PM 15th Anniversary.

A free public dedication ceremony Saturday June 19, 2004 will mark the 15th anniversary of the Precious Moments Chapel at Precious Moments Park. The dedication ceremony will begin at 1:30 in the gardens outside the Chapel located in Carthage, Missouri.

Featured speaker for the event will be Larrene Hagaman, personal assistant to Precious Moments artist Samual J. Butcher and Chapel historian. Hagaman will share insight into the artist’s early vision for the chapel and many people who helped shape the stories associated with the Chapel. Pastor Phillip McClendon of Calvary Baptist Church in Joplin will offer the dedication prayer. Following the brief ceremony cake and punch will be served all those attending the event

The ceremony is the centerpiece of a day of activity at Precious Moments Park. PM Rocks, a nationally touring musical program will be making an appearance of the park grounds. The free events begins at 10 am with karaoke, dance lessons, girls spa and beauty area, glamour photos and limo rides for children ages 4 through 13. Those participating may also enter a drawing for a figurine signed by music star Jessica Simpson, a karaoke system and a chance to attend the Jingle Ball in New York City. The day’s activity ends with a concert by the Christian band One Way at 4 pm

The Park will also open two new attractions during the celebration. A figurine creation exhibit opens inside the Visitors Center. Precious Moments Park general manager Larry Hazlett said, "Many visitors have come to the park over the years thinking we actually make figurines here. While the park and its attractions are centered on Precious Moments art, through this exhibit we now are able to share with guests the detailed process by which figurines are made. Each figurine is hand painted and we will actually paint figurines as part of this exhibit.

Also opening during the weekend is the new Samual J. Butcher Theater located inside the Gallery. The theater will show historical video of the artist creating the Chapel and much of the early history of Precious Moments. Both the theater and figurine creation exhibit are free exhibits.

The Precious Moments Chapel opened in June 1989. The Chapel features murals of Precious Moments art depicting stories and themes from the Bible. The largest single mural is the chapel ceiling covering 1,400 square feet. Sam Butcher began construction of the Chapel in 1987 after purchasing 17 acres near Carthage. Since it opened in 1989 the Chapel has been visited by over 10 million visitors. Precious Moments Park and its related attractions, including the Fountain of Angels, were developed around the Chapel to create one of the largest tourist facilities in Missouri. The Chapel and Park are visited by over 400,000 guests from the world every year.

I find it useful to lose somethin’ ever now and then. Nothin’ seems ta motivate gettin’ rid of those things ya figure might come in handy some day like tryin’ ta find somethin’ ya need right now. That old pair a roller skates that ya thought might actually be used at some point in your life suddenly becomes a startin’ place for a heap of junk. I continues with that tennis racket that needs restringin’.

If your really on a roll, you’ll find a trunk or two that will barely hold together under the load of your other "treasures" long enough to get to the curb. Havin’ an empty box always helps the motivation. Ya keep lookin’ for junk to fill it with. No use wastin’ a good box.

The worst thing is if ya find what your lookin’ for too early in the day. Now ya got a big mess and no need to continue. At least you can still brag to how smart ya are not to throw anything out.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

 

by

McCune- Brooks Hospital

TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH

By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

Prostate — Little Gland Can Cause Big Trouble

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My prostate is enlarged. I have to get up as often as seven times during the night to urinate. The stream starts and stops, and it is actually hard to get it started. Can you give me any ideas on what to do? — M.H.

ANSWER: The prostate is not much bigger than a peach pit, but this small gland can cause big problems. You have BPH — benign (not cancerous) prostatic hypertrophy (enlargement). By age 50, 50 percent of men have some enlargement, and by age 85, 90 percent do. Two factors account for it: aging and testosterone, the male hormone.

Not only does the gland get larger, but its muscles and the muscles of the bladder’s outlet stay contracted. There is a double effect, therefore, on urination. The large gland obstructs the urethra, the tube that empties the bladder and runs through the prostate gland. The contracted muscles add another obstructing element.

Symptoms are frequent urination, difficulty initiating the urinary stream and a stream that stutters, starting and stopping frequently.

You can help yourself by cutting down on the amount of fluids drunk after the evening meal and by eliminating caffeine and alcohol after lunch.