Page 36 August 2016 Residential Living | Assisted Living | Memory Support Nursing Care | Short-Term Rehab The Terraces of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona, is managed by ABHOW, a California nonprofit public benefit corporation. ABHOW is a nonsectarian corporation, serving seniors through quality retirement housing since 1949. 7550 N. 16th Street | Phoenix, AZ 85020 Rooted in local culture and creativity. The Terraces of Phoenix is your kind of neighborhood, filled with residents who eagerly embrace all the North Central Valley brings to life. It’s a good-neighbor community with established roots. The trees are mature and still growing, like you. With fewer worries and more time to branch out and explore – it’s right where you want to be. Recognized as Arizona’s only Certified Center for Successful Aging. Visit ExperienceTOP.com or call 1-888-817-9169 to find out why. Christ Lutheran School Preschool - Grade 8 • www.clsphx.org LC-MS Worship Sunday 8:00am & 10:45am – Traditional* | Sunday 8:30am & 10:30am – Contemporary* Sunday School/Bible Classes – 9:40am* | Sunday 12:30pm – Spanish Sunday 6pm – Youth Led Worship! Wednesday 7:00pm – Traditional | Saturday 5:00pm – Contemporary *Nursery Care is available at all Sunday AM services 3901 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix | www.cclphoenix.org | (602) 955-4830 Love GroW Serve Eric Petermann, D.C. Dr. Petermann utilizes the Activator Method, a specific, low force technique that realigns the spine to restore proper joint function. Experience gentle and effective relief for: •Headaches •Lower back pain •Neck pain •Automobile injuries •Work-related injuries •Sports injuries 25 years practice experience  Former Activator Method instructor New patients welcome 602- 224-0004 | fuhrchiropracticclinic@gmail.com | fuhrchiropractic.com 3714 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix AZ 85018 By Jean Hodgson A particular shelf in our home is the resting place for old photo albums, assorted items of family memorabilia, and a cherished red notebook. This three-ring binder is filled with priceless memories written by my uncle, Walter Matthiesen, my dad’s older brother and my godfather. In addition to our family’s history, it is filled with interesting and accurate details about farming and the dairy business in Idaho, life in the Lutheran community there, the effects of the Depression, and medical procedures of the time. My generation and the ones that follow are forever grateful to Uncle Walt for leaving this red notebook as part of his legacy. Everyone is a keeper of memories that deserve to be shared and saved, but knowing how to get started can be challenging. If you seek inspiration, try sharing ideas in a group setting. One option is the Saving Memorable Moments class offered at Encore University (EU). The instructor, Kiki Swanson, said, “We are the wisdom-keepers of our generations,” and she described her class as a way to record your life story, one event or memory at a time. For each session she provides an inspirational quote, a valuable tip for more effective writing, and a suggested topic for a future recollection. Class members are invited to share what they have written and are encouraged by the feedback from an interested audience. A highlight for me as a class guest was listening to writers read their memories of family traditions regarding menus and recipes, descriptions of hometowns, and details about growing up in a home placed above a restaurant in Texas. One woman originally from China described the rice harvest and how the product was used as a tax payment to the government. A veteran’s recollection of celebrating New Year’s Eve in 1943-44 with several military friends who later died in the war was an emotional time for everyone in the classroom. You can learn more about this class at EncoreUniv.org. EU is designed for lifelong learners and meets at Valley Presbyterian Church, 6947 E. McDonald Drive in Paradise Valley. Another way to share your memories is to join a group called Reminisce. Every Wednesday morning at 10, they gather for an hour at the Devonshire Senior Center, 2802 E. Devonshire, to socialize and trigger memories by discussing three subjects. The topics are provided by the facilitator, Eileen “Sunshine” Bevington, and include prompts such as: Have you ever been a babysitter? What was your first job? Tell us about your favorite vacation. Sometimes members bring memorabilia items to share. Reminisce has been meeting since 1995. Christine Hall, who is now a Recreation coordinator with the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation, was instrumental in getting it started. Although it was challenging, Hall was relentless in pushing for the program. “I really believed in it,” she said. “I’m delighted to see the program still going strong.” While the focus of the Reminisce meeting is on oral sharing, several members told me that they write their memoirs as a result of this weekly experience. Al Grey, who worked on the railroad in Iowa instead of attending high school when he was younger, shared that until now, writing never interested him. After over a year with Reminisce, he is an author and finds fulfillment in his writing experience. Recording memories may be valuable for future readers, but it’s also often a worthwhile and cherished hobby for the writer. Promoting inspiration through collaboration Writing groups throughout the Valley offer meetings for those who want to preserve their family history. RETIREMENT NOW WHAT?