Family Living Focus Janice Stoudnour Bedford County j Cooperative Extension Graduates Need A Family Tapestry It is the custom of our church to allow the graduating high school seniors to give a presenta tion during a Sunday worship service in May. Last Sunday morning I had the opportunity to hear four high school students who will be graduating on June 6 give their presentations. The stu dents presented their perspectives on how the church, friends, and family helped shape and mold them into the emerging adults that they have become. Now if you are like me, I knew it would be a truly moving expe rience emotionally. After all, graduation definitely ranks right up near the top of the list for me emotionally. Given four young people who you’ve known almost all of their lives as well as their parents’ lives, you can’t help get choked up when they talk about their life experiences. Coupled with the fact that one of the students was my nephew, I found it difficult seeing through a triple layer of balled up tissues and foggy tear-soaked contacts. I guess I hadn’t realized until that moment that they had really PUT THE IN DAD'S Increased Perfforman Quieter Operation Contractor Series 16 Gallon 6.0 HP Wet/Dry Vac Blower Port Instantly converts vac to powerful blower Improving Home Improvement’ www.lowes.com LOWE'S* is a registered trademark of LF Corporation. 02001 Lowe's* Home Centers, Inc. For the Lowe's nearest you call 1-800-44-LOWES. Prices may vary if there are market variations. “grown up” and were no longer the squirming young children “trying” to sit attentively in a pew each Sunday. As a family educator, I always find it interesting to hear what young men and women consider the positive motivators have been in their lives. These four gradu ates weren’t any different. They talked about their parents being involved in their lives through sports, academics, scouting, band, and other activities. Family members were cited as being sup portive in times of self-doubt and when poor personal decisions had been made. They also thanked the people in the congregation for taking time to be a part of activities like Bible School, camping, white water rafting, and caving. Then involvement showed their con cern and commitment to help them become better-rounded in dividuals. When my sons became teenag ers, I often referred to them as “man cubs.” They had one foot in manhood and one foot still under my wing. (As for myself, I was desperately clinging to each single feather stretching my wing further and further!) Deluxe Tbol Basket Provides convenience in storing accessories Last Sunday morning each person in that congregation also lifted their wings to set these newly proclaimed young adult birds free. I, as well, saw my nephew now as a man, and what a good man he had become. When you’ve been a part of young people’s lives and shared experiences with them, you be come a family member whether through blood or relationship. 1 like to think of it as a tapestry woven with each person repre senting a thread. This large ‘fam ily tapestry” provides the support and control in times of cele bration and challenge. When a thread in the tapestry becomes weak, it is important for someone else to step in to offer support and strengthen the fabric. This also serves as a safety net. If you have the opportunity to become involved in a young per son’s life through a volunteer or ganization, church, school, or just being the neighbor next door, re member even the smallest posi tive thing you do can make a dif ference. It is you who they will reflect upon as having been there to role model or offer words of advice and kindness. It is important for other adults to become involved in children’s lives and bring a new color to their tapestry. How do you let the bird out from under your wing? Provide children with the safety net of a tapestry made from love, guidance, positive life experi ences, and the knowledge that people do care what becomes of them. This is a gift we all can begin to give our graduates beginning when they are children. Gradua tion should be a time to celebrate a job well done by everyone. LOCK<SftT jjose^ eliminates unexpected disconnections If it Doesn't Say Shop*Vac, Keep Shopping!* The original Wet/Dry Vac v Low profile design eliminates 4 tipping over Plants Can Be Started From Cuttings UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre Co.) For most backyard gar deners, the best way to start a plant is to drive to the nearest greenhouse and buy one. How ever, a scientist in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences says savvy plant lovers can save money and have fun by starting their own plants from cuttings. “The reason plants can take root from cuttings is that each cell in the plant has all the genet ic information necessary to pro duce a complete plant,” explains Robert Berghage, associate pro fessor of horticulture. “When a cutting is taken by snipping a portion of the plant stem, we are removing the connection between the stem and the roots.” As a result, the snipped plant has had its growth patterns dis rupted. These changes in growth patterns are governed by plant hormones produced in the leaves, stems and roots of the plant. Berghage explains that once a cutting is taken, the plant hor mones no longer can travel back and forth between the roots and the stem. “That means there is a change in the balance of hor mones within the cutting,” Berg hage says. “The hormonal change signals the plant to first heal the wound, and then replace the missing roots.” Berghage points out that the healing and rooting process takes time, and gardeners must be vig ilant in caring for plant cuttings. “In its simplest form, cutting production means taking a snip shop*vac Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 1,2002-B5 of a plant stem, sticking it in some water, and letting it devel op new roots,” Berghage says. Although some plants, such as geraniums, coleus, oleander and mint can be propagated using this method, Berghage explains that many other plants require a few more steps to get them to root. Berghage advises (1) do not let the cutting dry out; (2) use a rooting hormone; (3) use a sterile, well-aerated and moist rooting medium; (4) provide high humid ity and reduced light. “Cover the cuttings with a plastic bag to provide high hu midity,” advises Berghage. “If you reduce light levels, just re member you must have enough light for the plant to grow.” Patriot Bonds On Sale The U.S. Treasury Depart ment has designated the latest Series EE Savings Bonds as “Pat riot Bonds” to encourage Ameri cans to contribute to the govern ment’s war on terrorism and save for their future with proceeds going to the federal government’s general fund. Patriot Bonds can be pur chased through participating fin ancial institutions or on the In ternet using the Treasury’s “Saving Bond Direct” service. For more information, go to www.savingsbonds/gov on the Web. #159649 Available Only At Lowes www.shopvac.com Shop-Vac* is a registered trademark of Shop-Vac Corporation. 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