXcn5DWQ4APj2sePZbwHCIAI0bWgKEu-DZMBzLOOyR04Wv7tAeWVuV1e4fC1jMiooM-QU3I_zcJaP3A67aOW-XP7G_Ywp4i3uZokhRYPKwqI_BeGVvjsnlaac1tcPjLewEe9Vc/s320/kellystamps.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kelly is a super blogger! Her blog <a href="http://www.kellyskornerblog.com/">www.kellyskornerblog.com</a> is all about her southern life and adorable daughter Harper. LOOK OUT, she's also pregnant, so WHO KNOWS what could happen! </div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And last but MOST CERTAINLY not least is...</div><div style="text-align: center;">THE CROSSROADS STUDENTS</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigCtDkpIrlz4Kgk5p2Ti7ptkurxPWZyLDG7WbeQAaJ8ulozbmqd8f0YxVFfreUdvxkMRrXYRHMGh76zYXKdmphxqRyScCumovzb5qDO_XtkL38gyryb8g104KjNTZ-vfH9CBj9raZu9A4/s320/crossroads.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(Note: These are not the picture of the actual students that will dance.)</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Look out STARS there's some unexpected competition. I cannot WAIT for you to see what dance abilities you are going to see from these students. YAY!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Now you know who's competing, place YOUR VOTE TODAY!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.realitycheckinc.org/">VOTE</a> </span></div>Reality Check, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10031476385363578098noreply@blogger.com0