Black Hills Family 5 2024

ISSUE 5

2023

WARM HEARTS, SNOWY DAYS

DIY DECORATING p. 8

MODELING GENEROSITY p. 24

JINGLE, JOLLY JUVENOIA p. 33

CHRISTMAS TREE SHOWDOWN p. 38

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WELCOME

They make it so easy.

A bright orange plastic bag gets looped on my front doorknob every October with simple instructions: Fill with canned goods. Leave at the mailbox. Someone will come get it.

And so we do.

And every year around this time, my inbox, mailbox, Facebook ads and TV commercials overflow with more giving opportunities – Giving Tuesday, The Club for Boys Thrift Store, Feeding South Dakota, angel trees …

Our kids peruse a full-color Samaritan’s Purse magazine about ways to give to people in third-world countries – did you know $350 can cover the cost of orthopedic surgery or $14 provides a family with a dozen chicks, a coop and veterinary care?

There are an abundance of options for giving this time of year, and I encourage you to give where you are called but it begs another question: How do we teach our families, our children, the importance of a life of giving?

Of generosity that never ends?

I loved what Cynda Frey, of Feeding South Dakota, said in this edition’s piece about giving – that her children not only witness how they give, but participate in the giving.

Generosity can look different in different seasons, and that’s OK. Some people can write a large check to a local charity, others get out and shovel their neighbors’ driveway – it’s all giving, and it’s all important.

In our home, we do it by modeling first that generosity is not always time and money.

Sometimes generosity is kindness, or putting yourself last, giving up something.

We have four kids, and some days the jostling to be first, best, most important is evident. Loving one another, starts right at home where it can be the most difficult to share, to be selfless.

We start with generosity in our homes, and then extend it to our neighbors, and our community and hopefully it’s brick by brick to impact the world.

Generosity is a matter of the heart, and one that reaps rewards indefinitely when we make a habit of it.

I hope this season finds you filled with gratitude for what you do have, and a posture of generosity to those around you.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from your Black Hills Family staff!

Blessings, Kayla 3

12 Fed up with feeding

The rules about food and feeding change during the holidays.

How can you survive?

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CONTENTS

8 DIY decorating

42 Winter calendar

A local expert offers some of her best and easiest decorating tips.

Events and fun stuff happening in the Black Hills.

28 Put a bow on it SHIFT Garage is helping people in the Black Hills in a big way.

Find out how.

16 Personality possibilities

46 Many hands

Personality matters, especially at the holidays. Get to know yours.

Some of our favorite kid-friendly recipes to try out this holiday season.

33 Jingle, jolly, juvenoia 20 Balance, growth and looking back We look back at a family profile we did 5 years ago.

24 Modeling Generosity How do you raise a generous family?

We dive in to answer that question.

What do “kids these days” really value? We conducted an experiment to find out.

38 Christmas tree showdown

Publisher Rick DenHerder Creative Director John Edwards Senior Content Editor Stephen Simpson Editor Kayla Gahagan Photographer Laurel Danley Communications Manager Dolsee Davenport Client Services Specialist Dawn Kocina Sales and Growth Director Erica Moreland Business Development Specialist Justin Pederson Administrative Associate Kim Heidinger-Hughes

Real or plastic? What Christmas tree will reign supreme?

Evergreen Media All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part of this publication without the expressed consent of the publisher is prohibited.

The information included in this publication is believed to be accurate at the time of publishing.

Additional advertiser information, articles and more is available online at blackhillsfamily.com. ©

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A Clean Home

is a happy home Your home plays a major role in your happiness, it’s where your heart is.

You spend a lot of time there, so make it a sanctuary that’s always ready for you and your loved ones to enjoy.

1. Clear the Clutter.

One of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to improve the look of your home is to clean out your junk drawer, empty storage bins, and clear shelves.

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Once your living room is clutter-free, breathe life into your space by incorporating plants, making subtle updates, and maintaining your clean throughout the week.

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Decorating for Christmas or any holiday can seem like a daunting task. We sat down with a local design expert to get some tips on how to deck our halls ... on a budget.

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Decorating your home for the holidays? No need to stress about time or money. Whether it’s simple or ornate, store-bought or homemade, local home decorator Amber Greenfield says there’s a place for it. Greenfield, who decorates homes locally and helps customers at her aunt’s store in Baken Park (Rare Finds Décor), gave us some quick tips for getting your home in tip top shape for the holidays and well into the New Year.

Where did you develop your love of decorating?

In middle school, I rearranged our family’s living room as well as my bedroom. I was always the one who decorated our family Christmas tree.

Over the years, I’ve helped family and friends with their decorating conundrums. Through my aunt’s store, we've been asked to decorate people’s homes. I’ve also volunteered for several years to do the Christmas decorating at my daughter’s school.

What is the best place to start when decorating?

Start with a theme. Choose certain color schemes or patterns (plaids, polka dots, etc.). Also, consider the current theme (decor, design, color) in the room you’re placing the tree in. You may not enjoy an old fashioned or rustic-farmhouse themed tree in a modern living space. You may not want to decorate your tree in colors that clash with the decor you have in your space.

Is there a way to do this affordably?

Christmas ribbon can go a long way in decorating a tree on a budget. I like wired ribbon as it’s easy to shape. Pick a couple coordinating colors and different textures. Make bows or just layer the ribbons (on top of each other) and place them in your tree. Add coordinating Christmas bulbs.

This year I chose different shades of white and mixed in different colors of metals … bronze, golds and silvers. I also mix textures and finishes. I used shiny bulbs and matte. I also used wooden stars, white hammered bells, small white birds, and florals — things around the house mixed with some of my Christmas décor. The sky’s the limit.

Do you have any decorating traditions?

My family and I try to find a Christmas ornament on each of our travels and family vacations.

All these ornaments go on their own tree in my downstairs living space. The family helps to place these on the tree each year which brings great memories and conversations. I have also kept all the ornaments my child made in art class and the lopsided ones her daycare workers helped her make as a toddler. We’ve also painted, colored and sewn ornaments over the years that are kept for this tree.

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Is there a fun go-to element for holiday decorating?

Candles, candles and more candles set the mood for the holidays. I use flameless candles so they last forever with no fire threat. I put them in my centerpieces and place them everywhere during the holidays.

Also, I use lots of Christmas greens to decorate. Garlands make a huge impact — put them along a staircase, fireplace mantles, above entryways or down the middle of your dining room table.

Any trends this year?

I’ve seen more colored candles.

Also, some people are back to using tablecloths under their dining room table scapes.

I’ve also seen a lot of thin, colored, velvet ribbon accenting wreaths, fireplace mantels and centerpieces.

What is your best advice for someone feeling overwhelmed?

Get organized, start early and decorate one thing at a time.

If you take your time and tackle small projects, it’s not as overwhelming. I have my daughter help. This year she wanted a tree in her room so I let her go through my old ornaments to decorate her own tree. She ended up cleaning her bedroom first so everything looked beautiful. It was a win-win.

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HOW NOT TO GET FED UP WITH FEEDING Don’t let food be a stressor this holiday. With a tiny bit of planning and a few shortcuts, you can decrease your time in the kitchen and increase your time enjoying the real magic of the season.

Feeding kids while the school year is in full swing is certainly an art. It looks like slinging breakfasts with seconds to spare, packing lunches that are nutritious and quick to eat and creating unique, fun, delicious dinners — every day. Finding that perfect feeding rhythm exists somewhere in that spot in between predictability, creativity and a rut. It’s a major accomplishment to achieve, for sure.

This perfectly-run system, however, is thrown out the window when winter break comes to town. The whole fam is home. All. The. Time. You might even have a few extra mouths to feed this time of year. What can you do to keep your sanity? That’s a taller order than what this article hopes to accomplish, but we can offer you some of our favorite tips to keep you from losing your mind when it comes to your meal planning during the holidays.

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Create a menu and allow input When you have a plan, you save money, time and reduce stress.

Take a moment and create a meal plan a week at a time. Think strategically while you plan. If you know that you’ll be super busy on Tuesday night, maybe don’t try to pull off the four course meal.

On the other hand, if you have an entire day, and cooking is your jam, go ahead and plan that osso buco.

Allowing the kids a reasonable amount of input can be a great idea that might pay dividends down the road. For example, if one of the little ones really loves chili, and you put chili on the menu, you better believe that when that bowl is put in front of them, they’re going to wolf it down. Allowing the kids to have some input with the menu creates ownership. Everyone is just a little happier when that happens.

Your slow cooker can be your best friend The holidays have us rushing to and from one activity to another.

That’s fun and exciting and a little exhausting. So, what could be better than coming home to a beautiful, warm, comforting meal that’s all ready to serve up?

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There’s so many wonderful ways to get the most out of your slow cooker, and a lot of those recipes are honest-togoodness “dump-and-go” situations.

Start your cooker in the morning, and enjoy the smells throughout the day. When dinner time comes around, it’s like someone’s already cooked dinner for you. But guess what — it was just you from this morning. So thank the past version of yourself, and get ready to dig in. You just have to hope that past-you remembered to plug the slow cooker in.

Allow for easy The holidays are a season to show off your culinary mastery and pull off meals that would impress Karmy from “The Bear.” Those kinds of meals take the better part of a day to nail and take extensive planning. What a wonderful way to show loved ones that you care — just not every night.

It’s OK to go easy for a night or two or three. Find those great 30 minute recipes. Any recipe with the phrase “one sheet” or “one pot” in the title is a winner when it comes to planning these easy-win meals. And a lot of times, these simpler meals end up becoming some of the favorites. Yes, chef. Thank you, chef.

Leftovers, delicious leftovers Leftovers are the gift that keeps on giving. If you plan properly, you can reap the rewards of leftovers the next day at lunch — and even the following dinner. Turkey, prime rib, even leftover pulled pork or ground beef can be transformed into soups, stews, curries, sandwiches and so much more. Look for ideas on the internet or let your imagination go wild about how you can repurpose those leftovers. And if you’ve banked a few different tupperware containers of leftovers, you can even experiment with combining these dishes for an even more inventive dish — leftover mashed potatoes plus leftover taco meat equal shepherd’s pie!

Strategic takeout It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a clean kitchen in possession of an empty sink, must be in want of dinner.

Enjoy the clean kitchen for a night and order pizza or Chinese or some other form of takeout. Use paper plates to really seal the deal on an easy clean up.

Eating out every night can really take a bite out of your budget, so plan on takeout sparingly. To help reduce the cost of ordering out, you can also look for coupons in local mailers like Impact. If a restaurant has a mobile app, there are often discounts and loyalty programs in those apps that can save you some money, too.

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Snack, snack baby You can picture the scene, can’t you? You’re desperately attempting to put the finishing touches on dinner, and the whole family is squawking at you. They’re famished.

They’re getting hangry. And guess what — the roast is still 20 degrees away from being safe to eat, the potatoes are still crunchy and the gravy is as thin as water. This kitchen disaster is amplified exponentially by the sighs,

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KEEP THOSE LEFTOVERS FRESH The USDA says that leftovers are safe to eat for three to four days after they’re initially prepared, given that they’ve been safely stored in the refrigerator. The federal authority also advises that leftovers fare better if they’re tightly wrapped in plastic wrap. A tight wrap helps to reduce the amount of bacteria creeping in and also keeps moisture from escaping, keeping your leftovers tasty and ready for a second act.

groans and under-footedness of the children.

How could this have been avoided? By setting out a light spread of snacks, the ravenousness can be tamped down. You won’t want to overdo it, though. You still want your masterful meal to be consumed, but a light snack does wonders in the patience department. Check out page 47 for some great snack ideas.

HIGHWAY TO THE DANGER ZONE The USDA advises home cooks to avoid putting frozen meat directly in a slow cooker.

The cooking process in a slow cooker is too, well, slow.

That can create a situation where meat stays at the dreaded temperature “danger zone” too long, potentially allowing bacteria to grow and multiply. Someone call Kenny Loggins! So, think ahead if the meat you’re going to use in your slow cooker recipe is frozen.

Before cooking, thaw frozen meat either in the fridge or in the microwave.

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PERSONALITY POSSIBILITIES: BRING YOUR BEST TO HOLIDAY GATHERINGS A really old philosopher once said, “Know thyself.” Well, a good dose of that wisdom might go a long way at your next holiday gathering.

Fall plunges us into the holidays and that means one thing: extra time with friends, family and coworkers.

It also means parties, potlucks, schedule changes and social gatherings rife with a wide variety of personalities. Instead of skipping that awkward family dinner, or heading out early for the once-ayear company party, learn how to navigate social situations by getting a good grasp of your own personality strengths so you can not only survive your holiday calendar invites, but thrive.

Dr. John Trent, president of Strong Families, created a simple personality profile to help navigate friendships and family relationships. Utilizing the well-known attributes of animals, the profile is a

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creative way to describe and identify your personality traits, better understand the people around you and use that knowledge to learn and grow in relationships.

You can take the test online: focusonthefamily.com/ marriage/4-animalspersonality-test or read the descriptions here to see if you can identify what animal you represent.

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Key: The L stands for Lion; O, for Otter; G, for Golden Retriever; and B, for Beaver.

If you scored high or tied on more than one scale (for example, the Lion and the Otter tied as your highest scores), carefully read both descrip­t ions that apply to you.

People are actually a blend of all four basic personality types, with a few of us being purebreds.

The Lion Lions are motivated to naturally take charge and be assertive. They are confident and they know which way they want to go.

They are naturally competitive, self-starters, like a challenge, often end up in leadership. Lions want to do things NOW and hate to waste time. They generally want to make decisions quickly or solve a problem now, with or without all the facts.

Lions are fast-paced, competitive and goal-driven.

That often means they look at questions from others as slowing them down.

And in everyday conversation, they usually just want the high points.

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They are often so driven to push forward and get something done, they can communicate that a task is more important than people, or others’ feelings. If they feel their time is being wasted or a decision is being blocked, they can be impatient, argumentative or even pushy.

The Otter Otters are fun-loving, enthusiastic, playful and encour­ aging. They love people and love to talk. They’re so naturally friendly and engaging, and can form friendship bonds quickly with others. They can often end up being the center of attention.

They’re creative and full of energy, enthusiasm and life. For example, Otters love starting things. Sometimes that means they don’t finish everything they start, but not finishing something doesn’t bother them the way it does other personalities (like Beavers). Otters have a great time getting things launched.

Otters are optimistic, and often don’t see the risks associated with new ideas — which means they don’t always take time to read instructions. Otters lead with their hearts and are excitable.

Otters can come across as unorganized or too funloving. Others may believe they’re not serious enough, or are insensitive about not meeting deadlines that affect others.

An Otter can become a people pleaser in a way that can put a real strain on a marriage or important relationships. Otters under pressure may say yes to everyone in order to be liked.

The Golden Retriever Golden Retrievers are considerate, good-natured and strong team players. They’re naturally kindhearted and love helping, serving and looking for ways to come alongside others, particularly if they’re around people who are hurting. The Golden Retriever will sit with one person at the party — either someone they already know or someone he or she wants to know deeper. Golden Retrievers may also sit with someone who is hurting.

They’re world-class at seeking peace and harmony with others and in wanting to see closeness and caring in a home, marriage or workplace.

Purebred Golden Retrievers in grade school will actually send them­selves to timeout if they do something wrong (as opposed to Lion kids who send their parents to timeout).

Retrievers tend to avoid prob­lems (or downplay issues) at all costs, saying things like “Let’s talk about that tomorrow.” or “Let’s deal with that later.” This is why Golden Retrievers need others around them, like a spouse, who has the strength of a Lion or the creativity of an Otter or the detail orientation of a Beaver.

The Beaver Beavers are alllll about the details. They are organized and precise. They catch the spelling mistakes that everyone else misses.

And if they’re purebred Beavers, they actually like to balance the checkbook!

They sleep better knowing exactly, not approximately, how much money they have in the bank. In short, they’re great at follow-through and completing detailed tasks.

About to attend a Christmas party? The Lions organized the party, the Otters came to the party wanting to talk to everyone there, and the sensitive Golden Retrievers sat with one person who needed

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encouragement. But the Beavers were the only ones who remembered to bring the food! That’s because “Bring food” was on their list. Beavers love to check things off lists!

When a Beaver’s strengths are pushed to an extreme, they can take other people apart by being critical. Perhaps not verbally or in a loud way, like a Lion who “roars” at others. But if you offend a Beaver (or a Golden Retriever, for that matter), that person can hold on to a grudge for a long time, remember every offense — and what you were wearing when you offended him or her! Lions and Otters tend to get over things and move on.

Beavers can be critical, but are also extremely hard on themselves, particularly if they feel they’ve fallen short of a goal or made a mistake.

Beavers help others limit risk and identify challenges that can block success. They are great at wanting issues to be dealt with when they’re small, instead of waiting for small problems to turn into crises. For example, they don’t like driving for long distances with the warning light on in the car without getting the car checked or fixed.

Beavers finish tasks and close loops.

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BALANCE, GROWTH AND LOOKING BACK

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While on a roadtrip with his son, Dr. Chad Carpenter answered some of our questions about how to discover balance in parenting, career and life.

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The holidays remind us, among other things, to take some time to reflect as the year draws to an end. Where were our priorities? What did we focus on? Was our life balanced? What does that balance look like, anyway?

Growth, progress and an increasing level of maturity is found in taking stock of our lives. If we can cultivate open hearts and minds, we just might learn to do a little better each year.

About five years ago, when this magazine was still Black Hills Parent, we profiled the Carpenter family.

Chad, Allison and their six amazing children invited us to take their photo and to talk about priorities and making the most out of the winter months. Here’s an excerpt from that 2019 article:

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Family time takes precedence in the Carpenter household. “I’ve re-prioritized my life,” Chad says. “The things that used to be important to me, such as competitive bike racing, just aren’t anymore. I’ve made a commitment to be home with the kids as much as possible. When you’re together, you can really impact their upbringing.”

Traditions are an important part of the holiday season; the family enjoys carving pumpkins, decorating for Christmas, and baking cookies.

Lots of cookies.

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And Chad, founder of Carpenter Dental in Rapid City, is still working hard to prioritize and to find out what that really means. In our recent interview, he stated that he views his life in categories, and that finding the balance in those categories is an ongoing process.

“There’s a balance between work, physical fitness, family time, being a spouse, spirituality,” he said.

“Are the actions I'm doing today oriented in the right direction? It's like a constant assessment of how I’m spending my time.”

Chad has discovered that life balance means, sometimes, being willing to intentionally focus less on certain categories for a season. This most recent interview was conducted over the phone while Chad

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was driving back home from a hunting trip with one of his sons — a fitting context for this idea of balance. “All the growth that I've had in any of those categories has come when I'm completely out of balance,” he said. “So, Jack and I went on this hunting trip, and there is no work-life balance there because I wasn't working. We were just hunting for a week — I wasn't being a husband at that time, I wasn't a businessman, I wasn't doing my normal workouts.”

Chad said that this deliberate extra level of prioritization can happen in any category of life. If there’s a season that business needs to move to the front burner, then maybe fitness is a category that is visited less. If family life needs to be a priority, then Chad might put fewer hours in at the office, for example. Just like five years ago, Chad is still a constant student of balance and discovering growth.

Finding their own path When the Carpenters spoke with us for the 2019 article, Chad and Allison described an intentional decision they made to not overload their family schedule with activities and extracurriculars. This is what we found out then:

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One thing that separates the Carpenters from many other families is the lack of organized activities such as sports, and that is by design. “Don’t feel pressured to have your kids in too many activities,” Chad advises. “We have time to be spontaneous because we aren’t tied down with activities.” That spontaneity might involve a trip to WaTiki Indoor Waterpark or Evan’s Plunge, a Rush hockey game, ice skating at Main Street Square, a getaway to Deadwood, or simply catching a movie.

There’s boating and fishing in the summer months, skiing and pheasant hunting in the winter. The Carpenters aren’t completely against structured activities; Elaina plays tennis, Jack is in a running club, and all the kids have piano lessons.

But at the end of the day, there’s much less stress without a full calendar.

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Chad doesn’t necessarily regret that decision. He has, however, spent some time reflecting on it. “Well, I think about it a lot because it’s important for the children to have connections and a sense of belonging with their peers,” he said. “And when you make a decision as a family that you're going to go camping, go to the lake, have family meals together and that you’re not really going to push the kids into sports — you know, it sounded good in the article, but then when all the other kids are on the basketball team and then their friend groups start drifting because they're not doing that — that's the other side of the coin that didn't get discussed in that last article; there’s a cost to pay for that decision.”

The Carpenters seem to have found a deeper truth about parenting while looking back at their words from the 2019 feature. “What we found as the kids got older,” Chad said, “was that they found their own path to great friends and great activities. Basically, it worked out very well.”

And that’s Chad’s parting advice for parents: that regardless of the decisions that you make, as long as those decisions are made in love and dedication, kids are going to be OK. “As parents, we want our children to be successful, and we worry about that. In reality, they're going to find their own way, and there's many ways that can look. Being a parent is hard. If you love your kids then you want the best for them. You worry if you're doing it right. Do I have them on the right path? Are we spending our time oriented toward the correct goals? But looking back and asking those questions, I would say it's been a great five years.”

Read the entire 2019 profile on the Carpenter family at blackhillsparent.com/creativity-spontaneitycookies

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MODELING GENEROSITY Don’t let the hustle and bustle of the holidays make you lose sight of generosity.

By: Katie Brown Wiederholt

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GENEROSITY

Every holiday season my daughters and I make a list.

It is not necessarily a shopping list or a “to-do” list, though I have those as well, but rather a holiday experience list. We drink hot chocolate and watch “Elf.” We listen to music from “The Nutcracker Suite” and dance around the kitchen. My husband and the girls see who can sled down a nearby hill the fastest.

Yet I have found that over the years the experiences that bring us the most joy are those simple in nature and full of generosity toward others. One of our favorite traditions is selecting an Angel Tree gift for a child. The girls have fun choosing a toy another child might enjoy.

Often the list includes remembering a neighbor during the holidays. Last year we delivered a potted poinsettia to an elderly neighbor, my older daughter delighting in petting the woman’s cat while we shared a visit. When we are generous to others we spread warmth like a cozy fire or a mug of hot chocolate, and that feels good.

In our family, we try to keep generosity in our minds and hearts all year long. Involvement in service organizations like Rotary, Lions Club, and 4-H brings opportunity to do things like clean up trash on the highway and plant flowers at a local assisted living facility. Most of the time those service events are a lot of fun and we often get to know someone new.

Generosity is not always easy. Sometimes it involves putting another person first, even if that other person is your little sister and the item in question is the last cookie in the jar. The generosity of simply sharing what you have, however little that may be, with another person is a value we, like most parents, work to instill in our kids.

We try to lead by example when it comes to generosity.

I know our daughters observe our actions. I hope when they see their dad flipping pancakes for the Lions Club fundraiser or their mom helping with the church youth group they will grow up with an understanding of the importance of generosity not just during the holiday season, but all year long.

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ONE FACE OF LOCAL GENEROSITY – FEEDING SOUTH DAKOTA ON A MISSION Question for Kids: What could you do with $1?

If you donate it to Feeding South Dakota, it will provide up to three meals for someone in need.

Cynda Frey’s two kids love to visit her at work.

Frey, the new major gifts coordinator at the Rapid City Feeding South Dakota branch, brings her kids to the warehouse every chance she gets. With thousands of pounds of food moved in and out each day, dozens of volunteers sorting food and pallets of items organized and stacked in preparation for mobile food distribution – it’s a very real look at generosity.

“Kids are welcome here, to come get a tour, to donate, to see how this works,” said Frey. “My own kids get excited to come. It’s part of exposing them to the needs of others.”

It’s one of her suggestions in helping kids understand the breadth of need in the world, and how not to be overwhelmed by it, but be effective in giving.

According to research conducted by Feeding South

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Dakota, one in nine children in South Dakota are food insecure, meaning they don’t know where their next meal is coming from.

One in 12 adults in South Dakota are food insecure.

“Sometimes it’s not always what you think,” Frey said. “Sometimes it’s two parents working hard and paying their rent. They are feeding their kids instead of themselves in the evening.”

Feeding South Dakota is just one of hundreds of ways to give during the holidays, or year-round. The organization is able to purchase food at cost through a partnership with Feeding America.

“So we can get two jars of peanut butter for the cost of one,” she said.

FSD distributes food throughout the state through a variety of ways, including mobile food trucks,

GENEROSITY

Question for parents: Want to bring your kiddo in to FSD? Throughout the year, kids as young as 11 can volunteer at Feeding South Dakota. Kids of all ages are welcome to come volunteer on Jan. 15, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. backpacks of food for students, food deliveries to seniors, and partnering with local agencies to provide soup kitchens and pantries in communities.

The Cornerstone Rescue Mission and Club for Boys collect donations year-round, and multiple angel trees and drop boxes pop up throughout the holiday season.

The holidays are a prime opportunity to talk about generosity, Frey said, but really it’s an ongoing conversation worth having all year long. And giving your kids ownership in the process is key, she added.

It can be as simple as taking them along to a clothing donation.

“When we donate to Goodwill, they’re getting out of the car and helping carry the bags,” she said. “The more you involve them, the better.”

Her kids have noticed that not every kid has a meal three times a day. Young friends or neighbors eat at their house sometimes, and Frey knows it’s their only meal.

“I remind our kids, if we don’t feed them, they’re not eating tonight,” she said. “Anytime I look at a group of nine kids, I am thinking about how one of them is probably food insecure.”

Frey, who was raised in a low-income neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, is intent on raising generous kids and helping others do the same.

“We were in ministry when I was growing up and I never knew we were low-income because I saw others who had so much less than we did,” she said. “I teach my kids that we are blessed and fortunate and we use that situation to bless others.”

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PUT A BOW ON IT

Every Christmas, SHIFT Garage, a local nonprofit that helps keep Black Hills residents on the road, goes the extra mile by giving away a car to a deserving person.

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It starts with a clunk, a pop or a puff of smoke — these are the sounds of potentially hundreds or thousands of dollars of car repairs. Unexpected vehicle repairs can leave families in a lurch when it comes to commuting to work or transporting kids to school and activities.

“Reliable and safe transportation is critical for families being able to advance in employment opportunities,” explains Chris Erickson, director of SHIFT Garage in Rapid City.

This nonprofit garage started in Rapid City 13 years ago and has since expanded to a second location in Sioux Falls. The idea is simple: give folks a hand up by providing car repairs for the cost of parts, and, if a person qualifies, connect them with a new, reliable ride. On average, SHIFT is able to fix about 150 cars each year and provide about 30 vehicles at a significantly reduced rate — just in the Black Hills.

How it works This story explains how SHIFT makes a big difference in the lives of people here in the Black Hills. One morning, a local school called the SHIFT Garage. “One of the staff

GENEROSITY

The 2021 recipient of the Shift Garage Christmas Giveaway

Nia, the recipient of the 2021 vehicle in Rapid City, uses her ride

in Sioux Falls uses this vehicle to transport loved ones to and

to transport her and her family to school and work.

from medical appointments.

members at the school told me that they know of a mom whose car was in really rough shape. I told the school to have the mom submit an application to us and we would do a free estimate.” The cost of the repair at a shop would have been about $3,500. SHIFT could do the repair for about $700 — the cost of parts. “$700 is still a lot of money, so we were figuring out what we could do when I got a call,” Chris says. “On the other line is the teacher of the kid whose mom’s car we were looking at. The teacher offered to pay the $700 to get the mom back on the road. I asked the teacher why she was willing to do that. She said that she missed seeing that kid at school.”

The joy of the season “A couple of years ago, we decided that we needed to create an opportunity for people in our community to share stories about how giving away a reliable vehicle could really bless someone,” Chris says. “So we started our Christmas giveaway.”

During the weeks leading up to Christmas, SHIFT asks its followers on Facebook to nominate people who could benefit from receiving a reliable vehicle. SHIFT narrows it down to a handful of people and the public gets to vote on who they think should get the car. “We’ve had a great response, and it’s amazing to be able to get a glimpse of the generous heart of our community through this giveaway,” Chris says.

Creating a long term impact What about the folks who were nominated but didn’t get the car? “If you were nominated, it means you’re in need of reliable transportation,” Chris says. “So we try to help all of those nominated people in whatever way we can by finding them a vehicle or repairing one they might already have.”

Beyond the Christmas giveaway, SHIFT partners with individuals to get them in reliable vehicles. “We call that programming out a vehicle,” Chris explains. “We have a set of guidelines to determine if a vehicle would benefit this person in the long run or not. We also require a series of financial health classes and a class on basic automotive maintenance. Our board sits down and reviews those applications, so there’s a lot of accountability involved in that process.”

An opportunity for generosity The amazing work that is happening at SHIFT Garage couldn’t happen without the generous spirit of the Black Hills and Sioux Fall communities. “We’re such a unique way for people to work their generosity muscles,” Chris says. “Obviously, money donations go a long way in keeping the garage opened and functioning, but volunteering is a key element to what we’re doing, too.”

Chris encourages anyone with a love of the mechanical to use that passion for good by volunteering at SHIFT. “There’s so many people — especially guys — who may

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think that volunteering is not for them. Well, that couldn’t be further from the truth.”

Chris also says that vehicle donations are another huge act of generosity that helps get people back on the road.

“We’re able to take cars with problems, fix them, and we’re able to give them away or we can sell them, which might help us to purchase two great program cars for people in need.”

SHIFT Garage’s history is chock full of stories of the Black Hills community supporting families in tangible ways.

“We teach classes on vehicle maintenance with the goal of parents being able to eventually pass that knowledge on to their kids. We hope that we have an entire generation that

knows how to check their transmission fluid and when to get their tires rotated,” Chris says. “For me, it really is about legacy. I bring my 5-year-old daughter to the garage during a lot of the volunteer work nights. I want her to see how everyone is called to love their neighbor and how that can look a million different ways.”

To make a monetary donation, begin the process of vehicle donation or to apply for vehicle repairs, visit shiftgarage.org

Specialized Dog & Cat Food Raw Gently Cooked Freeze Dried High Quality Kibble 425 Bentley Lane Rapid City, SD

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605-791-4141 www.healthypawsbh.com

ONLINE ADVERTORIAL PREVIEW GROW

THE GIFT OF EDUCATION The holidays can be a wonderful opportunity to start a 529 college savings account. These special plans are a gift that keeps on giving.

The latest toy or a new bike are sure to bring joy to little ones, but there’s a gift that can serve children their entire lives. Parents, grandparents — actually anyone — can easily open and fund a 529 college savings account for the children in their lives. These special tax-advantaged savings accounts grow with compound interest and are a great way to help fund a child’s college education. Even a small amount

contributed monthly can add up and grow to put a major dent in college expenses.

The holidays are a great time to open a 529 college savings plan because these accounts are a gift for both the givers and recipients. Contributions, growth, and qualifying withdrawals are all tax-exempt. The savings accounts are flexible and easy to use and understand.

Beneficiaries are able to enjoy the lifelong benefit of a funded college education, and they’re able to focus more on their learning than finances while in college. So, whoever those special kids are in your life — children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or friends — consider opening one of these accounts this holiday for them.

It’s a gift that they won’t soon forget.

To learn how to start saving or to connect with an expert, visit collegeaccess529.com.

CollegeAccess 529 Plan accounts are not insured by any state, and neither the principal deposited nor any investment return is guaranteed by any state. Furthermore, the accounts are not insured, nor the principal or any investment return guaranteed, by the federal government or any federal agency.

Before investing, an individual should consider whether their state of residency — or their intended designated beneficiary's state of residency — offers any benefit, such as state tax deduction, financial aid, scholarship funds, and protection from creditors or any other benefits that are only available for investments in that state's 529 savings program.

An investor should consider the investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses of the CollegeAccess 529 Plan before investing. This and other important information is in the Plan Disclosure Statement which should be read carefully before investing.

The CollegeAccess 529 Plan is issued by the South Dakota Higher Education Savings Trust. The Program Manager and Underwriter for the CollegeAccess 529 Plan is VP Distributors, LLC, One Financial Plaza, Hartford, CT 06103, 800-243-4361. Certain of the investment management firms that manage underlying mutual funds in the Program, including Virtus Investment Advisers, Inc., are affiliated with the Program Manager.

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SPONSORED CONTENT

THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF GIVING: A PRESCRIPTION FOR A HEALTHIER SOCIETY

In the world of health care, where compassion and empathy are as vital as medical expertise, it’s impossible to overstate the importance of giving.

Hans Nelson Director Foundation Stewarding charitable gifts for the benefit of our patients and the communities we serve.

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The Monument Health Foundation has witnessed the transformative power of generosity, as it forms the cornerstone of our mission to improve lives. We firmly believe that giving back isn’t just an act of kindness; it’s a prescription for a healthier society.

When individuals and communities contribute to the well-being of others, it creates a profound ripple effect. It extends far beyond the immediate beneficiaries, touching the lives of families, friends and even strangers. Every dollar donated, every hour volunteered and every resource shared amplifies our collective ability to combat health disparities, provide essential care and drive medical advancement.

The act of giving fosters a sense of purpose and belonging. Volunteers, donors

and supporters become stakeholders in the health care journey of their neighbors and community members, empowering them to actively participate in shaping a healthier future. The benefits are obvious to the recipients, but the act of giving also enriches the givers’ lives, promoting mental and emotional well-being.

As we reflect on the importance of giving, let us remember that it is not a one-time remedy but an ongoing commitment to creating a healthier, more compassionate world. Together, we can foster positive change, weaving a tapestry of empathy, hope and improved health for all.

Let us continue to give generously, for in doing so, we heal not only the bodies of our patients but the soul of our community.

GENEROSITY

JINGLE, JOLLY, JUVENOIA

Kids these days. They only think about one thing this time of the year. And it’s usually wrapped in shiny paper and tucked under a tree. Right?

What are kids dreaming of this Christmas? What’s on their wish list?

Kids these days are some of the most material-obsessed, self-centered people that the world has ever seen. They breeze through life, taking selfies, glued to their phones, never even taking a second to say thank you or think about another person. They have to be the most irresponsible, misguided group of miscreants that’s ever walked the surface of the planet. If they don’t get what they want under the tree this year, surely there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Maybe not. And quit calling me Shirley. If you look back at history, people consistently tend to look down and disparage the proceeding generation. It’s a phenomenon called Juvenoia. Every generation does it. Socrates said that the children of the fifth century B.C. “contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table,

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Photos by Mckayli Simpson

GENEROSITY

cross their legs and tyrannize their teachers.” Romain Rolland, a French writer, thinker and Nobel Prize winner said that the youth of the early 20th century were “passionately in love with pleasure and violent games and easily duped.”

Juvenoia isn’t anything new. Every generation will complain about the generation that comes after them. Your elders complained about you, and you’ve probably grumbled about how kids these days don't know how great it was in the 90s — or the aughts or the 80s or whatever. Kids these days, though — if you take the time to listen — are amazing.

Meet the dreaded next generation If you asked a member of the youngest generation what they cared about most during the holidays, they would definitely respond with something about the latest video game or the newest, shiniest, most battery-consuming toy imaginable, right? Or if you asked them to describe their perfect Christmas season, they’d come up with answers about no school, sleeping in and — once again — presents, presents and more presents.

Well, not so fast. The current generation of kids has been deemed Generation Alpha. If you have kids or know kids from this generation, you know just how amazing they can be. They’re smart, they’re capable, they’re creative, they’re kind. And they’re woefully underestimated.

We wanted to see what would happen if we asked these sorts of questions to some real Black Hills kids. We assumed that we would get some funny but predictable answers about wanting this toy or game or getting a few weeks off from school. But that’s not what we found. The kids we spoke with about the holidays had some surprising answers.

The experiment Meet our research participants: The Rosbrughs. This family of six is from Rapid City. The parents, Sonny and Missy, lead Crossroads Wesleyan Church. They have four kids, ranging from 6 to 16 years old.

For this experiment, we asked the four kids — each separately and out of earshot of anyone else — a series of questions about the Christmas holiday: what they love about it, what’s their favorite part, what does their perfect Christmas look like and so on. What follows is a consolidated look at their answers.

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The parents weigh in When asked about her perfect Christmas season, Missy, the mom, said, “I just want to feel peaceful and not rushed; not getting too stressed. I want to enjoy things like making cookies and watching movies and just being together because a lot of the season is just busy.”

Sonny, the dad, agreed. He said, “You buy gifts, but you can’t buy time. When’s the last time you spent some time with someone and didn’t really rush through? I just want to be present, and that to me is that perfect Christmas moment — just being with people.”

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Dalton Age 16 Favorite Christmas treat: Grandma’s sourcream cookies What’s your perfect Christmas look like?

The perfect Christmas would be splitting our time evenly between both sides of the family and being able to play games with them. Have fun. Have a good long Christmas with them. Spend the night with a few of the cousins. Just hanging out with them and having a good time.

Bella Age 14 Favorite Christmas treat: Christmas sugar cookies What’s your perfect Christmas look like?

I like to spend time with my family. We normally go to Missouri and we get to see our cousins and our grandmas and grandpas and just chill with them. It's just really fun. I like to, if I'm getting a present for someone, make sure it's all wrapped up, like, fancy and stuff.

Paityn Age 12 Favorite Christmas treat: candy canes What’s your perfect Christmas look like?

Spending time with family, mostly, like, my cousins that are my age. I like the snow and the Christmas decorations all up.

I like listening to Christmas music.

Parker Age 6.5 Favorite Christmas treat: gingerbread men

Changing minds and growing hearts Time with extended family is a thing that the Rosbrugh children look forward to every year. Bella mentioned giving gifts, and only Parker, the youngest, brought up receiving gifts — and that was only a single, brief mention. She spent most of her time recounting the glory of building snowmen (with chip noses) and making snow angels. Paityn is looking forward to the simple joys of decorations and music.

Dalton, the oldest, mentioned nothing but spending time with family. In fact, all four of the kids mentioned time with cousins and other family members as one of their most treasured things about the holiday season.

Maybe the next generation isn’t as self-centered as we thought they were. Maybe we need to get over our juvenoia.

Maybe, like the Rosbrugh kids, the rest of Gen Alpha values something a little deeper than just the presents.

“Maybe,” as the great Dr. Suess once wrote, “Christmas doesn’t come from a store.

Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”

What’s your perfect Christmas look like?

You get lots of gifts. Jesus was born on that day.

And you get to be with your family. And make snow angels. And one year, me and Paityn made a snowman. And for the nose, we had no carrots and I was like, I'll grab this chip pack. And I grabbed a chip and then his nose was a chip.

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THE REAL DEAL WHY REAL

TREES COME OUT ON TOP 38

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HOLIDAY FUN

By Kayla Gahagan It started when I was young – the hike out to the woods, knee-high snow, snotty noses, frozen fingertips, the rip of the saw against the trunk, tying it to the top of our Jeep, standing back proudly at the final look in our living room – a beacon to the coming birthday of Jesus.

A real Christmas tree. Not plastic, manufactured in some warehouse overseas, but grown and nurtured right in the ground, slung over a shoulder, dragged to the car, a carpet of needles trailing us every step of the way.

The debate is on, likely not just in our office, but perhaps in your home or office too.

Real or fake?

As you probably have gathered by now – I’m firmly living in the real tree camp (whether you harvested it from the woods or purchased it locally).

For all my real Christmas tree fans – you get it. There is something noble and old-school about hauling an actual tree into your living room, bearing the scratches and sore muscles (this mama packed it a mile to the car last year), tiptoeing among lost needles in the carpet, watering it daily, and then recycling it a month later – all in the name of holiday nostalgia.

It’s worth it folks. The smell alone is worth it – fresh, piney, sappy. I can’t get enough.

And if you’re about to argue that fake trees look better … symmetrical, controlled, perfect – let me stop you right there. Who wants something that looks perfect? There’s something oddly sweet about that slightly crooked base, or the extra long limb, or the bare spot in the back. Push that baby into the corner, wrap it with all the tinsel and homemade ornaments it can carry, and no one will be wiser.

With all that said, there’s an exception to the rule. Go with plastic if you’re absolutely, positively, severely allergic and cannot have a real tree in your home. In that case, you’re excused.

Otherwise, get the tag, cut the tree, park that pine in your living room and enjoy.

On a final note, in case you think I’m nothing more than a fake tree scrooge – I genuinely hope you enjoy whatever kind of tree you put up this year.

If I’m totally honest, at the heart of why I love real trees so much is less about the aesthetics and more about good memories of my childhood, and the annual Christmas tree tradition I have carried on to my own family now.

Bottom line, maybe, it’s less important what kind of tree you get, and really about the memories you create around it.

(Whisper: A real tree is still better though, just sayin’ …)

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UNDER PRESSURE: HOW AN ARTIFICIAL TREE CAN CHOP DOWN YOUR STRESS THIS HOLIDAY

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HOLIDAY FUN

By Stephen Simpson The Christmas tree hunt is such a wonderful holiday tradition — the piney smells, the classic memories, the brisk December air — blah, blah, blah. All of those sound great, but for every wonderful Christmas memory that is being made in the heart of a child, there’s the kid that’s exhausted from school and extracurriculars that really just needs to chill at home this weekend. The hiking and hauling can easily become yet another item to cross off on an already over-stuffed to-do list — and it’s not just kids feeling that.

Hear me out — if you love traipsing out into the woods, lugging away some arboreal mess and tying the thing to your roof rack, great. But if this isn’t your thing, or if this isn’t one of your kids’ things, don’t feel the pressure to take part in that sort of merriment. And this goes for anything that we feel has to be on our holiday bucket lists. If you loathe baking, just don’t do it. If you’d rather not amble up a ladder to hang lights on the eaves of your house, just don’t. Now, if those things bring you joy then, of course, plan on doing them. But don’t feel like you have to participate in some standardissued Christmas list. Families aren’t one-size-fits all, and the ways we celebrate the holidays shouldn’t be either.

Here’s where the artificial tree comes in: Why not go easy on yourself and your family and just throw up the ever-reliable artificial tree? Fifteen minutes, and you have yourself that classic holiday feel without the needly mess, the day-long trek into the woods and another living creature for you to take care of. If you’re anything like me, you’re probably not drinking enough water, so why throw in another thing that you have to make sure is staying hydrated?

There’s enough pressure during this time of the year with Christmas programs, family gatherings, shopping, cooking and the ever-gnawing need to somehow create a memorable, magical holiday season for the kids. Go easy on yourself. The holidays aren’t about your house looking this way or that or a perfectly choreographed schedule.

This special time of the year is about looking around and renewing your appreciation for the wonderful things around you — your beautiful family, the community that you treasure and your wonderful life. That reflection can take place against the backdrop of the Black Hills Forest while pining for your perfect spruce or on the couch while everyone is exhausted, eating pizza and watching your favorite Christmas movie. All the while, your faithful plastic tree with the built-in lights softly illuminates the living room — a reminder that the holidays are for enjoying the sparkly, beautiful parts of life.

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1880 Train Holiday Express Hop aboard for a ride to the North Pole!

Passengers enjoy hot cocoa, a sugar cookie, and a holiday story. Santa will board at the North Pole and hand out a small sleigh bell to each child. Hill City, times vary.

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WINTER CALENDAR

December 25

Merry Christmas!

December 26

First day of Kwanzaa

December 31

New Year’s Eve Jungle Party Koko is hosting his annual New Year’s Eve bash at WaTiki Waterpark! Dive into the fun with a balloon drop, movies, prize giveaways, a dinner buffet, and more. Rapid City.

January 1 Photo by Travel South Dakota

Happy New Year!

January 1

First Day Hike Start your year off right in the serenity of Custer State Park on a self-guided family hike. Custer State Park.

January 1

Last day of Kwanzaa

December 9

Holiday Market Pop-up Have breakfast with the Grinch and finish up your holiday shopping. Admission is free. The Monument, Rapid City, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

December 12-16

46th Annual Lakota Nation Invitational Experience Lakota culture and cheer on young athletes as they compete for the title. Events include basketball, hand games, a Lakota language bowl, and more!

The Monument, Rapid City.

December 15

Last Day of Hanukkah

December 21

First Day of Winter

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Burning Beetle, courtesy of Custer Chamber of Commerce

January 6

January 20

Join riders from all over the Midwest and Canada, from 4 year olds to professionals. Take the whole family out for a day of exhilarating entertainment! James Kjerstad Events Center, Rapid City.

Experience a community event like no other in Custer.

Every year the town gets together to remember the triumph over the pine beetle that ravaged the Black Hills Forest. Includes a mountain pine beetle effigy bonfire and fireworks show. Pageant Hill, Custer.

4GMX Indoor Motocross Series

January 12

Friday Night Skate Night The Spearfish Rec & Aquatics Center is bringing back their Friday Night Skate Nights for the whole family! $10 per skater and $5 per spectator. Spearfish, 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.

January 15

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 16-18 Lead Winterfest

This is an annual celebration your family won’t want to miss. Head to Lead for three days of live music, cocoa, sledding, and more! Don’t miss the fireworks show over the open cut mine. Lead.

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Burning Beetle

January 26-27

Deadwood Snocross Showdown The greatest show on snow is coming back to Deadwood!

Enjoy two days of snocross excitement as 150 professional racers come to prove their worth in snowmobile racing.

Days of ‘76 Complex, Deadwood.

January 28 K-9 Keg Pull

Cheer on dogs in various weight classes as they pull empty kegs to the finish line. This unique event benefits the Twin City Animal Shelter and Deadwood Revitalization efforts.

Deadwood, 1 p.m.

February 2

Groundhog Day

February 10

4GMX Indoor Motocross Series Join riders from all over the Midwest and Canada, from 4 year olds to professionals. Take the whole family out for a day of exhilarating entertainment!

James Kjerstad Events Center, Rapid City.

February 10

Breakin’ the Winter Blues Chili Cookoff

DON’T LEAVE YOUR PUP OUT OF THE HOLIDAYS!

Heat up your winter with a fun community event where you can savor the local flavor and explore downtown. Hill City.

February 12

Friday Night Skate Night The Spearfish Rec & Aquatics Center is bringing back their Friday Night Skate Nights for the whole family! $10 per skater and $5 per spectator.

Spearfish, 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.

February 11-12

Lover’s Leap Snowshoe Hike Take the family out for a day of winter splendor in Custer State Park near Grace Coolidge Creek.

The hike is 3 miles long and geared towards beginner snowshoers, but is moderate to strenuous.

Pre-registration required, snowshoes are included.

Peter Norbeck Education Center.

February 14

Happy Valentine’s Day

February 17

Sundance Winter Festival Load up the family and head to the annual Sundance Winter Festival in Wyoming. Enjoy sledding, food, skijoring, and live entertainment.

Sundance, Wyoming.

February 19

As the stockings are hung near the chimney with care, make sure you don’t forget to hang Fido’s stocking up there, too. Your furry friends are a part of your family, so why shouldn’t they take part in the joy of the season? And why not show your canine companion how much they mean to your family by choosing the best quality pet supplies in the area?

As you’re shopping for your pets this year, visit Healthy Paws in Rapid City. This pet supply store is your one-stop-shop for the best selection of high quality pet treats and toys in the region. The experts at Healthy Paws carefully curate all the food, toys and treats they stock to ensure that they are only offering products that are optimized for pets.

As you’re putting the finishing touches on your Christmas shopping list, think about slipping an all-natural hide-less chew in your dog’s stocking.

Or maybe wrap up a new rope toy from Mammoth.

How about a new no-slip water dish from West Paws?

There’s a treat, toy or accessory that is perfect for your dog.

Presidents’ Day

February 26-March 2 Annual Restaurant Week

Tickle your tastebuds all week in Custer during their annual Restaurant Week. Local favorites pull out all the stops and serve up enticing dishes you won’t find on the menu. Custer.

425 Bentley Lane, Rapid City, SD 57701 healthypawsbh.com 45

MANY HANDS: LET THE KIDS HELP IN THE KITCHEN

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BLACKHILLSFAMILY.COM

HOLIDAY FUN

Ready to do allll the baking and cooking for the holidays, but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen away from your family? Let’s get the kids involved. Try some of our favorite recipes, kid-friendly and approved, and enjoy the time in the kitchen as much as you do around the table.

Sweet Potato Casserole Ingredients • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for the baking dish • 1 cup packed light brown sugar • 3 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes • 1 lemon, sliced and seeded • 1/2 cup chopped pecans • 3 cups marshmallows Directions • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. • Melt the butter in a large pot.

• Stir in the brown sugar and 1/2 cup water.

• Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and simmer, stirring, until reduced and thickened, about 10 minutes.

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, peel the potatoes and cut them lengthwise, then lengthwise again, making long quarters. Cut the quarters into 1-inch pieces.

Boil the potatoes until they give a bit when poked with a fork, about 5 minutes.

• Drain the potatoes and arrange in a single layer in a buttered 3-quart baking dish.

• Pour the syrup on top, making sure it covers the potatoes.

• Place the lemon slices on top and bake 35 minutes, spooning the syrup over the potatoes twice during that time.

• The potatoes are done when they are fork-tender.

• Remove from the oven, discard the lemon slices and stir in the pecans.

• Top with the marshmallows.

• Turn the oven up to 400 degrees F, place the baking dish back in the oven, and cook until the marshmallows puff and turn brown, about 10 more minutes.

Veggie Tray Christmas Tree Need to set something out in between meals, or something fun to take to a potluck? Include your kiddos and their creative skills to design a simple veggie or fruit Christmas tree. Easy, simple and your kids are much more likely to nibble off this tray and get their servings of fruits and veggies.

Ingredients • Cheese • Broccoli • Tomatoes • Grapes • Blueberries • Cauliflower (Feel free to swap out sugar snap peas, peppers, cucumbers or whatever you have in your fridge for veggies.

The more colors, the better.)

Recipe Sunny Anderson

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The Best Christmas Cookie Recipe!

Prep Time: 20 mins Bake Time: 6 mins Chill Time: 1 hr Total Time: 1 hr 26 mins Yield: 60 cookies

Directions • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

• Cream together butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until smooth.

• Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt.

Cover, and chill dough for at least 1 hour (or overnight).

• Lightly dust a work surface with flour. Roll out dough to 1/4 to 1/2 inch thickness.

• Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets.

• Bake in the preheated oven until cookies are lightly browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Carefully transfer cookies to a wire rack and cool completely before decorating.

Allrecipes, revised by local baker Martha Schmidt

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Ingredients 1 ½ cups butter, softened 2 cups white sugar 4 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 5 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt

Give your child the freedom to dream with CollegeAccess 529 No gift is greater than an education.

To learn how to start saving today visit www.collegeaccess529.com.

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses of the CollegeAccess 529 plan before investing.

This and other important information is in the Plan Disclosure Statement, available at www.CollegeAccess529.com. Read the Plan Disclosure Statement carefully before investing.

Before investing, you should consider whether your state of residency, or your intended beneficiary’s state of residency, offers a state tax deduction or any other state benefits such as financial aid, scholarship funds, and protection from creditors that are only available for investments in that state’s 529 savings program.

The CollegeAccess 529 Plan is issued by the South Dakota Higher Education Savings Trust. The Program Manager and Underwriter for the CollegeAccess 529 Plan is VP Distributors, LLC, One Financial Plaza, Hartford, CT 06103, 800-243-4361.

Certain of the investment management firms that manage underlying mutual Funds in the Program, including Virtus Investment Advisers, Inc., are affiliated with the Program Manager.

Only South Dakota residents and Account Owners who designate a South Dakota resident as Beneficiary can invest directly in the CollegeAccess 529 Plan. Certain Portfolios are not available to those who invest directly. Residents of states other than South Dakota can invest in the CollegeAccess 529 Plan only through a financial professional. Additional fees apply for investments made through a financial professional. Please see the Plan Disclosure Statement for details. State taxes may apply for residents of states other than South Dakota.

Notice: CollegeAccess 529 Plan accounts are not insured by any state, and neither the principal deposited nor any investment return is guaranteed by any state.

Change Kids’ Health.

Change the Future.

We know when we improve treatments and facilities, we can address the most challenging health issues of today while preventing and preparing for what may come tomorrow.

Monument Health is on the frontlines when it comes to protecting the health of future generations.

Why do we need your support?

But we can’t do it alone.

We need your support.

• There are 8,000+ Emergency Department visits from kids per year.

The doctors and nurses in our Emergency Departments are certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support and are trained to provide a full range of medical care for children of all ages.

• There are 28 care stations in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Rapid City Hospital. On an average day, 18 are full. This means 18 babies born too soon or so sick that they need constant medical care.

Babies will stay here for days, weeks or longer, depending on the baby’s degree of prematurity or medical complications.

• In Rapid City there are over 2,000 births and 3,300 triage visits each year.

• In 2022, there were 10,861 pediatric patient visits. An average of 30 children every day!

TO LEARN MORE OR MAKE A DONATION, scan QR code or visit monument.health/cmn