CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES FOR ADULTS

for adults

The Sport Ju-Jutsu system for adults is designed to give good and fun physical training in a modern form of martial art.

activities

A thing that a person or group does or has done
The condition in which things are happening or being done
Busy or vigorous action or movement
(activity) any specific behavior; “they avoided all recreational activity”
(activity) action: the state of being active; “his sphere of activity”; “he is out of action”
(activity) bodily process: an organic process that takes place in the body; “respiratory activity”

christmas

The period immediately before and after December 25
“Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” is a song by Darlene Love from the 1963 Christmas compilation album, A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector.
The annual Christian festival celebrating Christ’s birth, held on December 25 in the Western Church
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Christ; a quarter day in England, Wales, and Ireland

Arc Handbell Choir

Activities for Retarded Children & Adults (ARC) Hand Bell Choir

Since 1985, the Bell Choir has performed throughout the community in churches, schools, businesses and for holiday and special events in hotels. The bell ringers entertain with selections of traditional Christmas and Hanukkah music. Their popularity keeps them busy, especially during the holiday months.

The Bell Choir is the brainchild of Dixie Henrikson, the original co-founder and musical director of ARC who passed away in April 2006. Dixie drew inspiration from a hand bell choir in her home state of Missouri and envisioned this for her ARC "Kids." A local businessman offered to buy the first set of expensive hand bells with the promise the Choir would entertain at his business holiday party. The promise was kept and the Choir was well on the way to what has become just one of ARC’s successful programs. Dixie created a program that facilitates approximately 120 clients with weekly activities and respite for families.

Jane Sarture, who now directs the choir, came on board in 1991 as a day program counselor for the ARC developmentally disabled clients. With her proficient musical talents – as pianist, singer and editor of musical selections for the choir – she carries on the program begun by Dixie.

Each adult and child bell ringer plays at least two English hand bells. The hand bell instrument enables this developmentally disabled group to learn how to play musical notes via a color-coded system. The performers are accompanied by a keyboardist while they follow the musical director’s lead. They view their notes from a scroll on the director’s podium in front of the bell choir.

Through music, the hand bell choir has learned one of life’s important lessons – how to work together. They have learned to produce music collaboratively. They load the ARC vans with their many pieces of equipment, then set it up and break it down again after the performance. Each step takes them about 20 minutes, but they develop a great sense of accomplishment and their audiences are made aware of the talents that can be brought out in people with disabilities.

The organization has received recognition for their community service and work with the developmentally disabled from Los Angeles by various service groups, such as the Rotary and Knights of Columbus and the Angel of the Year Award.

Santa was here!

My Mom has always had enough enthusiasm for three people. She was always very good with little children, whether her own, teaching CCD for preschoolers, or spoiling her grandchildren. She would attend every activity we kids were involved in: viola lesson, soccer practice, baseball game, dancing class. She learned to ride rollercoasters so she could ride with us. She did lots of good things that helped her three kids, in my opinion, grow up to be pretty good people.

She is the reason I love little children so much too. They are much easier to deal with than older kids and adults. Everything is as it seems, no one is playing mind games, and you know exactly where you stand. Naked honesty. I don’t think I’ve ever grown out of that. For better… or worse.

I think a light was finally turning on. "Hey, are those TOYS?!!"