January 2008 e-NEWS

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January 2008 e-NEWS

Welcome To Kendra Cooke's Monthly e-NEWS - January 2008

Happy New Year! I can’t believe we are already over half way through this month! I have decided 2008 is coming whether I am ready or not! Greg and I just got back from a cruise I won last year from the Chamber of Commerce during the Membership Drive. It was a great time for Greg and I to get away together along with several other couples that we enjoy spending time with! We visited a few SUNNY – WARM ports in Mexico and I think a GREAT time was had by all!

Over the next few months I will be keeping you informed of something that is going on in my life right now that is bringing me great joy! I have decided to complete a half marathon in this New Year! Let me tell you how all this started! In October last year I made a commitment to myself that I wanted to complete a half marathon before I turned 40 (which is still a couple years away)! I decided not to wait, to pursue that goal and get it done as soon as I possibly could! So I went online and signed up so I couldn’t change my mind! While doing some training on my own, I was reminded of an organization in Murfreesboro called Team A.S.K. I had heard about this group once before when I was going through Leadership Rutherford and was visiting the facilities at Special Kids. Special Kids is an OUTSTANDING organization that assists children with different types of therapy needs as well as being a provider of child care for children with severe needs. Special Kids puts a group of volunteers together every year to compete in different marathons around the USA. They provide the trainer and the program to follow, in hopes of you assisting them in their fundraising efforts! I could see myself starting to tire out during my training sessions and slacking off on my commitment, so I decided to attend Team A.S.K. first meeting and the rest is history! When I learned this dedicated group of runners meets ever Saturday morning at 7am (rain or shine) to run as a group, I knew I was with the right crowd. They were going to make sure I accomplished my goal! I am reminded almost daily of all those old track injuries I suffered when I was MUCH YOUNGER, but keeping in mind who I am running for makes it all worthwhile! I am proud to say I am running 5 – 7 miles consistently and look forward to bumping that up to 10 over the next month. I want to share this process with all of you in hopes of hearing from others that are also training, so I can get some other running buddies, but also to you ask for your monetary support! I have set a goal for myself of $1000! I look forward to raising that money in honor of an 11 year old young man that I am running for. His name is Jesse and he has Fragile X disease and is non-verbal. I am schedule to meet him on Thursday this week and look forward to sharing more about him in months to come. I know all of us have charities that we contribute to throughout the year, but I do ask that you give this organization some consideration, I know your donation no matter the amount will make a huge difference in the lives that they serve daily!

In closing, let me say thank you in advance for your prayers (to keep me safe and injury free) and your donations! God Bless and best wishes always~

Kendra Cooke

Kendra Fact

For the past 5 years Kendra has been a Diplomat for the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, and in 2007 is Chair of the Diplomat Committee

10 Things You Must Know: Home Security

Tip 1: Never rely on a knob lock. The knob lock on your base shouldn't be used as the primary security lock; top locks are much more secure. A deadbolt up top and a knob lock below is the best way to go.
Tip 2: Don't let the lock outdo your door. Your door is your foundation. Putting a heavy-duty lock on a light-duty door is ineffective. A good door and a good frame work hand in hand with your bolt.
Tip 3: Just toss in a throw. There are many different kinds of deadbolts you can install. The best option is to use a deadlock with a throw bolt. The throw bolt is a lock that shoots into the frame of the door and is extremely hard to remove. Removing the bolt would take a lot of time and make a lot of noise.
Tip 4: A bark is just as good as a bite. If you have a dog, criminals are bound to be leery about breaking into your house. Alarms that sound like a dog barking are designed to ward off intruders.
Tip 5: Motion sensors scare criminals. Installing motion-detecting floodlights will illuminate areas where people would be approaching your home. When someone comes too close, lights will turn on automatically.
Tip 6: Watch your property wirelessly. Camera systems can be set up around the perimeter of your home for extra protection. Using an Internet-based system prevents interference with other wireless devices in your home. You can even check up on your house while you're on vacation: simply log in to the network's website, and you have instant viewing access to your home. If you can't afford such elaborate security, you can set up fake cameras that will ward off potential burglars.
Tip 7: Get a safe and be . . . safe. Store your important documents and valuable items inside of a safe. There are many kinds: ground, wall or fire-resistance safes
Tip 8: Get a deadbolt on the interior. It's always good to have a secondary lock. Two locks on your door will make it harder for the criminal to break in.
Tip 9: Lock 'em down with a little alarm. Alarms are designed to scare people away: beaming lights, warning sirens or monitored security systems are bound to ward off burglars.
Tip 10: Don't let trees and shrubs obstruct your windows. Burglars don't want to be seen. A large bush or shrub in front of your window gives them ample opportunity to go unseen. Remove obstructions from possible areas where a burglar might be able to break in.

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