May 2015

Peekaboo Happy Mother’s A Mother’s Love Day Praying for Peace

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Dear Mom of Littles

Northwest Arkansas’ Family Magazine

May 2015

Happy Mother’s Day M a k e h e r f e e l s p e c i al t h i s y e ar Visit our Facebook page to nominate your mom to win our special Mother ’s Day contest NWACPS

D. Heath Stacey, MD Board Certified Plastic Surgeon 137 Van Asche Loop, Fayetteville, AR | 479-571-3100

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the PEEKABOO family Kimberly Enderle

Editor-in-Chief editor@peekaboonwa.com (479) 957-0532

Ava. Grant. and Holden.

Jonathon Enderle

Creative Director jon@peekaboonwa.com (479) 586-3890

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Distribution/ Circulation Joyce Whitaker Judy Evans Marcedalia Salinas Jeremy Whitaker Michelle Dodson

Peekaboo Publications, PO Box 1036, Bentonville, Arkansas 72712 Peekaboo Northwest Arkansas accepts writing contributions.

Please send inquiries to: editor@peekaboonwa.com or call (479) 586-3890 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.

Peekaboo nwa W h at ’ s I n s i d e | m ay | 2 0 1 5 16

A Mother’s Love by: Brandi Rushton

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Bentonville Film Festival

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Dear Fellow Mom of Littles by: Mandy Moore

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Meet the Person Behind Imagine Studios

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Sweet Southern Advice with Sherry Lloyd

36

Kids That Rock! by: Brady Varnelis

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Meet Carson by: Jessica Ponge

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Dad’s View with Ben Lacy

48

Praying for Peace by: Silvy Kehrli

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God-Living with Chronic Illness by: Laurie Miller

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Dalai Mama with Kristin Hvizda

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Teaching and Training by: Stefanie Lawson

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Rituals of Life by: Eva Lebens

70

Sun Protection for the Family by: Ryan Crowder, MPAS,PA-C

72

Joseph Ivy, MD and Northwest Health’s Robotics Assisted Surgical Technology Advances Gynecologic Oncology Care for Women of NWA

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Summer Camp Guide Preview

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More Than a Game by: Marisa Lytle

Mother’s Day Issue

o n t h e c ov e r Lucy (3), Henry (2) and Elvis, (1 Month) Children of Jeff and Al Gabbard of Fayetteville.

Cover Photo by: EVERAFTER Portraiture everafterportraiture

www.peekaboonwa.com

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from the editor

Created For You Photography

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ince becoming a mom, I find myself in a constant state of awe and amazement. I’m in awe of the little people who rely on me, who love me, who call me “Mommy.” I’m amazed by how quickly they grow, and sometimes forget that they are little humans in their own right, forging a path of their own. I also forget that I don’t just want to parent and play taxi driver to these little people, but I truly want to spend time with them, getting to know them and just be with them.

Last week I was rocking Grant before laying him down for a nap when the million things I “need to be doing” flooded my thoughts.

This time, instead of rushing up and quickly wishing him a “happy nap” as I usually do I decided to instead hold him closer and let myself sink deeper in the rocking chair.

In that moment I made the decision to stay exactly where I was and to fully “be” where I was. I know from experience that in the blink of an eye my baby will be off to school from 8-3 and no longer available or interested in mid-day snuggles or stories. Something miraculous happened following that decision.

The laundry still got washed, dryed and (most of it) folded. The magazine still wrapped up its latest issue (and found its way to your hands), and the world didn’t come to a halt all because I didn’t immediately respond to the text messages that were dinging away on my phone.

Instead I layed him down, kissed him, and felt good that I hadn’t rushed away to the next “to-do.”

I have found myself adding more and more to my to-do list each day, rushing through tasks and trying to get them done as fast as possible just so I can do even more. But one day last week, when I was flipping through my photo albums on my Facebook page I caught a true view of everything that is important to me.

The moments that I treasure have nothing to do with answering emails, paying bills, or washing the dishes. While all of those things are important in their own right, I definitely

did not care to snap a picture of them with a catchy tagline like, “such a great day getting to spend time sorting the same clothes that I washed last week and will do again next week.”

Instead, all of my facebook photos that flashed across my screen were images of the people that matter the most to me, doing things that made them happy, and being present in the moment. (If you want to put into perspective just how fast time goes by then just flip through your FB photo albums and watch your kids grow before your eyes. You could have sworn that the trip to Orlando was just last year and not 5 years ago!)

So, I made the decision that I needed to start being in the place in time that matter most.

For example, instead of pausing a board game with Ava to sweep the floors or answer a work call, I have decided to spend quality time wihout distraction with the three little people who won’t always be so little forever.

What I found since practicing this new art of “being” was that my kids open up more during our conversations and I am able to have even deeper interactions because they aren’t constantly being paused by the random “must dos” that I am rushing back and forth between.

I look forward to living life in the moment and if I ever need a reminder (and I know I will) I now have this letter that I am sharing with you to look back on.

Adapt.

Meaning, to make suitable to requirements or conditions; adjust or modify fittingly. When asked to define my life thus far, this is the word I would use. It’s a word that seems so easy to understand, but is actually complex in it’s meaning--and, for our story, this is the word that fits us best.

As many couples do, my husband and I began thinking about children early in our marriage. It was a discussion that we had had while dating, and a discussion we would continue to have several years into our marriage. As a new small business owner, the first years of our marriage seemed full to me–-my store was my baby, in many ways. It needed nurturing and guidance from me, and my husband understood this, so we agreed we would have a baby later. Later came and later went.

I never thought we would have any issues conceiving. I always thought that when we decided to have a child, it would happen. But, it didn’t and it wouldn’t for a long time. Like so many others we knew, we went to all the doctors, read all the books, and just kept trying. After what felt like a lifetime of disappointment, we decided that it was time to adapt our dreams to our reality. So, we set off to the beach to reset and to come back fresh.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know what happened next–-that’s right–-we were pregnant.

The months and years of lost hope melted away with that little pink plus sign.

16 May 2015

A Mother’s Love Story by: Brandi Rushton / Photo TOp: Jade Howard Photo Right: Maliah Pinkleton Photography a·dapt ə’dapt verb

Our next few To make suitable months were full of to requirements or all the excitement conditions; adjust of being pregnant. or modify fittingly.

We had dreamed of this time for so long, and I was so excited to be sharing it with my own mom. She was the one person outside of our marriage who wanted us to have a baby just as much as we wanted it for our family. She was my best friend, and to share the news with her made the news even more exciting. There was not one day when my pregnancy went by uncelebrated by us all. Our lives became even more complete when we learned we were having a boy. My mom laughed and said, “Oh, sweet girl, what will you do with a boy?” because sports and boy activities were never something I took interest in. Little did I know, this little boy would soon change our world in the best way imaginable.

Taggart Ashby was the most loved person in our family before we even had a chance to meet him.

During all of the excitement, I knew my life was changing a little every day. We were adapting to our new roles. When I went over my due date, my mom was the one who told me it was okay. She teased me for dressing up in full hair and makeup for the hospital, and she was the one I would lean on for support those first few frightening days of being a new mom. My life was blessed and I was thankful.

Fast forward 6 weeks, and our blessed life would take a huge turn for the worse, because my mom died. It was sudden and unexpected, and the pain that followed was something I had never known. I knew my mom would want me to be strong for Tag, and I knew Tag needed me to be happy and stable for him. I wanted to ensure that his newness would stay intact; the innocence of a newborn is something I knew would be fleeting, and I wanted to hold on to that as long as I could.

My love for him, a mother’s love, was strong enough and sure enough to pull me out of this.

As Christmas approached, our life was returning to our new normal. Or, at least, that’s what I told myself and anyone that asked. Each day I would put a smile on my face, and I would face the world saying I was okay. I had to be okay. I couldn’t be a successful business owner, proud wife, and new mom and still be sad. My family needed me to be strong, and not even I could understand on the inside I had died a little, too.

The only light I would find to get me through the darkest times was Tag, my husband, and supportive friends. Tag became my reason to fight and live.

During the holidays, I had become increasingly tired and didn’t feel quite right. I pushed through since it was the holidays and tried to focus on our baby’s first Christmas. I gave a lot of time to my little brother, also, since he was without our mom for the first time, too. While visiting my brother and wife’s family in Dallas, I went to the doctor and learned I had the flu. I was sent home with medicine and the promise I should feel better soon. A couple of days passed, and I was getting substantially sicker. In fact, I felt worse than I had ever felt before. I told my husband I needed to go to the ER. The struggle to breathe had become too much to bear, and I knew my body was fighting something terrible.

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the deadly combination of H1N1 and MRSA of the lungs and blood. My already slim chances of survival had been split in half. The doctors and nurses tried to prepare my husband and friends for the reality that even if I survived–-our life would most likely never be the same and I would never be healthy again.

My husband had to adapt for both of us after that– -he had to make the decisions about my health and treatments, the choices of our baby’s care, and the decision of what would happen if Tag lost his mother. His days were filled with hope and prayers and lots of love from family and friends that stayed close by his side. He remained hopeful and never gave up on my survival. The love and support from friends and even strangers that filled those days was immeasurable.

After thirty-eight days on ECMO and another 14 days in a medically induced coma, a mother’s love for Tag and God’s grace beat my deadly illness.

I said my goodbyes to Tag. I would, at the very most, undergo a breathing treatment and come home.

It turned out to be worse than I could’ve ever imagined. For the next two and a half months, I would be in a medically induced coma. I would know of nothing going on around me with respect to my friends, family, or even my own health. The last thing I knew of this world was my request to go to the ER---everything that came to be after that point was a decision made by my husband and doctors.

What could happen to an otherwise perfectly healthy person, you ask? H1N1--a deadly strain of the flu known for being hard to diagnose and even harder to treat. The doctors explained this to my husband as they were putting me on a ventilator after being at the hospital for only 15 minutes.

A mere 12 hours after my arrival to the hospital, my husband was faced with making the choice between keeping me close to home or having me flown to AR Children’s Hospital in Little Rock to be put on ECMO for the foreseeable future. Even then, my chances were a slim percentage, and the doctors knew this would be the last chance I would have at survival. After arriving at ACH, the news of my health would get worse. I now suffered from

At first, when I finally awoke, I could only feel confusion. My husband and friends tried to explain, but were careful with the speed of information. Our new meaning of adapt meant getting me in a frame of mind to learn to swallow, use my hands, and walk. Friends and family were celebrating a true miracle and that gave me the strength and hope to get better. During this time, my future was unclear to me. However, I knew one thing for sure–-I would go home. I knew there was no other option for me but to heal and to do it fast.

My son had lost almost 3 months of time with his mommy, and I had lost what seemed like a lifetime away from him. To my dismay, there was no “Get Out of Jail Free” card for my rehabilitation. It was going to be a long, hard journey full of more downs than ups at times, but it was a journey I knew I had to make. I no longer just wanted to be home–-I needed to be home. I envisioned Tag’s face in every challenging moment, and that bundle of joy needed his Mommy to come home. I knew Tag was about to start walking, and I knew I had to show him I could, too. As an adult, you never can quite relate to your child’s milestones, but I understood how much strength went into it and only hoped I would be able to do it alongside him.

I’ll never forget the day I was told I would be released to go home the next morning. It was the most celebratory moment of my life. I’d have to

rank up there with the day I married my husband, and the day Tag was born. Finally, something seemed to be going in the right direction for our family. Our lives would be back together, and I even thought I sort of understood it wouldn’t be the same. I knew being home was the best thing that could ever happen to me. I was still sad about the lost time and the loss of my mother, but I knew my days of sadness would be different, and in many ways, behind me. When the doctors tried to warn me that things wouldn’t be easy–-I couldn’t listen or hear them. There was no way it could be harder than it already was.

I was wrong. The next few weeks and months were almost harder than being away. Friends could barely come over due to my high risk for infections, my family were all trying to return to their lives, and my whole reason for being home--Tag, didn’t seem to know me. It was heartbreaking. I couldn’t find anyone that could relate and tell me Tag and I would be okay. I felt a lot of guilt for being so grief-stricken, because it was a true miracle that I was given the gift of a second chance.

Now our future is brighter. We have learned to adapt with the changing tides, and though there

Learning begins with play.

Little Giggles is an indoor playground providing a safe environment fostering educative, creative play for young children.

Loved by children and enjoyable fo parents, too! r

are still days where I struggle with my health and what seems like an obsession with staying healthy (Hello, flu season…), I know what we have overcome. I know without the love I have for my son and husband my story would have been very different.

As we approach my first Mother’s Day as a healthy, active mom, I find myself reflecting on our almost two-year journey. This Mother’s Day, I am living our new normal, a normal that consists of me being able to chase my son through the yard, walk a 5K with my friends, and share memories of my mom through laughter and less tears. A normal that makes us a family--a family who has struggled with life and death, who has found ourselves a new beginning, and a second chance with peace that only our faith in God and one another can provide.

Camp Details: 2 - 5 yr olds (must be potty trained) Limited space available. Must reserve space before first day of camp.

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July 27th - 29th August 3rd - 5th

Now Registering for Summer Camps

“My aspiration is to share with New York and L.A. and everybody the benefit I’ve had of coming to Bentonville and to join this great town,” said Bentonville Film Festival Co-Founder, Trevor Drinkwater.

Championing Women and Diversity in Film May 5 – May 9, 2015 Bentonville Opening and Closing the Week

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eena Davis and ARC Entertainment’s Bentonville Film Festival (BFF), recently announced the two films that have been selected to open and close the festival.

TriStar Pictures’ “War Room,” written and directed by the Kendrick brothers’, will screen as the Festival’s opening night film on Tuesday, May 5, while Elizabeth Banks’s comedy “Pitch Perfect 2” (Universal Pictures) will cap the week’s festivities as the closing night film on Saturday, May 9.

22 May 2015

“We’re beyond excited to have two highly anticipated studio films open and close the first Bentonville Film Festival. ‘War Room’ is another heartfelt film from Alex and Stephen Kendrick that will set a great tone for the festival,” said Davis.

“We’re honored that Universal and Elizabeth have provided us the opportunity to be a launching pad for ‘Pitch Perfect 2,’ which opens in theaters the following week. I can’t think of a better film to close BFF and leave audiences with a positive feeling of what this event is all about!”

Written to entertain audiences of all ages and appealing to both men and women, “War Room” tells the story of Tony and Elizabeth Jordan who have it all—great jobs, a beautiful daughter, and their dream house. But appearances can be deceiving. Tony and Elizabeth Jordan’s world is actually crumbling under the strain of a failing marriage. While Tony basks in his professional success and flirts with temptation, Elizabeth resigns herself to increasing bitterness. But their lives take an unexpected turn when Elizabeth meets her newest client, Miss Clara, and is challenged to establish a “war room” and a battle plan of prayer for her family. As Elizabeth tries to fight for her family, Tony’s hidden struggles come to light. Tony must decide if he will make amends to his family and prove Miss Clara’s wisdom that victories don’t come by accident.

Like “Fireproof ” did with marriage, and “Courageous” did with fatherhood, “War Room” focuses on the transformational role that prayer can play in an individual’s life. Alex Kendrick (“Courageous,” “Fireproof,” “Flywheel”) directed “War Room” from a script he co-wrote with brother Stephen Kendrick (“Courageous,” “Fireproof ”).

“Food trucks and live music playing...it’s going to be like a First Friday, but it’ll last every day during the festival. It’s going to be really fun, and we hope people can come and experience that.” - Trevor

The film stars Alex Kendrick, Priscilla Shirer (“Praise the Lord”), T.C. Stallings (“Courageous”), Beth Moore (“Living Proof Ministries”) and Karen Abercrombie (“Remnant”).

“War Room” will open in theaters across America on August 28.

Meanwhile, the “Barden Bellas” are back in Universal’s “Pitch Perfect 2,” the follow-up to 2012’s hit. “Pitch Perfect 2” is helmed by Banks, costar and producer of “Pitch Perfect,” and features the entire cast returning again – led by Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow, Skylar Astin, Adam DeVine, Anna Camp, Alexis Knapp, Hana Mae Lee, Ester Dean, John Michael Higgins and Banks.

The BFF is a one of a kind annual event which will champion women and diversity in all aspects of film making.

The comedy is produced by Paul Brooks, Max Handelman and Banks and writer Kay Cannon returned to the team to pen the next chapter.

The “Pitch Perfect 2” screening is a free event and will take place at the AMC Fiesta Square 16 in Fayetteville. The film will open in theaters nationwide on Friday, May 15.

The Bentonville Film Festival runs May 5-9. The complete schedule of events, including dates, times and venue locations can be found at

www.bentonvillefilmfestival.com

Dear Fellow Mom of Littles, Hi, my name is Mandy.

Even though I don’t know you, I feel like we have a lot in common.

I recognized that tired look in your eyes across the dining room at our local Chick-fil-a. Your eyes said what a lot of our eyes say -- that this motherhood journey, though full of joy, contains lots of hard moments and seldom a good night’s sleep. Sleep deprivation is a torture tactic, after all... and we moms are all so stinking sleep-deprived.

standard (and an unattainable one) than the dads are - but that issue is for another time.

I joined the ranks of motherhood just 14 months ago when I adopted my daughter, a toddler from China. For the past year, I have had a crash course in motherhood. Motherhood is so stinking hard! I know what it feels like to have loved ones or strangers look on and assess your parenting techniques-and not agree with your approach. I know what it feels like to get frustrated and disappointed in yourself. I know what it feels like to be plagued with ‘mom guilt.’ I know what it feels like to have people ask questions, not from a disposition to know you better, but to feel better about themselves by critiquing you in their mind. We can feel that difference, can’t we? Between the tantrums, the sleepless nights, the accidents, the owies, and opinions of others, motherhood is not for the faint of heart. Being “mommy” is the most humbling of journeys because it is one of the hardest journeys.

It is refining more than any educational or life experience that I’ve had to date. And sometimes, I think the moms in the crowd are held to a higher

But, fellow mom of littles, I want you to listen to my experience and just hear me. My heart is not to critique you, to add to your list of shoulds, but to ask if we can work together to teach our littles a really important lesson in being kind to those who are different, who look different. I am asking you to meet me at the playground.

It is because this journey is so hard, that I have debated whether I should write this. I don’t want to be another voice in the crowd critiquing moms.

I don’t want to write a post about the top 10 things every mother should do because people “should” us enough already. Most days, I am lucky if I accomplish a few of those shoulds, let alone all 10.

You see, in a world of Super Moms, I have declared that I am the World’s Okayest Mommy instead (thanks to a friend who introduced this title to me).

You see, the playground is one of the most educational places for my family. The playground can also be one of the hardest places. My family looks different. Because my family looks different, we attract a lot of attention because we are a transracial family and my daughter Lydia has a visible limb difference. My daughter was born with symbrachydactyly. In utero, her hand stopped growing at the lower half of her palm. She has a smaller forearm and is missing five fingers. Like many other limb difference families, we call this her “Lucky Fin” (see the movie “Finding Nemo”).

And though Lydia’s limb difference doesn’t seem to

limit her ability at all, it sometimes seems to limit how people think about her.

During my 14 months as a mom, I have noticed that there are very few moms (or parents) present at the playground. For example, I saw you at Chick-fil-a, and I noticed that you never came to the playground area, though this is where your children were most of the visit. Of course, I completely understand needing a break away from your littles. You were there with a couple of other mom friends, who were also sitting in the dining area for the duration of your visit. Even though I am used to seeing parents lost in their smartphones at the community park, I have noticed a physical absence of parents in restaurant play areas especially. Usually, I am the only one on the bench, or one other mom is there as well, even though the play area is busting at the seams with littles.

If I did not have a child with a visible special need, I think I would’ve done exactly what you did that day.

On this particular afternoon, your 4-ish year old (or younger) daughter looked at my daughter up and down and then stopped at her Lucky Fin. The grimace on your little girl’s face when she saw my daughter’s limb difference. It hurt. Your daughter yelled out, “I DON’T LIKE HER!” while pointing to my Lydia. “You don’t like her?” I asked, shocked at what I heard. Typically, children ask questions like, “What’s wrong with her hand?” or “What happened to her hand?” But this time was extra hard--my daughter was declared unlikeable because of something outside of her control. My daughter understood your daughter before I did. “Yeah, I don’t like her!” she said, pointing at my daughter’s Lucky Fin. “Oh, but that is not a kind thing to say,” I said. “Her name is Lydia. Lydia is so much fun, and just like you, when people say mean comments, it hurts her heart. That was not a kind thing to say to another person.” She responded with, “I know. I don’t like her.” I then taught your daughter about differences and the importance of kindness (and I have to teach my daughter the kindness lesson a lot, too). And you weren’t there in this teachable moment. You weren’t aware of the hurtful things your daughter said when she saw someone who was visibly different. She noticed the difference. I wanted to be able to partner with you and model for our daughters how to extend grace and acceptance when people are different. I wanted to model for

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our daughters how to work through an awkward situation because it was awkward. I wanted to model conflict resolution, even if we stumbled our way through it. I did not want to embarrass you or your daughter. I didn’t want to teach your daughter without you there, but I did.

You see, families like mine welcome questions.

Your child’s questions give us an opportunity to model for our children how to teach others about differences because someday soon, we won’t be there at school to model those interactions. My daughter is just now at the age where she can begin to verbalize that she was just born this way and that she can do anything someone with two hands/10 fingers can do. The playground is where a lot of taunting occurs. The playground is where we are asked the most questions. And when our littles grow older and go off to school, the playground is where bullies reign their kingdom.

There aren’t enough teachers on the playground at school to make the most of this educational space, and that is why I need you there with me today.

The playground is the place where valuable lessons can be learned and character shaped, especially for littles. Socialization is maximized when we are there to guide our littles. The playground might be a place that shows us an area of development we weren’t aware of in our child (or even a strength).

So, I am sincerely inviting you to join me at the playground so that we can partner together in helping our children understand and value people who look different and who are different. Perhaps we can become friends in the process.

And for the moms and dads who are at the playground, never be embarrassed if your child asks us questions. Remind yourselves that this is a great place for our family to practice, to educate, to encourage our daughter. When we shame our children’s questions, we add stigma to differences.

So dear mom of littles, I know I added

I am sincerely inviting you to join me at the playground so that we can partner together in helping our children understand and value people who look different and who are different. another “should” to the mommy list. I know we are tired and we need time with girlfriends. I know the play area at indoor facilities can be really loud.

I just ask that you be present at the playground when our littles are little because families like mine want to partner with you to teach littles about disability, adoption, and transracial families. And if I hadn’t become mommy to Lydia, I probably wouldn’t have been aware how much a father or mother’s shepherding is needed at the playground.

A co-journeyer on the motherhood adventure,

Mandy Moore, proud Mommy of Lydia PS - To learn more about limb differences, see the Lucky Fin Project www.facebook.com/ LuckyFinProject

{ } Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.

Live the life you have imagined.

Henry David Thoreau

Meet the person behind Imagine Studios

“I

wish we had this in Fayetteville,” are words that Imagine Studio owner, Melanie Hewins, has heard for years. Now, after four amazingly successful years in Rogers, she is ready to make her customers’ oft-quoted desire a reality by opening a second Imagine Studios location in Fayetteville this month.

“Creativity is contagious,” says Melanie, “and we are ready to pass it on.”

At Imagine Studios, the primary activity is a paintyour-own pottery experience, where you can express yourself creatively while creating a long-lasting, useful keepsake. In addition, Imagine Studies is open to hosting your birthday party, bridal shower, to giving you art lessons, hosting summer camps, and much more. They are committed to offering as many opportunities as possible for their customers to create lifelong memories with their kids, special someone, or with their best friends.

From imprinting the tiniest baby footprints on platters to grandparents spending quality time with their grandkids, making memories special is their passion and their expertise. Now, with Melanie’s husband’s help, Imagine Studios will now be able to offer that to a whole new audience in Fayetteville. Still curious?

Peekaboo got the story straight from the source, Melanie herself.

Meet Melanie:

Owning a small business was a dream of mine for many, many years before I finally took the leap. When my kiddos were small, I dreamed of being able to quit my day job (I was a teacher at the time) and open a business. I wanted to live out my dreams of having a more flexible, independent and fulfilling career that balanced with the family life that I truly loved. I actually laid in bed at night while I was still employed elsewhere and made plans for this ‘someday’ business. In taking stock of what I loved, I realized that I truly loved teaching. Not only that, but I loved working with people- specifically children--and I loved art. The fact that I didn’t possess an art or business degree didn’t bother me, since I had always loved taking

30 May 2015

lots of art classes and had always been an intrepid, determined and creative spirit. My dad owned his own excavating business, for which I started doing the paperwork at age 12, so the business side didn’t scare me, either.

I began my first forays into business by painting murals in people’s homes—mainly in kids’ rooms.

I loved this! It was such a creative, fun experience.

It took some work and some patience to get started, of course. At first, I simply painted murals in my own child’s room and bathroom so that I’d have a sample portfolio, and then I moved on to painting murals for friends and family, and then friends of friends and family... and so the story goes. I painted furniture, too, and one day a lady asked if I’d teach her how to paint. This was exciting for me, because I genuinely loved being around

www.imagine-art-studio.com 479-268-3190 or 479-619-6085 | 5212 Village Parkway, Suite 11 | Rogers 3017 N. College Ave. | Fayetteville

people, and I definitely have the ‘teaching gene.’

From that nudge, I started asking friends to host an “Arty Party” in their homes. I told them that I would bring all of the paint supplies and provide the instruction for a super unique girls’ night. This idea was a hit! From there, some of the ladies asked me to do birthday parties for their children, and an idea that seemed financially feasible was born.

I requested a year sabbatical from my teaching position so that I could invest myself into this business. However, at that time it just wasn’t meant to be. We found out in April that my husband would need to relocate from Kansas City to Louisiana for his job. Excited for our family, but disappointed that I would have to start over in building a clientele, I accepted a teaching position in Monroe, LA. But the dream wasn’t dead… I spent a year in that position while working on building a clientele for murals and more Arty Parties. I did a few parties, but the Louisiana folks wanted a location. So, at the end of our first year in Monroe, I decided to open a small art studio and call it Doodlez.

When it comes to running a small business, I am definitely a ‘trial and error’ kind of girl. I dove into this venture head-first and landed in the deep end! The first year was eye-opening, to say the least. How do you get people in your doors? Where do you spend your money?

Where do you get money? What kinds of “art experiences” are people looking for? I learned three big lessons that first year: I shouldn’t have quit my day job; I was going to need a steady cash flow; and, most importantly, I learned that I really did want to keep this dream alive. For financial reasons, I had to go back to the classroom.

Fortunately, by some miracle I was able to balance my family life with the chaos of working full time and owning a business on the side.

Fast forward a few years, and Doodlez Art Studio began to actually make a profit! The hard work and risk was finally beginning to pay off: my studio had always made me so happy, and now it was making me money. Just as I was once again ready to take the leap and quit my day job, we discovered that we were relocating to Rogers, AR for my husband’s job. Again, I was truly excited about the change, as we had talked for years about living in NWA. The schools were going to be so much better for our kiddos (and, today, they have not failed to meet our expectations!), and we were going to be closer to our extended family. But... I had to sell my dream in Louisiana to someone else.

Even though I was optimistic about our next adventure in NWA, it was such a disappointment to sell my dream business. Stubborn by nature, I still wasn’t ready to give up, and, after a year in Rogers, I once again began scouting out ways to open another studio. When I found the perfect location in Village on the Creeks, the dream was again within my reach! For the third (and hopefully final!) time, I opened the doors to my aspirations, hopeful and excited. I launched Imagine Studios in October, 2010, and I have been blown away by the success I’ve enjoyed in the Rogers and Bentonville community. Although owning a business can be quite chaotic most of the time, especially with my family, my little studio has brought me so much joy and contentment.

I so appreciate the support of all of my NWA customers, many of whom have become friends.

Imagine Studios in Rogers has been in business more than four years, and during that time my business has steadily grown. Now I am looking forward to embracing my next adventure…a second studio in Fiesta Square in Fayetteville. See you there, and get ready to embrace creativity, community and color... let’s paint!

Sweet Southern Advice by: Sherry Lloyd

Summertime Screen Time… How much is too much?

Technology, what a great thing, right? How many times have you said to yourself, “What on earth would I do without my smart phone?” Or maybe something like, “It would be hard to imagine life without computers and tablets!” In the business and professional world, having this type of technology at our fingertips actually puts money in our pocket and food on our table. Huge business deals are made every second through the use of the internet, and timeless communication takes place between individuals, families and corporations across the world 24/7. In my house, where there are two home offices running daily, if the internet goes down, the computer runs slow, the printer jams or we have some sort of computer glitch, alarms go off as if the world is coming to an end.

Does this sound familiar?

If you had to guess, how much screen time do you and your family use each day? It’s a personal question, but one you should really stop and think about with the kids facing so much summer free time. “Screen time” is a term used for activities done in front of a screen, such as watching TV, working on a computer or tablet, playing video games, streaming movies and being on Facebook, and also now includes doing all of these said activities on your smart phone. Screen time is sedentary activity, meaning you are being physically inactive while doing it. Participating in screen time requires very little physical effort, therefore uses minimal energy. Did you know that research now shows that overactive screen time can be addictive and over time can cause harmful mental and physical health issues for you and your children? Uh oh… now I’m really getting in your personal business. So put down your smart phone and listen up.

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Here are some alarming statistics regarding on average screen time among American children and families (American Academy of Pediatrics, www.education.com, National Institutes of Health, University of Michigan): • Children ages 2-5 spend 32 hours a week in front of a movie or TV show • Children ages 6-11 spend 28 hours a week doing the same activity • Children ages 8-18 spend 13.2 hours per week playing video games on their phones, tablets and through the TV • Americans as a whole spend 9 hours every day engaging in digital media • More than 2/3 of daycare centers across the US use the TV as an activity during the day Wow! After researching this topic, I really had to examine my own personal screen time. It was a real eye opener for me and made me realize that if not careful, we as humans can forfeit some important brain time, family time, play time, spousal time, employer paid time and relationship building time for the “almighty digital screen.”

Here is my Sweet Southern Advice on how the whole family can start a “digital screen diet” before summer. Listen up, it could be life changing...

• Establish and agree to screen time guidelines for the entire family. Keep in mind that children under age 2 should have no screen time and ages 2 and up should limit their screen time to 1 to 2 hours per day • Sit down with your kids and come up with a list of fun activities that can replace their existing screen time usage – activities that they enjoy and

www.sweetsouthernadvice.com that require some movement • Remove the TV and/or computer from your child’s bedroom – put the computer in a general location where you can observe their activity and check the history often • Do not allow watching TV during meals or while doing homework • Don’t leave the TV on for background noise, use a radio or ceiling fan instead • Set a time limit and schedule for computer usage and TV watching and stick to it • For a summer project, have each child keep a journal of their fun activities each day including how they met their goal of using digital screen time. Reward them at the end of the week.

• Decide which programs are allowed ahead of time and post this schedule on the fridge • Make a rule that all iPads and cell phones must be stationed in the kitchen while not in use and definitely at night when time for bed • Talk about safety and what is allowed and what is not. Depending on the age of your child, you should be concerned about what is exactly coming across all screens at different times of the day and night in the form of texts, photos, videos and posts •Practice what you preach and be a good role model. Limit your own screen time to 2 hours a day and show that it can be done and is important for everyone’s health and well being And my last bit of advice is simple… use common sense. Is it really important for your child to have a cell phone and tablet under the age of 14? And if you have already done so, don’t you think you should set some serious guidelines on how much time they should be spending on these devices in order to grow into happy, healthy productive adults? Parenting can sometimes be uncomfortable, especially when we have to change our own behavior to model something for our children. My new commitment is to limit my time on Facebook during the week and to not have my cell phone out in restaurants when I am having a meal with friends and family. I hope to shed a few digital media pounds!

Share this with someone you love…they will thank you later! -- Sherry

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Kids that Rock!

Meet the Varnells: Brady, Melissa, and Brothers: Spencer and Talan

From baseball to football, karate to gymnastics and even Cub Scouts, our 8- and 10-year-old sons, Talan and Spencer, had tried it all, without success. Nothing, it seems, could keep them passionate or motivated beyond more than a few weeks. So, when we randomly drove past a sign one Friday that read, “School of Rock: Music Lessons Done Differently,” and the boys expressed interest, we assumed it would be just one more failed activity to add to the list. With some trepidation, we decided to give it a shot, since we truly felt that the boys needed some kind of hobby outside of school.

My wife, Missy, had heard mention of the school through our sister-in-law, whose son was enrolled, but we didn’t know any specific details about it ourselves.

Missy called the number for the School of Rock the following day, and spoke with Jenny. Jenny, both enthusiastic and easy to talk to, explained that they offered private lessons to children on the instrument of their choice (guitar, bass guitar, keyboard, drums, and even singing). Jenny also explained that, while not required, the School highly encouraged the students to participate in a group rehearsal as well. The group would consist of other students with similar musical experience. They would have a “season,” in which they learned a set of songs during private lessons, and rehearsed those same songs together as a band. At the end of the season, they would perform a show with the other bands from the School on an actual stage--usually at a location on Dickson Street in Fayetteville on a weekend! We knew Spencer would never go for the group rehearsal, as he tends to be shy, but he was definitely interested in private lessons. The next question was…which instrument? He was torn between guitar and drums, so Jenny suggested we schedule him for a short complimentary private lesson where he could try out both instruments, just to see which he preferred. After a short lesson on each instrument, Spencer decided to go with the drums. We were very surprised when, after only a few private lessons, Spencer decided that he

36 May 2015

did, indeed, wanted to participate in the group rehearsal as well.

Meanwhile, our 6-year-old son Talan had already made up his mind--he wanted to play the guitar.

He was not quite old enough for the group rehearsals, so he enrolled in the ‘Little Wings’ program, which is geared towards younger students.

In this program, the children learn about music theory and the basics of music in a group setting. While they don’t play an actual show with the other bands, they do have a “mini-show” where they perform a couple of songs at the end of the season there at the School.

Fast forward four months and Spencer and Talan were actually both loving the School of Rock!

No one was quitting, no one was dragging to rehearsals--and we were all excited about it! So far, Spencer had learned “Beat It” by Michael Jackson, “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor, and “Gold on the Ceiling” by The Black Keys. His band chose to name themselves The Galactic Slime, which was a pretty cool name, if you ask me, and they played their first show on Dickson Street. Honestly, it was awesome! The place was packed, and Spencer’s band did great. I’m not sure who was having more fun, the instructors or the students! I was so impressed with all of them, especially the two higher-level bands that performed after Spencer. I couldn’t wait for him to get better and better and grow as a musician.

It’s now been two years, and seven bands later, and Spencer is now playing drums, guitar, and bass guitar.

He never even had a chance to get bored. He has progressed so well, in fact, that he has moved from the Rock 101 group to the Performance group, which is a little more challenging than Rock 101. They play more challenging songs and have a longer set list.

Talan graduated from Little Wings and is now in his third season of Rock 101. He is playing drums, guitar, and even singing! He absolutely loves it, so much so that he’s even written his own original song that he might perform at the next show!

It’s been amazing to see how both of our children have grown through School of Rock. Getting passionate about music has really helped with their self-esteem and confidence. We’ve seen our oldest come out of his shell, and our youngest has thrived as well. The boys enjoy it so much that they have even attended week-long camps during spring break and summer vacations, where they learn a few songs, write an original song, and then have a short performance at the end of the week. For one camp, they got to film and produce a video. Their musical tastes have evolved over the course of their experience as well. They still like the kind of music that other kids their age enjoy, but now they also like and have an appreciation for many of the bands that I grew up with--which is a pretty cool way to connect with their kids. The boys now list Green Day, Black Sabbath and Nirvana among their favorites.

Spencer and Talan have, after long hours of persuasion, managed to talk their mother and I into joining the new Grad School program. This program is for adults (with or without children enrolled) to practice similar music as the kids in a group setting. We haven’t had our first show yet, but if we can be even half as good as these kids, we’ll be happy!

So, what does the future hold? Maybe our own Partridge Family band? Maybe our boys will grow up, become successful musicians and we can retire early! Who knows? But things are certainly looking bright for their future, and for the School of Rock.

The school will be moving to a new, larger location in May that will allow the school to offer so much more, and we are incredibly excited. In fact, everyone

involved with the School is looking forward to it tremendously.

One last thing that I can’t help but mention is the staff at School of Rock. If it weren’t for them, our kids wouldn’t love music and the School as much as they do, and they’ve definitely earned our respect with their professionalism. They are all beyond wonderful. Jenny, the manager, has a bubbly personality and always has a smile on her face. Max, the music director, is a very gifted musician with experience touring with bands and producing his own music. To this day, I still have no idea how this amazing multitasker manages to teach so many songs to so many kids at the same time.

Tyler, who Talan calls, “the silly one,” tends to work with the younger kids more, and we’ve really been impressed with how good he is at getting the kids to show their creative side. Kirby, the primary drum instructor, has been working with Spencer for nearly two years now, pulling him out of his shell and molding him as a musician.

Kirby himself is amazing on the drums, and currently plays in his own band.

Because of these amazing people, I’ve noticed that all of the kids, both young and old, tend to think of the school as more of a family-and that’s exactly what it feels like. Everyone, including the parents, students, and the instructors, are all wonderful, inspired people, and you can see at each and every show just how proud each parent is of not only their child, but of all the children involved with the School of Rock. Hopefully we’ll see you at the next show!

meet carson

by: Jessica Ponge

O

n July 17, 2011, our son Carson was born. We had two little girls already, so we truly felt that he was here to make our family complete. Of course, as anyone who has had girls first will tell you, we were fairly unprepared for how rambunctious -- and fun -- he would be. In that vein, we soon learned that boys are definitely different, as we had to baby proof everything! Carson was just your typical little boy who loves monster trucks, fishing with his dad and grandpa, and playing outside.

About two weeks before his third birthday, however, we began noticing that he was constantly very thirsty, and it wasn’t associated with it being hot outside.

He also started wetting through his pull ups at night. He would be in bed for a mere two hours and completely soak the bed. Was it because he was drinking so much, I wondered, or was it something else? I Googled “bed wetting and extreme thirst” and found out that those two symptoms, when combined, were a sign of Type 1 diabetes. I kept it to myself, at first, because my husband Michael is a worrier, and I didn’t want him to worry excessively or for no reason. Another day went by, though, and Carson still had the same symptoms. I was on the phone with Michael and attempted to casually mention that Carson had some symptoms associated with Type 1 diabetes.

Little did I know that Michael had been looking up the same thing, and came to the same conclusion!

On July 10, 2014, Michael discussed his concerns with Carson’s babysitter and our friend, Kelly. Her husband is diabetic, so Michael asked if they could check Carson’s blood sugar. It came back at 504, which is very high. I had made Carson a doctor appointment for the next day already, but, when we saw how high his blood sugar was, we knew he needed to go directly to the emergency room.

38 May 2015

Once we got the attention of a doctor at the ER, the nurses took blood and gave Carson an IV. Then, the doctor came in with the news that our son was Type 1 diabetic--just the kind of news we were expecting, but hoping to not hear. Of course, our lives were completely changed from that moment on. Thankfully, we caught it early!

Some kids are not so lucky, and go into DKA, or diabetic ketoacidosis, and they end up having to be hospitalized. DKA is a potentially life-threatening complication in patients with diabetes. DKA results from a shortage of insulin where, in response, the body switches to burning fatty acids to producing dangerous amounts of acidic ketone bodies. It is this production that causes most of the symptoms and complications. DKA is a medical emergency that, without treatment, can lead to death.

After the diagnosis, we were in a fog. We went from having a healthy two-year-old boy one day to having a two-year-old boy who will be insulindependent the rest of his life the next. The first few weeks were really hard, as we had so much to learn. We had to meet with a new endocrinologist

and a dietitian and, moreover, we had to learn everything we could about Type 1 diabetes.

Carson did not like the shots or finger pricks we had to give him, and he did not understand why we had to do this to him. It’s incredibly difficult to explain to a two-year-old what diabetes is, but, despite his confusion, Carson stuck it out like a hero.

Now, it has been eight months since his diagnosis, and Carson is still so brave. He gets about eight to ten finger pricks a day. He is so used to it now that he just sticks out his finger, because he knows we have to check his blood sugar. We check when he wakes up, before meals, before bed, in the middle of the night, or anytime his mood changes.

Physical activity can also cause changes in blood sugar.

Carson also gets four shots of insulin a day. He gets a long-acting insulin when he wakes up, and then he gets a short-acting insulin after every meal.

The amount of insulin he gets is determined by what his blood sugar was before the meal, as well as how many carbohydrates he has eaten.

If you or someone you know may have Type 1 diabetes, take note of their symptoms.

These symptoms are often subtle in the beginning, but they can become severe. They include increased thirst, increased hunger, dry mouth, nausea, and occasional vomiting, as well as abdominal pain, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision, and/or heavy labored breathing.

Though things have turned out all right for us, overall, this is definitely an ongoing battle. We have highs and we have lows. We are constantly learning new things. Every day is a battle with a disease that we can treat, but never really control.

There is no cure for Type 1 diabetes. Much to my surprise, I learned that it is not caused by eating too much sugar, and exercise won’t make it go away. It is estimated that 80,000 children develop this disease every year. Since Carson’s diagnosis, we have created a Facebook page and group called Carson’s Crew. We are working hard to bring awareness to others about Type 1 diabetes,

as well as help raise money for JDRF, one of our newest passions.

JDRF stands for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. They do so much for the children and their families. After the initial diagnosis, they send the children who have Type 1 a bag of hope, which has a lot of helpful information, and, best of all, it comes with an adorable stuffed bear named Rufus!

Rufus has diabetes, too, and you can even give him shots!

Carson just adores Rufus, and takes him everywhere. JDRF is a great support group for all of us Type 1 families, especially as they throw a camp every year for the kids to get together and, truly, just be kids.

We have met so many other families through JDRF that are going through the same things as us! They also have a walk every year to raise money to help find a cure, so we can turn Type 1 into... type none!

Dad’s View with Ben Lacy

Blinders Ah,

spring is upon us! The white stuff is gone, we can all feel our toes again, and the tikes are begging for first dibs and dips in 60 degree pool water. It’s time for sun tans, ceiling fans, and trips in minivans.

Spring is also the primo time of year for youth sports and outdoor activities. Baseball, basketball, lacrosse, golf, soccer, and even some football practices are in full swing. Every square inch of grass is occupied by teams, kids are everywhere, and Walmart sales of bottled water, mini-Goldfish packets and those collapsible chair thingys are through the roof. What a great time of the year!

This year the ol’ Dad’s View Dude is embarking on his (gulp) 8th season of NWA Spring Youth Activities. I’m coaching basketball and baseball this go round and based on my fuzzy-rough-notso-common-core-math, I’ve coached around 225 players on 21 various teams. Add in games I’ve refereed, my kid’s classmates, and my friend’s offspring, and I’ve easily met 500 Benton and Washington County kiddos.

I only bring this up for one reason. I’ve been around enough munchkins to tell you, your kid is a goof ball (and so are mine).

By goof ball I mean, your kid, like mine, picks daisies during baseball games, wears flip-flops to football practice, shoots at the wrong goal in basketball, forgets her tennis racket, brings the wrong shoes to ballet class, and generally displays a space-cadet-meets-deer-in-the-headlightspersona. You know why--cuz they’re kids.

40 May 2015

This is not so easy for us “adults” to understand, fathom, or condone. Ya know, since we’re older and more responsible (cough, cough). I see it all the time. We “adults” get down on our kids for goofing off, messing up, or doing it “wrong.” The reason, again, is “they are kids”; everything is a learning experience (oh yeah, and it is supposed to be fun!), but, we parents sometimes throw on the blinders and only notice when our child messes up. Obviously you attend practices and games or matches to watch your child. But, if you take a panoramic view of the field you would see that, yes, your son is indeed lying down in the dirt using 3rd base as a pillow, which ain’t so great; however, check out little Bobby who is taking a leak out in right field (true story–real name withheld to protect the guilty).

But that’s not our focus. Our binoculars are on our kid, and we fall into the trap of scrutinizing every move they make. “I can’t believe you missed that return in the second set!” Or worse, we play the compare game. “David always makes his free throws; why don’t you?” You want to destroy a kid’s confidence and swiftly end his love for the game? Compare him negatively to another player on his team. Ouch. I beg you; avoid these types of comments at all costs.

So my “ask” of you (Note: Walmart term, can I get a squiggly?!?) is to balance temper and manage expectations when you’re out on the fields this spring. You may hope and dream that your kid makes it to the World Series, but for now let him kick a little dirt, get those ridiculously white pants dirty, and destroy some mini Oreos when the game’s over. And try to remember, for every 1 Malik there are 1 million Mikeys.

.

may CALENDAR

2015

Weekly Activities: monday: Little Gigggles Every Monday 10:30AM Enrichment Monday Class Free with admission: Ages 2+ Monthly themes and weekly subjects explored in an interactive, play-based learning environment.

tuesday: Little Giggles Every Tuesday 10:30AM and 3:45PM: “Little Artist” art class with Crafty Cottage $8 for the class, discounted entry into Little Giggles if you stay to play, $5.50 (+tax)A fun 45 minutes with 2-3 art projects completed, taught by Miss Gigi

Library storytimes: Bentonville Public Library: bentonvillelibrary.org Fayetteville Public Library: faylib.org Springdale Public Library: springdalelibrary.org Rogers Public Library: rogerspubliclibrary.org

Special Events: Monday

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4

Yoga and Art at Crystal Bridges 6-7pm Yoga Story’s Cindee Joslin leads an uplifting group class uniting the power of art with the beauty of nature. Enjoy this mind/body experience in the Museum’s public spaces, complemented by views of Crystal Bridges’ ponds, forest, and architecture. Participants should bring their own yoga mat and dress appropriately. $5 (Free for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

wednesday: Preschool Art Class » Wilderness Crystal Bridges 1-2:15pm Wednesdays, May 6, 13, 20 Wilderness will be our muse in this three-session series. Investigate the wilderness and its inhabitants inside and outside of the Museum and create new artworks with your findings. Parents or caregivers participate with their preschoolers in gallery conversations and art-making activities each week.

For ages 3 to 5 with an adult. Session includes three consecutive Wednesday classes. All materials are provided.$30 ($24 for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

thursday: Storytime Fun - Siloam Springs Public Library 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Preschool Program – Storytime with Ms. Laura

friday: Little Giggles Fridays (new!!!)

Music with Ms. Megan!!

10:30am Free with admission!!!

Singing, dance party and instrumental exploration!

saturday: Storytime at Barnes and Noble, Rogers and Fayetteville 11:00 AM Young Artists Class » Critter Creations (ages 5 to 10) 10:30 am - 12:00 pm at Crystal Bridges May 9, 16, and 23. Each week, we’ll discuss a different artwork from our galleries that features an animal, and use our sketchbooks to respond to this work with a new artistic approach. All materials provided. $45/3 classes ($36 for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

44 May 2015

Saturday

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Kids Days at the Siloam Springs Farmers Market City Park / mainstreetsiloam.org A bounce castle, crafts, activities, story time and live music light up the market on Kids Day at the Market each second Saturday during the market season, from 9am to noon.

Kendrick Fincher Hydration Celebration 2203 Promenade Boulevard, Rogers kendrickfincher.org Our 17th annual Youth Run, which is free to all students, the 5K run/walk and the Duathlon all take place during the celebration.

Mother Nature’s Readings at Hobbs State Park 10:30am Hwy 12 just east of the Hwy 12/War Eagle Road intersection.

Mother Nature herself has become a frequent visitor to Hobbs State Park –Conservation Area. She visits the park every second Saturday of the month and reads nature stories to her little followers.

Story time will be followed by “hands-on” nature-craft activities.

Children of all ages are welcome, however most stories target children 3-6 years of age.

Mother’s Day Weekend at the Museum Crystal Bridges Come out to Crystal Bridges’ trails to celebrate National Public Garden Day featuring fun-filled outdoor activities for the whole family, including a Chalk Festival, live music, and an illustrated talk by awardwinning garden writer Amy Stewart on her popular book Wicked Plants, followed by a demonstration of shrub-drink-making!

Tuesday

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20th Annual Greening of the Garden Botanical Garden of the Ozarks Make plans to attend this year’s 20th Annual Greening of the Garden benefiting the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, which will include fine cuisine by Catering Unlimited, complimentary bar and auction. Guest are invited to mix and mingle with friends, enjoy the background jazz music, peruse the fine items up for the auction, enjoy fabulous food and drinks and stroll the stunning beautiful garden grounds.

Thursday

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Preschool Playdate » Fishy Crystal Bridges - Great Hall at 11:30am Monthly Preschool Playdates feature art projects, storytime, and creative play inspired by the Museum’s permanent collection or temporary exhibitions. Activities are geared for children ages 2 to 5 with an adult, and begin with a live performance in the Great Hall at 11:30 a.m.

Sponsored by The Hershey Company.

Friday | 29 Monster Trucks Friday, May 29, 2015 - Saturday, May 30, 2015 Parsons Stadium / Springdale rodeooftheozarks.org Monster Trucks roar into Springdale at Parsons Stadium at 7:30.

Friday from 6:00-7:00 there will be a free pit party!

Saturday

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Play it Forward Concert Series at The Walmart Museum Bentonville Square purchase.downtownbentonville.org/collections/tickets/ 6 p.m. The 4TET is back with live jazz. Proceeds benefit Faith in Action. Doors open at 6. Tickets can be purchased in advance.

Admission: $5 Summer Reading Club Kick-Off at Fayetteville Public Library 10:00am to 1:00pm SRC kick-off with Live music, bounce houses, photo booth, face painting, balloons, super heroes, snow cones and more!!

Kids Yoga with Jennifer Creel (ages 2-8 with parent) 10:30am Fayetteville Public Library Walker Community Room TerraFit YogiKids introduces children to fitness and movement through 30 minute fun yoga flows. Each class has an engaging nature theme and a short relaxation to help youngsters learn to quiet their minds and enjoy a lifetime of health and wellness.

Please brings your own mats!

STEM Rogers Public Library 3:30 Elementary and middle school students can participate in science, technology, engineering and mathematics projects.

Timber!

Thursday, May 14, 2015 - Friday, May 15, 2015 Walton Arts Center It’s all about stunts and acrobatics in this toe-tapping musical by French Canadian circus company Cirque Alfonse.

Saturday

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Walk a Mile In My Shoes 8:00 - 1:00 PM Holiday Inn Convention Center - Springdale We all have those great shoes in our closets that we HAD to have.

Then when we actually tried to wear them they hurt, they pinched, and we never wore them again. That doesn’t mean they’re not right for somebody else to buy at the annual Walk a Mile in My Shoes sale and support Ozark Guidance. Women’s, men’s, and children’s shoes along with handbags will be sold for $5-20. Local boutiques will be set up in the sale area and participants can enjoy lunch in the parking lot Grub Hub from area food trucks. The purpose of Walk a Mile in My Shoes is to encourage people to help to break down the stigmas associated with mental illnesses—to take a look and “walk a mile” so to speak in someone else’s shoes. Our hope is that, one day, mental health will have the same recognition and support as other common medical conditions such as heart disease or breast cancer. According to the US Surgeon General, mental illness will affect 1 in 4 adults and 1 in 5 children. It’s more prevalent than cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.

The Gruffalo’s Child Walton Arts Center www.waltonartscenter.org This musical theater production will captivate your child’s imagination in this sequel to The Gruffalo. Content considered suitable for children ages 4 and up.

Admission: $8

Saturday

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Go Geo-cache Challenge Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area Want to see new places at Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area while challenging yourself against local geocachers or just looking for something new to try this Memorial Day Weekend? Try geo-caching!

This unique treasure hunt event will get you out exploring. So bring the family and have some fun as you explore Hobbs State Park!

Admission: $10 per group

Horsemanship and more...

Camp

Triple P Farms

Learning to Lead Join us as we learn: Safe horsemanship skills Communication skills Tack care Leather working and tooling Working with rope and knot tying

Summer sessions available Call for details

479-426-5170

thepattonfarm@gmail.com www.facebook.com/tripleplessons

Praying

t for

Story by: Silvy Kehrli / Photo by: Ever After Photography by: Erin Morrell

On and I joyfully shared with our families Christmas Day, 2014, my husband, James,

that we were expecting a new baby in August of 2015. Although I was only 8 weeks along and had not heard the heartbeat yet, I was so excited that I couldn’t keep the pregnancy a secret any longer.

We had 3 healthy boys, and this baby was officially going to complete our family. I felt great, almost too good, and was thankful to be so close to being done with first trimesters forever! (Can I get an amen?)

James and I first met in college when he was the cute referee for our intramural flag football games.

We got married in May of 2008, and did not wait long to start a family. I started out like many career-driven women with no desire to ever be a stay-at-home mom, but after our oldest son Parker was born a short 11 months later, God placed a special ache on my heart to spend more time with my baby. James and I knew it would not be easy to live on a firefighter’s salary alone, but we worked hard to save over the next three years to make my desire to stay at home a reality.

Parker is a now a loving, obedient, fearless kindergartner and a joy to parent. He was joined in 2011 by our second son, Paxton. Paxton is one of the funniest, most loveable 3-year-olds I know and is constantly looking for someone to wrestle.

Finally, we added a third son, Payton, in 2013.

Payton is a typical one-and-a-half year old and is

Peace

always on-the-go with an ornery smile across his face. Although we already had a large family, the boys and I were thrilled to add one more to our tribe.

On January 14, 2015 at 10.5 weeks pregnant, I noticed some spotting when I went to the bathroom at the gym after a light workout. James was working a 48-hour shift at the fire department, so I tried not to panic and remembered I had several friends bleed during pregnancy and go on to have perfectly healthy babies. I put the boys to sleep and spent the next hour googling bleeding during pregnancy. Most websites said about 50% of first trimester bleeding during pregnancy ends in miscarriage, so I prayed to God for peace, whether I lost the baby or not.

The next morning I was still having a little spotting, but no cramping or clotting, which was encouraging. I called my OB and made an appointment to have an ultrasound. Two ultrasounds later, the tech said he could not give me much information but told me my body presented all of the signs of a normal pregnancy: enlarged uterus, yolk sac, etc. He was not sure if he could see a fetal pole or heartbeat, but felt I might not be as far along as I thought, and a doctor would follow up with a call later that afternoon. I asked him to please just tell me if I had lost the baby, and he said because of the dating of the pregnancy, the results were inconclusive.

I left the appointment confused and a little frustrated. I was fully prepared to hear I lost the baby, but instead I had no answers or instructions except to wait. About an hour later, my body started bleeding more, this time with clots, and I knew the baby was gone. My boys were napping, so I jumped in the shower and hoped to pass everything while they were asleep. After 45 minutes in the shower, the bleeding did not let up and the kids were waking up.

I knew it was normal to bleed a lot during a miscarriage, but I had no idea how much was too much. At 4:00pm, I called my husband because there was no way I could take care of the kids and do this by myself any longer. Thankfully my next door neighbor, Shalini, took my kids and James headed straight home. James is a paramedic and sees some pretty awful things, but he was in shock when he returned home and saw the war zone that was our home.

He immediately took control of the situation and said if the bleeding did not stop soon we would be going to the ER. After another hour and much more blood loss, he noticed my blood pressure drop to 70/40 and called 911. Every time I sat up, more blood and clots would come out and I would feel dizzy and lightheaded. The ambulance arrived quickly and transported me to Mercy Hospital.

My blood pressure had gone up a little, so they put me in a waiting area while I continued to bleed.

James stayed by my side the whole time, and when I felt myself bleeding through my pants and the pads under the covers, he did not hesitate to help change them while we continued to wait on a nurse and doctor. However, as I sat up to change the pads, my blood pressure dropped again and I passed out. When I woke up, about 10 medical professionals surrounded me, hooking up EKGs, pushing fluids and rapidly assessing the situation.

I have never blacked out before, and it was very scary for all of us!

After several more hours and bags of fluids, my blood pressure was not returning to normal and the hemorrhaging was not stopping, so the OB doctor recommended an emergency D & C surgery. She said sometimes a woman’s body has a hard time expelling all of the tissue during a miscarriage, so the body keeps sending more and more blood to try, unsuccessfully, to flush everything out. I listened, agreed that surgery was the best option, and was wheeled off to the OR at 11:30pm. Before I was put under, James prayed that God would help the surgeons, and I would be okay. His prayers were answered. The surgery itself only took about

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20 minutes, and the doctor told James the bleeding finally stopped and he would be able to see me in 30 minutes. Those 30 minutes turned into 2 hours due to some computer issues, but finally at 2:00am, we were reunited.

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50 May 2015

I felt so much peace and joy to be alive, but I was not out of the woods yet. My hemoglobin dropped to 5.5 g/dl during the miscarriage (normal values are 12-15 g/dl), which is life-threateningly low. The doctor said I lost about 2/3 of my red blood cells.

Normal protocol is to order a blood transfusion for anything below a 7 g/dl, so 2 units of blood were ordered. It took several more hours to transfer the blood to my body, but thankfully there were no complications. I rested in the hospital for 24 hours and the doctor prescribed iron supplements for the next two months until my hemoglobin returned to normal.

My boys came to the hospital the next morning with cautious smiles. They saw the ambulance pull into our house the night before and my 5-year-old, Parker, took it especially hard. He held it together at his friend’s house overnight, but I could feel how worried he was when he hugged me the next day, fighting back tears. My family drove down from Kansas the next morning as well, and our friends blessed us tremendously with meals and support as I continued to recover over the next few weeks.

When I started having the miscarriage, the thought of going to the hospital never crossed my mind. Even when I arrived at the ER, I told Shalini we should be home in a few hours, never thinking she would have to watch my kids overnight. It is scary how quickly problems can escalate, and I am thankful to be surrounded by so many experienced medical professionals in NWA. If you are experiencing something similar and the bleeding does not stop, do not wait to call a doctor.

After the miscarriage, so many emotions ran through my body--sadness, loss, heartache, etc.

At the same time, God gave me an overwhelming feeling of thankfulness to be alive with 3 beautiful boys to raise. I truly believe my husband, the doctors, and God saved my life that night. I know there is a purpose for my life and feel called to live in service to my family and others. I do not know why we lost our baby so early, but I have peace there is a good reason why he did not continue to grow.

Since we lost our little one, so many women have reached out to me to share their stories of miscarriage and loss. Even several neighbors who I have known for years told me about their experiences and grief. The pain is real, and there is nothing that can change the past. We may not understand why this happened, but I know the God we serve is a good God, and he has a plan for

everything, even if it is different from our hopes and dreams.

My friend Leah was one of those friends who emailed her story of pregnancy loss and verses of hope and encouragement, including Isaiah 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Throughout our miscarriage and those traumatic 24 hours, I never doubted God was by my side and wanted me to use this for His glory. I pray He will empower me to use my experience to help encourage others and empathize with their grief. If you have experienced miscarriage and want someone to talk to who has been there, I would love to sit down over coffee or lunch.

Miscarriage is very emotional as a mother, and it is hard to understand while wondering what the future holds. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at silvyperkins@gmail.com.

A couple weeks after the miscarriage, I got a letter from Mercy inviting our family to the funeral service for our baby. I had never heard of this or considered having any kind of ceremony, but Mercy does this every two months as a free service to families who have experienced miscarriage at their hospital. We went to St. Vincent’s Cemetery in Rogers for the service and I could not help but cry seeing the hundreds of markers of the babies lost in utero and recognizing a few friends’ names. There were about 15 new holes dug for the January and February babies, and each couple took their turn placing their baby’s box in the ground.

After the Chaplain spoke and shared words of encouragement, we released balloons for the babies. It was a sweet way to honor the babies’ short lives and have closure, and I am thankful the hospital does this for their patients.

Two weeks after the funeral, I received exciting news—a positive pregnancy test! We are currently expecting a new baby this December!

My friends told me women are extra fertile after a miscarriage, and though it took 7 weeks to get a period after the D & C, it did not take long to get pregnant again. I am a little more cautious with this pregnancy than any of the others because of the recent past, but I pray daily that if it is God’s will for this baby to be born, then it will happen in his perfect timing. Although I never thought I would want to be a stay at home mom or imagined having such a scary miscarriage experience, I know God loves me unconditionally and his plan is always greater than our own!

It has been eight years now, and I still live each day with chronic pain and fatigue. It’s funny (crazy, really) how chronic pain and illness changes you. It is almost like going through a process of becoming a different person, someone you don’t recognize when you look in the mirror—someone that your spouse doesn’t know and someone that your children don’t deserve.

The one thing that brought me through though, is faith in God. Without God, I would have lost hope completely. On the days that I feel like I can’t go on, I go to the Bible and am reminded that He will give me strength for another day. When I feel like a failure, He reminds me that I am forgiven, accepted, and loved. When I am angry and frustrated, I go to Him, cry it all out, and find grace.

There was a time when I raised my fist at God and asked why. I suppose that is normal when your life changes drastically in the wrong direction. What I have come to accept is that I will never forget the day this world is filled with pain and heartache, my daughter turned four years old and none of us are exempt from that.

-- it is the day pain and fatigue descended We all experience difficulty and must upon me like a wet blanket. Before that day I was find the strength to move on.

an “all in” mom—active in mommy groups, taking I began writing articles for several my two preschoolers to all kinds of fun activities, chronic illness websites as a way of and loving every minute of it. Then, in one coping. Helping others began to help unexplainable day, my life forever changed, me. I found that there were many resources and I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue for living well physically despite chronic pain syndrome and fibromyalgia.

The day started out like a normal “birthday party” day with the usual running around trying to get all of the last minute details taken care of before the party. It wasn’t a big party—just a few favorite friends meeting at a local kids’ hang-out for some fun, presents, and birthday cake. By all appearances, everything was normal, and my daughter was having a blast. But by the end of that party, chronic pain had descended upon my shoulders like a huge, heavy backpack that I was powerless to remove.

I am a nurse, so I began to suspect fibromyalgia early on, and I did all the “medical” things I was supposed to do to make it go away. I went to a specialty clinic, paid thousands of dollars for supplements and treatments, and fully anticipated a quick end to my pain. When that didn’t work, I went to a naturopathic doctor and then a chiropractor. I tried all of the alternative things they recommended. Then when that didn’t work I went to a rheumatologist, took all the “right” medicine, and begged God to take the pain away.

54 May 2015

and illness, but not a lot for spiritual help and encouragement. Through this experience, my Facebook page and blog “God-Living with Chronic Illness” was born. I tackle the tough issues, like anger, suicide, and coping with daily, chronic pain.

After reading the recent February issue of Peekaboo, I realized that there were other moms like me in our community dealing with chronic health issues. “Normal” people don’t know it, though, because sick moms don’t show it. We keep on keeping on and put on a brave face for the world. We smile, stuff our emotions, and force ourselves to be strong. Meanwhile, our marriages suffer, our friendships fade, and our kids live a different life than the one we wanted for them.

It has been a strong desire of mine to have intentional friendships with other moms who know what it is like to live with chronic illness.

Several months ago, God provided friends with this same desire, and “God-Living Girls” was formed. “God-Living Girls” is a group of moms living with chronic illness here in the NWA area that meet together regularly for fun, fellowship,

and encouragement. We want to invite any mom who lives with chronic health issues to join us for a “Meet & Greet” coming up on Friday, May 29th, at Panera Bread in Bentonville (1320 SE Walton) from 6-9 pm. We plan to meet monthly on the 4th Friday of each month for a regular “Mom’s Night Out” for good food and friendships with other moms who know what life with chronic illness is like.

and a NWA mom so that I can invite you to join our local “God-Living Girls” Facebook page and let you know about upcoming activities.

What I have come to accept is that this world is filled with pain and heartache, and none of us are exempt from that.

We all experience difficulty and must find the strength to move on.

It doesn’t matter what your particular chronic health issue is, whether it is migraines, diabetes, or chronic pain—you are welcome. For more information, please call me (Laurie Miller) at 479381-5347. Join us on Facebook at www.facebook. com/godlivingwithchronicillness or on the blog at www.godlivingwithchronicillness/wordpress.com Be sure to mention that you are a Peekaboo reader

Being a mom with chronic illness is hard, but it’s not impossible. The Bible says, “I can do all things through God who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) This verse has become my mantra and my encouragement to others. Apart from God, life with chronic illness can feel hopeless, but with God there is peace, joy, and the hope of a future where there are no pain, tears, or suffering anymore.

(Revelation 21: 1-5) Be encouraged, mom, that no matter what you are going through, whether it be financial struggles, a difficult marriage, a child’s sickness, or your own health issues, God knows about your situation. He tells us to bring all of our anxieties to Him because He cares about us.

(1 Peter 5:7) God says that, just like He takes care of the birds of the air, He will also take care of you.

(Matthew 6:25-34) You can count on that promise for your situation today.

TheDalai

Mama

by: Kristin Hvizda

Deep thoughts (well not that deep) on life as a mom, wife, and transplant in NWA

MOM -- OFF THE CLOCK. Baths have been given, teeth have been brushed, bedtime negotiations have concluded, and the kids are drifting off to dreamland. FREEDOM! Sure, the dishes still need to be washed, lunches made, and the wet clothes that have begun to mildew in the washer are not going to dry themselves. However, pending the completion of these final tasks, I can do whatever I want! The opportunities are endless, and my excitement is palpable. This is Mom- off the clock.

what you’re telling me to do, Mr. Flight Attendant.

It’s our primal instinct to put our children first, but I’m beginning to realize that if mom’s needs aren’t being met, the family will suffer(Who knew the FAA were so hip to the plight of the modern day mom?).

Each night, after the necessities are completed and before I pass out from exhaustion at 9:30pm, I try to steal an hour or two for myself. I shamelessly admit that it’s my favorite part of the day. Okay, maybe not completely without shame. It feels slightly terrible to admit that my favorite part of the day is when my kids are asleep. Yet, after the long days of mommy-ing (yes I just made up that word) the “me” time at night provides some muchneeded rejuvenation. I can watch whichever show I want, I can pee by myself, even sexy time is an option (obviously I’m way too tired for that, but it’s nice to have the option). My days are jam-packed attending to the needs of my family and our home, so when the sun finally sets and the kids are nestled safely in their beds, I punch off the clock.

Naturally, I could occupy every waking minute with things that need to be done around the house or for my family, but you know what? I refuse, and I’m happier for it.

When I first became a mom, I thought it was my job to self-sacrifice. I bought into the maternal myth that to be a good caregiver, I must invest in the care of my family above myself. Transitioning from a working mom, whose priorities were work and family, to a stay-at-home mom whose work became her family, was difficult. Work/life balance became a thing of the past. Instead, I felt like I had to be doing something every minute to feel some sense of validation. I felt like I could never relax or have any downtime because I was always “at work.” I had this nagging compulsion/guilt that I needed to be busy at all times. God forbid I sat down or (gasp) watched TV. It was the emotional equivalent to stealing the company pen! Even when my kids were awake, I couldn’t just play with them and provide my undivided attention. I needed to be folding clothes or emptying the dish washer, while half-listening to their stories and chatter. After living this way for too long, I noticed the joy of being a mother beginning to wane. I was overworked, overtired, and overwhelmed. I needed to give myself an opportunity to rest and relax, to have “me” time, to slow down! I realized if I wanted a work/life balance I had to create it.

I recently read an article that stated the average Mom gets 15 minutes, to herself, per day. Only 15 minutes! It takes me longer than that to get my two-year-old daughter to choose an outfit for the day. In the era of moms doing it all, we’ve lost sight of taking care of ourselves. As a mother, it feels natural to put the needs of your children before your own. For instance, I’ve always hated when on an airplane, they instruct you to put the oxygen mask on yourself before your child. Um, here’s me making a mental note to do the exact opposite of

That realization brought me to a crossroads.

It seemed like I had a choice to make and I’ve found that every mother has to make this choice somewhere along the way. We can choose to martyr ourselves and commit every minute doing things for our family, regardless of the toll it takes on our own well-being. We can sacrifice every opportunity to nurture ourselves, under the delusion that to do so is somehow selfish. OR… we can begin to create and take advantage of the moments we have alone. We can start to take care

of ourselves; to put our needs at the same priority level as those of our children and partners. We can discover the difference between being selfish and being self-regarding.

Make no mistake about it, it’s still not easy. I constantly struggle with giving myself a break. We, moms, harbor a tremendous amount of guilt when it comes to our kids. If you have a career outside the home, we tend to feel guilty for working and not being with our children every waking minute.

“I did nothing. I did absolutely nothing and it was everything I thought it could be.” -- Office Space To compensate, we sacrifice time for ourselves to spend it with our children. Or, if we are a stayat-home mom, we feel like we must be a walking Pinterest board for the perfect family and home.

We push ourselves to impossible lengths trying to keep the illusion afloat. Regardless of our lot in life, it seems we are going to have this irritating mom guilt no matter what. Maybe if we accept the guilt as a normal part of parenthood, we will be able to move on and not let it inhibit us from investing in ourselves and our happiness.

It’s perfectly normal and healthy to derive happiness and pleasure from things outside of your children.

Sure, the reality is that most days even having time to blow dry your hair feels like a major luxury, but

we need to at least take the steps to get to a place where we are comfortable giving back to ourselves.

I’ve found that I’m much happier when my needs are being met, and as a result, a better mommy and wife. And, let’s be honest, sometimes just sitting on the couch doing nothing besides watching some trashy reality TV show constitutes as a “need.” The times when I don’t allow free time for myself, time when I shut off my mom brain and disengage from the worry, I’m much more resentful and the days feel like more of a struggle.

Join an art class, go out with friends, read a book, do yoga, mediate, or just sit there and put your feet up. We need this, moms! We need to allow ourselves the opportunity to revel in the freedom of bedtime, naptime, or any moment you can steal for yourself. Give yourself the opportunity to do something just for you and reap the benefits of selfcare. Perhaps investing in your own care and wellbeing will give you the patience to sit through your two-year-old’s fashion crises. Maybe it will impart a sense of peace, which will help you keep calm when it’s 6:30pm, the kids are covered in spaghetti, fighting over God knows what, and bedtime seems like it will never arrive. Realize, moms, that you deserve time for yourself, that you are a priority. Try claiming bedtime for yourself tonight.

Notice that your life doesn’t fall apart if you aren’t multi-tasking through The Real Housewives of Anywhere. Put your feet up, pour a glass of pinot, and relax. You deserve it, mama.

Happy Mother’s Day “This past year has really shown me a lot. Our son Grayson was diagnosed with leukemia in March 2014 and will continue to go through treatment for the next 2 years. Seeing your little one going through such terrible stuff really wears on your heart as a mommy. I wanted so bad to take his place but of course that wasn’t possible. I love both of my boys unconditionally and am so happy to be their mommy!!!”

Pictured : Casey W olfe and Kennedy Clair (2)

Pictured: Bobbi Schmidt, Grayson (3) and Carson (8 months).

“I’m a full -ime single mom of one. His father passed away when I was pregnant. We are actually from Baltimore, MD but moved here to be closer to my parents and the area is safer and provides more opertunity for us. This little boy is my everything. He’s funny, sarcastic, very smart, creative and caring of everyone. His wit sometimes gets him in trouble. He was having a hard time listening at school and his pre-k teacher asked him if she needed to write him an incident report. He said “Yes, and you can send it to my dad.” She (knowing the situation and being one of my good friends ) asked him how she would get it to him. He responded with “You can take it outside and just let it float up!” He was 4 at the time. LoL I think he got this because a good friend of mine started a tradition and gave me this fun idea to help him. Basically, for every Father’s Day, on his dad’s birthday, holidays or when Thompson is missing his dad we will go to Party City and get some balloons and “send” his dad some pictures that Thompson made. I hate that his father cannot be here for him, but he has plenty of people -- friends and family who are always around to support him in anything that he does. We both are very lucky to have the support system that we do!

Pictured: Andrea Scherer and Thompson (6)

David Adams Fine Jewelry From the Heart to the Hand.... Mother’s Ring

A unique piece of jewelry to commemorate the birth of your child. One ring per child and designed to be stackable, these rings are unique and special--just like the bearer of the name engraved on each.

David Adams Fine Jewelry, Fayetteville / www.davidadams.com 100 West Center Street, Fayetteville

60 May 2015

Matching Fashion.

I can’t think of a sweeter way to celebrate Mother’s day than dressed to have fun in matching designs with the little person who gave you the title”Mom.” We love the clothing for both girls and women at Belle Boutique

Real Moms

Pictured: Lara Waite, Finley (6), Callan (4) and Raines (2)

Pictured: Tiffany Keaten and Phoenix (2)

“We love to go to the park anytime the weather permits. It helps her learn about the community and lets her release some of that wild toddler energy. ” Purses • T-Shirts • Picture Frames • Bulletin Boards • Flower Pots • Paint-Your-Own Pottery • Ooh La La Spa

Pictured: D

iana Almon

S t udi

d, Tyler (12

), and Emily

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Pottery Painting, Parties, & More

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Summer Art Camps 2015 Camps begin June 1

Art. Whether creating art together, or as a surprise for your special someone, Imagine Studios has you covered. Stop in and paint your own pottery and create a keepsake to last a lifetime. imagine-art-studio.com

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Pictured: Adele Garcia and Lydia (5 months)

Last July 2nd Asia,12, was diagnosed with Rhapdomyosarcoma. Her mom, Jacquelyn, was such an amazing, God-fearing, strong, supportive mother during Asia’s battle - giving her every moment of every day to help her daughter. On March 19th Asia,13, lost the fight, but gained her wings and flew to heaven.

Jacquelyn has two more children, both younger than Asia, and is staying strong to keep things positive for her kids and husband.

Pictured: Jacquelyn Mangham and Asia Mangham

“I have been blessed with two precious daughters Chloe and Adele. My girls are a gift from God and I live everyday praising God for them and the path we are on. My girls may challenge my patience at times, but the moments, memories and bond we have as a family is worth the challenge.”

Pictured: Megan McClain, Chloe (13), and Adele (2)

“Happy Mother’s Day to the Mommy to these three sweet littles on her first Mother’s Day of a mom of 3!”

Pictured: Sawyer (2), Maya (2 months), Ewan (5)

Pictured: Lyndsay Wade and Nolen (3)

“After a day at work and an evening of play, my Baby boy asked for my phone ‘mommy- I take a picture of you.’ Nolen is 3 years old and a joyful little boy. Being a mom is the greatest blessing from God!!!

“Two weeks after I told my husband I wanted to wait another year to try for a baby, I found out I was pregnant.

A long pregnancy dealing with a condition known as Cholestasis of Pregnancy left me a bit defeated in preparation for the birth. A difficult early induction gave me a tiny creature that I was too scared to touch. I feared I would never develop my maternal instincts. Here we are three months later and I can change a diaper with my eyes closed and hold a bottle while making the bed. I always tell people I never knew I wanted to be a mother and now I have no idea how I was happy not being one. Having the honor of being mother to my Bailey Bug is the best thing that I have ever done!”

Pictured: Autumn Mitchell and Bailey June (3 months)

Teaching and Training see ad next page

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A

s a mommy to three young children (ages 4 and under), I find that I spend a massive amount of time repeating myself. Can you relate?

“Please stop screaming in the house.” “Please do not smear your boogers on the furniture.”

“Stop spitting at the table.” “Put your dirty clothes in the hamper.” “Say please, thank you, yes ma’am, etc.”

I can definitely feel my patience wearing thin (or just evaporating altogether) when I hear myself saying the same thing over again for, what feels like, the twentieth time in a day. At times it can feel defeating, can’t it? I don’t know about you, but I often find myself thinking that if I could just figure out a better way to explain something or design a better reward/ consequence system, perhaps I wouldn’t have to repeat myself so much.

Recently, however, I’ve been considering the differences between teaching someone and training someone, and how those activities play a part in my parenting. The essence of teaching is transferring knowledge. When I talk with my two-year-old about the colors or letters that we see, I am helping her brain to learn facts. Once she has mastered those facts, we will move on to others; and though good teaching does involve repetition, progress tends to be pleasingly measurable. We hear our child read, or no longer have to help them in the bathroom, or watch them tie their shoes we know that they have been taught and they have learned and our job is done (at least in regard to that particular task).

Training, on the other hand, is a more involved process. It is concerned with directing growth, making someone prepared, forming them, and aiming them at an objective. The very nature of training is repetitive, because to train someone is to take a long view of where you hope he will

go and then stay beside him as you help him achieve those goals. I believe training is tougher than teaching, because often progress is slower, subtler, harder to pin down. For example, you could teach someone how to run a marathon much more quickly than you could train him to actually complete one. In a matter of days your pupil could recite back to you the basic mechanics of running, the gear needed for distance running, and some tips for self-care during a marathon. However, it would take months of repetitive training for that individual to be prepared to run the race.

Raising children requires that parents take on both the roles of teacher and trainer. We must teach them to become self-sufficient and give them the tools they need to step confidently into adulthood. Both academics and life skills (cleaning house, managing finances, etc.) play an important part in giving our children freedom and opportunity in their futures.

However, we cannot forget the importance of training them. If we wish for them to become honest, responsible, loving, patient, forgiving, self-controlled adults, we cannot merely teach them what those words mean and how a person who possesses those characteristics behaves.

Instead, we must continually coach them – repeating the lessons, reapplying the principles as new situations arise, redirecting them when they go off course – if we wish for them to actually develop those characteristics. Will it sometimes seem like they should have “gotten it by now?” Of course, but in those moments of frustration I encourage you to take heart and know that your willingness to put in the hard work along with your child is one of the greatest gifts you can give her.

Stefanie Lawson is a marriage and family therapist at the Center for Psychology and Counseling in Fayetteville, and is currently accepting new clients.

s

meet Evi

Rituals of Life: s by : Eva Lebens

Nice eve - nice-eve.com

s

Rootines - rootines.com

vaccinate, and spay or neuter them in our mobile operating room under the direction of our vet, Dr. Leeth Harper from Bella Vista. It’s the only way of controlling the wild animal population. I also tame them, which is a process that can take months.

To give them the best possible chance of being adopted, my goal is for them to be transformed into cuddly companions.

Every month Eva interviews someone from NWA about family routines and rituals. This month, Evie Comfort shares her story. Evie rescues cats and dogs in need and cleans houses for a living.

She studies the arts at NWACC and will soon graduate with Honors! There’s a good chance her story about rescuing animals will be featured during the Bentonville Film Festival. Evie and her boyfriend, Mark, live in Garfield. She has four children, 5 grandchildren, custody of one of her grandsons (Isaiah), and there’s another grandson on the way.

A Safe and Loving Home I was born and raised in California and had my first two children when I was fairly young. There is a 19 year age difference between them and the two children I have with Mark. Mark and I are soul mates; we have been together for 23 years and are still going strong. My whole family lives in Bentonville and other surrounding areas. We moved here in 2005 when I was awarded custody over Isaiah, who recently turned 13. He often stays with my eldest daughter and enjoys hanging out with her two teenagers. It also means that, after 23 years, Mark and I experience what’s it’s like to have an empty nest. It feels weird, even though we’re not alone because we live amongst a lot of animals.

Rescuing Animals When we moved to Arkansas, Mark and I immediately noticed all the homeless dogs and cats. We were not used to this, as there are an abundance of sanctuaries in California. I couldn’t turn my back on helpless animals so, with a few other ladies, I started to rescue them. We feed,

Routines?

[An hour before the interview, scheduled at 9am, Evi sends me a text message: ‘Animal emergency, dog hit on the highway, update when I can.’]

This is basically my routine! When an animal is in need, I have to help out because I can’t look away. If Isaiah sees a dog, we stop. If Mark finds kittens, he brings them home. On our property, I have separate barns for the cats and dogs, and each morning at 5am I feed them. I do that on my own because Mark leaves for work every morning at 3am. It’s quite a job, but I love walking around in those first rays of light taking care of my babies. It gives me peace of mind.

Brighter Future I don’t know exactly what motivates me, although I think it might have something to with my past.

I won’t dive too deep into my history, but I can assure you that it does inspire me to look ahead.

You can’t change your past, but you can create a brighter future. I think that’s what drives me in everything I do. I can see something good in every animal. I believe I can tame the wildest one into an adoptable pet and give them the future they deserve. The same goes for my family. I want my home to be a safe and loving haven for them. I look ahead and hope we can create the memories I could once only dream of.

Evie’s dream is to have enough land for an Arkansas dog and cat sanctuary. Contact NW Arkansas Animal Rescue (spaynwa@yahoo.com) if you have ideas, suggestions, or if you would like to donate your time or money. Also visit their trailer to get your pet spayed or neutered for a friendly price!

www.peekaboonwa.com

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Sun Prbtection for the Family

Fayetteville, AR

A

s the weather begins to warm up, all members of the family both young and old are ready to head out for some fun in the sun. Many of us know that we should use sunscreen before going outside and are able to apply it ourselves, but what about infants and children?

How important is it to use sunscreen when you are a child?

in skin cancer, UV radiation from the sun is among the most important. Fortunately, we can play an active role to help prevent or reduce UV radiation exposure that damages our skin cells.

What sunscreens should you use on children?

Many parents are concerned about sunscreen safety when used on their children. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as well as many pediatricians, have recommended that sunscreen either be used minimally to sun exposed areas or not be used at all in children less than six months of age. Before six months, children’s skin has not yet matured and compared to older children and adults, has a higher surface area to body weight ratio. This fact is important because a greater body surface area can potentially result in higher absorption of the chemicals used in many sunscreens. As we get older and our bodies get bigger, absorption becomes negligible. After six months of age, sunscreen should be applied to sun exposed areas of your body every day.

Is sunscreen safe for infants?

These are all great questions!

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer at some point in their lives. Melanoma, one of the more well-known and notorious skin cancers, is the most common type of cancer in young adults 25-29 and the second most common cancer in the 15-29 age group. Although genetic factors, other diseases, and environmental exposures play a role

70 May 2015

Ryan Crowder, MPAS, PA-C

Sunscreen Recomendations

So now that we know about the importance of So here are your must haves in a good sunscreen: sunscreen, which one is the best for you and SPF 30+, physical blocking ingredients (zinc your children? Sunscreen active ingredients oxide and/or titanium dioxide), and broad can be divided into two types, physical spectrum (UVA and UVB coverage). blockers and chemical absorbers. The two most common active ingredients in physical So whether you are out on the lake or just blocking sunscreens are zinc oxide and titanium going for a walk outside remember sun dioxide.

Chemical absorbing ingredients protection for the whole family. Have fun and include active ingredients like oxybenzone, keep your skin safe. homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene, and Sun Safety Tips for Infants (less than six months of age) avobenzone.

Physical sunscreens are superior b Wear lightweight clothing that covers to chemical absorbers. most of your infant’s skin.

They block more UV b Avoid being outside radiation than chemical during the hours of 10 a.m. absorbers, they begin to 2 p.m. as this is when UV working immediately rays are most intense. after application, and do not degrade (become b Seek shade when possible. less effective) over time. b If applying sunscreen, Additionally, several apply only to sun exposed studies have found that areas (neck and cheeks). sunscreens with chemical absorbers are more likely b Reapply sunscreen every 2-3 hours. to cause allergic contact rashes, especially in b Check for redness and fussiness as these can be indications of young children. early sunburn, dehydration, or overheating.

Joseph Ivy, MD and Northwest Health’s Robotics Assisted Surgical Technology Advances Gynecologic Oncology Care for Women of NWA

I

t’s no secret the healthcare system in our area, in recent years, has blossomed into a powerhouse resource for the state. World class providers in a wide variety of specialties serve our area. Residents of Northwest Arkansas are now able to take advantage of state-of-theart medical facilities, convenient locations, and knowledgeable staff--all with that unmistakable Arkansan friendliness.

We’re privileged to have the Northwest Health System which includes Willow Creek Women’s Hospital, Northwest Medical Center - Springdale, Northwest Medical Center - Bentonville, the Veteran’s Health Care System of the Ozarks which provides our veterans with a variety of crucial health and psychiatric services, and Highlands Oncology Group which is the premier cancer treatment facility in our state.

Highland Oncology Group offers the latest cancer fighting technology and services to the residents of Northwest Arkansas. Ivy Women’s Care’s recent partnership with the Highland Oncology Group is a perfect example of the innovative resources accessible to this area. Dr. Joseph Ivy, a dedicated gynecologic oncologist and Little Rock native, has been met with much acclaim in NWA for his pioneering use of robotics ­assisted surgeries in the treatment of cancers of the cervix, vagina, uterus, ovaries, vulva, and fallopian tubes.

The best way to understand the innovative roboticsassisted surgical technology, and the positive effects this has had on patients in NWA is to hear it from Dr. Ivy himself.

What prompted you to start using this technology?

During training, I could appreciate the differences in outcomes in patients that were operated on using robotic techniques versus open surgery. The differences were night and day, with robotic surgery achieving far superior outcomes in terms of hospital stay, pain levels,

72 May 2015

bleeding, and the ability to return to normal activities.

Was it difficult to learn the procedure?

In a word, “Yes!” For cancer surgery, it is especially difficult. It is a highly advanced surgical technique that I was fortunate enough to learn during my fellowship. This allowed me the opportunity to learn from doctors that had tremendous experience in the nuances of the technology. That greatly enhanced my learning and allowed me to perfect my technique in only a fraction of the time it would have otherwise taken. I now travel around the United States teaching surgeons how to operate using the robot.

Did you have experience both with and without the technology?

Since the technology was fairly new when I was in my fellowship, not everyone operated using the robot, and I was able to learn traditional open and laparoscopic

For more information about Ivy Women’s Cancer care, visit www.ivycancercare.com. techniques in addition to robotic surgery. This allowed me to gain experience in all three major cancer surgery techniques. I was able to quickly see the differences in patient outcomes between open cancer surgery and ones performed through minimally invasive techniques. I would say that everyone is a candidate for robotic or laparoscopic cancer surgery with only a few exceptions. To date, only advanced ovarian cancer remains better served with the traditional open surgery. I perform robotic and laparoscopic surgeries for all women with cancers of the uterus and cervix. When considering the significantly improved outcomes associated with robotic cancer surgery, I would say that traditional open surgery for these cancers is a thing of the past.

Do you ever perform surgeries without robotics, now?

I continue to do laparoscopic cancer surgery for many uterine cancers as well as ovarian masses. I only consider open surgery the standard of care for advanced ovarian cancers. For some cancers I only use the robot, as in cancers of the cervix.

For others, I use both laparoscopy and robotics. I think that minimally invasive surgery, whether it is laparoscopic, robotic, or vaginal surgery should be offered to all women with a variety of gynecologic conditions, both malignant and benign. I think the key, especially in cancer surgery, is you do not have to suffer a long and painful recovery after surgery.

The dogma that cancer surgery has to involve a long, painful hospitalization is outdated.

If a patient is nervous about this kind of technology being employed, what would you say to ease their minds?

Robotic surgery has been extensively studied

and compared to open surgery many times over.

Each study showed improvement in pain scores, scarring, hospital stay, and overall outcomes with the use of the robot over open surgery. I have performed over 600 total robotic surgeries in the last six years and I can say with confidence that it is as safe as any other technique, provided your cancer surgeon has adequate training and experience.

In a similar vein, what difference do you believe it has made in patients’ lives and recovery time?

There is no doubt that robotic surgery leads to a superior recovery when compared to traditional open surgery. It is the norm to have patients ready for discharge within 24 hours after surgery is completed. Sometimes patients are able to go home the same day, which is amazing. To be able to sleep in your own bed the day after major surgery is quite remarkable. With robotic cancer surgery, it is also the norm to be able to drive your car in the time it would have taken you to be discharged from the hospital with traditional open surgery.

Does anyone else in NWA use this equipment?

Are you a pioneer of sorts?

When I moved to NWA five years ago, I was the only cancer surgeon trained in robotics. Since that time, I have seen the improved outcomes due to robotic cancer surgery and now have an entire operating room devoted to it. I still find it amazing that not everyone has heard of the merits of robotic surgery for gynecologic cancers. My goal is to eventually see that no one has an open surgery for cancers of the uterus or cervix ever again in NWA. Hopefully through continued education we can make that a reality!

view e r P e d i u G 2015 Camp join t he f un!

orite camps for Here are a few of our fav guide can be found kids this year! The full aboo and online in the May issue of Peek .com at www.peekaboonwa

camp listed?

Want to see your oonwa.com to be a

Email editor@peekab ource for parents part of this amazing res nsas! across Northwest Arka

Bricks4Kidz (479) 268-4345 bricks4kidz.com/rogers Bricks 4 Kidz Summer Camps using S.T.E.M based principles - Minecraft, Robotics, Movie Making Camp and More.

School of Rock 2890 West Walnut, Rogers 479-936-8838 bentonvillerogers.schoolofrock.com SCHOOL OF ROCK offers rock music camps for musicians of all skill levels who play guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, and vocals.

Students ages 7-18 can develop their musicianship and learn new skills in a creative and fun environment. Our camps emphasize live performance through workshops, clinics, and group rehearsals, where students learn about playing together in a band and develop stage presence. Our camps are a great introduction to School of Rock, or a perfect complement to our year-round program.

Trike Theatre 106 NW 2nd St, Bentonville www.triketheatre.org Trike’s 2015 Summer Camps: Register now and create memories that will last a lifetime. Fine arts camps, production camps, and young actors camps!

Stephanie’s Musique 3218 N. Thompson Street, Springdale 479-756-0740 stephaniesmusique.net Private guitar, vocal and piano lessons, kinderbach classes, ‘my first piano’ adventure camps, and much more!

Challenge Island (479) 268-4345 challenge-island.com Challenge Island Summer Camps using S.T.E.A.M based principles - Minecraft, Space Time Travel, Frozen Princesses and More. Challenged based lessons inspired by the hit reality show.

Ozark Natual Science Center 479-789-2754 www.onsc.us Camps include: Naturalist Camp - nature, crafts, games, astronomy, cookouts, and more. Fledgling Naturalist Camp- packed with activities led by ONSC naturalists that focus on introducing campers to the outdoor world of the Ozarks! Family Camp - a family getaway exploring the Ozark hiking tails. And many more!

Little Giggles Summer Camps 3301 South Walton Boulevard, Bentonville 479-268-4949 www.littlegigglesplay.com Select weeks in June, July and August - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesdays / 9:30 AM - 12PM 2 - 5 yr olds (must be potty trained) Limited space available. These super fun camps will include a variety of guest appearances, music classes, cottage crafts, themed games, plenty of open play, yummy snacks, and much more!

www.peekaboonwa.com

77

w e i v e r P e d i Gu 2015 Camp Imagine Studios

Imagine Studios 5212 Village Parkway, Suite 11, Rogers 479-619-6085 imagine-art-studio.com One of NWA’s favorite Summer camp opportunities. Unique art camps for all ages with different themes each week!

ATA Martial Arts Fayetteville 479.443.5425 Bentonville 479.273.1212 Most amazing and original summer camp ever!

Make new friends! Martial Arts Action! Pizza Party!

Bullying Prevention! Board Breaking Tricks! Games!

June 20-24th 7:30am to 3pm

The Little Gym 2603 W. Pleasant Grove, Suite 118, Rogers 479-636-5566

Little Gym’s expert instructors fill each three-hour camp day with fitness and fun. Obstacle courses challenge them. Arts and crafts engage them. And group activities, snack time and special events give them time to interact and build their social skills – all in a non-competitive, nurturing environment.

Larson’s Language Center Summer Camp and Summer Club! (Ages 3-13) 1730 W. Poplar St., Rogers 479-633-9900 www.larsonslanguagecenter.com Learn Spanish while playing -- Foreign language, crafts, cooking, games and more!

Crystal Bridges Summer Camps www.CrystalBridges.org Register now for Crystal Bridges summer camps for kids 6 to 12! Explore the museum galleries and grounds, enjoy art-making and theatre activities, make friends, and have fun! Register online or at Guest Services.

Rogers Activity Center 315 West Olive Street, Rogers www.rogersarkansas.com/recreation Choose the weeks you want. Camps run from 6:30am to 6:30pm -- 1st through 7th grade. Field trips, fun activities, breakfast, lunch and snack!

Also offering Summer Sports Camps to enhance your child’s skills in their favorite sport.

Aloha : Mind Math | Reading | Writing (479) 426-3419 www.alohamindmath.com 100 SW 14th Street, Bentonville

Fast Lane Entertainment 479-659-0999 www.fastlanebowl.com June 22nd - 26th and July 20th-24th 8am - 12pm (or 1pm with lunch option) For kids ages 5-11, with activities including bowling, crafts, educational games, and more!

Offering Programs for ages 3-12 - Half Day Camp.

One-of-a-kind summer camp! A perfect choice for your child to rediscover the joys of reading, while engaging in creative writing. All in a safe and fun learning environment.

Creative Cooking with Kids 479-518-0733 healthyhandscooking.com/instructor/susan Cooking skills that foster a healthy lifestyle. Ages 2-13. Kids Camps. Birthday Parties and Healthy Cooking Classes!

78 May 2015

More than a

game

ari

By M sa Lyt l e

The First Tee working to incorporate special needs youth into its program that builds character through golf

P

arents of children with disabilities sometimes struggle to find athletic activities in which their kids can participate. The First Tee of Northwest Arkansas is working to change that.

Since it was founded in 2005, The First Tee has been a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the youth of Northwest Arkansas, from all backgrounds, by teaching what they call their nine Leadership Core Values— confidence, respect, courtesy, responsibility, sportsmanship, judgment, honesty, integrity, and perseverance —through the game of golf. The Northwest Arkansas chapter is one of 200 chapters throughout the United States that belong to The First Tee, whose founders realized the game of golf had more to offer youth than merely being a lifetime sport.

80 May 2015

“The individual nature of the game and the fact that the individual serves as his or her own referee while playing it, creates the necessity for its players to exhibit the Nine Core Values throughout their time on the course,” says Mike Shea, executive director of The First Tee of NWA. “In addition, the game requires its players to manage their emotions, resolve conflicts, and set goals, [and it] demands the need for social skills and to make healthy choices. The development of The First Tee Life Skills Experience program seamlessly allows our coaches to introduce, and re-enforce, the Nine Core Values and these life skill attributes—without the need for a classroom and to keep it fun for the participants.”

With this mission in mind, The First Tee of NWA recently held an event in conjunction with the Bentonville Adaptive PE Program at the Bentonville Tiger Athletic Club where kids with special needs participated. Between 30 and 40 kids with special needs moved through various activity stations, starting with a 9-hole putting course and a short game shot station, both of which utilized SNAG (Starting New At Golf) equipment to introduce the players to golf. The kids then progressed to using real equipment on a putting green, and then finally to hitting full-swing shots into the facility’s indoor net.

Twenty-five volunteers from the Bentonville High School boys and girls golf teams, as well as the Lady Razorbacks golf team and coaches from the First Tee in Lowell, manned the stations and showed kids the ropes.

“Our goal was to give parents and these kids another activity for them to participate in,” says Jason Koffman, a First Tee coach. “In our discussions with Sheila Munn, [Bentonville Public Schools Adaptive P.E. Teacher], she remarked that a lot of parents struggle with finding things for their kids to do because of their disability, and many simply weren’t aware of our program prior to the event. So, it was tremendously rewarding to see the smiles on the kids’ faces when they got to try something they had never done before.”

One parent who says her child benefited from the event is Libby Schaller, whose daughter, Emmy, is a 9th grade special needs student at Bentonville High School. Schaller also has a son in 12th grade at BHS, Wade, who has participated in the regular First Tee program for 6 years as both a player and now a coach. Through her son’s participation, Schaller had already witnessed how First Tee helps kids develop strong character through the game of golf, and she appreciates The First Tee hosting an event to give her special needs child a similar experience.

“[The event] at the TAC was phenomenal,” Schaller says. “It was about success and fun. It was positive and happy, and not only were these special needs kids getting one-on-one attention from student volunteers, but the volunteers were all smiling, too, and getting just as much out of it. It was a [demonstration] of how life is about persevering through every day and not judging anyone. I hope they do it again; it was a win-win.”

Regarding hosting more events like this one, Shea says he hopes The First Tee’s work with special needs kids can begin to play a much larger role in the overall program.

“With the individual nature of the game of golf, it is an activity that can provide an outlet for special needs participants that they cannot find in team sports,” he explains. “It is also a method to get them outside and moving as well. We have begun working with the Friendship Community Care teachers in an effort to better understand how we can best assimilate the special needs participants into our regular programming.”

The First Tee is seeking out school programs to work with, as well as continuing training on how to best meet the needs of special needs youth. The organization aims to provide an opportunity for these kids to be active participants in the general

“

With the individual nature of the game of golf, it is an activity that can provide an outlet for special needs participants that they cannot find in team sports.

”

population and to provide them with confidence they can exhibit in areas of life outside of golf.

“We will walk before we run,” Shea says, “but our goal is to be running very quickly.”

For more information or to learn how to become a volunteer or participant in First Tee of Northwest Arkansas, visit www.thefirstteenwar.org.

At a Glance ARTS and MUSIC

At a Glance

Crystal Bridges (Pg. 52)

(479) 418-5700 crystalbridges.org

Imagine Studios (Pg. 62)

(479) 619-6085 9 imagine-studios.com

School of Rock (Pg. 25) bentonvillerogers@schoolofrock.com

Stephanie’s Musique (Pg. 70)

(479) 756-0740

Trike Theatre (Pg. 81)

(479) 464-5084 triketheatre.org

Walton Arts Center (Pg.27)

(479) 443-5600 waltonartscenter.org

BANKS

First Security (Pg. 21) www.fsbank.com; www.onlyinark.com

CHILDCARE/NANNY SERVICES

ABC Happy Kids (Pg. 71)

(479) 202-5691 abchappykids.com

Better Beginnings (Pg. 83)

(800) 445-3316 arbetterbeginnings.com

The Kid’s Studio (Pg. 25)

(479) 268-6675 www.thekidsstudio.com

Mary’s Little Lambs (Pg. 11)

(479) 273-1011

Mustard Seed Children’s Academy (Pg. 79) mustardseedacademynwa.com

Peace Kids Learning Center & Preschool

(479) 621-5683 (Pg. 39)

WeeCare Christian Preschool (Pg. 55)

(479) 442-5312

CLEANING

A Cleaner Approach (Pg. 51)

(479) 657-3615

CLOTHING

Belle Boutique (Pg. 61) (479) 249-9013 shopbelleboutique.com Vintage Violet (Pg. 23) (479) 966-4241 shopvintageviolet.com

CHURCHES

Unitarian Universalist (Pg. 33) www.uubcar.com

DANCE/CHEER/TUMBLE/STRETCH

The Little Gym (Pg. 77) (479) 636-5566 tlgrogersar.com

DENTIST

Smile Shoppe Pediatric Dentistry (Pg. 8) (479) 631-6377

DERMATOLOGY

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

84 May 2015

Advanced Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center (Pg. 69) (479) 268-3555 advancedskinmd.com

EDUCATION/TRAINING

Aloha (Pg. 33)

(479) 696-7889 alohamindmath.com/bentonville

Creative Cooking With Kids (Pg. 50)

(479) 518-0733 creativecooking15@gmail.com

Fayetteville Public Library (Pg. 41)

(479) 856-7000 faylib.org

Gideon Math & Reading (Pg. 41)

(479) 521-6500 gideonmathandreading.com

Larson’s Language Center (Pg. 73)

(479) 633-9900

Mustard Seed Children’s Academy (Pg. 79) mustardseedacademynwa.com

The New School (Pg. 43) thenewschool.org

School of Rock (Pg. 25) bentonvillerogers@schoolofrock.com

Shiloh Christian School (Pg. 75)

(479) 756-1140

Walnut Farm Montessori (Pg. 87)

(479) 271-9424 walnutfarmmontessori.com

FAMILY FUN / ENTERTAINMENT

All About Mickey Vacation Planning (Pg.26) allaboutmickey.com

Bricks 4 Kidz (Pg. 79)

(479) 439-9451 bricksforkidz.com

Crystal Bridges (Pg. 52)

(479) 418-5700

Fast Lane Entertainment (Pg. 4)

(479) 659-0999 www.fastlanebowl.com

Fayetteville Public Library (Pg.41)

(479) 856-7000 faylib.org

Little Giggles (Pg. 19)

(479) 268-4949

Modern Mission (Pg.46)

(479) 595-0055 modernmission.com

Ozark Natural Science Center (Pg. 11) www.onsc.us

Rogers Activity Center (Pg. 74)

(479) 631-0336 ext. 438

Starlight Skatium (Pg. 69)

(479) 444-STAR

Triple P Farms (Pg. 45)

(479) 426-5170

Walton Arts Center (Pg.27)

(479) 443-5600

FOOD / DRINK

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

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Northwest Primary Care (Pg. 13) nw-physicians.com

Tate HealthCare (Pg. 31, 85)

(479) 271-6511 www.tatehealthcare.com

JEWELRY AND GIFTS

David Adams (Pg. 61) davidadams.com

LEARNING CENTER

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 71) (479) 621-6126 www.abchappykids.com Bright Haven (Pg. 77) (479) 717-2344 Larson’s Language Center (Pg. 73) (479) 633-9900

MARTIAL ARTS

ATA (Pg. 59)

Bentonville: (479) 273-1212 Fayetteville: (479) 443-5425 PRO Martial Arts (Pg. 35) (479) 250-9899

OPTOMETRIST

Pediatric Vision Development Center (Pg. 23) nwavisiontherapy.com (479) 795-1411

PEDIATRICIAN

Best Start Pediatric Clinic (Pg. 17) (479) 575-9359 Bentonville Pediatric Clinic (Pg. 42) (479) 273-5437 The Children’s Clinic at Springdale (Pg. 9) (479) 751-2522 MANA NWA Pediatric Clinic (Pg. 66) (479) 443-3471

PLASTIC SURGEON

NWA Center for Plastic Surgery (Pg. 2)

(479) 571-3100 www.nwacenterforplasticsurgery.com

PRESCHOOL/ PRE-K

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 71)

(479) 621-6126 www.abchappykids.com

The Kid’s Studio (Pg. 25)

(479) 268-6675 www.thekidsstudio.com

Mary’s Little Lambs (Pg. 11)

(479) 273-1011

Mustard Seed Children’s Academy (Pg. 79) mustardseedacademynwa.com

The New School (Pg. 43) thenewschool.org

Walnut Farm Montessori (Pg. 87)

(479) 271-9424 walnutfarmmontessori.com

SPORTS

Hawg Start Swim School (Pg. 49)

TALENT

(479) 310-5292 coachkary@aquahawgs.org N.C.K. Talent Academy (Pg. 67) (479) 445-6000 thenck.com

THERAPY

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 71) (479) 621-6126 www.abchappykids.com Dr. Thomas Terry Lawson (Pg. 65) (479) 444-1400 www.terrylawson.com Tate HealthCare (Pg. 31, 85) (479) 271-6511

WOMEN’S HEALTH

Birth Center NWA (Pg. 53)

(479) 372-4560 bcnwa.com

Life Spring Women’s Health (Pg. 47)

(479) 271-0005 lifespringhealthcare.com

Northwest Convenient Care (Pg.15) nw-physicians.com

Northwest Medical Center Bentonville (Pg. 29)

(479) 553-1000 northwesthealth.com

Northwest Primary Care of Springdale (Pg. 9)

(479) 927-2100

Northwest Women’s Health Associates (Pg. 7)

(479) 503-2525

Parkhill Clinic for Women (Pg. 57)

(479) 521-4433

Siloam Springs Women’s Center (Pg. 20)

(479) 524-9312 siloamwomenscenter.com

Willow Creek Hospital (Pg. 5)

(479) 757-3000

Experience. Discover. Grow.

eeee

Walnut Farm Montessori School Building a Foundation for Growth

Montessori Toddler Program 18 months-3 years old Walnut Farm offers flexible 2, 3, and 5 day toddler programs available in half day and full day options.​

• Well prepared, peaceful environments that support learning and development • Dedicated, nurturing, trained teachers • Developmentally appropriate curriculum that fosters cognitive development, speech and language development, fine and gross motor skill enhancement • Nutritious meals prepared onsite daily for full day students • Before and after school programs offered Walnut Farm Montessori School is the first and only school accredited by the American Montessori Society in the State of Arkansas and the first school to offer a natural playscape environment for exercise and exploration. Our school provides an authentic Montessori education for children ages 18 months to 12 years.

Enrolling Now

Contact us today to schedule your tour of our enriching toddler program

479-271-9424 • info@walnutfarm.org

www.walnutfarmmontessori.com