by Rolann Lee
It is a shock to lose any material possession…a piece of money, a piece of jewelry, a car, -yes we tend to search for what we had lost. Material loss has a different emotional factor than, of course, in human loss…there is no comparison, but when the material loss is “everything owned on this earth---there is trauma in the emotional loss…all of the children’s art work, all of the report cards, all of the family pictures, the things grandmother may have given; yes, in a house fire when the total contents are lost there is deep emotional trauma. Such happened to one of our own families this last week.

Peggy and Sandy Sandifer lost EVERY material thing they owned except what was on their backs in a  house fire. The only thing the fire did not destroy is their HOPE. The Sandifer family is strong. Their roots go deep in Westminster and the surrounding area. In God’s perfect timing, their home will be rebuilt, their possessions reacquired, and through their love for each other and their fellowman and their strong Faith in God all will be well again.

Our community again will join forces and see to their well-being! Love is the strong key that unlocks the heart of giving to OTHERS in times like this. God bless us all as we have the opportunity to share our blessings. I received the following note from the Sandifers. “Rolann, From the whole Sandifer family we appreciate your kindness. It's overwhelming the love and generosity we've received from the whole community. It's friends like you that are going to get us through these tough times. Were so thankful that the Lord has blessed us with our lives.
Thank you so much! With love, The Sandifer Family”

The Sandifers also want everyone to know how much they appreciate the actions of The Red Cross and all of the county volunteer agencies that responded so quickly in their time of need.

I happened upon the following I want to share: "VINEGAR Can Be Used For WHAT?"

• A Teaspoon A Day Helps Keep The Doctor Away!
• A daily teaspoon of vinegar, nature's powerful healing food, seems to remedy many ills of the world.
• You'll use vinegar to soothe arthritis, joint pains, sore throats, fade age spots, shed pounds, remedy infections, cool sunburns, remove corns & calluses, dandruff, diarrhea, ear-toothaches AND hundreds more. Plus, as countless cleaning agents.

Sunshine Franklin shared the following "Prophecy In The News".  I thought it worth repeating: “THE NEVER-ENDING BATTLE Author Unknown

In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth and populated the Earth with broccoli, cauliflower, and spinach, green and yellow and red vegetables of all kinds, so Man and Woman would live long and healthy lives.  Then, using God’s great gifts, Satan created Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream and Krispy Kreme Donuts.  And Satan said, “You want chocolate with that?”  And Man said, “Yes!”  and Woman said, “And as long as you’re at it, add some sprinkles.”  And they gained 10 pounds.  And Satan smiled.

And God created the healthful yogurt that Woman might keep the figure that Man found so fair.  And Satan brought forth white flour from the wheat, and white sugar from the cane, and combined them.  And Woman went from size 6 to size 14.

So God said, “Try my fresh green salad.” And Satan presented Thousand-Island Dressing, buttery croutons, and garlic toast on the side. And Man and Woman unfastened their belts following the repast.

God then said, “I have sent you heart healthy vegetables and olive oil in which to cook them.”  And Satan brought forth deep fried fish and chicken-fried steak so big it needed its own platter.  And Man gained more weight and his cholesterol went through the roof.

God then created a light, fluffy white cake, named it “Angel Food Cake”, and said, “It is good.”  Satan then created chocolate cake and named it “Devil’s Food”.

God then brought forth running shoes so that His children might lose those extra pounds.  And Satan gave cable TV with a remote control so Man would not have to toil changing the channels.  And Man and Woman laughed and cried before the flickering blue light and gained pounds.

Then God brought forth the potato, naturally low in fat and brimming in nutrition.  And Satan peeled off the healthful skin and sliced the starchy center into chips and deep-fried them.  And Man gained pounds.

God then gave lean beef so that Man might consume fewer calories and still satisfy his appetite.  And Satan created McDonald’s and its 99-cent double cheeseburger, and then said, “You want fries with that?”  And Man replied, “Yes!  And Super Size them!”  And Satan said, “It is good.”  And Man went into cardiac arrest.

God sighed and created quadruple bypass surgery.  Then Satan created HMOs.”

• Instead of the normal 39 cents for a stamp, ask for the one for breast cancer research, it only costs 45 cents. The additional 6 cents will go to breast cancer research. A "normal" book costs $7.80. The one for CANCER is only $9.00.
• The Westminster Area Historic Preservation Society will have a deed research meeting at the Deed's office located on Pine Street in Walhalla on February 23 at 2:30 pm. R. T. Harris reports, “ We will research buildings located along the historic section of Main Street in Westminster as well as several homes that were surveyed last month.  Hope to see you then.”
• Your contributions for the WHS Band fund may be made to Bank of Westminster, PO Box 185, 29693.
• If your church needs a musician (organ or piano), call me and I will give you a name.

In memory of Retta Gales, I want to share the following: 
“A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.” Listed are three steps to help recognize a stroke: Ask the individual to SMILE. Ask the person to TALK to speak a simple sentence. Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS. Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out their tongue. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke. If he or she has trouble ANY ONE of these tasks, call 911 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

• If you would like, stop each evening at 9:00 p.m. and spend one minute praying for the safety of the United States, our troops, our citizens, and for a Godly nation.
• Happy birthday wishes are sent to Mary Grace Davis, Robert Dilworth, Bobby Wood, Booker Short, and Gerald Mulder.
• Congratulations to Chad and Pam Cain Tidwell who were honored at a Celebration of their Marriage on Sunday at Gignilliat Community Center.
• Get-well prayers are sent to Mary Alice Lee Latham, Janet Latham, Jack Grubbs, Dolly Grogan, Cindy Wade, Gayle Cleveland and Ruby Cobb Barry.
• Bill and Dottie Lewis were in Alabama for the weekend.  Their grandchildren (Brett's children)  were baptized on Sunday.
• Bill and Jeanne Comfort spent Saturday and Sunday in Fayetteville North Carolina enjoying the historical museum there.
• Steve and Sandra Powell went to Newberry recently to hear The Letterman at The Opera House.  I plan to go with them the next time they go to hear them and I believe they said it would be in December.
• When I was over to see Ruth Brown one afternoon, I saw a silver cup she had been awarded for being the 9th Grade WHS Spelling Winner in 1931.
• Rayford Lee called to say he had enjoyed a nice long telephone conversation with Jean Cobb Lambert in Hickory North Carolina on Monday. Rayford told me her parents Ed and Ethel Cobb were so kind to him when he was a boy growing up in Long Creek; Mrs. Cobb was his first school teacher and Mr. Cobb was his first Sunday School teacher. Those memories are from the 1930s.
• Bob and Jennifer Adams have returned form a 7-day Cruise in the Pacific. They report a wonderful time.
• On Saturday I was able to meet up with Lorraine Harding and her grandson Cohl, Susan Morgan and her granddaughter Kaytlin on the square in Pendleton for a late lunch.
• I had planned to go to Salem on Saturday for the 105th birthday celebration for Mrs. Mary Grace Davis but just could not get there. Love and prayers are sent to her.
• Mary Rose and Peggy Morgan treated me to a birthday lunch on Wednesday of last week.
• Parris Cobb called to say his son Leslie has written his thoughts about his playing on the Pony League in 1969 when Phil Batson was his coach. I can’t wait to read it.
• I am personally disappointed in the outcome of the County Council’s decision last week. I know God hears all prayers, silent or not, but we are to profess our God before men and nations…When will we wake up???
• Terry Greer, Melissa’s father sent the following to Dan Cobb and he passed it on to me for us: “I thank everyone for the countless prayers from all of you and thousands of people around the world…over the next month or two if you would like to send a card or message you can send it to: Melissa G.  Polsky or Martha Greer, c/o Rossi Guest House, 200 Hawkins Dr. W176GH, Iowa City, Iowa, 52242-1009.” Melissa and her story may be found at  www.wbtv.com. Prayers have been answered mightily.
• Remember the Pancake Supper at the Westminster United Methodist Church on February 20th at 6:00 p m.

I do so appreciate the continued comments coming about the Newsy Notes. You are all just too kind to me.
“NOTE” to Remember: “LOVE IS OF GOD…”