December 2018

Untraditional Memories

Holiday Event Guide 2018

December 2018 FREE Magazine

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Family KIMBERLY ENDERLE Editor-in-Chief editor@peekaboonwa.com | 479-957-0532

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PO Box 1036 Bentonville, Arkansas 72712 Please send inquiries to: editor@peekaboonwa.com or call 479-957-0532 www.peekaboonwa.com Peekaboo may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Views expressed herein are those of the authors and advertisers, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the magazine.

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Being a patient shouldn’t test your patience. So, we’re making it easier to see a healthcare provider. You can book an appointment online with one of our primary care doctors. Or walk right in to any Northwest Health Urgent Care without an appointment. And convenient online check-in for ER and Urgent Care visits saves your spot in line, before you arrive. At Northwest Health, we’re taking your care in new directions.

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Because our ER and Urgent Care staffs must treat patients based on the severity of illness or injury, your time is not guaranteed.

We will see you as close to your designated time as possible. If your symptoms worsen or you believe you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Department as soon as possible.

When children need medical attention, they deserve special treatment. Northwest Pediatric Convenient Care is making it easier for children to get well, with our Urgent Care online check-in. The next time your child experiences an illness or injury, visit our website, answer a few questions, and pick a time that’s convenient for you. We’ll save your spot in line, before you arrive. It’s that easy. A team of skilled providers will then deliver the care your child needs in a comforting environment designed just for kids.

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DECEMBER 2018

14 Untraditional Memories by: Lori Wood

14

Untraditional Memories

18

‘Experiences Not Things’ Holiday Guide for Kids

22

28

58

The Symphony of Northwest Arkansas Presents The Snowman

Where Grief and Joy Forever Co-Exist by: CassieBeth Beauford

28 30

by: Lori Wood

by: Sarah Hood

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year at Crystal Bridges: Winter Events by: Erica Harmon

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Dad’s View: First Annual with Ben Lacy

On the Cover

Joaquín Camacho, 9 months Bentonville

Photo by: Main Street Studios mainstreetstudios.net

10 December 2018

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The Symphony of Northwest Arkansas Presents The Snowman Winter Break Boredom Busters: 7 Simple Ways to Get Your Kids Involved in Good Things by: Meagan Ruffing

Race Against T.IM.E by: India Height

Playing it Smart with Year-End Healthcare with Northwest Health

Holiday Event Guide Where Grief and Joy Forever Co-Exist by: CassieBeth Beauford

Prenatal + Parent Salon by: Sharlotte Fedewa

Cover Sponsored by: Northwest Health www.northwesthealth.com

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From the Editor

HERE IS A LOOK AHEAD! _____________________________ JANUARY is our annual update issue. Do you have a favorite family or story you would like to see an update from? Let us know!

FEBRUARY is our 11th birthday... which means it’s going to be the biggest and best birthday guide yet! Do you have a business that helps make birthday parties great? Email editor@ peekaboonwa.com by January 10th to make sure you are included!

F

inishing out a year is like having the opportunity to wrap up a special present and topping it with a bow. Each year is really a gift, even with its ups and downs and occasional days that seem a bit sideways. I love taking the time to reflect on the year that is going out and begin to prepare for the year ahead.

Each new year is a chance to mold and shape the little hearts and minds of our children. I have a very specific vision for their future. It doesn’t include them living in a large house, driving expensive cars, or making a lot of money -- even though all of those things would be great perks. My wish for them is that they have giving hearts and a drive to help others.

Compassion, love, understanding, caring and a kind nature are all qualities that I hope I can successfully instill in my four little people that I get to spend my days with. This time of year, these traits are move evident than any other time of year.

Tis the season for making countless memories you will cherish forever! The hours leading up to those photogenic moments, though, are just as important as the moments itself. You see, every photo on our mantle and every picture in the albums sitting on our coffee table has a story behind them. Not just the who, what, where, or when, but the, “What bribes were made to get those smiles?” or “How much arguing between the kids occurred before they finally sat still long enough to take the picture?”

12 December 2018

‘Tis the season for overbooking weekends, RSVP-ing “yes” to every invite and e-vite, and the promise of making homemade gifts for friends and teachers when you really only have time to order something online with express shipping. All of these things we try to do are, in theory, great and admirable. The problem is, they often come equipped with intense feelings of stress. The worst part about these over-committed days, though, is that they have a trickle-down effect. That stress, anxiety, and rushing around have the greatest and most lasting impact on our children -- the little people we are doing all of the activities for in the first place. So, this year I have resolved to taking a much more relaxed approach to the beautiful chaos. I want to attempt to make each part of the experience into a happy memory. If I have dishes to do and laundry to put away before guests arrive, but the kids want a Christmas story read instead, then I will take the opportunity to turn that into a special memory for them and me.

This year, I want to look back on all the photos taken and not shudder remembering how stressful the moments leading up to, or following, them were.

Speaking of photos, make sure to follow us on Instagram @peekaboo_magazine to keep up with all of the exciting new events and features and giveaways coming in 2019!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from your Peekaboo Family!

Kim Enderle

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by: Lori Wood Three years ago I sensed the holidays were changing. My children were growing up and my parents were growing old. But I had no idea how drastic that change would actually be in my house.

Or how quickly it would arrive.

Our youngest chick was about to wing her way out of our protective nest and I could already hear the hollow echo of two empty bedrooms becoming three. So I was determined to solidify and emphasize every tradition of home into her subconscious. But it was not to be.

The day after Thanksgiving is etched into our lives as a dividing line now, pre-illness and postillness, although the sneaky symptoms had probably existed for years. I was feeling less than 100 percent the week of Thanksgiving so I made an appointment with my primary care doctor at first opportunity, the morning of Black Friday. I was certain that, although I might miss the door busters, I could make up for it that afternoon. But that was not to be either. Instead, I was directly admitted to the hospital. What I thought was the flu, or pneumonia at worst, turned out to be heart failure. Our world’s orbit suddenly changed paths.

The traditions and perceived necessities of the 14 December 2018

holiday season stepped aside for a week in cardiac ICU and an emergency flight to the Cleveland Clinic.

Instead of putting up multiple Christmas trees and unwrapping and appreciating each cherished ornament, we were learning how to wear a Life Vest defibrillator. Rather than constructing a gingerbread house and having one last go at our special advent calendar, we were researching heart medicines and outcomes.

That year we didn’t arrange our calendar around the last school Christmas concerts of our parenting lives. We arranged it around multiple doctor visits and extended rest periods.

Instead of amassing a pile of must-have gifts for each child, my husband drove me to one store on December 20. I reluctantly got into a motorized cart and chose one or two items for each from what was left on the near-empty shelves. I remember detesting the back-up beep as I tried to avoid running into the overwhelming shopping crowd that day. As the battery hummed to a halt, I noticed a friend I hadn’t seen in several months.

She was shocked and concerned to see me looking and acting 30 years older than I was.

But none of that wounded me as deeply as feeling

the carefully laid traditions slipping through my clenched fists.

My momma heart ached at the opportunities I was missing, at the traditions that were being lost.

Like most my age, I became a mom pre-Instagram and pre-Pinterest. But we still put a lot of pressure on ourselves to establish and fulfill meaningful family routines at Christmas because we know that traditions are important. We want our kids to stay connected to home in healthy ways. We simply want home to mean something important to them.

I felt cheated that my last year with a child at home was ripped away from me without warning. Deep into December through suffocating fatigue, I looked around and noticed the sagging pumpkins still on the mantle and at the front door. Everything seemed wrong about the holiday season stretching out in front of me.

But the determined memory moments began to step in for the traditions I had lost. My younger daughter, knowing I would miss her Christmas concert, arranged for the choir to do a private performance for me in the hospital chapel. As my husband wheeled me in, I saw the young faces with tears streaming down and I felt the gift they were giving me. It was not a tradition, but it became a memory.

Lori writes to encourage others to find joy in the divine detours of life. Read more from her at loriannwood.com

We started playing games again for the first time since Candy Land. Spy Fall, Clue, Pandemic, dominoes, cards (and slice and bake cookies) made the must-do list most nights. Everyone pitched in to buy and make food, wash dishes, churn through laundry, and vacuum the floors.

They didn’t do any of it the way I would have, but it was all so beautiful. And this too earned a place as a treasured memory.

My older daughter texted me constantly with encouraging words and songs. My usually silent son called and checked in every few days. And when they both finally made it in for the holidays, I wasn’t busy cooking or wrapping or even making beds. I was there on the couch in front of a warm fire, in the moment with each one of them. And I didn’t miss anything. I had time to talk with them and truly appreciate the young adults that had replaced my babies. I had an opportunity to fully enjoy having them home. Even then I wondered why it took me over twenty years to allow myself to stop worrying about keeping all the traditions.

And instead soak in the moments that would become memories.

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Still, that was a difficult Christmas. So much uncertainty hung in the chilly air. As we progress through life we all will face those foggy holidays when someone in our family is ill. Traditions must adapt and change so people we love can continue to be part of our memory making.

I LEARNED A FEW THINGS FIRSTHAND ABOUT HOLIDAYS WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS A SERIOUS ILLNESS: 1. THE ILL PERSON DOESN’T WANT EVERY DECISION OR CONVERSATION TO BE ABOUT THEIR HEALTH OR NEEDS. They want to experience normal life through you, as much as possible. It doesn’t help for others to not eat certain foods because they can’t, or for everyone to miss a chance to see a show because they are too tired to attend. They don’t want to feel the guilt of taking everyone’s experience with their own. Their own disappointment is enough.

2. THAT BEING SAID, PLAN WITH FLEXIBILITY. Allow for down time to rest, bond, and forge new memories and connections. That moment with your baby niece or the conversation with your young adult cousin will soon be out of reach.

3. MOST OF THE TIME, SIMPLER IS BETTER. Get over the guilt of using a mix, refrigerated dough, or bakeries. You don’t have to decorate every room like it’s a social media shot. It’s intimidating and unwelcoming. Your kids will appreciate a thoughtful gift or two just as much as ten or twelve expected ones. And if they don’t, it’s time they did before you launch them.

4. SPEAKING OF SIMPLE, YOUR CHILDREN WILL TREASURE WHAT YOU LEAST EXPECT. I asked my young adult children what they loved most about holidays growing up, hoping to hold on to the few they thought were most worthy. Their answers surprised me. I learned that most of what I was going crazy doing “for my children,” I was actually doing for me. They mentioned the gifts they handmade for each other every year, games we played, visiting family, and family visiting us. Not making the list: all the homemade dishes I thought were crucial for a proper holiday, décor I spent weeks perfecting and planning, classroom parties and favors, and gifts I stood in line for back when Black Friday was a semi-secret, off-line sale. Not even the beautifully wrapped gifts atop the trendy tree skirt made the cut.

So, three years ago, unauthorized by convention, a serious health condition began teaching me something about traditions and memories. As my undiagnosed heart failure fatigue crept up on me leading into that Black Friday, I began to dread the very season that was meant for hope. And then as I learned about my illness, more than anything, I started to rethink traditions and memories.

Traditions are safe but restrictive. Memory moments are risky but freeing.

Mostly I learned that memories far surpass traditions. And with those softening pumpkins still out, we had Christmas at our house that year.

My parents and siblings came. I didn’t decorate.

I didn’t cook. I didn’t make homemade treats for neighbors, teachers, and friends. I didn’t wrap gifts in matching paper or worry about finding the perfect gift for each child.

I still don’t do all of those things. Christmas has changed forever at my house.

Heart failure is not curable. For most, doctors can manage the symptoms. For some, they can slow the progression. Statistics say that my life expectancy is about 10 years after diagnosis, so seven now, using all the current medical advancements.

I am learning that holidays, and everydays, aren’t about trying to make everything perfect, and checking off every tradition. I always knew this on some level, but somehow the traditions were easier to cultivate than the memories.

And now chronic illness continues to teach me what merely living could not. Christmas is about resetting, reconnecting, and rethinking where life is taking us.

Especially when the number of Christmases left is a little murky.

WITH A CHRONIC, PROGRESSIVE ILLNESS COME MANY CHALLENGES, PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND SPIRITUAL. BUT A GIFT ALSO ARRIVES. THE GIFT OF FULLY EMBRACING THE BREVITY OF LIFE THAT MANY OF US IGNORE OR DIMINISH, THE GIFT TO EXPERIENCE CHRISTMAS THE WAY IT WAS ALWAYS MEANT TO BE. WE CELEBRATED AN UNTRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS IN A PUMPKIN-DECORATED HOUSE WITH NO CHRISTMAS TREE THAT YEAR. AND IT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE MEMORIES. 16 December 2018

An

‘Experiences Not Things’

Holiday Guide for Kids by: Sarah Hood Ask your kids what they got for Christmas last year.

Do they remember? Now ask them about the last time your family spent the day together or took a trip somewhere they enjoyed. I’m betting they not only remember, but they’re also talking your ear off with their favorite details and memories. I’m close, aren’t I? Our culture of ‘stuff ’ has reached a fever pitch.

Our gift shopping lists get longer every year, and our closets and toy boxes are bursting at the seams. We feel obligated to spend a certain amount of money on certain people, and with kids – forget it. Kids are conditioned to make lists of toys and collect all the things – and everybody, from Santa, to the Easter Bunny, to the Tooth Fairy – is delivering

STUFF.

In fact, 1 in 10 of us have a storage unit because our houses can’t even HOLD all of our stuff.

18 December 2018

Moreover, the average American family spends over $900 on gifts at Christmas.

It may seem logical that an object you can see and use every day could bring you more joy over time than an experience that lasts a single day or a few hours. But that object doesn’t bring you the same joy on day 30 that it does when you rip open the paper on day one. Instead, it fades into your life and becomes part of your normal, everyday routine. Meanwhile, a new experience changes you – it broadens your perspective, and it means memories with your family that will last a lifetime.

Whether you believe experiences are more meaningful than things, or you’re just over it with the clutter in your storage closets — a holiday season with more experiences and fewer things may be for you.

Ready to try gifting experiences?

5 Things to Consider: 1. Lead by example. Let your kids see you and your spouse enjoy experiences together, and they will learn that this is a bonding experience for a family. I hear couples say, “This trip is our anniversary present to each other.” Make sure your kids hear that!

2. Talk about it the right way with your kids, especially if this is a big change from your usual gift-giving style. Don’t say “We’re not getting any toys this year.” I can promise you that that won’t go well! Rather, help them make a Christmas list, if that’s a tradition you have, and put some of these types of ideas on the list.

Refocus them from toys and gadgets to their interests and hobbies.

P L A N N I N G R E T I R E M E N T* O N Your T E R M S .

3. Offer gift ideas to relatives who ask. And, better yet, encourage those

relatives to be part of the experience itself. If aunts and uncles and grandparents can’t be there in person, be sure to remind kids who lovingly purchased that museum membership for them, and kids will appreciate the thoughtful gift.

4. Find your people! Social media

makes it easy to find inspirational families who are taking this approach to heart. They will give you ideas and provide a source of encouragement. Follow hashtags and social media feeds that celebrate and encourage this lifestyle. #ExperiencesNotThings or REI’s #OptOutside campaign are two of my favorites. And of course, join forces with your IRL friends and family to embrace your new outlook on the joy of giving.

5. Tackle the existing clutter. As

you prep for a holiday of less stuff, start now! Sort through old toys and donate them, and have your kids help you. Yes, this means the process may move more slowly, but it lets kids see the number of things they already have and start to think about which of their toys are really important to them, and why. It will lay the groundwork for changes you want to make.

The secret to ‘more experiences and fewer things’ is… there is no secret. If you wanna try it, you just have to try it. And it doesn’t have to be a big lifestyle overhaul – start small.

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stay up late to welcome the Razorbacks home from a road game.

3. Camping gear

(and plans to take a trip!)

A sleeping bag or a headlamp is a fun gift for introducing kids to a new hobby of camping, and makes them feel that they are taking part in the planning. Here in Northwest Arkansas, the nearest campsite is mere minutes away at Devil’s Den State Park or Buffalo River Wilderness Area. Additionally, a trip to a national park can be an incredible memory for a budding outdoor enthusiast. Order a National Park Passport before you go, and encourage your kids to start collecting stamps of the parks they visit — a priceless scrapbook!

4. Be a tourist in your own town

You could have lived in your town for years and be missing unique experiences right under your nose.

Visit your local tourism bureau and get some fresh ideas. Wrap a guidebook as a gift and make a local bucket list together.

5. Travel somewhere new

Simple, but this is my favorite. Take your child to get his first passport, or surprise her with her own suitcase or carry on. Travel is the ultimate new experience, and kids can be good travelers even younger than you might think.

10 ‘Experiences Not Things’ Gift Ideas:

6. Membership to a museum, aquarium or zoo, or season passes to an amusement park

The holidays are a great time to go to a special show like The Nutcracker or Disney on Ice, but shows like these happen all year right here in Northwest Arkansas. Snag a schedule for the Walton Arts Center, Arts Center of the Ozarks, or the Walmart AMP, and you’ve got an incredible gift idea. If this is a particular interest for your family, consider season tickets — you will get to enjoy the gift all year!

Museum memberships are a terrific investment for yearlong adventure, and Northwest Arkansas has incredible options, including the Amazeum and Crystal Bridges. Did you know many children’s museums are members of something called the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) Travel Passport Program? It means your membership to one museum on the list gets you benefits (like free admission!) to museums all over the country. We have a membership to the Amazeum (an annual Christmas gift from my parents!) and we’ve used it to get free admission to museums in five different states in the last two years!

2. Sports tickets

7. Magazine subscription

NWA Edition

1. Tickets to a play or concert

A trip to see a favorite game or player can be an incredible gift for a sports fan, and, if you do your homework, you’ll find behind-the-scenes opportunities to meet players, walk on the field, get autographs, etc. that will make the experience even more special. Make arrangements to run the bases with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, or 20 December 2018

A subscription to a magazine can mean your kiddo gets a monthly dose of his favorite topic.

Highlights, Nat Geo Kids, Sports Illustrated for Kids, and Zoobooks are great options.

8. Lessons for something new

The options for this are endless: guitar, surfing,

pottery, photography, golf, cooking, acting, cake decorating, sewing, carpentry, voice, karate, painting, computer coding, and anything else your little one shows interest in. This pairs well with a book or magazine subscription.

9. New gear for an annual trip

Do you go to the beach every year? Get your kids new swimsuits or new snorkeling gear. Double down on an experience your family is already planning.

10. Adopt a project

Commit to training for a 5k as a family (wrap a pair of running shoes) or make plans to plant a garden together in the spring (wrap a child’s pair of gardening gloves and a packet of seeds).

When you give the gift of experiences, what you’re really giving is the gift of time. Children will grow into their own styles as they get older, but a childhood of experiences will influence a lifetime of prioritizing memories over mementos. Best of all, you’ll be inspiring curiosity that will last forever.

Sarah Hood shares stories at www.sarahmartinhood.com of living a life driven by experiences and adventure big and small.

Sarah and her family live in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

by: Erica Harmon With all the holiday celebrations and family time, sometimes it’s nice to get out of the house and have a fun art experience in the community. At Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, it’s the most wonderful time of the year for parents and children to experience art, music, and creative play from the comforts (and warmth) of the museum.

Here are the family-friendly activities happening at Crystal Bridges this December and beyond: Preschool Playdate • Wiggles and Squiggles December 13, 11:30am to 2pm Parents, bring your little ones to Crystal Bridges for bilingual artmaking, music, movement, and more, inspired by a creative theme. For this playdate, show us your best wiggles and your finest squiggles! We’ll make action-packed art, hear funny stories, and more. The playdate will begin with an 11:30am performance in the Great Hall featuring AI Papa Rap, who will be performing bilingual songs for children and their families. The event is free!

Winter Break Wonders December 22 – January 4, 1 to 4 pm December 24, 11 am to 2 pm Crystal Bridges is collaborating with the Museum of Native American History and the Shiloh Museum to bring Winter Break Wonders to the families of Northwest Arkansas! Parents and children can make memories over the school break by coming to the museum for special activities each afternoon, including creative play, puppets, dance, family yoga, beaded mosaics, watercolor painting, snowy slime-making, and more. Winter Break Wonders is completely free to all ages, and will take place December 22 through January 4, 22 December 2018

excluding Tuesdays when the museum is closed.

Noon Year’s Eve December 31, 11am to 3pm Ring in the New Year (without staying up past bedtime) at Crystal Bridges’ family celebration, Noon Year’s Eve! This is the fourth year in a row that Crystal Bridges is bringing this popular event to the families of Northwest Arkansas. We’ll have fun art projects, performances, a Coca-Cola toast at noon, family karaoke, and a family dance party.

The event is completely free for all ages.

What’s Coming Up in 2019?

The beginning of 2019 is bringing superheroes, space, and snowy fun to Crystal Bridges! From our new temporary exhibition, “Men of Steel, Women of Wonder,” to the continuation of family-oriented events, such as Preschool Playdate and Family Sunday, the museum has something to offer everyone in the family.

Men of Steel, Women of Wonder February 9 - April 22, 2019 “Men of Steel, Women of Wonder” is a new exhibition developed by Crystal Bridges that examines art-world responses to Superman and Wonder Woman, ranging from their Depressionera origins to today’s contemporary artist interpretations. The exhibition features over 70 paintings, photographs, installations, videos, and more by a wide range of artists. $10 (FREE for museum members and youth ages 18 and under) and, before the exhibition opens, Crystal Bridges members are invited to a special member preview on February 8 from 10am to 6pm.

Space Project Celebration Saturday, January 19 (exact time TBD) Witness “Men of Steel, Women of Wonder” artist Robert Pruitt send an original artwork into space during this special launch party on the museum grounds! The launch begins with special activities planned, including artmaking, hot cocoa, and space-themed fun. Keep in mind that this event is weather-permitting, so check back to crystalbridges.org for the official time! Free, no registration required.

Preschool Playdate Bring your little ones to Crystal Bridges for artmaking, music, movement, and more, inspired by a creative theme. Playdate begins with an 11:30am performance in the Great Hall. Free, no registration required.

• Snow Day Thursday, January 10, 11:30am to 2pm Brrr! Come get cozy inside the museum for story time, hot chocolate, creative play, and artmaking inspired by winter weather.

• Love Potions Thursday, February 14, 11:30am to 2pm Mix and mingle mystical ingredients for the perfect potion! Join us at the museum this Valentine’s Day with your preschooler for creative play, artmaking, and story time!

• Superhero Showdown Thursday, March 14, 11:30am to 2pm Enjoy a preschool gallery tour, costume creation, and imaginative play inspired by our hero-filled special exhibition, “Men of Steel, Women of Wonder.”

• Happy Birthday Earth!

Thursday, April 11, 11:30am to 2pm Celebrate Earth Day early here at the museum with your preschooler! Make seed bombs, walk barefoot, look at clouds, and enjoy spring.

Family Sunday • I Heart Art Sunday, February 10, 12 to 5pm Bring your loved ones to Crystal Bridges to enjoy music, hands-on fun, a photo booth, and more for a Valentine’s-themed Family Sunday at the museum. Free, no registration required.

Drop-In Artmaking Saturdays and Sundays, 1 to 4pm Drop in our studios every weekend between 1 and 4pm for creative artmaking all ages will enjoy. Sponsored by Rockline Industries. Free, no registration required.

To learn more about any of these events or to register, please visit crystalbridges.org or call Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

SPONSORS Winter Break Wonders is sponsored by Nice-Pak Products, Inc. Noon Year’s Eve is sponsored by Coca-Cola and Mark and Diane Simmons.

“Men of Steel, Women of Wonder” is sponsored by Stout Executive Search, Arkansas Humanities Council, Rhianon DeLeeuw and Joshua Mahony, Esther SilverParker, and Deborah Wright.

Preschool Playdate is sponsored by the Segal Family Foundation, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., and Juan, Marcy and Joaquin Camacho.

Family Sunday is sponsored by Procter & Gamble, Rockline Industries, and the Northwest Arkansas Naturals.

Drop-In Artmaking is sponsored by Rockline Industries.

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DAD’SVIEW with

M

y first job was at a small town newspaper. Duties included deliveries, out-of-town mailings, answering calls, inserting advertising, and last, but not least, cleaning the public toilets. You quickly learn more than a bit of humility when scrubbing latrines. But, as the boss always said, “I’ll never ask you to do anything I wouldn’t do.” Little speeches like that didn’t sound so awesome back in the day, but that’s the kind of quote you learn to expect from fathers. You see, the boss was my dad.

Beyond somewhat clichéd declarations, I learned a lot at that job. I didn’t read much back then, and definitely didn’t write much, unless a teacher had a red pen in her hand and malice on her mind. But, somewhere in all that I learned a few things about storytelling, communication and print.

One thing I’ll never forget is my old man going absolutely bananas when someone wanted to advertise an event as “First Annual.” For example, if you are having a pancake feed at your local church and it’s the first one you’ve ever had, it can’t be the first annual. You see, even though you plan on having it every year, you haven’t yet. It can be “first” or “inaugural,” but it can’t be “first annual.” I used to laugh at him as he tried to explain this to folks who just wanted to get their chili cook-off publicized, but he wouldn’t have it. Second annual; fine, but you aren’t getting first annual in this newspaper! It doesn’t exist! It cannot be! He had me convinced too... until last fall.

Ben Lacy

My mother passed away last October (2017).

When you lose someone, there’s usually lots of time spent with family and lots of reminiscing and remembering. It’s good for the heart, the soul, the healing process and your perspective.

During one of these talks, we somehow got on the topic of the old hometown newspaper and all the local shenanigans that were reported.

The “first annual” argument came up, because I purposely brought it up just to watch Pop’s head nearly pop off. I got the same glorious reaction I received years ago. Lots of fury and fire, followed by grumbling about grammar.

Then it hit me, hard; we were actually in the middle of a first annual event. When someone leaves us, every day is a first annual. It is the first time the event will happen, but you also know it will be annual.

This is especially difficult during the holidays.

The first annual Thanksgiving without a parent. The first annual Christmas morning you don’t see your mom. The first annual time your kids don’t open their stockings sitting beside Grandma. The first annual impossibly uncomfortable silence when someone says, “Are your mom and dad coming to candlelight service?” The first annual time you see your father pull up into the driveway for Christmas dinner – alone.

How do you get through these first annual events? Do you talk about the loss? Stay quiet?

Light a candle in remembrance? Leave an empty chair at the table? Like raising kids, there isn’t an easy-to-follow instruction manual.

Every situation, and every family, is different.

Now, in case you’ve never read “A Dad’s View,” or if you don’t know me, I’m not the serious type. I write at a 6th grade level, speak at a 4th grade level, and my maturity is at a 2nd grade level. I’m 45. My favorite food and goto lunch is still PB&J. So, naturally, the best way I’ve found to cope with first annual pain is through humor and via story-telling. I know, big surprise.

Whilst sitting around the table last Christmas, our first annual without my mother, my family was tense, anxious, unsure what to do or say.

Naturally, I launch into the greatest Lacy Family Christmas Story ever; which I will share with you now.

Christmas 1988 at my parent’s beautiful, but ever-needy, 100 year-old Victorian home. My mother, ever the “hostess with the mostest,” had prepared a beautiful array of appetizers on our kitchen table, along with an exceedingly large Snowman and Snowwife centerpiece, complete with mega-sized candles and ample garland. Our kitchen table was separated from our dining room by a line of cabinets, so there was no clear line of sight from the dining room table to the kitchen table. However, we did have a brand spanking new IBM PC Jr. in the corner, from which you could see both tables. A family friend sat staring at the new PC, mouth agape, much like my kids now stare at Fortnite, when he uttered the following words that will forever live in infamy: “I think there’s something going on to the left (the kitchen table).” My brotherin-law, bored to tears as he listened to my mother and aunt prattle on about Christmas sweaters and doilies, decided to investigate and when he rounded the corner he saw flames. Big flames. Massive flames. Someone, the guilty

party is still a mystery, had switched the ceiling fan above the kitchen table to blow down, on the candles, instead of up. I’m not exaggerating the flames; they were high, climbing several feet above the table as they reached for the fan.

My dad rushed into the kitchen, paused for a millisecond, then grabbed the entire contents of the table – the cloth, the garland, the food, the ignited Snowpeople, in his arms. My cousin quickly opened the patio door just as my father, flames flying, flung the fireball of food into the cold winter’s night. The house was saved, no firetrucks, disaster averted. Or so we thought.

My mother, always late, sauntered gracefully into the kitchen to see what the screaming was about. She looked outside, saw her shattered China, smoldering tablecloth, ruined horsd’oeuvres and decapitated Snowfolk. A new fire arose, starting in her abdomen and traveling up to her throat, glaring at my father. She said “Jay (my dad), you ruined my china!” The room went silent, the house went silent – pretty sure the town, the state and most of the U.S. went silent.

My father, a calm man, quietly walked out into the snowy night, not to return for several hours.

Pops has never told us where he went; it doesn’t matter. The stories we’ve made up in our mind are far better than the truth. But, retelling this story lightened the mood at the table. It let everyone’s edge roll off, and helped us remember the good times. We gave gifts like matching bird sweaters, 50 pounds of peanuts and, of course the Millennium Falcon (we have eclectic taste in gifts). This may have been the first annual Christmas without my mom, but it was also the first annual time we’ll share this story.

Share your story with me at benjaminjlacy.com

peekaboonwa.com

27

Heartwarming Holiday Film Comes to Life In Big-Screen Orchestral Production

“T he Symphony of Northwest Arkansas Presents T he Snowman” Dec. 16 at Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville”

B

ack by popular demand for a fifth season, the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas (SoNA) and Walton Arts Center present the return of a unique holiday concert especially for children and families.

Under the baton of acclaimed SoNA Music Director Paul Haas, the area’s finest professional musicians will perform The Snowman: A Family Concert at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 16, at Walton Arts Center’s Baum Walker Hall. Tickets are only $9 and are on sale now.

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Magical Yuletide Performance Perfect Way to Kick off the Holiday Season!

The Snowman is a special production of the Academy Award-nominated, holiday hit film “The Snowman,” complete with a magical orchestral soundtrack that SoNA performs live. The film is based on Raymond Briggs’ classic picture book of the same name, which is celebrating its 40th year in publication this year.

Captivating for all ages, The Snowman is a wonderful tale of a very special friendship. After a heavy snowfall, a young boy spends a winter day making a snowman. The child can’t believe his eyes when his creation comes to life. Together, the boy and his snowman go on an enchanted adventure, soaring through the sky, making friends and meeting Santa Claus himself!

“All of us remember what it was like as a child to wish that our favorite toys or stuffed animals would come to life, in fact to believe they would!”

28 December 2018

Maestro Haas said. “This silent film, accompanied by an extraordinary score for virtuosic orchestra, brings that thought alive.”

SoNA fans will also want to make plans to attend Northwest Arkansas’ favorite yuletide tradition on Saturday, Dec. 15, at Walton Arts Center. A Very SoNA Christmas features a timeless selection of holiday classics. Audiences can choose from two performances – a matinee at 2 p.m., or an evening concert at 7:30 p.m. Both will be held in Baum Walker Hall.

A Very SoNA Christmas features the SoNA Singers, an auditioned group of choral singers led

by Director Terry Hicks — one of Arkansas’ most respected choral conductors — along with area high school and collegiate choruses, and special guest soloist, Genine LaTrice Perez.

“For many reasons this is my favorite concert of the year,” Maestro Paul Haas said. “It’s an extraordinary blend of traditional and pops programming that’s become a Northwest Arkansas tradition. Like the community itself, this concert is an organic and beautiful coming together of people from all walks of life, celebrating through music at a most joyous time of year.”

Tickets for A Very SoNA Christmas ($32, $44, $55) and The Snowman: A Family Concert are going fast. If you haven’t reserved your seats yet, do so now!

To purchase tickets, please call Walton Arts Center’s box office at (479) 4435600 or visit sonamusic.org for online ticketing options and full season information.

DON’T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO REACH THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES ACROSS NORTHWEST ARKANSAS. TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE IN NEXT MONTH’S ISSUE EMAIL: EDITOR@PEEKABOONWA.COM

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Winter Break Boredom Busters: 7 Simple Ways to Get Your Kids Involved in Good Things

By: Meagan Ruffing I think we can all agree that there are mixed feelings when winter break rolls around. We’re excited because we get to see our kids more, but we’re stressed because we have to see our kids more.

Winter break is a time for kids to stay up late, sleep in late, and lounge around the house in their pajamas. We always have good intentions of doing fun things on school break, and, while we may do one or two things here and there, the notorious, “I’m bored!” is bound to creep up on even the most organized parents. Help prepare yourself and your sanity for this year’s upcoming winter break with these seven boredom busters.

1. Volunteer at a food bank or soup kitchen. Most

places have a website you can look up to find basic information about who to call to inquire about helping out. Pick up the phone, make the call, and let the person on the other end of the line know that you and your kiddos would like to volunteer for a few hours. While you’re at it, ask if there’s anything they’re low on so you can bring a few donations with you.

This is a great way to do something nice for your community, and it doesn’t cost a thing.

2. Make cookies, or a meal for a sick friend, neighbor, or the new family who just moved in down the street from you. Break out a trusty family recipe, or buy the “Break & Bake” cookies at the 30 December 2018

grocery store if you’re in a pinch for time. Let your kids take the lead on as much as they can. Little ones can break apart the dough and place the cookies on a sheet pan while you teach your tween how to start the oven. Get crafty and have your kids decorate a card while you’re waiting for the cookies to bake. Let the recipient know how much you’re thinking about them with a quick note and plate full of delicious cookies.

3. Write letters to troops overseas. This is a great

way to get your kids to work on their penmanship while doing something kind for someone else. If you have a family member or friend in the military, you can write specifically to that person. If not, consider visiting the Veteran’s Hospital website (www.va.gov) to find out where to drop your letters off, to make sure they get to where they need to go. It’s important for kids to know how to write a good old-fashioned letter, as well as learning how to say thank you for something so important, like someone protecting their freedom. Use this as an opportunity to teach your kids about the sacrifice our military makes each and every day by serving.

4. make Blessing Bags for the homeless (something my son asked me if he could start doing). I let him

take the lead and decide what things he wanted to include in the Ziplock baggies. I told him to pick out what he wanted, and I would pay for it, as long as he saw this project through to the end.

(See a detailed list of what my son picked out at the end of this article). He had a blast putting all of the items together, and he added a personal touch

by making cards for each homeless person. Now, we have a plethora of Blessing Bags in our car for whenever we see someone in need. The first time my son was able to hand out a bag to someone in need was a moment I’ll never forget. He genuinely lit up and said it was one of the best feelings he’s ever had.

Dylan’s Blessing Bags

Pudding, plastic spoon, water, tissues, mints, crackers, gum, handwritten note.

or grab one from any OCC pickup location (visit www.samaritanspurse. org) and fill it up with items for another child in another country.

In the past, we’ve packed things like stickers, jump ropes, stuffed animals, socks, bows, toys, and clothes inside the shoe boxes. For a detailed list, visit their website. Most churches will have boxes for free, since they normally partner with OCC, or you can do it entirely on your own.

You can also track your shoebox all across the world to see where it ends up! This is a great way to teach your kids about geography, and is a tangible way to spread kindness around the world.

7. Invite someone over for your holiday meal who might otherwise be alone. Think outside the box.

5. Organize your kids’ rooms. I know I’m not the

only parent who likes to do this. Right? This is the perfect time to do this project because you don’t have any time limits. You don’t have to stop what you’re doing to get up and drive to the school pickup line or drive any of your kids across town to basketball practice. You can hunker down for the day (or two) and make four piles: Throw Away, Donate, Keep, Sell. These piles will serve you well and they will help minimize the clutter. Bonus Tip – turn your sell pile into cash and save your money for a rainy day. On that day, give each kid a few dollars for helping out, or take everyone out for a treat for their hard work (including you!) Not only will you have everything organized, but you and your kids will be ready to return to school after winter break feeling refreshed and ready to go!

6. Operation Christmas Child (OCC) boxes are a hands-on way to get your kids in on the spirit of giving. Grab a shoebox you have laying around the house,

Go outside your comfort zone and ask that person you know in your life who might be alone this holiday season. It’s important for kids to see their parents being good role models, making impactful decisions, and including everyone. When they see you do good, they want to do good things, too.

Maybe there’s a family in your neighborhood who has recently relocated from another state and they have no family nearby. Ask them. I had a friend who did this for me years ago and it was one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me. There’s nothing more sincere than sharing a home-cooked meal in someone else’s home.

These seven boredom busters are not only easy to do, but they’re good human deeds, and who doesn’t want to help shape their children into kind human beings? Remind your kids that the reason for the season is more than just getting presents and sleeping in, and that there is always a way to do something nice... especially during the “I’m bored” moments.

Parenting journalist and author, Meagan Ruffing, loves a good challenge. Her three children will be using this list during their winter break this year.

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By: India Height My story begins on March 9, 2016, but first... a little background on me: I’ve been married to my husband Kevin for nearly 13 years. We have two beautiful daughters: Emeree, 11, and Landree, 5. We moved to Arkansas from the Kansas City metro area in August of 2014. While this was an exciting move for Kevin’s job, I was sad to be leaving all I’d come to know and love for the past 19 years of my life.

Kevin kept reminding me that, as a bonus, we’d both be moving closer to our families — mine in southeast Kansas, and his in Tulsa. I knew God had put this before us for a reason. I thought it was so we’d be closer to help our parents if they needed it, but I never dreamed it would end up being because I needed it.

We got settled in our new surroundings and established in our community, where we started attending a local church and I joined a local MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) group. I continued to work part-time as my company’s Quality Coordinator. This job allowed me to work from home, and I loved being there for my girls. Life was going great!

Our daughter Emeree, who has Down Syndrome, got involved in a competitive cheer team for

special needs, and also took tumbling for kids with special needs. Landree started at the gym as soon as she turned 2, wanting to follow in her big sister’s footsteps. I was a very busy mom, needless to say.

As if I wasn’t busy enough, we had decided to add after school therapies to Emeree’s schedule to help further her life skills and education.

March 9 started out as any other day for me did.

I was up at 4:30am to try and get as many of my work hours in as I could before both kids were up for the day. I got the kids fed and ready, put dinner in the crock-pot, and then left the house to get my yearly mammogram, before rushing back home to get Landree lunch and a nap. After getting Emeree off the bus at 2:30, the three of us girls headed into Bentonville, where Emeree had a couple of therapy evaluations at the new therapy clinic that was opening. In the parking lot on the way out, the PT caught me to ask some questions. It was then that I started getting chills. I started feeling achy, like I was coming down with the flu. I knew I’d been running myself ragged in the weeks before. I had just kept telling myself that I just needed to hold on until the weekend to finally get some much-needed rest.

As I started to feel worse and worse, I called Kevin and begged him not to work late. I thought I was coming down with the flu and was feeling so bad I didn’t even think I could drive home. Miraculously

I made it home (to quote Carrie Underwood, “Jesus took the Wheel!”) I got home, changed my clothes and then texted my mom, whom I called every day (sometimes multiple times) and told her I thought I was coming down with the flu and I’d just talk to her tomorrow. Kevin made it home, and I was feeling so poorly. I somehow managed to get dinner on the table for the three of them and then retreated to our bedroom and crawled into bed, shivering like I’ve never shivered before.

I remember shaking so fiercely I could barely get out of the tub and wondering what strain of the flu had hit me so hard. I bundled up like I was in Siberia and continued to violently shake, as I could not get warm. Several times throughout the night my husband would ask me, with much agitation, if I needed to go to the ER. Every time, I would decline, saying how we hadn’t even met our deductible and I wasn’t going to rack up a ton of medical bills we could not afford only to be told I had the flu. I would just wait and go to Urgent Care or my doctor in the morning.

caused me to aspirate--it got into my lungs and subsequently caused me to get pneumonia. I barely remember my alarm going off at 4:30, and don’t really recall turning it off. I fixed Emeree’s hair for school, got Landree dressed and her hair fixed, and then left the rest to Kevin before I stumbled back to bed. Before he left for work a little after 7, I vaguely remember him saying he would call and check on me in a couple of hours and that Landree was laying in her bed watching her iPad. At 10am, when I neither answered my cell phone nor our landline, Kevin thought perhaps I was in the shower. However, when I didn’t call him back within 15 minutes, which I was always good about doing, he instantly knew something wasn’t right and left immediately to come home.

When he arrived home, he found me very incoherent and I couldn’t even tell him where Landree was

It was a very difficult night. I was up a few times throwing up, and at one point woke a little too late.

As I was trying to make it to the bathroom in time, I tried to hold it in. I would learn later that this had

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(no worries – she was still in her room playing, like the good girl she is). I recall him saying to me, “You have two choices, you either get up and help me get you down to the ER, or I’m calling an ambulance!”

Well, once again, I wasn’t going to rack up more medical bills, so I decided to go in the van. I was so weak, and almost delirious, I guess you could say. I felt like my mind was in and out of consciousness.

I vaguely remember the check-in process, but I do remember them taking me back immediately. I suddenly had no idea about anything and couldn’t tell them my height or weight — I had been the same height since the 6th grade, but had no idea how to answer such a simple question. I recall the chaplain from Mercy being there, praying over me, and not really thinking anything about it. I also remember that our pastor at the time, his wife, and my friend who was the children’s ministry coordinator were there at some point and they were all praying over me, and the girls were sobbing, almost hysterically. I remember telling my friend that it was okay, that I just had the flu.

What no one was telling me was that I was dying.

They called the chaplain in to basically give me last rites and told Kevin he better call our pastor if he desired.

At one point, Kevin had called my parents and they arrived quickly from two hours away. One of my best friends had been trying to call and text and was very alarmed when I wasn’t answering her. When Kevin answered, he told her the grim prognosis — somehow I had contracted E. Coli, and I was in septic shock. They did not expect me to make it. She quickly came down to Mercy to pick up Landree so that everyone’s focus could be on me. They could not find the source of the infection.

They drew blood and ran scans, but nothing was showing up. They could not figure it out. They needed to get me to Mercy in Rogers, but they couldn’t do so until I was stabilized.

My body was not

cooperating. My veins had all collapsed and they could not get an IV in. They ended up having to put what’s called an IO (interosseous) IV in, which meant they were basically hammering it into my bone. I do remember screaming out, as this was very painful, even in my semi-unconscious state.

Finally, a decision was made by one of the ER nurses, whose husband was a flight nurse with Mercy Life Line. She called her husband and told him to go ahead and bring the helicopter there so they could be on standby, because as soon as they could get me stable enough to be loaded on the helicopter, I needed to be in the air. Yes, I was that sick--they did not think I would survive the 12-minute drive via ambulance. The very last thing I remember was being loaded onto the helicopter.

Ten days later, on March 20, they were getting ready to extubate me. I really had no idea all that had transpired in my ten-day hiatus. Kevin did a wonderful job of breaking the news to me. He told me that I had gone into septic shock, which basically means the infection had hijacked my body and was in my blood, which was very, very bad. Because the doctors could not pinpoint the source of my infection, they were having a hard time treating it. They had tried every drug under the sun, but my white blood cell count kept climbing astronomically high, and as a result, I had died, not once, but three times, including suffering a heart attack. They did everything possible to keep me alive and, as a result of some medications I was given to keep my vital organs functioning, the blood flow to my hands and feet was compromised, and they began to die. Kevin went on to tell me that because they weren’t sure at that point if those had become infected and that could be what potentially was driving the infection up, a decision was made to amputate.

My hands were the first to go on March 15, followed by my feet on March 17. He then told me that because my whole body was shutting down, that my kidneys were also failing and I had been placed on dialysis. He proceeded to tell me all that I had been through for the past 10 days in great detail, and how, after suffering my heart attack, my cardiologist had told him that there was nothing he could do, and that everyone should say their goodbyes.

So, as this devastating news was sinking in and everyone was trying to process, my family just asked that they wait to remove me from life support until my brother and his family could get there to say goodbye. As Kevin was sitting there by my

side with our good friends from KC, one of my three critical care doctors came in and, thank goodness there was some confusion, because he wasn’t ready to give up on me yet. Boy, am I glad he wasn’t! However, there was a lot of concern about my brain function-whether when I came out of the coma I would have all my memories, or even if I would be able to fully function. On March 20, my dad’s birthday, they decided to bring me out of the coma so they could see where things stood, and the first words I uttered to Kevin were, “Go get me a McDonald’s sweet tea!”

Followed by, “Where’s my phone?”

I had an onslaught of visitors coming through my door to witness the miracle that had played out before them the past ten days, including my two childhood best friends. I was regaling them with memories from junior high and high school that even they had forgotten about! Yep! There was nothing wrong with my brain function, and my memories were still intact. I still had a long way to go, because between the hospital and rehab, I was gone from my girls for a total of 83 days. Every time we thought I was ready to leave the hospital to go to rehab, a new problem would crop up — including MRSA in my knee wound, the very knee that that dreaded IV had gone in. Then, there was my too-high resting heart rate — the solution to that was a pacemaker/ defibrillator combo. It seemed like one thing after another kept going wrong. I just wanted to get to rehab, so I could get home and take care of my girls and start figuring out how I was going to take care of my family again! Miraculously, my attitude remained mostly positive. I did have my days, however, and questioned God for his purpose, but I think mostly the reason I never became completely depressed is that I was so thankful and grateful to be alive that I just didn’t care.

I had to learn to trust that God had a plan and to learn that, for once, I could not be the one controlling

everything.

Through my long ordeal, Kevin used my Facebook page to post updates. I soon had friend requests coming in so quickly he could not keep up. My story had spread rampantly, and everyone was sharing and praying. To give you some perspective, the Executive Director of the Down Syndrome Guild in Kansas City sprang into action and was doing everything she could to help... from setting up a web-based donation site, to designing and selling t-shirts.

This was not only to raise money to offset all the rapidly growing medical bills, but to also bring awareness to the signs and symptoms of sepsis. She did the coolest thing I’ve ever seen — she started a prayer map. So, anyone who had prayed for me could register and it would drop a pin on the map from his or her location.

In the first 24 hours, over 3,200 pins in pretty much every state in the U.S. and in several countries had been dropped.

Turn the page...

Family Law · Criminal Law · Business Law www.danielsonlawfirm.com | 479.935.8313

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I have tried to paint the picture here of how gravely ill I was so that you can put into full perspective what a true miracle it was that I survived. My body was so sick that even my hair fell out. I credit three things with my survival: First and foremost, our Heavenly Father, who is THE greatest physician and healer; my amazing doctors and nurses, who I staunchly believe were working through God; and my love for Kevin and my two girls, which made me fight like I’ve never had to fight before.

I get extremely tickled and emotional, even now, when I’m told the story of how they were trying to bring me out of the coma at one point, and so, for incentive, Kevin started playing videos of the girls. I guess I became extremely excitable and started trying to reach towards the sound of their voices. My friend who witnessed this said she knew a mother’s love was great, but, until seeing me unconscious and very sick and still being so moved at the sound of my children’s voices that I was trying to fight to get to them, she had no idea of the power of my love for my girls.

At my first follow-up visit with the critical care doctor that refused to give up on me, I was humbly crying before him and thanking him profusely for keeping me alive and saving my life. He looked at me and said, “Sometimes science and medicine can only do so much, and we can’t explain how it happens, but that’s when you know there is a higher power at work.” He felt it, too. I believe they all did.

I have had a long road these past two and a half years to get to where I am today, and my journey is not yet over. I still have many things to conquer, but I am doing so many things everyone thought I’d never do again, like cooking and baking, and doing dishes, laundry--and even driving. I really do love proving people wrong! I am still very easily fatigued, and I get frustrated because it takes me three times as long to do things, but, for the most part, our life is pretty much back to the way it was before.

I’ll never be able to repay all the thousands of people who helped out in some way, whether it was donating to my medical fund, helping with the kids, or bringing meals, etc. I’m extremely humbled and grateful at the outpouring of support I received. I am most thankful, however, for all the prayers that were prayed for me, because I am living proof that the power of prayer works!

Sometimes I still question why this had to happen to me. Didn’t I already have enough on my plate taking care of a daughter with special needs?

Why do my girls have to be put through seeing 38 December 2018

their mom struggle every day and be deformed, to boot? And will they be embarrassed at the way I look someday? So many thoughts like this have consumed me at one point or another. However, I want to be a good example to them, and I want them to look back someday and realize how hard I fought for them, because that’s how great my love was and still is for them. I want to show them that in life, your circumstances don’t define you; it’s how you react to those circumstances.

In the grand scheme of things, I am alive and our kids still have their mommy, which is all that really matters at the end of the day. Kevin calculated the statistics using my onset time as the time I called him saying I was getting sick, to the time I went to the ER, and with septic shock I only had a 12% chance of surviving. I realize every single day how lucky I am to have survived, as there were those with higher odds who weren’t as fortunate. Now any time one of us gets sick, especially me, we are overly cautious in making sure there are no signs of sepsis. So, please, take a moment to educate yourself on the signs and symptoms of sepsis... it just might save you or your loved one’s life.

It’s easy to remember, the acronym is

TIME:

T: Temperature higher or lower than normal I: Infection may have signs or symptoms of an infection M: Mental Decline confused, sleepy, difficult to rouse E: Extremely Ill “I feel like I might die!” Sicker than you have ever been with severe pain or discomfort (sepsis.org).

A N D M Y N EW M O T T O SI N C E T H I S HA P P E N E D,

“

”

My stubbornness and worry about the financial aspect of an ER visit nearly cost me my life. So, I hope that in sharing my story that I am able to not only inspire people, but to educate them as well on the warning signs. If I can help save even one life, then everything I have gone through is worth it.

EXPERT SKIN CARE FOR YOUR WHOLE FAMILY NWA’S LEADING EXPERTS in Dermatology

FAYETTEVILLE • BENTONVILLE • HARRISON

479.718.SKIN

| ADVANCEDSKINMD.COM

Playing IT

SMART

With Year-End Healthcare

2019 is fast-approaching, so scheduling necessary appointments, tests and surgeries now makes sense.

W

hen New Year’s Day 2019 rolls around, the slate will be wiped clean and everyone will gain a fresh start to another new year. The slate that’s wiped clean also will include the tally of healthcare expenses you’ve incurred through 2018 which count toward your deductible.

Now’s the time to play it smart and check to see if you’ve met your deductible. Health plans typically begin paying for the majority – if not all – of your healthcare expenses once you’ve met that threshold. So, if you have met your deductible or are close to reaching it, this is the ideal time to maximize your plan benefits and schedule appropriate appointments, testing and procedures. You may save hundreds or even thousands of dollars, depending on what healthcare you need, if it’s obtained before the end of the year.

Additionally, individuals who have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) need to check their balance. The Internal Revenue Service requires these accounts, which hold pre-tax dollars set aside to pay for healthcare-related expenses, be depleted by the end of the year or the money is forfeited. This adds another incentive to schedule services now – ensure that those hard-earned dollars are spent, not lost.

Health insurance plans reward individuals who plan and manage their health care; it’s that simple.

Taking 15 minutes to set up appointments now could save you a significant amount of money.

The key is to obtain all the health services you need before December 31, because with the New Year comes a new deductible, and any balance in an FSA account is lost.

It’s crucial to be prompt with your scheduling to ensure the test, check-up or procedure can be done before the end of the year. Getting everything squared-away by early December will ensure the services you receive are considered part of your 2018 coverage and funds.

To schedule an appointment with a Northwest Health physician, call 833-757-WELL (9355) or visit NWPhysicians.com.

Open ment! l l o r En e WINTER SPRING 2019 TRIKE ACADEMY NEW LOCATION! Trike Theatre 902 SW 2nd St. Bentonville, AR 479.464.5084

LEARN MORE & ENROLL www.triketheatre.org

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42 December 2018

500 SE Plaza Avenue Bentonville, Arkansas

peekaboonwa.com

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5 2 25+ "must do's" in

december of The Gift !

Amazing

Lights Of The Ozarks Through December 31 5pm -1am nightly Downtown Fayetteville Square www.experiencefayetteville.com

Enjoy the amazing winter wonderland of lights on the downtown square with the Lighting Night parade. The lights illuminate the square each evening from 5pm to 1am. Nightly carriages and pony rides, fresh hot chocolate and festive holiday music make the Lights of the Ozarks an event that cannot be missed. The romantic and breathtaking display of a half-million twinkling lights is cherished by the locals and visitors alike that stroll or drive through the Lights of the Ozarks each year. Each year Fayetteville Parks and

Holiday Gingerbread House Workshop December 13 or December 14 4-5:30pm

Imagine you’ve happened upon a magical cottage of sweetest proportions…where rooftops are sugared with frosted shingles and chocolate doors are adorned with fruity wreaths. Licorice-lined windows entice you to peek inside, while the salty bark of a tree stands at attention alongside sugary gumdrop bushes...

It’s not a fantasy! Join the holiday fun with Young Chefs Academy as we share decorating tips and tricks to bring your one-of-a-kind, sugar-coated gingerbread house to life!

Stuff is fun for a wh Experiences last a Give a year of unlimited expe Member Holiday Open House a Scott Family Amazeum Me Amazeum December 8 9am-12pm The Amazeum is open every day except Tuesdays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day from 10 am to 5 pm - Sunday 1 pm to 5 pm.

amazeu Why does everyone love Frosty the 1009 Museum Snowman?

He’s cool.

What’s also cool are Amazeum Members. We’re having a special open house in Curiosity Corner for them.

Members will receive 30% discount in Curiosity Corner all day, free gift wrapping 9am to noon, holiday pop ups in the lobby and holiday giveaways for members.

Ages: 5 and up

Free Live Walk-Through Nativity -- “From Christmas to the Cross” Ozark Adventist Academy, 20997 Dawn Hill East Rd. Gentry / December 14th 6-9pm and December 15th 3-6pm This Christmastime, take a journey back in time as you walk through the streets of Bethlehem and travel all the way to Calvary. A fully costumed cast of 100 + members, as well as a wide variety of animals and live music, will bring the Christmas story to life. Also in an effort to share the real Gift of Christmas with our neighbors, we will be collecting nonperishable food items to contribute to a local food pantry, the Total Life Community Center, in Siloam Springs. Call (479) 736-2221 (Monday through Friday) 9 AM - 4 PM or email: euglena1370@yahoo.com 44 December 2018

Santa’s Wonderland Bass Pro Shops on the Promenade December 3

Winter Dreams Tour of Homes December 2 11:00am – 5:00pm www.juniorleaguenwa.org/ winterdreams Please join us for the 20th Annual Winter Dreams Tour of Homes, as we host 10 beautifully decorated homes throughout Benton and Washington counties for you to admire. This event has become a festive, time-honored tradition to kick off the holiday season.

Families are invited to enjoy this enchanting Christmas village offering FREE 4x6 studio-quality photos with Santa and free family holiday activities, including fun crafts and games.

Features include rustic Christmas cabins, holiday characters and live elves set among a dazzling backdrop of snow-covered hills and illuminated Christmas trees. The Santa’s Wonderland Christmas village offers remote control trucks, laser/foam toy arcade, Lincoln Logs building area, and much more. Kids can also enjoy free crafts, coloring stations, and writing a letter to Santa.

Library Story Times: Fayetteville Public Library: faylib.org Rogers Public Library: rogerspubliclibrary.org

Santa Claus is Coming to Town Santa at the Walmart Museum Dec. 6: 5-9pm Dec. 10: 5-9pm Dec. 22: 9am-1pm Bring your camera and meet by Santa’s sleigh outside the 5&10 for pictures with St. Nick. Be sure to bring your camera!

Bentonville Public Library: bentonvillelibrary.org Springdale Public Library: springdalelibrary.org Siloam Springs Library: siloamsprings.com

We get you.

Care for Women, by Women | We know that a woman’s physical and emotional needs are unique, so we’ve designed a personalized care experience for women of all ages. For compassionate care and clinical expertise, HerHealth Clinic is here for you.

Visit us online for a complete list of services and clinic locations.

Call 479.463.5500 for Appointments

| wregional.com/herhealth

The Polar Express Walton Arts Center December 21 7pm Put on your PJs and join us for a special screening of the familyfavorite Christmas story about a young boy on an extraordinary ride to the North Pole! Hot chocolate bar included.

It’s The Most Wonderful Time of The Year December 13 7PM Rogers High School Please join the RHS Dance program as they perform their second annual winter dance recital.

For more information, contact Liz White at elizabeth.white@rpsar.net

Cross Church Christmas | Peace on Earth December 9 at 5:30 and December 10 at 7pm Pinnacle Hills Campus

You will experience the sights and sounds of Christmas through our Worship Choir, our Children’s Choir, and our talented band. There will be new songs, a few familiar ones and a few neat surprises. The hope of Jesus will be clearly presented through worship. www.crosschurch.com for tickets.

Holidays with the Hogs Gymnastics Intrasquad Meet December 16 4-6pm Barnhill Arena The meet will be free and open to the public with doors opening at 4pm. Fans are encouraged to enter through the south entrance facing the Bev Lewis Center. The meet marks the first time this season that Arkansas will perform full routines on all four events while being judged in front of fans inside Barnhill.

Fans can bring a new, unwrapped toys to benefit children in the Northwest Arkansas area. Prior to the meet, fans of all ages can enjoy cookies, cocoa and photos with Santa beginning at 4pm.

46 December 2018

Free Ornament Painting and Pics with Santa James + James December 8 1-3pm 4217 S Thompson St, Springdale Parents and children of all ages are welcome to join us and paint Christmas ornaments. Plus Santa himself will be here for pictures!

A fun project and great keepsake.

This event is 100% free and all ornaments/supplies will be provided.

As local craftspeople, we want to provide a place for children to come and use their creativity! Drop by James+James on Saturday, December 8th anytime between 1pm-3pm to paint an ornament and grab a picture with Santa! Drinks and snacks will also be provided.

Fun at the Library December 4 Mod podge Holiday Candles (grades 5th-12th) 4:30pm Fayetteville Public Library December 5 Curious Kids Workshop Gingerbread House 1-2pm Bentonville Public Library December 8 Santa at the Library 10:00am Siloam Springs Library

Holiday Brunch Breakfast With Santa December 22 9 - 10:30am Young Chef ’s Academy, Rogers What better way to bring the holidays home than with a table filled with delectable brunch options? Just imagine your table lined with delicious eggs that sparkle with color, oven-baked bacon, and a plate stacked with French toast stuffed with a decadent filling ~ balancing out all the flavors with a tangy, fresh fruit salad and a velvety chocolate beverage that will warm you from head to toe. Join us for a culinary treat that will surely become a holiday favorite in your own home. Wear your favorite PJs! Ages 5 and Up

Symphony of Northwest Arkansas

Paul Haas, Music Director

SoNA & Walton Arts Center present

The Snowman: A Family Concert

DEC. 16, 2018 – 2PM Walton Arts Center

9

$

Experience a very special screening of the award-winning film “The Snowman” as SoNA musicians bring to life the extraordinary score in an afternoon that is sure to enchant your little ones.

Made possible by major support from The Willard & Pat Walker Charitable Foundation

Tickets On Sale Now! / sonamusic.org / 479.443.5600

www.davidadams.com

100 West Center, Ste 101 Fayetteville 479-444-7778

Grand Opening Open House Rogers Historical Museum 322 S 2nd Street rogershistoricalmuseum.org December 13 11am - 5pm Be the first to see the new exhibits that will be sure to be a favorite activity for the entire family!

Holiday Baking Classes Rick’s Bakery December 8 Peppermint Unicorn Cake Class 10:30am-12pm December 22 Holiday Cookie Class 10:30am-12pm

Skate-A-Long: A Christmas Story Lawrence Plaza Downtown Bentonville December 15 5-8pm

Holiday Market Through December 16 Walton Arts Center’s McBride Studio Fourth annual Holiday Gift Market.

The Market offers fine, quality hand-crafted gifts created by some of Northwest Arkansas’ most talented artists. Attendees can purchase items ranging from pottery, jewelry, original paintings, cards and prints, home and decorative items, wearable art and other gift ideas. Prices range from $10 – $1000+. The Market is hosted in Walton Art Center’s McBride Studio through December 16 and open for sale during all WAC holiday season performances.

Bring the family to Lawrence Plaza for Frosty Flix and a Skate-A-Long. Enjoy a festive holiday movie after skating to the soundtrack with some of the movies star characters. Grab a picture with your favorite star after the Skate-A-Long. Skate-ALong Begins at 5pm. Movie will begin at 6:30pm. $10 pre-sale ticket/ $15 day-of ticket.

Stewart Family Christmas Lights 4423 Wyman Rd, Fayetteville Nightly: 5:30-9:30pm Our collection of lights started in 2003 with 3000 lights and two inflatables. Over the years, it has grown to over 1.5 million lights and over 500 inflatables. We have a walkthrough pathway so you can enjoy the lights and the inflatables. Parking is available on the corner in the field.

Your children can drop off their letter to Santa through December 20th. We look forward to seeing everyone and having a Merry Christmas. We have a train for your family to ride, and camels, too!

48 December 2018

Wonderland Christmas Tree Farm wonderlandtreefarm.com Winter Wonderland NWA December 15-December 16 Benton County Fairgrounds Bentonville We will have several handcrafted and unique gifts just in time for Christmas! We are also excited to bring you a free kids’ Christmas workshop! This fun workshop will allow kids to make a fun Christmas craft to take home or share with a loved one. Also, don’t forget to stop by and get your picture with Santa!

Event helps to support Autumn’s ReRide Youth Ranch.

A real working tree farm environment with a hayride out to the fields, great atmosphere, and the service you want to begin your holiday decorating and season.

Don’t forget to have the kids bring their letters to Santa when you visit the farm. All letters with return addresses will receive an answer from Santa!

Also, get a family photo in front of the 53’ Chevy truck on display during normal business hours, all decked out with a tree in the back and a wreath on the front!

Bethlehem Revisited: A DriveThru Nativity Lakeview Baptist Church Of NWA December 7 – December 10 6-8pm 1351 E Lowell Ave, Cave Springs This will be a six-scene display of all the events leading up to the birth of Christ! There will be live animals, CD narration in your vehicle, and a cast of 100+ people from Lakeview Baptist Church! Come see this FREE event for all ages as we tell the gospel story that begins with the birth of Christ!

Santa’s Workshop Rogers Experimental House December 1-2 You’re invited to come by and have your picture taken with Santa. In light of his special visit, artists are busy getting Santa’s workshop all set up. You can bring the kids and watch them create a fluid art piece or two for holiday gift giving. All supplies are included, along with complimentary holiday goodies and beverages. The cost is 8×10: $10.00 – 11×14: $15.00

Winter Break Wonders December 22 - January 4 11am-2pm Crystal Bridges Make memories at the museum over your school break as you create with artists, make buttons in the gallery, and listen to fun music together as a family. Join us for special activities each afternoon, including artmaking, creative play, puppets, dance, and more. Free, no registration required.

Noon Years Eve December 31 11am-3pm Crystal Bridges Ring in the New Year (without staying up past bedtime) at our fourth annual family celebration!

We’ll have fun art projects, performances, a Coca-Cola toast at noon, and a family dance party.

Holiday Train Rides Springdale Depot Arkansas Missouri Railroad Dates all month long!

Springdale to Johnson “Holiday Express” (9am, 11am, 1pm) Enjoy a one hour round trip with Santa and friends.

- All Ages Ride Springdale to Winslow “Pajama Train” Enjoy a three hour scenic excursion through the Boston Mountains, over the trestles and through the tunnel.

- All Ages Ride amtrainrides.com for schedule and ticketing

Make Ceramic Gingerbread Houses December 8 Community Creative Center Make Ceramic Gingerbread Houses, Community Creative Center (6+), 1-3pm. Get the family together and create ceramic gingerbread houses. $20 per person

Children’s Concert Crystal Bridges December 5 6-7pm

The Nutcracker December 8-9 The Northwest Arkansas Regional Dance Company Rogers High School All tickets are general admission and can be purchased at the door or in advance at Ballet Westside, 101 E Chestnut St., Rogers. For more information call 479-636-6678

Melody’s Mostly Musical Day. Join Van Cliburn pianist Jenny Lin for this family concert inspired by her book, Melody’s Mostly Musical Day. Follow a child’s musical day, from breakfast to bedtime, featuring works from Mozart to Chopin to Gershwin to Chick Corea. This concert for the entire family was developed with Steinway and incorporates live music, props, storytelling and screening of the illustrations for each musical selection. Free, register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

Zing in the New Year Amazeum December 31 10am to 3pm (member hour from 9-10am) Zing in the New Year with family and friends at the Scott Family Amazeum.

Activities throughout the day include a photo booth, creating wishing balloons to be released during our countdown, the Hershey’s S’mores Pit (weather permitting), and a final endof-day parade for 2018.

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The Best Christmas Pageant Ever December 14-23 Thursday - Saturday 8pm | Sunday 2pm Arkansas Public Theatre In this hilarious Christmas classic, a couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant is faced with casting the Herdman kids--probably the most inventively awful kids in history. You won’t believe the mayhem - and the fun - when the Herdmans collide with the Christmas story head on! This delightful comedy is adapted from the best-selling young adult book, and has become a holiday staple—and the tradition will continue at APT!

Christmas Open House December 20 Lowell Historical Museum 304 Jackson Place, Lowell 4 – 7pm

Polar Express Pajama Storytime and Activities Barnes & Noble 261 N 46th St, Rogers December 7 7-8pm

Join us at the Lowell Historical Museum for our annual holiday open house. Come enjoy refreshments and take pictures with the fabulous Butterfield Stagecoach, and Santa! Bring a new unwrapped toy or children’s clothing to help U.S. veteran and first-responder families this holiday season!

Join us for this beloved Christmas story featuring a young boy who is welcomed aboard on a magical trip to the North Pole where he gets to make his Christmas wish.

Get free hot chocolate and a cookie from our #BNCafe, and don’t forget to wear your favorite cozy pajamas.

Meet Santa at the Northwest Arkansas Mall Fayetteville

Rogers Christmas Parade December 7 7-9pm Downtown Rogers

Santa will be at his home in Center Court waiting to take professional pictures with your kids.

The theme for the parade this year is simply Christmas.

The Snowman: A Family Concert presented by Walton Arts Center and Symphony of Northwest Arkansas Baum Walker Hall December 16 - 2pm Ozark Figure Skating Club Christmas Show: A Merry and Bright Christmas Show December 8th 1pm and 5pm Jones Center Join us for our annual Christmas show on ice. Tickets range from $8-20.

52 December 2018

Returning by popular demand an NWA holiday tradition perfect for all ages! Join us for the 4th annual screening of the 1982 Academy Award®-nominated film The Snowman. Once more, SoNA musicians will bring to life the film’s extraordinary score along with other holiday favorites in an afternoon that is sure to enchant your whole family.

Elf Movie Arkansas Public Theatre December 8 at 2-4pm 301 W Chestnut Street, Rogers tickets.vendini.com Children and their families will have so much fun watching the movie while enjoying donuts and hot cocoa. Wear your pajamas, take home treats and start a new family tradition! Doors open at 1pm. Movie starts at 2pm. Seating is limited. $5 per person.

Holiday Concert Shiloh Museum of Ozark History December 8 2pm Students from the Will Bush Violin Studio in Springdale will present a concert of holiday music at the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History.

The students, who range in age from children to adults, will perform Christmas hymns and carols, fiddle tunes, and classical music of the season on violin, viola, cello, and guitar. shilohmuseum.org.

Breakfast with Santa benefitting Micah’s House NWA December 15 8am – 12pm First Christian Church Disciples of Christ of Rogers 905 South 13th Street, Rogers Delicious hot breakfast, arts and crafts, and photos with Santa, all for a good cause!

KUAF Ozarks at Large Christmas Show December 5 6:15 - 7:30pm Fayetteville Public Library KUAF 91.3FM is proud to present the annual Ozarks at Large Christmas Show in Fayetteville Public Library’s Walker Community Room.

The show includes live music from local bands including Arkansauce, interviews, giveaways and special holiday guests.

Christmas with the APO - Festive Fun for the Family Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra December 15 at 7pm - December 16 at 3pm The APO performs one of the region’s finest Christmas programs, featuring a side-by-side collaboration with the Arkansas Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, and including a great variety of your holiday favorites! It is festive fun for the entire family!

Holiday Fine Art Market December 8 11am-5pm Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks Shop local for the holidays! The Botanical Garden of the Ozarks will host a one-day holiday fine art market featuring the work of Art Ventures NWA artists. Stay warm browsing the artwork inside our event hall and purchase unique pieces for friends, loved ones or yourself! Admission to the market and garden on this day is FREE – come shop the art market and BGO Gift Shop, and then explore the garden!

Bentonville Christmas Parade December 8 10am Bentonville Square The parade will start at the fire station, make its way up Main Street and end at the Square.

Christmas Display Bentonville Heart Lites 6:30 - 10:30pm 3505 NW Edgewood Ave Bentonville We love putting on a Christmas show to help bring the focus of Christ in Christmas to families through our lighting display. We have run our show for five years and love doing it!

54 December 2018

A Morning with Santa Bentonville Parks and Recreation December 8 9am-2pm 1101 SW Citizens Cir, Bentonville

Live Nativity and Free Camel Rides December 16 5-7pm Rolling Hills Baptist Church 1400 Rolling Hills Dr, Fayetteville

Bentonville Parks & Recreation just got the news that Santa Claus is coming to the Bentonville Community Center! We will have a photographer on site to take free photos of each child with Santa.

Be sure to join us for choir music, refreshments, and fun! Free to members / $5 for non-members

Christmas wouldn't be complete without a live nativity and... camel rides? That's right! This event will have free camel rides, a free petting zoo, and a live nativity for the whole family to enjoy. All are welcome!

Let Heaven and Nature Sing!

Inspirational Chorale Jim and Joyce Faulkner Performing Arts Center December 4 at 7:30 PM – 9 PM The University of Arkansas Inspirational Chorale, under the direction of Dr. Jeffrey Allen Murdock, will give their final performance of the fall semester Advanced purchase: $10/$5 Day of purchase: $16/$8

Winter Break Wonders Crystal Bridges December 22- January 4 1-4pm

Make memories at the museum over your school break as you create with artists, make buttons in the gallery, and listen to fun music together as a family.

Special activities each afternoon, including art making, creative play, puppets, dance, and more.

Free, no registration required.

Cookies for Heroes 2018 December 25 FB Event Cookies for Heroes 2018 Let’s bring cookies and other goodies to the fine men and women who protect and serve us all year round and have to work Christmas Day!

2018 North Pole Express December 8 and December 15 Nightmares Haunted House 13080 N. Hwy 71, Bentonville Come join us and celebrate the happiest time of the year--and bring your kiddos! This event is free to the public and will be accepting donations if you would like to give to support the Lions club Charity organization.

Super kid-friendly bus ride with a family favorite movie playing, along with hot chocolate and cookies!Also, don't miss your chance to get your pictures with Santa Clause and some of his elves!

“

WORTHY OF THE GODS!”

TIME OUT NEW YORK

JANUARY 4-5 3 SHOWS! THE BOOK COMES TO LIFE IN A BRAND NEW SHOW. SEE IT FIRST! Media Support:

by: CassieBeth Beauford Jody Landers so eloquently described the inner turmoil of adoptive mommas when she wrote, “A child born to another woman calls me mommy.

The magnitude of that tragedy and the depth of that privilege are not lost on me.” I cannot speak for every adoptive parent; I can only speak for myself.

Through the support of Grace Haven Ministries, I have come to a place of accepting the fact that grief and joy will forever coexist in my heart because of how God chose to grow our family.

Our family of four became official through the gift of adoption on February 22, 2017. I did not settle well into my new, unexpected role of momma. I felt less-than, unfulfilled, questioning, doubting, and, at raw times, I was even resentful of my new role. While my husband and I did intentionally go through the time-consuming and heartwrenching process of opening our home to foster care, we did it with the idea that we would spend years being a revolving door - we would welcome countless littles into our home, care for them while we supported reunification with their biological family, and then celebrate with them when their case would be resolved through reunification. Any foster parent will tell you that fostering is a battle, and to expect the unexpected. Our experience was no exception, as we did not have countless 58 December 2018

littles. Instead, we took in two littles and closed our home 13 months after opening. For me, the battles changed with each unexpected twist and turn of our case plans. With each battle, I had a subconscious expectation for the battles to end the day our littles were either reunified with their biological family, or the day our adoptions were finalized. For our littles, adoption became our story, and guilt became my daily battle. Guilt that I had someone else’s child. Guilt that I was told “yes,” which meant other ladies were told “no.” Late one night, my husband lovingly told me, “Cassie, let them want you,” to which I tearfully responded, “I don’t know how.”

I didn’t know how to handle the conflict of grieving for the biological families while rejoicing for our adoptive family. It was during this time of barely holding myself above water that I received an invitation to attend Grace Haven’s 2017 Adoptive Mom’s Retreat here in Northwest Arkansas. I hesitantly and excitedly drove to the retreat. I was unsure of what I would find, but, I knew I – at the very least – could use a break. What I found, instead, was a sisterhood. Strangers quickly became friends, prayer warriors, and shoulders to cry on. Through the prayerful ministry of Grace Haven, God transformed me from a wounded

woman into a valiant momma. I learned that I did not have to overcome the grief in my heart, nor did I need to suppress the joy that was attempting to grow in my heart. Grief and joy could coexist – and they do. Mother’s Day will always be a mix of emotions for me, and that is okay. It is okay that I pray for our littles’ biological mommas with tears rolling down my cheeks and yet smile ear-to-ear as I open homemade cards and receive hugs and kisses. I can grieve for the loss of their biological family while I joyfully let them want me.

on trauma and its effects on our families, so that we can build larger networks of support through our towns. Our goal is to be an ongoing resource, from the preadoptive stages to every step along the way, during happy times and times of crisis and uncertainty. If you are an adoptive family, we want to connect with you and walk alongside you. If you have a heart for our children and families, we are always in need of volunteer support and financial resources. Our office is at the Center for NonprofitsSt. Mary’s, at 1200 W Walnut St in Rogers.

Adoption is not the end of anyone’s journey.

It is a new chapter or a new beginning, but, it is never the end. I don’t know about you, but I enjoy having support and fellow travelers on the journey. Some have journeyed longer and farther than us, and some are just beginning their journey.

Grace Haven has offered a team of fellow travelers who truly extend a haven of grace for each of us traveling the adoption journey.

At Grace Haven Ministries, we believe that parents like CassieBeth should never walk this journey alone. We provide services and support for adoptive families to build community and guide each other on this path. We also work to educate the community

Learn more about us at www.gracehavenfamilies.org, or email us at waylon.martin@gracehavenhome.com

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PRENATAL + PARENT SALON January 22, 209 5-8:30pm Record Event Center, Bentonville by: Sharlotte Fedewa

massage demos, henna tattoos, baby room designs, boutique baby clothes, acupuncture demos, prenatal chiropractic info, chocolate, tea, photo shoots, house cleaning, essential oils, and more!

Five years ago, I became pregnant with my first child, a beautiful daughter named Rosie who changed my whole life. In those nine months, I became aware of the incredible metamorphosis of the female body: my shape changed, my moods changed, my food preferences changed – even the way my body responded to movement changed! I was a yoga instructor at the time, and I became fanatical about finding out what kind of movements were good for the prenatal body – and what kind of breathing, and what kind of food, and what kind of emotional support... and eventually it led me into both a prenatal yoga teacher training and a doula certification. I was, and am, headover-heels in love with helping pregnant ladies feel their absolute best as they nurture the tiny miracles inside of them.

On the stage, we’ll introduce a panel of pregnancy experts sponsored by The Family Birthplace at Northwest Medical Center-Bentonville, including an OBGYN, a CNM midwife, an anesthesiologist, and a doula sharing what they do in terms of safety and comfort, then answering questions from the audience. Participants will enjoy chances to win multiple giveaways: prenatal yoga classes, fit4mom classes, essential oils, gift cards to Baby Face, acupuncture, massages, chiropractic care, interior design work, Oh Baby Boutique, coffee, tea, Keller Williams realty, pedicures, hair care, local restaurants, and much more! We’ll end the night with empowering birth stories.

Seven doula birth-assists, a hundred prenatal yoga classes, and two of my own children later, I found myself in Bentonville, teaching prenatal yoga at Yoga Story and Bee Well Yoga, with the same desire, and with a keen awareness that there needs to be more support for all mothers out there.

I wanted to see a community connected by the support we can give each other. That’s when the Prenatal+ Parent Salon was born.

Prenatal+ Parent Salon is an educational celebration of pregnancy. It is both a pampered night out for all weary pregnant ladies, and a onestop educational shop for all the different ways to feel good about their bodies, to labor with strength and power, and to give birth in exactly the way they need to – be it all-natural, at home or helpful interventions used. We’ll have a tapas-style dinner with pregnancy-safe foods alongside the very best vendors in NWA who will showcase prenatal 60 December 2018

I wanted to create a space where women can become comfortable knowing more about what is happening with their bodies, and have access to all the resources that exist out there to help them during some of the most magical (and difficult!) months of their life. I get excited just thinking about having the chance to hear about everyone’s stories!

The event will also support my other passion: ending human trafficking. To that end, 20 percent of our profits will be sent to Polaris, one of the very best resources in ending one of the worst practices in our modern age. I find it compelling to host an event that celebrates both the beginning of new life, and the reclaiming of lives that have been stolen.

The event will be held at Record in downtown Bentonville on January 22, 2019, 5pm to 8:30pm.

To buy tickets go to Eventbrite.com and search Prenatal + Parent Salon Pop-Out. For questions about the event email: me@sharlotteyoga.com

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39

Glance At a

To advertise email: editor@peekaboonwa.com

FAMILY FUN / ENTERTAINMENT

ARTS and MUSIC

Amazeum (Pg. 25) (479) 696-9280 Crystal Bridges (Pg. 33) (479) 418-5700 crystalbridges.org Symphony of Northwest Arkansas (Pg. 47) sonamusic.org Trike Theatre (Pg. 41) (479) 464-5084 triketheatre.org Walton Arts Center (Pg. 56) waltonartscenter.org

BANKS

First Security (Pg. 19) www.fsbank.com; www.onlyinark.com

CHILDCARE/NANNY SERVICES

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 53) (479) 202-5691 abchappykids.com

CLOTHING

Oh Baby Boutique (Pg. 27) ohbabynwa.com

DENTIST

Mint Dental Care (Pg. 11) (479) 385-6308 MintDentalAR.com Pediatric Dental Associates & Orthodontics (479) 582-0600 (Pg. 4)

DERMATOLOGY / SKIN CARE

Advanced Dermatology (Pg. 39) advancedskinMD.com NWA Center for Plastic Surgery (Pg. 2) (479) 571-3100 nwacenterforplasticsurgery.com

EDUCATION/TRAINING

Alan Redmon (Pg. 23) (479) 544-8250 nwaguitarlessons@gmail.com Super Science (Pg. 15) (479) 444-0303 www.super-sci.com Thaden School (Pg. 13) (479) 268-5321

Amazeum (Pg. 25) (479) 696-9280 Arkansas Razorbacks (Pg. 21) (800) 982-HOGS www.arkansasrazorbacks.com Crystal Bridges (Pg. 33) (479) 418-5700 Malco Theaters (Pg. 17) www.malco.com Micah’s House (Pg. 59) www.micahshousenwa.org Starlight Skatium (Pg. 39) (479) 444-STAR Super Science (Pg. 15) (479) 444-0303 www.super-sci.com Trike Theatre (Pg. 41) (479) 464-5084 triketheatre.org Walton Arts Center (Pg. 56) waltonartscenter.org

FOOD / DRINK

TCBY (Pg. 3) (479) 636-8229 (TCBY)

Home care

Nook & Cranny Housekeeping (Pg. 24) (479) 871-3822

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Arkansas Children's Northwest (Pg. 5) ARchildrens.org/nyla The Diva Dive (Pg. 41) thedivadive.com Fit4Mom (Pg. 65) bentonvillerogers.fit4mom.com Friendship Pediatric Services (Pg. 42) fccare.org Northwest Health-Mayo Clinic (Pg. 9) NorthwestHealthMayoClinicPartnership.com Westside Health Mart (Pg. 62) (479) 756-3232

JEWELRY AND GIFTS

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law office

Danielson Law Firm (Pg. 37) (479) 935-8313

64 December 2018

To advertise email: editor@peekaboonwa.com

LEARNING CENTER

Academic Math and Language Therapy (Pg. 61) (479) 253-3256 www.amltherapy.com ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 53) (479) 202-5691 abchappykids.com Aloha Learning Center (Pg. 65) (479) 696-7889 K12 (Pg. 35) (877) 344-8785

PEDIATRICIAN

FIT4MOM

Best Start (Pg. 57) (479) 575-9359 Friendship Pediatric Services (Pg. 42) fccare.org Northwest Pediatric Convenient Care (Pg. 8) (479) 751-2522 Ozark Pediatrics (Pg. 55) (479) 544-9432

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Academic Math and Language Therapy (Pg. 61) (479) 253-3256 www.amltherapy.com Friendship Pediatric Services (Pg. 42) (479) 524-2456

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Baby Face & More (Pg. 13) (479) 270-7391

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WOMEN'S HEALTH

Fit4Mom (Pg. 65) bentonvillerogers.fit4mom.com Parkhill (Pg. 55) Parkhillclinic.com Siloam Springs Women's Center (Pg. 63) (479) 524-9312 Tulsa Fertility Center (Pg. 66) TulsaFertilityCenter.com Women's Health Associates (Pg. 43) whanwa.com

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