Montana Woman Magazine, Issue No. 3, December 2019

purposeful giving

issue n o 301 december 2019

julia dobie: third hand silversmith

montana woman m a g a z i n e

IMAGE, ART, & WRITING BY MEGAN CRAWFORD

table of BUSINESS |

10

BELIEVING IN MAGIC Rose Petal Floral, Café, & Supplies

HOME & HEARTH |

14

STATION 8 The perfect gift

ART & DESIGN |

18

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT Julia Dobie: Third Hand Silversmith

24

THE WRIGHT WAY Giving through design

FOOD & SPIRITS |

28

FRONT PAIGE BAKES Chocolate peppermint quick bread

32

THE HERITAGE COLLECTION

Æbleskivers & fudge

LIFE |

52

LISTEN The gift of communication

54

A WOMAN REINVENTED A holiday presence

58

I’LL STAY HOME FOR CHRISTMAS Self-care during the holidays

41 42 48

EAGLEMOUNT

BIG SKY YOUTH EMPOWERMENT

DREAM ADAPTIVE

contents ACTIVE & OUTDOOR |

60

A CLIMATE CONVERSATION Listen with the intent to understand

66

GIVING BACK TO MONTANA Protecting our natural & wild spaces

70

L ARS The story of a therapy horse

74

WILD HARVEST Hunting with Ivory Nutrition

HEALTH & WELLNESS |

76

LEVITATION NATION In pursuit of health & magical Christmases

78

MINDFULNESS MATTERS Time and presence

80

NORTH VALLEY HOSPITAL Care coordination

82

KALISPELL REGIONAL Montana Children’s

EDITOR'S DESK |

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Take the time to be

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GLACIER NATIONAL PARK | IMAGE BY MEGAN CRAWFORD

RETROSPECTIVE Looking behind, looking ahead

montana woman This magazine has been in publication since 1994 and is a resource for women throughout the state of Montana.

Montana Woman is a platform. It’s built by women, for women. It’s a place to celebrate our achievements, a place to support each other, a place to acknowledge the resilience of the women of this state. It doesn’t necessarily matter where you’re from, you’re here now. In all of your loudness, your boldness, your fearlessness— you are here. We’re here, together.

…

We publish a statewide magazine that features women across Montana— the movers and shakers, the go-getters, the rule-breakers, the risk-takers.

We all have a story to tell.

OWNER & EDITOR megan crawford

CREATIVE DIRECTOR megan crawford

BUSINESS MANAGER carrie crawford

ADVERTISING

carrie crawford kelsey weyerbacher megan crawford

PHOTOGRAPHERS sheri beaman paige billings megan crawford jesslyn marie kelsey weyerbacher

EDITING DEPARTMENT

about the back cover MEGAN CRAWFORD | REYNOLD’S CREEK BURN AREA, GLACIER NATIONAL PARK CHROMOSKEDASIC SABAT TIER is a darkroom process. They get their characteristic metallic sheen from the silver particles plating out in silver gelatin paper. The process starts with a developed— but not fixed— silver gelatin print. Once a print is developed, it’s placed into an activator and then a stabilizer. The print can be brought out into room light at either of these steps. Subjection to room light will create different colors, but it’s essentially random. In person, a chromoskedasic sabattier can be incredibly metallic: golds, coppers, silvers, greens, purples, pinks, and blues can appear in a chromo print.

P R I N T S AVA I L A B L E F O R $1 5 0

megan crawford kelsey weyerbacher

PUBLIC REL ATIONS carrie crawford kelsey weyerbacher

ADVERTISING, DISTRIBUTION, & SUBMISSIONS: contact the editor at info@montanawoman.com or (406)260-1299

All material appearing in Montana Woman Magazine may not be reproduced in part or in whole without written consent of the owner.

All contents ©2019 Montana Woman. The views expressed by the writers are their own and do not reflect the opinions of Montana Woman Magazine. printed by century publishing in post falls, idaho

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letter

from the

EDITOR

ecember is by far one of my favorite months. Of course, I love each season— spring for its new life, summer for its adventure, autumn for its splendor— but winter is something entirely different. There isn’t anything like watching downy flakes float down in complete silence. Storefronts are trimmed in lights and cedar garland, there’s something in the air— December is homey and cozy, bundled up in togetherness.

I’ve always been one of those homemade gifters. Take up knitting? Everyone gets a scarf. Start wood burning? You get a sign! Learn a new printmaking process?

Everyone gets a one-of-a-kind photograph. I remember making placemats, bracelets, candle holders, cards— whatever sounded fun to make and even better to give. I’m also one of those people that’s a terrible gift-giver because as soon as I find or make something, I want to give it right then and there. I try to have just an inkling of patience, but the act of giving is too joyous for me to wait (hence giving my mom some of her Christmas gifts in November. I tried).

Here’s the thing with giving, though: you don’t have to have constraints. You don’t have to wait for a day, a time of year, the right place, the right person. You can give whenever you want.

Purposeful giving doesn’t have to be an extravagant, ceremonial thing. You could write a postcard, shop a small business, make something, be there. Give yourself the magic of living in the moment. Run out and stand in those swirling downy snowflakes. Breathe in the cool, pine air. Take the time to stop and just be.

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contributors

8

KELSEY WEYERBACHER

PAIGE BILLINGS

STEPHANIE EVANS PHOTO BY LINDSEY JANE

ALANA WRIGHT

BARBARA FRASER

NICOLE DUNN

ALLISON LINVILLE

KRIS SELL

ALISHIA ZEMLICKA

RACHEL HOPKINS PHOTO BY SHERI BEAMAN

SARAH HARDING

JULIA DOBIE

JESSLYN MARIE

ASHLEY KAVANAGH

MINDY COCHRAN PHOTO BY KIRALEE JONES

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38 Hwy 2 East, Columbia Falls, MT

406-892-1123

station8antiques.com

photo by sheri beaman

behind the cover COVER MUSE julia dobie PHOTOGRAPHER serena gossack (gossack creative) LOCATION hyalite canyon

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BUSINESS |

believing in magic: ROSE PE TAL FLORAL, CAFÉ, & SUPPLIES

M the time.

y decision to purchase a small floral shop in the heart of Cut Bank felt like an unexpected career choice at

In February of 2019, my husband and I were enjoying a birthday getaway in Helena— the place we met, graduated from Carroll College, and got married— when I turned to him and said: “What if we bought the Rose Petal?”

Some people regard New Year’s Eve as an opportunity to evaluate life, make resolutions, and dream of plans for the next year— I have always done this on my birthday. As we approach a year since I asked that simple but life-changing question, becoming an entrepreneur via a floral shop does not feel random at all.

My maternal grandmother has a garden that can only be compared to that of the regal homes we toured while living in New England. My paternal 10

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grandfather crafted a garden out of his singlehome plot that served as a playground for us and is a legacy that people still refer to almost 20 years since he passed. My mother— a simple, no-frills woman— had a regular order at our local flower shop in Billings that sat on the counter in our kitchen, soaking up the natural sunlight in her hodge-podge collection of vases.

For me, walking into the Rose Petal every morning feels like a culmination of life’s experiences and a rewarding, challenging, up-at-night adventure.

Forging our path as a business in a small town outside of Glacier National Park has been one of my favorite aspects of business ownership. I came up in the marketing world, sitting at tables with business owners and sharing their experience and expertise as they made a name for themselves in the world. It feels like a huge gift to be able to do this for my own business each day.

We’re working on growing into our name: Rose Petal Floral, Café, and Supplies. Currently, we offer floral design services for events and everyday occasions. With Glacier National Park as our backdrop, we work with local growers to make our client’s vision a reality. Our shop is a collection of some of the best makers Montana has to offer, along with tried-and-true national brands that we have purchased (and repurchased) or heard rave reviews from our customers and fell in love with them ourselves. The “growing-into it” comes from the middle part of our name. With a mix of scrawled out journal page drawings and more formal renderings, we hope to amp up the cozy in the shop with espresso and seating for the summer travelers making their way west or our customers who want a place to work or catch up with a friend. Who knows, maybe next time we check in with Montana Woman Magazine it will be with photos of latte art!

Keep up with the Rose Petal on Facebook and Instagram (@rosepetalmt) or drop us a note on our website at rosepetalmt.com

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By appointment only | Whitefish, MT | 406-261-7382 | grizzlyinteriors.com | lisa@grizzlyinteriors.com

We have a full line of organic products for your medical needs. We offer senior and military discounts, and we deliver for elderly and disabled clients.

Friendly, knowledgeable, and a great experience!  – Carol P

MONDAY-SATURDAY 11AM-7PM

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338 GRAVES TRAIL UNIT D, BOZEMAN MT 59718 | 406-624-6353

| HOME & HEARTH

the perfect gift ARTICLE BY RACHEL HOPKINS IMAGES BY SHERI BEAMAN

I

am a gift-giver: nothing makes me happier than finding something perfect for a friend or a loved one. I think that’s one of the things that makes me a good shopkeeper— I truly enjoy helping customers find the right gift for the people on their lists. For me, it’s not always the actual gift that means the most; it’s the way a meaningful gift can make a person feel and the memories receiving something special creates. The perfect gift doesn’t have to be expensive— it doesn’t have to cost anything. It can be creating a special memory for someone by showing generosity, kindness, and the goodwill of the season. I learned this lesson at an early age.

It was Christmas Eve in the early 1980s. My dad had been laid off from his job, and he had just started his own business. He was looking to make some extra money for the holidays and decided to venture out to Iowa (where he was born and raised) with a load of Christmas trees to sell. My older brother and I were grade-schoolers, my sister was a toddler, and my youngest brother was just a baby. So, by Christmas eve I’m sure my mom was ready to pull her hair out. I remember not knowing if my dad would make it back for Christmas and watching our driveway for the car lights that would signal his arrival. Unbeknownst to us, our church was planning something special for our family that Christmas as well.

As one set of headlights led to the next, our family was descended upon by not only my dad, who had brought along my grandparents from Iowa, but also a stream of well-wishers from our church bearing gifts and Christmas dinner! It was chaotic and joyful, and even though I don’t remember the actual gift I received, the more important gift was the example of generosity and kindness at a time when my family needed one, and that has always stayed with me.

My goal here at Station 8 is to always have something for all budgets and to create a memorable experience for all who step through my door. It’s one of the reasons we work so hard during the holidays to make the shop enchanting. We also enjoy creating memories for the kiddos with our Children’s Christmas Market, which is a unique shopping experience just for kids! This year, we’ll be hosting our annual Market on Friday, December 13th from 4-8 and Saturday, the 14th from 9-5. So come in and see us, and hopefully we’ll have the perfect gift for the people on your list! If not, I hope you walk away with a feeling of warmth, kindness, and inspiration.

When you shop a small business, an actual person does a little happy dance!

On Behalf of Station 8, Rachel Hopkins

owner

troymeiklephoto.com

ART & DESIGN |

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third hand

silversmith JULIA DOBIE

IMAGES BY SERENA GOSSACK, COURT CATHLEEN, & JULIA DOBIE

M

IMAGES | TOP: SERENA GOSSACK. BOTTOM: COURT CATHLEEN.

y hands are always dirty. I haven’t painted my nails in years, and most days they resemble more of a seasoned mechanic’s hands than the ones I remember being born with. Despite their unkempt appearance, my hands remain my most prized possession because they allow me to make magic out of metal and earth. My name is Julia Dobie, and I’m the owner of Third Hand Silversmith in Bozeman, Montana. I use my hands to create powerful jewelry.

I started Third Hand in November of 2018 as a way to put my creative energy out into the world. A year later, my small workbench is now the place I feel most at home. It took a long time to admit (even to myself ) that silversmithing is what I wanted to. I have a degree in Graphic Design, which is known to be the art career most likely to provide job security. But, the truth is that I felt burned out immediately after earning my degree, and silversmithing was the one thing that I remained passionate about.

The process of my craft is second nature to me now, it’s just as regular as brushing my teeth or cooking dinner, and it is just as important. I’ve tuned in to the rhythm of my flame, I can feel exactly how long it will take for my solder to flow, and know just how far I can push my metal before it cracks. It’s a methodical and magical process that I get to take ownership of. I put a piece of myself into each work I create, and feel so happy when I can see that resonate within someone else.

I’m inspired by the chunks of earth that we call cabochon stones and prefer the asymmetrical, irregular ones. I relate to them a lot more than the perfectly cut, symmetrical stones. I prefer

my work to be as imperfect and powerful as we all are— to me, their imperfections add to the quality of my work.

I didn’t give much attention to the landscape around me until I started smithing. Surrounded by the mountains my entire life, I suppose I took Montana’s beauty for granted. I can see now, through the style of my jewelry, how much of the landscape and life in Montana shaped me and subsequently, the work I create. My work is wellcrafted, but never too precious. I prefer the term un-fine jewelry. Each piece is strong enough to experience our beautiful world and seldom sits in a jewelry box.

Creating jewelry means so much more than putting consumable objects into the world. With the amount of creation and consumption that occurs every second, it’s important for me to be mindful of my contribution to that. I believe in the quality of the handmade and the impact that quality objects can have on our world. My jewelry is meant to last. It’s a timeless process constructed of timeless materials. There is no worry of shoddy quality or fast trends. Creating jewelry is inherently magical and when you wear a piece, you’ll feel the magic within both yourself and the meld of metal and stone. When I sit at my bench, my wish is for whoever wears the piece to find the confidence, joy, beauty, and meaning they might need in their day.

Feeling this at home with my craft did not come easy. Hundreds of hours in the studio, invaluable mentors, supportive friends, and Montana’s incredible creative community are to thank for helping me get to this point. Just like the earth mon tan awoman .com | dec emb er 2 01 9

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UPPER IMAGES: JULIA DOBIE

from which I get my inspiration, creativity requires growth to be sustained. Growth is hard alone. My favorite way to grow as a creative is to collaborate with others. I have learned through my background in Graphic Design the importance of taking feedback gracefully and sharing ideas across mediums. Working with other artists I resonate with helps me step out of my comfort zone and create the absolute best work possible. I’ve been so fortunate to share my journey with incredible women who are business owners, creatives, and craftswomen. It is an honor to have them share their talents with me. From their strength, I double my own and return to my bench with intention. With them, I am better.

And my art is better too.

I’ve come to admire the rugged patina washed over my fingers. I no longer dwell over the bite of my jeweler’s saw or the burn of my flame. Those

aches ground me to the rugged nature of my craft.

The ability to tame metal, earth, and flame makes me a powerful woman. It’s with these hands, my most prized possessions, I communicate with the world. I pick out stones and form metal to create something meaningful. With these hands, I create.

you can find Julia’s work in Bozeman & Missoula, and at: @thirdhandsilversmith thirdhandsilversmith.com serena gossack : court

gossackcreative.com cathleen : courtcathleen.com

LOWER & RIGHT IMAGES: SERENA GOSSACK

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IMAGES BY DIANA DAVIS

hustlethrowrepeat.com

USA

LULU POTTERY a new spin on an old trade

LuLuPottery.com Laura@LuLuPottery.com 952.484.9691 @lulupotterymt

ART & DESIGN |

giving through design

BY AARON SKINNER & AL ANA WRIGHT WRIGHT’S FURNITURE

I

n recent years, the idea of intentional giving has been gaining in popularity. Giving with a purpose to help others is something we fully support at Wright’s Furniture. Even the simplest acts and bits of time given can make a difference. We happily give our time and services to help people create the function, balance, comfort, and style they want for their home.

Wright’s gives our time by providing complimentary design services to help fulfill customer requirements and create a shopping experience beyond their expectations. Our design services come in many forms, uniquely customized to each person’s needs. We understand that decisions involving the furnishings of your spaces can be stressful, personal, and time consuming. We offer home visits, furniture layout options with floorplans, product information, and multiple material and style options.

We have customers that spend a few minutes making decisions, while others require a longer period of time. There is no right or wrong way because everyone’s process is different. Another side of giving we enjoy and see necessary is the delivery and install process. Not only do we offer to move pieces in the showroom to set up any furnishing arrangements that you might be interested in seeing, but we also provide free local delivery and installation (within 100 miles roundtrip is free and have minimal delivery fees for distances further).

Our free delivery services include a professionally trained warehouse team who receives, assembles, delivers, and installs the pieces into your home.

We even give extra time if needed to move current pieces around or out of the space. The install process involves time and work that we are proud to provide. We love the opportunity to be involved and to see our client’s excitement when the new piece is in place.

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We hope this inspires you to give this way as well. When asked, being involved in someone’s planning, design decisions, and product selections can be helpful and appreciated. You can support others by giving opinions or helpful suggestions to achieve balance for their space. Keep in mind the function of the room and who it belongs to. If design input is out of your element and you’re not sure how to help, you can simply make a point to tell someone that you noticed their space. If you notice that a room, like a friend’s living area, for example, feels inviting, comfortable, or balanced, let them know.

Chances are they worked hard at achieving that and will appreciate your acknowledgment. We love giving positive feedback on a space that’s well designed or when the perfect piece is found to complete a room. When the opportunity arises to help someone move to a new home, rearrange a current space, or even just move the sofa to clean under it, giving your time to help will surely be appreciated and make an impact.

We are grateful for the continuous support our store receives from the community, and we will strive to continue to give back.

M O N TA N A’ S C O M P L E T E F U R N I T U R E & D E S I G N R E TA I L E R S I N C E 1 9 76 It’s no accident that Wright’s Furniture in Whitefish has become a favorite destination for home furnishings and accents. Since the first family members opened the business doors in 1976, Wright’s Furniture has focused on providing competitive prices backed by service and highly knowledgeable staff. Now, the third generation of the Wright family is active in the business.

Wright’s Furniture provides endless variety, carrying product lines from hundreds of manufacturers, plus specialty furniture, accents, and art from local artisans and craftspeople. With over 60,000 square feet of combined showroom and warehouse space, a vast display area is provided, allowing more floor settings to view in search of design ideas. Prices range from low to high and “Apples to Apples,” Wright’s guarantees the lowest price within 250 miles. To further extend their commitment to satisfaction, Wright’s “Satisfy the Customer” policy is unparalleled, allowing the return of items immediately after delivery if not happy with the selected product.

Ready to serve with 25 caring employees, Wright’s Furniture is open 7 days a week.

Wright’s offers in-house design services, product specialists, special orders, service repair, and free delivery for trips less than 100 miles round trip.

The Wright’s welcome you to stop by at 6325 Highway 93 South in Whitefish and explore their unique and interesting selections as so many people have done for three generations. Wright’s Furniture, Montana’s Complete Furniture and Design Retailer since 1976.

O P E N D A I LY 6 3 25 H I G H WAY 9 3 S O U T H , W H I T E F I S H M T 40 6 -8 6 2 -245 5 FREE DELIVERY | FREE DESIGN SERVICES wrightsfurniturestore.com

FOOD & SPIRITS |

peppermint chocolate

d a e r b k quic

paige billings

T

he holiday season isn’t the only time of the year when it’s important to show people you care. Extend the human interaction of love and giving; the holidays bring out these traits in people. I started to bake when I was around 8 years old, and I realized that my favorite part of the baking process was giving my goodies to my friends and family. The thought of making someone happy through your time and hard work is something that brings me so much joy.

At the start of December, I like to plan out my baking for the holidays for the end of the month.

My family and I celebrate Christmas, and with our festivities come years of traditions that started when I was a kid and full-on took over the holiday treats. A few years back, I read The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. While reading this book, I realized that I thrive on acts of service and gift-giving. That’s what fulfills me

|

front paige bakes

most and how I show I care about my friends is giving them something I spent my time on.

This holiday season, since we’re back in Montana with our family, I’m excited to host, cook, and create for my friends and family. A few years back, I dabbled into peppermint baked goods.

The combination of peppermint and chocolate is such a rich and classic holiday flavor profile.

Whether you enjoy this flavor in a cup of warm cocoa or chocolate covered pretzels, I know you’ll love this cake.

Chocolate cake is a family staple for our Christmas dinner. Holiday food traditions differ for every family, and I think that is what makes each dinner special. We always have a warm chocolate quick bread, chocolate crinkle cookies, lemon bread, and classic sugar cookies. A few years ago, I switched our classic chocolate quick bread to a peppermint chocolate quick bread, and the excitement over this cake was overwhelming.

Not only was the chocolate flavor rich, but the brightness of the peppermint helped develop the flavor profile with the sweet and bright elements in the cake.

With all the cooking, family time, and work hours during December, I made sure to create this recipe in a way that is a set and forget style recipe. Take 15 minutes to make the batter, pop it into the oven for 55 minutes, and walk away. Easy, fluffy, sweet, and warm, this cake is a holiday must! If your family is sensitive to peppermint, you can always bake the cake with half the amount of candy, or omit it altogether.

Let’s bake and turn on music that speaks to your holiday!

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FOOD & SPIRITS |

ingredients for the bread

for the icing

1 cup of freshly brewed warm coffee

⅓ cup of cashew, almond, regular milk or milk alternative

1 cup of hot water

2 ½ cups of powdered sugar

2 tsp of vanilla extract

1 tsp of vanilla extract

1 tsp of salt

½ tsp of salt

2 large eggs

¼ cup of peppermint crumbles for topping

1/2 cup of vegetable or coconut oil (melted) 2 tsp of baking soda 2 tsp of baking powder ¾ cup of cocoa powder 2 cups of gluten-free flour (bobs redmill 1:1 is a great one!)

2 cups of granulated sugar 1 cup of peppermint candy crumbles ½ in the cake the other for topping The best part about this cake is how easily it comes together— it’s a true set-and-forget style cake that makes your holiday baking easy but fun! I love to triple the recipe and give a loaf to my neighbors a few days before Christmas, so if they need to, they can share the recipe with their friends, family, or work potluck!

Holidays are so unique to each family, each tradition— that’s what makes it all worthwhile. Starting your own family traditions can be the best part of each year. I love sharing my favorite food with my friends and family! Happy holidays and a prosperous 2020 to you and your family!

Not one day has gone by that Paige Billings has not believed that cake can solve most problems.

After being told she was allergic to gluten, Paige realized she had to modify her cake recipes.

Committed to making her cakes just as delicious as before, Paige has combined her passion for baking, design, and photography into her career as a freelance food photographer, freelance copy and photography editor, and recipe developer. Her delicious and beautiful recipes that can be found on her blog, instagram, and in the secret pages of her ongoing cookbook. Paige has lived in many places, from the Bay Area of California, where she grew up, to Montana, where she graduated from Montana State University. She now works out of her Montana home with the help of her eager taste testers, husband, Drew and dog, Moose. You can find more of her recipes on her website: frontpaige.net 30

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steps

TEMP: 350˚F

BAKE: 55 min

1. Preheat your oven to 350° F and grease your loaf pan with butter. Gently tap in 1 tsp of cocoa powder to coat your loaf pan (this allows a quick release after baking).

2. Brew your 1 cup of coffee and start heating your 1 cup of hot water.

3. In your bowl, using a stand mixer or hand mixer, combine oil, warm coffee, and hot water; mix until the bowl is cool to the touch (this is important, you don’t want to scramble your eggs in step 5).

4. When your bowl is cool to the touch, add in your sugar, baking powder, baking soda, vanilla, and cocoa powder.

5. Once those items are combined and your bowl is even cooler to the touch, add in your two large eggs.

6. Combine the eggs into your mixture and then add in your 2 cups of flour 1/2 cup at a time until the batter is smooth.

7. In a blender or food processor, pulse 2 cups of peppermint candies (you can also buy store-bought pieces) until they are the size of peas to sea salt.

8. Using a rubber spatula, fold in you 1/2 cup of peppermint candy until equally distributed into your batter.

9. Pour your batter into a loaf pan until you have a 3/4˝ from the top edge of the pan.

10. Top with another spoonful of peppermint candy and bake for 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

11. Let the loaf cool for about 1 hour 12. While your quick bread is cooling, mix together your icing ingredients. This icing will be thick in texture, so it won’t run over the cake too much.

13. Once your loaf is fully cool, pour your icing over the cake and top with peppermint crumbles.

14. Slice and enjoy!

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FOOD & SPIRITS |

NA NA’S

Aebleskivers

BY M EG AN C RAWFO R D

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An æbleskiver (ei·bluh·skee·vr) is a traditional

Danish pancake— a fluffy sphere about the size of a tennis ball. My Nana always makes them for Christmas, and we always did the same growing up. The family record for number of æbleskivers consumed in one Christmas morning is held by my Uncle Nick: an impressive twenty-one.

The best part of the Rowson tradition of Christmas æbleskivers is that we aren’t Danish in the slightest. Like most family traditions, the æbleskiver just sort of happened.

However, æbleskivers are a Christmas tradition in Nordic countries (and are considered a dessert rather than breakfast, but the Rowsons are a rulebreaking bunch). It directly translates to “apple slices,” but apples aren’t used in contemporary recipes. Also true to Rowson form, our take on æbleskivers switches between the contemporary recipe and the traditional recipe. Æbleskivers also require a specific pan: cast iron with seven half spheres. Thanks to the 21st century world we now live in, pans can be easily found online.

While, as far as heritage goes, it doesn’t quite make sense for my family to make æbleskivers, it’s one of my favorite memories of the season. After the rush of stockings and before the anticipation of sharing gifts, we take the time to make breakfast. To sit together over coffee and take time. So, even if you don’t run out to find an æbleskiver pan, may you find the sentiment— the joy of being together, building new traditions, and enjoying the moments in between.

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ingredients 1 Granny Smith apple

1 tsp. baking powder

2 cups buttermilk

1/2 tsp. salt

2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

3 eggs, separated

2 tsp. sugar

THE ROWSON KIDS AT CHRISTMAS (CLOCKWISE): CARRIE, VICKY, HOLLY, AND NICK.

vegetable oil (for the pan)

instructions

1. Sift together flour, baking soda, and baking powder.

2. In the same bowl, beat egg yolks and add sugar, salt, and milk.

3. Beat egg whites until stiff, fold into the batter along with the chopped apple.

4. Make sure the pan is hot and use ample oil for the first batch.

5. Pour batter into the molds until even, wait for the batter to bubble, and then

carefully turn the ĂŚbleskiver over with a fork.

6. Serve with powdered sugar or syrup and enjoy! *Note: leftovers can be refrigerated or frozen. It’s best to heat them back up in a toaster oven so that they keep some of their crispiness!

FOOD & SPIRITS |

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GM’S

Million Dollar Fudge ARTICLE BY KELSEY HAUGHIAN

My grandma, the GM, lover of root beer floats and chocolate, and Eastern Montana’s historian was a force to be reckoned with.

I came across an old birthday card from my grandma the other day, one of the lines read “...you have a great strength indeed...” I immediately said to myself, ‘That strength came from you, Gram.’ I miss her every day. I think of her whenever I cook or bake. When I reach for a wooden spoon, memories of her small kitchen flood in. I pour flour out of a mason jar on my counter and see her sprinkling flour to roll out a pie crust. She is everywhere in my kitchen.

I learned how to not measure a single thing when cooking from her. “Just throw some in and taste it, Kay.” She didn’t even measure baking soda! My mom, on the other hand, taught me to at least measure the baking soda. Melding two wonderful teachers together in my skills has been such a curious thing in developing my own cooking style. I hope my food tastes just as good as theirs!

she made it? When I went to look for the recipe today, I realized I didn’t have it! It’s probably because she never wrote it down, because I rarely saw her follow an actual recipe. So I reached out to my family, knowing someone had to have it!

I figured it was jotted down in the back cover of an old cook book, like many of her tried and true recipes.

My mom must have written it down a few years before grandma passed away, because she finally found it in her book of recipe cards. I think I’ll try making it this year in my own kitchen, thinking of her as I grab my wooden spoon. Please enjoy “GM’s Million Dollar Fudge!”

My grandma used to make the world’s greatest fudge. Seriously, so damn good. I haven’t made it in years, because it’s kind of hard to make fudge.

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GM’S MILLION DOLL AR FUDGE

ingredients 1 T. softened butter 1 C. heavy whipping cream 2 C. white sugar 1 C. semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 C. marshmallow cream fluff 1 C. chopped nuts (optional) 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

steps

1. Grease an 8x8 pan with softened butter.

2. Over medium heat, bring whipping

cream and sugar to a soft boil. Gently boil for 3-4 minutes until thickened. Add remaining ingredients, stirring until wellcombined before removing from heat.

3. Pour into dish, smoothing top with

spatula. Allow to set for several hours before eating.

4. Eat! 38

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Artisan quality silverware jewelry accessories and one of a kind metal art

112 N 7th St Miles City, MT 59301 406-234-1525

GirlRanAway.etsy.com

Custom orders and wholesale inquires welcome

we are for difference: for respecting difference, for allowing difference, for encouraging difference, until difference no longer makes a difference.

J O H N N E T TA B . C O L E

EAGLE MOUNT MICHAEL'S STORY

 KEVIN SYLVESTER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

When he was 6 years old, Michael and his parents’ lives were changed. Forever.

Michael was just six when he survived a massive brain tumor. That tumor left Michael with a cognitive impairment and completely dependent on his mom and dad. But Michael? He’s still someone who wants an adventure.

And now he has many! Today, Michael is 22.

He’s able to swim, ride horses, ski, and have big adventures under the Big Sky. Here at Eagle Mount, Michael can focus on his abilities – not his disabilities.

Thanks to you and your past support of Eagle Mount, Michael has a place to be himself, to make friends, to exercise, and to have fun.

His mom and dad are able to connect with other families and not feel isolated.

This could never happen without support from friends like you. A year-end gift would support people like Michael so that they can experience adventures and activities that are both lifechanging and life-affirming.

Eagle Mount is about much more than swimming and skiing. In fact, we have programs for people of all ages. People with disabilities. Kids with cancer. Family support. And so much more.

But we can’t do this without you! We need your help in 2020— that’s why we’re asking you to make a gift before December 31st.

Kids and their parents shouldn’t have to face the challenges that Michael has, but sometimes they do. That’s why we’re here.

Michael? He’s a fighter.

And he deserves the credit for his brave and friendly outlook. Of course, his parents do, too.

But so do you!

DONORS MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR MICHAEL TO RIDE PHILLENE AND ENJOY SO MANY OTHER ADVENTURES AT EAGLE MOUNT!

Through your support, you can show that you believe that disabilities are different than abilities.

You believe in building confidence. You believe in building strength. You believe in freedom. You believe in joy. You believe in Michael.

A gift to Eagle Mount is a deep and meaningful expression. You care about people being able to experience life— and living their life to its fullest.

Because we know this is a cause that’s important to you, we hope you’ll send a gift today. You can go to our website give at eaglemount.org/support.

Please know that it’s only because of people like you that we’re able to realize the mission of Eagle Mount. Thank you for giving to support this work.

MICHAEL WITH HIS PARENTS, JOHN AND DAWN.

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FEATURE |

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big sky youth empowerment 

“

IF IT WASN’T FOR BYEP, I WOULDN’T BE ALIVE.

”

That’s what Charlie L., a 2018 Big Sky Youth Empowerment (byep) graduate, said when asked where she would be if she hadn’t joined the Bozeman-based nonprofit during her 8th grade year. In a state with one of the highest youth suicide rates in the country, Charlie’s story is striking.

Although byep doesn’t operate on the premise of suicide prevention, byep participants frequently share the same sentiment that Charlie does: the community support and life skills they found at Big Sky Youth Empowerment were critical to their journey away from the decision to take their own lives.

For the past 18 years, Big Sky Youth Empowerment has operated under the mission statement to provide the most vulnerable teens in the Gallatin Valley with the opportunity to experience success. byep participants are the young people most likely to fall through the cracks: those exposed to trauma, neglect, loss, homelessness, and other challenges outside of their control. byep’s adventure-based mentorship program is designed to strengthen and support these participants in all aspects of their lives, and it starts by meeting them halfway— giving them something inspiring, if not downright awesome, to do every weekend. Working with community partners, byep takes participants skiing and snowboarding at Big Sky Resort a total of 10 times each winter, providing them with 100% of the gear, transportation, and education they need to shred— all completely free of charge for each participant’s family.

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With 192 participants, 10 free ski days might seem like a lot— but it’s actually just the beginning of byep’s programming. The real power of byep comes from its world-class curriculum built around weekly workshops that teach participants the life skills that schools struggle to find the resources to address: from financial literacy and job interview skills to mindfulness, critical decision making, and community service. The workshops combined with a weekend adventure add up to 10 hours of programming a week, and with byep programs running year round, each participant has access to a total of 360 hours of byep programming each year— almost an hour a day, allowing Big Sky Youth Empowerment to achieve the depth of impact that turns a mentorship program into a community capable of changing and saving lives.

The final piece of Big Sky Youth Empowerment’s mission depends entirely on community support— luckily, there hasn’t been any shortage on that front. Each season, a small army of 40 young adults ranging from 21-30 years of age volunteer nearly 15,000 collective hours of their time to mentor the participants at byep. Their 44

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commitment is as substantial as their impact; frequently, adults who can consistently be there for support are exactly what’s missing from the lives of byep participants. Through their byep mentors, participants learn how to build relationships built on trust and follow-through.

Many byep adventures, which over a year range from skiing to whitewater rafting and rock climbing, are brand new to the mentors as well as participants, giving mentors a chance to set an example for how to face new and sometimes frightening challenges. Perhaps it’s not surprising that mentors frequently report that they get as much out of byep’s programming as the participants do.

Ultimately, no discussion of curriculum will truly touch the heart of what makes Big Sky Youth Empowerment so powerful in the lives of participants and mentors. During each workshop, participants and mentors share their Highs & Lows for their past week, opening a space where each person in the group feels safe enough to share the most challenging aspects of their lives, knowing their story will be heard and respected, and that the people listening care deeply about

the details of their lives. As simple as this may seem, these check-in sessions provide something missing in the lives of most people, not just the at-risk teen population: validation. In the heart of a young person who feels they are not valuable in the eyes of their schoolmates and family, a community of people they can rely on consistently giving them their full attention and care is a more powerful salve than a prescription could ever be. “byep is my second family” is a phrase you’ll hear from participants and mentors alike, and it is from that family atmosphere that byep breathes hope into its community.

Now entering its 19th year, Big Sky Youth Empowerment finds itself in a period of growth.

With a newly renovated space scheduled to open in May 2020, byep is primed to expand its program offering in two directions. Starting in January, byep will launch its Ascent program, designed to support participants through their first year after high school when the full weight of adulthood lands on their shoulders. The following year, byep will expand its Approach Program, opening applications to byep to students in their 7th grade year. Depth of support

is byep’s M.O., and by adding two more years of amazing adventures, awesome mentors, and lifechanging opportunities, byep will increase not only the quantity of youth served, but the quality with which they serve them. The renovation will also include a Tutoring lab and a Maker’s Space, giving participants the opportunity to improve their grades and learn new skills even when they’re not scheduled for workshops or adventures. The new space will also have an Elective Room where community partners will be able to share their skills and crafts with interested teens. Consistency is key— simply knowing they always have a place to go where they will be heard and supported is a huge psychological boost to young people with lives dominated by turmoil.

All of this growth is rounded out by a renewed dedication to help young people face the biggest challenges of our time, starting with Montana’s youth suicide crisis. In 2019, byep launched a 100K state-wide suicide awareness lecture series led by world-renowned clinicalpsychologist John Sommers-Flanagan, Ph.D., to provide communities all over the state with a strengths-based approach to understanding and mon tan awoman .com | dec emb er 2 01 9

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communicating the topic of suicide. A key goal in the future of Big Sky Youth Empowerment is expanding the scope of its impact and finding ways to introduce byep’s curriculum and approach to communities across Montana, with the ultimate dream of serving vulnerable youth throughout the country.

Big Sky Youth Empowerment’s doors are always open to those interested in getting involved.

Volunteers make byep’s impact possible, and applying to mentor is easy through byep’s website, www.byep.org. Of course, as a nonprofit, the key mechanism for sustaining the organization is community donations. Your gifts immediately go to work opening opportunities for young people who truly need them— you can make donations through the byep website, or by simply texting byep to 41444. Big Sky Youth Empowerment’s business partners are an essential part as well, from providing job opportunities and adventure opportunities to sponsoring byep vehicles and projects, the businesses involved with byep are critical to the organization’s growth in the community. Finally, in an effort to secure Big Sky Youth Empowerment’s ability to change lives for 46

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years to come, byep has started an endowment to allow more options for giving, allowing legacy gifts to provide an incredible foundation for Big Sky Youth Empowerment’s future.

If you are at all interested in learning more about Big Sky Youth Empowerment and the ways you can make an impact, simply contact their Executive Director Robin Hill at robin.hill@byep.org or by phone at (406)-209-3204.

from our readers

I took my car in to get the winter tires put on in Polson only to have my jaw drop when I pulled into the parking lot… cars lined up along the street, all with four tires crammed in the back! This was going to take some time. No matter, I will treat myself to breakfast. On my way back to a table I passed your magazine. I have been picking through the magazine for years, but admittedly, had lost interest and so I no longer stopped to grab one. But today, something for some reason caught my eye when I walked by. Maybe it was the matte finish which makes it seem more artistic. Maybe it was the boldness of the photo standing out on the cover. I grabbed it and had an anticipation I hadn’t felt in a while with a magazine. I opened it to find a whole new experience. It immediately spoke to me and I felt at home. The natural and artistic design are not only gorgeous, but representative of what brought me to Montana. Your inspiring quote upon opening the cover made me take a deep breath and smile. To see more thought provoking quotes throughout the magazine just kept me thinking. I am a details person, and the addition of the green ferns throughout the publication brings a sense of peace and tranquility. The layouts are advanced and done with an artist’s intention. Lastly, I can’t help but feel that the articles are drenched in rich content and meaning. Climate change, Sagebrush Woman, Taken By the Wind…

Thanks for bringing new life to a well intentioned publication. Keep up the great work and yes, it was worth the risk. —Jen Smith, East Shore Flathead Lake

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FEATURE |

DREAM adaptive recreation 

ARTICLE & IMAGES BY JULIE TICKLE | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

“DREAM HELPS INDIVIDUALS DISCOVER WHAT IS POSSIBLE BY FOCUSING ON THEIR ABILITIES.” dream Adaptive Recreation has been serving

the community of Whitefish and beyond for nearly 35 years. Our mission is to enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities by providing year-round outdoor adaptive recreational opportunities. We welcome individuals ages five and older with physical, cognitive, intellectual, developmental, and sensory disabilities, as well as Military Veterans with a disability.

dream helps individuals discover what is

possible by focusing on their abilities. Participants build confidence, cultivate new relationships, and gain independence— skills we hope will positively impact their daily lives. By promoting the highest level of independence, our programs empower individuals to push their limits and learn new skills in a safe and fun environment.

dream was founded in 1985, several years

before the American with Disabilities Act was established. Dottie Maitland, Jane Lopp, Larry Dominick, and a small group of locals recognized

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a need to make public recreation areas accessible to people with disabilities. Their first major projects included working with Glacier National Park to establish an accessible trail— Trail of Cedars— and the winter alpine ski/snowboard program at Whitefish Mountain Resort. Fast forward to 2009 and dream introduced water sports such as water skiing and wakeboarding, with paddle boarding and kayaking starting in 2014 and mountain biking in 2019.

Our success can be greatly attributed to an engaged volunteer team. In 2019, 118 volunteers gave over 5,200 hours of service to promote dream’s mission. No previous adaptive experience is

necessary to volunteer, as all training is provided.

Volunteers are also needed for administrative tasks, equipment maintenance, event committees, and more.

dream is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization

that is solely supported by individual donations, grants, and corporate partners. To celebrate 35 years of service in 2020, donors are encouraged to make a reoccurring donation in the amount of $35/month!

Visit dreamadaptive.org and click on the “donate” button to learn more!

our programs

Winter ski & snowboard lessons at Whitefish Mountain Resort Nordic skiing Advanced Backcountry Powder Camp with Great Northern Powder Guides Mountain biking Paddleboarding Kayaking Water skiing Wakeboarding Wake surfing Boating Military Veteran programming mon tan awoman .com | dec emb er 2 01 9

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our new programs: MOUNTAIN BIKING

This program was launched in Spring 2019 with adaptive recumbent and handcycles. The bikes allow individuals with mobility impairments the ability to get further in nature for a slow cruise or a heart-pumping workout. DREAM provides individual lessons and group rides, May–October.

2019 programming supported over a dozen riders.

highlights:

Guiding 11 adaptive athletes on Going-tothe-Sun Road in Glacier National Park before it opened to vehicle traffic for the season Helping Thursday Night Race League at Whitefish Mountain Resort become inclusive to adaptive riders. Supporting six adaptive riders in the 24 Hour of Flathead mountain bike race. Being one of six adaptive sports programs to collaborate on the Wydaho Mountain Bike Festival in Grand Targhee, supporting 20+ adaptive athletes in cross-country and downhill clinics.

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NORDIC/CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING

Launching winter of 2019/2020 in collaboration with Glacier Nordic Club, this program will support adaptive standing and sit-ski lessons.

highlights:

The long-standing Chet Hope Youth League will now be inclusive to children ages 4-12 with disabilities. They will be able to learn to ski alongside their peers. Individual private lessons for ages 5 and up are available at the Glacier Nordic Center at the Whitefish Golf Course.

SAVE THE DATE!

Snow Ball Fundraiser March 6th @ The Lodge at Whitefish Lake For more information or to get involved, please visit dreamadaptive.org, contact info@dreamadaptive.org, or call (406)862-1817

IN 2019 WE SUPPORTED...

1080 ADAPTIVE OPPORTUNITIES 290 UNIQUE PARTICIPANTS 117 MILITARY VETERAN LESSONS 5255 VOLUNTEER HOURS

listen.

LIFE |

BY STEPHANIE EVANS

The art of giving can be thought-provoking.

Searching for a meaningful, heartfelt gift can be a fantastic treasure hunt, or it can be frustrating and challenging in this day and age. We have such an abundance of shopping venues, from our physical retail stores to the internet. So many shopping options! Finding the perfect gift can be so overwhelming at times that we end up throwing random, useless “gifts” into our cart, virtual or not. Those “gifts” lose the meaning we started out with. Our intent of a beautiful, heartfelt gift being thrown to the curb as our frustrations rise and impulse takes over. The theme of this month is Purposeful Giving. What does purposeful giving look like or sound like to me? What does it look and sound like to you?

As I sit writing this article, a list arrives in my heart. A rambling…

The gift of massage. Homemade meals.

The gift of being your true self for yourself and others. The gift of laughter.

The gift of adventure. The gift of artistic expression. The gift of service. Is there something someone keeps talking about?

Redecorating?

Landscape? Organizing? Is there a skill you can offer to them? What about striking up a conversation with a stranger? Someone that may have a forlorn look? The gift of noticing?

The gift of a story? Gift-giving without recognition. The gift of gab… what? The gift of gab?

That phrase hasn’t entered my heart for a few years.

My Grandma used to use it, “He sure has the gift of gab…”

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Wait a minute! The gift of communication!!

Of course! To me, this looks like the perfect gift. It sounds like the perfect gift. One I love to receive. One I love to give. It is recognition. It is listening. The gift of communication is listening without saying a word, actively listening, actively hearing. The gift of actively listening is looking at someone in the eyes, opening your heart and allowing them to release. Allowing them to safely release words that may be eating them up inside— letting them know that what they have to say is important. Letting them know, they are important. Knowing that the very act of someone listening will help with the healing, solution, or just release of excitement or anxiety. The act of listening to the inner turmoil of someone can be the gift of a journey that can start with the open heart of a trusted person.

The gift of communication has a very important piece that we, as active listeners, can forget… Can you give the gift of listening without releasing it outward to anyone afterwards? Can you give the gift of trust as well as listening?

We, as humans, tend to want to release the words and stories of others. Active listening can contain some heavy topics. Part of the gift we are giving is holding it in the vault, not turning it into gossip. We don’t give this gift of communication, this trusted release, for the whole community to be entertained with. Can you hold what was trusted to you? Can you keep your mouth shut?

Can you be that trusted friend? Can you give this gift? This gift is not something that can be given by everyone.

The urge to release the stories of others comes from the heaviness of the inner turmoil we’ve heard—empathy. Some of us can actually feel the pain of others. Some of us want to “fix” the inner turmoil. We need to actively listen so that the speaker can come up with their own solution to their own turmoil. We are not listening to “fix.”

We are listening to offer neutral support— a sounding board.

Often times, we hold on to the grief and sadness of other people. Don’t hold on to the story. The story was a release for the storyteller, not a giving of the story to you. Allow that story to serve its purpose to the owner.

This gift holds confidentiality. If an issue of safety arises, you will know in your heart when it is appropriate to share the story and with whom to share it. We all have our talents for this world, and for some, this story-holding can feel too heavy.

Trust your gut on this one. If this doesn’t seem like the gift you can give, that’s okay. Imagine this gift had a price tag that you just could not afford, no matter how important or meaningful it could be. Make sure you can “afford” it.

I can offer some tools from the toolbox.

There are tools in which we can protect ourselves from that inner turmoil of others and the temptation of releasing a story that is not ours to release. Tools and techniques that can also allow the words to be heard but to not sink into to you.

Put yourself in their shoes.

If it were your story, how would you want your story and words to be held? Write it down., and then burn it. Release it with the smoke… have a beautiful ceremony. Say some words.

Breathe some breaths. Take a moment to hear the story once again. Take a moment to see how it sounds to you without judgment. Just notice and then let it go with the rising smoke.

Take a walk outdoors, alone.

While walking, say the words of the story that keep circling in your mind. Whisper the words that are tempting you to be released. Release them instead to Mother Nature. Allow her to recycle them. Allow the words to be absorbed into the Earth. The practice of holding space for another person’s story and then releasing it to

Mother Nature will allow your heart and spirit to be cleansed of the story and protect the privacy of the storyteller.

Imagine a beautiful sphere of light surrounding you. Imagine

that sphere is shielding you. Allowing those words to be heard but not allowing them to penetrate into the sphere. You can imagine this while listening or visualize after the communication has taken place.

Gift-giving comes in so many forms.

This holiday season, and any season for that matter, make sure that your giving comes from a positive, trusted, and sacred space. It doesn’t matter what the gift ends up being, as long as the intent is to offer something positive. Make a point to be mindful while listening. Make a point to make eye contact. Make a point to recognize and connect in a way that opens your heart and shines your beautiful light with your community. The time is now. It is always now.

Stephanie Evans is a lover of nature, ceremony, movement, and adventure.

She is the mother of four magical spirits and a writer, ceremony officiant, yoga instructor, and retreat leader. She was born in Montana with the spirit of a fairy, the mouth of a sailor, and the heart of a hippie. She learned early in childhood that Mother Nature and expression with movement and words were three vital ingredients to a beautiful life. The ability to release tensions, aggressions, anxiety, and fear while in nature is a tonic. She would like to share with all who walk into her path how to open their senses to all the magic that surrounds us in this beautiful state and to extend it into their life. Body, mind and spirit.

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LIFE |

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a holiday presence

BY BARBARA FRASER

T

he frost sits low on the windowpanes, and the morning sunshine filters through the tree branches that are almost barren— a few leaves will hang on into the spring. The majesty of summer and fall have given way to the beauty of dark roadways surrounded by white landscapes, snow-laden mountaintops in the distance, and the cherished cozy evenings inside our homes. I often have to remind myself to walk away from everyday tasks and enjoy the beauty of where I live, which can be as close as right outside my door.

I live in the first house built on my block over a hundred years ago, and I still have one of the original apple trees that were a part of the orchard below Buffalo Hills in Kalispell. For years I have wanted to start seedlings from her apples in hopes of continuing her legacy; I have decided this is the year! If all goes well, they will make lovely gifts come spring. It took me years to convince my husband to keep her; many would have agreed with Danny and cut her down. Though she was no longer young and pretty, her beauty was in the shade that protected our front porch and the branches that provided a safe haven for the birds that would serenade and entertain us. I loved her tenacity every year as she would bloom each spring and bear red apples each fall.

I remember one entertaining debate Danny and I had when my tactic went to the comparison of also becoming old and gnarled someday and how perhaps he planned on getting rid of me as well; I can picture the smile and hear his laughter still.

Danny would eventually be won over by us both.

To me, she is majestic and a gift each day.

I was reminiscing of the gifts given and received in our family as I brought the bins up to decorate and found a favorite holiday book I read as a teen. It is the story of a young couple who can only afford to give each other a single gift— The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry. The newlyweds are just beginning their life together, and the wife impulsively decides to sell her hair for the money to pay for his watch chain. Her husband decides to sell his watch to buy his beloved wife the hair combs that she has longed for and arrives home to find her with the locks of a schoolboy.

Gift-giving is that much more special when it is prompted by love and tempered with sacrifice. It is one of the most beautiful aspects of being a couple, as well as a family.

Holidays have changed for me. The Christmas Eves when we wrapped gifts until tape, scissors, and paper were pushed aside and we were lucky to get any sleep, Christmas dinners eaten late because we had stuffed ourselves with every favorite hors-d’oeuvre, and New Year’s Eves where the tradition of banging pots and pans was essential are now lovely memories. Christmas mornings are no longer filled with small children begging to open presents, and gift-giving is no longer a team event. I now find myself creating mon tan awoman .com | dec emb er 2 01 9

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other beautiful memories. Last year we brought back the tradition from Danny’s family of picking one name per person, and it suits us perfectly. It’s lovely to focus on the most perfect gift one can give to another. Life is full of changes and chapters— each one can be filled with joy and magic.

The memories keep me company as I place each decoration in its beloved spot, or make room for something new. A month ago, I had gathered cones from my spruce tree; they now sit in a bowl and bring the beauty of the outdoors into my winter home. I love the music that plays softly in the background, and I There are opportunities to O ALL WHO GIVE AND look forward to baking with give and receive gifts all year friends because it keeps my long, but there is something RECEIVE GIFTS, SUCH mother and grandmothers a special when it happens AS THEY ARE WISEST. part of my life. Finding joy in during the holidays. The giving is about slowing down THEY our lives for just a moment, key is to look for those EVERYWHERE opportunities, and then act ARE WISEST. THEY ARE and extending love to those on them instead of letting we care about the most. I may THE MAGI. them pass us by. We can give only have one child in my a smile to a stranger with home this Christmas, but my – O. H E N R Y no expectation of receiving entire family remains in my one in return. They are moments of kindness: heart and with me in spirit. taking a grocery cart back to the store as someone removes their last package, paying for coffee for I wish you the very best from my home to yours. the car behind you at a drive-through, sharing a kind word— even a conversation enjoyed by two strangers that becomes the beginning of an unexpected friendship.

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LIFE |

e m o h y I’ll sta s a m t s i r for Ch Self-Care During the Holidays

BY KELSEY WEYERBACHER

I love Christmas. Like… a lot.

Like, the minute Halloween is done, the Bing Crosby Holiday radio comes on when my son is at school, and I feel no remorse about it. When I have a bad day in July, I watch the 1994 Little Women movie and my perspective is morphed. But, the actual stressors of Christmas have changed drastically for me since becoming a mom. Long gone are the days of few gifts and many treats to eat that I didn’t have to bake. Instead, I find myself with a 4-year-old begging to write his letter to Santa already, a gift list a mile long, and a house lacking in the decorations department.

The impending holiday season provides stress for many of us. I certainly know I’m not the only one with a never-ending circle of questions haunting me: Am I missing someone on my gift list?

What is our budget for gifts? What if they don’t like the gift? Maybe I should get them a new one.

I wonder if this is returnable? Which side of the family do we spend which days with? Will the weather be okay for driving? How can I hide the Santa wrapping paper so the kids won’t find it?

How many years can I shield the Elf on the Shelf phenomenon from my son so I don’t have to hide a stuffed toy for a month prior to Christmas?

Contrary to popular belief, it’s okay not to send out a family Holiday card. There is nothing wrong with buying treats instead of baking them 58

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(or vice versa to help that Holiday budget). You can make the homemade craft gifts that speak to the pits of your Pinterest soul, or you can ship everything to relatives hassle-free via Amazon.

The point is: We have established an unhealthy expectation of what the holidays should look like for ourselves and our families. We forget to slow down and take time for ourselves amidst all the other giving and holiday parties and work gift exchanges and family dinners. We forget ourselves too often.

So, I did some digging on the internet and searched for lists of helpful tips for self-care and mental health during the holidays. And, you know what? The lists sucked. Really sucked. The majority of them were as lofty and unattainable as our cultural holiday expectations, and I found myself feeling overwhelmed just looking at them.

(Who has time to spend an hour a day meditating and another hour working out? Not this mama.)

So, I spent time thinking about what has helped me in the past, in addition to thinking about what simple goals I could make for myself that would make me feel good, and maybe others too. I hope these ideas help you establish some healthy goals for you this holiday season:

1. Take several walks a week wherever you find the time to do so. While walking, look for litter and take a bag

to collect trash with (I also encourage gloves, because some of that trash is nasty). Are you ten minutes early for an appointment? Walk around the block a time or two. Is your dog gaining some

holiday/winter weight? Take them a different route around the neighborhood. I know it’s cold in Montana. I know it sucks, but I promise if you carve out just a few minutes a day several times a week, you will feel better for it. Picking up litter will help your neighborhood and the environment, too.

2. Write a Thank You every week.

My mother always taught me that late thank you notes were better than none and that a hand-written note is best, but I’m all about time management. If you only have time to send a thank you text to someone who helped you pick up kids earlier this week, a relative that sent a nice holiday card, or a mentor you really look up to, I promise the text will make their day just as much as a card in the mail. Regardless of what religion or faith you practice (if any), gratitude is a rewarding concept during the season, but it can feel overwhelming when we set unattainable goals. Realistically, I know I won’t send a thank you every day. So, once a week is a realistic goal for me. Choose what works for you. If you never know what to write, here’s a template I like to use: I’ve been thinking about you lately and just wanted to send a quick thank you to tell you how much your friendship means to me. Thank you for always being there and for reminding me what healthy relationships look like!

3. Stop moving and sit down. We are

all moving so fast, trying to get to the store before it closes, trying to take the kids to the Christmas Stroll, trying to remember to finish the massive list before it swallows us. When I begin to feel overwhelmed, I have found the best thing I can do is sit down and take a moment. Whether it’s to write a list to compile your thoughts, read a book for yourself or to your kids, watch a sappy (but wonderful) Hallmark movie, or to just take a few breaths and relax— we have to remember to stop and listen to what our bodies need, too. I am not above putting a movie on for my son so I can take a hot shower in the middle of the day when I’m feeling stressed. It’s okay to take time for you.

4. Cross something off the list.

Go on, do it! There is nothing as liberating as cancelling plans you don’t really want to do or giving yourself the permission to not have to do that one thing you really don’t want to give

your time to. Cancelling plans when you need a break is a wonderful performance of self-care. Friends and family who care will understand when you simply say, “I’m sorry I can’t make it. I’m feeling stretched thin over the holidays and need to take some time for myself.”

You don’t owe anyone a lengthy explanation. It’s okay if the outdoor lights don’t get put up or if all the Christmas decorations don’t leave the garage. That one dessert Grandma always made very year won’t disrupt the household if you simply don’t get around to making it this year. Give yourself permission to set boundaries, and let go of the guilt surrounding them. You deserve to feel some relief this holiday season!

5. Eat the damn cookies. I understand

all too well the stress that comes with the inevitable holiday weight gain. Pants start to fit a little tighter, and none of our dresses look quite flattering enough come holiday dinners. We’ll start to see the diet culture tidal wave infiltrating our television, social media, and billboards— speaking to the upcoming New Year’s resolutions of losing pounds. But, I have found that when we forget about the pounds and spend more time letting our kids help us make chocolate covered pretzels and doing a terrible job frosting cookies, we find much more joy than we would counting calories. I’m not advocating for a Cookie Monster mentality. Instead, I’m telling you that it’s okay for you to eat the cookies you bake. And it’s okay to indulge on some good fudge. Give your body the gift of acceptance and allow yourself the space to eat how you want this holiday season, working to eliminate the guilt we associate with it.

Remember that the holidays are a time when mental health deteriorates, and many feel the overwhelming grief of loved ones lost. Know that you are enough just as you are, that you are needed, and that it’s okay to ask for help when you need it. If you or a friend are hurting this holiday season, remember the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is open 24 hours: 1-800-273-8255. mon tan awoman .com | dec emb er 2 01 9

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ACTIVE & OUTDOOR |

how to have a climate conversation:

C

listen

ARTICLE BY SARAH HARDING IMAGES BY SONJA BURGARD

limate activists are saying that the most important thing we can all do right now is talk about climate change.

When I started writing this, I was pretty optimistic. My plan was to lead you all into bravely telling your climate story at your next family gathering. I cheerfully outlined the psychological defenses we all put up against the reality of a polluted, disgusting, and uninhabitable Earth. I brainstormed prompts to help discover how the emergency has impacted each of us. I read books and articles, watched TED talks, and attended a workshop. I felt ready to write a clear, thoughtful guide to a climate discussion. But then, reality knocked.

I went to an actual extended family party.

My uncle celebrated his 80th birthday with a party/family reunion at his farm in Idaho. We stayed for two nights. The first night, about 40 of us connected at a local restaurant for a meet-ngreet. I got my life lesson at a big, long table at the Farmhouse Cafe, after warmly reuniting with my aunt and uncle sitting across from me at dinner.

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I’m very, very close to these people— I love them to the ends of the earth. They’ve hosted us at their cabin, babysat my children, even took me into their home when I was in high school. I was not expecting to feel anything but love and kindness.

Our conversation started in a teasing manner, “Sarah is into climate change.” The discussion got intense from there, with both of them talking over each other in their zeal, using well-known talking points. “Do you really believe the world is going to end in 8 years?” “Don’t you think China is worse?” “What if the science is wrong?” I was only effective at blushing a deep shade of fuchsia, attempting to clear up the misunderstanding about the 8-year carbon emissions deadline, and feeling alone and horrible. My aunt is a ridiculously kind, genuinely good person, so if I could fail talking to her, I was doomed. Up until now, I have been cheered on by my circle.

Like many Americans, I surround myself with people that think like me. I’ve unfriended people on Facebook because their posts are contrary to my beliefs and dredge up unwanted feelings like anger, frustration, despair. I ask myself, “How can they think that?” Our country is truly divided

and unwilling to come together to amicably discuss differences. I get it! I don’t want to be talking about the climate crisis. However, I am an adult in 2019-2029, the last 10 years we have to preserve our pure and beautiful home. We cannot pretend that everything is going to work itself out. I’m grateful to my aunt and uncle. Because of them, I dove deeper into empathy, discussion, and humility. I learned not to fear rebuttal; it’s just part of debate. And I have a plan for next time: breathe, connect, listen, and share.

I found wisdom and courage on my path toward empathy and connection from Buddhist nun and author, Pema Chodron. She has a knack for explaining the human experience with tenderness and compassion. I’ve adopted her suggestion to observe situations with, “Just like me…” Just like me, that person loves their children. Just like me, that person wants to be loved. Just like me, they don’t want to suffer, feel hatred or physical pain.

If I can connect with our shared humanity, and find common ground in the human experience, I can communicate with love and acceptance. It sounds so obvious and intuitive.

We can try harder to see the person behind the views. We can stop talking as though we’re talking to a mirror and make a real effort to understand where they’re coming from so we can meet them there. I practice curiosity with my children all the time to see where they’re coming from. I ask open-ended questions and really listen to their responses. Now I can apply it to my ex-Facebook friends.

“

on what that person is saying. Seek to understand.

Try for deeper understanding. Drop your agenda and keep listening. People can feel your attention.

Be interested in other people, and be prepared to be amazed.

I did none of those things at my family dinner! I was frantically casting about my mind for facts, figures, anything to flip their minds like a switch. Instead, I needed to breathe.

I needed to remind myself that they love me, and get curious about how, what, and why they believe. I can realize it’s not personal— no need to get defensive. Stephen Covey said, “Most of us don’t listen with the intent to understand. We listen with the intent to reply.” So, instead of crafting a brilliant rebuttal, I will be over here working on improving my listening skills and leaving my ego at the door.

Most of us don’t listen with the intent to understand. We listen with the intent to reply.

”

We all think we’re right. From our perspective, we’re the good guys in this story, and so our conversations look like two people talking at each other across the table with increasing animosity and volume. Or, because we’re so polarized, we just avoid conversation altogether.

Because I obviously need some remedial classes in modern conversation, I consulted some authorities on discussion.

Other experts recommended that I start on common ground. Look for things to agree on.

That sounds doable. We agree we love each other.

We can agree that Montana is beautiful and pristine. We both are fascinated by Montana’s wildlife. And we can keep going from there.

People connect over what they have in common.

We need to stand beside each other and look in the same direction at the same things before we can move forward together.

Celeste Headlee, a professional interviewer, offers us this #1 crucial conversation skill: Listen. Be completely present, attentive, and 100% focused

30 years ago, climate scientists began warning us that greenhouse gasses were creating a blanket around our planet— trapping heat. I’ve heard mon tan awoman .com | dec emb er 2 01 9

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SONJA BURGARD

about the greenhouse effect my whole life. I sat next to an older man at a workshop recently who had devoted his entire career to climate research. In 1982, he released a report warning of climate change. He told me that early on, he thought society would respond once the facts were known. But, facts and figures are not going to change minds and hearts. Sharing our stories with vulnerability and love (after striving to understand), could. Here are some prompts to get you started thinking about your story. I encourage you to take a quiet moment out of your day to sit and write down your answers.

What have you changed your mind about and why? (not just in relation to the environment) What have you heard about climate change, ecosystem collapse, or mass extinction? What have you seen? What have you experienced?

What breaks your heart about our ecological breakdown?

What did you have planned for 10 years from now? A vision for your life? Hopes for your children? Grandchildren?

How has climate change affected people you love?

Fast forward to 15 years from now: How did we save ourselves?

What opportunities are we being presented with?

I hope your answers help uncover some meaningful stories for you. It’s okay to not know all the scientific data. This is not an invitation to preach, but rather to let someone into your heart. Because it’s a discussion, we should be 62

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encouraging response. And truthfully, maybe we listen and understand more than we talk.

It’s essential to be having these conversations, and in order to connect, we must be vulnerable and honest.

My dream is that in writing this, I will be able to help one person breathe instead of react. And maybe someone else will be able to truly listen, painful though it is. One person may remember to think, “just like me, she wants to belong.” And possibly I will share my story next time. I plan to spend some time before each family event remembering my interconnectedness with each person and looking for common ground. I haven’t seen my aunt and uncle since that evening.

We’ll make the drive again toward the end of December; I’ll have plenty of opportunities to practice listening and empathy in the meanwhile.

Sarah Harding grew up in North County San Diego.

She spent her childhood surfing and loving the ocean.

She and her husband, John, moved to Montana when they were 22 and spent the second half of their lives farming and raising a family. Now they’re Coconut at Sea Soap Co.; a family business determined to reduce the amount of plastic in our world.

Sarah is a steadfast fan of her husband and two children, who are her absolute first priority. She believes in kindness, resourcefulness, and playful creativity.

Sarah and her family live on their tiny homemade farm in Whitefish. For more information on her soap and shampoo bars, visit her website at coconutatsea.com

from our readers I found the article about Alexis Pike to be so impressive and intriguing. Beautifully written, it showcases a true woman of spirit, talent, compassion, risk-taking and innovation. This was the first edition of the Montana woman magazine I’ve ever held in my hands and read. Bravo to Megan (owner and editor) as this beautiful magazine fills a niche and a needed focus in our community. Very, very impressive.

If you can go back to this edition, read the letter from the editor. It epitomizes the spirit of “can-do” and encourages all women.

I’m very grateful this community and state is offered this quality of writing with such a spirit of support of women and their accomplishments.

—Stephanie Campbell

Coconut at Sea Soap Co. w w w . c o c o n u tat s e a . c o m

O ur m i ssi o n i s t o hel p f o l k s f eel go o d — i nsi d e a nd o ut. Hea l t hy, c l ea n sk i n a nd ha i r o n t he o ut si d e, a nd go o d ka r m a o n t he i nsi d e.

We a r e a f a m i l y r un b usi ness c o m m i t t ed t o sus t a i na b i l i ty a nd zer o wa s t e. c olumbia fall s | helena | kalispell | whitefish mon tan awoman .com | dec emb er 2 01 9

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ACTIVE & OUTDOOR |

Giving Back to Mother Montana ARTICLE & IMAGES BY JESSLYN MARIE

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‘Tis the season for giving!

With the holidays right around the corner, most of us are already planning our gift-giving and shopping and budgeting lists, but I’m not here to talk about the material side of gift-giving; I’d like to chat about the act of giving your time. Montana gives us so much to be thankful for— clean air, jagged mountains, stretching plains, alpine lakes, and rushing rivers. We enjoy her natural abundance in both work and play, so why not give back to her? I couldn’t possibly cover all of the ways in which to do this, so I’d like to, instead, touch on a few volunteer-based opportunities that highlight what we love most about living in this truly incredible state: protecting and recreating in our natural and wild spaces.

Montana Wilderness Association

the future. They consist of seven local chapters throughout the state (Whitefish, Great Falls, Helena, Missoula, Butte, Bozeman, and Billings) and have a little bit of something for everyone!

You can lead a Wilderness Walk by sharing new and favorites places with others, help out with their annual gathering, Wildfest, work on a trail crew in the summer months, or join the Board of Directors to keep the organization and its values going strong. Each of these opportunities furthers their vision of a state that is made up of those who respect the land as much as they do by sharing this passion with others. The MWA invites anyone and everyone interested in lending a hand to reach out and see how they can help (or to pitch a new idea!) as it is not limited to physical feats.

www.wildmontana.org

Adventure Scientists

This wonderful organization genuinely values Montana’s vast wilderness and aims to protect it in a variety of ways so that locals and visitors alike can continue to appreciate and enjoy it well into

This is a very unique opportunity for those who love the outdoors and want to be a direct part of the conservation community. Adventure

www.adventurescientists.org

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ACTIVE & OUTDOOR | Scientists recruits and trains their willing and capable volunteers to collect and bring back hard-to-obtain data in a variety of locations across the globe (even Montana!). This, in turn, allows scientists to continue the important work within conservation that would otherwise be too expensive and time-consuming to do on their own. Some of these programs include timber tracking, pollinator surveys, and water quality in wild rivers. You can team up with them on an existing project or submit a proposal for one of your own making! Who knows, perhaps your next trail run, weekend backpacking trip, or whitewater excursion will have a little added purpose and meaning tagged on to it!

Montana Conservation Corps www.mtcorps.org

A well-known and beloved member of Montana’s conservation community is the Montana Conservation Corps (MCC). They complete various service projects throughout the state in local communities, parks, wilderness areas, forests, etc. They believe strongly in inspiring the next generation of leaders to be stewards of our amazing public lands through hands-on experience. They have four regional offices, each designated to a particular section of the state, and a wide array of volunteer opportunities including watershed restoration, trail crews, habitat enhancement, and research. These positions do offer a small living allowance (as well as an AmeriCorps Education Award upon completion of the program) but are otherwise unpaid. If you’re looking for a way to get directly involved on a more long-term basis, have the time to spend, and aren’t afraid of hard work and getting your hands dirty… the MCC just might be in your wheelhouse!

SheJumps

www.shejumps.org Last, but certainly not least, very near and dear to my heart is SheJumps. This positively fantastic organization aims to increase the participation of women and girls in the outdoors in ethical and respectful ways— my whole jam! Through free/low-cost activities, retreats, and classes, they strive to create an inclusive, non-threatening 68

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community of confident females and female role models. Their programs vary from day-long, educational workshops for young girls all the way to 7-day ski and splitboard mountaineering courses for adults (and everything in between).

The SheJumps initiative is to bridge that gap between the unknown and pure, confidencebuilding empowerment to take on the world! As someone who volunteers for SheJumps, I can’t tell you how cool it is to see an 8-year-old girl excited to learn about water ecology, skimming through the pond shoreline for beetles as indicators of watershed health… who said mud and bugs were only for the boys, eh?

Other Ways You Can Help Of course, there are many, many more organizations all throughout the state that have volunteer opportunities closely involved with the outdoor community, but I wanted to feature a select few that were more state-wide (and, in most cases, nation-wide!). Check out your local Parks & Recreation office, head to the US Forest Service administration building, call up the state parks closest to you; these more localized efforts are just as important as the big ones in keeping these wild spaces wild and the community connected and involved in the process.

Maybe you don’t have a lot of spare time, but you do have some extra money to give? Organizations such as these that heavily rely upon volunteers to continue doing the work that they do also accept donations! Whether it’s five dollars or five hundred dollars, every little bit helps to keep them going and our beloved public lands protected, restored, and in the hands of its citizens. But not everyone has time or money to spend. If this rings true for you, fear not! You can still help! Give your favorite organizations a “follow” on social media, like and comment on their posts, forward on and share their news, events, and campaigns with others, and generally help get the word out.

It might seem trivial, but such small actions truly help to increase their visibility and reach within communities. The season of giving is upon us— may we all carry this mindset with us into and throughout the new year to come. Happy adventures, my friends!

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ACTIVE & OUTDOOR |

the story of a therapy horse

ARTICLE BY KRIS SELL

The little boy is almost vibrating— he’s

so excited to be in the arena with me and the other horses. He’s running around, and the adults are letting him have some room. Still, it’s not good for him to act like this around all these horses, and while he looks like he’s having fun, I sense he is not. He is not in control of himself, and that’s scary for him. My partner, Xaver, and I approach the little boy from two sides. We know what to do; this is our job.

MICHELLE SPRING, CHARLIE BERTAINA, ABBY HUTTON, HOLLY BIGELOW, AMY HOOPER, CANDICE HORNER, KALI KITCHEN, AND MARY HERBIGCORTESI.

Xaver and I came to the United States from the Netherlands. For many years, we pulled a wagon together. Something happened with our human family about the time I started to feel cold during the winter and stiff some mornings. Xaver, our friend Toby, and I came to live at a place called Firefly Horse Company. Now we all have new jobs. We don’t have to pull things and rarely have anyone on our backs; we just take care of the people who visit us.

JULIE KIEWATT WITH XANDER AND LARS. PHOTO BY AUNDREA MARIE PHOTOGRAPHY.

Xaver and I have been in this situation before when it comes to children who are not in control of themselves. We approach from angles that don’t trap the boy and drop our heads to his level.

Our heads are as long as he is tall if you include our ears. The little boy immediately stops moving and is fully focused on us. He asks the lady who leads us from the pasture, Julie, what we are doing.

She asks him what he thinks we are doing. The little boy doesn’t know why Xaver and I act this way, but he knows he feels calmer and is present with us, focused on us, and doesn’t have that scary, out-of-control feeling now. I know the little boy’s anxiety might return later. I am prepared. When he fidgets in a chair in the arena, I will arch my neck over his head to help him feel safe again. I’m like a shield from all the chaos he absorbs in his mind and body.

Xaver and I are a good team. With small body language cues between us, we can form a plan.

Sometimes I sense a person has a feeling or memory they are ready to let go. For some reason, it helps the humans get rid of bad things if I walk over and put my nose on their heads. Humans need steadying when they are scared. If a person seems calm enough, I might lay my forehead against theirs, very gently, so I don’t spook them.

Toby is a good partner, like Xaver, when it comes to helping the humans. I get very uncomfortable when a person is angry. Toby is very brave and will be near them anyway. Toby will also go to the “rigid” people. Those are the people who have had something bad happen, and the bad thing has become a secret they try to keep even from themselves. Keeping secrets makes people feel as stiff as the posts that hold up the barn. They are afraid to relax. Maybe they believe the barn will fall on them if they do. When I see a person who is rigid, I get upset and sometimes have to put my head behind Xaver so he can protect me.

LARS AND XANDER WORKING AS A TEAM. PHOTO

BY JULIE KIEWATT.

It’s getting so food doesn’t taste as good. I’m noticing my black hair has turned gray on my legs.

The veterinarian keeps coming to see me, and then I get different food, and sometimes the humans do things to my feet that make me feel better.

I’m glad when I feel better because I like helping people. The children are easy to read, so I like the challenge of the grown-ups. They try to hide feelings from me, but they can’t. Humans don’t control their body language well— they reveal everything to me. Body language is a horse’s native language. We have survived all these centuries because we can sense tension when a mountain lion is hiding on a branch, or wolves are out of sight in the trees but surrounding a watering hole. Reading people is easy compared

THERAPY HORSES, FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, TOBY, BLACKJACK, XANDER, AND LARS ARRANGE THEMSELVES INTO A PROTECTIVE GUARD IN FRONT OF A WOMAN WHO EXPERIENCED A TRAUMATIC EVENT. PHOTO BY JULIE KIEWATT. mon tan awoman .com | dec emb er 2 01 9

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ACTIVE & OUTDOOR |

JULIE KIEWATT SAYS A LAST GOODBYE TO LARS. PHOTO BY KIRALEE JONES PHOTOGRAPHY.

to those situations. I have known hundreds of times when a person has needed a little nudge from me so they can feel better.

Another winter is coming; the nights are getting cold. I don’t like the winter because I get smaller and I like being big. I feel like this might be my last winter, and I don’t want to feel the pain that comes with the cold. Many of the humans I have visited have come to see me, and I got lots of treats this week. Julie has taken Xaver and Toby into the barn. This almost never happens. Julie is offering me an apple but she is acting very different from normal, so I don’t take it. Julie is telling me a tree will grow above me, they will protect the tree with a fence, and I will always be with them. The veterinarian is here and I usually feel better after a visit, so I’m not scared.

I’m warm now.

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wild harvest

ACTIVE & OUTDOOR |

BY ALISHIA ZEMLICKA

As we crawled across a field of grass

and sagebrush just tall enough to keep our bodies from being exposed to make it to the timbered knob, we heard a bugle 200 yards in front of us.

Brittney and I knew we had to get there fast or we were going to miss our opportunity as this herd of elk was moving into their bedding grounds. As soon as we slowly crested our eyes over the ridge, we could see they were about 80 yards below us.

That was a little out of range for me with my bow, so we waited patiently, knowing we couldn’t move any closer without exposing ourselves. Finally, the opportunity we had been waiting for presented itself as a lone cow elk strayed a little closer to us than the others. We ranged her at 55 yards, I settled my pin, slowly squeezed the trigger, and I was able to fill my freezer with lean organic meat.

I’m Alishia Zemlicka, owner of 406 Massage & Spa and Ivory Nutrition. At Ivory Nutrition, we specialize in helping hunters and outdoorsmen and women perform their best through nutrition coaching. As a native Montana girl myself, I was raised on hunting and the mentality of putting food in my freezer. My twin sister and I were taught to hunt and love the outdoors at an early age.

As I grow into my adult life and find myself turning into a busy businesswoman and athlete, it’s become very important to make sure my body is being properly fueled with good, organic lean meat. To keep performing at my best, my body has to be at its best. I have learned that my nutrition is the number one key factor in my performance when I compete. I eat well to perform well, I perform well so I can hunt hard, and I hunt hard so I can eat well. This is exactly why I started Ivory Nutrition. We help hunters and lovers of the outdoors get their nutrition dialed in for their best performance during their time in the field.

A lot of us train for half the year or more leading up to hunting season to prepare our bodies for the physical demands of the season. If you don’t 74

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fuel your body right with good food, you won’t get the performance you’re looking for out of your workout. You’ll recover better and perform better if you have the proper nutrition that your body needs.

This fall, Ivory Nutrition hosted its first womenonly preseason hunting seminar in Bozeman. It was rewarding to get a great group of women hunters together to talk hunting for an evening.

Not only did I get to inform people of some tips that have helped me be successful in the field, but we had several speakers from outdoor companies that helped inform the audience of womanspecific products and strategies. We received a lot of great feedback from our first seminar and are excited to make a few improvements for the upcoming seminar to make it even better. We will be hosting our second women’s hunting seminar in Bozeman on Sunday, December 8th.

There will be 30 tickets available for this all-day event. We’ll talk about fitness, nutrition, gear, hunting, and why it all plays a roll in our success as outdoorswomen.

I’m excited to announce that in addition to the seminars and nutritional coaching, we’re starting an Ivory Nutrition podcast focusing on women’s hunting and outdoor adventures. Bringing women together to share these memories and moments is very exciting and rewarding for me and I’m looking forward to this next chapter with Ivory Nutrition. You can find more information about all of Ivory Nutrition’s exciting updates on our website at www.ivorynutrition.com.

HEALTH & WELLNESS |

IN PURSUIT OF HEALTH magical Christmases that nurture the inner child

E

MINDY COCHRAN | LEVITATION NATION

ach December, I’m torn between making the drive to Helena to spend the holidays with my family or staying in Kalispell to snowboard with my friends. As a fitness enthusiast, snowboarding days definitely call to me when pitted against unhealthy family dinners.

However, the older I get, the more important spending the holidays with my family becomes.

Taking the four-hour drive to return to my hometown to renew the magic of childhood Christmases has become a mission essential to nurturing my inner child (which becomes more imperative with every passing year).

This year, the 41-year-old health coach in me is determined to have it all. I refuse to choose between having a healthy holiday and the magic that nurtures my inner child. And I know I can shoot for the stars because I am creative about finding effective strategies to maintain health.

For example, to keep from overindulging at holiday parties or family dinners, I have a healthy snack before arriving so that I’m not ravenous or lacking self-control. Also, I always bring a healthy dish or relish tray to ensure there are vegetables to snack on. It certainly helps to keep my hands busy if everyone else is in the cookies and fudge.

When I host a dinner, I bring cookies out only after dinner instead of having them out all day.

To stick to my exercise schedule when precious time gets stretched thin, I give myself permission to ditch the all-or-nothing mindset. For example, if a week gets too busy to carve out a full hour at the gym, instead of skipping workouts altogether, I embrace a 15-20 minute hiit (high-intensity interval training) workout. hiit workouts are amazing for fat-blasting and metabolismboosting anyway!

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For fostering my inner child during the holidays, I make a point to make the holidays special, even when I can’t make it home. For example, I am a huge fan of holiday light tours, as well as spending time with people who make me laugh. And it is a perfect time of year to cultivate an attitude of gratitude by expressing appreciation to those who deserve it.

There’s one primary strategy I use for fostering the inner child and maintaining health and fitness simultaneously, and that is to make fitness fun. There are many other opportunities for fun fitness activities (even in Montana in the winter)!

You can hit the ski slopes or sledding hill, dance in your living room, or give my 12 days of Christmas Themed hiit workout (included) a whirl. The hiit workout can be done anywhere, anytime, since no equipment is needed. Additionally, many fitness studios pride themselves on fun fitness classes. I believe in this “fitness is fun” philosophy so much that the Levitation Nation Aerial Studio I own in Kalispell was built entirely around the concept. In fact, if you are a Montana woman interested in the playtime-as-exercise experience, you can enter the Levitation Nation holiday giveaway for a chance to win a free studio membership for yourself or a friend at www. levitationnation.org/giveaway.

In short, I recognize that your practice for maintaining health and nurturing your inner child may not look exactly like mine. Likewise, you may struggle with entirely different obstacles.

Therefore, the best suggestion I can give you is to be proactive in identifying your own hurdles and how you will overcome them when you encounter them. I believe in you!

HIIT WORKOUT

12 days of Christmas

For fun, run this workout as you would sing the 12 Days of Christmas, i.e.: 1 jump squat; 2 burpees and 1 jump squat; 3 pushups, 2 burpees, and 1 jump squat, etc. Take a short rest between rounds as needed

1 J U M P S Q UAT 2 B U R P EE S 3 P U S H U PS 4 S U P ER MAN BAC K EXTENSI O NS 5 R EVER SE C RUNC HES 6 R EG U L A R C RUNC HES 7 H I G H K NEES ( EAC H SI DE) 8 B U T T K I C K ERS ( EAC H SI DE) 9 CAL F R A I SES 10 R EG U L AR SQUATS 11 J U M P I NG JAC K S 12 M O U N TAI N C L I MBERS ( EAC H SI DE)

Mindy is the founder of Kalispell’s Levitation Nation Aerial Studio, where the catchphrase “fitness is fun” is embodied alongside a culture of movement & women empowerment. Mindy believes that the “Real Levitation Experience” lies within elevating your health & wellness. Mindy loves to share the expertise she has acquired through her certifications as a personal trainer and life coach. For more about Mindy or Levitation Nation, please visit www.levitationnation.org.

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HEALTH & WELLNESS |

time & presence

BY NICOLE DUNN

I

have had the privilege of being a hospice volunteer for the past 17 years. I took the volunteer training through Partners In Home Care here in Missoula in 2002, when I was 23.

It’s hard to say how many patients I’ve met with over my 17 years with hospice— I imagine I’m close to reaching triple digits. Over the years, I’ve fielded many commonly asked questions by friends and family members, and I thought I would highlight some of them here.

Q: WHAT DREW YOU TO BECOMING A HOSPICE VOLUNTEER? A: My primary reason for wanting to become a hospice volunteer was to practice getting on better terms with death and dying; to work on developing my understanding of how death is part of life, not separate.

I was afraid of death and I didn’t want to be, so in part, I became a hospice volunteer to confront

my fears around death. A secondary reason had to do with seeing how paramount hospice care was for my grandfather’s dying process, and how much it aided him and my family.

Q: ISN’T IT HARD AND SAD TO MEET WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE DYING? A: It can be, but this certainly isn’t my biggest takeaway. I think our discomfort with aging, and with death and dying, clouds our ability to see things clearly in this regard. The experience I receive from volunteering is directly linked to the energy and intention I put into it. And the energy I put into it involves a great appreciation for connecting with others, with the intention to hopefully help offer friendship, support, and ease to those who are at the end of life.

Q: WHAT DO YOU DO AS A VOLUNTEER? A: Meeting with hospice patients as a volunteer is much more about being than it is about doing.

In the grand scheme of things, I’m often not doing much at all. My role as a volunteer is as a social visitor. Sometimes it involves simply sitting with someone and watching their favorite TV program or sitting in silence and just sharing space together. Sometimes it involves looking through old photos they may have or chatting about their family. Sometimes it involves looking

out the window and making observations about what we see. In the most foundational sense, volunteering with hospice involves spending quality time with people and offering my full, undivided attention and presence.

Q: WHAT DO YOU LEARN FROM MEETING WITH HOSPICE PATIENTS? A: That life is precious, and time is short.

Becoming familiar and learning how to accept and embrace death and the process of dying as part of the life cycle enables me to have a deeper appreciation and affection for life in the here and now. And I continue to learn, over and over again, how my full presence is truly the greatest gift I can give someone else. All of the hospice patients I’ve met with are very well tended to by nursing home staff and the hospice staff team. But what many of them are not afforded are frequent visitors who simply come to spend time with them, with no agenda. For some of my patient matches, I’ve been their only visitor who is with them by choice, with no other purpose than to spend time with them. Hospice patients continue to teach me how not to underestimate the importance of spending time with people and staying fully present.

Sharing our time and full, undistracted presence is an offering beyond measure.

Recently, a close, long-term friend came to visit my husband and me. At best, we see him once a year. He and I were going around town together doing a couple of errands, and after sitting in a long traffic jam and finally ending up at a grocery store, he said: I’m sorry I dragged you out with all this traffic. I replied: No need to apologize. Time spent with you is what’s important. It doesn’t matter what we’re doing as long as we’re together. To me, this is an example of what I learn from meeting with hospice patients: the importance and utter loveliness of spending time together.

In this season of gift-giving, holiday festivities, and family gatherings, may we all keep this message alive. It’s not the stuff that we buy or give that connects us; it’s our time and full presence that matters most.

Nicole is the director of the Open Way Mindfulness Center in Missoula and helps lead retreats, organize events, and serves as the program director for Be Here Now, a weekly meditation group she founded in 2002. For more info: InMindfulMotion.com

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HEALTH & WELLNESS |

Care Coordination: P A R T N E R I N G W I T H P AT I E N T S F R O M H E A LT H C A R E T O H O M E ALLISON LINVILLE NORTH VALLEY HOSPITAL

T

he care continuum department at North Valley Hospital bridges the gap between in-patient and out-patient healthcare settings. The program is multi-faceted and supports health and wellness in the community by preventing unnecessary or repeat hospital visits.

“For example, about a year ago, we had a complex patient that frequently arrived in the emergency room,” explains Nancy Henriksson, RN, Director of Care Continuum and Infusion Services. “The care coordinator started calling the patient regularly to discuss healthcare, the emergency room visits, and her chronic pain. After a few conversations, the nurse realized there were other issues occurring, such as social isolation, lack of education about disease management, and unawareness about community resources available for support.”

Henriksson continues, “Now, the patient meets monthly with a care coordinator for education, goal setting, and breaking down barriers to healthcare. This patient has not visited the emergency room in the last year since meeting with the care coordinator. The patient reaches out to the care coordinator for help instead of going to the ER and understands how to use other resources for her needs. This provides the patient better quality of life and reduces the cost burden for emergency room visits.”

Henriksson has been overseeing the program for two years now, after working diligently with partners in quality, discharge planning, primary care, community organizations, and at Kalispell Regional Healthcare to develop a program that would benefit patients in the hospital service

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area. She built a team of registered nurses (RNs) at NVH and corresponding clinics to address the needs of patients in various communities.

At North Valley Hospital, the team consists of three RNs who are committed to ensuring safe and successful discharge plans: Jim Brew, RN, Kathy Emerson, RN, and Sue Conners, RN. Also, the care continuum program includes two nurses embedded in community clinics in Eureka and Columbia Falls to better serve patients across the service area. These nurses are Jean Stanberry, RN at the North Valley Professional Center in Columbia Falls, and Karrin Parker, RN at Eureka Primary Care in Eureka.

Across the service area, “We make sure that patients don’t disappear from our radar after they are discharged,” says Henriksson. “We connect with them, follow up, guide them through additional services, provide support, check in on other issues, and make sure they are going in a direction of better health and wellness.”

Care coordinators partner with the patient, their support system, and the primary care provider to ensure active engagement and accountability for their personal healthcare outcomes.

“A good example of successful care coordination is a patient with a new diagnosis like congestive heart failure. This patient would be admitted to the hospital in the acute stage of the disease, when they are scared and stressed,” explains Henriksson.

“The in-patient care managers would work with that patient to start the process of care

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: KARRIN PARKER, RN; JIM BREW, RN; SUE CONNERS, RN; JEAN STANBERRY, RN; NANCY HENRIKSSON, RN AND DIRECTOR OF CARE CONTINUUM AND INFUSION SERVICES; KATHY EMERSON, RN.

coordination while the patient is still in the hospital. Then, we’d ensure a seamless handoff to the care coordinator in the clinics to prevent repeat visits to the hospital by maintaining followup care and guiding the patient in adapting to new medication, lifestyle, and diet related to the diagnosis.”

Patients can be enrolled in the chronic care management program, a service performed by the care coordinator with the supervision of the primary care provider. The goal is to develop a care plan that provides support, coordination of services, monitoring, education, goal-setting, and self-management tools.

Henriksson concludes, “Once the patient is in the care coordination system, the nurse will work with them to address all aspects of patient care.

The care coordinators ask the patient if they have transportation to appointments, financial means to afford medications, social support, and safe and reliable housing arrangements to continue adequate treatment programs.”

The ultimate community benefit of this program is a healthier community, more education about navigating the healthcare system, lower costs of healthcare for all patients, less cost to community support programs and nonprofits, and fewer costly, unnecessary visits. Care continuum supports the North Valley Hospital mission of building healthier communities through better education and awareness of healthcare resources.

The program supports better health and financial outcomes for patients and the healthcare setting.

MONTANA CHILDREN’S CHILD LIFE PROGRAM focused on family-centered compassion and care

BY DENA TOMLINSON

S

ome days Amy Rohyans Stewart will spend an hour blowing bubbles. For one patient, a twoyear-old girl, bubbles were the magic getting her through her treatment and brightening her hospital room with joyous laughter. As Montana Children’s new child life coordinator, Amy has a unique and colorful blend of tools she uses to engage and soothe her pediatric patients and help them understand what’s happening through play-based intervention.

“It may look like I’m just rolling cars back and forth on the floor with a child, but in that time I’m observing them and performing a stress-potential assessment,” she explains. “I’m taking in all the information from the environment— their responses to toys, family, and medical care team members and how they interact with me— so I can establish an individualized coping plan for this child.”

With more than 20 years of experience as a child life specialist at St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital in Boise, Idaho, Amy joined Montana Children’s, Kalispell Regional Healthcare’s pediatric facility, in June 2019 to initiate its child life program— a specialized program to help pediatric patients and their families cope more effectively with hospitalization. The new program partners closely with Montana Children’s multidisciplinary team of medical providers to ensure the social, emotional, and psychological needs are met for pediatric patients and their siblings and families.

Child life specialists are trained to understand the

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different ways children process their emotions in stressful situations. Using an approach rooted in child development, child life specialists provide age-appropriate therapeutic play, education, and psychological preparation for procedures, focused sibling support, and much more in order to reduce fear, anxiety, and pain for children and families. The activities and interactions help patients and siblings better understand what is happening, as well as build rapport and trusting relationships with the child life specialist and medical staff.

“When we’re able to help a child and their family cope, it helps them be more receptive to their medical care, and it can positively impact their length of stay and treatment course,” says Amy. “So much of what we do is play-based since that’s where kids typically reside, so that’s where we try to meet them— it’s where they grow and learn and develop and expand. Sometimes it’s just providing the space for them to still be kids, in whichever capacity is safest and appropriate for them that helps us avoid the potentially negative effects of hospitalization on their emotional and psychosocial wellbeing.”

Montana Children’s was created to provide access to high-quality pediatric specialty care close to home.

To learn more about supporting Montana Children’s Child Life Program, contact Carly Rickard at crickard@krmc.org.

CLOSE TO HOME WHEN IT MATTERS MOST When your child is sick, you’ll do anything to stay by their side. Pediatric specialists at Montana Children’s work in your community so kids get advanced care close by, instead of taking lengthy and expensive trips out of state. Every child deserves

montanachildrens.org

the best. That’s why we have made it our mission to bring unmatched pediatric care home to our Montana families.

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