Mom to Mom, NWI -- April 2017

April 2017 | Volume 6 | Issue 4

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letter from the editor community calendar

5 18

mom to mom feature mysk: gabrielle eckhardt 6 friends demotte 10 bittersweet birthdays 20 preschool fair & toddler expo 26 spring cleaning jobs you might miss 28

mom to mom health no more secrets

mom to mom eats

mindy’s menu: everything cake

mom to mom education how great art thou

14 22

PUBLISHER/Managing Editor Stephanie Vega Edwards Stephanie@momtomomnwi.com Sales Team Eva Williams Nichole Odijk DeMario Contributing Writers Nichole Odijk DeMario Mindy Gear Debra Krieg-Lewis

Advertising & Submissions Mom to Mom NWI LLC PO Box 1261 Valparaiso, IN 46384 Layout Design Mark Halliar designs.by.mark@gmail.com Cover & Table of Contents Photography Becca Timpe Malmquist Photography Printing The Papers 206 S Main St, Milford, IN 46542

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Mom to Mom NWI is a monthly publication by Mom to Mom NWI LLC. All rights reserved. Production without permission is strictly prohibited. All photographs & articles submitted become the sole property of Mom to Mom NWI Magazine. Š2017 Mom to Mom NWI LLC

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B

the shower curtain

Boy am I glad March is over!

Between getting a blast of winter snow, sicknesses striking ev-

STAY IN THE GAME

ery member of my family, and work related stress I decided retail therapy was the answer to my woes. I had been thinking about how I wanted to spruce up my master bathroom, so I thought a new shower curtain would do the trick and get me out of this end of winter funk.

When I got home, I immediately put it up and thought how nice it looked and how blah everything else looked. The dark cabinets and countertops, and dark doors and trim just didn’t really seem to mesh with my new purchase. Instead of returning my beautiful shower curtain, I thought I’d preoccupy and procrastinate on things I had to do and engage in a “little” DIY project. I thought I’d just paint the doors and trim white and that would do the trick. I did the first coat of white on the door

Dr. Omar Perez has successfully treated world-class athletes in the NFL, NBA, MLS, NCAA and Major League Baseball.

and LOVED how crisp and clean it looked. As it dried, I ran to the home improvement store to see about getting paint or stain for my cabinets – surely I could “quickly” do that, too? As I talked with the gal at the store, I found out I could paint my dark countertop also.

So of course, I bought the supplies I needed for all aspects of my project and headed home.

Remember when I said this was going to be a “quick” project. Let’s just say I was wrong and fast forward past the two weeks we spent ripping out the cabinets and countertop we painted because we hated how it looked, ripping up the floors because the new cabinets we bought now showed where there was some broken tile, and ripping out the old toilet because it was constantly running and we might as well swap that out, too!

In the end, the bathroom came out beautiful and I’m happy we did it, but this distraction was a bit too much for us! Who would have

Specialized sports medicine for playground athletes and playoff contenders Sports injuries can happen to anyone at any time. So, it’s nice to know that there’s a sports medicine specialist here in Northwest Indiana with the expertise and experience to get you back in the game as quickly as possible. Dr. Omar Perez excels in his field so you can excel on your field, court or diamond.

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thought a new shower curtain would have led to all this extra chaos in my life? I guess next time I’ll have my retail therapy lead me to a shoe store or a new pair of sunglasses!

Take Care,

The right doctors make all the difference.

Stephanie

w w w. m e t h o d i s t p h y s i c i a n g r o u p . o r g

mom to mom: mom you should know

Gabrielle Eckhardt Nichole Odijk DeMario Provided

V

Valparaiso mother of one Gabrielle Eckhardt’s day starts

rect sales in the United States alone, according to the Direct

with a flurry of activity from school drop offs, appointments,

Sales Association. The association indicates that number

errands, volunteering, extracurricular activities, family time

continues to be on the rise year over year. During a 2014

coupled with balancing she and her husband’s shift work

DSA study, individuals were drawn to the direct sales in-

schedules. As if that weren’t enough, Eckhardt decided

dustry for several reasons including its flexibility, work-life

to try her hand at an at-home, direct sales business. After

balance, recognition and entrepreneurial opportunities.

extensive research, she settled on clothing brand LuLaRoe

Eckhardt says finding a work-life balance is still a “work in

and has since added inventory photography, responding to

progress” for her individually.

email inquiries, tracking packages, training calls and more

“…You have to learn how to trust and establish limits and

to her to-do list.

boundaries between family and work. I have come to terms

“One of the first things I noticed was that LuLaRoe had a

knowing I’m not Wonder Woman and realizing asking for

very solid business structure, measurable resources within

help is okay,” she explains. “…I keep focused on what’s

the company to help me become a successful consultant,

important, what the goal is. It’s easy to get discouraged, es-

even with minimal retail experience, so it had great appeal

pecially when you’re out of gas from working your full-time

right away,” Eckhardt says. “The fact that they are fami-

job and doing the mom thing all week, but then I remind

ly oriented and have treated me like family from day one,

myself of why I’m doing it and where I want to be and that

helped to reinforce I made the right decision.”

little spark grows back into that big flame that drives me

In 2015, more than 20 million people were involved in di-

ahead, closer to the end goal.”

mom to mom nwi | april 2017 | page 6

She says she’s experienced other highs and lows in trying to get her business off the ground.

“Much like life, it has its ups and downs. There are days when I get overwhelmed and nothing goes right. However, the days where I feel tremendous pride in myself and my company far outweigh those, especially when I receive amazing affirmations​from my beyond amazing customers about how I helped make them smile and inspired them to pay that happiness forward,” she details.

She has also made her at-home business a family affair.

“Without my husband and daughter’s support, help and love, I would never have been able to get through day one. My husband is the muscle in this business, helping me move inventory in and out of vehicles and in and out of buildings more times than I can count. He also helps pick up the slack when I have to work my full-time job but there’s still LuLaRoe business that needs to get done. My daughter, of course, is my number one model and product tester. She also makes sure I’m never with-

out an extra set of hands whenever I’m shipping out leggings or taking photographs of new inventory,” she says.

Her goal, she says, is to someday be devoid of a traditional work schedule and focus on accomplishing additional personal achievements.

“I see my current home based business leading to other investments and opportunities that, before gaining all of this is invaluable experience, I might have shied away from previously due to my lack of experience. All it took was that first step though,” she says.

For the families who are struggling to make ends meet or looking for an at-home option, Eckhardt’s advice, “It’s a great opportunity to achieve financial and emotional successful that’s almost completely on your terms. Much like anything that’s worth it, it’s going to take hard work and some sacrifice, but the complete payoff is totally worth it.”

She adds, “There are a multitude of different products and companies out there for folks to choose from these days. It’s easier to find something you have a genuine interest in to be a part of. Two, if they’re a successful company that wants you as a consultant to be successful as well, it’s a fairly easy process of getting started and then growing your business. Three, due to the number of opportunities out there, you can find a company that has an initial investment for getting started that’s within your budget. Finally, and this is probably the biggest you, you become your own boss. You set your schedule, you run the business how you see fit, and the only person you have to answer to is yourself, which all can be quite appealing for someone with a busy lifestyle or family life.”

To learn more about Eckhardt’s LuLaRoe business visit “LuLaRoe Leggings by Gabrielle Eckhardt” on Facebook or Instagram or call 219.728.8774. - mtm

Community HealthNet Health Centers

providing comprehensive medical, dental, and behavioral health services

Walk-Ins Welcome

Flu Shots Available

Screenings Save Lives

CHN Locations: Main (Gary) Location Calumet High School (Gary) Location 1021 W. 5th Ave. 3900 Calhoun & Ridge Rd. Hammond Location 5927 Columbia Ave.

Merrillville Location 6100 Broadway

Community HealthNet Health Centers Primary Care and Preventative Services:

Adult/Geriatric Medicine Behavioral Health EKG Testing Family Planning FREE Confidential HIV Testing, Counseling & Consultation Ø FREE Pregnancy Testing Ø Health & Nutrition Education Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø

Miller (Gary) Location 1015 N. Shelby St.

Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø

Laboratory Testing & Evaluation OB/GYN Pediatrics/Adolescent Services Prenatal Care & Education School & Sports Physicals Substance Abuse Referrals Vision & Hearing Screening Dental (services by Kool Smiles)

Call 219.880.1190 to schedule an appointment

www.chn-indiana.org

National Minority Health Month began 100 years ago as National Negro Health Week. In April 1915, Dr. Booker T. Washington dispatched a letter to the leading African American newspapers, proposing the observance of "National Negro Health Week." Health was the key to progress and equity in all other things, he argued: "Without health and long life, all else fails." That observance grew into what is today a month-long initiative to advance health equity across the country, on behalf of all racial and ethnic minorities – National Minority Health Month.

National Minority Health Month 2017

mom to mom: feature

Friends of DeMotte Nichole Odijk DeMario Provided

mom to mom nwi | april 2017 | page 10

F

For more than three decades Spencer Park has been an integral part of the DeMotte, Indiana community. And while the park space boasted several amenities, a group of local mothers began taking notice the playground equipment had fallen into disrepair and was in desperate need of replacing.

It began with Leann Doffin who felt something gnawing at her every time she watched her son play at the park. The constant pang of concern led her to DeMotte Town Hall where she met with Office Manager Heather Tokarz. Coincidentally, another resident Silviya Stout (who has since relocated to the east coast) reached out to Tokarz for the same reason. The ladies were connected and recruited Jenny Jonkman. Friends of DeMotte Parks was quickly formed.

“I remember playing at this park as a kid and thinking how old it was then. Now, I won’t let my girls on certain parts of the equipment because of the safety concerns,” mother of two and Friends of DeMotte Parks Treasurer Jonkman says. “It’s very rewarding to know that is going to change. I won’t have to take my daughters to other communities to play at a park.”

The group set out with the assistance of Jasper Foundation, Jasper County’s community foundation with the goal of raising $150,000 to $200,000 less than a year ago. The funds will replace Spencer Park’s entire playground and will include completely accessible equipment and surrounding surfacing.

The group’s thought process was this accessible equipment will be inviting and usable for all children as well as family member’s confined to wheelchairs or those utilizing canes or walkers.

“The reason you have a park in a community is because you want people to come together. The more imagination a child can be exposed to and how they play, the more productive they’ll be later on in life,” Tokarz says. “…Picture a park like this, where a grandmother can take her wheelchair onto the equipment and become queen of this imaginary kingdom surrounded by her princes and princesses.”

Friends of DeMotte Parks has raised nearly $90,000 from various grants, local businesses, organizations and individual donors. They hosted DeMotte’s first town-wide garage sale to raise additional funds and awareness.

“This group has been very brave. Some people were saying the amount needed was too much. Sometimes, small towns just get used to the mindset, ‘this is the way things are. It’s been this way for 20 years.’ As a generation of younger parents, you soon realize there isn’t anybody else to take the

lead. We’re going to have to do it,” Jasper Foundation Execu-

Tokarz says as she was helping to connect the group with

tive Director Brienne Hooker and mother of one says.

various resources she was inspired by the Dr. Seuss quote,

As the group approaches the next phase of fundraising,

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot. Nothing is

they’re preparing to go door to door if need be. They hope to

going to get better. It’s not.” She says she recommends those

have the remaining dollars in by the end of May in order for

words to anyone ready to embark on the road less traveled.

the park to be installed by DeMotte’s Touch of Dutch Festival

Doffin suggests anyone with a concern or wants to make a

in early August.

change in their community to reach out and speak up. Hooker

“I don’t sleep at night. It’s such an adrenaline rush. I’m always

says a great place to start is your local community foundation.

thinking about what can we do next?” Doffin, who serves as

To learn more about Friends of DeMotte Parks visit their Face-

President of Friends of DeMotte Parks says.

book page or townofdemotte.com. - mtm

MOMS MAKING Work from Home Earn Full or Part-time Income

Call me today: 219.405.4485 www.traffin.TimeAndFreedomTeam.com

BRINGING WOMEN mom to mom nwi | april 2017 | page 12

mom to mom: health

No More Secrets Nichole Odijk DeMario Provided

N

Nearly 15 years ago, New York native Isha Haley was in

vention be taught in schools by 2018.

the midst of a mental breakdown, abusing drugs and had

“My story was never supposed to be part of No More Se-

dropped out of college. After days spent in tears, speech-

crets. In fact, we recruited several survivors to share their

less on her mother’s couch, the then 19-year-old put pen to

stories, but when it came time to speak to reporters we

paper and wrote a poem. The poem, she says, described

seemed to lose them all…it was then I heard my inner voice

the anguish and torment she experienced as the victim of

say, ‘You can’t expect others to share their stories if you

sexual abuse at the hand of two family members starting at

aren’t willing to share your own; be the voice,’” Haley says.

the age of 7.

“It’s been a blessing for me. It’s so personal. God gives you

Haley says her abuse led to years of self-destructive be-

beauty for your ashes…My pain has a purpose to it.”

havior including the aforementioned along with losing her

Prevent Child Abuse Indiana, a chartered state chapter of

virginity at 12-years-old, skipping school to meet boys to

Prevent Child Abuse America, reported more than 20,000

have sex at a local park consequently being dubbed “Mrs.

substantiated claims of child abuse or neglect in Indiana in

Parker” by classmates.

2012. Of those, 3,214 were from sexual abuse.

Now living in East Chicago, IN, Haley became involved

Within one week of its debut, 35 children have come for-

with a community development project initiated by North

ward to admit abuse. They’ve reached more than 5,000

Township Trustee Frank Mrvan. The initiative, “No More Se-

students with an estimated 10,000 by week two. The school

crets” included a symposium and workshops held in March

presentations included experts from Child Protective Ser-

along with presentations at North Lake County schools in an

vices, Prevent Child Abuse Lake County, Regional Mental

effort to prevent child sexual abuse. The initiative includes

Health, Mental Health America, Fair Haven Center for

the introduction of new legislation (Senate Bill 355) current-

Women, Geminus Corporation, Lake County Prosecutor

ly being reviewed, which mandates child sexual abuse pre-

Bernard Carter and United States Attorney’s Office for the

mom to mom nwi | april 2017 | page 14

WHAT CAN YOU DO: To prevent child sexual abuse, it is important to keep the focus on adult responsibility, while teaching children skills to help them protect themselves. Consider the following tips: • Take an active role in your children’s lives. Learn about their activities and people with whom they are involved. Stay alert for possible problems.

• Watch for “grooming” behaviors in adults who spend time with your child. Warning signs may include frequently finding ways to be alone with your child, ignoring your child’s need for privacy (e.g., in the bathroom), or giving gifts or money for no particular occasion.

• Ensure that organizations, groups, and teams that your children are involved with minimize one-on-one time between children and adults. Ask how staff and volunteers are screened and supervised.

• Make sure your children know that they can talk to you about anything that bothers or confuses them.

• Teach children accurate names of private body parts and the difference between touches that are “okay” and “not okay.”

• Empower children to make decisions about their bodies by allowing them age-appropriate privacy and encouraging them to say “no” when they do not want to touch or be touched by others, even in nonsexual ways.

• Teach children to take care of their own bodies (e.g., bathing or using the bathroom) so they do not have to rely on adults or older children for help.

Northern District of Indiana.

Mrvan says while planners were prepared with the proper resources, they were emotionally unprepared for the near instant response.

“Sexual abuse can break down the fabric of society. The implications can last a lifetime,” Mrvan says. “This is the most meaningful and impactful thing I’ve ever done. We have to be able to have these uncomfortable conversations and bring this issue to the forefront to save lives and stop suffering.”

April is National Child Abuse Prevention

Month.

The

Chil-

dren’s Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services indicates this is a “time

• Educate children about the difference between good secrets (such as birthday surprises) and bad secrets (those that make the child feel unsafe or uncomfortable).

• Monitor children’s use of technology, including cell phones, social networking sites, and messaging. Review contact lists regularly and ask about any people you don’t recognize.

• Trust your instincts! If you feel uneasy about leaving your child with someone, don’t do it. If you are concerned about possible sexual abuse, ask questions.

• If your child tells you that he or she has been abused, stay calm, listen carefully, and never blame the child. Thank your child for telling you. Report the abuse right away.

SIGNS OF POSSIBLE SEXUAL ABUSE: The following may indicate sexual abuse and should not be ignored: • Unexplained pain, itching, redness, or bleeding in the genital area • Increased nightmares or bedwetting • Withdrawn behavior or appearing to be in a trance • Angry outbursts or sudden mood swings • Loss of appetite or difficulty swallowing • Anxiety or depression • Sudden, unexplained avoidance of certain people or places • Sexual knowledge, language, or behavior that is unusual for the child’s age Sources:Prevent Child Abuse America, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, the Enough Abuse Campaign, and Stop It Now.

to acknowledge the importance of families and communities

Haley says, “Speak up. I’ve cried a lot during this time. The

working together to prevent child abuse and neglect, and to

tears have been a healing and cleansing to my soul, letting

promote the social and emotional well-being of children and

it out and letting it go. There’s comfort knowing at least 35

families.”

children will be free because of No More Secrets. This pain

Haley explains there are countless misconceptions surround-

didn’t paralyze me, instead it has become the fuel for my

ing this subject.

passion. Frank Mrvan isn’t just a politician, he cares about

“Oftentimes, people think this is gender specific or only hap-

people and although this started off as business [for me],

pens in certain communities. You make assumptions because

he has made an impact in my life that will even impact my

your children go to great schools or you know the babysitter.

children when I am blessed to be a mother one day.” - mtm

It’s not the guy in the white van; the stranger danger. It’s the girlfriend, an uncle or the grandfather,” she says. “When a child doesn’t want to hug or kiss someone and you force

RESOURCES:

them to because they’re family or a good friend, you’re say-

Childhelp® National Child Abuse Hotline at

ing it’s okay to not be in control of their bodies. We say

1.800.4.A.CHILD or 211

things like, ‘Don’t be a tattletale.’ No – tell.”

Lake County Child Abuse Prevention Council, Inc.

Furthermore, she stresses if someone learns their child may

pcalc.org

has been abused, you believe them and seek out help for not

Porter County – council in progress

only the child, but the family. She also recommends parents

LaPorte County Dunebrook – dunebrook.org

who are survivors seek professional help to ensure they’re not being so overprotective they inadvertently push their children away.

mom to mom nwi | april 2017 | page 16

Sunday

Monday

2 Cooking Show with Phil Potempa Theatre at the Center Starts at 2:30pm

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Tuesday

3 32nd Annual Valparaiso University Jazz Festival For times, please call 219.464.5007

Wednesday

4

National School Librarian Day

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Thursd

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National Walking Day

Crown Brewing Dinner at Asp 6:00pm-9:0

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World Civili Workshop at th Welcome C 8:30am-4:0 Admission

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26 Wake Up the Gardens Volunteer Work Day Friendship BotanicGardens Michigan City 12:00pm-4:00pm

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The Biggest Loser Run Walk at the Lake County Fairgrounds The race series includes 5K and half marathon mom to mom nwi | april 2017 | page 18

American So Star Plaza Th Starts at 7 Tickets range

day

Friday

mom to mom fun & games

Saturday 1 Woodcarving Show Woodland Park Pavilion, Portage 10:00am-5:00pm Admission $5, children FREE with parents

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Breakfast with the Bunny g Brewer’s Felix and Fingers at Bulldog Brewing paragus Dueling Pianos Fundraiser Company 00pm Aberdeen Manor 9:00am-11:00am Admission: $75 Easter Egg Hunt & Helicopter Candy Drop Woodland Park Starts at 10:00am

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ity Day he Indiana Center 00pm n $25

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Four Fathers Brewing Children’s Spring Paint 3rd Anniversary Class at Taltree 12:00pm-10:00pm 1:00pm-4:00pm Admission $30 members; Tickets are $15 in advance; $20 at the door $35 non-members

spotlight events

Scholarship Award Dinner Ceremony The Hammond Hispanic Community Committee (HHCC) is hosting their 1st Annual Scholarship Award Dinner Ceremony on Friday, April 21, 2017, from 6:00pm to 10:30pm at St. James Hall in Highland, IN. This dinner is to honor winners of their first annual scholarship awards. Four scholarships will be awarded to students who attended a high school in Hammond and will be attending a college/university or a trade school.

Some of the criteria students had to meet included: meeting a certain GPA, writing an essay, supplying a college/university or trade acceptance letter. Juanita Boland, Vice President of HHCC said, “The HHCC is looking forward to awarding four Hammond seniors with scholarships to help them begin their journey into higher education.”

If you would like to celebrate the accomplishment of these students, then come on down to their award dinner ceremony - tickets are $50 per person, $85 a couple, or a table of 8 for $350. For more information on purchasing a ticket, go to www.HHCCIN.com or call Juanita Boland at 219.757.1836.

Earth Day 5K Run/Walk

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Northwest Indiana Earth HHCC 1st Annual Scholarship Award Dinner Day Celebration at the Porter County Fairgrounds Ceremony 9:00am-4:00pm $50 per person; $85 per couple; $350 table of 8

Lace up your shoes and come out for a run with a cause! The Lotus Reach is hosting their Earth Day 5K Run/Walk on April 22, 2017 at Sunset Hill Farms. The race starts at 8:30am with on-site registration beginning at 7:30. The cost of this race is $35 with t-shirt, $30 without. Awards for overall male and female finishers and top overall masters male/female will be awarded. Medals will also be given to the top 3 male and female winners in each group.

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ongbook Theatre 7:30 e $10-$69

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Annual be kind to 1st Annual Silent Art AucAnimals Pet Care Expo tion and Craft Fair Christian Revival Center Porter Co. Expo Center 10:00am-4:00pm 6:00pm-9:00pm Admission is FREE $5 spaghetti dinner

This event will raise money for Lotus Reach, Inc. where the mission, duty, and purpose is to provide new and gently used clothes, shoes, and other necessary items to the local community, general public, and other organizations working with individuals in need. During the 5K event, Lotus Reach will gladly accept any clothing or shoe donations. To register for the race, go to www.thtiming.com. - mtm

mom to mom: feature

Bittersweet Birthdays: Reminder to Be My Son Lisa A. Beach

M

My heart both rejoices and breaks every year when we

out of reach. They stopped inviting my son to their birthday

celebrate my firstborn’s birthday.

parties, to go to the movies or to just hang out. By high

I rejoice when I think back to my son’s earlier birthdays

school, social invitations ceased to exist, except from the

when he was about 4 or 5 years old. Each year he’d pick

neighborhood teen whose family we’ve known since our

a new theme for his birthday party, reflecting his current

boys were toddlers. Not only did my son’s old friendships

favorite passions. One year, he loved Blue’s Clues. Another

fade away, but new friendships weren’t taking their place.

year, trains. The next, magic.

A gaping social hole existed in his life.

Weeks prior to my son’s birthday, I’d plan fun activities,

What happened? Around ninth grade, we discovered that

crafts, games and goodie bags to go with the year’s cho-

my son---always a shy, socially awkward kid---has Asperger’s

sen theme. Yes, I was that mom. Even in the days before

Syndrome. He’s a talented artist and a smart kid, even qual-

Pinterest, I loved collecting ideas of how to make every DIY

ifying for the gifted program in elementary school. Although

birthday feel special for my son and his friends.

quirky, he was such a high-functioning kid that we didn’t

No matter the theme, each birthday party shared one thing

connect the Asperger’s dots until high school. With social

in common: a group of friends from preschool or elemen-

and communication difficulties at the crux of Asperger’s, this

tary school at our home helping my son celebrate his big

autism-spectrum disorder often spells a death-sentence to a

day. They played silly games in our living room, ate cake

child’s social life and delivers a devastating blow to self-con-

on our back porch, and chased one another in our back-

fidence. Being socially awkward and missing out on the

yard. Laughter filled the air against the noisy backdrop of

hidden nuances of body language, facial expressions, and

the slightly uncontrolled chaos of a kids birthday party. To

social cues, people with Asperger’s struggle to connect with

see my son’s face light up, to know he felt valued and ac-

others, making it difficult to make and keep friends.

cepted by his friends, to hear the shared laughter – that was

And this brings me to the bittersweet tinge of celebrating my

a birthday gift in itself.

son’s birthday. Every year since 5th or 6th grade, birthday

My heart swells with happiness when I look at photos of

parties have gotten noticeably smaller. In preschool, a doz-

preschool party-goers standing next to the life-size, wooden

en or more kids filled our back porch at birthday parties. By

Bob the Builder cut-out my husband created for a party pho-

middle school, we could fit the entire birthday party (includ-

to opp. And I can’t help but smile when I watch the video

ing our family of four) in our Honda Odyssey. The very last

of birthday attendees wearing their hand-crafted cardboard

birthday party was an awkward gathering with two of my

box race cars as they zoomed around our backyard crash-

son’s friends who knew (but did not like) each other.

ing into each other. Those truly were the happiest of birth-

Painful to watch, it was like a page right out of Agatha

days.

Christie’s novel And Then There Was None, as one by one,

Flash forward to middle school. Around sixth grade, we

the attendees vanished from our once-burgeoning RSVP

began to notice my son’s friends slowly drifting away, one

list. The heartbreak of it all actually mirrored a scene in the

by one, like balloons just floating up into the sky, forever

1991 movie Little Man Tate, where seven-year-old Fred Tate

mom to mom nwi | april 2017 | page 20

An AnnuaL on’s Best Friend (whose intellectual and artistic giftedness made him not fit in with his peers) threw a birthday party and no one showed up. You could just see the anguish on the face of his mom Dede (played by Jodie Foster). Fred could be my son, and I could be Dede Tate.

I am mourning the birthdays of yesteryear filled with two dozen cupcakes, party bags, Pin the Tail on the Donkey and squeals of laughter in my backyard. I am yearning for those long-ago days when my son felt accepted and included by his peers. I am missing the days when birthdays felt 100% like the celebrations they should be.

As my son’s birthday approaches each year, I still cry a little inside for what should be the happiest day of the year for my son. I must admit, those middle and high school years pummeled my heart when my son’s birthday rolled around, making me cringe at the shrinking circle of friends who no longer issued or accepted a party invitation. Parties once populated by friends have been replaced by family-only celebrations.

But I also celebrate my son, now 19 and, in college, as he prepares for the next phase of his life. I am his biggest cheerleader and in awe of the man he is turning into, as I watch his self-confidence slowly rebuild. And I silently thrill at the flicker of college friendships I see beginning to take shape.

Birthdays serve as bittersweet reminders, now and forever, to be my son’s best friend, regardless of whether or not anyone else steps up to fill that role. - mtm

Lisa Beach is a freelance journalist, copywriter, and humor blogger. Check out her writer’s website at www.LisaBeachWrites.com.

mindy’s menu

Everything Cake Mindy Gear

Who doesn’t like cake? Spring brings so many events, birthday and family gatherings. I feel like I am constantly baking.

These are a few of my FAVORITE cake recipes. They may seem detailed, but they are worth it!

Cream-Filled Chocolate Cake DIRECTIONS

Ingredients • 3 ounces dark chocolate, chopped

• 1 tsp baking powder

Chop dark chocolate and place in a glass bowl. Pour

• 1 ½ cups brewed coffee, hot

• 1 tsp salt

hot coffee over chocolate and let sit a few minutes.

• 3 cups sugar

• 3 eggs, room temperature

Whisk until smooth. Set aside to cool.Sift dry ingre-

• 2 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour

• ¾ cups vegetable oil

dients (sugar, flour cocoa powder, baking soda, bak-

• 1 ½ cups unsweetened cocoa powder

• 1 ½ cups buttermilk, room temperature

ing powder and salt). Beat eggs in mixing bowl until

• 2 tsp baking soda

• 1 tsp vanilla

frothy. Slowly add vegetable oil, buttermilk and vanilla. Beat well to thoroughly mix. Add dry ingredients

Assembly

1 cup at a time, mixing until just blended after each

Place on layer of cake top side down. Cover with the thick layer of cream filling then

addition. Pour into greased pans and bake for 40-50

place top layer of cake, top side down, on top of filling gently pressing down to secure

minutes at 325 degrees. Let cakes cool in pan and use

layers. Place cake on a wire rack on top of a wax paper lined cookie sheet.

plastic to help remove.

Cream Filling

Ganache

Ingredients

Directions

Ingredients

• 5 Tbsp all-purpose flour

Pour cold milk into small saucepan.

• 12 ounces dark chocolate

• 1 cup whole milk

Whisk flour so no lumps remain. Turn

• 1 tsp vanilla

heat on to medium low and stirring,

Directions

• 1 cup unsalted butter

heat until mixture is thick, like a roux.

Place chopped chocolate in a large measuring cup. Heat cream and

• 1 cup cane sugar

Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and let

butter in medium saucepan over medium heat until boiling, be careful

cool completely. Cream together butter

not to scorch. Pour heated cream over chocolate chips and let sit

and sugar on medium high speed un-

for 5 minutes. Stir chocolate to make sure completely melted and

til fluffy (about 8 minutes). Add in the

smooth. Slowly pour ganache on top over sides. When ganache is

cooled milk mixture and beat until it re-

set, cake can be transferred to a serving plate. Chill cake for 4 hours

sembles a whipped cream.

before serving.

mom to mom nwi | april 2017 | page 22

• 1 cup heavy cream

Lemon Cupcakes Ingredients

Directions

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift flour, baking powder and salt in a small

• 2 tsp baking powder

mixing bowl. Set aside. In large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar for

• ½ tsp salt

2-3 minutes on medium high speed. Add eggs and vanilla, beat on medium

• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature

high speed for additional 2 minutes. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl to

• 1 cup sugar

make sure all ingredients are blended.

• 2 large eggs, room temperature

Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Add in 2 parts, mix-

• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract

ing on low in between each addition. Mixture will be thick. Beat in the milk,

• ½ cup whole milk

sour cream, lemon zest and lemon juice on low speed until just combined.

• ¼ cup sour cream

Spoon batter into 12-16 cupcake lines (depends on how full you fill them).

• Zest from two lemons (1-2 Tbsp)

Bake in a preheated oven for approximately 20 minutes. A toothpick will

• Juice from 2 lemons (about 3-4 Tbsp)

come out clean when done. Remove from oven. Cool completely before frosting cupcakes.

Finishing options Lemon Curd If you are feeling especially adventurous, fill your lemon cupcakes with a tangy, sweet lemon curd prior to frosting them. It is simple to make (or pick some up at the grocery) and easy to drop in your cooled cupcakes.

Mascarpone Whipped Frosting Ingredients • ¾ cup sugar

• 2 Tbsp unsalted butter

• ¼ cup cornstarch

• 1 Tbsp lemon zest

• 1 cup water

• 4 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

• 2 large egg yolks, slightly beaten

This frosting is absolutely light and fluffy. It is lightly sweetened and a must-have in the recipe box. You can add a variety of extracts to achieve the flavor you desire or leave plain.

Ingredients • 8 ounces mascarpone cheese

Directions

• 1 ½ cup powdered sugar

Combine sugar and cornstarch in a saucepan over medium heat.

• Pinch of salt

Pour in water. Stir constantly, until mixture thickens and comes to a boil. This will take about 3-4 minutes. Boil, stirring, for about 1 minute more. Remove the pan from heat. Spoon about ½ cup of the hot mixture into a small bowl with the egg yolks and stir quickly to combine. Continue stirring, while pouring the egg mixture into the saucepan. Return the pan to medium heat and cook, stirring, until the curd is thickened and lemon colored (1-2 minutes). Remove from heat and stir in the butter, lemon juice and lemon zest. Allow to cool. Refrigerate leftovers or until ready to use.

• 1 tsp pure vanilla • 1 ½ cups whipping cream • Zest of 1 lemon, optional • 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice, optional Directions Stir mascarpone cheese, powdered sugar, salt, vanilla, lemon zest and lemon juice. Set aside. Beat the whipping cream in a large bowl until stiff peaks form. This takes several minutes, but make sure you don’t overdo.

White Coconut Cake This is my favorite coconut cake recipe. The cake is light and fluffy with icing that is not too sweet. I shared this recipe a few years ago after I came across an amazing cookbook “Flour” by Joanne Chang. Since finding this cookbook, we happened to take a trip to Boston. My mission was to find this bakery and sample some of her goodies. She did not disappoint. We picked a sample selection of baked goods and they were all amazing. The recipe is long, but goes quickly and is definitely worth the effort. The Swiss Meringue Buttercream seems daunting, but is really simple. You can use fresh egg whites, liquid egg whites or a powdered egg white product. I added a little coconut extract to both the batter and the frosting along with the vanilla. The cake and frosting both use coconut milk. Canned coconut milk can be found in the ethnic section and also in the organic section. It comes in approximately 14 oz cans and can be purchased either lite or full fat. This recipe requires the full-fat, unsweetened version.

Ingredients

Directions

• 2 ¼ cups cake flour

Place oven rack in middle of oven and preheat to 350°F. Butter and flour 2- 8” or 9” cake pans. Sift cake flour into mixing bowl. Add sugar, baking

• 1 ¼ cups white sugar

powder and salt and beat on low speed for a few second to combine. Add

• 2 tsp baking powder

the butter pieces and beat on low speed for 1 minute or until the mixture is

• ½ tsp salt

coarse and crumbly. In a medium bowl, combine the egg whites, coconut

• ¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature and cut into 2” pieces

milk and 1 cup of the shredded coconut and whisk until thoroughly mixed.

• 6 egg whites, room temperature

coconut milk mixture. Whisk until the vanilla seeds are well dispersed. Add

Use the tip of a knife to scrape in the seeds from the vanilla bean into the half of the coconut mixture to the flour mixture and beat on medium-high

• 1 cup unsweetened canned coconut milk

speed for about 1 minute or until combined. Stop and scrape the sides and

• 2 cups sweetened shredded coconut (1 cup for cake and 1 for topping)

bottom of the bowl well. Add the rest of the coconut milk mixture and beat on medium speed for 20 to 30 seconds or until the batter is well mixed, light

• 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise (I used 1 Tbsp vanilla bean paste from Molly Bea’s in Chesterton)

and fluffy. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans. Bake

• 1 tsp coconut extract, if desired

in the pans on a wire rack.

30-40 minutes or until tops are firm and golden brown. Let cool completely

Coconut Frosting Ingredients • 1 ½ cups sugar

Directions

• 6 egg whites, room temperature

whites to make a thick substance. Place the bowl over (make sure the bowl doesn’t touch the

• 1 ½ cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temp and cut into 2” pieces • 1 tsp vanilla extract • ¼ tsp salt • 2/3 cup unsweetened canned coconut milk

While the cakes are cooling: In a small heatproof bowl, whisk together the sugar and egg water) simmering water in a saucepan. Heat to approximately 160°F (check with candy thermometer), whisking occasionally. This takes about 6-8 minutes, the mixture should be hot to the touch. It will thin out as the sugar melts. Remove from the heat and scrape the mixture into the bowl of the stand mixer (I used my stand mixer bowl over a saucepan, just be sure to use hot pads to move the bowl from saucepan). Using either beaters or the whip attachment, beat on medium-high speed for 6-8 minutes or until the mixture becomes a light, white meringue and is cool to the touch. Turn down the speed to low and add the butter, a few chunks at a time.

Increase the speed to medium and mix for 4 to 5 minutes, make sure the butter is thoroughly incorporated and the frosting is smooth and glossy. It may look curdled at first, but keep mixing and it will come together. Add the vanilla extract, salt and coconut milk and whip for another 1-2 minutes. The coconut milk should be thoroughly incorporated and frosting should be smooth and glossy. If you don’t plan to use the frosting within 30 minutes of making, put in airtight container and store at room temperature for up to 1 day. You can also refrigerate icing for up to 2 weeks in airtight container. Bring to room temperature and whip for 6-8 minutes until smooth. To ice the cake: trim the top of each cake to level. Spoon 2 cups of the frosting on top of first layer and spread to edges. Carefully place the second layer top-side down and cover with remaining frosting. Sprinkle and press the remaining cup of shredded coconut along the top and sides of the frosted cake. Store in airtight container in a cool place for 3 days. Enjoy! mom to mom nwi | april 2017 | page 24

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mom to mom fun & games

Preschool Fair & Toddler expo Emily Trisler Provided

I

Imagine meeting your child’s new preschool teacher, ar-

Dairy. Party in a Box, LulaRoe and Out of Peyton’s Closet,

ranging their birthday party, signing them up for summer

LLC provided some significant eye candy and wonderfully

camp, getting some new clothes for them and you, and

fun shopping. Kids even got to visit with animals brought

maybe even planning your next vacation all in one night.

by Lake County 4H. “Our vendors were the best, and

Sound impossible? Not at the Mom to Mom, NWI Pre-

made things so easy,” says Becky Snemis, event organiz-

school Fair + Toddler Expo! The event was held last month

er. “With that many people things could have been crazy,

at Bellaboo’s and over 400 parents and kids came out to

but everyone was so helpful and easy to work with... it

see all that was being offered.

just couldn’t have been smoother.”

This was the events 4th year running, and new this year

Most importantly though, families got to meet the people

was the addition of a Toddler Expo to the already estab-

behind the preschools, which is what the event is really

lished Preschool Fair. “We really wanted parents to be

all about. “We started this event in 2014 as parents of

able to make the most of the night,” says Kara Mackey,

young children ourselves and overwhelmed with the task

General Manager at Bellaboo’s.

of finding the perfect school. There had to be an easier

And with 40 vendors there definitely was a ton to take ad-

way, and we had the perfect building to facilitate it,” ex-

vantage of. New this year were some hometown favorites

plains Mackey.

like Toys in the Attic, Lake County Library and Oberweis

Kids got to play and interact with preschool representa-

mom to mom nwi | april 2017 | page 26

tives, while parents were able to have their important questions answered and nerves calmed. Again and again our preschool representatives wanted to thank the families who took the time to come out to the event and hear what their programs are all about.

This is the one night of the year at Bellaboo’s where ALL early childhood services are invited to come together to show their support for parents in Northwest Indiana. We are fortunate to live in an area rich with resources for young families, and everyone benefits from night’s like these where we really get to shine the spotlight on them. “The event just continues to grow by leaps and bounds and Mom to Mom, NWI is so honored to host this event every year,” says Stephanie Edwards, publisher and managing editor of Mom to Mom, NWI. So, to everyone—parents, kids, vendors, and even 4H critters—who made this event a success: THANK YOU! We’ll see you again next year. Mark your calendars for March 8th, 2018, the Preschool Fair + Toddler Expo will be back before you know it! - mtm

mom to mom feature

Spring cleaning jobs you might miss By: Christina Katz

S

Spring cleaning often feels like a huge job. After the physical work

unplug the machine, let it cool down, wipe the outside and wash all

of deep-cleaning the entire house inside and out, you may not have

the removable parts by hand. Repeat quarterly to keep your java

the heart to start peeking into your home’s nooks and crannies. But

tasting delicious.

this list of 30 jobs to tackle in 30 days can spread out frequently overlooked tasks and make them more manageable. And imagine

Electric teakettle

the sense of personal satisfaction you will feel every day, as you cross

Clean this while you are cleaning the coffee maker, if you wish. I

these nitpicky chores off your list. As you clean, create a shopping

usually buy descaler with two bottles in the box and use one for the

list of items you replace annually, and then give yourself a chance

electric kettle and the other for the coffee maker. Repeat quarterly.

to track down the best bargains. Your home can be clean and wellstocked. Whenever you are ready is the best time to kick off your

Jewelry

30-day deep-cleaning spree. What are you waiting for?

Have everyone sort jewels on the same day. Spread jewelry out on a large table. Put aside anything that needs to go into your safety

Junk drawer

deposit box. Put invaluable broken jewelry with your craft supplies.

No one likes cleaning out the junk drawer, so go for the most trouble-

Take away anything you have outgrown. If you have nice things you

some job first. If you have more than one junk drawer in the house,

no longer love, consider handing them down to relatives, offering

tackle them all in one day. You’ll be amazed how much satisfaction

them to friends or giving them to charity. If an item has sentimental

you feel when they are all dumped out, wiped out and re-sorted.

value, put it in your safety deposit box for safekeeping. Take photos of everything going in the safety deposit box, so you know what’s

Fire alarms

in there. Kids love having items stashed away in a bank box to visit

Walk through the house and test each fire alarm. Replace batteries

once in a while.

annually even if they work. Replace worn out alarms with new ones.

You’ll feel better.

Safety deposit box Visit your safety deposit box at least once a year. Bring new items to

Coffee maker

store, remove items you need, and check your payment contract to

Purchase enough descaler for your particular type of machine. Read

ensure you never lose access. You can set your bill up on auto-renew,

the directions that come with both products. When you are through

so you don’t have to worry about forgetting a payment.

descaling, rinse away any residue before using machine again. Then

Tax records

Closets

If you file accurate tax returns on time and report all of your income,

Pull everything out that is not hanging and sort. Then pull out hang-

you only need to hold on to your returns for three years. This has

ing items you no longer love or wear. Analyze your organizational

changed in the recent past, so if you are still holding on to older re-

system, and update it if necessary. Only put back what you love and

turns, it’s time to get rid of them. Check IRS.gov to confirm this advice,

wear. Keep a cloth hanging zipper bag with mothballs in your closet

and then start shredding.

to set aside anything with sentimental value to hand down to children in the future.

Fireproof file cabinet Store your private, security-sensitive documents in a locking, fireproof

Coffee

and tea mugs

file cabinet in your home. Keep the keys with your checkbooks, credit

Put all of your stained mugs in the sink in a single layer. Fill the sink

cards, and other valuables, so you can access them quickly when

with water to just cover the mugs. Add one or two tablespoons of

needed. Go through the contents of the entire cabinet each year and

bleach to the water. Let mugs sit for 10-20 minutes, rinse thoroughly

add and take away items to suit your priorities and sense of security.

and place on a clean towel to dry. If you want your mugs to sparkle, do this quarterly.

Keys and locks If you have a spot where you throw all of your extra keys and pad-

Shower curtain liner

locks, it will be easier to update your stash. Add outdated keys and

Change your shower curtain liner annually or it will get mildewed

broken or keyless locks to your craft supplies. Update each car key-

and bring down the cleanliness factor of your whole bathroom. To

chain in your family. Create an extra keychain with duplicate keys for

decrease new plastic emissions, open the bathroom window for the

backup purposes and store it with your valuables.

first day or turn on the bathroom fan overnight.

Office supplies

Kitchen cabinets

Restock office supplies quarterly. Check with other folks in the family

Start on one side of the kitchen and work your way around from cab-

before recycling office supplies, in case they can use them. Then

inet to cabinet, one shelf at a time. Remove items, check expiration

donate or recycle what’s not necessary. Add items you need to your

dates, and wipe off each shelf. Toss expired items, donate items you

shopping list.

won’t use, and add needed items to your shopping list.

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Bathroom and medicine cabinets Follow the same advice for kitchen cabinets, paying closer attention to things you no longer use that could be tossed or donated. Put aside any expired or unused pills for community disposal days, rather than flushing or throwing away vitamins or medications.

Laundry cabinets You will likely find a pile of buttons, safety pins, coins, and collar stays in your laundry cabinet. Get everything put away and place a clear jar for future pocket finds. Wipe up any solvent spills and put down a tray or liner for future spills. Restock any infrequently used products that are getting low.

Books Get the whole family involved in an annual book purge. Keep books you love, donate or resell books you didn’t enjoy, and store sentimental books in bins you re-sort once a year. Try not to save more than the contents of one storage bin per family member.

Pet items Your pet supplies need to be checked and updated twice a year.

Check pet medicines, treatments, and treats to make sure they have not expired. Clean or launder pet bedding and furniture. Use flea treatments, if needed. Replace any items pets need to maintain good health and hygiene.

Refrigerators and freezers Move freezer items so you can defrost freezers. Then empty, purge and wipe down inside of both refrigerators and freezers. Toss and replace any expired condiments you use frequently. Restock both appliances and adjust thermostats for maximum effectiveness.

Oven and range hood Spray your oven with oven cleaner the night before. Open windows the next morning and turn on range fan. Wear rubber gloves and a mask to avoid inhaling fumes. Take frequent fresh air breaks until oven is wiped spic and span. Spray down and wipe your range hood inside and out. Repeat these steps in the fall before the holidays.

Dishwasher Take out the bottom rack and clean out the dishwasher drain. You may want to wear your rubber gloves for this. Run a hot water cycle with one cup of white vinegar in a container on the top rack. Then sprinkle a cup of baking soda around the bottom of the machine and run a short hot water cycle. Repeat these steps in the fall.

Washing machine For a top-loading machine, add four cups of white vinegar to a hot water cycle, and then stop the cycle after the machine starts to agitate for a few minutes. Open the lid and let the machine sit for an hour. Then restart the machine and give it one extra rinse cycle. For front-loading machines, add ž of a cup of vinegar to the bleach dis-

penser or fill to the top. Run machine on hot, whites, or stain cycle

Take linens that cannot be laundered at home to the Laundromat or

and then finish with an extra rinse cycle.

dry cleaner for an annual or semi-annual cleaning. Don’t forget throw rugs, curtains, and pet linens.

Toys. With the help of the whole family, dump out every container of toys and sort them one at a time. Put aside any toys that are no

Craft supplies

longer age-appropriate and loved. A bin of old toys with sentimental

I use sorting bins for my craft supplies. When I can’t let go of some-

value can be put aside for each child for future nostalgia. Revisit and

thing small and don’t know where to put it, I add it to my craft sup-

update each bin each year, as you add new toys.

plies. This has led to some creative breakthroughs over the years.

I only throw away or recycle craft supplies I know I will never use.

Cleaning supplies and appliances

However, more often than not, as I add new things to my craft supply

Take apart appliances like vacuums and remove extraneous hair,

collection, I stumble upon fresh creative ideas.

dust, and grit. Use scissors to loosen hair from the rug beater to improve performance. When you are done, go over each unplugged

Car

appliance with a wet disinfecting cloth and then let dry thoroughly.

Get into your glove box and sort out everything you no longer need.

Remove scuffmarks on appliances with rubbing alcohol on a cotton

Then add things you wish you had in the car to your shopping list.

pad. Assess cleaning supplies and put items to restock on list.

Dig into every pocket and flip seats up so you can see what’s fallen in the cracks. Be sure to check the way back and all the compartments

Pantry and bulk storage

you find there and under the floors. Restock emergency supplies and

If you have a specific place where you keep pantry and bulk supplies,

equipment so you’ll be ready for anything. - mtm

go through items, and move those that will expire soonest to front of shelves. Wipe each shelf. Toss expired items. Add needed items to shopping list.

Memorabilia We sort our family memorabilia into bins by year. This helps us get our hands on something quickly whenever we want it. I have a spe-

Hire Out Window Washing

cial leather binder for my daughter’s report cards and awards. She

Hire professionals to wash your windows annually or pay

keeps ribbons, trophies, and the like in her bedroom. Some day we

teenagers to do it. Window washing is an arduous job,

will pack everything away in a bin alongside her favorite toys and

and unless you enjoy it, you are better off leaving it to

books. Until then, everything is within reach.

those with special tools and elbow grease to spare.

Digital concerns The best way to maintain digital items is to have a good backup and cloud system in place. If you automatically back up your computer in multiple ways, you can relax knowing your memories and important documents are safe and sound. If you have a bunch of photos and videos you don’t want to save for posterity, set aside a day to comb through them and delete everything unwanted. When you remove

Renew Home Supplies Add any items you are missing to your shopping list before your 30-day cleaning journey:

• Shower curtain liners • Descaler

images from your computer and phone, you will likely also remove

• Bleach

them from your cloud, so be alert. Consult a professional if you need

• White vinegar

help preserving digital materials.

• Cleaning supplies • Oven cleaner

Linen closet

• Rubber gloves

Set up a seasonal rotation in your linen closet. Rotate linens quarterly.

• Batteries

Author, journalist, and writing coach Christina Katz is usually more interested in restocking her craft supplies than she is in giving her home the white glove test. This checklist helps give her resistance some structure, so she can tackle one small chore at a time.

• Flashlights and safety candles

• Charge cords and power strips

• Closet hanging bag • Mothballs • Clear plastic bags

for sorting small items

• Trash bags for

sorting things for charity

• Organizational bins or systems

mom to mom education

How great ART thou By: Stephanie Edwards Provided

T

The Christian Revival Center, located at 805 W. 57th Avenue in Merrillville, is hosting the First Annual Silent Art Auction and Craft Fair – How Great Art Thou. This event is sponsored by the Kids World Daycare, a ministry of the Christian Revival Center and located inside their building. This event will feature a variety of vendors, a silent art auction of art, and spaghetti dinner - and it’s all to help fundraise for the Kids World Daycare. “Our passion is to build more room for our daycare at this facility” Jaynie Kohler, Event Coordinator and Daycare Director says.

“We can currently have 45 kids but we want to be able to accommodate 200.”

Kohler says they have the space at the 40,000-square foot facility to provide more care, they just need the means to make it happen. Since opening five years ago, the daycare has been at capacity and unfortunately Kohler has had to turn people away. “There’s a big need for day care facilities for low income families and we meet that need,” she explains. “We have a wait list but it just breaks my heart to have to turn away so many children.”

The Christian Revival Center has had much support from the community. It’s been in existence for nearly two decades, and has spent the past five years at its current location in Merrillville. And it’s because of all the support they’ve received is the reason why Kohler believes How Great Art Thou will be a success. “We are expecting hundreds, I’d say close to 700 peo-

mom to mom nwi | april 2017 | page 32

June 3rd

2017

ple,” she says. “Between the families of our daycare kids, the following our vendors have, and our church patrons, the night should be a success.”

How Great Art Thou will feature artworks from children at the daycare, Merrillville High Students in the art programs and members of the church. There will be everything from canvas pieces, to paintings and photography. Anyone coming to the event can bid on the art pieces. “When my daughter was a student in Hammond Public Schools she was involved in something similar,” Kohler says. “She was a featured artist and Cabella’s purchased her art and it’s up near their aquarium. It was exciting for my daughter to have her art displayed and it’s why I wanted to do something similar for our kids at the daycare.”

When people come out to How Great Art Thou, they will first register and then visit the many different vendors. They will then be lead into the art area where they will be able to bid silently. Finally, they can proceed to a spaghetti dinner. There is no cost to enter this event but there is a $5 per dinner charge for the spaghetti dinner. “During the dinner, people will be able to enjoy music being played by a quartet from the Merrillville High School Orchestra,” Kohler says.

“And then we will announce the winning bidders between 8:00 and 9:00pm.”

There is still room for vendors and sponsors for this event.

Anyone that makes a $25 donation or more will be mentioned in their program. For more information, you can contact Jaynie Kohler at 219.980.3252 or by email jayniekohler@att.net. - mtm

NorthShore Health Centers hosts our 4th Annual

(DVWHU (JJVWUDYDJDQ]D (DV

Pictures Pictures with the Easter Bunny & Yourwith Favorite Characters t

Bring your cameras!!

Kids ages 1-12 will collect eggs with Easter Bunny.

Kids age Egg hunt may take place outside so dress according to the weather.

Egg hunt may ta Saturday, April 8th 1pm – 4pm

Sponsored by…

Saturday 1pm –

Boys & G Boys & Girls Clubs 5895 Evergreen Avenue in Portage 5895 Evergreen A More Information Call:

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