Area Woman Magazine Feb/Mar '22

BREATHE and RELAX Amy Lee

BREATHE and RELAX Amy Lee

the love issue

wedding + home + health + life

Still playing with heart.

PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY

When a routine pregnancy appointment presents a heart concern, confidence in your baby’s care is essential. Our pediatric cardiologists provide compassionate, comprehensive cardiac care from before birth to your child’s teenage years.

We are committed to giving you the best options—so you and your family have the best outcomes.

These are remarkable people, doing remarkable things, together.

Join our team: EssentiaCareers.org

Heart & Vascular Care

701-364-BEAT

EssentiaHealth.org

life

14 GIVING HEAR TS DAY: MAKING A DIFFERENCE T OGETHER

16 ONE SPIRIT: 25 YEARS OF CELEBRATING WOMEN AND THEIR MUSIC

20 DEAR WONDERING WOMEN

health

22 HEAR T AND VASCULAR S CREENINGS: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

24 HOT: EVEN WHEN IT'S COLD?

26 BRIDGING MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS AMONG RURAL S TUDENTS

28 SURVIVING AND THRIVING

home

30 FALL IN LOVE WITH A KIT CHEN REFRESH

32 A TRUE CRAF T: DABBERT CUS TOM HOMES

style

40 CELEBRATE WITH FLAVOR

42 AREA STYLE + SHOP LOCAL

We’re in Your Corner

AARP North Dakota is empowering people 50- plus to choose how they live as they age. We’re proud to fight fraud and high prescription drug prices, create more livable communities and host virtual events that connect and uplift us all.

Learn more at aarp.org/ND

/aarpnd @aarpnd

our writers

are the voice of Area Woman Magazine. They bring to life the FargoMoorhead area and the incredible stories of the women we feature. These are the talented contributors showcased in this issue. Learn more about these and our other contributors at areawomanmagazine.com

ALICIA UNDERLEE NELSON

Alicia is the creator of prairiestylefile.com, a website that explores the arts, culture, shopping, events and fashion of Fargo-Moorhead and the upper Midwest. She frequently travels across the region in search of what's beautiful and what's next.

ALEXIS SCOTT

Alexis is a relationship builder by day and a freelance writer by night. As a multi-passionate woman, she won’t settle for a life that is anything less than busy and exciting. When she isn’t writing or focusing on her day-to-day career, she is skipping through life with her husband and four young boys.

ABBY ANDERSON photographer

Abby is a wedding, portrait and business branding photographer. When she's not behind the camera, you're likely to find her cooking a giant pot of soup filled with every colorful vegetable in her fridge. She lives in Moorhead with her husband and two daughters.

MEGAN ELGIN

Megan grew up on the family farm in small town North Dakota and graduated from MSUM. She loves all things creative including her job as the art director here at Area Woman Magazine. She is passionate about reading as many books as possible and loves discussing them with others. Megan lives in Horace with her husband and son.

cover story was photographed by Abby Anderson and written by Alicia Underlee Nelson, page 56.

JESSICA HOEPER

Jessica is a mother of five kids and resides with her family on her husband’s family farm in central Minnesota. Hoeper grew up in the Fargo area before relocating to Minnesota. She is a licensed independent social worker with 15 years of human service experience, specializing in child welfare. Hoeper runs her own human service consulting and training company. And most recently Jessica added author to her tagline. She coauthored a book that became an international best seller on release date, the book is titled “Success Codes: Secrets to Success You Weren’t Taught in School.”

WOMEN’S

virtual

SARAH MORRAU

Sarah is a mother, musician, writer, yoga instructor and mental health professional. She loves reading, the ocean, inappropriate humor, word games, working out, Mexican food and tea with milk and sugar. She is grateful for the everyday joys in life and believes you should not let anyone dull your sparkle!

DO BUSINESS with a FRIEND!

317 Roberts Street Fargo, ND • 701-232-2493

celebrating 37 years

publisher

JON-MICHAEL SHERMAN

art director

MEGAN ELGIN

proofing editor

JILL OCKHARDT BLAUFUSS

advertising

MIKE SHERMAN 701-306-5119

JON-MICHAEL SHERMAN 701-306-1288

TAMIE ZACCHEA 701-306-7932

photography

ABBY ANDERSON

DANELLE JANAE PHOTOGRAPHY

DAVID ARNTSON

DIRKS DIGITAL MEDIA

EXPOSURES BY KELLI FREEPIK.COM

GIN AND SAKE

POLY MENDES PHOTOGRAPHY

TWO BIRDS PHOTOGRAPHY UNSPLASH.COM

25 TH ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF

TAK

ATTEND

Featuring:

CONNIE GJERMUNDSON

DEB HARRIS • NATTIE JEAN

DEB JENKINS • PAULA LARSEN

PAT LENERTZ BAND

DIANE MILLER • EMY MILLER

SARAH MORRAU

ROSIE SAUVAGEAU NESTINGEN

STELLA PETERSON (2021 Award Winner)

SILVER WINDS FLUTE QUARTET

BAILEY ROTH • JESSE (VEEDER) SCOFIELD

SEEMA TIAN (2021 Award Winner)

NITA VELO

DOORS OPEN: 6:00 pm

SHOWTIME: 6:30 pm

TICKETS: $25 General, $50 VIP | available at eventbrite.com

MISSION: To recognize artistic passion in women and create opportunities for emerging and established artists by opening avenues for networking, mentoring, support and promotion of their individual talents.

FOR

No great feat is accomplished alone, especially when it comes to nonprofit causes. Our contributions of dollars, volunteer time and goods are essential to scaling the work and elevating the missions of charities — resulting in more people in our communities being helped. Take a look at how these amazing people are making a difference at two Giving Hearts Day charities.

Furry Friends Rockin’ Rescue

Furry Friends Rockin’ Rescue is an animal rescue located in the Bismarck-Mandan, North Dakota, area. Kramer Subaru of Mandan is a business actively involved in helping the charity. Always willing to lend space for events or uplift the pets looking for homes, the dealership’s partnership with the charity has made an immense difference in the lives of these animals.

Also working for the Furry Friends cause is Lila Teunissen. Being entirely volunteer-run, Furry Friends Rockin’ Rescue depends greatly on individuals like Teunissen, and the admirable efforts she puts forth, in addition to operating her own small business. President Julie Schirado says, “She stepped up for us in our organization to take on two of the toughest roles ever — dog trainer and grant writer.”

→ Zach at KRAMER SUBARU of Mandan

↓ LILA TEUNISSEN (below right) volunteers at Furry Friends Rockin' Rescue

Emergency Food Pantry

The Emergency Food Pantry works to provide food to individuals and families in their greatest time of need. They will be celebrating their 50th year of operation in 2022, and they are reflecting on the donors and volunteers that have made this accomplishment possible. One particular anonymous donor has started donating to the pantry annually, and at various times throughout the year will contribute directly to clients receiving provisions from the Emergency Food Pantry.

Richard Larson, a volunteer, has been helping the cause for over half of the Emergency Food Pantry’s service years. Currently, he volunteers twice a week helping with various responsibilities around the pantry. He has also previously served on the board as an investment advisor. Executive Director Stacie Loegering describes him as being instrumental with important decisions for the nonprofit.

This Giving Hearts Day

(February 10), we invite you to join us and find a charity to support with your time, talents or treasure. Together we can make a difference!

RICHARD LARSON

one spirit one spirit

25 years of CELEBRATING WOMEN AND THEIR MUSIC

WORDS : SARAH MORRAU PHOTOGRAPHY : Provided by CELEBRATION OF WOMEN AND THEIR MUSIC

Deb Jenkins

has spent more than a third of her life pouring her heart and soul into the Annual Celebration of Women and Their Music.

Jenkins is at a place in her life where she is ready to step away from the show. At the age of 70 and as a breast cancer survivor, she is grateful to be here. She would like time to go camping with her husband Mike, travel and spend time with her adult children and grandkids.

Jenkins notes, “This event is a year-round, 24/7 job, and I was 100% willing to do what it took to make the show happen, and turn out well.”

“I am ready now to start some new adventures because I don’t think I’m going to get any younger,” she says.

Enormously grateful to the number of volunteers — including the board, core group members and countless others — Jenkins credits those behind the scenes as well as the community for the show’s longevity.

“We as a board meet monthly, year-round, to plan and sort out details, and we have such a great team of people working for the same vision,” she says.

Jenkins adds, “We work hard at keeping the show relevant in people’s minds, for example by hosting house concerts throughout the year, along with interviews, articles and word of mouth.”

Fulfilling the show’s mission brings Jenkins great joy. With a focus on mentoring and providing support to young women in the arts, the show has, to date, presented monetary awards to 127 female high school students, with amounts ranging from $250 to $1,000.

There is also an endowment fund through the FM Area Foundation that awards scholarships for higher education.

↗ DEB JENKINS

Partner with us

this Giving Hearts Day, as we reach out to women and girls in our area who are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy and offer them hope. Your support allows us to provide non-judgmental, decision-making mentoring, that includes adoption education, and other life-affirming supports.

As a mentor and accomplished musician herself, Jenkins encourages artists to consider that they don’t have to complete with each other, that we are all unique, and bring our own unique perspective to our art, in whatever form that may be.

This is beautifully stated throughout the theme song for the show, “One Spirit,” written by board and core member and singer/songwriter, Nita Velo. Each year Jenkins sings the same lines from the One Spirit Song, “We are many different parts, gifts abound with every heart, we are equal, we are strong, one body blessed by God.”

For many people it is also the theme song, written by Velo, that captures the heart of the Celebration of Women. The song closes the show each year, performed by the same key singers and the performers from the show group and accompanied by talented percussionists.

Velo explaines that the song is inspired by a bible verse in Corinthians that speaks of many different kinds of spiritual gifts, but all are from the same spirit.

The song began with the opening line that came to her, “I have one hand.”

Velo had recorded just that line and shared it with her friend. He laughed at her, and she told him, “That’s going to be a great song!”

We are many different parts, gifts abound with every heart...

When it came time to record the song, Velo says Roger Gress came in to play percussion and it added a lot. His idea for a beat with a native American style of rhythm really made the song, she says.

For Velo, the show is the only time her song “One Spirit” comes to life. She greatly admires Jenkins and her love of music and community: “To pour into this show and give back through those awards — she has influenced and inspired so many. When you think of the show, it’s Deb.”

This year the show welcomes back the beloved Margie Bailey, former director of the Fargo Theatre, as co-emcee with Jenkins. Bailey says she’s loved the concept for this annual celebration since Jenkins first presented it to her in her office at the Fargo Theatre in the fall of 1997.

Thrilled and honored to reprise her role as an emcee of the show, Bailey says in previous years

as emcee she was given the freedom to express her passion for the mission of the celebration. Bailey says she did this by “wearing zany costumes and singing songs from musicals with rewritten words that addressed my astonishment at current political and social agendas.”

Appreciative of how the show has evolved over the years by retaining a core team of women with an increasing number of emerging talented performers, Bailey says, “Every year the evening leaves the audience with a sense of gratitude for the wealth of talented women in our community.”

Honored by the community support of the show, Jenkins says, “The amount of people in this area who have wanted to support the show and its mission continues to amaze me.”

Jenkins is especially proud that the Celebration of Women has stayed true to its mission:

“To recognize artistic passion in women and create opportunities for emerging and established artists by opening avenues for networking, mentoring, support and promotion of their individual talents.”

For Jenkins, the performers, volunteers and award winners, it is the relationships and encouragement that have deeply impacted and continue to influence so many over the years.

Although Jenkins is hanging up her hat with the show, she is open to the possibility and hope that another dreamer or visionary may pick up the baton and continue the Annual Celebration of Women and Their Music.

“Twenty-five years is an amazing feat to have continued doing this wonderful nonprofit. I’ve beyond met the expectations that I have had for following my dream,” Jenkins says.

...we are equal, we are strong, one body blessed by God

MARGIE BAILEY

THIS YEAR’S SHOW WILL BE HELD at TAK Music Venue in Dilworth on Saturday, February 19, 2022, and tickets will be sold for both in-person and live-stream viewing. For a complete line-up of musicians, pre-concerts and other info, visit the Facebook page or debjenkins.com. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.

Dearwondering women,

WORDS : JESSICA HOEPER GRAPHIC : freepik.com

Hi Jess,

Thanks for wondering with us. I was talking with co-workers about self-care and we were talking about how we know what self-care is by dictionary definition, but none of us really know if we are doing it right. My wondering is, “What does self-care really look like and how do we know we are doing it or if we need it?”

DearTeresa,

Thank you for this question. It is a topic that I think about and talk with others about often. My wondering around self-care often starts with noticing the minus sign, why is self and care separated by a MINUS sign. Okay, I know it is a hyphen and not a minus sign, but I cannot help but see a minus sign and think about what visual power that may have. We know that hyphens are meant to join words that are not otherwise joined, but why is it that self and care and not already joined words? Healthcare, childcare, and, for goodness sakes, footcare, are all “care” words that are so commonly used together that they are now one word. So let’s be a bit rebellious and add a plus sign, self+care, until these two words are joined as one.

Back to your question, “What does ‘self+care’ really look like and how do we know we are doing it or if we need it?” I am going to take these in parts. First: What does “self+care” really look like? This is where I think we get tripped up and compare our own needs with what helps others. I think the world tells us what “self+care” is supposed to look like, i.e., dream vacations, giant bubbles baths, yoga, spa days, kickboxing etc. All of these may be ways of caring for ourselves, but the secret to “self+care” is that this is care that only you can accurately assess and take care of.

— Teresa

Others can help support your “self+care,” but no one can do it for you or can tell you what will be best for you. Here is where knowing yourself, taking time to get to know your mind, body and spirit, is so important. If you do not know what lights up and lightens up your mind, body and spirit, then you will not know what is needed to care for self. I think when you know what lights you up and lightens you up, we can then merge into the next parts of your question, “How do we know we are doing it and if we need it?”

When you find something that makes you feel light and peaceful, that is when you know you are “self+caring.” And then also when you notice you need lightening up from the heavy stuff of life, that is your mind, body and spirit alerting you to care for self.

Oh Teresa, this topic is so important. I feel like I could write so much in response to this. But, for now, let’s end on agreeing to courageously get to know ourselves better: mind, body and spirit. Then take care of self when self needs care! And let’s add a plus sign to the word itself or simply connect the word: “self+care” or “selfcare!”

YOUR FRIEND,Jess

Harvest the wisdom you wish to impart. Harvest in any way that best fits you, but harvest it nonetheless — through letter writing, book writing, note taking, picture capturing, verbal storytelling, recipe sharing, sewing and crafting! It is the awareness that you intend to share your wisdom that will activate the desire to find ways to impart this wisdom. These intentions can be infused into any way you feel called to harvest them.

Story sharing is the most powerful tool we have as humans to impart our wisdom. A large part of history understanding is learned through storytelling. I think of the things I’ve learned about people I care about, and it is often through stories. My mom was just telling me a story about a student whose life she impacted in a very unassuming way that had great ripple effects. I learned the power of connection and relationship through this story. Or another example of storytelling that imparted wisdom to me, is when I got to hear my aunt tell her story of chemical dependency to sobriety at an open AA meeting. The wisdom of understanding how possible healing is has greatly influenced the work that I do. These stories, full of wisdom, would have passed me by had these two women not intentionally verbally shared their stories.

Hi Jess, I often wonder how other women, as they are aging, impart their lives’ wisdom to the next generation?

— Joanie

DearJoanie,

Wisdom can also be shared with the next generation through tradition sharing. Sharing traditions helps the next generation understand where traditions came from and why and how come these traditions are so meaningful to you or your family. Traditions show up in happy times, such as holidays, weddings, baby showers, etc.; and traditions show up in the harder times of life, such as disaster, death and hardship. But no matter the event, you have wisdom to share through traditions.

Often when I drive by an assisted living facility or nursing home, I get very curious about all the lived experiences and wisdom that is inside! Culturally we do not have a very robust way of honoring the wisdom of life lived through years of being on this earthly journey. We could simply change that by intentionally spending time with wisdom sharing, as an overt piece of our conversations, with each other. Who doesn’t love to learn about someone’s journey and lessons learned from those experiences? No one is without pearls of wisdom!

Also, check in with others, and ask how they are imparting their wisdom to the next generation. This may be a very beautiful space to share with others, both in learning their “hows” and joining in the collective effort of enhancing wisdom sharing. Thank you, Joanie, for stirring us all to wonder and consider how we are imparting our wisdom onto the next generations!

YOUR FRIEND, Jess

P.S.

You can participate in “Dear Wondering Women” by emailing in your questions. We can join in honest, real and love-filled conversation around our shared wonderings. Write to me with your “wondering whys.” Let’s collectively as women share this wonder-filled journey of life together!

You can email questions to me at wonderingwhywithjess@outlook.com. Can’t wait to connect! Your “wondering” may be featured in an upcoming issue! [ aw ]

MIND BODY SPIRIT

Self Care is Love

HEART & VASCULAR SCREENINGS: What’s the difference?

From diet to exercise, there are many ways we can support our hearts.

However, when it comes to catching problems early, there’s no better resource than heart and vascular screenings.

The difference, explained

You may be asking yourself, “Aren’t heart and vascular screenings the same thing?”

While they are similar, they’re also very different, says Alexa Reynolds, Sanford Health lead exercise physiologist at the Fargo Center for Screening.

Reynolds says a heart screening looks at the risk for coronary heart disease.

“We would be looking at their blood pressure. We run a cholesterol check, we check their height and weight, and do an EKG (electrocardiogram) of their heart to look at rate and rhythm,” she says.

“Then, we use a tool called a Framingham score to assess their 10-year risk for developing heart disease. If our patients are found to be at a high risk, that means 6% or higher for the next 10 years, then the patient does a CT scan, which looks at the calcium build up.”

There is a difference in the two screenings, but both are important to your health

WORDS : SIMON FLOSS

A vascular screening, Reynolds explains, is essentially an ultrasound of a patient’s arteries in their neck, abdominal aorta, and legs.

“We have vascular techs looking for any risk of stroke, abdominal aortic aneurysm, also varicose veins and reflux,” she says.

Why they’re important

Reynolds says they’re different screenings, but equally important.

“Your risk of heart attack and stroke kind of go hand in hand. In some cases, if you have calcium buildup in the heart, you most likely have plaque somewhere else in your body as well,” Reynolds says.

She says that as we grow older, calcium naturally builds in our arteries. This makes yearly screenings all the more important.

And, despite the pandemic, Reynolds stresses it’s safe to seek care at Sanford Health.

“We’re really encouraging all patients to still continue with their yearly physicals, visits and maintenance. Screenings are included in that. We’re doing everything we can here to keep our patients safe. We want patients to know they are safe coming into our clinic, and they’re going to be safe at their appointments.”

Preventing problems in the first place

Reynolds says yearly screenings are the best way to catch problems early. She adds that prevention is the best medicine.

“Exercise is like your magic pill. It’s going to help with your blood pressure and cholesterol,” she says.

Along with exercise, Reynolds says the earlier you implement a heart-healthy diet, the better.

Hot:

Hot: EVEN WHEN

IT’S COLD?

Hot flash relief and prevention tips

What is a hot flash and what causes it?

A hot flash (also called a hot flush) is a sudden, intense feeling of warmth in the face, neck and chest that is often accompanied with profuse sweating. The “flash” occurs when blood vessels near the surface of the skin widen, or dilate. (A hot flash that occurs during the night is called a night sweat.) While the exact causes are unknown, common triggers are menopause, hormone changes, embarrassment, spicy foods, alcohol, tight clothing, stress, heat and smoking.

Hot flashes affect nearly 75% of perimenopausal women according to the North American Menopause Society. Hot flashes are an uninvited guest that often overstay their welcome. They first show up for most women in their forties, and drop in, off and on for an average of seven years. However, some women can have hot flashes for 11 years or longer.

Management/ Treatment Options

Full prevention of hot flashes, unfortunately, isn’t likely possible, but there are a number of ways to lessen the frequency and intensity of hot flashes, such as:

Š Learning which specific triggers may cause hot flashes for you and then trying to avoid those triggers

Š Taking sips of ice water when you feel a hot flash coming

Š Carr ying a portable fan with you and keeping a fan on while you sleep

Š Practicing meditation to reduce stress

Š Exercising regularly

Š Dressing in layers

Š Wearing loose fitting clothing

Š Quitting smoking

Š Using certain prescription medications such as antidepressants, a specific anti-seizure medication, or a specific blood pressure medication may help

Š Using hormone replacement therapy

WORDS : JOHN DEUSTCH

Just as every individual is unique, each individual's hot flash experience will be different. Some women will never experience a hot flash, or their hot flashes may be mild and tolerable. However, many others will experience a high frequency and high intensity of hot flashes for over a decade.

When to seek help?

For those women battling hot flashes and that have tried the common strategies to minimize them but are still looking for options to improve their quality of life, there are options.

Experimentation may be needed to find the most effective way to navigate this part of life since there is no one-size-fits all solution. Despite this, there are certainly effective ways to combat hot flashes. Talk with your primary care provider or reach out to healthcare professionals that specialize in helping this group of patients to learn more.

in Fargo. InHealth specializes in preparing custom medications with a special focus on women's health and veterinary prescriptions.

Bridging Mental Health Needs Among rural students

Rachel Meuchel tried for years

to coordinate additional mental health services for her students at Watford City (North Dakota) High School. Her biggest barriers were those faced by many rural school districts: easy access to providers and cost.

This spring, students in the counseling master’s program at Minnesota State University Moorhead addressed those obstacles and offered free mental health services to students via secure virtual visits. More than 40 students at eight area schools received much-needed counseling services.

“We are beyond grateful that MSUM offered this opportunity,” Meuchel says. “They solved one piece of our mental health puzzle for the year.”

Students in the MSUM Master of Science program complete supervised practicums as part of their graduate program. Typically, students fill those hours by offering free services through the on-campus Community Outreach Center.

Because of COVID-19, those in-person sessions weren’t an option this year, says Dr. Jessica Brown, assistant professor. She reached out to area K-12 schools to see if there was interest in counseling delivered via telehealth.

“We kept hearing there is a significant lack of mental health services, especially in rural areas,” Brown says. “This was a way to meet their needs and ours.”

Federal data shows that one in every four or five youth meet criteria for a mental disorder. Anxiety and depression are the most common disorders. Brown says the MSUM graduate students also met with students dealing with issues such as abuse in the home, suicide ideation, self-harm and grief.

While schools may have a counselor or social worker on staff, these positions have numerous responsibilities ranging from testing and offering career advisement to teaching social skills in the classroom or to small groups. Meuchel says there isn’t time to offer regular, weekly mental health counseling to individual students.

There are private therapists available in Watford City, but some families don’t have insurance that covers mental health services; others are unable to transport their students. In some cases, families would have to drive an hour to an hour-anda-half to access affordable care.

PHOTOGRAPHY : DAVID ARNTSON

MSUM counseling students gather with practicum coordinator, Jessica Brown.

From left to right: Amanda Bushaw, Kyle Sundberg, Jessica Brown, Julia Solem.

← Rachel Meuchel, school counselor at Watford City High School, meets virtually with MSUM counseling student Julia Solem.

So Meuchel was thrilled when MSUM graduate students offered to work with students while they were in the school building. “A lot of our students just need someone to talk to about things,” she says.

Julia Solem, Fargo, was one of the MSUM counseling students who worked with Watford City students. “It was meaningful to work with a population that wouldn’t otherwise have had this service,” she says. “It feels good to make a difference where you can.”

Amanda Bushaw, another MSUM student, counseled students at Nay Ah Shing Schools, which serve the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe in central Minnesota. She was excited to apply theory and see clients one-on-one. Counseling students virtually was challenging at first, but she quickly adapted.

“It was such an amazing experience,” she says. “When you go into counseling, you do it with the intent of helping anyone you can. It was incredible to be there for students.”

Giving students access to counseling in school was valuable, says Marge Weber, the school social worker at Nay Ah Shing. She provided students with a private space and a computer. “It gave them independence and control over their wellbeing,” she says. “Our kids were proud to have had the opportunity to talk with someone. I get giddy when I think about it.”

Brianna Kirchner is a licensed school counselor at Warren-Alvarado-Oslo Elementary in northern Minnesota. During the past year, she has seen more students with anxiety and a need to process changes that came with the pandemic.

“It’s been a stressful year,” she says. “It’s nobody’s fault, but our mental health needs have skyrocketed.”

Kyle Sundberg, an MSUM graduate student in the counseling program, met with three students at Kirchner’s school weekly. He researched activities they could do together online and brainstormed ways to keep the young students engaged virtually.

“I think telehealth will become more and more popular,” he says. “It’s a positive for the profession because you can reach a more diverse population. It was a great experience for all of us.”

Preparing

Bianca Milz chose MSUM’s Master of Science in Counseling for its personal flexibility and tremendous support to graduate students.

The support I’ve received from faculty is amazing. The flexibility they offer and their willingness to help has attributed to my success.

– Bianca Milz Addiction Counselor Centre, Inc.

Expert , compassionate care helps baby boy, family deal with congenital heart defect

Surviving and thriving Surviving thriving

Based on everything Ryder Thompson encountered — and survived — prior to turning 1, his first birthday, on Dec. 9, 2021, was more than a celebration. It was a day of reflection and gratitude.

“It was a whirlwind of emotions,” says Stephanie Thompson, Ryder’s mother. “It was such an exciting milestone because 12 months ago we had no idea where we’d be at this point. We’re just so excited to see him growing and doing things that we weren’t totally sure he’d be able to do. He’s such a little blessing.”

It was in October 2020, during a routine pregnancy check-up, that Stephanie’s care team at Essentia Health noticed what initially appeared to be an irregular heartbeat. Additional testing revealed a rare condition known as tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). A combination of four separate heart defects, TOF negatively impacts blood flow through the heart and can reduce the amount

of oxygen that is delivered to the rest of the body. There are numerous potential complications, some of them life-threatening.

Stephanie and her family, including husband Ryan, were shocked. As her due date neared, Stephanie and Ryan weighed their options. They wanted to deliver at Essentia Health rather than Children’s Minnesota in Minneapolis “because we had our care team there.”

That included pediatric cardiologist Kristina Rauser-Foltz, MD, as well as pediatricians, obstetrician-gynecologists and midwives.

The challenges did not end when Ryder was born. Conversely, they intensified. Ryder would need open-heart surgery at 6 months. Until then, the Thompsons were encouraged to help Ryder avoid periods of prolonged crying, which could have resulted in a “blue spell.” That compounded the nerve-racking uncertainty of Ryder’s congenital heart condition.

“He trained us,” Stephanie says. “If he squeaked, we’d come running.”

A day after turning 6 months old, Ryder had open-heart surgery at Children’s to repair the four defects of TOF. That procedure could have been delayed because Ryder contracted COVID-19 at 3 months. Lingering symptoms would have pushed back his surgery, but he received the green light. Things went well, and while Ryder likely will need additional surgeries down the road, recovery is on track.

WORDS : LOUIE ST. GEORGE III

PHOTOGRAPHY : EXPOSURES BY KELLI

THE THOMPSON FAMILY

RYDER THOMPSON

Thanks no doubt in part to watching his older brother, 3-year-old Oliver, Ryder was walking at 11 months. “He’s a peanut,” mom says, but a healthy and happy one. The expectation is for Ryder to be able to do almost all the things little boys like to do. He should be able to play sports, though Stephanie says maybe not at an Olympic level. “I’m not too concerned with him being an Olympian,” she jokes.

More concerning to Stephanie, at least during a recent conversation shortly after his first birthday, was watching Ryder playfully throw himself off the couch. He learned that from Oliver, too, mom jokes.

She’s thankful for the care and dogged attention to detail of Dr. Rauser-Foltz, who has been there for the Thompsons every step of the way. Stephanie says she never felt like “just another number.”

Instead, Rauser-Foltz would reach out to her proactively, before and after Ryder was born. She told Stephanie “never be afraid to call.” The two regularly exchanged messages through MyChart.

At one point, Rauser-Foltz noticed that Stephanie had brought Ryder in to the Essentia Health-South University Clinic for walk-in care because he wasn’t feeling well. Rauser-Foltz called Stephanie before she was off the campus, just to check in.

“[Rauser-Foltz] really walked us through that whole process, and it was so comforting to me, knowing that she was there,” Stephanie says. “She was constantly consulting with her peers and letting us know that ‘It’s not just me making these decisions — it’s a team of experts working on your son’s case.’ That transparency was really cool. I was extremely happy and comfortable to be at Essentia.”

Rauser-Foltz is thrilled with Ryder’s progress.

“As a physician at Essentia, it’s a privilege to care for children with congenital heart disease, such as Ryder,” she says. “As a mother myself, I, too, can understand and empathize deeply with the worry and concern of parents like Stephanie and Ryan, who are going through these turbulent experiences. I am grateful for the relationships that I build with families like the Thompsons, and strive to provide the best care for each child that steps into my office.

“It has been rewarding to watch Ryder respond so well to surgery, and I look forward to continuing to see him grow and develop in the years to come.”

fall in love with a

This issue is all about love, and the Kitchen Refresh team wants to share a recent project they are utterly infatuated with. Our clients tell us all the time they fell in love with their home because of the character, the potential of the future vision they had for the home, even the feeling they felt in their bones that “this was it!” However, not all areas in a home are always perfect, as you can imagine. This is where our love story starts.

The adventure began almost a year before the project kicked off, with many conversations on what our clients’ hopes were for the home they fell in love with. The home was made for entertaining, but the kitchen was closed off, and was not conducive to the way their active family used the space. The dream was to open a wall that was shared with a small cozy sitting room that was underutilized, and create a eat-up peninsula. The Kitchen Refresh team focuses on trying to salvage as many cabinets as possible when working through layout changes. By moving all the cabinetry surrounding the fridge and shifting it to the former breakfast nook of the kitchen, not only was storage maintained, but it limited the number of new cabinets needed for the space. Waste not, want not. Most of the new cabinets came in the creation of the new eat-up peninsula.

Smart solutions were utilized when planning for this active family regarding the peninsula layout. A double roll-out trash and recycling unit was housed on the far end, with hidden roll outs on the opposite side for easy access of meal prep related items. The center of the new peninsula was designed to house a microwave for easy reheating and to limit overall visual exposure.

The Kitchen Refresh team worked with the client to select new quartz countertops; coordinated flooring selection, installation, layout changes and textural elements; all while having an absolute blast working with the client to meet their goals.

Isn’t it time you fell in love again with your kitchen? Call the Kitchen Refresh team and see how they can help you achieve your design goals.

701-850-6824 • kitchenrefresh.net

a true craft

HOMES

Fall in love with timeless aesthetics that never go out of style

WORDS : ALEXIS SCOTT

PHOTOGRAPHY : ANGELA DIRKES, DIRKES DIGITAL MEDIA

xplore the exquisite design and commitment to detail in the popular "Sarah” home model from Dabbert Custom Homes. Boasting over 2,500 square feet of living space and an oversized three-stall garage, the Sarah provides the space for families, friends and entertainment while keeping home maintenance low and efficient.

With the first few looks on the outside of this model, it’s apparent Dabbert commits to craftsmanship and details. The exterior of this home is charming and timeless. The stained corbels and neutral brick along with a gel-stained front door bring out the beauty of wood grain for outstanding curb appeal. The oversized three-stall garage is 26 feet in depth, complete with a floor drain. The garage is insulated and sheet rocked with a seven and a half foot steel, insulated garage door, all standard. Keeping cars and toys cozy in the winter.

Beauty in artisanal craftsmanship

Step into the open entryway and be met with nine foot ceilings and an oversized hallway. Plenty of space to greet guests and a natural “drop-zone” for those on the go. Up the stairs to the main floor, the space is grand, open and bright. A client favorite, the 12 foot ceilings and great natural light in the combined kitchen, dining and living room offer endless potential for personalization and design. All Dabbert homes come with luxury vinyl plank flooring for durability and quality with plenty of color schemes for personalization.

Inspired by craftsman design, this kitchen is built with custom hickory cabinets and cream quartz countertops. The black hardware enhances the rich feel and elegance of the space. The corner pantry with wire shelving offers hidden depth and plenty of storage. Be wowed again with the oversized curved island, a Dabbert custom design that is great for entertaining or evenings of homework with plenty of seating and space. The three pendant lights above the island are glass with exposed bulbs to match the dining chandelier, offering low light options. The kitchen features all stainless-steel appliances to complete a clean and contemporary look.

designed just for you

We assist you from start to finish with DESIGN, BUILD and INSTALL. 54485 STATE HWY 34, OSAGE, MN 56570 218-573-3131 • sales@swiinteriors.com swiinteriors.com

MAKE A STATEMENT with your garage door

We offer the best design and color selections in the area

featuring:

FOR 45 YEARS, EZ Open Garage Door has proudly served the FargoMoorhead area and expanded service into central and northeastern North Dakota and western Minnesota. Family owned by president Bill Vogel who has over 40 years of experience in the garage door industry and his son, vice president Billy Vogel with over 15 years experience.

he top floor is reserved for privacy and comfort. The primary suite features an oversized walk-in closet and bath. The large window overlooking the front of the house with two smaller windows allows natural light year-round. The bath boasts a six foot long vanity made of the same rich hickory cabinets and bold black hardware to continue the craftsman design. The flooring is vinyl tiles in a neutral beige. The model shows a large walk-in shower, while customizable specifics are available.

The top floor also features a second bedroom with a dedicated, private bathroom. This bedroom is flexible for a children's room, a craft space, or visiting guests. The laundry room, another client favorite, provides a dedicated space for household chores, an easy distance from the bedrooms just a hallway away.

Heading downstairs, the living space brings in great natural light along with two bedrooms and a bathroom. The under-stair storage can also be personalized into a fourth level flex space. Many clients have indulged in this Dabbert custom feature that measures 9-by-22 feet and is finished with trim and carpet. Some Dabbert clients have turned this unique space into a hidden play area (cue no stepping on Lego pieces!), a man cave, or even a hidden storage space.

Dabbert has an array of floor plans and designs to view in premiere locations throughout the FM and Horace area.

the Science of the Craft

Communication is key. We take the time at the front end to really listen to their wants and needs and help them fit that into their desired price point.

Building a home can feel unfamiliar. Dabbert takes the confusion and chaos out of the building process right from the start. According to Megan Grote, client services with Dabbert, “Communication is key. We take the time at the front end to really listen to their wants and needs and help them fit that into their desired price point. We have personalized each of our floorplans in many different ways for clients. This has been beneficial because we can show new clients the possibilities. Our builder is a true visionary and has the ability to draw an idea based on a client’s questions and dreams. Witnessing this happen on paper with the client and builder is a true difference we can deliver.”

The ability to cater to the unique journeys of all their clients has become a science and craft to Dappert. Not one Dabbert home is the same as another, but the Dabbert team can execute because of their precision of building. Grote states, “Our team takes a lot of pride in the science behind building. Our entire project management team has eyes on the plans prior to building. We can ensure that nothing is missed prior to and during the build. We facilitate many quality control walkthroughs throughout the process as well. We have amazing partners in trades who understand our building expectations.”

DABBERT DIFFERENCE

DABBERT DIFFERENCE

We specialize in designing and building homes tailored to suit your needs as well as providing move in ready homes.

WE SPECIALIZE IN DESIGNING AND BUILDING HOMES TAILORED TO SUIT YOUR NEEDS AS WELL AS PROVIDING MOVE IN READY HOMES.

WE HAVE A VARIETY OF LOTS IN PERMIER LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT FARGO, WEST FARGO, MOORHEAD & HORACE AREAS

Dabbert’s focus on long-term relationships and high-quality standards have created lasting partnerships throughout the community that have allowed them to preserve and pivot in an industry that is heavily weighted on goals and deadlines. They have extended that quality, commitment and reputation to their clients, designing their dream homes that are built to last.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Dabbert Custom Homes

5522 36th St S, Fargo

701-205-4979

• dabberthomes.com

Vendors featured in Dabbert homes:

SWI Interiors • EZ Open Garage Door • Lemke Seamless

Floor to Ceiling/Carpet One • Rigel's Appliances

Red River Drywall and Decorating • All Finish Concrete

Dirt Dynamics • Home Heating & Plumbing • JDP Electric

All Craft Construction • Draftbusters • MacArthur Co.

Vector Windows • Winter Masonry • D&M Industries

Eric Berg Construction • Frontier Glass

Dreamweaver Construction • Squeegy Squad

aw ]

701.205.4979 | info@dabberthomes.com

We have a variety of lots in premier locations throughout Fargo, West Fargo, Moorhead and Horace areas. dabberthomes.com // 701-205-4979 // info@dabberthomes.com 701.277.0344

DABBERTHOMES.COM

F L ROVA celebrate celebrate

WITH

Celebrations bring people you love together to share in memorable events and share good food and drink! And while we all love the celebrating part, the planning part might pose a little more daunting task for some. Never fear! I am my mother’s daughter, which means planning and preparing food for large gatherings is in my blood. Here are some services offered at Stone Town Grill that could help in making your upcoming celebration unique and low stress.

CATERING

When dining at Stone Town Grill, you get to build your own bowl from our large fresh food bar and flavor your meal with sauces from cuisines all over the world. Whether you are in the mood for a burrito bowl, Mediterranean pasta, or stir fry, the combinations are endless. For catering events served buffet style, we can create a wide variety of grain, pasta or salad platters to serve your guests. We offer some signature platter options (such as Thai peanut with chicken, rice noodles and veggies) or you can create your own unique platter combinations to suit your taste.

We love helping guests pick out delicious food combinations and pair sauces with their meals. So whether you know exactly what you want or just have a general idea, we can definitely help you plan your food offerings. Beyond that, we also take special care in accommodating any food allergies or special dietary needs, so all your guests can enjoy a great meal.

Everyone loves a reason to celebrate.

WORDS : JESSICA LARGHE

PHOTOGRAPHY : Provided by STONE TOWN GRILL

If your gathering is smaller, we also offer individual bowl options, which allows for each person to have their own custom-made meal. This option works great for business or professional meetings as well as athletic teams for pre- or post-game meals.

One fun experience from last year was getting the opportunity to cater a wedding rehearsal dinner for 100 people. The groom’s family wanted to create a build-your-own-bowl spread for their dinner, so we worked with them to help pick out which items they wanted to offer, what they wanted served hot or cold, calculated quantities, and helped them plan their layout and setup. They were wonderful to work with and the dinner was a hit.

PRIVATE SPACE FOR GATHERINGS

Looking for a private space for your upcoming event? We can help with that too. We offer a private meeting room that comfortably seats up to 22 people and is no cost to reserve. Whether it’s hosting a business meeting or a bachelorette party, this room is a great space for your special event.

As we venture into 2022, we hope you have lots of reasons to celebrate this year. And if you need any help planning what to eat or where, we are here for you!

Stone Town Grill

is located at 705 32nd Ave E, West Fargo. For more information, visit stonetowngrill.com

beautiful, fast, affordable kitchen makeovers

Give your kitchen a fresh face by refinishing the existing cabinet boxes while updating them with all new cabinet doors, drawer fronts and hardware to completely transform the look.

TRY OUR FREE ONLINE ESTIMATOR

701-850-6824 • kitchenrefresh.net

623 Main Ave. E, Suite 101, West Fargo

before kallodcarpet.com

area style

Fall in Love with the Cake. Choose from bundtlet towers, decorated cakes and other one-of-a-kind treats for your special day, starting at just $6.

NOTHING BUNDT CAKES

816 24th Ave E, Suite 120, West Fargo : 701-404-1999 nothingbundtcakes.com

Love Always Floral — designing to contribute beauty + wonder to our communities LOVE ALWAYS FLORAL Fargo + Bismarck lovealwaysfloral.com

Aged & Infused cocktail infusion kits. THE STORE inside PLAINS ART MUSEUM 704 1st Ave N, Fargo : plainsart.square.site

Love is in the details.

TALULA 835 23rd Ave E, West Fargo (located south of Costco) 701-532-1134 facebook.com/taluland

A showstopping boho beauty — this Eddy K gown encapsulates romance for the modern bride. Beautiful styled shoot at Lone Oak with Floret & Foliage, White House Co, Hair and Makeup by Olivia. Photo by Two Birds Photography AFFAIRS BY BRITTANY 303 Broadway N, Fargo : 701-561-1766 : affairsbybrittany.com

Shy Creation 14K White Gold Diamond Pave Heart Ring. Available in 0.26 and 0.56 Carat. Starting at $800. Shy Creation Pave Heart earrings and necklaces also available.

GUNDERSON'S

5601 28th Ave S, Fargo 701-532-3020 gundersons.com

knits to love

Sweet heart huggie hoop earrings. Available in white, pink, red and black. $11

PROPER

315 N Broadway, Fargo 701-364-0133 proper-shops.com

Whether having a night in with the girls or a date night out, we are loving all things soft + feminine for this season's trending looks.

LEELA & LAVENDER

Shoppes at BLU Water Creek : 3265 45th St S, Ste 116, Fargo leelaandlavender.com

Love what you wear with PRIMROSE

BOUTIQUE

1115 9th St E, West Fargo primroseboutiquefashion.com

Un ‘lovely’

Over my career as a counselor, I have met with numerous individuals who live in incredibly difficult marriages and relationships. On the surface, there are many reasons for those complicated relationships: differences in upbringing, cultural differences, mental and physical health issues, spiritual issues, anger, grief, abuse, and trauma, are examples. And these are all real challenges. And they need to be addressed. But, believe it or not, how we approach and respond to those issues has a much greater impact on the quality of the relationship than the issues themselves.

The root problem of a stunning number of marital difficulties is, in its simplest form, selfishness. I know that sounds harsh but, truth be told, we all want what we want and sometimes to the detriment of others. By nature, we are all self-centered. But when we receive Jesus’ love, the Holy Spirit brings the love of God into our hearts, as Romans 5:5 indicates (“We know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”). And the root cure for self-centeredness is love. Love and selfishness are opposites. Galatians 5 lists the character qualities the Holy Spirit will produce in our lives if we allow him, and these include love. When we experience God’s love in that way, we also develop the capacity and desire to genuinely express love in an others-focused way. Expressing love is the most powerful thing we can do for our spouse. There are many ways to do this: by being generous with our time,

serving our spouse in ways that acknowledge their needs and values even when they don’t resonate perfectly with our own or we don’t believe they deserve them, choosing grace, humility, patience and forgiveness.

Are you feeling convicted as you read this? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! And there’s no shame in it. Remember, we are all self-centered by nature. Over the years I have challenged many clients to try this “unconditional love” experiment with your partner. How does it work? Discover your spouse’s primary love language (Acts of Service, Quality Time, Gifts, Physical Touch, or Words of Affirmation) and give it at least once a week for six months, no matter how you are treated in return. I have seen hard, harsh, cruel people soften long before the six months are over. When you love intentionally and unconditionally instead of loving when you feel like it and only to the level you perceive the other person “deserves” to be loved, you can become the agent of

healing for your spouse and your marriage. And you also have a much greater chance of being loved in those same ways, even on the days when you are the unlovely one.

Are you willing to give it a try? Are you at the point in your relationship where the pain of staying the same o U tweighs the fear of trying something new? No matter how frustrated you are with your marriage, are you willing to commit to loving your spouse unconditionally for the next six months and speaking his or her love language? It truly can transform your heart and your marriage!

* Note: As always, if you are in a relationship that is unsafe or abusive in any way, please seek immediate professional support and do not see this article as a suggestion to stay in a perilous situation.

WENDY REGNER

To Have and To Hold Couples Care

Wendy is a licensed professional counselor in private practice in Fargo. She is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC), American Counseling Association (ACA), a certified SYMBIS Pre-marital Preparation Facilitator, and a Certified Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy practitioner. She has a passion for helping couples and individuals navigate the challenges life brings and learn to bravely live life to the fullest.

the Stress of wedding planning:

HOW TO AVOID BECOMING

BRIDEZILLA

WORDS : DESIREE ZIELKE, PH.D, LP PHOTOGRAPHY : GIN AND SAKE

Congratulations!

You’re getting married to the love of your life. You get to have the special day you’ve been dreaming of forever — a day to celebrate your love with family and friends. But with all that celebration comes a plethora of planning. For most people, their wedding day is the largest event they ever plan. There are so many decisions to make and so many factors to consider, all while staying within a budget. Of course, planning a wedding is undeniably exciting, but it can also put you under a hefty amount of stress. Don’t worry, though, because we’ve got some tips to help manage that stress and keep it from interfering with the most magical day of your life.

Ask for help

No matter how big or small your wedding will be, you need help! You can hire help in the form of a wedding planner, or you can ask friends and family to contribute where they’d be most helpful. For example, I had my mother-in-law make all the table arrangements for our reception because she has incredible crafting skills. I still use those arrangements in my home today. Most people in our lives are more than happy to help but are just waiting to be asked because they don’t want to “step on anyone’s toes.” So, don’t be too afraid or too proud to ask for help.

Deep breathing

It takes the body about three minutes of deep breathing to get its stress response levels to decrease. Practicing three minutes of deep breathing each day can help teach your body to automatically use slower breathing techniques in response to stress. You can do this on your own — just inhale deeply for four seconds, hold that breath for two seconds, and slowly exhale for six seconds. You can also find a variety of relaxation apps to guide you through breathing exercises. Deep breathing is a great skill you can use anytime and anywhere, even when that one annoying cousin is trying to steal the spotlight.

Don’t sweat the details

No one, literally no one, will remember if a table decoration is missing a flower or if there aren’t an equal number of cupcakes. This day is about celebrating you, your partner, and the love you have for one another, so don’t fixate on trying to put on an event that rivals the Kardashians. A simple but effective question I have every bride (and her mother) ask themselves is, “In five years from now, will I even remember (insert minor issue here)?” If the answer is no — and I promise, most of the time it is — then don’t sweat it. Move on to the next thing.

Focus on the moment

Weddings can take months (sometimes years) to plan. One moment, it seems like the big day is forever away. Then suddenly, it’s over in the blink of an eye. Remind yourself to appreciate every moment. Soak everything in and be mindful of where your mind wanders; it’s easy to focus on your to-do list or get stuck looking forward to what’s coming next, but when we do that, we miss the magic of the moment we’re in right now. And if you think about it, the only moment we’re ever in is right now, so don’t let it pass you by. Whether it’s an app, a book, an exercise, anything — there are so many ways to practice mindfulness.

Listen to your gut

This day is not your mother’s, not your motherin-law’s, not your maid of honor’s … it’s yours and your partner’s. Try to remain focused on doing what the two of you want to do, not what everyone else thinks you should do. If there’s someone you don’t want to invite, don’t invite them! If you really don’t want to serve a particular food, don’t! Make the most of your time by staying true to what the both of you want on your day. You won’t regret it.

It’s no secret that planning a wedding is a major life stressor. If you implement these tips and find you are still struggling with the stress of it all, please reach out to a mental health professional for help.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, contact us at Becoming Balanced.

Desiree Zielke, Ph.D, LP (left), Trishia Powell, MSW, LCSW (middle) and Rachel Blumhardt, MEd, LPCC, LPC, NCC (right) becomingbalancednd.com | 701-551-1840

Morgan + Nick

JULY 23, 2021

“Wherever you go, I want to go too. I love our adventures. I love when we’re wild. And together we’re unstoppable.” Straight from her wedding vows to Nick, Morgan’s words capture her bright spirit and the tropical bohemian theme of their wedding day.

This active duo each come from North Dakota farming families. While their parents knew each other through the farming community, Morgan and Nick didn’t connect more closely until a chance meeting at a golf event a few years ago. Their common interests led to a deeper attraction and they’ve been together ever since. After weathering several ups and downs, including losing their two dogs and all of their belongings in a house fire, the couple knew they were stronger together. Nick proposed on a mountaintop in Arizona with their best friends cheering them on.

As a couple who loves to travel, Morgan and Nick knew that a destination wedding wasn’t in the cards this year. So they brought the tropical destination of their dreams to The Pines. Vibrant colors and lush

tropical florals complemented the rustic beauty of the venue. Wedding coordinator Amy Lee of Breathe and Relax Events helped pull together the theme during the planning stage and kept the wedding day on track. “Amy was the glue that pulled everything together. Anything I asked, she took care of it right away. She treated it like it was her wedding day and not very many people will go above and beyond to make someone else’s day so special,” says Morgan. “I can’t express how special she is to me and how highly I think of her. Every bride needs someone as compassionate and organized as Amy at their wedding.”

All eleven bridesmaids, dressed in vibrant colors from emerald to golden yellow to mauve, spent the morning getting ready with Morgan. “I chose all the bridesmaid dresses online. It was a little scary not being able to see them in person first, but it was worth it,” she says. The kaleidoscope of colors was highlighted in stunning bouquets by Love Always Floral that made a statement next to the sand-colored suits with soft floral bowties worn by the groomsmen. Once dressed in her tulle gown with lace overlay, Morgan had a special moment with her dad for a private first look. “You don’t get many calm moments throughout the day, so it was really nice to have that time alone with my dad,” says Morgan. The couple also kept their first look private to make it as intimate as possible. She continues, “Your reaction can be a little skewed and distracted with other people watching. I highly recommend planning a private moment into your wedding day schedule. It really does create a quiet moment to be in tune with how you are feeling. You need that time for clarity and calmness.”

Amy Lee wedding planner, designer and coordinator

Introducing Our Newest Clinician

Andi Wheeler, MS, LPCC has 6+ years of counseling experience. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at NDSU.

Andi is passionate about supporting women and their mental health. She uses a mindfulness-based and holistic approach to help women find acceptance and peace within themselves and their lives. She has pursued training in mindfulness, meditation, and yoga and enjoys incorporating these practices into counseling sessions.

Andi’s goal is to offer a therapeutic space that allows for healing, growth, and change. She focuses on connection and collaboration to honor each unique individual’s needs. She plans to offer a mindfulness group soon. Stay connected with us to learn more!

EMPOWERING WOMEN. ELEVATING WELLNESS.

becomingbalancednd.com | 701-551-1840

VENUE: The Pines

WEDDING COORDINATOR: Amy Lee, Breathe & Relax Events

FLORIST: Love Always Florals

DESSERT: Nothing Bundt Cakes

WEDDING CAKE: Pam Diede, Jamestown

CATERER: Chef’s Table

DECOR RENTALS: The White House Co.

LIGHT UP LETTERS: Alphalit

DRESS: Your Day by Nichole

SUITS: Halberstadt’s on Broadway

HAIR: Cally Jo Salon

MAKEUP: Cally Jo Salon and Brittany Rodin Makeup

BAND: Your Dad's Band

VIDEOGRAPHER: Zeitlos Studios

The weather also took note of the theme and contributed to the tropical feel as they were married on the hottest day of the summer. The ceremony took place outside in front of green trees and a circle arch with more tropical florals. A basket of white parasols next to the programs provided waiting guests with the option for a bit of shade. Following the heartfelt ceremony where they exchanged their personally written vows, the couple was led down the aisle by their dog, Rico.

As guests stepped into the barn for the reception, they were greeted by more colorful florals gracing the tables and creating a focal point above the head table. A boxwood backdrop featuring a floral swag framing the words “better together” in bright neon provided the perfect photo opportunity for guests. The dessert table displayed large monstera leaves holding plates of small individual cakes or “bundtinis” by Nothing Bundt Cakes. Morgan had first come across Nothing Bundt Cakes at a friend’s wedding. “They were so good, I took extras up to my room afterwards for later. I had to have them at our wedding,” she says.

Giant letters proclaiming the couple’s new last name lit up the dance floor as Morgan and Nick shared their first dance. The couple made a point to stick together during the evening. Morgan also recommends this for couples planning their own wedding, “Don’t leave each other’s side throughout the night. It’s so easy to get pulled away to talk to this person or that person. When you stick together, at least you’re having that same conversation together. After all, that’s what really matters.”

Morgan and Nick spent their honeymoon at Glacier National Park in Montana. In Morgan’s vows, she mentioned the hope to add more animals to their family. On the drive home, her request came true when a stray dog ran out in front of their car. After seeing how thin and dirty he was, the couple brought him home with them to Jamestown where he now lives happily with them and Rico.

BRIDAL GOWN, BELT & HAIR PIECE: Che Bella Bridal, Minneapolis

FLORIST: Hornbacher’s Floral

HAIR: Salon Duo

MAKEUP: Faceology

BRIDEMAIDS DRESSES: RenzRags

MENSWEAR: Halberstadt’s on Broadway

DECOR: The White House Co.

DESSERT: Nothing Bundt Cakes

VENUE: The Four & Four

Hanna + Hunter

AUGUST 28, 2021

Downtown Fargo holds a lot of special memories for Hanna and Hunter, including the day they first met at Rosey’s Bistro a few years ago. Their timeless chic wedding day perfectly captured their love for the area, and for each other.

Hunter planned a surprise proposal during a trip to Seattle to visit friends. With the help of those friends, they found a beautiful spot overlooking a lake nestled in between the mountains. Hunter took the opportunity to tell Hanna “how grateful he was to be there with her and that they should take in all of the beauty surrounding them.” He then pulled out a small white box with the engagement ring and asked Hanna to marry him. Later that evening they celebrated at a rooftop restaurant overlooking the Seattle skyline.

From Seattle back to Fargo, Hanna and Hunter began planning their wedding day. A big inspiration for Hanna was Carrie Bradshaw’s wedding in the “Sex and the City” movie. “Everything was so chic and timeless,” she says.

The day started out at The Bunker, an underground speakeasy in the heart of downtown. After an emotional first look, the couple spent some quiet time together taking photos. Hanna says “The Bunker had the coolest environment and added to our timeless theme. We spent some time together to soak it all in, which was one of the most special times of the day.”

Photographer Abby Anderson adds, “This wedding was bold, chic and fabulous! I love seeing how Hunter and Hanna’s relationship is one of mutual trust and admiration.”

They were joined by their wedding party for group photos, pizza and a round of pool. More photos around downtown showcased the couple’s city aesthetic. Hanna loves to style things and be creative, so having photos that reflected their wedding style meant a lot. She adds, “I told Abby my inspiration and she ran with it!”

Heading to the wedding venue, the family-oriented couple took some private time with their families before the ceremony. Hanna mentions, “Our ceremony was officiated by one of our closest friends. She is such a comforting and happy presence in our lives, which made this time cherished that much more beautiful.” Hunter’s thoughtful nature led to what Hanna says was her favorite part of the day, “hearing the vows that he wrote to me. It was such a special moment to hear him reflect on, and appreciate, all of the details that ultimately make us the couple that we are.”

The night continued with a cocktail hour followed by dinner, speeches, cake and dancing. One thing the couple decided to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic was eliminating the dessert table. They instead provided individual bundt cakes or “bundtinis” from Nothing Bundt Cakes at each guest’s place setting. Hanna says, “They were a huge hit.” A honeymoon on the beach in Cancun, Mexico, gave the newlyweds a chance to relax and recharge.

Hanna offers up her words of wisdom for other couples, “My piece of advice for anybody planning a wedding right now would be to stick to what is most important to you and your fiancé. I would also advise anybody planning a wedding to limit the number of things you offer to do yourselves; they add up quickly!” Most importantly, she adds, “Do your best to be present and focus on your love for your spouse throughout the entire day.”

CEREMONY: Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Detroit Lakes

RECEPTION & FOOD: Spitfire, Detroit Lakes

CAKE & CUPCAKE FAVORS: Amanda Boutain, Little Cakes Cupcakery, Glenwood

VIDEOGRAPHER: Complete

Weddings and Events Fargo

DRESS & VEIL: Bridal Gallery of Sioux Falls

SUITS: Tip Top Tux

BRIDESMAID DRESSES:

David’s Bridal

WORDS : MEGAN ELGIN PHOTOGRAPHY : ABBY ANDERSON

Kelly + Devin

JANUARY 9, 2021

A winter wedding in Minnesota might not be every couple’s first choice, but it’s always been Kelly’s dream. She grew up attending Mass on Christmas Eve at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. For her, the church elaborately decorated with beautiful poinsettias seemed the perfect setting for a romantic wedding ceremony. “Ever since I can remember, I said I would get married in that church during the Christmas season,” she says.

These high school sweethearts stayed together through two years of long-distance dating before they both ended up in Moorhead for college. Kelly studied nutrition and dietetics while playing softball at Concordia College and Devin studied exercise science and played football at MSUM. In January of 2019, the couple celebrated the holidays in California with Devin’s family and took a day trip to Disneyland. Sleeping Beauty’s castle decorated in red and gold Christmas decorations made for the perfect photo backdrop, and surprise proposal spot. Devin dropped to one knee and Kelly happily said “yes!”

A Disneyland proposal and Kelly’s dream of a church dressed in red poinsettias gave them the perfect theme — classic Christmas meets Beauty and the Beast. They started planning an early January wedding with a red and gold color scheme featuring their favorite colors. Of course, changing rules due to COVID-19 meant the couple had to continually adapt their plans right up until the wedding day. “With the help and creativity of family and friends, we tried to find ways to incorporate what we felt were the most important aspects of the wedding into our day,” Kelly says.

The church was decorated just as beautifully as Kelly dreamed and every tree outside was frosted in white as Devin and Kelly’s wedding day arrived. Moderate winter temperatures with little wind made for a magical January day. The couple was able to have all of their invited guests at the ceremony. Because of reception restrictions, they decided to share their first dance and cake cutting with all the guests by doing them immediately following the ceremony at the back of the church while guests remained seated in their pews. They also celebrated the mother-son dance and fatherdaughter dance in the same way. The newlywed couple donned masks to great guests one by one as they got ready to leave the church. Devin says this was his favorite part of the wedding. “The ability to still have such an intimate wedding with all of our guests during this pandemic, and being able to still have everyone present for the ceremony, dances and cake, was so special.”

Those closest to the couple bundled up in warm winter gear and headed to the nearby Spitfire restaurant for an outdoor reception on the patio. “We knew that outdoor dining was still allowed, so as hardy Minnesotans we decided to have an outdoor wedding reception for our close family and friends,” the couple says. Warm fires and chicken wild rice soup kept everyone toasty. The intimate dinner with a small group meant the reception was stress free for the couple and they could enjoy that time with their closest family and friends. “It was amazing to have such a memorable dinner with everyone bundled up near the fireplaces on the patio,” says Kelly when asked about her favorite part. “It definitely was never in my wedding day vision, but I could not have asked for anything better!”

The next day, Devin and Kelly left for a weeklong honeymoon in Duluth where they stayed on the shoreline of Lake Superior, went hiking, and explored the area. In the past year, the couple has moved back to their hometown of Windom, Minnesota, bought their first home, and are now expecting a baby girl in late February. Looking back, they advise couples planning their own weddings to try not to stress so much during the planning process. “It rarely will turn out exactly how you picture it in your mind, but it will turn out how it’s supposed to. At the end of the day, it is about you two and the new road ahead of you.” And they graciously offer their sincere thanks to everyone involved in making their wedding day so special. “Our day would not have turned out as magical as it did if not for our amazing support system, and we are super grateful for them.”

Amy Lee

started her wedding planning business, Breathe and Relax Events, five years ago. But the seeds for this particular calling were sown much earlier.

“It’s kind of a combination of a few different things that brought me to where I am today,” Lee explains, a mixture of effervescence and efficiency coloring her words. “My dad owned a movie theater and I’ve always been a romantic movie, happy ending kind of person. I love ‘love stories’ in general.”

A childhood fueled by family (and more than a few films at her father’s Park River, North Dakota, movie theater) left Lee with many happy memories. She earned a degree in sales, marketing and management from Northland Community and Technical College in East Grand Forks and spent over decade working in creative and wedding-adjacent fields. Lee styled brides’ and promgoers’ hair for more than 15 years, enjoyed a long career as a DJ, perfected her photography skills and also worked as a commercial and residential interior designer.

Lee flitted between these creative fields with verve and curiosity, gathering experience and gaining expertise. She worked with a variety of people and worked tirelessly to help her clients discover and elevate their own style. Don’t let her winding career path (or her fondness for blush pink, happy endings and anything with sparkles) fool you — Lee is fiercely driven, impeccably organized and laser focused.

Just like in the romantic movies Lee loves, a suitor soon arrived on the scene. She fell in love with her now-husband Matt and the couple was delighted to learn they’d soon be welcoming a baby.

But dark days were coming for our leading lady. In 2014, Lee lost her mom to cancer. Just six months later, she and Matt welcomed a daughter, Juliette. Lee found herself navigating the ups and downs of new motherhood while grieving the loss of her mom. As the couple planned their wedding, tragedy struck again; Lee’s dad passed away seven months before the ceremony.

Wedding planning can be stressful, time consuming and difficult under the best of circumstances. But when the mother of the bride has been taken too soon, that all-important role stands empty. That can make even simple details like event set-up an emotional minefield for her daughter — and for the entire family.

“You know it’s going to be an emotional day not having your mom there,” Lee says quietly. “I wanted to be enjoying the morning and relaxing in the bridal suite. I just needed somebody to come and set everything up and take it down so I can enjoy the day.”

Finding that person proved to be a challenge. Even during this period of mourning, Lee had done all the work in advance, like so many brides do. She asked her mother-in-law to step in on the day of the ceremony to handle the tablecloths, napkins and a few other setup details at The Vintage Garden, the charming Barnesville venue where she and Matt married. She got a response many brides and grooms will recognize.

“She looked at me like a deer in headlights,” Lee says with a silvery little laugh. “And I knew what I was asking was a little too much.”

Lee realized that if she needed this service, then other brides certainly did too. And it sparked a memory of a class project back in college. A professor told her to look through Google and see which professions were missing in North Dakota. This quick search revealed that there

wasn’t a single wedding planner in the state. Lee and a classmate submitted a mock business plan, complete with a budget and everything they’d need to present to a bank if they ever wanted to make their class project into a viable business.

That project was never intended to become a business. But Lee found herself drawn to the idea. In 2017, Breathe and Relax Events was born in Fargo. Lee and her husband welcomed two more babies, Madelynn and little Garrett. Now Lee soaks up every moment with her kids, shuttling them to dance classes and swimming lessons and teaches brides and grooms how to use their time and resources wisely so they can maximize every moment with their own families.

“I opened up this company on the concept that life is short,” Lee says. “I need to be the support for the bride and groom so they can be with their parents and their wedding party and just breathe and relax on their wedding day.”

Breathe and Relax Events offers a variety of wedding planning options. Lee can step in on the day of the wedding, in the same way she

once asked her mother-in-law to step in for her, setting up décor and making sure the day runs smoothly. But more often, she works with couples 8–10 months in advance. Couples can customize a plan that works for them.

“You pay for as much time as you get with me,” Lee explains. “There’s a full wedding package and there’s a micro-package, where you get a couple meetings with me, but you’re making the decisions. And then there’s the ‘day of’ package, where I don’t get involved until 30 days out. The bride’s done all of the work and I’m just making sure that the timelines work out realistically. If there’s an issue, I am the problem solver.”

Planning a wedding requires thousands of tiny, specific choices. Lee guides couples through the planning process, introduces them to reputable, approved vendors and helps take the friction out of the wedding day itself. Breathe and Relax Events works quietly in the background, keeping the focus right where it belongs — on the couple and their family. The peace of mind is priceless.

Lee with her family.

photo by danelle janae photography

Lee's daughter tries on her wedding gown.

photo provided by amy lee

“Every bride should l have a coordinator as an insurance policy to make sure everything is going well behind the scenes,” Lee says. “Not only does it save you stress, it saves you time picking your vendors, and it can save you money. Wedding planning is nothing but rationalizing where the money should go and figuring out priorities.”

Having an expert involved in the planning process can help brides and grooms determine their top priorities. And having a neutral party on hand can help take some of the emotion out of the discussion, especially when their parents have different priorities.

When brides and grooms are honest about what they want, their wedding becomes a celebration of their unique love story. Some couples budget for a multi-course meal and an open bar, while others skip dinner and the wedding cake and opt for appetizers or food trucks. One bride dreams of flowers draped over every surface. Another wants an allnight dance party with her favorite DJ.

Couples are realizing that they can skip the cookie cutter weddings, break the rules and create a celebration that truly reflects who they are. This kind of joyful customization is a wedding trend Lee hopes is here to stay.

“Thanks to Covid, guests have been reassured it’s okay to invite a smaller circle of friends instead of everyone they know to the wedding,” Lee says. “It’s more about celebrating their day and spoiling those who will be there to support the marriage and not just the party of a wedding. With a smaller guest count, budgets are allowing us planners the option to bring in 12 person bands, food and dessert trucks, lavish decor and florals or even a storybook ending of a horse and carriage ride.”

Each bride’s storybook ending is as unique as she is. Amy Lee and Breathe and Relax Events will help her find it.

You’re engaged ... now what?

Amy Lee shares her top tips for brides-to-be.

Book a Wedding Planner

“Always book a wedding planner. It’s saving you time, stress and money. I’m going to have that book of knowledge for you and save you the time of selecting which vendors you should look at. And a lot of the vendors will offer my clients special discounts or add-ons for no change, so I’m actually saving them money as well.”

Be Honest with Your Wedding Party

“Be up front with the costs and what you’re expecting them to invest in. There are costs you don’t want to surprise your wedding party with, especially for those brides you who are like, ‘I want to go to Vegas for my bachelorette party or go to Arizona and drive through the dessert with my wedding party.’ Tell them what to plan for. Then your wedding party will still be your friends at the end of it.”

Pin Down Your Style

“I always tell brides that once you’re engaged and trying to figure out your style, sit down with your favorite beverage and look at Pinterest. I give them key words like ‘modern wedding,’ ‘whimsical wedding,’ and ‘classic wedding.’ Once they start pinning, the algorithm will start pulling similar flowers, cakes, decorations and dresses. Then I go on in and look at their boards. It will visually help, not just with me, but with the florist and decorations.”

Make a Budget

“Create the budget with your wedding planner. If your parents are helping pay, have the meeting with both your parents and the wedding planner, because your parents are just as clueless as you are about how much things cost. If you’re a newly engaged couple and you call around and tell your parents it’s going to be $7,000 for the venue and they got married at city hall for 100 bucks, they’re not going to understand that that’s the norm.”

Plan Ahead

“Create your timeline when you are at least eight months out. If you want to get ahead of the game, you make it right away. See what time your hair and make-up is going to actually start. Do you have enough time with your photographer to accommodate what you want? Remember, it’s hard to do getting ready and sunset photos for a wedding in June, since it gets dark so late. So think about these types of timeline situations well in advance.”

“I've always been a kind of perso”

— Amy Lee

romantic movie, happyending

Sometimes angels choose fur instead of wings.

These are just a few of our furry angels awaiting their forever homes.

BUBBLES

KAPPI

KYLIE

MARSHALL

ECHO

NEWTON

AIRPLANE

BAKER

GEORGE

SISSY

YOLANDA

homewardonline.org facebook.com/HomewardAnimalShelter/ 1201 28th Ave N, Fargo | 701-239-0077

Homeward Animal Shelter is a local and communityfunded, nonprofit animal shelter. Its mission is: “Rescue. Shelter. Protect. Rehome.” It provides a second chance at happiness to lost, abandoned and ownersurrendered animals and educates the community in the proper, loving and kind treatment of animals.

APRIL 12

–

MAY 17

6:00 – 7:15 PM each Tuesday

"When Mourning Dawns" is our six-week series that looks at the seasons of the year to guide our conversations about the seasons of your grief. Preregistration is required and space is limited. Please call or email us if you have questions or interest in this series. for more info: boulgerfuneralhome.com

These meetings are led by our Grief Support Coordinators Sonja Kjar and Ann Jacobson. 701-237-6441 griefsupport@boulgerfuneralhome.com

ZADIE

NINJA

February

note : All events are subject to change. Confirm dates and times before attending.

February 10

GIVING HEARTS DAY givingheartsday.org

February 12

SWEETHEART BALL

Don’t miss the 33rd Annual Sweetheart Ball! Join us for a fabulous dinner, live and silent auction and entertainment from The Deadbeats. Enjoy a lovely evening and help sick kids and their families enjoy the comforts of home while their kids receive medical care in Fargo.

5:30 PM

Delta by Marriott 1625 42nd St SW, Fargo rmhcfargo.org

February 18 —

March 6

Theatre B Presents THE HOW AND THE WHY

by Sarah Treem

"I understand how I happened, I just don't understand why." Zelda and Rachel — each a brilliant scientist — challenge one another’s ideas about sex and gender, power and age, nature and nurture, loss and love. Their competing theories inspire an electrifying line of inquiry that goes to the heart of what it is to be human. Directed by Mik Reid, starring Carrie Wintersteen and Clare Lynch. ASL Saturday, February 26; Audio Description Sunday, February 27. Contact 701-729-8880 or theatreb.org for tickets.

Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM

Sunday Matinees

February 17 & March 6 at 2:00 PM Theatre B 215 10th St N, Moorhead

QUOTABLE:

February 19 CELEBRATION OF WOMEN AND THEIR MUSIC

Celebrating 25 years of talent, music, art and women! Please join us for our 25th Celebration of Women and Their Music event which brings newcomers to the stage as well as returning favorites from previous years. This year the event will be both in person and live-streamed from TAK Music Venue.

Our mission is to recognize artistic passion in women and create opportunities for emerging and established artists by opening avenues for networking, mentoring, support and promotion of their individual talents. The money raised at this event goes towards continuing this event and to an endowment fund established with the FM Area Foundation. General Tickets are $25, VIP tickets are $50. Available at eventbrite.com.

6:00 PM - Doors; 6:30 PM - Showtime

TAK Music Venue 1710 Center Ave, Dilworth facebook.com/celebrationofwomenandtheirmusic/ or debjenkins.com

February 19 & March 19

FARGO MASONIC VENDOR & CRAFT SHOW

Come see our local vendors and crafters and shop their booths at the Fargo Masonic Building. Lunch will be served from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Fargo Masonic Center 1405 3rd St N, Fargo 701-235-7875

February 20

SWEETHEART OF A BOOK SALE

A local book drive to support the Brady Oberg Legacy Foundation. Browse a large number of books for sale, both hard and soft cover.

1:00 – 3:00 PM

Moorhead Masonic Center 1815 11th St N, Moorhead 701-238-3173

February 26

A NIGHT AT THE OSCARS with the FM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Join the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra for a night of Oscar-winning soundtracks and movie clips. The concert will feature music from Lord of the Rings, The Sound of Music, The Wizard of Oz, Forrest Gump, and more! Featuring our host Jordan Schroeer of Valley News Live, and vocalist mezzo- soprano Holly Janz. Purchase a VIP ticket to stay for the after-party and enjoy live music, free refreshments, prizes and photos on the red carpet.

7:30 PM

Fargo Theatre

314 Broadway N, Fargo 701-478-3676 fmsymphony.org/family-pops-series

March 3

LOSS OF A CHILD:

Honoring a Parent’s Grief

This class will help grieving parents identify and learn how to manage the mixed and painful emotions that accompany the loss of a child of any age. Participants will develop an understanding of the grief process while exploring methods of self-care. This virtual class is free and open to the public. Register for classes online at bit.ly/hrrvgriefclasses or call 800- 237-4629 and ask for the grief support department.

11:30 AM – 1:00 PM Online

"For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. Then you will seek me and find me: when you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you, declares the Lord."

JEREMIAH 29: 11-14

March 11-12

THE 12TH ANNUAL UNGLUED: CRAFT FEST

Join us for our 12th annual Unglued: Craft Fest at West Acres Mall bursting at the seams with creativity and modern handmade makers! 60 local and regional makers will be showcasing their work Friday night and Saturday with free admission both days. Friday night you'll find an optional ticketed crafty lounge with cocktail and crafts included and Saturday you'll find free workshops and make and takes throughout the day to enjoy. Find the full schedule on the website as the event gets closer.

Friday, March 11 4:00 – 8:00 PM

Saturday, March 12 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

West Acres Mall 3902 13th Ave S, Fargo ungluedmarket.com/the-annual-craft-fest

March 13 SOUP FEED

Come enjoy a warm meal. Choose from chili, chicken noodle soup, bean with ham and creamy potato soup, served with bread and dessert. $8 for adults, $4 for children ages 5-10.

11:00 AM – 1:30 PM

Moorhead Masonic Center 1815 11th St N, Moorhead 701-238-3173

Nominations close February 21, Event on April 25

YWCA WOMEN OF THE YEAR

Since 1973, we have been shining a spotlight on exceptional women. They are leaders, mentors, visionaries, angels and heroes. Help us highlight women who shape the Fargo-Moorhead community through their passion, service and significant achievements at this widely-celebrated event attended by 700+ people.

We’re excited to announce that we plan to be back in person for this year’s event on April 25 at the Delta by Marriott in Fargo.

* Event delivery and safety protocols are subject to change based on CDC and local health guidelines regarding the COVID pandemic.

YWCA Cass Clay is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. We strive to break the cycles of poverty and violence for women and their families.

A portion of each ticket is tax-deductible with proceeds from this event supporting the mission and programs of YWCA Cass Clay. Tickets will go on sale after nominations close in late February. For questions regarding Women of the Year tickets or sponsorship opportunities please contact Erin Hagen at woty@ywcacassclay.org or 701-232-2250. Tickets are $80.

5:30 – 9:00 PM Delta Hotels by Marriott

1635 42nd St S, Fargo ywcacassclay.org

Fargo Public Library Events

Fargo Public Library events are free and open to the public. A complete schedule of upcoming library events is available at all Fargo Public Library locations and at fargolibrary.org.

Fargo Public Library 102 North 3rd St, Fargo | 701-241-1472

Northport Branch 2714 Broadway, Fargo | 701-476-4026

Dr. James Carlson Library 2801 32nd Ave S, Fargo | 701-476-4040

Main Library Circulation Desk 701-241-1472

Children’s Services 701-241-1495

Now until March 6

GET SMITTEN WITH READING!

This winter the library invites residents of all ages to get smitten with reading! The Fargo Public Library’s Winter Reading Program promises a variety of activities and events centered on engaging stories, creative activities, and events for readers of all ages. The program continues through Sunday, March 6. In-library activities and online events and challenges are planned throughout the winter. All ages are invited to complete challenges, read every day, earn prizes and participate all winter long! Adults, teens and children can register and get started at fargolibrary.beanstack.org/reader365 or pick up a printed reading log any library location to participate.

Thursdays in February and March

BEGINNER YOGA FOR ADULTS

This is a class for those who haven’t tried yoga before or who want a refresher. Along with gentle stretching, this class will teach breathing exercises to provide calmness. The class meets most Thursdays at 6 p.m. at the Dr. James Carlson Library. Bring a yoga mat if you have one, or a large towel, and wear comfortable clothing that is easy to move in. This program is recommended for adults. For details, email Lori at lwest@fargolibrary.org. No registration is required.

6:00 PM Dr. James Carlson Library

February 12 & March 12

PAWS FOR READING

Emerging readers can sign up to read to a therapy pet (dog or cat) at the Main Library on the 2nd Saturday of each month through April. The sessions are 15 minutes each. Space is limited; pre-registration is required.

10:00 AM Main Library

February 6, 13, 20, 27

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM SERIES

A series of four films will be shown on Sunday afternoons at the downtown Main Library. Free popcorn is served. Contact Lori W. at 701-476-5977.

2:00 PM Main Library

February 17 & March 17

ONLINE BOOK PARTY

It’s like a book club, but you can read whatever you want! Stop by the library’s Facebook page to chat about the books you've been reading recently. Or check out what our librarians bring to recommend. No registration is required. Contact Megan R. at 701-241-1492.

7:00 PM Online

on the Library’s Facebook page

February 23

RETRO TV TRIVIA for Adults and Teens

Have you been busy binge-watching Friends or Seinfeld? ’90s TV shows are back in a big way. Join us for a night of “retro” TV trivia covering all the biggest and most popular shows from the 1990s! For more information, contact Megan at 701-241-1492.

7:00 PM Main Library

February 26

WRITING WORKSHOP with Larry Woiwode

Award-winning author Larry Woiwode will lead a writing workshop for all genres. Please bring one copy of a final draft to the workshop. Refreshments will be provided. Space is limited; pre-registration is required.

Register online or contact Andy at agustafson@fargolibrary.org or call 701-476-4040.

2:00 PM Dr. James Carlson Library

farewelladieu

LIVE A HEART HEALTHY LIFE

How healthy is your heart?

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S. Knowing your personal and family heart history can help you get ahead of heart disease and stroke.

Learn more at sanfordhealth.org.