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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
September 6, 2012     Shelton Mason County Journal
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September 6, 2012
 
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. o ...... Shelton-Mason County Journal ...... By GORDON WEEKS A support group offers "an at- challenges." and third Tuesday of each month days in the Ellinor Room at Mason gordon@masoneounty.com mosphere of ~nderstanding and Not all the support groups gath- at First Baptist Church in Shel- General Hospital. acceptance," said a man who has er to deal with disease. Fiercely ton. Founded in 1953, Narcotics attended Narcotics AnonymousIndependent Elders (FIE) bond Anonymous members host more Support groups in Mason Coun- meetings in Shelton for 20 years, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. the NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS than 58,000 meetings weekly in ty gather to offer moral support "People learn that they're not first Friday of each month in the 131 countries. The group offers re- between peers and educational in it by themselves," said Debra Washington Room at Mason Gen- "I hid all my life from who I am covery from the effects of addiction tools to address drug and alcohol Jamerson, who facilitates an A1- eral Hospital. Members of Moth- ... Narcotics Anonymous got me through the working of a 12-step addiction, Alzheimer's disease, zheimer's support group thaters of Preschoolers (MOPS)share clean," said a man who attends program. eating disorders, the loss of loved meets Wednesdays in Allyn. "The the joys and challenges of parent- weekly meetings of the group at ones and other challenges, challenges they have are common hood from 9:30-11 a.m. the first 8 p.m. Fridays, and 7 p.m. Satur- See Support on page B-2 [] Shelton resident explores her spirituality in new book By NATALIE JOHNSON natalie@ma,~o~county.com Longtime Shelton resi- dent Michelle Merrin said she felt called to write a book after her many years of experience leading Bible studies and her own ex- periences with religious faith. The book, called "A Faith of a Different Col- or Honest Lessons on Trusting God in Real Life," was published this year by Cross Books, and will be available online as well as at Sage Book Store in Shel- ton. The inspiration for the title came from the say- ing "a horse of a different color," Merrin said. "Faith is still faith re- gardless of what it looks like," she said. "Each chap- ter is a different aspect of trusting God." Merrin, ,who was a full time morn.and homemak- er for 23 years, has been a private piano teacher and attended the same church for 38 years in Shelton, said her faith, though strong, faced challenges. "I felt like my experienc- es with faith - I had been a believer since I was a small child went through sev- eral struggles," she said. "I felt like God was telling me to share some of those stories." Merrin is a 20-year can- cer survivor and her hus- band has diabetes. Togeth- er, the couple has experi- enced unemployment and other hardhips. She said having faith doesn't mean bad things don't happen to you. "It doesn't take away all of life's challenges.., it just gives you a lens to look at life's challenges," she said. "I think real faith involves questions as well as an- swers." In order to write the book, Merrin drew on her experiences teaching Bible studies. The book contains in-depth Bible study com- bined, with personal sto- ries. "I felt like Christians need to be real and honest about what faith is," she said. Merrin said she hopes this won't be the only book she writes. "I've go~ a couple other ideas," she said. "Sev- eral years ago I felt like I was going to write a book sometime m the future. Durnal pno[o By Natalie Johnson Michelle Merrin plans to appear at a book signing for her new book, "A Faith of a Different Color -- Honest Lessons on Trusting God in Real Life" from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 25 at Sage Book Store. NO :S~ar: added::SW~t and.. sour c~cken Ingredients ~1/2 Cups :8plenda Pour::mixtUre Of Splenda, cornstarch, dish: ~titsp 10w:s0di~ Soy sauce ................ Bake at 350 degrees Fahre~eit for 40 Tb Pi e~ed: ~Pine~pple This isn't the book I wanted to write ... it seemed to be the one I was supposed to write first." Although Merrin now lives in Olympia, she said she still feels a connection to Shel- it's a good place to start," she ton, and is excited to see old said. friends at her book signing For more information from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Sept. on Merrin's writing, visit 25 at Sage Book Store. Michellemerrin'weebly'c°m ox I feel hke this is my town - "bookdafly.com. Thursday, Seot. 6, .o you the There is just something about driving across the bridge either coming or going. Judy and I al- ways cut short any conversation we are having as we cross and just enjoy the view. There is a feeling of tranquil- ity that comes over us. The b~idge is like the front door to our home, so that must mean the whole island feels like home. Now, we've taken grandkids across the bridge with us many-a-time. As most know, grandkids can keep up a rowdy conversation no matter what is going on. To stem the rowdi- ness, we started challenging the kids to hold their breath all the way across the bridge. To our surprise, it worked. Over the years, the kids now stop themselves from talking and demand that Jude and I hold our breaths. It was a pleasant surprise when our 19-year-old granddaughter, without thinking about it, kept up the tradi- tion. I know some of you count the seagulls and some lift their feet offthe floorboard. So, I'm wondering -- are there any bridge crossing traditions in your families? Three weeks ago, Josie Beaudoin sent us a column about the Pioneer Robot- By MIKE ics Club. You might CALLAGttAN remember she wrote about the club going into space. The Space Elevator Competition was held on Aug. 25 at the Museum of Flight and they went. Now remember our Pioneer School is a K-8 school. Most all the competitors in this competition were from high schools where they have a little more funding, more research materials and obviously older kids. We need to send out a big shout-out be- cause team Nerdy and Proud won the whole competition -- congratulations! For more information, go to: www. spaceelevatorconference.org. With that thought in mind, school is starting. Superintendent Marty Brewer has been working hard with the staff to be ready for the new year. If you missed Pioneer's Open House on Sept. 4, check with the school because they have a couple more chances for community members to tour and visit. If the students are excited about school, wouldn't it be nice to see our whole community get involved with that excitement? One way you can is to volunteer. I know they always need adults to read with the primary kids. I also think they have a greenhouse that is waiting for a few adults to take over and show the students how to grow a vegetable or two. Senior Lunch - yesterday you had some baked ham. In two weeks, they will be serving up a salmon loaf with dill sauce along with wild rice, green beans and lemon cake. As always, re- member if you are over 50 and have $3 to spare, you can get a great meal in the community hall starting at noon. I can't believe I've been writing this column for five years now with- out a break. So, I'm going to take two weeks off starting Sept. 5. Daniel Frishman has accepted the job as my replacement. So for the articles due on mation to Daniel@windermere.com. 2012 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Page B-1