Voice Magazine for Women 1122

Congratulations

Name:

by Jesse Kokotek)

At the end of last month, October, it meant that my dad had passed away 12 years ago. I thought about all the things that he enjoyed doing, and things that he was really good at doing. One of those things was cooking. He could serve up tasty country fried chicken, and his gravy would have been the envy of many chefs. However, what I remember as being the best dish he prepared was his chocolate gravy.

Growing up, chocolate gravy seemed to be most popular at our kitchen table because, when friends would visit or spend the night and Dad prepared chocolate gravy, Mom would get phone calls from other moms wanting to know, “what is chocolate gravy?” Usually pre pared on Saturday mornings, nothing was tastier than chocolate gravy poured over a hot “scratch” made buttered biscuit. It was delicious!

Recently, I saw in a grocery store aisle a prepared packet with the words “chocolate gravy.” Now, I’m not sure that it would be as tasty as Dad’s recipe, but for all of you curious about chocolate gravy, here is the old timey recipe:

Old Time Chocolate Gravy —1 1/2 cups sugar; 1 1/2 cups milk; 1 teaspoon vanilla; 1 1/2 sticks butter; 4 tablespoons cocoa; ¼ cup plus 1 teaspoon flour

(For preparation, see the “Cooking with Brenda Gant” video on Facebook. It is important to add the ingredients as the instructions indicate in the preparation.)

What a perfect time of year to start a new tradition for the holidays, and chocolate gravy could be the perfect ingredient for a new tradition!

JCP finds this time of year to be the perfect time to say how grateful and thankful we are for our readers, loyal fans, and faithful supporters, advertisers, and authors. Last year and this year are more special with your continued support because we could not be here without all of you out there.

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday coming up, we encourage you to buy books through JCP’s website, www.jancarolpublishing.com, and at our recently opened Books & Gifts bookstore located in Blountville, TN. Also, Saturday, Nov. 26, is Small Business Saturday. It is a day that promotes small, brick-and-mortar businesses with the start of holiday shopping. Shop with local, small businesses and be sure to visit the bookstore! We will be offering additional savings and specials. The money spent here stays here, and it helps us all.

From all of us to all of you, a big thank you, and we wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Verse of the month: “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…” Ephesians 5:20 KJV

Thought of the month: “I’d rather regret the risks that didn’t work out than the chances I didn’t take at all.” Simone Biles, American artistic gymnast

Savannah

Morgan

PUBLISHER

Jan-Carol Publishing, Inc PO Box 701 Johnson City, TN 37605

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Janie C Jessee, 423.502.6246 publisher@jancarolpublishing.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

GRAPHICS/PRODUCTION

Tara Sizemore

tara@voicemagazineforwomen.com

DISTRIBUTION

Karen Corder Staff

PUBLISHED BY JAN-CAROL PUBLISHING, INC. (Volume 19, Issue 11)

While every precaution has been taken to ensure accuracy of the published ma terial, Jan-Carol Publishing, Inc. / Voice Magazine cannot be held responsible for opinions or facts provided by its authors, advertisers or agencies. All rights are reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without written permission. Agencies, Advertisers and other contributors will indemnify and hold the pub lisher harmless for any loss or expense resulting from claims or suits based upon contents of any advertisement, defamation, libel, right of privacy, plagiarism and/ or copyright infringement. The views expressed in Voice Magazine for Women are not necessarily those of the publisher. © 2022

EDITORIAL MISSION: Voice Magazine for Women wants to provide a useful and complete reliable source of information for women and their families. We seek to celebrate women’s suc cesses, and support their growth by defining and recognizing their needs and providing a concentration of resources for them. We want to be that “link” to all women.

April Hensley Cindy Sproles

Ken Heath Pam Blair

Deana Landers

How to Make the Most of Shopping Holidays

Black Friday, Plaid Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday all come on the heels of the Thanksgiving holiday. These popular shopping holidays present opportunities for shoppers to score great prices on items on their shopping lists. Shoppers can take some additional steps to ensure they get the best prices possible.

Cherry pick deals

Different stores will offer different sales. Use your shopping list to match up with newspaper circulars (or online sales notices) and mark off on the list which store to visit for each item. Cherry pick deals accordingly. FLIPP is an app that enables you to compare prices in newspaper flyers so you know who is offering the best prices.

Know your prices

It’s important to know the ordinary sticker price of common items and their price histories before assuming something is a great deal on Black Friday or Small Business Saturday. Unfortunately, some stores inflate prices around the holidays so their “doorbuster” deals seem like a deep slash. However, a $20 item marked down to $15 may not be such a bargain when you realize the original selling price was $15. Being a savvy shopper means knowing the value of items before shopping.

Use a price tracking tool

Maybe the price of that gadget seems too good to be true, but could it go any lower? Utilize price-tracking tools to chart when prices go up and down so you know the best time to buy. With a resource like CamelCamelCamel, you can track the price of every item on Amazon and even set price alerts when it reaches your desired price. For other retailers, Honey and SlickDeals can help shoppers get the best prices possible. Honey applies coupon codes and can alert users to price drops.

Stick to a list and budget

Keep track of what you’re spending with a running tally if you’re not using cash. This will help to keep spending in check. Also, do not buy items just for the sake of getting them at good prices. This can bust your budget quickly. Make a list and try not to deviate from it.

Use smart strategies to get the best prices on gifts at the start of the holiday shopping season and in the weeks leading up to the big day.

5 Reasons to Shop Small Versus Big Box

1.

Autonomy and diversity: The layout and offerings at national chains will be identical whether you live in the mountains or at the beach. Big box stores follow a con sistent marketing strategy and look the same regardless of where they are located. On the other hand, an independent business offers the products and services that are reflective of the customers and the community they serve.

2.

Local hiring strategy: Certain big box retailers will hire local residents, but hiring policies may push for promoting from within the organization. This could mean relo cating an employee rather than bringing in someone from the community who may be more in tune with local sensibilities. Small businesses may be more inclined to hire residents they know and keep hiring centralized to the local area—something that keeps more resources and money in the community.

3.

Adaptability and change: Local businesses can move more quickly to respond to economic factors that require change. Since they are focused more on the needs of their customers rather than stockholders, changes can be implemented rapidly without having to go through red tape, meetings, and updates to corpo rate policies.

4.

Investing in the town: According to the financial resource Financial Slot, shopping at locally owned busi nesses rather than big box retailers keeps more money in the community. Local property taxes and other taxes paid by the businesses go right back into the commu nity. This helps raise overall value for homeowners and can even reduce their taxes.

5.

Turnover is greater: While no one wants to see a small business fail, that fate is sometimes unavoidable. However, that turnover helps teach communities what was done poorly and helps others learn from those mistakes. It also means fresh businesses will come in and replace the old, driving new growth, opportunity, and competition that keeps prices competitive.

8 Easy Holiday Centerpiece

When it comes to holiday hosting, attention also should be given to the dining table — which can benefit from a festive centerpiece. Premade centerpieces are undeniably attractive, but adding a homespun touch can be a fun creative pursuit and become a family tradition. Explore these eight simple ideas to dress up your holiday table.

Frosted pine cones: Give pine cones a touch of winter whimsy with a little faux snow in a can or even white paint. Nestle the boughs and pine cones into a wide-mouthed vase or bowl in the center of the table. Individual pine cones can later be turned into place cards for seating guests.

Holiday thanks: Cut strips of paper roughly 6 inches in length from various colored pieces of paper to match the holiday theme. When guests arrive, ask them to write a favorite holiday memory or two, or what they’re thankful for. Twirl the paper strips around a pencil to curl them, and then place them into a decorative bowl in the center of the table. Later in the evening, the host or hostess can read some of the sentiments.

Freshly cut: Select attractive flowers in vibrant holiday hues from a florist or even the supermarket floral section. Cut the stems and place them into an unusual display container, such as holiday themed mugs or a punch bowl.

Glass baubles: Who says ornaments should be exclusive to the tree? A crystal or glass cake stand can be transformed into an icy delight when topped with silver and clear glass ornaments.

Birch wood: The crisp white coloring of birch bark is right at home with holiday decor. Go stark with pieces of the cut wood in varying heights intermingled with white candles that mimic the shapes and scale of the wood.

Fruit and vegetables: If guests are coming over and the race is on for a fast centerpiece, look no further than the kitchen. Lemons, artichokes, pears, or pomegranates look festive in a bowl interspersed with some greenery and baby’s breath.

IdeasCornucopia: The horn of plenty can be customized to any holiday. Purchase a horn in wicker or woven grapevine and fill with flowers, fruit and greenery, or even painted gourds or miniature pumpkins.

Holiday hosts and hostesses should not neglect the dining table when they decorate. Festive centerpieces can be handmade without much effort on the part of hosts.

Thanksgiving Facts

• The National Turkey Federation says around 45 million turkeys will be eaten on Thanksgiving, which equates to about 720 million pounds of turkey being consumed (with the average turkey size being 16 pounds).

• The Butterball hotline answers roughly 100,000 calls every year on its turkey question hotline.

• In 1953, the Swanson company overestimated the number of frozen turkeys it would sell for the holiday season by 26 tons. Rather than waste the meat, Swanson sliced it up, repackaged it and created the first frozen TV dinners.

• Thanksgiving didn’t become a civic holiday until Abraham Lincoln made it one after the Civil War tragedy. Thanksgiv ing was declared a national holiday on October 20, 1864.

• The Pilgrims did not refer to themselves as “pilgrims.” They used the word “separatists” as they were separating them selves from a larger belief system.

• In addition to Canada and the United States, Grenada, Liberia, the Philippines, Saint Lucia, and the Netherlands celebrate their own versions of Thanksgiving.

• Each year, the American president “pardons” a turkey from slaughter on Thanksgiving. This tradition dates back to when Abraham Lincoln’s son was upset that his family’s turkey that was going to be killed for Thanksgiving dinner.

• The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is an annual tradition. People line the parade route in New York City or tune in to watch the parade on television. It originated in 1924 and the famed balloons were added in 1927.

How to participate in Giving Tuesday

The period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day is widely referred to as the holiday season. Holidays such as Chanukah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa all take place in this typically six-week window. During this period, there’s another, possibly lesser known, event that can elicit many of the same warm feelings generated by more recognizable holidays.

GivingTuesday is held on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving every year. Though that typically means the day is celebrated after the calendar turns to December, this year GivingTuesday takes place on Tuesday, November 30.

What is GivingTuesday?

GivingTuesday organizers describe the event as a “move ment that unleashes the power of radical generosity around the world.” GivingTuesday is often characterized as hashtag activism, which involves social media users employing Twitter hashtags to show support for a cause. Twitter hashtags do not utilize spaces between words, so GivingTuesday references adhere to this practice.

How can people participate in GivingTuesday?

The organizers behind GivingTuesday note that the day is about all types of giving. Individuals who want to participate can donate money, food and/or clothing; start an advocacy campaign; help a neighbor; or commit an act of generosity. Participants need not make their GivingTuesday efforts part of any official event associated with the day, but those who want to can visit VolunteerMatch.org to look for volunteering opportunities in and around their com munities. Employers and even local governments also may sponsor or host events on GivingTuesday. Twitter users also can use the hashtag #GivingTuesday to promote causes and/ or encourage donations throughout the day. Some organizations may match users’ donations up to a predetermined dollar amount, and users can enter #GivingTuesday into the Twitter search engine to discover such efforts. Parents can even help children find ways to participate by visiting GivingTuesdaySpark.org.

GivingTuesday is a global effort that emphasizes the power of generosity. Individuals can learn more at GivingTuesday.org.

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Plan Ahead for Party Season!

Rosemary Cranberry Whiskey Sour

Makes 4

Rosemary Simple Syrup:

1⁄4 cup sugar

1⁄4 cup water

2 tablespoons fresh rosemary

Cocktail:

6 ounces whiskey

3 ounces sour mix

16 ounces cranberry juice

Cranberries, for garnish

Rosemary sprigs, for garnish

1. In a small pot over medium heat, whisk together the sugar, water and rosemary. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, creating a syrup. Remove from the heat, strain to remove the rose mary, and refrigerate.

2. Fill a shaker with ice, and pour in the whiskey, sour mix, simple syrup, and cranberry juice. Shake, and pour into ice-filled glasses. Garnish with cranberries and rosemary before serving.

3. Tip: This recipe is great without the whiskey, as a classy, adult “zero proof” drink. You can make a big batch as a lovely punch—leave some cranberries and rosemary on the side for garnish. Source: American Lifestyle

Bacon-Wrapped Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates

Makes 16 16 pitted dates

8 thin slices bacon, halved

4 ounces creamy goat cheese

Toothpicks

Hot honey, for garnishing

Chopped fresh parsley, for garnishing

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Lightly grease a rimmed baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.

2. If your dates are not already pitted, slice the dates length wise on one side, but not all the way through, to create an opening. Remove the pit.

3. Using a teaspoon measure, fill the cavity of each date with a heaping teaspoon of the goat cheese and then gently press the sides together to close a bit.

4. Wrap each date with a half slice of bacon and secure with a toothpick. Arrange the bacon-wrapped dates on the pre pared baking sheet.

5. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, turning the dates halfway through so the bacon is evenly cooked. Transfer the bacon-wrapped dates to a serving platter and drizzle with the hot honey. Garnish with the parsley. Serve warm or at room temperature. Source: Spectacular Spreads: 50 Amazing Food Spreads for Any Occasion by Meagan Brown.

Roast Chicken with Whole Roasted Garlic Serves 4

1 four pound chicken Kosher salt

2 lemons, one pierced several times with the tines of a fork and one halved

Few sprigs each of thyme and rosemary

4 large bulbs garlic, 1 per person or portion, ends cut to expose the cloves (keep the hairy root end intact)

Extra-virgin olive oil for drizzling

Freshly ground black pepper

3 tablespoons butter

1 cup white wine

Warm, crusty bread

1. Place the chicken in a shallow baking dish. Salt the chicken inside and out and place uncovered in the fridge overnight.

2. Preheat the oven to 450 F.

3. Pat the chicken dry and fill with the pierced whole lemon, thyme and rosemary. Tie the legs up. Dress the bulbs of garlic with EVOO; season with salt and pepper. Arrange the garlic in the baking dish around the chicken. Rub the skin of the chicken with butter and season with pepper. Pour the wine into the bottom of the dish.

4. Roast the chicken for 1 hour or until an instant-read ther mometer inserted into the thickest part of the dark meat reads 165 F. Let the chicken stand for a few minutes on a carving board until just cool enough to handle. Carve the chicken, dividing the white and dark parts and slicing the breast meat on the bias.

5. Arrange the chicken on plates or a platter and top with drippings, juices and the juice from the remaining halved lemon. The garlic may get dark but it won’t be charred. Serve in the skins or squeeze the paste from the skins with your knife and pass with a spoon to eat with the chicken or to slather on the warm chunks of bread.

How to Avoid Dry Turkey this Thanksgiving

There are many ways home cooks can prevent dry turkey this Thanksgiving. Consider these turkey-tending tips.

• Brine your bird. According to ScienceBlogs, what causes a human to perceive a food as juicy may actually be his or her own saliva at work. Salty foods may stimulate the production of saliva in the mouth, helping the food to feel much more moist while on the palate. To adequately inject enough salt into the turkey meat, submerge it in a salt brine for a few days before cooking.

• Watch your cook time. It’s important to avoid overcooking the turkey, which will turn it as dry as the Sahara. Some turkeys come equipped with pop-up timers to help cooks gauge when to take

them out of the oven. However, a more accurate tool is a digital food thermometer that can be set to go off when the turkey reaches the correct internal temperature.

• Cook the turkey parts separately. As pre viously noted, the breast meat will likely reach the desired temperature before the leg meat. To fix this, take the turkey out of the oven when it reaches five to 10 degrees before safe temperature for the breast meat, around 165 F. (Remember, the meat will continue to cook while “resting.”) Let guests “ooh and aah” over the picture-perfect turkey. Then cut off the legs and return them to the oven until they are done. Arrange the properly cooked breast and leg meat together on a serving platter.

• Offer condiments. A moist dollop of stuffing, a drizzle of gravy, or a scoop of cranberry sauce can add moisture to turkey. This approach does not prevent drying out, but it can make a turkey that has dried out a bit more satisfying.

Dry turkey can put off diners. However, some strategies can harness as much moisture as possible to enhance Thanksgiving dinners.

Elizabeth and Ava Gardner: A Dream Life Blooming in Abingdon

By Allison Chudina

Formother-daughter duo Elizabeth and Ava Gardner, their business—much like their relationship—is con stantly blooming.

Together, they have grown a restored 1900 farmhouse in Abingdon, Virginia, into a thriving business. Full Bloom Farm House, overlooking the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains, is a vacation rental and barn venue that offers classes show casing local arts, crafts, gardening, and food traditions. They also host a monthly Farmstand in their barn where visitors can hang out and shop local.

But just how did the Gardners cultivate such a wonderfully special business? Eliza beth said she dreamt of owning her own farm ever since her family sold their cattle ranch in northern California 12 years ago.

“I worked with 30 farms with my business, Food & Farm Tours, while searching for land of my own,” she said. “When my best friends moved back to Virginia, I decided to explore the area. I bought my ‘dream farm’ in 2019 and spent a few years fixing up the house and barn.”

Elizabeth fell in love with the “views and southern hospitality” of Virginia and knew she had to live here.

She began offering classes at Full Bloom in 2021 and events in the barn in 2022. Since this isn’t Elizabeth’s first business, she knows a thing or two about hospitality.

Elizabeth graduated from Stanford University in 2001 and started a company called Lizzie’s Cookies to explore her love of baking. “My main interests are in food, hospitality, and edu

cation,” she said. “I sold gourmet cookies at Farmers Markets, cafés, online, and created a line of artisan cookie mixes for grocery stores and gift shops.”

She sold the company in 2005 to get her master’s degree in education, after which she taught art, science, and ran a school garden. However, she still missed the food and entrepreneurship side of things.

“I attended culinary school and founded Food & Farm Tours in Point Reyes, California in 2012,” Elizabeth said. “I took guests to family farms to taste wine, cheese, oysters, and more. It was a wonderful way to connect people to the farmto-table lifestyle. I expanded into farm dinners and farm wed dings and even overseas food tours.”

In 2018, Elizabeth moved to Virginia to help grow Abingdon Vineyards. This is where she first glimpsed her “dream farm.”

“On the way to the winery every day, I would pass my ‘dream farm’ and admire it from afar,” she said. “I became friends with the owner, and she asked me to buy it. I phased out of the winery in 2021, which is when I started offering classes at Full Bloom Farm House.”

When asked what advice she would give to other young women looking to start a business, Elizabeth promised that running a business is a commitment. “It’s an entire lifestyle with no days off,” she said. “Whatever you choose, make it something you love and are passionate about.”

She also emphasized that you will need inspiration and vision to get you through the difficult times. “Connect with others doing similar things, but carve out your own niche,” she said. “Constantly learn and grow. Collaborate as much as possible—business is about relationships.”

Elizabeth grew her businesses primarily through social media, becoming fluent in Facebook and Instagram. She said that building a simple website, even if it is just one page, can go a long way. She also recommended hiring a bookkeeper as soon as possible. “Focus on what you love and leave the numbers and taxes to the professionals,” she advised.

For Elizabeth, what she loves—or rather, who she loves—happens to play a large role in Full Bloom Farm House.

Elizabeth’s daughter, Ava, who just turned 5, is a big part of the business, according to Elizabeth. “Ava helps me cook, garden, pick flowers, set the table for events, make products, and more,” Elizabeth said. “Our line of farm products came from making bath bombs together, and she created our signature Maple Lemonade, which we sell at our Farmstands and the Abingdon Farmers Market.”

Ava is also Full Bloom Farm House’s official “tour guide” and loves to show people the house and barn.

The importance of getting to experience such a special business with her daughter is not lost on Elizabeth. “It’s very

The farm is beautiful, and the business will continue to grow to encompass our interests and creations. Ava is learning the art of hospitality, while connecting to the land and community.

fulfilling,” Elizabeth said. “The farm is beautiful, and the business will continue to grow to encompass our interests and creations. Ava is learning the art of hospitality, while connecting to the land and community.”

The farm hosts many exciting and different events throughout the year, including Farm Dinners, which is one of Elizabeth’s favorites. “I love hosting Farm Dinners,” she said. “The confluence of the land, farmers, chefs, and community is really beautiful and meaningful. The dinners always end up being magical celebrations of all things good.”

Elizabeth also has a big heart for live music, and she said the concerts hosted in the barn are “truly special.”

Full Bloom has a “deep commitment” to certain values, such as community, education and preservation, sustainability, and beauty. Elizabeth and Ava invite everyone to visit their farm for “memorable and meaningful experiences.”

When asked about other events people can look forward to in the months of November and December, Elizabeth

said to plan on attending Farmstands on Nov. 12 and Dec. 10 from 3–6 p.m. “There will be food and craft vendors, live music, photo booths, and kid zones.”

Other future events include painting parties, craft classes, and Ladies Night: Business Networking on Nov. 14. Special classes, such as flower arranging and cookie making, are offered on request for private groups.

All in all, Elizabeth hopes Full Bloom Farm House’s legacy is one of inspiration. “I hope people leave feeling inspired to follow a dream,” she said. “I made many vision boards about my ideal life, and I’m finally living it. I want to encourage others to pursue their own version of happiness.”

As Elizabeth Gardner has shown, pur suing happiness—particularly when doing it with someone near and dear to your heart—makes life blossom.

For more information about Full Bloom Farm House, visit their website, www.fullbloomfarm house.com, or contact them at 276-623-7393.

(Photos by Jesse Kokotek)

By Deana Landers www.morningcoffeebeans.com

It’sbeginning to look like a more typical holiday season this year. But, of course, we did not spend Thanksgiving with our children and grandchildren last year like everyone else. Missing almost an entire year of holidays with our family has made me rethink how I want to cherish every moment I have with them in the future.

Let me explain. If you have ever read the story of Mary and Martha in the Bible, you know that Mary was the person greeting her guest, washing the feet of Jesus, and peacefully enjoying her company. (Luke 10:38–42) Her sister, Martha, is the one who is exhausted from getting the house ready, prepar ing the food, and making sure everyone is comfortable.

I am Martha in this story, but I would rather be Mary.

The last Thanksgiving we had before the Pandemic, I was so busy that I forgot to enjoy the time with my grandchildren. I planned to prepare the perfect dinner by cooking everyone’s favorite food.

My granddaughter, Jayne, walked into the kitchen several times and asked, “Nana, when are you going to come and talk with us?”

“Soon,” I said. “I’m just trying to get our special dinner done.” Yet, long after that day, I have repeatedly remembered her sad face throughout this year.

When it came time to put all the food on the table, I had made more than my table could accommodate.

Trying to be the perfect hostess is sometimes exhausting. We try to have a perfectly cleaned and decorated home; we often work to dazzle our guests with decorations, food, and our many efforts. However, when our guests arrive, we are exhausted and make excuses for not doing enough.

Hospitality isn’t about being the perfect host/hostess. At its core, hospitality is simply about loving others. It is how we

welcome and honor them. It is about making space for others to feel accepted and known precisely as they are.

One of the first people who welcomed me to our new home in Virginia invited me to her home for coffee. She had been busy working in her garden all day. When we went inside, she took her gloves off and laid them in a basket on her cluttered counter. The sink had all sorts of canning jars, kitchen tools, and dishes.

She put the coffee on and handed me a small cake, a pretty plate, and a knife. She asked me to slice it while she got our cups and dessert plates ready. When the coffee was ready, she filled our cups, sat across from me, smiled, and said, “Now, tell me about yourself and how you like your new home.”

I felt so welcomed. I shared how we chose this wonderful little town we live in, talked about our kids and grandkids, and thanked her for her hospitality. Before I left, she filled a basket of vegetables and a bottle of her homemade wine and told me to call anytime I needed anything.

It’s easy to lose sight of what is essential when hosting any holiday. But there are ways to make it happen and enjoy our families, too. Many event planners say that the most import ant thing you can do when planning for a big day is to list and plan the things you need to prepare and the groceries you need to buy.

Giving your kitchen a deep clean the week before includes cleaning the refrigerator and stove before the big day.

Many people we know choose to have a Thanksgiving meal delivery service from one of the local grocery stores. Having someone else prepare and deliver the meal takes a massive chunk of stress out of your day.

Many Thanksgiving dishes can be made weeks ahead and frozen, or you can have everyone bring a particular dish, and the hosts provide the meats and drinks.

Giving the children a piece of paper with an activity they can do to help make the dinner go well, like helping with food or setting the table, makes them feel a part of everything. Plan for leftovers, clean as you go, and don’t forget to ask for help.

Remember, long after Thanksgiving is over, it won’t be the food you prepared or whether you were the perfect hostess. Instead, the love your family and friends felt and the memories you made will last a lifetime.

Deana Landers, a retired nurse and health educator, is Christian speaker who strives to educate and encourage. She may be contacted at dlanders1511@ gmail.com or 276-780-7355.

5 Easy Rules for Pantry Organization

By Pam Blair

Whether your pantry consists of several shelves in a kitchen cabinet, or a full closet loaded with storage space, there are a few rules to keeping your food supply visible and within reach. When everything is tossed in the pantry without rhyme or reason, it’s no wonder we can’t find anything! Our pantries deserve some tender loving care, as they are the starting block to keeping us fed and nourished. Have you ever bought items at the grocery store only to find you already had them hiding in the back of your pantry? Or worse, have you tried to prepare a meal and found you didn’t have what you needed? If this sounds like you, here are some easy rules to help organize your pantry pronto.

1.

Rule #1: Do what works for you. Your pantry should work for the needs of you and your family. We’ve all seen TV programs or Pinterest photos of pantry makeovers with everything perfectly stored, labeled, and color-coordinated, and it seems like a hopeless dream to ever achieve that kind of organization. You may not want to empty every box and bag into clear plastic containers as they suggest but if you do, that’s ok too! The point is to arrange your pantry so you can find what you need, when you need it.

2.

Rule #2: Group like objects together. Keep your food organized by sorting it into categories that are easily identified, i.e., canned and dry goods, snacks, and baking supplies. When everything has its own designated area, order is restored, and you can see immediately what you have and what needs to be restocked.

3.

Rule #3: Rotate it. Expiration dates sneak up on us. Who hasn’t found a jar of sauce or a spice bottle in the back of the cupboard whose expiration date was years ago? Yikes! Where does the time go? When shelving items like canned soups, spices, or condiments, bring older items to the front and use them first.

Rule #4: Make it useful, but make it pretty. There is beauty in the pantry when you see everything in its place and lined up neatly on clean shelves, like the colorful labels on canned goods, jars, and bottles. Add something pretty, such as vintage refrigerator dishes to hold teabags and different

5.

kinds of nuts. The colors of these containers are vivid and bold, adding a decorative touch to an otherwise utilitarian space. Adding a brighter light fixture can also make a big difference and help you see in dark corners. Consider swapping out wire shelving for wood to dress up the area.

Rule #5: Store it for a rainy day. There is comfort in not running out of something, and it is good practice to have an extra supply of foods you use daily or weekly. For me, having extra staples like beans, rice, and tomatoes, along with tuna, crackers, and condiments (mustard and roasted peppers in a jar) gives me the reassurance that I can whip up a meal if I can’t get to the store.

Organizing your pantry needn’t be a chore; make it fun and make it yours!

Pam Blair is a former medical librarian and communications manager who gets nervous when she doesn’t have something to read. She loves descriptive writing and has authored and edited a book and numerous other publications. Contact her at pblair919@aol.com.

Att racting Wild Nature

By April Hensley

Ilove watching the bright energetic birds and the wild furry creatures during the cold months. When most of the trees are bare and the grass is crispy brown, it would appear nature has abandoned the frozen landscape. Even though we know green goodness is patiently waiting for spring underneath the snow, winter can feel very long. Wildlife brings life, color, and magic back to our lawns and gardens.

There are things we can do to attract wild animals to our own little place in the world. Most things are very simple and a lot of it can be accomplished while we are doing our late fall cleanup.

• Water is life for all living things even in the winter. Pot saucers and birdbaths can be used as well as shallow bowls to provide water. Clean out and refill every day. Doing this year-round will also attract pollinators in the growing months.

• Leave the seed heads on dried up flowers. These will attract hungry birds looking for a nutritious meal.

• Rose hips are thick red round balls that are the seed pods of roses. They have many uses for humans but are beloved by birds and deer too.

• If you have tree limbs to clean up, pile them in a corner of your property out of the way. Chip munks and rabbits can take cover from predators and cold weather.

• Leaves can also be piled up to provide a habitat for small animals or for bird nest building material. The leaves can be worked into the garden before planting in spring. Also, lightning bugs or fireflies lay their eggs on grass and moist soil, so leaving your tree leaves where they fall over winter is beneficial to the firefly life cycle.

• Birdfeeders and birdhouses draw birds to eat and live on your property.

• Vegetable scraps can be left outside to be eaten by the critters instead of putting it in the compost pile. Apple cores, scrap lettuce, and pumpkin guts

are beloved by hungry animals. Pumpkins from Jack-o-lanterns and Thanksgiving pies with no candle wax, paint, or chemicals will get eaten by deer, rabbits, and squirrels.

• Collect tree nuts at parks and look for giveaways on social media ads.

• It won’t help this winter but think about planting bushes and trees that will provide food every year for wildlife. Dogwood trees, nut producing trees like oak, walnut, and honeysuckle bushes are some choices.

April Hensley

aprils1105@embarqmail.com.

and is an

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and is

Voicemail Male

By Ken Heath

A More Thankful Thanksgiving

The turkey coma—most of us are facing it in a few days. Belly full of gobbler and sweet taters and cornbread stuffing, then a waddle to the couch for a chance to check our eyelids for holes as the football game announcers do their best to keep us from drifting off to La La Land.

It’s as much of a tradition as Santa Claus at Christmas. Lots of families have sweet traditions of each recalling a favorite memory of Thanksgivings past, or offering

a blessing for one particular thing each person is thankful for, as part of the pre-meal ritual before the blessing (and subsequent gnashing of teeth in the food frenzy).

This Thanksgiving should be easy. As we continue to work toward some sort of normalcy from the past two nightmare years where families couldn’t travel or were skittish about getting together, it’s nice to have folks over once again. Sure, it means a lot more house cleaning, a little bigger turkey, pulling out the kids table and making some room on the couch for more folks to squeeze together for the nap. All things that I used to take for granted. For me, I know the thing I’m most grateful for this Thanksgiving. The house doesn’t have to be spotless; the turkey can even be a bit overdone. It’s not that any of that really matters—it’s the gathering with the ones we love.

And that lesson is a gift of Thanksgiving that will truly last a lifetime.

{Ken Heath is a Marion, VA hometown boy who expresses his passions in his writings and through music. After his ‘real job’, Ken is owner of the legendary Cliffside Roadhouse, doggie dad to Miss Reagan and their rescue Scottie the Wonder Dog with his wonderful wife. Follow him on Facebook and on Twitter at #kenheath.

NEW RELEASES

OUT NOW!

Trick-or-Treat, Noodle!

Written by Monica Riley-Kohler Illustrated by Deborah Riley Bocklage

Noodle is searching for the perfect Halloween costume. Join her in her search as she gives you clues as to which costume she will try on next! Don’t forget to be on the lookout for Bradley Bee!

Jan-Carol Publishing, Inc. is a small independent publishing press with a motivated force of authors. Mountain Girl Press, Little Creek Books, Express Editions, DigiStyle, Broken Crow Ridge, Fiery Night, Skippy Creek, and RoseHeart Publishing are all imprints of Jan-Carol Publishing, Inc.

Clinch Mountain Girls: 24 Women Grow Veggies, Animals, and a Community

Written by Nancy Withington Bell

In the mountain hollows of Tennessee, the newly arrived “girls”—young, suburban women from 15 states— supported each other, learning country ways and how to produce their own water, warmth, and food. Fleeing urban consumer culture and the social strife of the 1970s, they learned from the locals, became strong women, and formed a lasting community.

Power of Understanding: How Personality Influences

Our Lives

Written by Rick Toomey, Ed.D.

Emotional intelligence influences our ability to build strong relationships and achieve our goals. We can enhance emotional intelligence by learning to better understand ourselves and others. This book demonstrates how powerful the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is in helping us better understand how personality influences our behavior and the results we produce.

These Haunted Hills: A Collection of Short Stories Book 4

Jan-Carol Publishing, Inc. Anthology

Step into the spooky side of Appalachia with the fourth installment of Jan-Carol Publishing’s These Haunted Hills anthology series. Each haunting story will keep you on the edge of your seat and bring with it the chill of fright as you read through contributions from seven highly talented authors. These Haunted Hills Book 4, and the entire These Haunted Hills Series, is sure to keep your Halloween season exciting for many years to come. Featuring Authors: Lori C. Byington, Bev Freeman, Jeff Geiger Jr., Linda Hudson Hoagland, Jan Howery, Pauline Petsel, and Courtnee Turner Hoyle.

Sunrise on the Porch

Written by Dale P. Rhodes, Sr.

The best way to make sure you will have a good day is to plan one every morning. Leo, an old hound dog, does just that by watching the beauty of a sunrise every morning and thanking God for the day ahead of him. With each passing year he shares his wisdom and faith with his friends, old and new, and brightens everyone’s days along the way.

Carla: A Death in Paris

Written by Michael Gryboski

Paris—a city of love, a city of history, a city of tourists. And a city with many dark forces moving in the shadows. Carla is on assignment in France's romantic city, tracking a terrorist cell. However, one tragic mistake will put her on the run...even from her own.

Around the Next Bend: An Adventure in Borneo

Written by Carol-Ann Patterson Boyles Jernigan

A vivacious, adventurous Katherine Wingert Casidy, always known as Dottie, finds romance in the jungles of Borneo as a Methodist missionary. As dean of a primary school, she teaches English and other subjects to Malayans and Chinese children, and conducts religious activities with headhunters and other members of the community in the tropical city of Sibu, Sarawak.

Nancy Withington

Carol Ann Patterson Boyles Jernigan

Katherine Wingert Casidy

AUTHORS

on the ROAD

Appalachian Authors Guild

Tuesday, November 15, there will be a General Membership Meeting of the Appa lachian Authors Guild at Shoney’s in Abing don. It will begin at 11:30 am and run until 1:30 pm. The program will consist of a grab bag fellowship and installation of officers for 2023. All are welcome to attend and join in on the fun.

Doreen J. Oberg

Author of Mile Markers

Saturday, December 3

Benefit Music Recital St. Stephens Episcopal Church 2750 Cardinal Drive, Sierra Vista, AZ

The event will be live streamed; Christmas Donations go to benefit Women and Children’s Christmas Fund. Please see St. Stephens Episcopal Church for further information: https://ststephensaz.org.

Dale Rhodes

Author of Daddy’s Apple Tree; Next Summer; If Only; Monkey’s New Friend; Ricky’s Desert Adventure; and Sunrise on the Porch

Saturday, November 12, 9 am – 2 pm Fall Craft Fair Eastern View High School Culpeper, VA

Rosie Hartwig-Benson

Author of Petals of Distinction

Saturday, November 12, 9 am – 2pm

Book Signing Opera House, Litchfield, MN

Linda Hudson Hoagland

Author of Snooping Can Be Regrettable; Snooping Can Be Scary; Snooping Can Be Uncomfortable; Snooping Can Be Helpful – Sometimes; Onward & Upward; Missing Sammy; Snooping Can Be Doggone Deadly; Snooping Can Be Devious; Snooping Can Be Contagious; Snooping Can Be Dangerous; The Best Darn Secret; and anthologies Easter Lilies; Broken Petals; Wild Daisies; Scat tered Flowers; Daffodil Dreams; and These Haunted Hills Book 1, Book 2, and Book 3 Friday, November 4, 10 am – 4 pm Book Signing, Food City Big Stone Gap, VA

Saturday, November 5, 10:00 am – 5 pm

Book Signing Sanders House Bluefield, VA

Sunday, November 6, 1 pm – 5 pm

Book Signing Sanders House, Bluefield, VA

Friday, November 11, 10:00 am – 4 pm Book Signing Food City, Radford, VA

Saturday, November 12, 10:00 am – 4 pm

Book Signing Food City, Bonham Road, Bristol, VA

Tuesday, November 15, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm

Appalachian Authors Guild Grab Bag Fellowship/2023 Officers Shoney’s, Abingdon, VA

Friday, November 18, 10 am – 4 pm

Book Signing Food City, Bluefield, VA

Saturday, November 19, 10 am – 4 pm Book Signing Food City, Wise, VA

Friday, November 25, 10 am – 4 pm

Book Signing Food City, Euclid Avenue, Bristol, VA

Saturday, November 26, 11 am – 4 pm

Book Signing

Big Walker Lookout, Wytheville, VA

Sunday, November 27, 11 am – 4 pm

Book Signing

Big Walker Lookout, Wytheville, VA

This Month’s Featured Books

Greezy Creek

On Thanksgiving Day 1961, Wes Schum was unstoppable. His Central Electronics Company had produced the world's most advanced single-sideband trans mitter, setting the Amateur Radio World ablaze. Three months later, it was all over. 60 years later, learn why and what could have been.

With each story set in the Appalachian region, Snowy Trails: A Short Story Collection pres ents a strong sense of place and belonging. Noted authors contributed stories capturing trials, tribulations, and triumphs, each one sprinkled with a gamut of emotions. In Snowy Trails, readers will be immersed in the varietal settings and characters, and will share the feelings of heartache in challenges and the joys of survival.

Those Devils in Baggy Pants was originally published in 1951 by Ross S. Carter, a member of the 82nd Airborne Division during WWII. Now, years after being out of print, the hit bestseller was republished by a member of Carter's own family—David Ross Fraley. With the novel's republish come additions to Carter's tale, including the history of his book and a journey through Carter's writing process. Those Devils in Baggy Pants, and Carter himself, will leave a lasting impression on any reader.

Kentucky's Appalachian Highlands (circa. 1930's) is a world where habits and customs often bewilder: where the ties of kinship and ancestry hold to unswerving lines, where moonshiners leave incipient trails and the strains of hard times too often coalesce into the empty-eyed face of hardscrabble. It's where Bobby Yonts and Rubin Cain (as good as brothers) come of age and test the limits of things new and out of bounds. Greezy Creek takes readers behind the veil of a family known for its fierce ingrained independence; a family bound by self-determination and all that's necessary to survive.

Karen G. Bruce

Josie is finally coming out of a deep depression after losing her mom to breast cancer only to find out her husband has been having an affair with her best friend. Her life is already in shambles when she learns her mother had some secrets of her own.

Order this book directly from JCP — for a discounted price and FREE shipping!

Go to the “Book Shop” at www.jancarolpublishing.com.

Nick Tusa

Various Authors David Ross Fraley

George R. Justice

A Novel

George R. Justice

Author Hunter Darden enlightens children with a "real" life story in the children's book, The Everlasting Snowman . Through beautiful illustra tions, Hunter simplifies how in life there is a beginning, an ending, and a renewal of living. What a treasure for parents wishing to demon strate to their children that living goes on after a loss in our lives.

Books You May Have Missed!

Author Kim Rohrer delivered the fourth book in her children’s series featuring everybody’s favorite monkey, Little Dooey! Young readers have followed the escapades of the adventurous little monkey in The Kite, The Doctor , and The Surprise .

he’s back again, and this time he visits Santa to tell him he wants to be his helper and help make children happy this Christmas.

Come and join Piddle Diddle, the Widdle Penguin, as she celebrates with family and friends at her birthday party, as she explores new adventures with her birthday drone, and as she uses her drone to help find her lost friend.

Alyster the Lonely Bull is about a lonely bull who prays for more cow friends. Through a series of disastrous mishaps, he learns he cannot force an answer to his prayers. Only by surrendering to the Lord will he find happiness on greener pastures. Delightful illustrations, the story line is based on Christian Bible principles and has a wonderful end to the story.

Hunter D. Darden

Kim Rohrer

Wayne A. Major Rebeca Porter

A Glimpse into the Shop

By Allison Chudina

We had so much fun in October with multiple book signings and our Halloween-themed children’s reading event!

We were so honored to feature the following authors at Books & Gifts for book signings: Rachael Bliss, Jan Ellis, and Rick Toomey!

From the bottom of our hearts at JCP, we want to thank these talented and creative authors for taking time out of

their day to sign their books at Books & Gifts...and I know your fans thank you, too!

If you missed out on any of these book signings, you can still check out the authors’ books by purchasing them directly through our JCP website, www.jancarolpublishing.com, or at Books & Gifts. Each novel is expertly written, and you will absolutely be glad that you picked up a copy.

Books & Gifts also had our first Halloween-themed chil dren’s reading this year. We want to thank everyone who showed up, and we hope you all had as much fun as we did! We look forward to more events in the coming months, so make sure to check back with us on social media and our blog, Bookmarked, for updates.

Hope Knocking

A Southern, Familial Perspective on 2020

Born of the unprecedented hardships cities, families, and individuals faced in 2020 comes Nova Mann’s Hope Knocking. The debut novel, which released in May 2022, tells the story of the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic from three different perspectives: Amantha, an opinionated, retired educator who considers herself to be half hillbilly and half flatlander; Matthew, her soft-spoken mountain husband; and Nancy Mae, Amantha's charismatic, elderly mother who has returned to her East Tennessee roots after leaving nearly seventy years ago. The three live in Mavie, a mere speck on a USGS topographical map, on the banks of the Diamond River.

The writing of Hope Knocking, Mann explains, helped her cope with the uncertainty and anxiety brought on throughout 2020. A former high school teacher, the author lists one of

her biggest accomplishments as being a Fulbright scholar in South America, teaching English at a public high school. She later led many American students on trips throughout Latin America and Europe, believing that travel is the best way to uproot intolerance and replace it with respect for all cultures.

Mann spends her time now working on the sequel to her debut novel from her home in the mountains of Tennessee, where she resides with her husband.

Readers can welcome Amantha, Matthew, and Nancy Mae into their lives with Hope Knocking, available on Amazon, through Barnes & Noble.com, through JanCarol Publishing’s online store, or in store at Books & Gifts in Blountville, TN next to Food City!

Be on the lookout in 2023 for the Hope Knocking sequel!

Jan Ellis Author of Over the Circumstances

Rachael Roberts Bliss Author of The Goddess of Promise Land: Genesis

Rick Toomey, Ed.D. Author of Power of Understanding and The Joy of Being You

Data from the World Cancer Research Fund International indicates that more than 2.2 million people were diagnosed with lung cancer in 2020. That makes lung cancer the second most common cancer worldwide.

What is lung cancer?

Lung cancer is any cancer that begins in the lungs. The American Cancer Society notes that the lungs are two spongelike organs in the chest. When people breathe air in, it enters through their mouth or nose and goes into the lungs through the trachea. The trachea divides into tubes called bronchi, which enter the lungs and divide into smaller bronchi. Lung cancers typically start in the cells lining the bronchi or smaller branches of the bronchi known as bronchioles. Lung cancers also may start in the alveoli, which are tiny air sacs at the end of the bronchioles.

How many types of lung cancer are there?

The Lung Cancer Foundation of America notes that the term “lung cancer” refers to a group of diseases defined by which type of lung tissue the abnormal cells originated in. In order to develop a treatment plan, physicians must first identify which type of lung cancer a person has, and the LCFA indicates there are two main types of the disease:

• Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

• Small cell lung cancer

The ACS reports that between 80 and 85 percent of lung cancers are NSCLC. SCLC is much less common, affecting around 10 percent of all people diagnosed with lung cancer.

Can lung cancer be prevented?

It’s a misconception that all lung cancers can be prevented. Though many incidents of lung cancer are tied to lifestyle choices, not all cases can be prevented. And even people who make healthy lifestyle choices can still get the disease. However, the ACS notes that there are many things people can do to lower their risk for the disease.

• Avoid tobacco: The ACS indicates that avoiding tobacco is the best way to reduce lung cancer risk. Not smoking at all and avoiding breathing in other people’s smoke can greatly reduce your risk for lung cancer. Even current smokers can reduce their risk by quitting immediately, especially if cancer has not yet begun to develop in their lungs.

• Avoid radon: Radon is a colorless, odorless, and radioactive gas that occurs naturally in soil and rock throughout

the world. According to the ACS, most exposure to radon occurs indoors, and long-term exposure can lead to lung cancer. Routine radon testing and immediate treatment can reduce risk for lung cancers caused by the gas.

• Eat healthy: The ACS indicates that some evidence sup ports the idea that a diet high in fruits and vegetables can help protect both smokers and non-smokers from lung cancer. Many of the more than two million cases of lung cancer diagnosed each year can be prevented. More information about lung cancer can be found at lcfamerica.org.

d k h d | 423 239 7899

Dr. Erika Sanders Lovett

The Old Town Emporium

Jonesborough.

Strengthening the Eldership Bond

By Cindy K. Sproles

Life is busy. Families are torn between sports, school, outside activities, and family time, and when we add tie in the time required to care for an aging parent—everything becomes muddled. Aging parents are low on the totem pole when a family must choose who or what gets the attention.

The Commonwealth Fund’s 20 th International Health Policy survey compared health experiences of older adults, including those with the greatest medical needs, in 11 nations. The U.S. ranked at or near the bottom in many categories, including access, affordability, timeliness of care, and care coordination. The study was published in the Nov. 15 issue of Health Affairs. (AHCJ, Seegert, November 15, 2017)

According to an article published in AHCJ (Association of Health Care Journalists), the U.S. ranks worse in elder care vs. other wealthy nations. This not only saddens our appearance internationally, but it is heartbreaking to realize our senior population, who provided so well for us, is cared for so poorly.

When we search further, we find that Americans lean on healthcare facilities and senior facilities for the majority of care for their loved ones. In contrast, other western countries bring their elderly into their homes and care for them in a place of honor.

The trend says seniors, those who developed the bulk of the amazing things in our country, bear little to no importance for their advancement or care as they age. While rising healthcare and long-term facility care costs sting our wallets, families still push the care of the elderly into facilities.

There is no argument that life is busy. The world pushes and pulls families in a multitude of directions. Governmental assistance for the aging is poor when it appears animal welfare rises above elder care. Medical assistance and insurance pay less and less toward senior care forcing the elderly to either do without vital medica tions or spend their entire monthly financial allotments to obtain them. An American not receiving government assistance can purchase their prescriptions for as little as $5 with coupons from pharmaceutical companies. Yet, a senior on Medicare is forced to pay up to 75% or more of the costs of necessary medications, and pharmaceuti cal companies disqualify them from discount programs.

It seems our nation has it backward. Rather than honoring our seniors for the amazing things they have done, most are ignored. This causes great hardship for those families with the desire and willingness to care for their loved ones themselves.

Though our seniors may not be perfect, looking at our nation’s history over the last century, we recognize that this generation grew the industrial era and developed the start of our innovative movements. These people looked at the future and said, “I want better for my children.” Yet, these very people are hardly acknowledged.

Our seniors are vital to our history. They are filled with information from the past that helps guide us into our future. Without their guidance, we will repeat the errors of the past.

Is caring for our seniors easy? Not always. But is it the right thing to do? Absolutely. The wealth of information, expertise, and experience lies in the hands of those who walked before us. Stand in the gap for your aging parents. Gift them time and appreciation for what they have done in the past. Love them even if some are unlove able. Strengthen that bond with the elderly that will lead to a better tomorrow. Our seniors are the compass for the future. Take hold and follow their direction.

{Cindy K. Sproles is a novelist, speaker, and conference teacher. She is the cofounder of ChristianDevotions.us and the managing editor for Straight Street Books and SonRise Devotionals, imprints of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. Visit Cindy at www.cindysproles.com.

What Expecting Parents Can Do to Make their Homes Safer

With a baby on the way, safety must be the utmost priority at home. Home injuries pose a bigger threat than expecting parents may realize, as Stanford Children’s Health reports that roughly 2,000 children ages 14 and under die each year as a result of injuries sustained at home. Thankfully, many home injuries can be prevented. Expecting parents can get a headstart on being moms and dads by taking various steps to make their homes safer before their babies are born.

• Conceal cables and cords. Cables and cords pique kids’ curiosity. Pulling on cables and cords can put young children in the path of falling objects or increase their risk for injuries involving electrical wires and outlets. Cable and cord concealers are inexpensive and easily installed. Often used to cover cords hanging down from mounted televisions, concealers also can be used to hide cords coming from computers, lamps and other items that can pose a threat to young children.

• Avoid hand-me-down kids’ furniture. When furnishing a children’s nursery, it’s best for parents to avoid hand-me-down furniture. The older a piece of furniture is, the less likely it is that the item will meet current safety guidelines. Some parents may be tempted to let their children sleep in the same crib they slept in as kids decades ago, but it’s safer to eschew nostalgia in favor of products that meet the latest safety standards.

• Get rid of potential choking hazards. The National Safety Council and the National Center

for Injury Prevention indicate that airway obstruction injuries are the leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths among infants less than 12 months old. Prior to bringing their babies home, expecting parents can remove all small trinkets and other items that curious children may want to put in their mouths. When buying toys for kids, read the packaging to make sure each item is safe for babies and avoid buying or accept ing any gifts with small pieces.

• Store all medicines on high shelves behind cabinet doors. Vitamins and medicines should be stored on high shelves behind cabinet doors. If kids can see them, they’ll likely try to grab them. In fact, the NSC reports that children ages 19 and under account for roughly 8,000 fall-related emergency room visits every day. Hiding medicines on high shelves behind closed cabinet doors reduces the risk that kids will be poisoned and suffer a fall-related injury.

Expecting parents will soon have a lot on their plate. Taking steps to safeguard a home before their babies are born can make the transition to parenthood that much easier.

If you think you’re seeing more moustaches lingering over mens’ upper lips as November unfolds, chances are your eyes are not deceiving you. November has long been synonymous with Thanksgiving and the start of the holiday season, but it’s also taken on a whole new persona in recent years, and moustaches are a significant part of that new identity.

Arguably as popular as ever, Movember ® is a public health-focused effort designed to raise awareness of and support research into men’s health issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and suicide. Men who partici pate in Movember typically begin growing moustaches on November 1 and keep them throughout the month.

The origins of Movember can be traced to 2003, when two men in Australia, Travis Garone and Luke Slattery, met for a beer in Melbourne. At that point in time, the popularity of moustaches had waned, but Garone and Slattery joked about restoring the stache to its once-lofty status. At the time, a friend’s mother was fundraising for breast cancer, and Garone and Slattery were inspired to combine their efforts to bring back the moustache with efforts to raise awareness about men’s health and prostate cancer. In a testament

to the two friends’ skills in the art of persuasion, they were able to find 30 men willing to take up the challenge to grow a moustache. Those who accepted the challenge agreed to follow the rules of Movember, which included paying $10 to grow a moustache.

That initial campaign generated significant enthusiasm among the initial participants, so the following year a decision was made to formalize their efforts and officially support a worthy cause related to men’s health. After some research, prostate cancer was chosen as the issue to for mally support. The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, though not an official men’s health partner of Movember, agreed to accept any funds generated by the 2004 campaign. By that time, 450 men, including some in Spain and the United Kingdom, had agreed to take part, ultimately raising more than AUD $50,000.

Nearly 20 years later, the moustachioed movement to raise awareness about various men’s health issues is still going strong, having funded more than 1,250 men’s health projects since its inception. Individuals interested in learning more about Movember can visit us.movember.com.

How to Show Your Support for Veterans

Supporting veterans is a worthy endeavor at any time of year, though such efforts tend to be more prominent in November. Veterans Day is celebrated annually on November 11 in honor of the millions of individuals across the United States who are military veterans. There are many things ordinary citizens can do to show how much they appreciate the sacrifices veterans and their families have made and will make in the years to come.

• Visit wounded veterans. The United States Census Bureau reports that more than one-third of the nearly 3.8 million men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces since September 2001 have a service-connected disability. Many of these individuals are fighting to overcome physical injuries sustained while on active duty. Individuals who want to show their support for veterans can contact their local VA facility to arrange

a visit to wounded veterans. Such visits can lift veterans’ spirits and reassure them that their sacrifices are both acknowledged and appreciated.

• Support legislation that supports veterans. Though it might seem like a no-brainer, legislation to support veterans often faces an uphill battle to get passed. By sup porting legislation that ensures veterans get the support they need, individuals can send a message to veterans that they haven’t been forgotten and that the very demo cratic principles they fought to protect are alive and well.

• Help raise awareness about homeless veterans. Data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates that approximately 40,000 veterans are homeless on any given night. But that figure doesn’t tell the whole story, as the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans notes that, over the course of a year, roughly twice that many veterans experience homelessness. The NCHV believes that programs to assist homeless veterans should focus on helping them reach a point where they can obtain and sustain gainful employment. In addition, the NCHV feels that the most effective programs are community-based, nonprofit, “veterans helping veterans” groups. Individuals can offer their support to such groups through financial donations or other means so they can continue to ensure no veteran sleeps on the street.

You Are God’s Pumpkin

By By Kelly McFadden

…you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” — 1 Corinthians 1:30–31 KJV

Interpretation: God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you boast, boast only about the Lord.” –1 Corinthians 1:30–31 (NLT)

For most of the country, the crisp cool air of autumn is upon us. A sure sign of autumn is that Christmas decorations are popping up everywhere in retail stores. A popular symbol of harvest time is the pumpkin. I was thinking recently that being a Christian is a lot like being a pumpkin. Perhaps you are visualizing this orange, round

vegetable and wondering how you could ever be compared to one of these squashes! Simply put, like a child chooses a pumpkin to carve and mold an image upon, so God carves and molds His own unique design in you.

The Scriptures tell us that the Lord chooses us. He lifts us up and washes the dirt from our skin. Then he opens us, connecting deep inside to scoop out all the slimy, yucky stuff, including seeds of doubt, spite, lies and fear. Then, He carves a new creation and makes our faces shine by putting His light inside for all to see.

Sometimes I feel like I don’t want my light to shine because I am ashamed of a thought or action or pattern in my life. I try to hide the light Christ has put in me and blend in with the crowd. What I forget is that when God carved me, created me and gave me His Son, I no longer had to count on my own strength. I can count on the Lord’s. It is He who washes me clean; it is He who gives me a spirit of strength and perseverance; it is He who makes me pure; it is He who frees me from sin; and it is He who gives me hope. When I realize that my part of the equation is to rely on His strength and power, then I can do as Scriptures say, and shine His light through the power of the Holy Spirit.

What starts as an everyday squash turns into a lantern of light. What starts as an everyday person turns into a beacon of hope for all to see. Through our union with Christ, we are given the light and wisdom of the Holy Spirit who enters and dwells in our lives. It is He who picked you out and carved you just the way He wants you. So make sure you keep your lantern lit for all to see. www.homeword.com

Cornelia Laemmli Orth,

Director

YWCA 42 nd Annual Turkey Trot Women’s 5K Race

Each November, YWCA NETN and SWVA hosts its annual Turkey Trot race. This sanctioned race has a long history, with 2022 bringing its 43rd year. With each race, runners travel far and wide to celebrate the tradition and support the vital programming the YWCA offers. The community comes together as the race begins near the iconic Bristol Sign, and at the sound of the whistle participants gobble ’til they wobble!

Runners of all ages are welcome to participate, as well as leashed furry companions. Participants have the flexibility to either walk or run a USTAF certified route throughout Bristol, Tennessee and will end their journey at the YWCA parking lot on State Street where they will receive their race times and awards. Volunteers with signage are stationed throughout the course, and a light brunch is provided to participants. Men are welcome to register and participate

and will receive a tee shirt and finisher’s medal, however, are not eligible to win a race category.

We welcome all to join the deeply rooted tradition of the YWCA’s annual Turkey Trot. With each race, participants bring so much joy to the event; Mother and daughter teams are formed, turkey hats are worn, and runners show up ready to trot! The race comes to a close with the hustle of participants celebrating their accomplishments, and this event would not be successful without them.

YWCA’s 2022 Turkey Trot will be held on November 19th and the trot will begin at 8:00 a.m. To register, you can email ywca@ywcatnva.org or stop by the YWCA on State Street to pick up a form. Pre-registration is $30, and day of registration is $35. For our first 200 registrations, runners will receive a unique race tee shirt as well as a swag bag from our sponsors. See you at the finish line!

CLUES ACROSS

It’s A Classic!

By Allison Chudina

Happy holidays! Thanksgiving will be here before we know it, and in the spirit of that, I’ve decided to recommend a holiday classic that opens with Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. That’s right—Miracle on 34th Street, directed by George Seaton. The beloved 1947 film begins with an old man going by the name of Kris Kringle filling in for an intoxicated Santa in the parade. Kringle, expertly portrayed by Edmund Gwenn (who won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the role), is such a smash hit that he is soon asked to appear regularly at Macy’s main store in midtown Manhattan. However, when Kringle begins to claim he is actually Santa Claus himself, it leads to a court case to determine his mental health and authenticity. Could Kringle really be Santa Claus? To find out, you’ll simply have to watch the movie for yourself. You’ll be thankful that you did.

CLUES

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